Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 4:1

1. WHat shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh , hath found?

These words may either be refer'd to Father, and then they import no more, but that Abraham was their Father according to the Flesh, Rom. 9.5. Or else they may be refer'd to the following word Found. And then the Question is, What hath Abraham Found▪ i. e. Got or attain'd according to the Flesh. The Sence is, What hath he gotten by his Righteousness, which stands in Works, and are done in the Flesh? Abraham obtain'd not Righteousness by any Works Ceremonial or Moral: So the word Flesh is taken, vid. Phil. 3.3, 4. when under the word Flesh came Circumcision, our own Righteousness, which is by the Law, or whatsoever is or may be oppos'd to that Righteousness which is by the Faith of Christ.

The Apostle proceeds to Prove his main Conclusion, Ch. 3.28. which is, that a Sinner is Iustified by Faith without Works, from the example of Abraham. He was a Man that▪ had Faith and Works both; yet he was Iustified by Faith, and not by Works; and who doubts, but the Children are Justified after the same manner that their Father was: There is but one way of Justification; this is the Connexion.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]. 2.