JaS. I. 25.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 163
Obs. 2. The gospel is a law. It is often invested with this title and appellation : Eom. viii. 2, ' The law of the Spirit of the life of Jesus Christ hath made us free from the law of sin and death.' The covenant of works is there called ' the law of sin and death/ because the use of it to man fallen is to convince of sin, and to oblige and bind over to death. But the gospel, or covenant of grace, is called the law of the Spirit of the life of Christ, because the intent of it is, by faith, to plant us into Christ, whose life we are enabled to live by the Spirit ; and it is called ' the law of this life,' because everything that concurreth in the right constitution and making of a law is found in the gospel : — As (1.) Equity, without which a law is but tyranny. All the precepts of the gospel are just and equal, most proportionate to the dignity of man's nature : it is holy, good, and comfortable. (2.) There is promulgation, which is the life and form of the law, and without which it were but a private snare to catch men and entrap them. Now it is ' proclaimed to the captives,' Isa. Ixi. 1 ; it must be ' preached to every creature,' Mark xvi. (3.) The author, without which it were sedi- tion— God, who can prescribe to the creature. (4.) The end, public good, without which a law were tyrannous exaction ; and the end is the salvation of our souls. Well, then, look upon the gospel as a law and rule, according to which— (1st.) Your lives must be conformed : 'Peace on them that walk according to this rule,' Gal. vi. 16 ; that is, the directions of the gospel. (2d.) All controversies and doctrines must be decided : ' To the law and the testimony ; if they speak not according to this rule, it is because there is no light in them,' Isa. viii. 20. (3d.) Your estates must be judged : ' God will judge the secrets of all men, according to my gospel,' Eom. ii. 16. The whole word carrieth the face of a law, according to which you shall be judged ; nay, the gospel itself is a law, partly as it is a rule, partly because of the commanding prevailing power it hath over the heart. So it is ' the law of the Spirit of life ; ' so that they that are in Christ are not without a law, not avofioi,, but evvofjbOL. So the apostle, 1 Cor. ix. 21, ' I am not without the law, but under the law to Christ ; ' that is, under the rule and direction of the moral law, as adopted and taken in as a part of the gospel by Christ.
Obs. 3. The word of God is a perfect law. So it is in divers respects. (1.) Because it maketh perfect. The nearer we come to the word, the greater is the perfection and accomplishment of our spirits. The goodness and excellency of the creature lieth in the nearest conformity to God's will. (2.) It directeth us to the greatest perfection, to God blessed for ever, to the righteousness of Christ, to perfect communion with God in glory. (3.) It concerneth the whole man, and hath a force apon the conscience : men go no further than outward obedience ; but ' the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul,' Ps, xix. 7. It is not a lame, defective rule ; besides outward observances, there is some- what for the soul. (4.) It is a perfect law, because of the invariable tenor of it ; it needeth not to be changed, but is always like itself : as we say, that is a perfect rule that needeth no amendment. (5.) It is pure, and free from error. There are no laws of men but there are some blemish in them. Of old, wickedness was enacted by a lawi —
^ Osorius de Glor., lib. i.
164 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [JaS. I. 25.
adultery : by a law of the Syrians, the virp^iiis were to prostitute them- selves before iiiarria!j;e. 80 in the laws of every country there are some marks of human error and frailty ; but, Ps. cxix. 140, ' Thy word is pure, tlierelbre tliy servant loveth it.' (6.) Because it is a suf- ficient rule. Christ hath been 'faithful in all his house,' in all the ap))ointments of it. Whatever is necessary for knowledge, for regu- lating of life and worsiiip, for confirmation of true doctrines, for confutation of false, it is all in the word : 2 Tim. iii. 17, ' That the man of God may i)e perfectly furnished unto every good work.' Well, then — (1 .) Prize the word. We love what is perfect. (2.) Suffer nothing to be added to it: Deut. iv., ' Ye shall not add to the word which I command you.' Ho the whole Bible is conchided : Rev. xxii. 18, ' If any one add to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book.' It will be a sad adding that incurreth these plagues. The plagues written in that book were those dreadful judg- ments that should be executed upon Antichrist and liis adherents; they are most for adding, coining new doctrines of faith, piecing up the word with their own inventions. And, indeed, as they ad(.l, by obtruding upon the world the traditions and usages of men, so others add ])y imposing upon men's reverence their own inventions and ima- gin.'itions. They cry up their fancies without the word, and private illuminations. God would not leave the world at so great an uncer- tainty. Others urge the commands of men. Certainly God never intended that the souls of his people should be left as a prey to the present power.