2. Their own works and Christ's merits united —
[Many, who see that their own works cannot justify them according to the strict tenour of the law, yet hope that they will, according to the milder demands of the Gospel. If they see that these will not suffice, they will look to Christ to supply their deficiencies. If they see that such an union is imprac- ticable, and, that Jesus must be their only foundation, they hope, however, that he will save them for their works' sake. Thus they either avowedly profess to participate with Christ the honour of their salvation ; or, while they pretend to give the honour of it to him, they look for the original and moving- cause of it within themselves. Like the Judaizing Christians'^, or the Gentiles whom Peter misled*^, they unite the law to Christ; as though Christ needed to have something superadded to him, to render his death effectual. At all events, if they find their error in this respect, they will regard their works as their warrant to believe in Christ ; and will expect mercy at his hands, not so much because his grace is free and all-sufficient, as because they have something in themselves, which may deserve his notice and regard.]
These pUms of salvation however will be found very erroneous, if we inquire,
II. What is that foundation which God has laid —
Nothing can be more clear, than that he has not laid either of those, which have been before mentioned —
[He often describes his people as performing good woi'ks: and often promises them, under that character, eternal life. But he always represents us as sinners, and as standing in need of his mercy. And he has sent his Son into the world for that very reason, because none could obtain mercy by any works of their own. Nor has he less clearly shewn, that works are wholly to be excluded from the office of justifying. He has told us, that salvation must be wholly of grace or wholly of works'^. That every degree of boasting is excluded from that salvation which he has revealed^. And that the persons, whom he justifies, are ungodly, and without any works whatever to recommend them*^.]
Christ is the one foundation which he has laid in Zion —
[He " has set forth his Son to be a propitiation for sin :" and every sinner is to build his hope on Christ alone. Christ
b Acts XV. '). " Gal. ii. 12, 14. '' Rom. xi. 6.
e Rom. iii. 27. Eph. ii. 8, 9. ^ Rom. iv. 5.