And receive. — A word often used for the appropriation of the word, nnd admitting the power of it into our hearts. Receive, that is, give it more way to come to you ; make more room fur it in your hearts.
JaS. I. 21.] UPON THE El'ISTLE OF JAMES. 145
Thus it is cliarged upon them, 2 Thes. ii. 10, that ' they received not the love of the truth.' So it is said of the natural man, ov Se-^erac, ' He receiveth not the things of God.' "This is a notion so proper to this matter, that tlie ibrmal act of faith is expressed by it, John i. 11, ' To as many as received him,' &c.
With meekness ; that is, with a teachable mind, with a modest, sub- missive spirit.
The ingrafted ivord, \6joi' e/xcfyvrov. — Some refer it to reason, others to Clirist, but with much absurdity ; for this word noteth the end and fruit of hearing, that the word may be planted in us ; and the apostle showeth that, by the industry of the apostles, the word was not only propounded to them, but rooted in them by faith. The like metaphor is elsewhere used : ' I have planted,' 1 Cor. iii. 6, that is, God by his means ; and the metaphor is continued, Col. i. 6, X0709 KapTTo^opov/xevo^, a phrase that noteth the flourishing and growing of the word after the planting of it in the soul.
Which is able to save ; that is, instrumentally, as it is accompanied with the divine grace ; for the gospel is ' the power of God unto salva- tion,' Rom. i. 16.
Your souls ; that is, yourselves, bodies and souls. Salvation is attri- buted to the soul l)y way of eminency, the principal part being put for the whole : Rom. xiii. 1, ' Let every soul be subject to the higher powers,' that is, every person. So in other places the same manner of expression is used in this very matter : 1 Peter i. 9, ' The end of your faith, the salvation of your souls ; ' so Mat. xvi. 2G, ' Lose his own soul,' that is, himself. In such forms of speech the body is not ex- cluded, because it always followeth the state of the soul.
The notes are many : I shall be the briefer.
Ohs. 1. From that laying aside. Before we come to the word there must be preparation. They that look for the bridegroom had need trim up their lamps. The instrument must be tuned ere it can make melody. Rash entering upon duties is seldom successful. God may meet us unawares, such is his mercy ; but it is a great adventure. The people were to wash their clothes when they went to hear the law, Exod. xix. 10. Something there must be done to prepare and fix the heart to seek the Lord, 2 Chron. xx. 19 ; Ps. Ivi. 8. Solomon saith, ■ Take heed to thy foot when thou goest into the house of God,' Eccles. V. 1. The heathens had one in their temples to remember them that came to worship of their work ; he was to cry, Hoc age. Many come to hear, but they do not consider the weight and importance of the duty. Christ saith, Luke viii. 18, ' Take heed how you hear.' It were well there were such a sound in men's ears in the times of their apjiroaches to God ; some to cry to them, ' Oh, take heed how you hear.' It is good to be ' swift to hear,' but not to be rash and inconsiderate. Do not make such haste as to forget to take God along wntli you. You must begin duties with duties.i Special duties require a special setting apart of the heart for God, but all require something. Inconsiderate addresses are always fruitless. We come on, and go off' and there is all. We do not come with expectation, and go without satisfaction. Well, then, come with more advised care when you come to wait upon
1 ' Iter ad pietatem est intra pietatem. ' VOL. IV. K
146 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [Ja8. I. 21.
God ; look to your feet, and come prepared. Let nie speak one word by way of caution, and another by way of direction.
1. By way of caution. (1.) Do not exclude God out of your pre- parations. Usually men mistake in this matter, and hope by their own care to work them.selves into a fitness of spirit. Preparation consisteth much in layini? aside evil frames ; and before you lay aside other evil frames, lay aside self-confidence: Pro v. xvi. 1, 'The pre- parations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tou<^ue, is from the Lord ; ' the very dispositions and motions of the spirit are from him. It is a wrong to that text to expound it so as if the preparation were from man and the success from God ; both are from the Lord, God's children have entered comfortably upon duties, when they have seen God in their preparations : Ps. Ixxi. 16, 'I will ^o forth in the strength of God ;' that is, to the duty of praise, as is clear in the context. (2.) Though you cannot get your hearts into such a frame as you do desire, trust God : ' Faith is the evidence of things not seen,' Heb. xi. 1 ; and that help which is absent to sense and feeling may be present to faith. A bell may be long in rising, but it ringeth loud when it is once up. You do not know how God may come in. The eunuch read, and understood not, and God sent him an in- terpreter. Acts viii. When you begin duty you are dead and indis- posed ; but you do not know with what sensible approaches of his grace and power he may visit you ere it be over. It is not good to neglect duty out of discouragements ; this were to commit one sin to excuse another : ' Say not, I am a child,' Jer. i. 6 : 'I am slow of lips.' 'Who made the mouth ? ' Exod. iv. 10, 11.