According to Calvinists, how do Job's works correspond to his salvation? Job 31:1–4 (DRB) I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.1 2 For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high? 3 Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity? 4 Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?


The very similar New Testament equivalent might be:


  Ephesians 5:1–7 (DRB) Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints: 4 Or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is to no purpose; but rather giving of thanks. 5 For know you this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person (which is a serving of idols), hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief. 7 Be ye not therefore partakers with them.


As a Catholic, it seems obvious to me from reading this that Job avoids sin in general (something for which Scripture praises him: cf. 1:1), but here fornication or thoughts thereof, because if he did not he would have no part in God, because he would be wicked by definition.  This directly links works with justification, and Job lucidly and freely chose to take this course of life ('made a convenant with [myself]') because of the risk of not having done so. But in Calvinism there is no even theoretical risk of losing salvation, and therefore no need to avoid sins so as to avoid such a fate (i.e., whereas there is motive for avoiding sins which is not a salvific reason, so Calvinists believe).

Question

According to Calvinists, how does Job view his works in relation to his justification/salvation?

Thanks in advance.



1 Cf. Mt. 5:28.
Before you ask what Calvin thought, it might be a good idea to ask, "What did Job think?"


  Job 9:2 Yes, I know what you’ve said is true, but how can a person be
  justified before God?


Job had no illusion that his life, his righteous words and deeds, were capable of rendering him justified before God. If he had confidence that his actions could effect part of his justification, he would have spoken differently.

Here is an excerpt from Calvins Institutes of the Christian Religion:


  . . . In the shady cloisters of the schools anyone can easily and
  readily prattle about the value of works in justifying men. But when
  we come before the presence of God we must put away such amusements.
  For there we deal with a serious matter, and do not engage in
  frivolous word battles. To this question, I insist, we must apply our
  mind if we would profitably inquire concerning true righteousness: How
  shall we reply to the Heavenly Judge when he calls us to account? Let
  us envisage for ourselves that Judge, not as our minds naturally
  imagine him, but as he is depicted for us in Scripture: by whose
  brightness the stars are darkened [Job 3:9]; by whose strength the
  mountains are melted; by whose wrath the earth is shaken [cf. Job
  9:5-6]; whose wisdom catches the wise in their craftiness [Job 5:13];
  beside whose purity all things are defiled [cf. Job 25:5]; whose
  righteousness not even the angels can bear [cf. Job 4:18]; who makes
  not the guilty man innocent [ct. Job 9:20]; whose vengeance when once
  kindled penetrates to the depths of hell [Deut. 32:22; cf. Job 26:6].
  Let us behold him, I say, sitting in judgment to examine the deeds of
  men: Who will stand confident before his throne? "Who . . . can dwell
  with the devouring fire?" asks the prophet. "Who... can dwell with
  everlasting burnings? He who walks righteously and speaks the truth"
  [Isa. 33:14-15 p.], etc. But let such a one, whoever he is, come
  forward. Nay, that response causes no one to come forward. For, on the
  contrary, a terrible voice resounds: "If thou, 0 Lord, shouldst mark
  iniquities, Lord, who shall stand?" [Ps. 130:3; 129:3, Vg.]. Indeed,
  all must soon perish, as it is written in another place: "Shall a man
  be justified in comparison with God, or shall he be purer than his
  maker? Behold, they that serve him are not faithful, and in his angels
  he found wickedness. How much more shall those who dwell in houses of
  clay, who have an earthly foundation, be consumed before the moth.
  From morn to eve they shall be cut down" [Job 4:17-20]. Likewise:
  "Behold, among his saints none is faithful, and the heavens are not
  pure in his sight. How much more abominable and unprofitable is man,
  who drinks iniquity like water?" [Job 15:1 ~16, cf. Vg.]
  
  Indeed, I admit that in The Book of Job mention is made of a
  righteousness higher than the observance of the law, and it is
  worth-while to maintain this distinction. For even if someone
  satisfied the law, not even then could he stand the test of that
  righteousness which surpasses all understanding. Therefore, even
  though Job has a good conscience, he is stricken dumb with
  astonishment, for he sees that not even the holiness of angels can
  please God if he should weigh their works in his heavenly scales.
  Therefore, I now pass over that righteousness which I have mentioned,
  for it is incomprehensible. I only say that if our life is examined
  according to the standard of the written law, we are sluggish indeed
  if we are not tormented with the horrid fear at those many
  maledictions with which God willed to cleanse us — among others this
  general curse: "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by everything
  written in this book" [Gal. 3:10, Vg.; cf. Deut. 27:26]. In short,
  this whole discussion will be foolish and weak unless every man admit
  his guilt before the Heavenly Judge, and concerned about his own
  acquittal, willingly cast himself down and confess his nothingness.


I found this excerpt here: http://www.presenttruthmag.com/archive/XIX/19-6.htm

Calvin wrote a lot about "double justice". It is beyond me.