The marrow of true justification, or, Justification without works containing the substance of two…

Now Grace and Works (let Works be of what sort they will) are directly contrary the one to the other. See Rom. 11. 6. And if it be of Grace, then it is not of Works, otherwise Grace is no more Grace; but if it be of Works, then it is no more of Grace, otherwise work is no more work. There is no mixing Works and Free Grace together, but one of these doth and will destroy the Nature of the other; and as it holds true in Election, so in Justification: If Justification was partly of Grace, and partly by Works done by the Creature, or from foreseen Holiness and sincere Obedience done by us; then Grace is no more Grace, or Works no more Works: For whatsoever proceeds of Grace (as our Annotators observe) that cometh freely, and is not of Debt, But whatsoever cometh by Works, that cometh by Debt; but now Debt and Free Grace, or that which ⟨p. 21⟩is free and absolutely by Grace, and that which is by Desert, are quite contrary things; therefore to say Men are called and justified, partly by Grace, and partly by Works done by the Creature, this were to put such things together as cannot agree; for 'tis to make Merit no Merit, Debt no Debt, Work no Work, Grace no Grace; and so to affirm and deny one and the same thing. From hence take this Argument:

That which is of the Free Grace of God, is not by any Works done by the Creature. But Justification is of the Free Grace of God; therefore not by any Works done by the Creature. That being justified by his Grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of Eternal Life, Tit. 3. 5. From hence rises all the hopes we have of Salvation; 'tis by, or according to the Free Grace of God, through the Merits of Jesus Christ alone.