Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But yet by the way here might be made a question. For it should seem that God sendeth men to their own deservings to be justified by them.¹ And on the other side S. Paul avoucheth §10that we be justified by faith: that is to say, that we be accepted for righteous before GOD, through his only free goodness, forasmuch as he accepteth us in our Lord Jesus Christ. For it is written that Abraham believed God,² and it was reckoned to him for righteousness. But here Moses saith, that the keeping of the Law is imputed for righteousness. It seemeth then that men are able to purchase salvation by their own works,§20 and so by that means are not endangered unto God. But we have two things to note here. The first is that whereas it is said that the keeping of the Law is righteousness before GOD, it is not meant thereby that men can become righteous by their own works: for then must they fulfil the law throughout in all points. But now was there ever any creature found that discharged himself to Godward? No.³ Ye see then that we be all damned,§30 and so be quite bereaved of the righteousness that was given by the Law. Wherefore let us learn that the Law could well justify us before God, if we could keep it from point to point without any failing.⁴ For it is written, he that doth these things shall live in them. If a man (say I) could so order his life, as he might make his boast that he had fully performed all that GOD hath commanded him: he should be righteous. And why? For God which cannot §40lye hath made us a promise, that he will accept our works for righteousness, so we fail not in the performance of any point of his Law. But now is there not any man that dischargeth himself so much as of any one point.⁵ Therefore are we all transgressors of the Law, and consequently we be all accursed. And we must not imagine that it deserveth to be allowed, when we have done but some piece of that which GOD commandeth. No: for he