I am not ignorant, what these Interpreters Answer, absurdly wresting 1these Words of Paul to another Sense, contrary to the Mind of the Apostle. For thus they comment upon this place. If Abraham by Works, &c. The good Works of Abraham done in Faith, are not by these Words excluded from Justification, neither is he declared to be justified by Faith only. But the Works of the Law, done without Faith, are excluded, which sort of Works because Abraham did not, therefore he is truly said to be justified by his Works before God. Moreover (as they say) it is not proved by these Words, that the good Works of Abraham: being a renewed Man and righteous, though done in Faith, did not justify, but that Abraham was not justified by Works only without Faith. Thus they say, What should I answer then, but that their Interpretation doth not agree with the Mind of the Author? Paul writing to the Romans, when he had proved it by many and weighty Arguments, That a Man is justified by Faith without Works, being about to confirm the ⟨p. 493⟩same by an Example; He enquires concerning the Works of Abraham: What shall we say, that Abraham our Father according to the flesh found? For if he was justified by Works, he hath whereof to Glory, but not before God, &c. First, let us see, what these Works were of which Paul treats, and next whose Works they were? The Adversaries 2Answer, and amongst those Campian our Country-man, who a while since, when he was urged by this place of Paul, concerning the Works of Abraham, is reported to have answered thus, like his own Jesuits, the Works of the Law, as they are done without Faith and Grace, avail nothing to Justification; but because the Works of that Holy Man were not such, being replenished with Faith and Grace, therefore he is truly said to be justified by his own Works before God, yet not as his own Works. What do you say? Was he justified by Works, of whom Paul says expressly, that he had no cause of glorying in his Works before God? Was the Apostle ignorant of the Holiness and Excellency of the Works of the Godly Patriarch, which were not without Faith, and the Grace of God? And yet Paul denies that these Works, though excellent in themselves, availed any thing before God, in respect either of glorying or of Justification? And it is evident by the Authority of Paul, that it was of Faith, and nor of Works that he was justified before God;
I am not ignorant, what these Interpreters Answer, absurdly wresting 1these Words of Paul to another Sense, contrary to the Mind of the Apostle. For thus they comment upon this place. If Abraham by VVorks, &c. The good VVorks of Abraham done in Faith, are not by these Words excluded from Iustification, neither is he declared to be justified by Faith only. But the VVorks of the Law, done without Faith, are excluded, which sort of VVorks because Abraham did not, therefore he is truly said to be justified by his VVorks before God. Moreover (as they say) it is not proved by these Words, that the good Works of Abraham: being a renewed Man and righteous, though done in Faith, did not justifie, but that Abraham was not justified by Works only without Faith. Thus they say, What should I answer then, but that their Interpretation doth not agree with the Mind of the Author? Paul writing to the Romans, when he had proved it by many and weighty Arguments, That a Man is justified by Faith without Works, being about to confirm the ⟨p. 493⟩same by an Example; He enquires concerning the Works of Abraham: What shall we say, that Abraham our Father according to the flesh found? For if he was justified by Works, he hath whereof to Glory, but not before God, &c. First, let us see, what these Works were of which Paul treats, and next whose Works they were? The Adversaries 2Answer, and amongst those Campian our Countrey-man, who a while since, when he was urged by this place of Paul, concerning the Works of Abraham, is reported to have answered thus, like his own Iesuits, the Works of the Law, as they are done without Faith and Grace, avail nothing to Iustification; but because the Works of that Holy Man were not such, being replenished with Faith and Grace, therefore he is truly said to be justified by his own Works before God, yet not as his own Works. What do you say? Was he justified by Works, of whom Paul says expresly, that he had no cause of glorying in his Works before God? Was the Apostle ignorant of the Holiness and Excellency of the Works of the Godly Patriarch, which were not without Faith, and the Grace of God? And yet Paul denies that these Works, though excellent in themselves, availed any thing before God, in respect either of glorying or of Iustification? And it is evident by the Authority of Paul, that it was of Faith, and nor of Works that he was justified before God;
- 1The Words of Paul wrested by the Papists.The VVords of Paul wrested by the Papists.
- 2Tarrianus Jesuit. pro epist. pent. lib. 4.Tarrianus Iesuit. pro epist. pent. lib. 4.
