5. This was represented in all the sacrifices of old, especially the great anniversary [one], on the day of expiation, with the ordinance of the scape-goat ; as hath been before declared.
6. Without a supposition hereof it cannot be understood how the Lord Christ should be our Avri-^w^og, or suffer dvTi 7],ujSjv, in our stead, unless we will admit the exposition of Mr Ho, a late writer, who, reckoning up how many things the Lord Christ did in our stead, adds, as the sense thereof, that it is to bestead us; than which, if he can invent any thing more fo7id and senseless, he hath a singular faculty in such an employment.
CHAPTER rX.
The formal cause of justification, or the righteousness on the account whereof believers are justified before God — Objections answered.
The principal differences about the doctrine of justification are reducible unto three heads: — 1. The nature of it, — namely, whether it consist in an internal change of the person justified, by the infu- sion of a habit of inherent grace or righteousness ; or whether it be a forensic act, in the judging, esteeming, declaring, and pronounc- ing such a person to be righteous, thereon absolving him from all his sins, giving unto him right and title unto life. Herein we have to do only with those of the church of Rome, all others, both Protestants and Socinians, being agreed on the forensic sense of the word, and the nature of the thing signified thereby. And this I have already spoken unto, so far as our present design doth requu'e; and that, I hope, with such evidence of truth as cannot well be gain- sayed. Nor may it be supposed that we have too long insisted thereon, as an opinion which is obsolete, and long since sufficiently confuted. I think much otherwise, and that those who avoid the Romanists in these controversies, will give a greater appearance of fear than of contempt; for when all is done, ii free justification through the blood of Christ, and the imputation of his righteousness,
206 ON JUSTIFICATION.
be not able to preserve its station in the minds of men, the Popisli doctrine of justification must and will return upon the world, with all the concomitants and consequences of it. Whilst any knowledge of the law or gospel is continued amongst us, the consciences of men •sdll at one time or other, living or dying, be really affected with a sense of sin, as unto its guilt and danger. Hence that trouble and those disquietments of mind will ensue, as will force men, be they never so unwilling, to seek after some relief and satisfaction. And what will not men attempt who are reduced to the condition ex- pressed, Mic. vL 6, 7? Wherefore, in this case, if the true and only relief of distressed consciences of sinnei-s who are weaiy and heavy- laden be hid from their eyes, — if they have no apprehension of, nor trust in, that which alone they may oppose imto the sentence of the law, and intei-pose between God's justice and their souls, wherein they may take shelter from the storms of that -wrath which abideth on them that believe not, — they will betake themselves unto any thing which confidently tenders them present ease and relief Hence manv persons, hving all their days in an ignorance of the righteous- ness of God, are oftentimes on their sick-beds, and in their d}-ing hours, proselvted unto a confidence in the ways of rest and peace which the Komanists impose upon them; for such seasons of advan- tage do they wait for, unto the reputation, as they suppose, of their own zeal, — in truth unto the scandal of Christian religion. But finding at any time the consciences of men under disquietments, and ignorant of or disbeheving that heavenly rehef which is pro\dded in the gos- pel, they are ready with their applications and medicines, ha\-ing on them pretended approbations of the experience of many ages, and an innumerable company of devout souls in them. Such is their doc- trine of justification, with the addition of those other ingredients of confession, absolution, penances, or commutations, aids from saints and angels, especially the blessed Virgin; all warmed by the fire of purgatory, and confidently administered unto persons sick of igno- rance, darkness, and sin. And let none please themselves in the con- tempt of these things. If the truth concerning evangelical justifica- tion be once disbeheved among us, or obliterated by any artifices out of the minds of men, unto these things, at one time or other, they must and will betake themselves. As for the new schemes and projec- tions of justification, which some at present would supply us withal, they are no way suited nor able to give relief or satisfaction unto a conscience really troubled for sin, and seriously inquiring how it may have rest and peace with God. I shall take the boldness, therefore, to say, whoever be ofiended at it, that if ive lose the ancient doc- trine of justificaiion through faith in the blood of Christ, and the imputation of his righteousness unto us, public profession of religion
FORMAL CAUSE OF JUSTIFICATION. 207
will quickly issue in Popery or Atheism, or at least in wliat is the next door unto it, — xa/ ravra [ih hn rotZra.
2. The second principal controversy is about the formal cause of justification, as it is expressed and stated by those of tlie Roman church; and under these terms some Protestant divines have con- sented to debate the matter in difference. I shall not interpose into a strife of words ; — so the Romanists will call that which we inquire after. Some of ours say the righteousness of Christ imputed, some, the imputation of tlie righteousness of Christ, is the formal cause of our justification; some, that there is no formal cause of justification, but this is that which supplies the place and use of a formal cause, which is the righteousness of Christ. In none of these things will I concern myself, though I judge what was mentioned in the last place to be most proper and significant.