Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 2 · Verse and explication 8
Vers. 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
HE further explaineth in what sense their salvation did come from free grace, and proveth it by other two arguments, which do also confirm the two former. The first, taken from the removeall of those things in particular from having any meritorious, or causall influence upon their salvation, which all men have a kind of naturall propension to rely upon for salvation; to wit, their works, and those even their good works; for, so doth he explain himself, ver. 10. whence it followeth, that they were saved of grace, and not of themselves. The second is taken from the end aimed at by God in contriving the plot of lost mans salvation, to wit, that all ground of gloriation might be taken away from man, as being, in the meanest respect, a saviour to himself, and that all the glory might be ascribed compleatly unto God in Christ: (See, 1 Cor. 1. 30, 31.) which end could not have been obtained, except they had been saved by grace, and not of themselves. Doct. 1. Though the word grace, in Scripture, be somtimes taken for the saving graces of Gods Spirit in us, 2 Pet. 3. 18. yet, when salvation is ascribed unto Gods grace, we are alwayes to understand grace in God, that is, His free favour and goodwill, and not grace inherent in us, or good works, the exercise of that grace: for, the Apostle establisheth grace, ascribing our salvation to it, and excludeth grace inherent and good works, which were inconsistent, if they were the self same thing; Not of works, saith he. 2. The salvation of Believers doth so much flow from free grace, as that all works of theirs, even their good works, are thereby excluded from having any meritorious influence upon it: for, even our best works are imperfect, Isa. 64. 6-they are a debt, which we owe unto God, Luk. 17. 10. the power and activity whereby we do them, is given of God, Phil. 2. 13. and therefore we can merit nothing, and least of all salvation by them at Gods hand; Thus the Apostle explaineth how we are saved by grace, even so as to exclude all works; Not of works, saith he. 3. Though a man may boast and glory of the good things which God hath given him, in some respects, (See upon Gal. 6. ver. 4. doct. 5.) Yet the way wherein salvation is conveyed unto sinners, is so contrived, that no ground is left for man to boast in himself for any thing, which his wisdom, goodnesse, power, or worth do contribute for bringing of his own salvation about, either in part or in whole: From the first step thereof, election, unto the last, his glorification, man and his worth are still depressed, and God and His free grace alwayes exalted; for, the Apostle sheweth this was the end God did aim at, even least any man should boast. 4. In so far as works, even good works have place in the matter of mans salvation, so far hath man mater of boasting, and ascribing the glory of his salvation to himself, and holding back the glory of it from God: for, although good works do come wholly from the Spirit of God, in so far as they are good; yet they are our works, in so far as they are wrought by us, being now renewed and enabled to work by influence from God; and therefore heaven and salvation should in that case be given unto us for the vertue and worth of somewhat which is ours; for, Paul affirmeth that works, even good works, which we are created unto in Christ Jesus, ver. 10. are excluded from having any causall influence upon salvation; lest any man should boast, implying, if works were not excluded, man should have ground of boasting. See, Rom. 3. 27.