For not Heaven, but a reward in Heaven is given not to Holy Works, but to 1the Workers. But if any proceed to ask, whence they are Holy: I return to Augustin, That they are Holy from thence, whence they are also made Just, not by Works, but by the Faith ⟨p. 245⟩of the Workers. As for Example, if any Heathen or Pharisee, who is a stranger to the Faith of Christ, should do this same thing, that a Christian does, though he should do also greater things, yet the Works would not please God. And why should his Works displease? Or why should the Works of a Christian please, unless it were for Faith? And that is it which Prophetical verity in old time foretold should come to pass, that the Just should live by Faith; he says, not that the Faithful should live by Righteousness: By which you see, that this Life whereby we live by the Faith of the Son of God, is not rendered unto the Merits of Works, but consists of Faith and Grace; for grace and the gift of God, is Eternal Life: If grace, where is reward? If a gift, where then is Merit? But what shall be said in the mean while unto Testimonies, that are 2frequent in the Scriptures, which oft-times propose great Rewards to Pious Works? First, it is to be considered by the very Name of Obedience, Debt and Duty are implied: Now the Obedience we owe, can properly deserve no grace: What Man at any time commanding a hired Servant to do his Duty, bestows grace or praise upon him for that which he owed upon the account of Obedience, or therefore doth assign unto him any portion of his Inheritance? What does the Lord himself answer 3to such Servants in the Gospel? Say ye, we are unprofitable Servants, ⟨p. 246⟩we have done that which was our duty to do, &c. Now then wherefore 4are those things called by the Name of reward, which God renders unto our good Deeds? I will tell you: God proposes rewards: verily so he does: but the same God proposes Dangers and Combats. The most excellent Master of the Wrestlings sees what and how great storms of Temptations must be undergone, how many labours must be endured, how many difficulties lye before them: He sees through how many Casualties and Dangers, the strait way to the Kingdom must be undertaken by them, who are planted in Christ:
For not Heaven, but a reward in Heaven is given not to Holy Works, but to 1the Workers. But if any proceed to ask, whence they are Holy: I return to Augustin, That they are Holy from thence, whence they are also made Iust, not by Works, but by the Faith ⟨p. 245⟩of the Workers. As for Example, if any Heathen or Pharisee, who is a stranger to the Faith of Christ, should do this same thing, that a Christian does, though he should do also greater things, yet the Works would not please God. And why should his Works displease? Or why should the Works of a Christian please, unless it were for Faith? And that is it which Prophetical verity in old time foretold should come to pass, that the Iust should live by Faith; he says, not that the Faithful should live by Righteousness: By which you see, that this Life whereby we live by the Faith of the Son of God, is not rendered unto the Merits of Works, but consists of Faith and Grace; for grace and the gift of God, is Etrenal Life: If grace, where is reward? If a gift, where then is Merit? But what shall be said in the mean while unto Testimonies, that are 2frequent in the Scriptures, which oft-times propose great Rewards to Pious Works? First, it is to be considered by the very Name of Obedience, Debt and Duty are implyed: Now the Obedience we owe, can properly deserve no grace: What Man at any time commanding a hired Servant to do his Duty, bestows grace or praise upon him for that which he owed upon the account of Obedience, or therefore doth assign unto him any portion of his Inheritance? What does the Lord himself answer 3to such Servants in the Gospel? Say ye, we are unprofitable Servants, ⟨p. 246⟩we have done that which was our duty to do, &c. Now then wherefore 4are those things called by the Name of reward, which God renders unto our good Deeds? I will tell you: God proposes rewards: verily so he does: but the same God proposes Dangers and Combats. The most excellent Master of the Wrestlings sees what and how great storms of Temptations must be undergone, how many labours must be endured, how many difficulties lye before them: He sees through how many Casualties and Dangers, the strait way to the Kingdom must be undertaken by them, who are planted in Christ:
- 1Heaven is not a reward to the Saints, but in the Heavens.
- 2Ro. 6. An Objection concerning the rewards proposed. Answer.
- 3That which is due upon the account of Obedience deserves no grace.
- 4Lu. 17.
