A treatise of justifying righteousness in two books ... : all published instead of a fuller answer to the assaults in Dr. Tullies Justificatio Paulina ... / by Richard Baxter.

Aphorism.

BƲt yet it is as true, 1. That the taking Christ * 1.1 for our Lord, and so delivering up our selves to his Government (which is the subjection of the heart, and resolution for further Obedience, and in∣deed an essential part of Faith) doth in order of na∣ture go before our first Justification.

Animadvers.

1. Viz. As the Qualification of that Faith which justifie••, as Mr. Ball in the place before cited speaks.

2. But Christ as having satisfied for our sins, is received by us unto Justification.

3. Faith which justifieth, doth receive Christ in respect of all his Offices: But Faith justifieth as it receiveth Christ as a Priest, making satisfaction for us; by which Satisfaction laid hold on by Faith, and so imputed to us, we are justi∣fied.

Reply.

1. I yield to your first from Mr. Ball (as to those acts that are not essential;) but have proved al∣ready, that the Qualification of Faith is part of the Condition, and so it hath the necessity-moral of a Condition (as current English money in a Bond:) And not only a natural necessity (as it is necessary an en∣tire man have two hands, &c.) The Condition is, not only that we Believe, but that we affectionately believe, &c.

2. I yet see no reason to think, Taking Christ as King to be less essential to justifying Faith, than taking

him as Priest. Your second Proposition is true, but nothing against me.

3. And the same I say of the next, [Faith justifi∣eth as it receiveth Christ as Priest,] except you add [only.]

4. That which mars all your discourse is, 1. The confounding two Questions, What justifieth ex par∣te objecti? and what ex parte actus nostri? It is Christ's Satisfaction, and not his Kingship that ju∣stifieth meritoriously; it is Christ as Advocate that ju∣stifies Apologetically; it is Christ as Judg that justi∣fies Sententially: As it is Christ (and the Father in him) that per novum foedus, justifieth Constitutive∣ly efficienter. But ex parte actus, Faith justifieth quatenus conditio istius foederis: And that Faith which is the Condition, is the receiving our Lord Jesus Christ the Redeemer entirely.

2. You are brought to confess, that Faith is the Condition of Justification (and I think that it justi∣fies qua conditio praestita) and yet you seem to re∣tain a notion in your mind, as if it justified qua fi∣des in its natural Capacity: As if the Ratio mate∣rialis vel Aptitudinalis, were nearer the effect than the Formalis.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ibid.