C deeds of the law. 29. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not alfo of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles allo: 30. Seeing it is one God, which fhall juftifie the circumcifion by faith, and uncircumcifion through faith. 31. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. CHA P. IV. HAT fhall we fay then, that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2. For if Abraham were juftified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. 3. For what faith the fcripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4. (1) Now to him that worketh, is the C 3. et Gen. 15. 6. He believed in the Lord; and he count ed it to him for righteousness. † Gal.3. B 2 reward nefs. tJam.2.23. The Scripture was fulfilled, which faith, Abraham believed God,and it was imputed to him for Righteousness. 4. t Rom. 11. 6. If by Grace, then it is no more of Works: otherwise Grace is no more Grace. But if it be of Works, then it is no more Grace': otherwise work is no 6. Even as Abraham believed God, and to more work. it was accounted to him for righteous Chrift. Those who would fee more on this Argument, may read what Mr. Oftervald fays in his excellent Book of the Caufes of the prefent Corruption of Chriftians, Part I. under Caufe the 4th. Alfo Bishop Bull's English Works, Serm. I. and pag. 880. and his Harmonia Apoftolica in his Latin Works. Alfo Dr. Wells's Difcourfe concerning the true Meaning of St. Paul as to his Doctrine of Juftification by Faith, before the Epile to the Romans. (1) By Working here, is meant a perfect Obedience to the Law of God, by what Way foever it is made known to us. For Abraham's Working was before the giving of the Law of Mofes; and the Rule here laid down by the Apostle holds true of all manner of Works, whether of the Moral or Ceremonial Law. For whoever fhall perfectly and in all Points keep the Law, the Reward of his Obedience is not conferred on him by Grace or Favour, but it is a Debt due unto him. But neither Abraham, nor any other meer Man, did ever perform fuch an Obedience, confequently, he could not plead the Merit of his Works for his Juftification and Salvation. 3 But by Vertue of God's Covenant and Promife, his Faith in the Goodness and Power of God to perform his Promife, was accounted to him for Righteousness; that is, God did not lay the Guilt of his Sins to his Charge, but juftified or pardoned him on the Account of his Faith, and dealt with him as a righteous Perfon, one who had never offended him. But this Faith obliged Abraham, as our Faith obliges us, for the future, to a fincere and univerfal Obedience to the Laws of God. If the ungodly re pent ! reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteoufnefs. 6. Even as David alfo defcribeth the bieffednels of the man unto whom God imputeth righteoufnels without works, с 7. Saying, Bleffed are they whofe iniquities are forgiven,and whole fins are covered. 8. Bleffed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute fin. 9. Cometh this bleffedness then upon the circumcifion only, or upon the uncircumcifion alfo? For we fay that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcifion,or in uncircumcifion? not in circumcifion,but in uncircumcifion.11.And he received the ffign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteoufnefs of the faith which he had yet being uncircumciled: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcifed; that righteoufnefs might be 'imputed unto them alfo: 12.And the (1) father of circumcifion to them who are not of the circumcifion only, but also walk in the fteps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcifed. 13. For the Promile that he fhould be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his feed through the law, but through the righ teoufhefs of faith. 14. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect. 15. Because the law worketh wrath: for where no e 7. † Pfal. 32. 1, 2. Bleffed is he whofe Tranfgreffion is forgiven, whofe Sin is covered. Bleffed is the Man unto whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity. II. Gen. 17. 10. This is my Covenant, which ye fhall keep between me, and you, and thy Seed afer thee; every Man-Child among you fhall be Circumcifed. Rom. 4. 12, 16. † Gal. 3. 7. See on Luk.19.9. 13. Gen. 17.8. I will be their God. See on A&s 3. 25. 14. Gal. 3. 18. If the Inheri 1 Taw pent of and forfake their Sins, and ceafe to be ungodly, they may ob tain Pardon; but if notwithstanding their Faith, they ftill continue to be ungodly, they deceive and cheat themselves, if they hope to be faved by a meer notional and unfruitful Faith. (1) That is, the Father of thofe who were circumcifed. 1 n 171 609) law is, there is no tranfgreffion. 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be fure to all the feed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17. (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations) before him [Or, like unto him. whom he believed, even God who quickneth the dead, and • calleth those things which be not, as though they were:" 18. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might be, come the father of many Nations; according to that which was fpoken, P So fhall thy feed be. 19. And being not weak in faith, he confidered not his own body now dead, when - B 3 16. See on Rom. 3.24. 1 ver. I. 17. nGen. 17. 5. Neither fhall 5thy Name any more be called Abram; but thy Name fhall be Abraham; for a Father of many Nati❤ ons have I made thee. is not imputed when there is no 20 30 • Rom. 8. 11. He that raised up Chrift from the Dead, fhall alfo quicken your mortal Bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. * 18. P Gen. 15. 5. Look now toward Heaven, and tell the Stars, if thou be able to Number them: And he faid unto him,So fhallthySeed be. 19. Gen. 17. 17. Then Abraham fell upon his Face, and laughed, and faid in his Heart, Shall a Child be born unto him that is an hundred Years old? and fhall Sarah,that is ninety years old, bear? Gen. 18. 11. Now Abra ham and Sarah were old, and well ftricken in Age and it ceafed to be with Sarah after the manner of Women. Heb 11. 11, 12. Through Faith alfo Sarah her felf received Strength to conceive Seed, and was delivered of a Child when the was paft Age, because the judged him faithful who had promifed. There fore fprang there even of one, and him as good as Dead, fo many as the Stars of the Sky in multitude, and as the Sand which is by the Sea thore innumerable. sk mat po 101 9. when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarahs womb. 20. He ftaggered not at the promife of God through unbelief; but was ftrong in Faith, giving glory to God: 21. And being fully perfwaded, that what he had promifed, he was able alfo to perform. 22. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteoufnefs. 23. Now it was not written for his fake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24. But for us alfo, to whom it fhall be im puted, if we believe on him that "raifed up Jefus our Lord from the dead, 25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our Justification. T S CHA P. V. HEREFORE being juftified by 'faith, 'we have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. 2, By whom alfo we have accefs by faith into this grace r 21. † Pfal.115.3. Our God is in the Heavens, he hath done whatfoever pleafed him. Luk. 1. 37. With God nothing fhall be impoffible. Heb. 11. 19. [Abraham] Ac counting that God was able to raise him up even from the Dead. 5 wherein give us all things?. . Gal. 1. 4. Who gave himself for us.- Gal. 2. 20. The Son of God, who loved me, and gave himfelf for me. Eph.5.2. Walk in Love, as Chrift alfo hath loved us,and hath given himfelf for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God,for a fweet fmelling Savour. 2 Cor. 5. 21. He hath made him to be Sin [that is, a Sin-offering] for us, who knew no Sin.Tim. 2.6. Who gave himself a Ranfom for all. Tit. 2. 14. Who gave bimfelf for us. Heb. 9. 14. How 15 much more fhall the Blood of Chrift, who through the eternal Spirit, offered himfelf without Spot to God, purge your Confcience from dead Works to serve the liv God? 23. 5 † Rom: 15. 4. Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our Learning; that we to through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 1 Cor. 9. 15. For our fakes, no doubt, this is written.- ti Cor. 10. 6,11. Now these things were our Examples, to the intent that we fhould not luft after evil things as they alfo lufted Now all these things hapned unto them for ent famples: and they are written for 20ing our Admonition.- 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Inftru &ion in Righteousness. 24. "Acts 13. 30. See on Acts 2. 24. 25. a Mat: 20. 28. The Son of Man came not to be miniftred unto, but to minifter, and to give his Life a Ranfom for many. Rom. 8. 32 He that fpared not his own Son, bur delivered him up for us all, how fall he not with him feely 25 30 1 Cor. 15. 17. If Chrift be not raifed, your Faith is vain; ye are yet in your Sins. CHAP. V. 3 I. See on A&ts 13. 39. Alfo the Note on Rom. 3. 28. See on Joh. 16. 33. 2. Joh. v. 9. I am the Door: by me if any Man enter in he fhall be faved Joh. 14. 6. Jefus faith unto him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life: No Man cometh unto the Father but by me. +Eph. d h 611, wherein we ftand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.. 3. And not only fo, but we glory in tribulations alfo, f know ing that tribulation worketh patience; 4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5. And hope ma-. keth not afhamed, because the love of God is fhed abroad in our hearts, by the holy Ghoft which is given unto us. 6. For when we were yet without ftrength, in due time [Or, according to the time] Chrift died for the ungodly.. 7. For fcarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man fome would even dare to die. 8. But God commendeth his " love towards us, in that while we were yet finners, Chrift died for us. 9. Much more then being now juftified by his blood, we fhall be faved from • wrath through him. 10. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son: much h Pfal. 22. 5 They trusted in thee, and were not confounded. Phil. 1. 20. According to my earnest Expectation and my Hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed. B 4 5 Eph. 2. 18. Through him we both have an accefs by one Spirit unto the Father. Eph. 3. 12. In whom we have boldnefs and accefs with confidence by the Faith of him. Heb. 4. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in Time of need. Heb. 10. 19, 20, 21, 22.10 Having therefore, Brethren, boldness to enter into the belieft by the Blood of Jefus, by a new and living Way which he hath confecrated for us through the Vail, that is to fay, his Flesh; And having an high Prieft over the Houfe of God: Let us draw near with a true Heart, in full Affurance of Faith. 15 t Heb. 3. 6. But Chrift as a 20 Son over his own Houfe: whofe House are we, if we hold fast the Confidence, and the rejoicing of the Hope firm unto the End. e See on Acts 5. 41. † Jam. 1. 3. Knowing this," that the trying of your Faith worketh Patience. Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it felf beareth witness with our Spirit, that we are the Children of God. 6. k Eph. 2. 1. You hath he quickned who were dead in Tref paffes and Sins. Heb. 7. 18. For there is verily a difanulling of the Commandment going before, for the Weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 1 See on Mar. 1. 15. 16. 7. See on Joh. 15. 13. n 8. Pet. 3. 18. 1 Joh. 3. 1 Joh. 4. 9. See on Joh. 15. 13. 9: 6:1 Thef. 1. 10. Mat. 3.7. 10. See on P Rom. 8. 32. He that Spared not his own Son, but delivered 25 him up for us all, how fhall he not with him freely give us all things? t2 Cor. 5. 18, 19. All things are 4. 2 Cor. 1. 5. For as the Suf-, of God, who hath reconciled us to ferings of Chrift abound in us, fohimfelf by Jefus Chrift. God was our Confolation alfo aboundeth by in Chrift reconciling the World Chrift. 2 Tim. 4. 17. The Lord unto himself, not imputing their ftood with me and frengthed Trefpaffes unto them. "Eph. me, g ३०. 2.16. |