Commentary on Romans, Treatise · Chapter 9 · Dialogue 20
DIAL. XX.
Verse 31, 32. But Israel which followed the Law of Righteousnesse, could not attaine vntounto the Lawe of righteousnesse. Wherefore? because they sought it not by Faith, but as it were by the workes of the Law.
Tim.
VVHat is the summe of this Text?
Silas.
It containes the second part of Pauls answereSumme. vntounto the question mooued in the thirtieth verse,Parts. & it consists in two things: First, in a proposition, which is this; that the Iewes though they followed righteousnesse found it not. The second part containes the Reasons heereof, which bee two: the one is, because they sought it not by faith; the other is, because they sought it by workes.
Tim.
What is meant heere by Israel?
Silas.
The Iewes who descended from Iacob, who wasInterpretation. called Israel.
Tim.
What is meant by the Law of righteousnesse?
Silas.
The righteousnesse of the Law, or those righteous workes which the Law prescribeth to be done perfectly, and promised life to the doers of them.
Tim.
What signifieth followed?
Sil.
An earnest desire & endeauor to do those workes: it is a speech borrowed from such as run in a race, which striue hard to come to the goale. So were these Iews verie zealous of the Law to keepe it, Acts 22, 3. and as Paul witnesseth of himselfe, Phil. 3, 6.
Tim.
What is meant by not attaining?
Silas.
It is a speech borrowed from runners, which come not to the Goale though they striue towardes it; so these Iewes, though they intended to follow the rule of the Law, which teacheth a perfect righteousnesse, yet they were neuer able to come at it.
Tim.
What Doctrine ariseth from this whole Verse?Doctrine.
Silas.
That such as seeke to be iustified by their owne workes, shall neuer finde righteousnesse: for the Iewes heere spoken of, sought to be righteous by dooing the Law, and yet could not attaine vntounto the righteousnesse of the Law.
Tim.
But this is straunge, that they should not finde which seeke, and yet the Scripture promiseth, that such as seeke shall finde?
Silas.
Indeede it is strange, euen a Paradox to naturall reason, but the cause will appear to be, that they sought amisse: as men may pray and not obtaine, because they pray amisse; so men may follow righteousnesse, and yet not get it, if they seeke it amisse.
Tim.
Yet shew mee why they that endeauour to dee righteousnesse, should not hauehave that righteousnesse that the Lawe requires?
Sil.
Because the Law sets forth such a righteousnesse as no meere man is able to performe. It is certaine, could any man performe the Law perfectly, it would make him righteous and giuegive him eternall life, as it written; Doe this and liue, Gal. 3, 12. Leuit. 18, 8. but this absolute perfection of the Lawe, can no flesh attaine vntounto, no not Gods owne regenerate Children when they are at the best; for if We say we hauehave no sinne, we are Lyars, 1 Iohn 1, 10. There is an impossibiltiy of keeping those two commandements, to louelove with all the heart, and not to lust. Hence it is, that men easily misse of that righteousnesse, which yet they may much sweat for, and take exceeding paines to hauehave it againe. There is yet another cause why they may misse of it, although they labour much for it; because none can seeke to bee saued by their owne workes, without contempt of Christ, in whome alone true righteousnesse is to bee founde; for if one doe but once thinke that he may bee saued by his owne doings, it argues that that man doth iudge himselfe to stand in no need of Christs doings and sufferings, and so he makes the death of Christ voyd and frustrate. Gal. 2. 21.
Tim.
What vse hereof?
Silas.
First, it teacheth how miserable supersticious PapistsVse. and blinde Protestants are; for they looking to hauehave Gods fauour and euerlasting life by their own deseruings, they are most sure to loose & forgoe it. These are vnderunder a double misery; first, that they neuer get the righteousnes that they striue for; and besides that, they loose that true and perfect righteousnes of Christ. Secondly, it confutes the Papists who teach the keeping of the law to bee possible, for then were righteousnesse to bee attained by our doing the law. Thirdly, it humbles the godly to consider that how many or good soeuer their workes bee, yet they come farre short of righteousnesse, and therfore they must be forced to say; Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruant, for no flesh is righteous in thy sight. Psal. 143. 2.
Tim.
Is there not some other thing to be learned from this verse?
Silas.
Yes euen this, that the prouidence of God is wonderfull,2. Doctrine. bestowing righteousnesse and eternall life vppon his elect ones. The reason hereof is, because he bestowesReason. it on such as neuer intended it; and kept it from such as much laboured for it.
Tim.
What vse of this poynt?
Silas.
It serues exceedingly to extoll the grace of God,Vse. of which alone it commeth that men are iustified and saued. Secondly, it greatly humbles the pride of mans hart, by thinking that whatsoeuer they doe for their owne saluation, yet nothing is to bee attributed vntounto their owne deedes.
Tim.
Yet are not all men bound to doe what lies in them, toA doubt. get righteousnes and life?
Silas.
Yes verily, both for the commandement sake thatSolution. bids them striue, and for the promise sake which is made to seekers and knockers. Thirdly, because this is enough to condemne a man, if he saile of doing his owne part in procuring his owne saluation. And lastly, because God doeth not vsually bestowe his grace and Spirite vponupon the secure, snorting and idle, but vponupon the painfull and carefull Christian; as hee giues, his earthly blessing to the diligent hand, and not to the slothfull. Notwithstanding all this, God is not mooued by any thing that wee doe to call and iustifie vsus; but it is onelyonly out of his owne good pleasure and mercy: and therefore none hauehave cause to glory or reioyce, saue onelyonly in this, that they knowe him to bee their mercifull Father, …. 9. 2. and that themselues when they hauehave done all they can, are vnworthy of any thing. Luke 17. 10.
Tim.
What is it to seeke righteousnes by faith?
Silas.
To study and desire to become righteous by beleeuing3. Doctrine. in Christ.
Tim.
What is our doctrine from hence?
Silas.
That the onelyonly way to finde righteousnesse, is to seeke it by faith: the reasons be; first the commandement of God. Secondly his promise, The iust shall liue by faith, Rom. 1, 17. Thirdly, because the perfect righteousnesse of the law is not to bee found out of Christ, and hee is not otherwise to be had then by faith, by which he dwels in our hearts, Ephe. 3, 17. Fourthly, no man can liue and doe so righteously, but that hee must neede remission of sinnes, because there still will bee some thing vnperfect; and all Scriptures teach that forgiuenesse of sin is not to bee had, but by faith, Acts 10, 43. Therefore faith onelyonly is that which iustifies the elect sinners before God, as charity doth sit before men.
Tim.
What vse of this point?
Silaas.
It reproues such as dislike the doctrine of righteousnesseVse. by Faith onelyonly, directly or indirectly, saying it is too much taught, & that the reaching of it doth much hurt: these be ignorant speeches. Secondly, it teacheth vsus the high and ready way how to seeke righteousnesse, (namely) by beleeuing, that wee are vnrighteous in our selues, and no righteousnesse to be found but in Christ, and in comparison of him, to iudge all our workes to be dung, Phil. 3, 8. That therefore eueryevery Christians dutie is as he desi es to be righteous and to be saued, that he get this precious gift of faith, without the which, no Iustification nor life can be had.
Tim.
What is meant by the workes of the Law?
Sil.
The merit and desert of workes, as in all places where workes are set against Faith, or Grace, or Christ, there they signify merit, and not barely the dooing of a good worke, as a fruite of faith.
Tim.
What is our Doctrine from hence?
Silas.
That our owne workes do not merit righteousnesse4. Doctrine. and eternal life. This is true, as well of those works which are done of grace, as those which are done of naturallReason. strength. For of all workes the Apostle affirmes, that hee that seekes righteousnesse by them, can neuer hauehave it. Againe, euen these Iewes did not diuide works from grace: as in the example of the Pharisie, who confesseth his workes to come of Gods grace, and yet could not be iustified by his owne workes. For sinners are first iustified, before they can do any thing pleasing to God. Good workes follow a person already iustified, but they go not afore as cause of iustification.