or the shewing of his justice in
this time: that he himself may be just and the justifier of him who is
of the faith of Jesus Christ.

3:27. Where is then thy boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of
works? No, but by the law of faith.

3:28. For we account a man to be justified by faith, without the works
of the law.

By faith, etc... The faith, to which the apostle here attributes man's
justification, is not a presumptuous assurance of our being justified;
but a firm and lively belief of all that God has revealed or promised.
Heb. 11. A faith working through charity in Jesus Christ. Gal. 5.6. In
short, a faith which takes in hope, love, repentance, and the use of the
sacraments. And the works which he here excludes, are only the works of
the law: that is, such as are done by the law of nature, or that of
Moses, antecedent to the faith of Christ: but by no means, such as
follow faith, and proceed from it.

3:29. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles?
yes, of the Gentiles also.

3:30. For it is one God that justifieth circumcision by faith and
uncircumcision through faith.

3:31. Do we then, destroy the law through faith? God forbid! But we
establish the law.

Romans Chapter 4

Abraham was not justified by works done, as of himself, but by grace and
by faith. And that before he was circumcised. Gentiles, by faith, are
his children.

4:1. What shall we say then that Abraham hath found, who is our father
according to the flesh?

4:2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory,
but not before God.

By works... Done by his own strength, without the grace of God, and
faith in him. Not before God... Whatever glory or applause such works
might procure from men, they would be of no value in the sight of God.

4:3. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God: and it was
reputed to him unto justice.

Reputed, etc... By God, who reputeth nothing otherwise than it is.
However, we may gather from this word, that when we are justified, our
justification proceedeth from God's free grace and bounty; and not from
any efficacy which any act of ours could have of its own nature,
abstracting from God's grace.

4:4. Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to
grace but according to debt.

To him that worketh... Vis., as of his own fund, or by his own strength.
Such a man, says the apostle, challenges his reward as a debt due to his
own perform