Perkins: Grace Admits No Partner Or Fellow

by on November 6, 2015 | 2 Comments

[The Galatians] joined the works of the law with Christ and his grace in the cause of their justification and salvation. Here it must be observed that they which make a union of grace and works in the cause of justification are separated from the grace of God. Grace admits no partner or fellow. Grace must be freely given every way, or it is no way grace.

—William Perkins (1558–1602), The Works of William Perkins, vol. 2: Commentary on Galatians, ed. Paul M. Smalley (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2015), 29. (Emphasis added. HT: Chad Vegas)

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  • R. Scott Clark
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    R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.

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2 comments

  1. Here’s another Perkins quote on the same topic:

    Objection 8. In respect of God, who is truth itself, we are to believe the promise in particular: yet if we respect our own unworthiness and indisposition, we are to fear and in some part to doubt. For the promise of remission of sins is not absolute, but depends upon the condition of our works. Therefore our certainty is only conjectural.

    Answer. I answer first that in respect of our own unworthiness, we are not to doubt of our salvation, but to be out of all doubt, yea to despair before the judgment seat of God. For they which are of the works of the law, are under the curse, (Gal. 3:10), and Paul saith of his own works of grace, “in this am I not justified” (1 Cor. 4:4). And David being out of all doubt of his own deserved damnation in regard of his own unworthiness saith freely, “Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord, for no flesh shall be justified in thy sight” (Ps. 143:2). Again the consideration of any unworthiness in ourselves, doth not hinder a resolution considering God’s mercy in Christ. For true faith makes an entrance unto God with boldness, (I say with boldness) even for those persons that are unworthy in themselves, (Eph. 4:12). And Abraham (whose faith is to be followed of us) did not upon the consideration of his old decayed body, rest himself with bare hope upon a likelihood of the accomplishment of God’s promise, but he “believed under hope even against hope” (Rom. 4:18). Lastly I answer that the ground of the former objection is erroneous, namely that the promise of salvation depends on the condition of our works: because the Scripture saith, it is made and accomplished on man’s part freely. I grant indeed that to the promise there is annexed a condition of faith: yet faith here must not be considered as a work, but as an instrument apprehending Christ with His benefits: and withal repentance with the fruits thereof are on our part required, yet no otherwise but as they are necessary consequents of faith, and the signs and documents thereof.

    – From William Perkins’ “Discourse of Conscience”.

    (emphasis added)

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