Whatsoever we do of our own power and strength,
that which is not wrought in us by His grace, without doubt is a work of the
law, and avails nothing toward justification; but is displeasing to God,
because of the unbelief wherein it is done. He that trusts in works does
nothing freely and with a willing mind; he would do no good work at all if he were
not compelled by the fear of hell, or allured by the hope of present good.
Whereby it is plainly seen that they strive only for gain, or are moved with
fear, showing that they rather hate the law from their hearts, and had rather
there were no law at all. An evil heart can do nothing that is good. This evil
propensity of the heart, and unwillingness to do good, the law betrays when it
teaches that God does not esteem the works of the hand, but those of the heart.
Thus sin is known by the law, as Paul teaches;
for we learn thereby that our affections are not placed on that which is good.
This ought to teach us not to trust in ourselves, but to long after the grace
of God, whereby the evil of the heart may be taken away, and we become ready to
do good works, and love the law voluntarily; not for fear of any punishment,
but for the love of righteousness. By this means one is made of a servant, a
son; of a slave an heir.
We shall now come to treat more particularly of
the text. Verse 1. "The heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing
from a servant, though he be lord of all." We see that the children unto
whom their parents have left some substance are brought up no otherwise than if
they were servants. They are fed and clothed with their goods, but they are not
permitted to do with them, nor use them according to their own minds, but are
ruled with fear and discipline of manners, so that even in their own
inheritance they live no otherwise than as servants. After the same sort it is
in spiritual things. God made with His people a covenant, when He promised that
in the seed of Abraham, that is in Christ, all nations of the earth should be
blest. That covenant was afterward confirmed by the death of Christ, and
revealed and published abroad by the preaching gospel. For the gospel is an
open and general preaching of this grace, that in Christ is laid up a blessing
for all men that believe.
Before this covenant is truly opened and made
manifest to men, the sons of God live after the manner of servants under the
law; and are exercised with the works of the law, altho they cannot be
justified by them; they are true heirs of heavenly things, of this blessing and
grace of the covenant; although they do not as yet know or enjoy it. Those that
are justified by grace cease from the works of the law, and come unto the
inheritance of justification; they then freely work those things that are good,
to the glory of God and benefit of their neighbors. For they have possest it by
the covenant of the Father, confirmed by Christ, revealed, published, and as it
were delivered into their hands by the gospel, through the grace and mercy of
God.
This covenant Abraham, and all the fathers which
were endued with true faith, had no otherwise than we have: although before
Christ was glorified this grace was not openly preached and published: they
lived in like faith, and therefore obtained the like good things. They had the
same grace, blessing, and covenant that we have; for there is one Father and God
over all. Thou seest that Paul here, as in almost all other places, treats much
of faith; that we are not justified by works, but by faith alone. There is no
good thing which is not contained in this covenant of God; it gives
righteousness, salvation, and peace. By faith the whole inheritance of God is
at once received. From thence good works come; not meritorious, whereby thou
mayest seek salvation, but which with a mind already possessing righteousness
thou must do with great pleasure to the profit of thy neighbors.
Verse 2. "But is under tutors and governors
until the time appointed of the Father." Tutors and governors are they
which bring up the heir, and so rule him and order his goods that he neither
waste his inheritance by riotous living, nor his goods perish or be otherwise
consumed. They permit him not to use his goods at his own will or pleasure, but
suffer him to enjoy them as they shall be needful and profitable to him. They keep
him at home, and instruct him whereby he may long and comfortably enjoy his
inheritance: but as soon as he arrives to the years of discretion and judgment,
it cannot but be grievous to him to live
in subjection to the commands and will of another.
In the same manner stands
the case of the children of God, which are brought up and instructed under the
law, as under a master in the liberty of sons. The law profits them in this,
that by the fear of it and the punishment which it threatens, they are driven
from sin, at least from the outward work: by it they are brought to a knowledge
of themselves, and that they do no good at all with a willing and ready mind as
becomes sons; whereby they may easily see what is the root of this evil, and
what is especially needful unto salvation; to wit, a new and living spirit to
that which is good: which neither the law nor the works of the law is able to
give; yea, the more they apply themselves to it, the more unwilling they find themselves
to work those things which are good.
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