A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 43. Of reward for works standing with grace.

〈◊〉〈◊〉. WAs not Gods grace the ground of that life which God promised to Adam? If it were, how could it be upon condition of works? To him that worketh, is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt, Rom. 4. 4. Grace and works cannot stand together, Rom. 11. 6.

Answ.

• 1. The ordaining of a covenant to give man a reward upon works, may be of grace, though the retribution, or giving the reward to him that worketh, be of* 1.1 debt.
• 2. All debt doth not necessarily imply desert or merit of the work. For a re∣ward may far exceed the worth of the work: and then the work doth not merit the reward. The reward which God promised in the covenant of works far surpassed the work required. The reward was eternall and infinite; the work temporary and finite.
• 3. All creatures, men and Angels, are bound to do whatsoever God requireth of them, on duty, though there were no reward, Luk. 17. 10. The very conceit of merit in the perfectest work that can be done by meer creatures would be like the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that were put into the pottage; it would cause death, 2 Kings 4. 39, 40.
• 4. All the ability that Adam had, or which the glorious Angels, or glorified Saints have is from God: so as none of them have of their own to merit any thing of God.
• 5. The Apostle opposeth works or debt to grace (Rom. 4. 4. and 11. 6.) in relati∣on to mans corrupt estate after his fall, and in relation to mans high esteem of works.

2. Quest. Why is reward said to be of debt? Rom. 4. 4.

Answ.

• 1. In regard of the order of Gods giving the reward: which is upon* 1.2 working. The work must first be done, and then the reward is given.
• 2. In regard of Gods binding himself by promise and covenant, to give such a re∣ward upon such a work done. In this respect the giving of reward is a part of ju∣stice; and men may plead justice, as in a case of debt. For truth and faithfulnesse in keeping promise and covenant, is a part of righteousnesse and justice. In this re∣spect God is said to be righteous and just, Psal. 116. 5. 1 Ioh. 1. 9.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How reward may stand with grace.
• * 1.2

  How reward is of debt.