14. I therefore no more deny the righteousness of Christ, than I deny the godhead of Christ. And a man may full as justly charge me with denying the one as the other. Neither do I deny _imputed righteousness_: this is another unkind and unjust accusation. I always did, and do still continually affirm, That the righteousness of Christ is imputed to every believer. But who do deny it? Why all _infidels_, whether baptized or unbaptized: all who affirm the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to be _a cunningly_ devised fable. All _Socinians_ and _Arians_; all who deny the supreme godhead of the Lord that bought them. They of consequence deny his divine righteousness, as they suppose him to be a mere creature. And they deny his human righteousness, as imputed to any man, seeing they believe every one is accepted _for his own righteousness_.
15. The human righteousness of Christ, at least the imputation of it, as the whole and sole meritorious cause, of the justification of a sinner before God, is likewise denied by the members of the church of Rome: by all of them who are true to the principles of their own church. But undoubtedly there are many among them, whose experience goes beyond their principles. Who though they are far from expressing themselves justly, yet feel what they know not how to express. Yea, although their conceptions of this great truth, be as crude as their expressions, yet _with their heart they believe_; they rest on Christ alone, both _unto_ present and eternal _salvation_.
16. With these we may rank those, even in the reformed churches, who are usually termed Mystics. One of the chief of these in the present century (at least in England) was Mr. Law. It is well known that he absolutely and zealously denied, the imputation of the righteousness of Christ: as zealously as Robert Barclay, who scruples not to say, “Imputed righteousness, imputed nonsense!” The body of the people known by the name of Quakers, espouse the same sentiment. Nay, the generality of those who profess themselves members of the _church of England_, are either totally ignorant of the matter, and know nothing about _imputed righteousness_, or deny this and justification by faith together, as destructive of good works. To these we may add a considerable number of the people vulgarly stiled Anabaptists, together with thousands of Presbyterians and Independents, lately enlightened by the writings of Dr. Taylor. On the last I am not called to pass any sentence: I leave them to him that made them. But will any one dare to affirm, That all Mystics (such as was Mr. Law in particular) all Quakers, all Presbyterians or Independents, and all members of the church of England, who are not clear in their opinions or expressions, are void of all Christian experience? That consequently they are all in a state of damnation, _without hope, without_ God _in the world_? However confused their ideas may be, however improper their language, may there not be many of them whose heart is right toward God, and who effectually know _the Lord our righteousness_?
17. But blessed be God, we are not among those who are so dark in their conceptions and expressions. We no more deny the _phrase_ than the _thing_; but we are unwilling to obtrude it on other men. Let them use either this or such other expressions as they judge to be more exactly scriptural, provided their _heart_ rests only on what Christ hath done and suffered, for pardon, grace and glory. I cannot express this better than in Mr. Hervey’s words, worthy to be wrote in letters of gold. “We are not solicitous as to any _particular set of phrases_. Only let men be humbled as repenting criminals at Christ’s feet, let them rely as devoted pensioners on his merits, and they are undoubtedly in the way to a blessed immortality.”
18. Is there any need, is there any possibility of saying more? Let us only abide by this declaration, and all the contention about this or that _particular phrase_ is torn up by the roots. Keep to this: “All who are humbled as repenting criminals at Christ’s feet, and rely as devoted pensioners on his merits, are in the way to a blessed immortality:” and what room for dispute? Who denies this? Do we not all meet on this ground? What then shall we wrangle about? A man of peace here proposes terms of accommodation to all the contending parties. We desire no better. We accept of the terms. We subscribe to them with heart and hand. Whoever refuses so to do, set a mark upon that man! He is an enemy of peace, a troubler of Israel, a disturber of the church of God.