An Antidote Against Popery, Appendix · Chapter 5
CHAPT. V. Of Justification, And the immediate proper and formall cause therof; which the Romanistes affirme to be inherent righteousnesse, in man himselfe onlie: adducing for them these places following.
ROM. 5.19. As by the disobedience of one, manie were made sinners; so by the obedience of one, manie are made righteous. But by the disobedience of one, (to wit, Adam) manie are made sinners by an inherent sinfulnesse, (say they) and not by sinne imputed vntounto them*Bell. lib. 2. de justifiae. c. 3. §. E. hoc loco.. Therefore, manie are made righteous, or justified, by an inherent righteousnesse in themselues, and not by the righteousnesse of another imputed vntounto them. And which inherent righteousnesse, is absolute, and perfect, (sayeth Bellarmine. Supr…)
Aunswere. Wee graunt, That as by the disobedience of Adam, manie were made sinners, by an inherent sinfullnesse; that even so, by the obedience of CHRIST, and merite thereof, manie are made righteous, by an inherent righteousnesse in themselues. But this wee affirme to bee in sanctification: But denye, that it is that righteousnesse, where-by wee are justified before GOD, and is the cause of our absolution, and acceptation to favour.
Next: Where they say, That by Adam, manie were made sinners, not by anie sinne of his imputed vntounto them,Bel. de amissa gra. l. 5. c. 17. §. …ta{que}. Bellarmine graunteth the contrarie, saying; For vntounto all, who are borne in him, the sinne of Adam is imputed; because all beeing in his loynes, in him, and by him, did sinne, when hee himselfe sinned. And, therefore, it will followe, That even so in our justification, before GOD, by Christ, by vertue of that vnion we hauehave with Him, His Righteousnes is imputed vntounto vsus in lyke manner, and is the cause of our absolution,Bern. Epist. 190. et in cāt. serm. 61. & ad milites templi serm. 11. and acceptation vntounto lyfe. Therefore, sayeth Bernard. The satisfaction of one, is imputed vntounto all; and why may not righteousnesse bee from another, as well as guiltinesse was from another? Yea, farther, sayeth Iustin Martyr, Iustin Mart. Epist. ad Diog. netū.What other thing could cover our sinnes, but the righteousnesse of CHRIST? And in whome can wee who are wicked, bee justified, but in the onelie Sonne of GOD? Yea, sayeth their owne Bellarmine, Bel. l. 2. de justif. c. 10.CHRIST'S righteousnesse is imputed vntounto vsus: that is, It is given vntounto vsus; so that wee may offer the same vntounto GOD, for our sinnes; because CHRIST hath taken the burden vponupon him, to satisfie for our sinnes, and to reconcile vsus vntounto GOD His Father, (sayeth hee.)
ROM. 3.24. Beeing justified freelie by his grace: That is, By inherent righteousnesse in our selues.
Answere. BY GRACE, inherent righteousnesse in man, is not meant; but that free favour and compassion which is in GOD Himselfe, as the word GRACE is taken, ROM. 4.4. and HEBR. 4.16. and as RICHARDVS OR MEDIA VILLA testifieth, That the Auncientes in this place, doe vnderstand the same. Therefore also sayeth their owne Ferus, (and with him Pererius) This GRACE, is that good will of GOD towardes vsus, for CHRIST'S sake: which is His Favour, (sayeth hee) where by wee are saved. So that the meaning is, (sayeth Estius) That sinners are justified without anie merite of their owne workes, even by the onelie free favour of GOD.Aquinas in Heb. 2.9. also 1.2. q. 110. art. 1. Which GRACE also Aquinas calleth, His Eternall Dilection. The Apostle also clearlie distinguishing between these two, ROM. 5.15, calleth GOD'S free Favour, GRACE; and what floweth there from, the GIFT which is by Grace; whether it bee of remission in justification, or our renewing in sanctification.
1. COR. 6.11. But yee are washed, but yee are sanctified, but yee are justified. Heere, then, (saye they) wee see that justification includeth both washing and sanctifying, which is by inherent righteousnesse.
Aunswere. Taking the word IVSTIFIE, in the large signification thereof, as is sayde in the state of the Question, wee yeelde, that both these Benefites are comprehended therein.Bel. l. 2. de justif. c. 3. But Bellarmine teacheth vsus, That the Fathers vnderstand this place properlie of the Sacrament of Baptisme, (which the worde of WASHING doeth importe.) Wherein the Apostle teacheth, That by the invocation of the NAME of CHRIST, and operation of the Holie GHOST, wee are therein purged, and sanctified, (sayeth hee.) And, therefore, rightlie doeth the Apostle, after the generall word of Washing, denotating Baptisme, particularize and joyne both these Benefites of Iustification and Sanctification, conferred therein: but confoundeth not the one, with the other; nor maketh hee Sanctification, or inherent righteousnesse in vsus, the cause of our purging, or of our justification before GOD.
IAMES 2.24. Yee see, then, howe by workes a man is justified, and not by fayth onelie. Nowe, workes, (saye they) proceede from an inherent righteousnesse, in man him selfe.
Aunswere. First: Bellarmine, and manie other Romanistes, Bel. l. 4. de justif. c. 18. § nos igitur. Suarez. l. 8. de gra. c. 22. num. 13.whome Suarez mentioneth, affirme, That this Text speaketh no wayes of man's first justification before GOD'S Tribunall, vntounto absolution; and whereof is the Question: and so it maketh no wayes for the purpose.
Next: Beside OEcumenius, Theodoret, and Beda, on this place, their owne Aquinas, showeth the true meaning thereof: who objecting to this place, that to the ROMANS, (ROM. 3.20.) hee reconcileth them thus; I aunswere, (sayeth hee) That, to justifie, may bee taken two wayes; eyther for the execution, or the manifestation of our justification. And this waye, indeede, a man is justified by workes: that is, Hee is declared and showne to bee just: Or, it is taken for the infused habite of righteousnesse: and this waye no man is justified by workes, (sayeth hee.)
Lyke-wyse, (sayeth Doctour Paes, a Portugall Friar) the meaning of these wordes, That ABRAHAM was justified by workes, may bee this, (sayeth hee) that is, That hee was declared just, as Theodoret expoundeth, and which I most approue.