The Third Argument

If the promise be made sure of God to faith out of grace; then it is not first made sure to faith out of works.

But the promise is made sure of God to faith out of grace (Romans 4:5): to him that works not, but believes on him, that justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

Therefore the promise is not made sure to faith out of works.

From the opposition of grace, and works (Romans 11:6): And if by grace then it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace.

The opposition stands not only between grace and works, but between grace and the merits of works; now no man ascribes the assurance of faith in the promise to the merits of works.

The opposition stands not only between grace and the merits of works: but between grace and the debt due to works; for so the Apostle Paul expresses it (Romans 4:4): Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

If the assurance of faith of our justification does spring from sight of sanctification, it is by right of some promise made to such a work, and the right which a man has by promise to a work, makes the assurance of the promise, but debt to him: and then the promise is not sure to him out of grace.