Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/72

---

---

stable and constant: and signifieth such a beliefe, as is opposed to fainting: as it is said of Jacob, when he heard the report of his sons that Joseph was alive, his heart fainted, because he believed not: but when he believed, his heart revived. Gen. 45. 25, 26. And David saith of himselfe, I had fainted, unlesse I had beleeved, Psal. 27. 13. So that it is a lively motion of the heart or soule assenting unto, and trusting in the word of God as firme and stedfast. Now whether you reade the word following, in or upon God, as Arias and Pagnine, or God, as the Apostles alleadge it, it is all one: for here to believe God, as all circumstances doe shew, is to Joh. 5.24.put trust and confidence in God, or with lively adherence to sticke or cleave unto the word of God. And he imputed, sc. God, or he in whom Abraham believed, as the construction it selfe and words following manifestly convince: or, it was imputed, as ª Isa. 22.8.
Mich. 1.7.
Ezek. 23.47.
Gen. 50.20.
1 Sam. 18.25.
Jer. 18.7,8.
& 49.30
& 29.11.
Exod. 26.1.
& 39.32.
Psal. 40.17.ª active verbes amongst the Hebrewes are expounded passively. The word translated imputed, is of large signification, and imports to thinke, reckon, Rom. 6. 11. Psal. 44. 22. Rom. 8. 36. devise, purpose, conclude, Rom. 3. 28. resolve, plot, esteeme, fore-see, reason, Mark. 11. 31. consult of a matter how it may be brought to passe, looke unto, and take care of. But more properly to the matter in hand it is to account unto a man, or repute unto a man, or reckon unto a man any thing to be his, or to be good paiment and satisfaction for him in his accounts.Gen. 38.15.
1 Sam. 1.13. And that we may the better conceive the meaning of it in this text, let us consider some other passages in which it is used: Lev. 17.4.
& 25.53.Bloud shall be imputed unto that man, he hath shed bloud. Num. 18.27.This your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corne of the threshing floore. 2 Sam. 19.19,20.Let not my Lord impute iniquity to me. Psal. 32.2.Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne. Psal. 106.31.Phineas stood up, and executed judgement, and so the plague stayed, and that was counted to him for righteousnesse. Rom. 2.26.If the uncircumcised keepe the ordinance of the Law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision. Rom. 4.11.That righteousnesse might be imputed to them also. & 5.18.Sinne is not imputed when there is no Law. Rom. 9.8.The children of the promise are counted for the seed. 1 Cor. 4.1.Let a man so account of us, as of the Ministers of Christ. 2 Cor. 5.19.God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe, not imputing their sinnes unto them. 2 Cor. 12.6.I refraine, lest any man should account of me, above that he seeth in me. 2 Tim. 4.16.At my first answering no man assisted, but all forsooke me, I pray God, that it maynot