3. “But does not preaching this faith lead men into pride?” We answer, accidentally it may. Therefore ought every believer to be earnestly cautioned, (in the words of the great apostle) _Because of unbelief, the first branches were broken off; and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear. If God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he spare not thee. Behold, therefore the goodness and severity of God! On them which fell, severity: but towards thee, goodness: if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off._ And while he continues therein, he will remember those words of St. _Paul_, foreseeing and answering this very objection, (_Rom._ iii. 27.) _Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith._ If a man were justified by his works, he would have whereof to glory. But there is no glorying for him, _that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly_, (Rom. iv.) To the same effect are the words both preceding and following the text, (_Eph._ ii. 4, &c.) _God who is rich in mercy,――even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved)――that he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus. For by grace ye are saved through faith. And that not of yourselves._ Of yourselves cometh neither your faith nor your salvation. _It is the gift of God_; the free, undeserved gift, the faith thro’ which ye are saved, as well as the salvation, which he of his own good pleasure, his mere favour, annexes thereto. That ye believe, is one instance of his grace; that believing ye are saved, another. _Not of works, lest any man should boast._ For all our works, all our righteousness, which were before our believing, merited nothing of God but condemnation. So far were they from deserving faith; which therefore, whenever given, is not _of works_. Neither is salvation of the works we do when we believe. For _it is_ then _God that worketh in us_. And therefore, that he giveth us a reward for what he himself worketh, only commendeth the riches of his mercy, but leaveth us nothing whereof to glory.
4. “However, may not the speaking thus of the mercy of God, as saving or justifying freely by faith only, encourage men in sin?” Indeed it may and will; many _will continue in sin that grace may abound_. But their blood is upon their own head. The goodness of God ought to lead them to repentance; and so it will those who are sincere of heart. When they know there is yet forgiveness with him, they will cry aloud that he would blot out their sins also, thro’ faith which is in Jesus. And if they earnestly cry, and faint not, if they seek him in all the means he hath appointed, if they refuse to be comforted till he come, _he will come and will tarry not_. And he can do much work in a short time. Many are the examples in the Acts of the Apostles, of God’s working this faith in men’s hearts, as quick as lightning falling from heaven. So in the same hour that _Paul_ and _Silas_ began to preach, the jailor _repented, believed, and was baptized_: as were three thousand by St. _Peter_ on the day of Pentecost, who all repented and believed at his first preaching. And blessed be God, there are now many living proofs, that he is still thus _mighty to save_.
5. Yet to the same truth, placed in another view, a quite contrary objection is made: “If a man cannot be saved by all that he can do, this will drive men to despair.” True, to despair of being saved by their own works, their own merits or righteousness. And so it ought; for none can trust in the merits of Christ, till he has utterly renounced his own. He that _goeth about to establish his own righteousness_, cannot receive the righteousness of God. The righteousness which is of faith cannot be given him, while he trusteth in that which is of the law.