The fruit of righteousness. — It is an expression elsewhere used ; as Phil. i. 11, ' Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Christ to the praise and glory of God ; ' so Eom. vi. 22, ' Having your fruit to holiness," <tc. ; and again, Heb. xii. 11, 'Afflictions yield elpy']vcKov Kupirov BiKaLnavpr]<i, the quiet fruit of righteousness.' In short, ' the fruit of righteousness,' either that fruit which is of righteousness, to wit, eternal life, which is the reward that God hath promised to sanctification ; or else it is put for holiness and sanctifica- tion itself, which is called fruit in scripture, and that in many regards : — (1.) In regard of the root, Christ, John xv. 5, 1(5. (2.) Because they are the free, native, and noble offspring of the Spirit in us ; whereas lusts and sins are a servile drudgery : that is the reason why the apostle expresseth himself with such difference, Gal. v. 19, epya adpKo<;, ' the tvorks of the flesh ; ' but ver. 22, /capTro? Trvevfiaro^, ' the fruit of the Spirit.' (3.) Because of the increase and growth; as fruits by degrees come to maturity and ripeness ; so Phil. i. 11. Thus in the Canticles we read of buds and tender grapes. (4.) Be-
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322 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTKS, [J AS. III. 18.
cause of its excellent and happy reward ; it will be fruit, not an empty and dry tree ; so Rom. vi. 22. (5.) In regard of the delay of this reward ; it will be fruit, though now seed ; therefore he saith, ' the fruit of righteousness is sown,' which is the next term.
Is sown. — It implieth either their care of holiness — they have sown it — or the sureness of the reward of grace ; it is not as water spilt upon the ground, hut as seed cast into the ground ; you do not lose your labour, such endeavours will yield an increase ; see Isa. xxxii. 17. Or, lastly, it implieth their non-enjoyment of the reward for the present ; they do not reap, but sow : how the harvest ^ of a peaceable righteousness is not so soon had. It is usual in scripture to express sucli efiects and consequents of things as do not presently follow by sowing and ploughing.
In peace. — The meaning is, either in a peaceable and sweet way ; but that seemeth to be expressed in the last clause, 'that make peace ; ' or else with much spiritual tranquillity and comfort, much rest and peace in their souls for the present. So Heb. xii. 11, elp/jvcKov KcipTTov, ' the peaceable fruit of righteousness.' Eighteousness or sanctifi cation bringeth peace with it.
0/ litem that make jjeace. — So Christ saith. Mat. v. 9, ' Blessed are the peacemakers.' It implieth not the event and success, but the endeavour or care, conatzcm, non eventum ; the notion of making in scripture phrase belonging to the bent of the soul ; as to make a lie is to be given to lying. So 1 John ii. 29, ' Every one that doth or maketh righteousness,' &c., 6 ttolcov rr-jv SiKacoavurjv. So 1 John iii. 8, ' He that doth or maketh sin,' o iroicov rijv aixapriav, noteth the full bent and inclination of the soul. So to 'make peace,' is to have strong and hearty affections this way.
So that you may take the word.s as a direction to duty, and the sense is, that they that are studious of peace ought to have a care of sowing righteousness ; or as a promise of a blessing, and then thus: They that with their peaceable endeavonrs couple a care of righteousness, they shall liave a threefold blessing, increase of grace wi*,h peace for the present, and shall reap the crop of all hereafter.
Obs. 1. Whatever we do in this life is seed ; as we sow, so we reap.- See how the scripture followeth this metaphor both ways ; in point of sin or duty. In sin, see Gal. vi. 8, and Jub iv. 8 ; so Prov. xxii. 8 ; Hosea viii. 7. It may be long first, but the crop will be according to the seed : ' They have sown the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind.' The whirlwind is nothing but wind imprisoned in the bowels of the earth ; and so it is an excellent allusion to note the damage and ruin which they receive who study nothing but vain things. In duty or good actions : Hosea x. 12, ' Sow to yourselves in righteousness, ai]d reap in mercy,' &c. ; that is, endeavour good works, and you wiii find God ])ropitious ; they are the lua?/, not the caiise. God showeth mercy according to Avorks, though not /or works. So in particular it is ap- plied to charity : 2 Cor. ix. 6, ' He that soweth sparingly shall reaj) sparingly.' So to penitent tears: Ps. cxxvi. 5, ' They shall sow in tears, and reap in joy.' There is an intimate connection between our endeavours and the Lord's recompenses. (1.) Let it press us to a care
' Qii. * but sow now ; tlie liarvest ' ? — Ed.
* Tlie metaphor ia ueecl of all moral actionB, cither good or evil.