by Robert Barclay

“ A. For by Grace are ye saved, through Faith, and that not of your selves, it is the Gift of God; not of Works, lest any Man should boast, for we are his Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good Works [Eph. 2:8-10] .
Q. Are even the Works which are performed by Grace excluded? Are we never said to be saved or justified by them?
A. Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done; but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour ”

“ Q. It appeares clearly by these Passages, that the Apostle excludes only our Righteousness, which he elsewhere explains as being the Righteousness of the Law from being necessary to Justification, and not such Works as the Law of the Spirit of Life leads to, and are not so much ours as Christ in us; are not such good Works rewarded, though they require no absolute Merit, as being the Fruits of free Grace, yet doth not God judge according to them, and may they not be said to have a Reward? ”

“ Q. I perceive then that to be Justified by Grace is to be justified or saved by Regeneration, which cannot exclude the Works wrought by Grace, and by the Spirit; How doth the Apostle add in the next Verse for the maintaining this against these that Cavil about the Law? ”