V E R.9. éphefians, Chap.x. Laftly they fay, That which is given according to works, is deferved by works. But fo is eternal! life. That indeed which is given according unto works, as the merito- rious confer thereof, that may well be faid to be deferved by works. But now eternall life is not fo given, but is bellowed according tá works, as they are Teftimonies of our Faith, whereby we re[Von Chrift onely for our falvation, and for whofe fake oncly beleeved on, theyexpel eternal! life. This mutt learn usto renouncewhatfoever we are,in regard ofrefl- ing in it as a caufe of falvation. Look in the ninth of Deuteronomie, verfe 4. Say not in thy heart,For my righteoufneffe the Lord bath brought me in to poffeffe this land, 6.c. No, we matt pur over all to the free grace of God in Chrift, counting our belt deeds as nienfltunos gar- ments, Reckoning all .eo dro(fe and dung to winChrift; th.tt is, to be found, not having our own rightcoufneffe, but that which is through Faith, Phil. 3.9. It is thegift of God:] So the Apoftle faith exprefly, Rom. 6.33. The gift of God is eternall life, through Iefiu Chrift. The laft falvation is made no letfe of the promife and grace, then is our juftificatiefi, and righteoufnelfe, and life, Ram. 5. i . if through the ofenceof one many be dead, mach more thegrace of God, and thegift bygrace, which is by one man lefus Chrift, bath abounded onto many. How can it be called a reward It is fo called metaphorically, not that properly it is a recom pence or wage;but becaufe it followeth in the endof working : a reward may be given of meet bounty and mercie. But when the Scripture calleth ir, now wages,now a giftshow fhall I know where it is properly taken! The Scripture telleth us, that the word [gift] is properly taken for a bequeft,without thedefert ofany thing in us,or work that can come from us; nothing more free thengift, fo let us hold our falvation molt free. A reward may be a largeffc of bounty. But the.Papifts will tell us, it is a gift figuratively, by a Catachre- fis : They fay it is Gods gift, becaufe it is given of God, whereby it is deferved. This cannot ftand with this Text, [Not of tos,not ofworks] This were an intolerable Catachrefis to fay, that the thing I buy with my money, were a free gift to me, which the Papifis muff here yeeld. Again, if it were therefore onely of grace , and a gift, then it might as truly be faid, not to be of grace, and not a gift of God, which fome impioufly fpare not to fpeak. Again, it were a contra - dieaion, tocall it a gift, buying with the penny, and receiving of gift, thefe arecontrary,God taking at my hand as good as he giveth,taking that for which he cannot deny me heaven in jufl exchange. VE R s. 9. Not of works, left any man fhould boathimftlf. VERS. g. In the verfe before, the Apoftle fheweth the fountainof all faving poRles The A good, to be the free graceof God: and the qualification in us (by nt. Faith) whichmakes us capable ofall that good. Now he proceeds Z z in 251 Objet. How reward is Riven to works. Renouncewe our helves wholly. O6je11. ,gals'. Why it is cal- led a reward. Objeïi. Aufir. Onme Son= ex dilcetione. donantis profi- cifcitur. The Papilla lhift about merit. í
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