Rom. xi. 6. If by grace, then is it no more of works : other- wise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace : otherwise work is no more work.
IN reference to the doctrines of grace, St. Paul maintained a most watchful and " godly jealousy." On points of a less vital nature, he was ready to con- cede as far as possible ; but on the point of salvation by grace through faith he was firm and immoveable. He would not give way for a moment, even though all the college of Apostles had opposed him3, or an angel from heaven had professed to have received a commission to proclaim any thing that was incon- sistent with itb. In the superstructure of our religion there might be errors, yea, considerable errors, as he tells us, and yet our souls be saved. Injurious indeed they would be, extremely injurious, to our welfare ; but still they would not be utterly subversive of our hopes. But if the error affected the foundation of our religion, he declared it to be utterly incompatible with our final salvation0.
This jealousy of his is peculiarly visible in the words which we have just read. They were not necessary to the Apostle's argument. In the preceding context he is shewing that God has among the Jews, as well as among the Gentiles, a chosen remnant : but having called them " a remnant according to the election of grace," he lays hold on the opportunity to confirm his favourite position, that salvation is altogether of grace ; so entirely of grace, as absolutely to exclude works altogether from having any share in meriting or pro- curing it.
The observation thus introduced deserves the deeper attention ; because it shews how near to the Apostle's heart the truth was that is contained in it. Let us then, in considering this observation, attend to,
a Gal. ii. 5. b Gal. i. 8,9. c 1 Cor. iii. 11 — 15.