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a good God be a good Father ? Tampater nemo, tarn plus nemo i — none can be so good and so much a father as he.
06s. 4. The ordinary means whereby God begetteth us is the gospel. He begat us ' by the word of truth : ' 1 Cor. iv. 15, 'I have be- gotten you in Jesus Christ, througli the gospel' There is the instru- ment, the author, the means : the instrument, Paul, ' I have begotten you ; ' the means, ' by the gospel ; ' the author, ' in Jesus Christ.' So 1 Peter i. 23, ' Begotten by the incorruptible seed of the word/ The word is, as it were, the seed, which, being ingrafted in the heart, springeth up in obedience : it is by the word, and that part of the word which is properly called the gospel. Moses may bring us to the borders, but Joshua leadeth us into the land of Canaan ; the law may prepare and make way, but that which conveyeth the grace of con- version is properly the gospel. Well, then, let us wait upon God in the use of the word : it is not good to balk the known and ordinary ways of grace. Wisdom's dole is given at wisdom's gates : Prov. viii. 34, ' Blessed is he that watcheth always at my gates.' It was a great advantage to the decrepit man to lie still at the pool, John v. God's means will prove successful in God's time. Urge your souls with the necessity of the means. ' Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,' Eom. x. 17. Without grace I cannot be saved, Avithout the word I cannot have grace ; reason thus within yourselves, that you may awaken the soul to a greater conscience and sense of waiting upon God in the word. It is true, the divine grace doth all, he begetteth us ; but remember, it is by the word of truth. The influences of the heavens make fruitful seasons, but yet plough- ing is necessary. It is one of the sophisms of this age to urge the Spirit's efficacy as a plea for the neglect of the means.
Ohs. 5. The gospel is a word of truth ; so it is called, not only in this, but in divers other places. See 2 Cor. vi. 7 ; Eph. i. 12 ; Col. i. 5 ; 2 Tim. ii. 1,5 ; the same expression is used in all these places. You may constantly observe, that in matters evangelical the scriptures speak with the greatest averment and certainty ; the comfort of them is so rich, and the way of them is so Avonderful, that there we are apt to doubt most, and therefore there do the scriptures give us the more solemn assurance ; as 1 Tim. i. 1,5, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came to save sinners.' We are apt to look upon it as a doubtful thing, or at best but as a probable truth ; therefore Paul prefaceth, ' This is a faithful saying,' So Isa. liii. 4, ' Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sor- rows.' Thou sayest, surely I am a sinner ; but it is as sure that Christ is a Saviour ; naturally we are more sensible and sure of sin than of the comforts of Christ, The apostle speaketh of heathens, Eom. i. 32, that they ' knew the judgment of God,' and that ' they that commit such things are worthy of death,' Natural conscience will give us a sight and sense of sin, but usually we look upon gospel comforts with a loose heart and doubtful mind ; and therefore is it that the scripture useth such forms of certainty. Is it sure that thou art a sinner ? so sure is it that he hath ' borne our sins and carried our sorrows.' So Rev. xix. 9, ' Blessed are they wliich are called to
^ Tertul. in lib. de Orat. Dom.
120 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [JaS. I. 18.
the supper of the Lanil) : lliese are the true sayhif^s of God.' So Kev. xxii. 6, when he had t^poken of the ftlory of heaven, he saith, ' These sayings are faithful and true.' The Spirit of God foresaw where we are most a])t to douht, and therefore hath laid in such solemn security (as the asseverations of God) aforehand. Thus Christ's priesthood is ushered in with an oath, Ps. ex. 4, ' The Lord hath sworn, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec' Points so far above the reach and apprehension of nature are hard to be believed, therefore are they prefaced with deep asseverations and oaths.
Use. The use is to press us to put our seal to these truths, to adventure our souls upon the warrant of them. How strange is it that our hearts should be most loose towards those points that have a special note of truth and faithfulness annexed to them ! Well may it be said, 1 John v. 10, ' He that believeth not maketh God a liar ;' for these things are propounded to you, not only in assertions, but asseverations. He hath told you they are faithful and true sayings ; therefore you implicitly give God the lie when you think these things are too good to be true, or carry yourselves with a carelessness and loose uncertainty towards them, or, in despair, think there cannot be com- fort for such sinners as you are. This is to lift up .your own sense and experience against the oaths and protestations of God, which are everywhere interlaced with the proposals of the gospel. Oh ! do not hang off. Bring up assent to the greatest certainty that may be ; check those vile thoughts which secretly lurk in all our hearts, that the gospel is some fine device and rare artifice to cheat the world, some golden fancy to make fools fond with ; as that profane pope said, Fabula Chrisil, the fable of the gospel. Oh ! consider, all the wit of the creatures could not contrive or design such a plot and frame of truths, so satisfying to the conscience, as the gospel is, and therefore all assents that do not amount and come up to assurance are beneath the dignity of it.