Again, if we shall be judged according to the measure of light and knowledge that we have of the law, it presseth us to bring forth fruits answerable to the dispensation of God, It is sad to put the finger in nature's eye, much more to grow black and wanzy in the sunshine of the gospel. As God looketh to the rule, so to our proportions and measures of light : ' If I had not spoken to them, they had had no sin,' saith Christ ; that is, no such sin, not that kind of sin, not so much sin. Gentiles shall answer for their knowledge, and we according to our proportions. In sins of knowledge there is more of sin ; for accord- ing to the sense that we have of the law forbidding, so is sin increased, and there is more of malice ; therefore apostates, who have most knowledge of the truth, are (as Arnobius saith) Maximi osores sui
222 AN EXI'USITIOX, WITH NOTES, [J AS. II. 12.
ordinis — the greatest enemies to their own order and profession ; and puitable the prophet Hosea v. 2, ' The revolters are profound to make slaughter.' Certainly there is more imkindness to God when we sin against a direct sight and intuition of his will : and therefore David aggravateth his adultery, because it was committed after God had made him ' to know wisdom in the inward part,' Ps. li. 6 ; which cer- tainly is the intent of the Hebrew text there, though we read somewhat otherwise in our translation. It is sad that after the law is written upon the heart, it should be transgressed ; in such acts there is a kind of violence offered to the principles and suggestions of our own bosom. Obs. 3. It is a great help to our Christian course to think of the day of judgment. They best prepare themselves to the spiritual battle that always hear the sound of that day's trump. Do not think it is against the liberty of the gospel to think of these severe accounts, or a talk only for novices ; it is useful for the children of God. Tiiough they are delivered from the rigour of that day, yet they ought still to reflect upon it with reverence. I confess there are some ser- vile reflections which beget nothing but torment and bondage in the spirit ; these will not become the children of God. But still a holy awe and reverence is necessary ; you will find it of special use to quicken you to Christian care and watchfulness. There are evange- lical reflections which serve to make the spirit strict, but not servile. It is a fondness in them that think this argument is wholly legal. The apostle Paul maketh the doctrine of judgment to come to be a part of the gospel, Rom. ii. 13 : ' God will judge the secrets of all men according to my gospel,' that is, according as I have taught in the dispensation of the gospel. And, indeed, it is a branch of the most glorious part of the doctrine of the gospel ; Christ's judging being the highest and most imperial act of his kingly office. The truth is, it is of excellent use to invite wicked men to repentance, and therefore Paul chose this argument at Athens, Acts xvii. 31, 'He hath commanded all men to repent, because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness.' Three reasons may be given why he useth that motive to them at first. One is intimated in the text, because it is a forcible and pressing motive to repentance ; and the other two may be easily conjectured, or collected out of the context. As, secondly, to prevent their plea, that if they had been in a wrong way, they had found it a happy way ; no judgment or plague had lighted upon them. The apostle anticipateth this objection by telling Ihcm, ' at those days of ignorance God winked,' but now taketh notice ; and if they did not repent now, however they escaped here, they should be sure to meet with judgment to come. And, thirdly, because the heathens themselves had some kind of dread and exi)ectation of such a day, conscience being but the counterpart of this doctrine ; and, there- fore, when Paul spake of 'judgment to come, Felix trembled,' though an heathen, Acts xxiv. 2.5. The i)hiloso])hcrs had some dreams of a h^evcre day of accounts, as appeareth by Plato's Gorgias, many passages in Tully, &c. And possibly herein the light of nature might be much helped by tradition ; so that, for the tiist and inviting motive, it serveth excellently. Nay, the people of God, that are already brought into Christ, find a great deal of sweet use and profit by exercising
JaS. II. 12.J UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 223
their thoughts in it. The strictness of it serveth to scare them out of their own righteousness. Nothing but Christ's righteousness will serve for Christ's judgment : ' That I may bo found in him,' &c., Phil, iii. 9. When wrath cometh thus solemnly to make inquisition for sinners, it is comfortable to be ' hidden in the cleft of the rock,' to be ' found in him.' So also it is useful to make them more strict and watchful ; that they may keep faith and grace in a constant exercise, and so be fit to meet the Lord when he cometh, with joy and bold- ness. The preacher, when he had propounded the whole duty of man, he enforceth it upon this motive, ' For God shall bring every work to judgment,' Eccles. xii. 13, 14. And again, more faithful in their call- ings. Whatever things are omitted at the day of judgment, our car- riage in our callings is chiefly noted and produced, it being that particular sphere to which we are limited and confined for serving the great ends of our creation. And as all callings are respected, so especially those high callings wherein there is some peculiar and special ministration to God, or some charge and employment for the public good. Paul himself, though a chosen vessel, a man of strong affections to Christ, yet thought need sometimes to use the spur ; and though he professed that he chiefly acted out of the constraints of love, yet he also took the advantage of fear, ' Knowing the terror of the Lord in that day, we persuade men,' 2 Cor. v. 11, implying that a re- flection upon the severity and strictness of the day of judgment was a great enforcement to urge him to faithfulness in the ministry ; and having found the use of it in his own spirit, he presseth Timothy by the same motive : 2 Tim. iv. 1,2, 'I charge thee, before Jesus Christ, who shall judge quick and dead, be instant; preach the word in season, out of season.' It is a most vehement persuasive to diligence, when we consider that we must give an account of our work. So also to make them thankful. There cannot be a greater argument of praise than when we consider our deliverance from wrath, when wrath is drawn out to the height, that we can look Christ in the face with com- fort, 1 John ii. 28 ; and we may begin our triumph when others are overwhelmed with terrors. So the apostle saith, 1 John iv. 17, ' Herein is love perfect, that we may have boldness at the day of judg- ment ; ' that is, therein is the height and perfection of the divine love discovered, that when others call upon mountains to cover tliem, we may lift up our heads with comfort, and may call the world's judge our friend and father.