1. The truth of it—
The observation is simply this, That salvation must be altogether of grace, or altogether of works ; for that the two cannot possibly coalesce ; since each of them excludes the other as much as light and darkness. Now,
This observation is true —
[The Apostle has before drawn the distinction between " a reward of grace, and a reward of debtd." And it is clear, that if a thing be a gift, it cannot have been earned ; and, on the other hand, if it have been earned, it cannot be a gift. It is true, the sum required may bear no proportion to the bless- ing bestowed : but still, however small the sum be, it is, as far as it goes, a price paid for the thing obtained : and whether that be more or less, it equally destroys the notion of a free gift. We readily concede, that all the works that Paul himself performed would be as nothing in comparison of eternal life : but yet, if it be only a thousandth part of his works that has been paid for eternal life, that life is so far earned by works, and ceases to be a gift of grace : and though we may admire the goodness of God in giving heaven for so small a considera- tion, the person to whom it is given will have to boast that he paid for it the consideration that had been demanded of him.]
It is true in reference to every part of our salva- tion—
[It is true in reference to our first election of God. If God chose us on account of some good works which he foresaw we should perform, those works must to all eternity be acknow- ledged as the true ground of our salvation ; and our salvation must therefore be of works, and not of grace.
We are not now inquiring, whether any such works as would be proper to influence God's mind, can be performed by man, by man too in his fallen state, and unassisted by his God : (these are points which at the present we leave untouched :) we are only shewing now, that, supposing such works to be wrought, and God's election to be determined by them, election would be of works, and not of grace.
In like manner, if our justification be on account of any work of ours, we may boast that it has been not a mere act of grace and mercy for Christ's sake, but a debt paid to us for something done by us. As to the comparative value of the work and the reward, we again say, that it is nothing to the purpose : it may serve to illustrate the goodness of God in annexing so great a
d Rom. iv. 4.