* * Observatum «8t a sacrificantibus, ut Bi hostia quas ad aras duceretur fuiaset vehe- menter reluctiita, OBtendisaetciue se iavitam altaribuH admoveri, amoveretur, quia invito deo earn efferri putabant ; quBC vero stetisset oblata, hauc volenti numini dari cxistima- bant.' — Macrobi., Saturn, lib. iii, ,
JaS. IV. 7.J UrON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 359
Certainly the true God looketh most after the ready mind : Ps. cxix. 60, ' I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments ;' with- out doubting, disputing, consulting with flesh and blood. To offer Isaac was a hard duty, and yet that morning Abraham was up early ; see Gen. xxii. 1. (3.) Faithfully, to the Lord's glory, not to our own ends. The Christian life must be unto God, Gal. ii. 19, according to God's will, for God's glory. It was a testimony of Joab's homage and fealty to David, that when he had conquered Eabbath, he sent for David to take the honour. The hardest task of the creature is to subject our ends to God's ends, as well as our ways to God's will.
Thirdly, I shall inquire what considerations are necessary to urge this duty upon the soul. Man is a stout creature, and we are apt to break all cords and restraints. Our language is, * Who is lord over us?' Therefore, for answer to this last question, consider — (1.) The necessity of it : ' Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,' 1 Peter v. 6. It is a madness to contend with him that can com- mand legions. What are we to God? ' Are we stronger than he?' 1 Cor. X. 22, Who is so foolish as to stand out against the Almighty ? Men fawn upon them that have power. God can ruin us with a breath : Job iv. 9, ' By the blast of God they perish, by the breath of his nostrils they come to nought.' So with a beck or frown : Ps. Ixxx. 16, ' They perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.' This power we shall feel, if we do not stoop to it. They are broken by the power of his providence, that are not drawn by the power of his Spirit. God hath sworn: Kom. xiv. 11, 'As I live, saith the Lord, all knees shall bow to me ;' that is, count me not a living God if I do not make the creature stoop. Hearken to this, you that stand out against the power of the word, can you stand out against the power of Christ when he cometh in glory ? Ezek. xxii. 14, ' Can your hands be made strong, or your hearts endure in the day that I shall deal with you ? ' You whose hearts are stout against God, how will your faces gather black- ness and darkness before him, when you shall be adjudged to that Tophet ' whose burning is fire, and much wood, and the breath of the Lord doth kindle it like a river of brimstone'? (2.) The nobleness of it. Submission seemeth base, but to God it is noble. All other subjection is slavery and vassalage, but this is the truest freedom. Vain men think it a freedom to live at large, to gratify every carnal desire ; this is the basest bondage that may be, 2 Peter ii. 18. Wicked men have as many lords as lusts. If conscience be but a little wakened, they are sensible of the tyranny ; they see it is ill with them, and they cannot help it ; they are drunkards, worldlings, unclean persons, of a carnal and voluptuous spirit, and know not which way to be otherwise. (3.) The utility and benefit of it. This will make almighty power to be the ground of your hope, not your fear : Isa. xxvii. 5, ' Let them take hold of my strength, and be at peace with me.' This submission is the high way to exaltation, 1 Peter v. 6. How do men crouch for worldly ends, and admire every base person for secular advantage ! As Otho in Tacitus did, projicere oscula, ado- rare vulgus, et omnia serviliter pro imperio — kiss the people, even adore the basest, and all to make way for his own greatness. Ah !
360 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [JaB. VI. 7.
should we not rather stoop and submit to the Lord ? There is no baseness in the act, and there is much glory in the reward.
Resist the devil. — What connection hath this precept with the for- mer? I answer — It may be conceived several ways : —
1. Thus: If you will humbly submit to God, you must look to resist Satan ; and the note is : —
Ohs. That true obedience findeth much opposition by the devil. Since the fall a godly life is not known by perfection of grace so much as by conflicts with sin. Satan is still busiest there where he hath least to do. Morality is a still way, that putteth us to little trouble. Pirates do not use to set upon empty vessels, and beggars need not fear the thief. Those that have most grace feel most trouble from Satan. He envieth they should enjoy that condition and interest in God which himself hath lost. The devil is loath to waken those that are in his own power : ' When the strong man keepeth the house, all the goods are in peace,' Luke xi. 42. But for the godly, he ' desireth to winnow them as wheat,' Luke xxii. 32. Sometimes he vexeth and buffeteth them with sad injections, at other times with carnal tempta- tions. We cannot appear before God, but ' he is at our right hand ready to resist us,' Zech. iii. 1. We cannot set upon a duty, but he suggesteth lazy thoughts, carnal counsels. Well, then, you cannot judge yourselves forsaken of God because tempted by Satan : no brother in the flesh but hath had his share, 1 Peter v. 9. Such con- flicts are not inconsistent with faith and piety. He adventured upon Christ himself after he had a testimony from heaven. Mat. iv. Paul was troubled with one of Satan's messengers, 2 Cor. xii. 7. And the best are exercised with the sorest conflicts, When the thief breaketh into the hou.se, it is not to take away coals, but jewels.