we either already walk, or which we ought to keep. Let every one hear according to his own measure; and as he shall be conscious to himself, so let him either grieve, as deserving correction, or rejoice, as deserving approbation. If he shall find that he has gone astray, let him return, that he may walk in the way; if he shall find himself in the way, let hith walk on, that he may arrive at the end. Let no one be proud, who is out of the way; let no one be idle, who is in the way." After proving that Abraham was justified by faith, not by works, he supposes some one to say, "You see, then, because Abraham was justified by faith, not by works, I will do whatever I like; because, even if I shall not have good works and shall only believe in God, it is counted to me for righteousness. If he has said this, and determined it, he is fallen and is drowned; if he still thinks upon it, and is hesitating, he is in danger. But the Scripture of God, and the true meaning of it, deliver from danger not only him who is in danger, but also raise from the deep him who is drowned. I answer then, as if against an Apostle, and I say concerning Abraham himself, what we find also in the Epistle of another Apostle, who wished to correct those who had misunderstood that Apostle. For James in his Epistle, in opposition to those who were unwilling unwilling to do good works, presuming upon faith only, commended the works of that very Abraham, whose faith Paul commended; and the Apostles do not contradict each other. But he mentions a work known to all,-Abraham offered his son Isaac to God, to be sacrificed (g)—a great work, but of faith. I praise the edifice of the work, but I see the foundation of faith. I praise the fruit of good works, but I acknowledge the root in faith. But if Abraham did this without a right faith, that work, of whatever kind it might be, would not profit him. Again, if he had faith, so that when God should command him to offer his son to be sacrificed, he should say with himself, I do not do it, and yet I believe that God delivers me, even though I despise his commands; faith without works would be dead, and would remain, as it were, a barren and dry root without fruit."-Vol. 4. p. 170. * "Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O ye congregation? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men (h)?' For what wicked person cannot easily speak righteousness? Or who, being asked about righteousness in a case where he has no interest, would not immediately give a righteous answer? Since truth has written upon our very hearts, by the hand of our Creator, Do not that to (g) Jas. c. 2. v. 21. (h) Ps. 58. v. 1. to another, which you would not wish to be done to yourself. No man was permitted to be ignorant of this, even before the law was given, that there might be a ground for judging even those to whom the law was not given. But, that men might not complain that any thing was wanting to them, that was written upon tablets also, which they did not read in their hearts. For they had it already written, but they were unwilling to read. That was placed before their eyes, which they might be compelled to see in their conscience; and the voice of God being, as it were, applied from without, man was driven to his own breast, the Scripture saying, 'Inquisition shall be made into the counsels of the ungodly (i): where there is inquisition, there is law."—Vol. 4. P. 540. "I have applied my heart to fulfil thy statutes alway (k).' He who says, I have applied my heart, had himself already said, 'Incline my heart unto thy testimonies (1);' that we may understand that this is at the same time both the gift of God, and the exertion of our own will."-Vol. 4. p. 1339. "The words of the Apostle are, 'Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (m).' Why (i) Wisdom, c. I. v. 9. (k) Ps. 119. v. 112. (m) Phil. c. 2. v. 12. Why then do I work out my salvation with fear and trembling, since it is in my power to work out my salvation? Do you wish to hear, why it is to be done with fear and trembling? For for it is God which worketh in you (n):' therefore, with fear and trembling. Because what the humble man obtains, the proud man loses. If then it be God which worketh in us, why is it said, Work out your own salvation? Because he so worketh in us, that we also work. • Be thou my helper (o),' points out that he also is a worker, who calls for a helper."-Vol. 5. p. 79. "I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations you, which is your glory (p):' that is, I desire that ye faint not when ye hear that I suffer tribulations for you, because this is your glory. He desires them not to faint; which he would not do, unless he wished to excite their will. For if they should answer, Why do you desire of us what we have not in our own power? would they not seem to themselves to have returned a just answer? And yet the Apostle, unless he knew that the consent of their will was in their power, where even they themselves might do something, would not say, I desire. And if he should say, I order, unless he knew that they were able to apply (n) Phil. c. 2. v. 13. (0) Ps. 30. v. II. (p) Eph. c. 3. v. 13. But apply their will to his order, this word would proceed from his mouth without reason. again, knowing that the will of man is weak without the assistance of God, not only that they might not say, free-will is sufficient for us, observe what he added,- For this cause,'-for what cause, except that which he had already mentioned, I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory?' Because, then, you have free-will, I desirc. But because free-will is not sufficient for you to fulfil that which I desire, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you (9)'—that he would grant you, what? that which I desire of you, I ask that he would grant to you. For I desire of you, because of free-will; I ask that He would grant to you, for the sake of the assistance of his greatness. But we have anticipated the words of the Apostle. Perhaps you, who do not recollect the words of the passage, still wait to hear whether the Apostle really bows his knees to the Father for them, that he would grant them what he had said to them, I desire. Recollect then what he desired from them; I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you: this he desires (4) Eph. c. 3. v. 14—16. |