An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

But some may say, how doth God render to every man his work? Is it not said He justifieth the ungodly (Rom. 4.5.) Are the works of an ungodly man rendered to him, when he is justified?

But some may say, how doth God render to every man his work? Is it not said He justifieth the ungodly (Rom. 4.5.) Are the works of an ungodly man rendred to him, when he is justified?

I answer, it is one thing what God will do through free grace, and another what he will deal out in strictness of Justice. The Apostle speaks in that place of the free grace of God to sinners, not of his Justice against sinners. Secondly, though God justifieth the ungodly, yet he never justifieth ungodliness; or, though he justifieth a man who hath done many evil works, yea all whose works are evil, yet he never justifieth nor rewardeth the work of an evil man. Thirdly, God acts according to justice and righteousness where he justifieth the ungodly; he doth not show favour to the ungodly in his own wrong. Acts of grace from God are not opposite to his Justice, much less do they contradict or overthrow it. He doth not justify an ungodly man in himself, or merely considered in his ungodliness, but he justifieth him in the righteousness of another, even of Jesus Christ, who hath given full satisfaction to the Justice of God with respect to the ungodly whom he justifieth. Lastly, we may say, that God renders the work of an ungodly man to him when he justifieth him; for though then he hath not done, nor ever can do any works which deserve ⟨p. 565⟩the justification of his person; yet God doth render to him, according to that present work of faith in closing with the promise and the work of Christs righteousness therein tendered to him, and applied by him for his justification.

I answer, it is one thing what God will do through free grace, and another what he will deale out in strictnesse of Justice. The Apostle speaks in that place of the free grace of God to sinners, not of his Justice against sinners. Secondly, though God justifieth the ungodly, yet he never justifieth ungodlinesse; or, though he justifieth a man who hath done many evill works, yea all whose works are evill, yet he never justifieth nor rewardeth the work of an evill man. Thirdly, God acts according to justice and righteousness where he justifieth the ungodly; he doth not shew favour to the ungodly in his own wrong. Acts of grace from God are not opposite to his Justice, much lesse doe they contradict or overthrow it. He doth not justifie an ungodly man in himselfe, or meerly considered in his ungodlinesse, but he justifieth him in the righteousness of another, even of Jesus Christ, who hath given full satisfaction to the Justice of God with respect to the ungodly whom he justifieth. Lastly, we may say, that God renders the work of an ungodly man to him when he justifieth him; for though then he hath not done, nor ever can doe any works which deserve