“9. That, though men became sinners by Adam, according to a divine constitution, yet they have, and are accountable for, no sins but personal; for, 1. Adam’s act, in eating the forbidden fruit, was not the act of his posterity; therefore they did not sin at the same time he did. 2. The sinfulness of that act could not be _transferred_ to them afterwards, because the sinfulness of an act can no more be transferred from one person to another than an act itself. 3. Therefore Adam’s act, in eating the forbidden fruit, was not the _cause_ but only the _occasion_, of his posterity’s being sinners. God was pleased to make a constitution, that, if Adam remained holy through his state of trial, his posterity should, in consequence, be holy also; but if he sinned, his posterity should, in consequence, be sinners likewise. Adam sinned, and now God brings his posterity into the world sinners. _By_ Adam’s sin we are become sinners, not _for_ it; his sin being only the _occasion_, not the _cause_, of our committing sins. “10. That, though believers are justified _through_ Christ’s righteousness, yet his righteousness is not _transferred_ to them. For, 1. Personal righteousness can no more be transferred from one person to another, than personal sin. 2. If Christ’s personal righteousness were transferred to believers, they would be as perfectly holy as Christ, and so stand in no need of forgiveness. 3. But believers are not conscious of having Christ’s personal righteousness, but feel and bewail much indwelling sin and corruption. 4. The Scripture represents believers as receiving only the _benefits_ of Christ’s righteousness in justification, or their being pardoned and accepted for Christ’s righteousness’ sake; and this is the proper Scripture notion of imputation. Jonathan’s righteousness was imputed to Mephibosheth when David showed kindness to him for his father Jonathan’s sake.” The Hopkinsians warmly contend for the doctrine of the divine decrees, that of particular election, total depravity, the special influences of the Spirit of God in regeneration, justification by faith alone, the final perseverance of the saints, and the consistency between entire freedom and absolute dependence, and, therefore, claim it as their just due, since the world will make distinctions, to be called HOPKINSIAN CALVINISTS. The statistics of this denomination are included with those of the _Calvinists_, near the close of this volume. ARIANS.