Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

SECT. VII. That the Righteousness of Christ, is imputed to Men, and made theirs through Faith which worketh by Love, and this Faith is accounted un∣to Men for Righteousness.

How it cometh to pass, that any should take the Righteousness of Christ's Performances, or actual Obedience, to be designed by God on∣ly as an excellent Pattern, or Examble to Men, is not easie to conceive. When we consider, 1. That we had very excellent Presidents before his coming, such as is hard for us to imitate; whose Examples also even to this Day, remain Patterns to us, James 5. 10. Yea, and since his As∣cension, his Apostles are very excellent Presidents, even such as few (if any) can fairly pretend to follow. Surely Christ did nothing in vain, or without great need on our part; and yet so eminent was the Pattern of the first Witnesses of Christ, in the Ministration of the Go∣spel, that they even seem to have followed Christ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or step by step, both in active and passive Obedience; at least so far, as that it may seem sufficient for our Example. Now if Christ should be called our Righteousness, only because he is our Pattern, he alone could not be cal∣led our Pattern; and consequently, he alone would not be called our Righteousness. But seeing Christ, and Christ alone, may truly be said to be our Righteousness, Jer. 23. 6. we must therefore look upon his Righteousness to be of far greater Concernment to us, than the Righte∣ousness of the most holy Saint that ever yet lived; nor will it be easie to do this, unless we hold to that Article, The imputation of Christ's Righte∣ousness to Men. And in this case, it's easie to demonstrate the Trans∣cendent Advantages that accrue to us from his Righteousness, and from his only: For where are we bid to look to the Saints for Righteousness? Or where are they said to be made of God unto us Righteousness? Or where are they called our Righteousness? But unto Christ we are thus directed, Isa. 46. 12, 13. Hearken unto me ye stout-hearted, that are far from Righteousness. I bring near my Righteousness, it shall not be far off; and my Salvation shall not tarry. Isa. 45. 24, 25. I have sworn by my Self, the word is gone out of my Mouth, — every Knee shall how, &c. Sure∣ly, shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength; even to him shall Men come. — In the Lord shall all the Seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. This place is applied to Christ, Phil. 3. who is also said to

be made of God unto us Righteousness (as well as) Redemption, &c. 1 Cor. 1. 30, 31. That according as it is written, Let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord.

Righteousness is two-fold, our own Righteousness, (or the Righte∣ousness of the Law) and that which is called the Righteousness of * 1.1 God, Phil. 3. 9. — And be found in him, not having on my own Righteousness which is of the Law, but that which is through the Faith of Christ, the Righteous∣ness which is of God by Faith. Again, The Righteousness of God without the Law, is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, Rom. 3. 21. That is, God hath now, in respect of us, cancelled the Law, which stood as an hand-writing against us, and was contrary to us, nail∣ing it to the Cross of Christ. And hath manifested, or shewed forth a way to be made Righteous without the Law; yea, by which we may be justified from all things, from which we could not be justified by the Law, Acts 13. 39. Of this Righteousness, Paul saith, the Jews were igno∣rant; and going about to establish their own Righteousness, have not submit∣ted themselves to the Righteousness of God, Rom. 10. By submission, in this place, we may not well understand a conforming of our selves to the Precepts of God, (though such submission must be found in us); but this place may be well expounded by Gal. 2. 17. If while we look to be justified by Faith, we our selves are found Sinners. And again, Even we have be∣lieved in Christ, that we might be justified by the Faith of Christ; and not by the Works of the Law, for by the Works of the Law shall no Flesh be justi∣fied. Thus then the whole World being found guilty before God, could not, by any Righteousness which they have done, lift themselves out of that state of Sin and Misery; wherefore God, in the greatness of his love to Mankind, hath laid help upon One that is mighty to save; who brings near his Righteousness, to those that were far from Righteous∣ness, that in him they might have Righteousness through Faith; though in themselves there is too much demerit, to bear the Appellation of Righ∣teousness.

That God imputes Righteousness to Men without Works, is so plain, that it can never be denied. What is thus imputed, is not acted by us, but expresly reckoned as a matter of free Gift, or Grace; and this can be the Righteousness of none but Christ, as it concerns the Gentiles, who have believed through Grace, because no other way can the Righteous∣ness of God be made ours. And this Righteousness of Christ must needs be that which he wrought in the days of his Pilgrimage: for if we take Righteousness as it is essential to the Godhead, it cannot be imputed to Men; For who is Holy as the Lord? 1 Sam. 2. 2. The very Heavens are not clean in his sight, Job 15. 15. And he is more just than to im∣pute us Righteous, if indeed there were no Righteousness to be imputed to us; and there is none Righteous, no not one. Except therefore the Righteousness of Christ be laid hold on, there is no Righteousness to be imputed to Sinners.

Now whether the Passive Righteousness of Christ only, or his Active Righteousness also, be that which is imputed to Sinners, is doubtful to some; but for my part I take it to be both. This is that fine Linnen,

white and clean, which arrayeth the Church of God, Rev. 19. 7. And the best Robe which God puts upon returning Sinners, Luke 15. Nor can I see to what end Christ did so exactly fulfil the Law, if he did it not for us, or in our stead: and so is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth, Rom. 10. For though it is true, he was born under the Law, and so stood bound to keep the Law, yet for our sakes he was so born; and consequently all that he did in that capacity, was on our account also, as well as his Sufferings: For the Transgressions com∣mitted against the Law, was he crucified in our place and stead, and so it follows, that the whole Righteousness of Christ, Active and Passive, is reckoned as ours through believing. And how it can truly be said, that the Righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us, unless it be by Christ's ful∣filling it for us, I cannot at all conceive; sith it is certain, That the Law was a Yoak, which neither we nor our Fathers were able to bear, Acts 15. And though it is true, that Practical Righteousness wrought by the Peo∣ple of God, is a comely, yea, and a necessary Ornament, and may lie within the verge of Rev. 19. 8. Yet this I further say, that it is not so immediately signified in that place, as Righteousness Imputative; because the Righteousness there mentioned, is said to be granted to the Saints, (whereas Practical Righteousness is acquired by Industry); For he hath made him to be Sin for us, who knew no Sin, that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5. 21. Now certain it is, Christ was made Sin for us only by imputation, for he had no Sin; and as he was made Sin, so are we made the Righteousness of God in him, which must needs be by the free Imputation of his Righteousness to us; for there is otherwise none Righteous, no not one.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Some do add a third, which they call Civil Righteousness, but I think the Law includes this.