Of Free Justification by Christ, Book 1 · Part 11
In Iustification not so much the Condition of the Deeds as of the Persons is regarded.
SEE, I beseech you, of how great concernment it is, that a person One condition of Sons, another of Servants.should first be reconciled to God, which unless he be received into his favour, it is not possible that his works should please him at any time. As in the civil and politick nature, it is of no small concernment, whether a Son or a Servant acteth upon the account of reward: in like manner in the Heavenly generation there is a great difference between Sons and Servants. The Heirs of God and Mercenaries. For one thing is regarded in Servants, and another thing in Sons, and their condition appears to be far different. It belongs to Servants to be compelled by fear, but A comparison of Sons and Servants.they that are Sons are drawn by love, and they do so much the more in the performance of their duties, how much the more gladly they endeavour to please their Father. They that serve, go about their business only for reward, and it is given unto them no otherways than according to their merits. Who when they have done all, they remain nothing but Servants and unprofitable, they never do any thing worthy of an Inheritance. On the contrary, they who are Heirs and Sons, though they shew themselves no less obedient, and observe the will of their Father, yet they do not therefore obey, that they may be made Heirs by Works, but because they are Heirs, Therefore they work.
Again, they that are in a servile condition, do not come, but when called by their Master, and perform his commands by the impulse of the Law. But the case is contrariways in Sons, who have always access with boldness into the presence of their Father, and cry Abba Father, performing much more of their own accord, than by the incitement of anothers prescription. Servants, after they have done their task, have their wages paid them according to their merits, but they receive no reward of Inheritance. But they that are Sons and Heirs; an Inheritance is made sure to them, not according to their obedience, nor by their deeds, nor after their deeds, but by the faith of the promise, and a free donation before all obedience, concerning which Faith, Paul said: It is therefore of Faith, that according Rom. 4.to Grace the Promise should be firm to all the Seed. Moreover in those that are Sons, it is only the dignity of the person, and not the merits of good life; it is the birth, and not the works that are regarded: But the case is contrariways in Servants; for it is not regarded what the person is, but what the manner of life. In short, the Servant (as Christ witnesseth) abides not in the house for ever. But the Son, to whom the House is delivered wholly and for ever, is never driven out of the House.
And here Christ only is a Son by Nature, we only by the Grace of Christ a Son by Nature, we by Christ.Adoption. He by Birth, we by Deliverance, of which he himself testifies: if the Son, saith he, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed, he being partaker of his Fathers Nature, is not made a Son by his life, but is born a Son; we being Servants by Nature, are not born Sons, but are born again, not by works, but by faith
But by Christ our Deliverer we Christ is born a Son by nature, we by faith are born again Sons, not by works, in the Son.are changed from Servants into Sons. Not that we cease now to be the same that we were, in this life sinners, miserable, weak, mortal, for this transformation from servants into sons, is not so much performed in us, or in the change of our qualities, but chiefly in the love of God to us. For he hath so high an esteem, and puts so great a value on Christ his only begotten, that with a fatherly love and affection he embraceth all those of mankind throughout the world, that believe in this Son of his; and looking upon them now as Sons adopts them for his Sons out of their servile estate, yea and makes them coheirs The cause why God adopts us for Sons. Gal. 4.together with his Son. Whence St. Paul said; ye are not now servants, but sons: and if sons, then also heirs of God through Christ; for ye are all the Sons of God by Faith, which is in Christ Iesus.
Whosoever of you are baptized ye have put on Christ. Ye are all Gal. 3.one in Christ Iesus. But if ye are Christs, then are ye the seed of Abraham, and heirs according to the promise. Concerning which also Iohn speaks to this purpose; see what love the Father 1 Ioh. 3.hath given us, that we should be called the Children of God. And again presently repeating the same, Dearly beloved, saith he, now we are the Sons of God, and it hath not yet appeared, what we shall be, &c.