A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.

Obiections of Papists.

Obiections of the Papists proouing inherent righteousnesse to be in the matter of our iustice before God, are these. I. Obiect. It is absurd, that one man should be made righteous by the righteousnes of an other: for it is as much as if one man were made wise by the wisdome of an other. Ans. It is true, that no man can be made righteous by the personall righteousnes of an other, because it pertaines onely to one man. And because the wisdome that is in one man, is his altogether wholly, it can not be the wisdome of an other: no more then the health and life of one bodie, can be the health of an other. But it is otherwise with the righteousnes of Christ: it is his indeede, because it is inherent in him as in a subiect: it is not his alone, but his and ours together by the tenour of the Couenant of grace. Christ as he is a Mediatour is giuen to euery beleeuer as really and truly, as land is giuen from man to man: and with him are giuen all things that concerne saluation; they beeing made ours by Gods free gift: among which, is Christ his righteousnes. By it therefore, as beeing a thing of our owne, we may be iustified before God, and accepted to life euerlasting.

II. Obiect. If a sinner be iustified by Christ his righteousnes, then euery be∣leeuer shall be as righteous as Christ: and that can not be. Ans. The proposi∣tion is false: for Christ his righteousnes is not applied to vs according as it is in Christ; neither according to the same measure, nor the same maner. For his obedience in fulfilling the law, is aboue Adams righteousnes, yea aboue the righteousnes of all Angels. For they were all but creatures, & their obedience the obedience of creatures: but Christ his obedience is the obedience or righ∣teousnes of god: so tearmed Rom. 1.17, 18. 2. Cor. 5.21. not only because god accepted of it, but because it was in that person which is very God. When Christ obeied, God obeyed: and when he suffered, God suffered: not because the godhead suffered or performed any obedience, but because the person which according to one nature is God, performed obedience and suffered. And by this meanes his righteousnesse is of infinite value, price, merit, and ef∣ficacie. Hence also it commeth to passe, that this obedience of Christ serueth not onely for the iustifying of some one person (asa 1.1 Adams did) but of all and euery one of the Elect: yea it is sufficient to iustifie many thousand worldes. Now to come to the point, this righteousnes that is in Christ, in this large∣nesse and measure; is pertaining to vs in a more narrow skantling: because it is onely receiued by faith b 1.2 so farreforth, as it serueth to iustifie any particular beleeuer. But they vrge the reason further, saying: If Christ his righteousnes be the righteousnes of euery beleeuer, then euery man shauld be a Sauiour; which is absurb. Answ. I answer as before, and yet more plainely thus: Christ his righteousnesse is imputed to the person of this or that man, not as it is the price of redemption for all mankind, but as it is the price of redemption for one particular man: as for example, Christ his righteousnes is imputed to Pe∣ter, not as it is the price of redemption for all, but as it is the price of redemp∣tion for Peter. And therefore Christ his righteousnesse, is not applyed

to any one sinner in that largenes and measure, in which it is in the person of Christ: but onely so farforth as it serueth to satisfie the law for the said sinner, and to make his person accepted of God as righteous, and no further.

III. Obiect. If we be made righteous by Christ his righteousnes truly, then Christ is a sinner truly by our sinnes: but Christ is not indeed a sinner by our sinnes. Ans. We may with reuerence to his maiestie in good manner say, that Christ was a sinner, and that truly: not by any infusion of sinne into his most holy person, but because our sinnes were laide on him: thus saith the holy Ghost, he which knew no sinne was made sinne for vs, and he was counted with sinners, Isa. 53. 12. yet so, as euen then in himselfe he was without blot, yea more holy then all men and angels. On this manner saide Chrysostome, 2. Cor. 3. God permitted Christ to be condemned as a sinner. Againe, He made the iust one to be a sinner, that he might make sinners iust.

IV. Obiect. If a man be made righteous by imputation, then God iudgeth sinners to be righteous: but God iudgeth no sinner to be righteous, for it is a∣bomination to the Lord. Ans. When God iustifieth a sinner by Christ his righteousnes, at the same time, he ceaseth in regard of guiltines to be a sinner: and to whome God imputeth righteousnes, them he sanctifieth at the very same instant by his holy Spirit: giuing also vnto originall corruption his deadly wound.

V. Obiect. That which Adam neuer lost, was neuer giuen by Christ: but he neuer lost imputed righteousnes: therefore it was neuer giuen vnto him. Ans. The proposition is not true: for sauing faith, that was neuer lost by A∣dam, is giuen to vs in Christ: and Adam neuer had this priuiledge, that after the first grace should follow the a 1.3second: and therefore being left to himselfe, he fell from God: and yet this mercie is vouchsafed to all beleeuers, that after their first conuersion God will still confirme them with new grace: and by this meanes, they perseuere vnto the ende. And whereas they say, that Adam had not imputed righteousnes: I answer, that he had the same for substance, though not for the manner of applying by imputation.

VI. Obiect. Iustification is eternall: but the imputation of Christ his righte∣ousnes is not eternall, for it ceaseth in the end of this life: therfore it is not that which iustifieth a sinner. Ans. The imputation of Christs righteousnes is euer∣lasting: for he that is esteemed righteous in this life by Christ his righteous∣nes, is accepted as righteous for euer; and the remission of sinnes graunted in this life, is for euer continued. And though sanctification be perfect in the world to come, yet shall it not iustifie: for we must conceiue it no otherwise after this life, but as a fruit springing from the imputed righteousnes of Christ, without which it could not be. And a good childe will not cast away the first garment, because his father giues him a second. And what if inward righte∣ousnes be perfect in the ende of this life, shall we therefore make it the matter of our iustification? God forbid. For the righteousnes whereby sinners are iu∣stified, must be had in the time of this life, before the pangs of death.

Notes

• a 1.1

  namely for himselfe.
• b 1.2

  As any one starre partakes in the whole light of the ••un with the rest of the starres, so far forth as the saide: light makes it to shine.
• a 1.3

  we haue & posse & velle, he had no more but posse si vellet, and he wanted velle quod posset. Au∣gust. de cor∣rept. & gra. cap. 11.