Here then we may boldly say with the Apostle, " By what law is boasting excluded? of works? Nay : but by the law of faith."]
It remains then for us to inquire,
III. What conclusion we are to draw from these pre- mises—
Nothing can be more express than the conclusion drawn by the Apostle —
[We have seen that the way of salvation (whatever it be) excludes boasting; and that salvation by faith is the only way that does exclude boasting : from hence therefore the conclusion is plain, that salvation must be by faith and not by works.
But there is an emphasis in the Apostle's words which deserves particular attention. He does not merely affirm that salvation is by faith rather than by works, but by faith exclu- sive of ivories. No " deeds of the law" are to be added to faith in order to render it effectual : we must be saved by faith simply, by faith solely. If any work whatever be added to our faith as a joint ground of our hope, or as a motive to induce God to justify us, or as a price whereby we are to obtain an interest in Christ, " faith will be made void, and the promise will be of none effect q." We must not trust any more in our good works than in our vilest sins : for the very instant that the smallest stress whatever is laid on our good works as procuring our justification before God, boasting is introduced, and all hope of salvation is annihilated. Not even faith itself saves us as a work, but solely as uniting us to Christ, by whose righteousness we are justified.]
Nor can any thing be more certain than the con- clusion drawn by the Apostle —
[When men argue, even from the clearest premises, we must be cautious in admitting their conclusions ; because they frequently put more into their conclusions than their premises will bear. Indeed, it is necessary to watch every step of their arguments, because of the fallacies which often escape their own observation, and would, if unguardedly acceded to, mis- lead our judgment also. But no suspicion need be entertained respecting the point before us, since the premises are stated, and the conclusion is drawn, by God himself. If we will dis- pute about the one or the other, we must debate the matter with God ; for it is to God's arguments, and not to man's, that our assent is now required.]
i Rom. iv. 14.