Jas, IIL 18.] UPON THE epistle of james. 323
of our actions ; they are seed ; they fall npon the j^onnd, not to be lost, but to grow up again ; we may taste the fruits of them long after tliey be committed ; be sure you sow good seed. To help you, con- sider there must be suhactum solum, a ground prepared, Hosea x. 12. If you would reap mercy, ' plough up your fallow ground ;' so Jer. iv. 3, 4, The heart is like waste ground, till it be prepared by breaking; then let the actions be good for principle, manner, and end. We must not only do good, but well ; a man may sin in doing good, but not in doing well. Chiefly you must regard the end, God's glory. A tree beareth fruit for the owner : Hosea x. 1, ' Israel is an empty vine, that bringeth forth fruit to himself.' Actions done with a carnal aim are not seed, they lose their fruit and reward Avith God, Mat. vi. 1. (2.) Have a care of the season, it is the seed-time ■^ a husbandman would not lose that. Eternity dependeth upon this moment ; now we sow our everlasting weal or woe. Take heed of sowing nothing, then you can expect nothing ; he had not a drop that would not give a crumb. And take heed of sowing to the flesh -, when others have their bosoms full of sheaves, you will be empty ; the fool- ish virgins made a great cry when their vessels were empty, &c. (3.) Ground of hope to the children of God ; their works are not lost, it is seed that will spring up again : Eccles. xi. 1, 'Cast thy bread upon msiny waters, and after manv days thou shalt find it.^ ' Thy bread,' that is, ' thy bread corn.' Faith, which is ' the evidence of things not seen,' can look for a crop out of the waters. If the reward were sure, men would act more uniformly and proportionably to their hopes. Oh ! consider, whatever you do to God, or for God, it is seed. Wicked men count it lost, a vain profusion, or as foolish a course as plough- ing the ocean, or scattering seed upon the sea. Ay ! but you will find it again, there is no loss by serving God, Mai. iii. 14. (4.) Itiscom- f(jrt to us. Here we are miserable ; it is our seed-time that is usually in tears ; you must expect the harvest : Ps. xcvii. 11, ' Light is sown for the righteous.' It is buried out of sight, but it will sirring up again. The corn must first die in the ground ; you cannot sow and reap iu a day. ' The patient abiding of the righteous shall not perish for ever.' Ohs. 2. That a care of righteousness bringeth peace with it. All good actions cause an ev6vfMiav, serenity in the mind. The kingdom of grace yieldeth 'joy unspeakable,' 1 Peter i. 7, though not glory unspeakable. We have ' songs in our pilgrimage,' Ps. cxix. 54. God will have us to enter upon our possession by degrees ; joy entereth into us before we enter into our master's joy. We have first the day-star, then the sun. What a good master do we serve, that giveth us a part of oiir wages ere we have done our work ! Whilst we are sowing we have peace, the conscience and contentment of a good action. There is no work like God's: ' In the keeping of his commands there is reward,' Ps. xix. 7. Sin bringeth shame and horror, but gracious actions leave a savour of sweetness, and diffuse a joy throughout the soul. There is no feast to that of a good conscience : Jer. ii. 5, ' What iniquity did your fathers find in me?' Did you ever lose by com- munion with God? A man cannot do an ill action without blame. But how quietly do we enjoy ourselves when we have enjoyed our God ! Conscience of duty giveth the purest contentment to the mind. Base
^ ' Hieme non seminavit ; veuit cestas, et nihil messuit.'
324 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [JaS. III. 18.
comforts and sinful satisfactions are bouiijht with clamour of conscience, and then they are bought very dear. What a great reward may we expect, since we have so much joy and peace in the expectation of it? How great are the joys of heaven, since the very interest in them casteth such a lightsome brightness upon the soul ! If the taste be such, what is the fulness? If the morning glances and forerunning beams be so glorious, what will the high noon be ? If there be songs in your pilgrimage, you will have hallelujahs in your country.
Ohs. 2. It is tlie duty of God's children to sow the fruit of righteous- ness in i)eace. The oil of grace and the oil of gladness do well to- gether. That you may not lose the comfort of grace, live socially with God and sweetly with men. (1.) Socially with God. Maintain a constant and intimate coninmnion and commerce between you and heaven, that ' your fellowship may indeed be with the Father and the Son,' 1 John i. 5. Neglect of God maheth the conscience restless and clamorous : ' Acquaint thyself with God, and beat peace,' Job xxii. 21. "When David had discontinued his intercourse and communion, he lay a-roaring, Ps. xxxii. Things can never be quiet out of their centre ; after gross neglects and strangeness, conscience will scourge you. (2.) Sweetly with men. An austere man troubleth his own flesh ; there is a lioly amiableness, as well as a strict righteousness. It is said of Jesus Christ : Luke ii. 52, ' He increased in favour with God and man.' We should walk in his steps in a holy strictness, and an amiable sweetness. Athanasius was magnes and adamas — an adam- ant and a loadstone ; neither of a loose easiness, nor of an uncivil austerity. Do this, and you will increase in comfort and grace ; couple a sweet goodness with a severe righteousness.