Fourthly,1 and lastly, it is by faith, because the Lord would have it by free grace, and not of debt: for, saith he, If I should give a Law, and rules to men, and promise them life upon it, when they had performed the work, they would challenge it of debt: no, saith the LORD, it is an inheritance, I do not use to deal with my children, as men do with their servants, that I should give them work to do, and when they have done it, I should give them wages, then they would come and challenge it a my hands by way of debt: no, saith the Lord, this is an inheritance, and you are my sons, and you shall have it given you freely, and given you as it becomes a Father to give it, so you shall take it; therefore, that ⟨p. 120⟩it might be of free grace, and not of debt, therefore it is by faith, and not by works. And that is added, likewise, if it had been by works, men would have been ready to boast▪ and have said, I have done this, I am able to keep the Law, therefore the promise of eternal life shall be made good to me, I shall receive it as wages, men would boast in themselves: No, saith the LORD, no creature shall boast in it self: for that puts every man further from the LORD, the more a man rejoiceth in himself, the more he stands upon his own bottom, the more he is divorced from GOD, and separated from him: but, saith he, he that rejoiceth, let him rejoice in the LORD: for that fits a man for the LORD, and therefore I will have it by faith, it shall not be by works. So, beloved, you see now what is the Condition. Surely, look how Abraham was made partaker of the Covenant, so every one of us must be; Abraham was made partaker of it by saith, so shall every man be made partaker of it by faith, and no otherwise. Abraham believed God, when he had a promise, and because he believed him, (not that particular act of faith but) that grace of faith, whereby he believed this, and the other promises of the Messiah, was counted to him for righteousness: and so for this cause, because we believe the promises, and the Covenant of Grace, therefore the LORD accepts us, and accounts us righteous; and because this seems strange to the ⟨p. 121⟩sons of men, therefore we see with how much ado Paul labours to make it good, what strong objections were against it in all times. I have showed the reason. Now when you read Rom. 3. & 4. and Gal. 3. & 4.
Fourthly,1 and lastly, it is by faith, because the Lord would haue it by free grace, and not of debt: for, saith hee, If I should giue a Law, and rules to men, and promise them life vpon it, when they had performed the worke, they would challenge it of debt: no, saith the LORD, it is an inheritance, I doe not vse to deale with my children, as men doe with their seruants, that I should giue them worke to doe, and when they haue done it, I should giue them wages, then they would come and challenge it a my hands by way of debt: no, saith the Lord, this is an inheritance, and you are my sonnes, and you shall haue it giuen you freely, and giuen you as it becomes a Father to giue it, so you shall take it; therefore, that ⟨p. 120⟩it might bee of free grace, and not of debt, therefore it is by faith, and not by workes. And that is added, likewise, if it had beene by workes, men would haue beene ready to boast▪ and haue said, I haue done this, I am able to keepe the Law, therefore the promise of eternall life shall bee made good to mee, I shall receiue it as wages, men would boast in themselues: No, saith the LORD, no creature shall boast in it selfe: for that puts euery man further from the LORD, the more a man reioyceth in himselfe, the more he stands vpon his owne bottome, the more he is diuorsed from GOD, and separated from him: but, saith he, he that reioyceth, let him reioyce in the LORD: for that fits a man for the LORD, and therefore I will haue it by faith, it shall not bee by workes. So, beloued, you see now what is the Condition. Surely, looke how Abraham was made partaker of the Couenant, so euery one of vs must bee; Abraham was made partaker of it by saith, so shall euery man be made partaker of it by faith, and no otherwise. Abraham beleeued God, when hee had a promise, and because he beleeued him, (not that particular act of faith but) that grace of faith, whereby he beleeued this, and the other promises of the Messiah, was counted to him for righteousnesse: and so for this cause, because wee beleeue the promises, and the Couenant of Grace, therefore the LORD accepts vs, and accounts vs righteous; and because this seemes strange to the ⟨p. 121⟩sonnes of men, therefore we see with how much adoe Paul labours to make it good, what strong obiections were against it in all times. I haue shewed the reason. Now when you reade Rom. 3. & 4. and Gal. 3. & 4.
- 14. Reason.
