Gentiles ; and that, instead of invalidating the law, as at first sight it might appear to do, it did in reality establish the law.
Having thus proved his point by argument, he now comes to confirm it by example ; and he adduces such examples, as the Jews could not but regard as of the highest authority.
We must bear in mind what the point is which he is endeavouring to maintain : it is, That the justifi- cation of the soul before God is not by works of any kind, but simply, and solely, by faith in Christ. This he proceeds to prove from the examples,
I. Of Abraham —
What (he asks) did Abraham, the great progenitor of the Jewish nation, find effectual for his salvation ? This he answers,
1. By an express declaration of Holy Writ —
[The manner in which he appeals to the decision of Scripture is well worthy of notice. " What saith the Scrip- ture?" It matters little, what this or that man may say : we must abide by what God has spoken. His word shall stand, though the whole universe should rise up to contradict it. On that therefore we must found our sentiments, and on that alone : if men speak according to his word and testimony, it is well : " if not," whatever may be their pretences to wisdom, " there is no light in them V
Now the Scripture declares, that "Abraham believed God,
and it was accounted to him for righteousness0" In
the passages referred to, there were two promises made to him : the one was, that one particular " seed should be given to him, in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed ;" and the other was, that a spiritual seed should be given him, who should be " numerous as the stars of heaven." These promises he firmly believed ; and so believed them, as actually to repose all his hope and trust in that promised Seed, who was to be the Saviour of the whole world. " This faith of his was counted to him for righteousness;" or, in other words, this Saviour, on whom his faith reposed, was made the source of righteousness and salvation to his soul.
This particular declaration of Holy Writ is referred to by the Apostle a great many times, on account of its singular import- ance : but, as its importance will more fully appear in the
b Isai. viii. 20. c Gen. xii. 1 — 3. with xv. 5, 6.