246 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [J AS. II. 21.
former justification by such experiences and fruits of faith, for in them we are "found faitliful ; that is, before God and man approved to have a right faith. And to this purpose Diodat excellently glosselh, that justification in Paul is opposite to the condemnation of a sinner in general, and justification in James is opposite to the condemnation of a hypocrite in particular. In Paul's sense a sinner is absolved, in James's sense a believer is approved ; and so most sweetly, and for aught I can see, without exception the apostles are agreed. For the Popish exceptions I shall handle them, ver. 24.
When he offered Isaac iipon the altar. — Mark, though Abraham never actually olFered him, but only in purpose and vow, yet it is said * he offered.' So Heb. xi. 17, ' By faith Abraham oftered Isaac,' &c. ; he purposed it, and if God had continued the command, would ac- tually have done it.^ God counteththat to be done which is about to be done, and taketli notice of what is in the heart, though it be not brought to practice and actual accomplishment.
Ohs. 1. Those that would have Abraham's privileges must look to it that they have Abraham's faith. You claim kin of him as belie\'ers. How was 'it with Abraham ? Two things are notable in his faith — (1.) He received the promises with all hnmility : Gen. xvii. 3, ' And Abraham fell on his face,' as mightily abashed and abased in himself, to see God deal thus with him. (2.) He improved them with much fidelity, being upright before God, and walking in all relations for his glory. Two instances there are of his obediences, upon which the Holy Ghost hath set a special mark and note — one was leaving his father's house. Gen. xii. 1, wherein he denied himself in his possessions ; the other was the sacrificing of his son. Gen. xxii. 1, wherein he denied himself in his hopes. Oh ! ' look to the rock from whence you were hewn, the hole of the pit out of which you were digged, to Abraham your father,' Isa. li. 1, 2. Do you receive mercies so humbly, improve them so thankfully ? Who would not stick at those commands wherewith Abraham was exercised and tried ? God calleth every believer more or less to deny something that is near and dear to him.
Ohs. 2, Believers must ?.cq that they honour and justify their faith by works. Never content yourselves with an empty profession. Pro- fession showeth to what i)arty we addict ourselves, but holiness showeth we addict ourselves to God. Disagreeing parties may accord in the same guilt and practices : ' What do you more ? ' Mat. v. 47. Chris- tianity may be professed out of faction by them that have a pagan heart, under a Christian name. All natural men, however they differ in inter^t, agree in one common rebellion against God. But the chief thing which I would urge, is to press them that profess themselves to be justified by grace to make good their interest in grace, to look to the evidence of works. Libertines press men absolutely to believe that they are justified from all eternity; and to lull them asleep in a complete security, make it a sin to doubt of or question their faith, whether it be right or no. Saltmarsh saith. That we are no more to question faith than to question the promise, and that Christ and his
* ' Immolari sibi Deu8 filium juasit, pater obtulit, et (iuautiim ud tkfunctionem cordis pertinet, immolavit' — Salvian. de Gvb. Dei, lib. i.
JaS. II. 21.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 247
apostles did not press men to ask the question whether they did l)e- lieve or no, and that Christ's commands to believe are not to be dis- puted, but obeyed/ &c.i Vain allegation! There is a difference between questioning the command and questioning our obedience. Though we are not to dispute against the duty, yet we are to examine whether we perform it. The apostle speaketh directly to this pur- ])ose : ' Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith,' 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Tlicre is no other way to undeceive the soul, and to discover false conceptions from true graces. How sad was it for the foolish virgins, tliat never doubted of their faith till it was too late ! It is the vulgar mistake to think that the excellency of faith lieth in the security and strength of persuasion ; and that whoever can make full account that CSirist died for him, or that he shall go to heaven, doth believe; whereas the difference between faith and presumption doth not lie in tlie security of persuasion, but in the ground of it, Mat. vii., latter end. The two buildings there might be raised in equal height and comeli- ness ; the difference was in the foundation. A hypocrite may have as fair and as full a confidence as a believer, but it is not as well built and raised ; and, if the scripture shall give sentence, he is not most happy that hath least trouble, but he that hath least cause ; therefore you had need look to your faith and confidence, that it may be justi- fied, justified by your works. This is a sensible evidence, and most in sight. I confess, by some it is decried as litigious, by others as legal. Some think that because there are so many shifts, and circuits, and wiles in the heart of man, it is an uncertain, if not an impossible way of trial. I confess, if in trial we were only to go by the light of our conscience and reason, the objection would seem to have weight in it. Who can discover the ' foldings of the belly,' Prov. xx. 27, without God's own candle ? The main certainty lieth in the Spirit's witness, without which the witness of water is silent, 1 John v. 8. Graces shine not without this light. God's own interpreter must * show a man his righteousness,' Job xxxiii., otherwise there will be many shifts in the heart, and we shall still be in the dark. Under the law every- thing was to be established ' in the mouth of two or three vntnesses,' Deut. xvii. 6. So here are two witnesses, the Spirit with our spirits, the Spirit with our renewed consciences, Kom. viii. 16. It is the Holy Ghost that giveth light, whereby we may discern the truth of grace, imprinteth the feeling and comfort, and by satisfying the soul begetteth a serenity and calmness within us. Therefore the apostle pitcheth the main certainty upon the Spirit's evidence : Eom. ix. 2, ' I lie not, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost ; ' that is, my conscience is assured by the Holy Ghost that I do not err or lie. Others cry it up for legal, as by pressing men to look to works as an evidence, we went about to establish their confidence in their own righteousness, or a merit in themselves. Certainly it is one thing to judge by our graces, another thing to rest or put our trust in them. There is a great deal of difference between dedaring and deserving. Works as fruits may declare our justified estate. There is a difference between ' peace with God ' and ' peace of conscience.' Peace and amity with God we have merely by grace and free justification, that elpyjvr]