Slioio me thy faith luithout thy icorks. — This clause is diversely read in the original. Some, as CEcumenius, read only hel^ov ryjv TTiaTcv (Tov, ' Show me thy faith,' and I will soon warrant mine. Most copies read e/c rcou epycov, that is, prove thy works, since they are such inseparable fruits of faith, where are they? But the most approved copies have %c«>/3i<? ep^cov, ' without thy works ; ' and the meaning is, Thou wantest the truest testimony and discovery of faith. Now, show me such a faith, that is, make it good by any warrant from the principles and maxims of our religion.
And I loill shoiu thee my faith by my ivorks ; that is, soon evi- dence it to the world, or soon evince it to be true faith out of the word.
The notes are these : —
Ohs. 1. A great means to convince hypocrites is to show how grace worketh in true Christians. The apostle instituteth a dialogue be- tween both ; thus Christ compareth the two builders. Mat. vii. '24, &c., and the wise virgins and the foolish. Mat. xxv. This awakeneth emulation ; it showeth that the austerities of Christianity arc possible. Others can go higher than your forms. Take this course, Do we live as they do — as they that, through faith and patience, inherit the promises ?
06s. 2. From that shoio me thy faith without ivorks,&c. — In all our hopes and conceits of grace we should always look to the warrant we have for them. Can I show or prove this to be faith or love by any rational grounds or scripture arguments? If Christians would look to the warrant of their hopes, they might discern more of the guile of their spirit. Presumption is a rash trust, without the sight of an actual or clear ground. He that ' built on the sand,' built hand over head, not considering whether the foundation were sufficient to sup- port the structure. But he that built on the rock, did not only con- sider whether it would bear up such a stress, but was clearly resolved in his mind of the strength and sufficiency of the foundation. It is
JaS. II. 19.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAJIES. 239
good to believe, ' as the scripture saith,' John vii. 38, to cherish no persuasion without an actual sight of a clear and distinct warrant, that we may be able to ' show our faith,' upon all cavils and challenges, that is, evince it to be good.
Obs. 3. Works are an evidence of true faith. Graces are not dead, useless habits ; they will have some efiects and operations when they are weakest and in their infancy. It is said of Paul, as soon as he was regenerate, ' Behold, he prayeth.' New-born children will cry at least before they are able to go. This is the evidence by which we must judge, and this is the evidence by which Christ will judge. (1.) The evidence by which we must judge. It is the drift of many scriptures to lay down evidences taken from sanctification and the holy life ; they were written to this very purpose ; as more especially Ps. cxix. and the first epistle of John ; see 1 John v. 13. Yea, conclusions are drawn to our hands. It is said, ' Hereby we may know,' &c. See 1 John iii, 14, and 1 John iii. 19. In many places promises are given out, with descriptions annexed, taken from the meekness, piety, good works of the saints, as Ps. i. 1, 2 ; Ps. xxxii. 1-9 ; Kom. viii. 1. Good works are the most sensible discovery ; all causes are known by their effects. The apples, leaves, and blossoms are evident when the life and sap is not seen. (2.) This is the evidence according to which Christ pro- ceedeth at the day of judgment: Kev. xx. 12, They were 'judged according to their works.' So Mat. vii. 23, ' Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.' They made profession, but their works were naught. So Mat. XXV. 41, 42.
Use. You may make use of this note to judge yourselves and to judge others. (1.) Yourselves: when the causes are hidden, the effects are sensible ; therefore you may try graces by their fruits and operations. Works are not a ground of confidence, but an evidence ; not the foundations of faith, but the encouragements of assurance.''- Comfort may be increased by the sight of good works, but it is not built upon them ; they are seeds of hope, not props of confidence ; sweet evidences of election, not causes ; happy presages and beginnings of glory ; in short, they can manifest an interest, but not merit it. We have ' peace with God ' by the righteousness of Christ, and ' peace of conscience,' by the fruits of righteousness in ourselves ; but more of this anon. (2.) Others may be judged by their works : where there is knowledge, and a good life, it is not Christian to suspect the heart. The devil said, when he had nothing to object against Job's life, ' Doth Job serve God for nought ? ' If men be knowing, and profess, and be fruitful in good works, it is an injury to say they are only civil, moral men. Profession may be counterfeited, but when it is honoured with works, you must leave the heart to God, James i. 27. To be_ ' un- defiled,' and ' visit the fatherless and widows,' that is ' true religion ; ' that is the great note and discovery of it. Empty profession may have more of a party in it, than of power ; but profession honoured with works is charity's rule to judge by.