Of justification four disputations clearing and amicably defending the truth against the unnecessary oppositions…

Argument 5. Repentance is a moral Act: Repentance maketh not the Reward to be of debt, and not of grace: therefore there are some works that make not the Reward to be not of grace, but of Debt. The same I say of Faith it self, and other Acts.

But perhaps some one else will object, that though its true that there be such works, yet they have no Interest in the business of our Justification, and therefore Paul doth hence exclude them. Answer. First, It sufficed to my last purpose to prove that there are works which will not bear his description, and therefore are not they that he means. Secondly, But that those other works have some Interest in the business of our Justification, I have proved in the beginning. Repentance hath the promise of Pardon: so hath faith, &c. But I'll not unseasonably here digress to this, but refer you to what is said before and after, and elsewhere more at large.

But perhaps some one else will object, that though its true that there be such works, yet they have no Interest in the business of our Justification, and therefore Paul doth hence exclude them. Answer. First, It sufficed to my last purpose to prove that there are works which will not bear his description, and therefore are not they that he means. Secondly, But that those other works have some Interest in the business of our Justification, I have proved in the beginning. Repentance hath the promise of Pardon: so hath faith, &c. But I'le not unseasonably here digress to this, but refer you to what is said before and after, and elsewhere more at large.

Argu. 6. In ver. 5. the opposite term [he that worketh not] doth not signify him that performeth no moral act. Therefore in the fourth verse, [he that worketh] doth not signify him that doth perform any moral act. The consequence is undeniable from the evident immediate opposition, between him that worketh, and him that worketh not. The Antecedent I prove, First, From the words of the Text, which mention one act, even believing, as opposite to working, and implied in, or consistent with not working. [To him that worketh not, but believeth.] Secondly, Because else it would subvert the Gospel. What sense would you make of it if you should interpret this and such texts as this of all moral Acts? Such as Christian ears would abhor. If [working] be the Genus, and the Text will hold as extended to Believing, Repenting, &c. as the species, and that even in their due Evangelical notion: Let us try them a little in such an Exposition. ver. 4, 5. [to him that worketh, that is, Repenteth, Believeth, &c. the Reward is not of Grace, but of Debt. But to him that worketh not, (that