^ Saltmarsh in his Free Grace, cap. v., pp. 62-64.
248 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [JaS. II. '<il.
TTpo? Oeov, Piom. v. 1 ; but in the court of conscience there must be gome evidence and manitestation. A broken man hath peace in court as soon as the surety hatii paid his debt, but hatli the comfort of it within himself when it is signified to him by letter or otherwise. Free j ustifica- tion is the ground oi our comfort, but works the evidence that intimate it to us. However, we had need be cautious. An undue use of marks will keep the soul full of doubts ; and we want the comfort that we seek when we do not bottom and found it upon Christ, according to his free promises. Above all things a Christian should be most delicate and tender in founding his hoi)es. God is imi)atient of a copartner in the creature's trust ; he will not give that glory to another ; and if you do, he will declare his anger by leaving you to a constant uncer- tainty and dissatisfaction. Always when we think to warm ourselves by our own sparkles, we lie down in sorrow. Because the business is of great concernment, I shall give you a few directions, how you may reflect upon your graces, or works, as evidences of your estate.
1. You nmst be loyal to Christ. Many seek all their happines.s in the gracious dispositions of their own souls, and so neglect Christ.i This were to prize the love token before the lovely person. To rectify it, it is good to go to work this way : — (1.) Let there be a thorough going out of yourselves ; be sure to keep the heart right in point of righteousness ; and in founding your hopes, see that you do not neg- lect ' the corner stone.' Paul reckoneth up all his natural privileges, moral excellencies, nay, his own righteousness, what he did as a Pharisee, what as a Christian. ' If any might have confidence in the flesh,' Paul might ; but he renouncetli all ; nay, counts it ' loss,' i.e., dangerous allurements to hypocrisy and self-confidence, Phil. iii. It is good to have such actual and fresh thoughts in ourselves when we pro- ceed to trial, that our souls may be rather carried to than diverted and taken off from Christ. Usually assurance is given in after a solemn and direct exercise of faith : Eph. i. 13, ' After ye believed, ye were sealed l)y the >^pirit of ])romise ;' where the apostle showeth the order of the S])irit's sealing, after believing or going to Christ, and the quality under which the ISj)irit sealeth, as a ^Spirit (if promise ; implying, that when the thoughts have been newly and freshly exercised in the con- sideration of our own unworthiness and (jod's free grace and promises, then are we fittest to receive the witness and certiorationof the iSpirit. (2.) In the very view and comfort of your graces still keep the heart upon Christ. See what would i)ecome of you were it not for free grace. God could find matter of condenmation against you, not only in the worst sins, but in the best duties ; the most regenerate man durst not adventure his soul uj)on the heavenliest thought that ever he conceived. When Nehemiah had performed a zealous action he subjoineth, Neh. xiii. 22, ' liemember me, my (;rod, concerning this also, and sjjare me according to the greatness of thy mercy ;' intimating, that therein God might find enough to ruin him. So Paul, 1 Cor. iv. 4, ' I know nothing by myself, yet am I not hereby justified:' he knew no unfaithfulness in his ministry, yet this would not make him righteous before God. Bo that, in the presence of the greatest evidences, you should see free
' See Mr T. Goodwin in his preface before his book called ' Faith Triuuii)hing in its Object."
JaS. II. 21.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 249
grace is the surest refuge ; as Jehoshaphat, when he had all the strength of" Judah, who are numbered to be five hundred tliousand, yet goeth to God, as if there were no presence of means: 2 Chron. xx. 12, ' We liave no might ; our eyes are unto thee.' So in the fairest train of graces you should still keep Christ in the eye of faith, and let the soul stay upon him ; or, as in a pair of compasses, one part is fixed in the centre whilst the other foot wandereth about in the circumference, so must the soul stay on Christ, be fixed on him, whilst we search after evidences and additional comforts. (3.) After the issue and close of all, you must the more earnestly renew your addresses to Christ, and exercise faith with the more advantage and cheerfulness. You have much more encouragement to close with him when you survey his bounty to your souls, and consider those emanations of grace by which you are enabled to good works. So 1 John v. 13, ' These things have I written to you that believe, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on him.' His meaning is, that upon assurance they might renew the act of faith with the more cheer- fulness ; as Thomas, when he felt Christ'swounds,had the greater reason to believe, John xx. 27 ; non nova, sed cmctajide, as Estius glosseth, by a renewed and increased faith. So when you have had a feeling and sense of Christ's bounty to you, and by good works have cleared up your interest in eternal life, you have the greatest reason to cast yourselves again upon Christ by faith and confidence ; for, as the apostle saith, ' The righteous- ness of God is revealed from faith to faith,' Kom. i. 17. The whole business of our justification before God is carried on by a continual act of faith, from one act and degree to another. In short, whatever com- fort we seek in our works and graces, Christ must still ' lie as a bundle of myrrh between our breasts,' Cant. i. 12 ; be kept close and near the lieart, always in the eye of faith and the arms of love.