For God is not unjust, &c.] These words import as much as if he should have said, Objection. that of these good beginnings, he hopes there will be a good ending. But here ariseth a difficulty; for it seems as if he meant to say that God is beholding unto men, in regard of that they have done for him. I hope well saith he, of your salvation, why? because God is not unrighteous, that he should forget your works. By this it may seem that he builds their salvation upon works, and brings in God as one indebted unto them. Thus the Sophisters who oppose the merits of works to the grace of God, do debate this point, and insist upon it very much; God, say they, is not unjust. For from hence they gather, that it should be unjust with God, if he give not to the merit of works, the reward of eternal salvation. Answer. I answer in few words, that it is not the Apostles meaning, expressly to deal here about the cause of our salvation; and therefore we are not to judge of the merit of works by this place: neither yet can we hence resolve, 1what it is that is due to works. The Scripture every where shows none other cause of our salvation, than the free mercy of God. Now whereas God in many places promiseth reward to works, this depends upon his free promise, by which he hath adopted us for his children, and reconciled us unto himself, not imputing ⟨p. 121⟩our sins unto us. Reward then is appointed unto works, not for any merit that is in them, 2but by the mere liberality of God. Yea even this free recompense of works proceeding from the free bounty and liberality of God, hath no place till we be received into favour by the means of Christ. We gather from hence then, that God in doing this, pays nothing that he owes us, but keeps and fulfils that promise, which of his free good will he hath made, 3because he beholds both our selves and our works with favour and pardon; or to speak yet more properly, he considers not our works so much, as his own grace in our works. Now ye see how it is, that he forgets not our works, because in them he acknowledgeth both himself, and the work of his Spirit. This is also that righteousness which the Apostle meaneth, to wit, because he cannot deny himself. Thus this place is agreeable to the sentence of S. Paul, where he saith, he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it to the day of Christ, Philip.
For God is not vniust, &c.] These words import as much as if he should haue said, Obiection. that of these good beginnings, he hopes there will be a good ending. But here ariseth a difficultie; for it seemes as if he meant to say that God is beholding vnto men, in regard of that they haue done for him. I hope well saith he, of your saluation, why? because God is not vnrighteous, that he should forget your workes. By this it may seeme that he buildes their saluation vpon workes, and brings in God as one indebted vnto them. Thus the Sophisters who oppose the merits of workes to the grace of God, doe debate this point, and insist vpon it very much; God, say they, is not vniust. For from hence they gather, that it should be vniust with God, if he giue not to the merit of workes, the reward of eternall saluation. Answere. I answer in fewe wordes, that it is not the Apostles meaning, expresly to deale here about the cause of our saluation; and therefore we are not to iudge of the merit of workes by this place: neither yet can we hence resolue, 1what it is that is due to workes. The Scripture euery where shews none other cause of our saluation, than the free mercie of God. Now whereas God in many places promiseth reward to workes, this depends vpon his free promise, by which he hath adopted vs for his children, and reconciled vs vnto himselfe, not imputing ⟨p. 121⟩our sinnes vnto vs. Reward then is appointed vnto workes, not for any merit that is in them, 2but by the meere liberalitie of God. Yea euen this free recompence of works proceeding from the free bountie and liberalitie of God, hath no place till we be receiued into fauour by the meanes of Christ. We gather from hence then, that God in doing this, payes nothing that he owes vs, but keepes and fulfilles that promise, which of his free good will he hath made, 3because he beholds both our selues and our workes with fauour and pardon; or to speake yet more properly, he considers not our works so much, as his own grace in our works. Now ye see how it is, that he forgets not our works, because in them he acknowledgeth both himselfe, and the worke of his Spirit. This is also that righteousnesse which the Apostle meaneth, to wit, because he cannot denie himselfe. Thus this place is agreeable to the sentence of S. Paul, where he saith, he which hath begun a good worke in you will performe it to the day of Christ, Philip.
- 1No other cause of our salvation but Gods free mercy.No other cause of our saluation but Gods free mercie.
- 2Reward is not given unto works for any merit, but upon Gods mere liberality.Reward is not giuen vnto workes for any merit, but vpon Gods meere liberalitie.
- 3God beholds not our works, but rather his own grace in our works.
