^ See Dr Kiuet's Apology for the Virgin Mary, lib. ii. cap. 15, et alibi i^assim.
340 AN ExrosiTiON, WITH NOTES, [Jas. IV. 3.
their lusts, men look upon God (anquam aliquem magnum, as some ^eat power that must serve their carnal turns ; as he came to Christ, Luke xii. 13, ' Master, speak to my brother to divide the inheritance.' We would have somewhat from God to p;ive to lust ; health and long life, that we may live pleasantly; wealth, that we may 'fare delici- ously every day ;' estates, that we raise up our name and family ; vic- tory and success, to excuse ourselves from glorifying God by suffering, or to wreak our malice upon the enemies; church deliverances, out of a spirit of wrath and revenge. As they were ready to ' call for fire from heaven,' not knowing of what spirit they were, Luke ix. 55. So some pray for the assistance and quickenings of the Spirit to set olY their own praise and glory, and pervert the most holy things to com- mon uses and secular advantages. Simon Magus would iiave gifts that he might be ti^ fieya<;, a man of great repute in his i)lace, Acts viii. 9. The divine grace, by a vile submission and diversion, is forced to serve our vainglory. (3.) When we pray for blessings with a selfish aim, and not with serious and actual designs of God's glory, as when a man prayeth for spiritual blessings with a mere respect to his own ease and comfort, as for pardon, heaven, grace, faith, repentance, only that he may escape wrath. This is but a carnal respect to our own good and welfare. God would have us mind our own comfort, but not only. God's glory is the pure spiritual aim. Then we seek these things with the same mind that God offereth them : Eph. i. G, ' He hath accepted us in the beloved, to the praise of his glorious grace.' Your desires in asking are never regular but when they suit with God's ends in giving. God's glory is a better thing, and beyond our w^elfare and salvation. So in temporal cases. When men desire out- ward pi'ovisions merely that they may live the more comfortably, not serve (xod the more cheerfully. Agur measureth the conveniency and inconveniency of his outward estate, as it would more or less fit him for the service of God : Trov. xxx. 8, 1>, ' Not poverty, lest I deny thee ; not riches, lest I forget thee.' So in public cases of church deliverance, when we do not seek our own safety and welfare so mucli as God's glory : Ps. cxv. 1, ' Not to us, not to us,' &c. ; that is, not for our merits, not for our revenge, our safety, but that mercy and truth may shine forth.^
]3ut you will say. May we not seek our own good and benefit ?
I answer — Not ultimately, not absolutely, but only with submission to God's will, and subordination to God's glory. The main end why we desire to be saved, to be sanctified, to be delivered out of any dan- ger, must be that God may bo honoured in these experiences, in com- parison of which our own glory and welfare should be nothing: ' Not to us, not to us,' (fee.
But you will say. How shall we know that God's glory is the utmost aim? A deluded heart will jnetend nuicii.
I answer — You may discern it : (1.) 1^}' ^^'^ work of your own thoughts. The end is first in intention and last in execution, therefore the heart workeih upon it. Now, what runneth often in tlu; thoughts? "When you pray against enemies, do you please yourself with suppositions and surmises of revenge, or hopes of the vindication of God's name ?
^ ' EfiBce quicquid DOviBti Domini tuo honorificum.' — Junius in locum.
JaS. IV. 3.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 341
So in prayers for strengtii and quickening, do not you entertain your spirit with whispers of vanity, dreams of applause, and the echoes and returns of yoiu- own praise ? or enchant your minds with the sweet music of public acclamations ? By these inward and secret thoughts the soul falleth out after carnal success and advantage. (2.) By the manner of praying— absolutely for God's glory, but in all other things with a sweet submission to God's will : John xii. 27, 28, ' Save me from this hour; for this cause came I to this hour. Father, glorify thy name.' Christ is absolute in that request, and so receiveth an answer. It is enough to a gracious heart if God will glorify his own name. But now carnal aims make the spirit impetuous and impatient of check and denial. They are all for being saved fi-om this hom-. Rachel must have children or die. When the heart is set upon earthly success, or pleasure, or comfort, they cannot brook a denial. (3.) By the disposition of your hearts. When prayers are accom- plished, when we do not ask for God's glory, we abuse mercies to revenge, luxury, excess. Lust is an earnest craver, but when it re- ceiveth any comfort it consumeth it in ease and pleasure. We deceive ourselves with notions. The time of having mercies is the time of trial.