A discourse of the true nature of the Gospel demonstrating that it is no…

The Popish Commentators indeed universally interpret this Rom. 3. 27. to design the Gospel to be a new Gracious Law. Thus^a Aquinas, and the Cardinal^b Cajetan; ^cArias Montanus; ^dAmbrosius Catharinus, Bishop of Minori; ^eCornelius Mussus, Bishop of Bitonto; the four Jesuits, ^fBenedictus Justinianus, ^gCornelius a Lapide, ^hEstius, andⁱ Adamus ⟨p. 61⟩Contzen. This last orders his Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, in a way of Disputation, to refute the Heretics, as he calls all those who believe the pure Truths of the Gospel. One great Doctrine of these No-Heretics is, that the Gospel is no Law. This supposed Error the Jesuit applies himself to confute; and in resolving that Question, What is the Law of Works? and what the Law of Faith? he first propounds Bellarmine's Decision of it; the Sum whereof is, that the Gospel is a Law of Works too, but accompanied with Grace. But there is an Objection of Paraeus in the way, That if the Gospel be a Law, as containing in it Precepts and Commands, then the Distinction which the Apostle makes between the Law of Faith, and Law of Works, cannot be preserved; for both of them will agree in commanding Works, however different those Works may be which they enjoin, and therefore they both of them must necessarily be Laws of Works; unless any one will be so accurate a Disputant, as to deny a Law to be a Law, or Works to be Works. To remove this Objection, Contzen, (who being a Jesuit, was very well skilled in all the Arts of Shuffling as well as any Man, and knew the necessary Doubles and Turnings when he was hunted) like a Politician in Divinity, makes this evasive Answer; That both Laws command, and yet the Law of Faith is not a Law of Works, though it commands Works; because it hath the Aids of Grace, by which the Works are performed. Therefore the Law of Faith is a Law of Grace, the Law of Works is without Grace. This is strange indeed; What! the Gospel commands, and yet is not a Law of Works; that is, the Gospel commands, without bidding us to do any thing; or to do, is not to work, but I know not what without a Name. Ay, but it is not a Law of Works, because it contains in it Grace, as a supply of Succour to enable us to perform them. But this only proves the Works of their new Gospel to be easier, not that they are none at all.