for the Sake of CHRIST's Righteousness, which was wrought out for them, and is imputed to them.

Ther. Two of your Terms want fome further Explication. What do You understand by CHRIST's Righteoufnefs? And what is the Meaning of imputed?

Afp. By CHRIST's Righteoufnefs I underftand, all the various Inftances of his active and paffive Obedience; fpringing from the perfect Holiness of his Heart; continued through the whole Progrefs of his Life; and extending to the very laft Pang of his Death. -By the Word imputed I would fignify, That this Righteoufnefs, though performed by our LORD, is placed to our Account; is reckoned or adjudged by GOD as our own. Infomuch, that We may plead it, and rely on it, for the Pardon of our Sins; for Adoption into his Family; and for the Enjoyment of Life eternal.-Shall I illuftrate my Meaning by a well attefted Fact?

Ther. Nothing gives Us fo eafy a Conception of any difficult Point, as this Method of explaining, by parallel Facts, or proper Similitudes.

Afp. I don't fay the Cafe is parallel. I only produce it, to aid our Conceptions. Onefimus, You know, was Philemon's Slave*.

See the Epiftle to Philemon

He

He had perfidiously deserted his Master's Service, and still more perfidiously stole his Goods. The Fugitive, in his guilty Rambles, providentially meets with St. Paul. He is charmed and captivated with that gracious Gofpel, which proclaims Mercy even for the vilest of Sinners. He becomes a thorough Convert to the Religion of JESUS, and is received into the spiritual Patronage of the Apostle. Who, learning his criminal Conduct, and obnoxious State, undertakes to bring about a Reconciliation, with his offended Mafter difpatches Him, for this Purpose, with a Letter to Philemon and amongst other Perfuafives, writes thus in the poor Criminal's Behalf; If He bath wronged Thee, or oweth Thee aught, put that on mine Account. I Paul have written it with mine own Hand; I will repay it.

:

That, which the zealous Preacher of Chriftianity offered, the adored Author of Chiftianity executed. We had revolted from the LORD of all Lords, and broke his holy Commandments. The Son of GOD, infinitely compaffionate, vouchfafes to become our Mediator. That nothing might be wanting, to render his Mediation fuccefsful, He places Himself in our Stead. The Punishment, which We deserved, He endures. The Obedience, which we owed, He fulfils.-Both which, being imputed to Us, and accepted for Us, are

the

the Foundation of our Pardon, are the procuring Cause of our Justification.

Ther. Is this the exact Signification of the original Word, which We tranflate imputed?

Afp. In the Book of Numbers, We meet with this Phrase; and in such a Connection, as clears up its Meaning.-JEHOVAH enacts a Decree concerning the Levites; who had no Vintages to gather, nor any Harvests to reap. He directs them, to prefent the tenth Part of their Tythes, in the Form of a Heave-Offering: adding, And this your Heave-Offering shall be reckoned unto You, as though it were the Corn of the Threshing-Floor, and as the Fulness

*

of

*Numb. xviii. 27. exactly answers to St. Paul's shoon, Rom. iv. 9.-The fame Phrase is used, and the fame Doctrine taught, Levit. xvii. 3, 4. What Man foever there be of the Houfe of Ifrael that killeth an Ox, or Lamb, or Goat in the Camp, or that killeth it out of the Camp; and bringeth it not unto the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, to offer unto the LORD an Offering before the Tabernacle of the LORD, Blood shall be imputed to that Man; He hath fhed Blood; and that Man fhall be cut off from among bis People. Here was no Murder committed by the Offender, yet the Crime of Murder is charged, or as the Scripture fpeaks, Blood is imputed to Him. Left Any fhould mistake the Meaning of this Expreffion, or not understand it in its due Latitude, the divine Law-giver is his own Interpreter; He hath in the Eye of my Juftice fhed Blood: He fhall pafs for a Murderer, and be punished as a Murderer; He fhall be cut off from among his People. Thus alfo faith the eternal Judge concerning the Believers in CHRIST; "The Righteoufnefs of my Son is imputed to them: they

-

are in the Eye of my Juftice righteous: they fhall be dealt "with, as righteous Perfons; and made Pártakers of the "Kingdom of Heaven."

of the Wine-Prefs: as fatisfactory to me, and as beneficial to You, as if it was the Tenth of your own Labours, and the Tythe of your own Increase.---So, the expiatory Sufferings, which CHRIST endured; the complete Obedience, which He performed; are reckoned to true Believers. And are altogether as effectual, for obtaining their Salvation, as if they were their own perfonal Qualifications.

Ther. The Imputation mentioned in your Paffage, is the Imputation of fomething done by the Levites themselves, not of fomething done by Another. This, I apprehend, is the true Import of the Word, when it occurs affirmatively in Scripture.

Afp. This is always the Import-fhould have been faid, in order to make the Objection forcible. But You could not fo foon forget the Inftance, juft now alledged. St. Paul, fpeaking of the Crimes, which Onefimus had committed; and of the Injuries, which Philemon had fuftained; fays, Charge them all

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on me*. I will be refponfible, for the one, "and for the other; as much, as if the whole "Guilt had been of my own contracting." Here is fuppofed, not the Imputation of fomething done by the Apostle Himfelf, but of Another's criminal Behaviour.

* Εμοι ελλογε

Under

Under the Law, Aaron is commanded to put the Iniquities of Ifrael upon the ScapeGoat-The fame Sentiment is re-inculcated, when the Goat is faid to bear the Iniquities of the People +. This was plainly an Imputation; yet, could not possibly be the Imputation of any Thing done by the devoted Animal.The Efects which took Place upon the Execution of the Ordinance, indicate a Tranflation of Guilt. For, the Congregation was cleanfed, but the Goat polluted. The Congregation fo cleanfed, that their Iniquities were conveyed away, and to be found no more. The Goat fo polluted, that it communicated Defilement to the Perfon, who conducted it into the Land not inhabited.---All this was GOD's own Appointment; and defigned, like the whole Syftem of Mofaic Ceremonies, to instruct his Church in the Knowledge of the great MEDIATOR: in whose Perfon and Office that was done really, which elfewhere could be done no otherwise than typically.

Ther. If this is your Meaning, Afpafia; Į am apt to think, it will be a difficult Matter to make me a Profelyte. I must be content to pass for one of the stiff-necked Generation. Since, I can fee neither Wisdom nor Equity, in afcribing

*Levit. xvi. 21. + Levit. xvi. 22.