4. We do it in a free state, in an estate of sonship, and well pleas-
' ' Domitrix gentium, et captiva vitiornm.' — A wj. dc Chit. Dei. - Chrysos. Horn. 19, in priorem Ep. ad Corinth.
166 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [JaS. I. 25.
ing;: Rom. viii. 15, ' Ye have not received the spirit of hondage again unto fear ; but a spirit of adoption, wliereby we cry, Abba, Father.' When a man is under a covenant of works, the testimony of his con- science is suitable to his estate ; and therefore in his natural condition his spirit is servile, and all that he doth he doth as a servant : but when he is regenerated, and claimeth by another tenure, that of grace, the dispositions of his spirit are more filial and child-like ; he acteth as a son, with an ingenuous liberty and confidence. Adam himself in innocency, because under a covenant of works, was but as an honourable servant: Gal. iv. 31, ' We are not children of the bond- woman, but of the free.' The new covenant giveth us another kind of estate and spirit. So Luke i. 74, ' Being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we serve him without fear;' that is, without such a scrupulous awe and bondage, as otherwise would remain upon the soul.
Use. Well, then, consider whether you be under a law of liberty, yea or no. To this end — (1.) Ask j^oursouls, which is a bondage to you, sin or duty ? When you do complain of the yoke, what is grievous to you, the commandment or the transgression ? Do you ' delight in the law of the Lord in the inward man ? ' Only corruption that hangeth on so fast is a sad burthen. The carnal heart hath a spite at the law, Rom. viii. 7, not its own lusts. (2.) When you do duty, what is the weight that poiseth your spirits to it ? Your warrant is the command ; but your poise and weight should be love. i (3.) What is your strength for duty — reason or the assistance of the free Spirit ? He that cometh in his own name usually standeth upon his own bottom. When our dependence is on Christ, our tendency is to him. (4.) Would you have the work ac- cepted for its own sake, or your persons accepted for Christ's sake ? It is an ill sign when a man's thoughts run more upon the property and qua- lity of the work than upon the propriety and interest of his person. In the law of liberty or covenant of grace, God's acceptance beginneth with the person ; and though there be weak services, much deadness, coldness, dulness, yet it is accepted, because it is done in a free state. Works can never be so vile as our person was when we first found favour with God. If it be thus with you, you have cause to bless God for your freedom, to consider what you shall render again. Requite God you cannot till you pay back as much as he gave you.^ ' He hath given his Son to free you, and you should give up yourselves.
Ohs. 5. From that and ahidclh therein. This commendeth our knowledge of and afi'ection to the word, to continue in it. Hypocrites have a taste ; some men's hearts burn under the ordinances, but all is lost and drowned in the world again : John viii. 31, * If ye continue in the word, then are ye my disciples indeed.' There may be good flashes for the ])resent, but Christ saith, ' If ye continue,' if ye ripen them to good aflcctions. So 2 John 9, ' Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God ; but he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.' He that hath not God hath lost himself; and he that hath God hath all things : now so great a privilege is promised to perseve-
* 'Amor meus eat pondus meum, eo feror quocunque feror.' — Aug. ' ' Deo redempti sumus, Deiim debemu.s.' — Salvian.
JaS. I. 25.] UPON THE EPISTLE OB^ JAMES, 167
ranee. The corrupt angels lost their glory when they left their love to the truth. Their sin is thus expressed — they ' abode not in the truth/ John viii. 44. Now to this abiding in the word two things are opposite : — (1.) Apostasy, when we go off from our former profession and zeal for God ; a sad case ! 2 Peter ii. 21, ' Better they had never known the holy commandment than to go back from the knowledge of it after it was once delivered to them.' The less law the less trans- gression ; apostates sin against more conviction : Ps. cxix. 118, 'Thou hast trodden down them that err from thy statutes: God treadeth them under feet as unsavoury salt/ because they have lost their smartness and savour. (2.) There is erepoZihaaKaXia, other gospelling : Gal. i. 6, ' Soon turned to another gospel.' So 1 Tim. . i. 3, ' Charge them that they teach no other doctrine.' Men would have something new and strange, which is usually the ground of heresy. So 1 Tim. vi. 3, 'If any teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, he is proud, knowing nothing.' This desire to differ, and hear another gospel, is very dangerous ; new ways affected are the high way to an old error.