Answ. We must know Negatively, that herein is not implied, as though men had power to save themselves. Men are able to destroy themselves; and that's all they can now do of themselves, Hos. 13.9. Thou hast destroyed thy self, O Israel. There is a Self-destruction which every man is subject unto; but there is no Self-salvation. Herein is the difference between man in his first, and in his fallen estate: Adam was able to do and live, had he improved the ability which at first God bestowed on him; but since the fall none can do so: It is therefore given as the description of a man in his natural condition, that he is without strength, Rom. 5.6. A man by nature, hath no spiritual strength for the performance of the thing that good is; nay, a natural man cannot so much as desire that which is good, much less can he perform it: Therefore in the next Verse to the Text, the Apostle saith, That it is God that worketh both to will and to do, of his own good pleasure. So that a man cannot will, he cannot desire, much less do, that which is truly good, except Divine, ⟨p. 213⟩Supernatural help be afforded to him. And therefore though the Apostle say, Work out your Salvation, his meaning is not, as though men were able to save themselves: Nor in his meaning, as though men could by their works merit Salvation. In a meritorious work, there must be some proportion between the work, and thing merited thereby; whereas there is no proportion between our Works and Salvation, Rom. 8.18. I reckon (saith the Apostle) that the sufferings of this present life, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed. Suffering-work is hard work-passive obedience, is the hardest and highest obedience, therefore if a man could merit by any thing, it would be by suffering, when as we see there is no proportion between our sufferings & the reward. Besides, to be saved by Works, is contrary to being saved by Grace: Works and Grace are in the matter of Salvation, as opposite as two things can be: If it is of Works, it is not of Grace (saith the Scripture) Rom. 4.4. & 11.6. But we are saved by Grace, Ephes. 2.8. By Grace are ye saved, and not of your selves, it is the gift of God. In a word, to merit is none of our work, it is Christs work: Though God calls us to work out our Salvation, yet not ⟨p. 214⟩[…] merit it, that he never called any but Christ unto. Wherefore to speak Affirmatively.
Answ. We must know Negatively, that herein is not implied, as though men had power to save themselves. Men are able to destroy themselves; and that's all they can now do of themselves, Hos. 13.9. Thou hast destroyed thy self, O Israel. There is a Self-destruction which every man is subject unto; but there is no Self-salvation. Herein is the difference between man in his first, and in his fallen estate: Adam was able to do and live, had he improved the ability which at first God bestowed on him; but since the fall none can do so: It is therefore given as the description of a man in his natural condition, that he is without strength, Rom. 5.6. A man by nature, hath no spiritual strength for the performance of the thing that good is; nay, a natural man cannot so much as desire that which is good, much less can he perform it: Therefore in the next Verse to the Text, the Apostle saith, That it is God that worketh both to will and to do, of his own good pleasure. So that a man cannot will, he cannot desire, much less do, that which is truly good, except Divine, ⟨p. 213⟩Supernatral help be afforded to him. And therefore though the Apostle say, Work out your Salvation, his meaning is not, as though men were able to save themselves: Nor in his meaning, as though men could by their works merit Salvation. In a meritorious work, there must be some proportion between the work, and thing merited thereby; whereas there is no proportion between our Works and Salvation, Rom. 8.18. I reckon (saith the Apostle) that the sufferings of this present life, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed. Suffering-work is hard work-passive obedience, is the hardest and highest obedience, therefore if a man could merit by any thing, it would be by suffering, when as we see there is no proportion between our suffrings & the reward. Besides, to be saved by Works, is contrary to being saved by Grace: Works and Grace are in the matter of Salvation, as opposite as two things can be: If it is of Works, it is not of Grace (saith the Scripture) Rom. 4.4. & 11.6. But we are saved by Grace, Ephes. 2.8. By Grace are ye saved, and not of your selves, it is the gift of God. In a word, to merit is none of our work, it is Christs work: Though God calls us to work out our Salvation, yet not ⟨p. 214⟩
