Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
If Adam had stood, and performed all things [of the law], he would even have merited, but I. not by condign merit, as if either his person, or his works would have been worthy of so great a reward. There is no creature, though perfect, who can merit this way in the presence of God. 1) Because we owe everything to God. Lk. 17:10. 2) No one is able to bring obligation upon God since he would be El Shaddai, God the sufficient one. Gen. 17. See Job 22: 2. 3) Whatever good things a man has, it is from God. Phil. 2:13; Ac. 17:28; 1 Cor. 4:7. 4) Nothing is given proportionately between the work of creatures, and the enjoyment of God.
II. It would not even have been by congruent merit, certainly because of the extraordinary gifts, which he had received from God. 1) Because God is not a respecter of persons, whom he made able by the particular gifts. 2) Because there was no grace in the case of Adam, the one building favour, when everything he would have was from God. Merit, therefore, was to its extent by the covenant, following the stipulation of the covenant, by the mere good pleasure of God.
For the reference, see:
reformedcovenanter.wordpress.com
II. It would not even have been by congruent merit, certainly because of the extraordinary gifts, which he had received from God. 1) Because God is not a respecter of persons, whom he made able by the particular gifts. 2) Because there was no grace in the case of Adam, the one building favour, when everything he would have was from God. Merit, therefore, was to its extent by the covenant, following the stipulation of the covenant, by the mere good pleasure of God.
For the reference, see:
Johannes Braun on covenantal merit in relation to Adam
If Adam had stood, and performed all things [of the law], he would even have merited, but I. not by condign merit, as if either his person, or his works would have been worthy of so great a reward.…
reformedcovenanter.wordpress.com
