CH AP 5.. What works are excluded in 7ufii ficatiost. 443 à o. Paul did not meane fuch works only, when he excluded his own Righ- teoufnefs. Phil. 3: 9. . Nor can fuch works be called works of Righteoufnefs ; which yet are exprefly excluded in this matter. Tit. 3 : 5. C H A P. VI. By works , which Paul excludeth, is not meant the Merite of Works. `Here is one other Evafion , thought upon to shift by all the Apoftles fargueings, & yet to maintaine the Intereft of Works , as the Caufe & ground of juftification before God , to wit. That Paul only difputs againû a groundlefs conceite of merite in works ; not againft the works them- felves , but againft a Pharifaical fenfe of merite & worth in their works, whe- reby they conceived & conceited , that thereby they could fatisfie for their fins, & buy & purchafe to themfelves Jutlificatton & Salvation. But againft: this Evafion , we have thefe things to fay. I. By merite here muff either be underftood , that which is called meritum ' ex condign, that is, that merite , which arifeth from the due proportion of worth , that one thing bath unto another in the ballance of equity & ju- ftice. And who everimagine this merite in their works muff drame of an intrinfick worth in their works , which God, if he do according to juftice, cannot but reward with eternal life : or that which is called meritum ex con- gruo , which floweth not from any inward Condignity in the work, but from a Promife or Covenant , & fo it is meritum ex pago, whereby the reward is not abfolutly of grace , but of debt , becaufe of a congruity in the thing , in refpeft of the Promife & Compa& made. Our Adverfariescannot underftand this laft , when they fay , that Paul difputeth againft merite, becaufe them - (elves owne it , when they make works the Condition of the Covenant, & God to have promifed juilification & life unto our works. Neither are they shy of the word merite it felf, as we faw lately from Mr. Baxter. But now, that Paul is not difputing againft the merite of works , in the firfl tenfe, is manifeft from thefe. (i) The very works required of Adam in the firft Covenant , had not in them this intrinfick worth& merite ex condigno s and fo the Apoftle .hall be difputing againft that , which never was, nor never will be, nay, nor cannot be. (2) Then the Apoftle faith nothing to difprove juftification by the Old Covenant of Works made with Adam,but eftabhsheth that , which who can beleeve ? (3) No man , that is right in his wits, can imagine filch a thing. And shall we think that the Apoftle is difputing againft that , which none, but fuch as are tranfported with mere ignorance & vanity , will owne, or ¡land to, in their more fedate & compofed thoughts. ?41 Even the moft proud & vaine perfon, that is, will joyn the free mercy of God , with all the conceite ofmerite they have; but this merite ex condigno leaveth no imagina- bl e zoom for the free mercy of God, inlef e , or more. (5,) Paul difputeth- not
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=