Out of these verses observe : —
Obs. 1. That it is good to illustrate divine things by similitudes taken from earthly. (1.) Our knowledge is by sense ; by things known we the better apprehend those that are unknown : and by an earthly matter, with which we are acquainted, we conceive of the sweetness and worth of that which is heavenly and spiritual. (2.) In a similitude the thing is doubly represented, and with a sweet variety ; though we know the man, we delight to view the picture Christians should use their parts more this way ; there is much benefit in it ; fancy is polished : we are more fit for occasional meditation, and we apprehend spiritual things with more clearness and afi'ection.
Obs. 2. Nature, art, and religion show that the smallest things, wisely ordered, may be of great use. Neglect not small things ; we are often snared by saying, ' Is it not a little one ? ' Gen. xix. 20. And we lose much advantage by ' despising the day of small things,' Zech. iv. 10.
Obs. 3. God's wisdom is much seen by endowing man with an ability of contrivance and rare invention ; that so fierce and wild a creature as the horse should be tamed with a bridle, that things of so great a bulk as ships should be turned about, and that against the violence of boisterous winds, with a small helm : Aristotle ^ proposeth it as a worthy matter of consideration. These crafts are all from the Lord: Isa. liv. 16, 'Behold, 1 create the smith that bloweth in the coals in the fire, and bringeth forth an instrument for his work.' Ho left tliese inventions to human industry, but he giveth the wit and abilities.2 q^ho heathens liad a several god lor every several craft, as the Papists have now a tutelar saint ; but the Lord giveth wisdom.
^ ' At4 ri 7rrih6.\iov ulKpov tir iaxo.Tov wXo/ou rocraiVTjj' ovvafiiv ^x^'i' &'^- — Arint. iL yLr)xo-viKCiv, cap. 5.
- ' Keliquit hacc sane Deus hnmanis ingeniis eruenda ; tamen fieri non potest quiii ipsiuB siiit omnia, qui et Bapientiam tribuit homini ut inveniret, et ilia ipsa qua) possunt inveniri primus inveiiit.' — Lactant. dc Falsa Relig., lib. i. cap. 18.
JaS. III. 5.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 283
As for embroidery: Exod. xxxi. 3, 'Bezaleel was filled with the Spirit of God,' &c. Every art is a common gift of the Spirit. So for husbandry, see Isa. xxviii. 24-26. So for war, Ps. cxliv. 1. Well, then, bless God for the various dispensations of his gifts for the good of mankind, and wait upon him, that you may understand the matter of your callings, and find good in them : Prov. xvi. 20, ' He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good ; and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.' You must wait upon the Lord for skill and for success ; he teacheth to tame the horse, to steer the ship.
Ohs: 4. From the first similitude you may observe, that men, for their natural fierceness and wantonness, are like wild beasts. Man affected to be God, but became like ' the beasts that perish,' Ps. xlix. 12. The psalmist saith, Ps. xxxii. 19, ' Be not like horse and mule, whose mouth must be held with bit and bridle, lest they come near thee.' To keep them from doing harm, they must be held in with bit and bridle. So there is a wantonness by which we are apt to kick with the heel against God's precepts, Deut. xxxii. 15. It is God's mercy that we are restrained. This natural fierceness may be dis- cerned to be abated by the guidance of the tongue.
Ver. 5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and hoasteth great things : behold hoiu great a matter a little fire kindleth !
Even so the tongue is a little member. — Here is the reddition of the similitude ; the tongue is a bridle and rudder, small in bulk, and yet of great use. The apostle's word is jxe^aXavy/i, ' boasteth great things ; ' this indeed is the proper signiiication of the word. By the force of the context James should have said, ' doth great things; ' for the thing to be proved was, that he that can govern his tongue is able to govern his whole body. To take off the prejudice that might arise against such a proposition, he produceth two similitudes, wherein he would insinuate that things little by good management may be of great use ; and thereupon, in the accommodation of the similitudes to the present purpose, he should have inferred that the little member the tongue, well ordered, can do great things ; that is, the government of it is of singular use in man's' life. But he rather, and that according to the use" of the apostles, repeateth the main proposition in such terms as imply another argument. ' And boasteth great things : ' as if he had said. The tongue witnesseth lor itself: for by it men trumpet out their confidences and presumptions, and boast they can bring great things to pass. And he instanceth in boasting, not only as most accommodate to his matter, but — (1.) Because it is the usual sin of the tongue ; this is a member that most of all serveth pride, a sin from whence most of the errors and miscarriages of the tongue proceed. (2.) Because this is usually the sin of those that have no command of their spirits and actions. Hypocrites and vain men are proud boasters. ' Flattering lips,' and ' the tongue that speaketh proud things,' are joined together, Ps. xii. 3. So Prov. xiv. 3, ' In the mouth of the foolish is the rod of pride.' True grace humbleth, false puft'eth up.