Of free justification

The Absurdities that arise from the Osorian Righteousness.

Which things, seeing they are guarded with most sure confirmations of Evangelical Scripture, hence it necessarily follows, that all this Discourse of yours about righteousness falls down from the foundation. For if there is no union with God the eternal father but to those, who by on exact observation of the law conform and direct all their actions to the ¹will of God, which is the law of equity and rule of Justice: you make us not now to be Sons, nor Heirs according to the promise, but mercenaries according to the condition of the law: Moreover by this means also it will come to pals. that the promise is sure to no man in his life time, which is directly opposite not only to the mind of Paul, but also to the genuine condition of Sons. For who in the time of this life lives so exactly according to the commands of God, that hitherto he hath never passed the limits thereof, or knows what he will do in the remainder of his life? Whereby it will come to pass that the mind must needs waver hither and thither, with a perpetual uncertainty. Moreover if that be accounted sure by the word and promise of the Gospel, that they are heirs as many as are ingrafted into Christ, then the Kingdom of God must of necessity be an inheritance, ⟨p. 54⟩If an inheritance, then it is not a recompense nor a reward, but a ²Patrimony, which is not due to deeds, but to the spiritual birthright. If to the birth-right, then the bestowing of the Inheritance goes before all deeds. Afterwards Pious deeds follow, according to the saying of Augustine, which is no less true than firm: Good works follow him, that is justified, but go not before him, that is to be justified. Wherefore if that most pure and eternal Nature account us for Sons, as it was proved above, in which there sticks not any stain of unrighteousness, upon the like account it follows, ³