E R . 8. é'phejan.r, Chap.2. 23.9 ftrength in you, by which you belccved, but the Lord did give you this, hedid draw you, or you could never have bcleeved; and there- fore the Apoftle addeth, is thegift of God. Nowhe contenteth not himfelf to have fet down the truecaufes, but doth difcover all falfe ones, knowing how deep this errour is rooted in our natures, every one letting up his own righteoufnefle; yea the holy Ghof't fore-feeing that men fhould fo hardly for-go fal- vation by works,that they would rather have this llooìrine grounded it felf; wherefore he faith, Not ofworks : and backcth by reafon be- caúfe works, as they (land not with grace, fo they are enemies to the . glory of God, inafmuch as they feu up glory in us ; Left anyfhould baulk himfelf. But it is objected, that the Apoftle fpeaketh thisof works of Na- ture, or works of Ceremony; or that worksof Grace do (land with his grace, or that rejoycing is forbidden in the works we do by our own ftrength, not in thofe we doby his grace dwelling in us. To this the Apoftle replyeth ineffeél, Whatfoeveryou are, or can do, it is not to betrufted or rejoyced in. Why e Becaufe it is ofGod, and this is your bounden duty, as being created even unto that purpofe: That which you are not of your felves, you mull not boaft your felves, as deferving the fame: But your falvation is not of your felves, it is of God ; whatfoever you are, you are it of God ; what- foever good thing you do, it is the end for which he hath created you, it is given you by him: Therefore you have no caule, or matter whereof to boafl. Not of us: ] Not by reafon that we are of any defert ofgraces in us, or not through any power in us: for in the laft verle he confirm - eth, Na of us, not ofworks ; this Propofition is thus cleared. Now then firft,we have here to confider,What is thegroundofalour falvation ? It is the free favour ofGod. This mull be a little cleared in proof ; that though the inward graces be taken as I told you, yet in the bufineffe ofour falvation , it cannot fignilie the gifts of grace in us. And here are fo many arguments near the Text, that I need not go further. Firfl, in the fourth verle, when he had fail, God who is rich in mercie, of his great love bathquickned ue ; he interferteth abruptly, Bygrace are yePaved. Now if grace were any other thing then the love and mercie of God , the Apoftle might be challenged of this abfttrd collection. Again, in the verle before, he doth confirm this grace of God,his kindneffeto us in Chrift ; that loveof his, which hath raifed him to prepare all things for us in Chrifl Jefus. And laftly, in the verfe following, he doth exclude eitherthe gra- ces in us, or the works which come from us , when we are new crea- tures, renewed for the quality by Gods fpirit. If thefe were not fufficient, I would with youto weigh that place, zTim.r.g, According to hù purpofe and grace,given beforeall worlds. Y z So E very ene na rurally a meet juiliria y. Works of 211 forts excluded from merit. D,Efr. Gods free fa- vour the ground of our falvation. Reafons in the Context. 2. 3 l
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