SECT. XVI. The mystery of Faith and Works, and rewards of Grace and Debt. H I. Of Faith and Works. E that in word offendeth not, I am design'd a perfect foul, / 1 Pet. i. 8. Whom, having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Rom. iv. 18,-21. Abraham against hope, believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy feed be. And being not weak in faith, he confidered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not at the promise God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Pfalm lxxxix. 36, -39. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the fun before me. It shall be established for e. ver as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou haft been wroth with thine anointed. Thou hast made void the covenant of thy fervant: thou hast profaned his crown, by casting it to the ground. a James iii. 2. If any man offend not in word, the fame is a perfect man, and able also to bridie the whole body. 6 James ii. 10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. c Rom. iv. 5. 6. To him that worketh not, but believeth By faith I do perfection claim e, Works without faith will never speed b, Which no law-works adjutant hath 4. on him that juslisieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works. Job i. 1. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. Pfalm lxxi. 16. I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. Eccl. vii. 20. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doth good, and finneth not. d James ii. 10. See letter b. e Phil. iii. 9. I count all things but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteoufness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chrift, the righteousness which is of God by faith. f Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Chrift: even we have believed in Jesus Chrift; that we might be juftified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. g James ii. 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith fave him ? h Heb. xi. 6. Without faith it is impossible to please God; for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently feek him. Rom. xxiv. 23. Whatsoever is not of faith, is fin. James ii. 17. Even so faith if it hath not works, is dead being alone. v. 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead alfo. * Rom iii. 21, 22. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Yea, gospel-works no help can lend 1, Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference. Chap. iv. 4, 5, 6. Now to him that worketh, is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works. / Phil. iii. 4,-9. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:-touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine owa righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Isa. lxiv. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Hof. xiii. 9. O Ifrael, thon haft destroyed thyself, but in me is thine help. If. xlv. 24, 25. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come, and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed of Ifrael be justified, and shall glory. m Tit. iii. 8. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good works: these things are good and profitable unto men. James ii. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. n James ii. 21, 22. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Ifaac his fon upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? v. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 1 C 1 But works with faith could never vie, And only faith can justify 0: Lo, justifying grace from heav'n • Rom. iv. 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be fure to all the feed. Titus iii. 4.-7. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteouf- ness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost: which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Acts x. 43. To him gave all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remiffion of fins. p Gal. iii. 21, 22. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under fin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Luke xxii. 31, 32. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath defired to have you, that he may fift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves: but our fufficiency is of God. Chap. xii. 5. Of fuch an one will I glory; yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. Rom. v. 16, 17.- The free gift is of many offences unto juftification. They which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Chrift. Chap. iii. 24. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Chrift. r Rom. v. 11. And not only fo, but we also joy in God, Z Faith's active in my fanctity s: I labour much like holy Paul; through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. v. 17. See letter q. Gal. v. 6. For in Jesus Christ, neither circumcifion availeth any thing, nor uncircumcifion, but faith which worketh by love. Acts xv. 9. God put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Chap. xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of fins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. s Rom. iv. 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace. Chap. xi. 6. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. t Eph. ii. 8, 9. For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, left any man should boast. Cor. iv. 7. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? Heb. xi. 11. Through faith alfo Sarah herself received strength to conceive feed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. v. 17. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Ifaac: and he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son: v. 19. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead: from whence also he received him in a figure. v. 35. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverence; that they might obtain a better refurrection. u 1 Cor. xv. 10. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Pfal. Ixxi. 16. I will go on in the strength of the Lord |