■^ ' Corporis gravia, et multa tormenta intelligit.' — Cyprian.
452 AN EXrOSITI6N, WITH NOTES, [JaS. V. 14.
the sick must call for the elders. Truly sfunctiuiesl have been afraid to prostitute the comforts of Christianity to persons sottishly neglect- ing their own souls, I confess sometimes, where we know our com- pany will not be unwelcome, and in some other cases, we may go uncalled, that we may learn of our master, and be ' found of them that asked not for us,' Isa. Ixv. 1.
Ohs. 4. From that the elders. For our comfort in sickness it is good to call in the help of the guides and officers of the church. They, excelling in gifts, are best able to instruct and pray. They can with authority, and in a w\ay of office, comfort and instruct ; the pniyers ofpr(>[)hets have a special efficacy. So God saith to Abime- lech of Abraham, Gen. xx. 7, ' Go to him, for he is a prophet, and he shall pray fi>r thee.' This w^as the special work of the prophets, to pray for the peojile, and they had more solemn promises of success : Jer. xxvii, 18, ' If they be prophets, and the word of the Lord be in them, let them entreat the Lord.' They that speak God's word to you are fittest to commend your case to God. Well, then, do not despise this help. Acts done by virtue of an office are under a more solemn assurance of a blessing : ' Whose sins ye remit, they are remitted,' &c., It is not spoken to every believer. They can authoritatively minister comfort. It is not false divinity to say, God will hear their prayers, when he will not hear the prayers of others : Job xlii. 8, ' Job shall pray for you, and him will I accept, lest I deal with you after your folly.' Though they were good men, yet God would hear Job ; there- fore in Ezekit'l Job is proverbially used for a praying prophet. Use their help tlien ; it is help in the way of an ordinance, and then you may the better expect a blessing. When Hezekiali was sick, Isaiah, the prophet, cometli to give him ftxithful counsel, 2 Kings XX. 1, 2.
Obs. 5. Again from that the elders. Visiting of the sick should be performed with the joint care of church officers ; it is a weighty work, and needeth many shoulders ; the diversity of gifts for prayer and dis- course seemeth to call for it ; it is the last office Ave can perform to those of whom the Lord hath made us overseers.
Ohs. 6. From that let them iway. One necessary w'ork in visiting is commending sick persons to God, and this prayer must be made by them, or over them, that their sight may the more work upon us, and our prayers may work upon them.
Obs. 7. From that and anoint him loith oil. From this clause observe the condescension of God. The first preachers of the gospel of Christ had power to do miracles : the doctrine itself, being so rational and satisfactory, deserved belief; l)ut God would give a visible confirma- tion, the better to encourage our faith ; when Christ had ended his sermon upon the mount, then he wrought miracles ; before, there was a great rest and silence of prodigy and wonder : John iii. 2, ' We know that thou art a teacher sent from God, for no man can do such things i\H thou dost, unless (Jod were with him.' This was the satisfaction God would give the world concerning the person of- the Messiah, Now those miracles are ceased, Christ liaving gotten a just title to liuman belief, and that we might not be left to uncertainty. The devil can do strange things, though not such as are truly miraculous;
JaS. V. 15.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 453
and, therefore, lest we should be deceived, Christ Iiath foretold that we can expect nothinii; but ' the Iyin<>; wonders ' of Antichrist, 2 Thes. ii. 7, and that 'false Christs shall show great signs,' Mat. xxiv. 24.
Obs. 8. From that anoint ivifh oil in order to cure, note, that the miracles done in Christ's name were wrought by power, but ended in mercy. In the very confirmation of the gospel God would show the benefit of it. The miracles tended to deliver men from miseries of soul and body, from blindness, and sickness, and devils, and so best suited with that gospel which givetli us promises of this life and that which is to come. These miracles were a meet pursuance of his doctrine ; not only confirmations of faith, but instances of mercy and charity ; not miracles of pomp, merely to evince the glory of his person, but miracles of mercy and actions of relief, to show the sweet- ness of his doctrine ; as also to teach us that in the gospel God would chiefly manifest his power in showing mercy.
Obs. 9. From that in the name of the Looxl. All the miracles that were wrought were to be wrought in Christ's name. The apostles and primitive Christians, though they had such an excellent trust, did not abuse it to serve their own name and interests, but Christ's ; teaching us that we should exercise all our gifts and abilities by Christ's power to Christ's glory : Ps. li. 16, ' Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise ; ' that was a right aim. To desire quickening for our own glory, is but like him that lighted his candle at one of the lamps of the altar to steal by, or to beg the aid and contributions of heaven for the service of hell. The name and form was made use of by the sons of Sceva, but to their own ends, and therefore to their own ruin. Acts xix. 13. To do things in his name, that is, by abilities received from him, with a pretence to his glory, when Ave design our own, will succeed but ill Avith us, as that attempt did to them. Christ Avill be honoured with his own gifts, and, in dispensing every ability, expecteth the return of praise.