Faith Grounded Upon the Holy Scriptures Against the New Methodists, Part 3 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. That Juſtification by Works is not taught in the Scriptures.
FIrſt, To the validity of the good works, which the regenerate do ſuch (as they pretend) as merit the remiſſion of ſins and life eternal, it can no more be proved by the Scriptures than the precedent Doctrines. It is true, that the Lord ſaid of the penitent ſinner, Luke 7.47.Many ſins are forgiven her, for ſhe hath loved much. But it is alſo clear, both by the precedent ſimilitude, and by the oppoſition which the Lord adds in ſaying, Ver. 41, 42.that to him to whom leſs is forgiven, loves leſs, that he ſheweth her love which ſhe bare to him, not as the meritorious cauſe, but as the ſigne and argument of the Grace which he had done her. So we ſay very often, Ver. 47.the Sun is riſen, for it is high day, to ſignifie that the clearneſs of the day is not the cauſe but the effect and ſigne of the riſing of the Sun. And ſo it is that the Jeſuit Villalpandus underſtands this paſſage in his Commentaries upon Ezech. Villalp. in Ezech. 19.10.where having remarked that quoniam, becauſe, is taken very often in the Scripture to ſignifie therefore, and he alledgeth this paſſage for an example of it; Many ſins are forgiven her, for ſhe hath loved much, that is to ſay, Behold, why ſhe hath loved much (ſaith he) for the Argument of the Lord drawn from the Parable of the Creditor, required ſuch an epiphonema, as is evident to the Reader. As to the reſt, that faith was the cauſe of the remiſſion of the ſins of this woman, the Lord ſhews it clear enough, ſaying to her in the two Verſes following, Thy faith hath ſaved thee, go in peace; and that love to God, Charity to our Neighbours, and good works are the effects of the Grace which God doth us in pardoning us, all the Scriptures teacheth clearly, and namely Saint Paul, Eph. 2.10.where he ſaith, That we are the work of God created in Jeſus Chriſt to good works which God hath prepared, to the end we might walk in them.
Secondly, I confeſs that St. James writes, James 2 21.that Abraham was juſtified by his works, when he offered up his Son Iſaac upon the Altar. But 'tis clear that he underſtands not by this word, that Abraham did receive from God the pardon of his ſins by the merit of this his work, ſince the Scripture ſaith (as St. Paul reports it) that before the birth of Iſaac, Gen. 15.6. Rom. ….23.the faith of Abraham was imputed to him for righteouſneſs. St. James diſputes in this place not of the manner or condition by which man is abſolved from his ſin before God, but of the quality of the faith by which he is received into Grace, viz. that it is efficacious in good works, and not barren and unfruitful, as that of which the Hypocrites boaſt. And to prove it, he alledges amongſt other reaſons the example of Abraham, who indeed was abſolved and received into Grace by faith; but 'twas by a lively faith, and effectual in good works, as he is juſtified by the admirable obedience which he rendred to God in offering his only Son to him in Sacrifice. Then was clearly accompliſhed the Scripture which giveth him the praiſe of having believed in God; it appears then that what is ſaid of him is moſt true, James 2.22.Abraham believed in God, and it was imputed to him for righteouſneſs. His ſaith was finiſhed or accompliſhed, ſaith the Apoſtle, that is to ſay, 2 Cor. 12.9.it ſhewed its perfection and accompliſhment by works in the ſame manner as St. Paul ſaith, That the ſtrength of the Lord is made perfect, or accompliſhed, in weakneſs, that is to ſay, that it ſheweth his valour and perfection in our infirmities and afflictions. 1 Tim. 3.16.This is that then which St. James means, when he ſaith, that Abraham was juſtified by works, that is to ſay, he proved and demonſtrated by his works that which was real; as when St. Paul ſaith, That the Lord Jeſus was juſtified in Spirit, that is, that he proved and demonſtrated by his great and admirable works, that he is true God bleſſed for ever. And it is in the ſame ſenſe that we ought to underſtand that which St. James concludes, Verſ. 24.You ſee then that a man is juſtified by works, and not only by faith, that is to ſay, the man ſheweth and proveth what he is, not only in believing, but alſo in well-doing; if we confeſs voluntarily that we do deteſt from our hearts this phantaſm of faith which vaunts of believing without producing any good fruit, and confeſs that it is unuſeful; it is exactly that which Saint James lays down at the beginning, Verſ. 4.as the ſubject of all his deſigne, What will it profit him, if any one ſayeth that he hath faith and hath not works? faith (or rather this faith) can it ſave him?