432 An Expofition upen therefore it ele&ion, calling, jailitìcati- on, &c. fhould not be wholly troni grace, but in part alto from works, then grace fhould not remain (fee, and therefore fhould not be grata : tee Rom. 4.4,aa. Gal. 3.i8. T t Et. What profit of this point ? S t L. It refutcrh Inch as in the my. fiery of ele&tion, jultification, &c. do mingle grace and, merit of works toge- ther,aferibingfomewhat to grace, Tome what to world fore-teen, in matter of I ele&ion pall, or prelent in matter of juftilication ; whereas theft things by 1 God himfèlf, are pronounced, afyfiata, which have no agreement at al together. Secondly,we are taught that it is impof- tibie that the Church ot God Ihould fail upon earth, becaufe it doth Ipring out of the cleEtion and grace of God,which cannot at any time utterly tail.Thirdly, it convifteth them of error which here underhand by grace infufed grace, the habit of Juftice powred into mans heart by the Spirit; whereas the Apoftle (pea- keth here of grace,as it is in God (fisbje- i ¿live) as in a fubjeít,and Both oppofe it j as a thing contraryto the worksot righ- t teoufncife which be in men, as to a con - trary ; and tels us what he means by grace,to wit,the ele &ion ofGod. Lafily, 1 this mull provoke all beleevers to joyful thankfùlneffe,ftcingGod when he could not fave them by works which they had not, did by his frank grace .chufe and Cave them ; which deferves at our hands all poffible pralle both in word and deed, in lifeand death. Such as be often mindful! of loch a free mercy, to glori- fie God for it, it is a good lign that they be under his grace;and are even the cho- fels children of God. y I MOTH E U s. 7` 7Hat cloth rhii Text contain ï S t L. 1hefetwothings; ha- ving fit down grace to be the efficient caufèofeleftion and effrftnall calling, now he excludeth works, or denyeth them to be any cauce thereof. Secondly, . he concludeth the firft part of this Chapter, touching the calling away of the jewes,in the feventh verfè ; That all which were freely cleft aniongft them, were certainly laved, none periled bat the reprobates, and that through their own default,becaufe they were hardned in their tins, and namely in their di Co- hedienceof theGofpell of Chrifl,which they obftinatelyand rebellioully refuted, being gracioully & firfi tendred to them. T t M. W hat fignifi es grace? S e L. [Grace] tignihcs Gods free fa- vour, or his everlafting gracious love and mercy ; and [Works] do lignifie me- rit of works or meritorious works ; for thefe be contrary to grace,and not works limply con (Acted as duties. T r M. By what argument doth Paul fbut out works,from being any caufe of eleflion or vo- cation, or bow proverb he that thefe come not from merit of works ? S t L. The argument is taken from the oppofition or repugnancy of flat con- traries, fuch as in no wife can (land and confifl: together, being immediate con- traries. The argument may thus be`:ra- med : Ifele &ion and calling be of me- ritorious works, then it is not of grace; but, they both come of grace, therefore, not of works. T TM. But why might pot the Sewer be Dosit. ele8ed and referto d to God, both by grace and merit of works ? S r L. That is not poffible, for if deft ion were both of grace and works, then works were no works; becaufe what doth proceed of grace, that corn- etts freely not of debt ; but what cometh by merit of works, that cometh by debt; but debt and no debt, that which is free, and by deferving, be molt contrary things. Therefore to fay, that men are ele&ed and called, partly of grace,partly of the merit of forefeen works, that were .. DIALOGUE V. Verf. 6, 7. And if it be ofgrace, it is no more of works, or elfe were grace no more grace ; but i f it be of work. it it no more grace,or elfe were works no more works: What then ? Ifael bath not obtainedthat he fought; but the elelì`ion bath obtained it,and the ref} have been hardned. Solution.
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