^ Qu. 'in ' or ' duriug ' ? — Kd.
JaS. II. 5.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 197
world, or in tlie world to come ; ' i.e., an act of })ardon can neither now be really passed, or then solemnly declared. So for redemption : we shall not understand that privilege till we are redeemed from death and the grave, and have a full and final deliverance from all evils ; therefore we are said to ' wait for the redemption of our bodies,' Kom. viii. 23, and ' lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh,' Luke xxi. 28. And that possibly may be the reason why the apostle, when he numbereth up the fruits of our union with Christ, he putteth redemption last, 1 Cor. i. 30. Here we have righteousness, wisdom, grace, but in the world to come we have redemption ; therefore, the day of the Lord is called ' the day of redemption,' Eph. iv. 30. So also for union with Christ; it is begun here, but so often inter- rupted, that it is rather an absence than a union : 2 Cor. v. 6, ' Whiles we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.' The apostle speaketh so, because we do not so freely enjoy the comforts of his pre- sence. So Phil. i. 23, ' I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ ;' a Christian is with Christ here, but rather without him. Then shall we know what it is to be with him, when we shall in bod)'' and soul be translated into heaven, and be always in his eye and presence. So for sanctification : there is so much of the old nature remaining, that there is scarce anything of the new ; and therefore the day of judg- ment is called TraXcyyevecria, the regeneration,' Mat. xix. 28 ; that is, the time when all things are made new, when we come to be settled in our everlasting state ; and that may be the occasion of the apostle's expression, 1 Thes. iii. 13, 'Sanctified at Christ's coming.' Thus you see, in all points of Christian privilege, we are, though Jieits, yet but heirs. Well, then, you that ' have the first-fruits of the Spirit,' come and rejoice in your hopes : ' Behold what manner of love the Father hath showed you ! ' 1 John iii. 1. We were strangers, yet we are made sons — nay, heirs ; we were of low degree — it may be poor, beg- garly in the world — yet have we this i^ovaiav, this dignity put upon us, to be chosen to the fairest kingdom that ever was and will be, John i. 12. We were enemies, rebellious as well as despicable, yet still heirs ; from ' children of wrath,' made ' heirs of glory.' God needed not such an adoption ; he had {i Son who is called his delight and rejoicing before all worlds, Prov. viii. 31, and yet he would make thee, that wast a stranger to his family, a rebel to his crown, so base in the world, a joint-heir with his only Son. Oh ! what love and thankfulness should this beget in us ! Every person of the Godhead showeth his love to us ; the Father he adopteth us : ' Behold what manner of love the Father,' &c. ; the Son for a while resigneth and layeth aside his honour— nay, dieth, to purchase our right, Gal. iv. 6; and ' the Spirit witnesseth that we are the sons of God,' Kom. viii. 15. Oh ! adore the love of the Trinity with high and raised thoughts. Consider what a comfort here is against all the discouragements and abasures that we meet with in the world ; princes in disguise are often slighted, and the heirs of heaven are made the world's reproach. But why should you be dejected ? 2 Sam. xiii. 4, ' Why art thou so lean from day to day ? art not thou the king's son ? ' Are not you heirs of the kingdom of glory ? And, by the way, here is some advice to the world : Do not contemn the meanest that are godly — they are
198 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [JaS. II. 5.
heirs ; every one worshippetli the risinc^ sun, and observeth the heir. Oh ! make you friends of them, they will stead you another day : Luke xvi. 9, ' Make you friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations ; ' that is, with that wealth, which is usually abused to sin, make you friends of the poor godly saints ; they with Christ shall judge the world, 1 Cor. vi. 2. Make them friends, that they may give their suffrage to you, and receive you into heavenly joys, A main thing that Christ taketh notice of at the day of judgment, is this : ' Thus have ye done to one of my naked brethren,' Mat. xxv. 40.