266 / 808
ZIO
Ephe/-ians,
Chap.z.
V
8 R.
8,
it
to ur
itt
Chrifi,
cannot
fland
with
the
merit
of
our works.
Objefl.
But
why
then
doth God promife
life everlafling
to
works
e
if
ye
mortifie the
deeds
of
the
flejh,
ye
/balllive Rom.
8. 13.
if
yefop;
to
the
¡
pirit,
you
Jhall reap
of
the
(ßirit
life
everlafiing,
Gal. 6.8.
An
n'
There
are
forre
conditions fimplyconditional!,
that do
well nand
Conditions
of
k
two
forts.
ith
grace.
Such are thofe conditions,whereon they onely interceding,we
pro-
mife
,
and undertake
to do
a
matter
,
or bellow
a kindneffe on
any
;
as,
Go
with
me
to
fuch
a
place, and
I
will give thee hidden
treafure
:
Come
to
me
to
morrow,
and
I
will give
thee
an
hundred pound.
z.
There are other conditions which
have
the
reafon
of
a caufe
meri-
torious ;
fuch
do not
onely intercede
,
but deferve upon contraéts
as
much
as
we promife
:
as,
Do
my work well,
and
I will pay you
truly.
Of
this kinde are
thofe conditions which
are contained
in
the
Law,
Do
this
and
live
:
As for the other
of
the Gofpel, they
areonely
bare
and fimple
conditions, which deferve nothing, but mull
intercede
and
precede the
bellowing
of
eternall
life.
And
here it were worth
our
labour
to confider the
grounds
of
Merit, which the
Papins
lay down
InfuRficiene
in
the chief
of
their Arguments.
They
are
thefe
in
brief
:
grounds
whet-
r.
Chrins
Merit.
on
they
e4a-
NAMerit.
2.
Our Adoption.
3. Our Works.
4.
Gods
covenanting with us.
But none
of
thefe are
fufficient
to
eftablifh Merit.
r.
For firn,
we cannot merit
as
children eternall
life, btcaufe
it
is
our
right by
birth.No
childe can
be laid
to merit the inheritance
to
which
he
is
born
:
and
how doth
any
merit that which
is
his
right
already
2.
Nor
do our
Works
of
themfelves merit; when
all
obedience
is
but
a witneffe
of
our thankfuineffe
:
nor
is
there any proportion
between
the
duty
and
the inheritance.
3:
Neither yet
as
they are dyed
with the blood
of
Chrin
,
or
do
come from
his
fpirit;
for,
as
they
are
of
Chrin,
dwelling
in us by
his
fpirit
:
fo are
they alto from our
felves, having a
Law
of
fin dwel-
ling in us, and
lulling againn the fpirit,which maketh
them to
be done
imperfeßtly,
and
by
halves.
Objeff:
It
is
further objeéted, that
life
everlafting
is a
reward,
and
that
re-
wards
are
deferved.
Aufn..
I
anfwer,
all
rewards
are
not
due
upon,
nor given for
defert;
MMerci`groux,
there
is a
reward given by favour.
When
Paul
faith,
that
to
him
that worketh,
the
reward
is counted,
not
by
favour, but by
debt;
doth
he
not
infinuate fo
much,
that
fome often
receive even liberali
re-
wards
,
onely upon the
favour of
the Donour
!
And
our
Saviour
faith,
Luke
6.3
2.
And
if
you
love them
that
love you, what thanks(hall
ye
have? The
word
xáers,
which
fignifieth
a
gratuity,
(as it
were)
and a
reward
of
free favour, importing thus much,
that what
reward
men have
of
God,
even
upon their
belt
fervice,it
is
but
xaews,
a
gratui-
tie,
no
opciÀfust,
no
debt
upon deferr.
Lanly,
\