^ That the gospel is eminently called truth, see Grotivis in locum.
474 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [JaS. V. 19, 20.
person, but of the person to whom cliarity is exercised. For that sen- tence is taken out of Prov. x. 12, ' Hatred stirretli up strifes, but love covereth ail sins;' that is, concealeth and burieth the faults of a neif!;hbour, whicli cannot but reductively, and by remote consequences, be applied to the business of justification. I confess some apply this passa.<;e of James the same way, 'shall cover a multitude of sins;' that is, say they, by brotherly admonitions shall seek to prevent or hide their infirmities ; whereas those that hate their brethren do not desire to admonish them, but to divulge their sins, to their discredit and infamy. But to me the clause seemeth to be of another use; for it is ranked among spiritual benefits, and urged, not by way of duty, but motive ; first shall save a soul, and then sJiall cover^ &c. There- fore I suppose it implieth the act of justification, which is elsewhere expressed by ' covering of sins,'Ps. xxxii. 1. And he meaneth the sins of the converted person, which we are said to cover, when, as instru- ments, by our admonitions, we reclaim the erroneous ])erson, and bring him to repentance. And mark, it is said, ' a multitude of sins,' for two reasons : — (1.) To take off discouragement. Though they be very bad, neglect not to admonish and reclaim them. Seasonable admoni- tion may be a means to cover a multitude, &c. (2.) To imi)ly the C(mtagion and spreading of this leaven. One error and sin begetteth another, as circles do in the water ; and he that beginneth to wander goeth farther.
Observe hence : —
Obs. 1. Brethren may err from the truth. The apostle saith, ' Bre- thren, if any of you do err.' There is no saint recorded in the word of God, but his failings and errors are recorded. In the visible church there may be errors ; none doubteth but God's children, the elect, may be sometimes led aside, not totally, not finally, and very hardly, into gross errors : Mat. xxiv. 24, ' Insomuch as, if it were possible, they would deceive the very elect ;' it is not possible totally, because of the infallible predestination and efficacious protection of God.i It is true, they may die in a lesser error, such as is consistent with faith and sal- vation, but otherwise they are under the conduct of God's Holy Spirit, that fundamentally they cannot err, or finally. Well, then, the best had need be cautious. Christ saith to his own disciples. Mat. xxiv. 4, ' Take heed that no man deceive you.' Error is taking and catch- ing, of a marvellous comjjliance with our natural thoughts ; for aught that is in us, we should soon miscarry. There is no ill opinion can be represented to us, but the seeds of it are in our own souls. Again, be not scandalised when you see stars of the first magnitude to leave their orb and station, and glorious luminaries to fall from heaven like lightning. God's own children may err, and dangerously for a while. Junius before conversion was an atheist.
Obs. 2. We are not only to take care of our salvation, but the sal- vation of others. The apostle saith, 'If any man of you,' &c. God hath made us guardians of one another. It was a speech savouring of Cain's rudeness and profancness, ' Am I my brotiier's keeper ?' As (Jod hath set conscience to watch over the inward man, so for the conversa-
* It is said, Job xii. 16, 'The deceiver and the deceived are hia.' He ordercth the persona who ahall deceive, and who be deceived.
JaS. V. 19, 20.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 475
tion, he hath set Christians to watch over one another : Heb. iii. 12, 'Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you,' &c., not only in yourselves, but in any of you. So Heb. xii. 15, 16, ' Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God, and lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled,' There must be a constant watch kept, as over our own hearts, so over the societies wherein we are engaged. Members must be careful one of anotlier ; this is the communion between saints. (1.) It reproveth our neglect of this duty. Straying would have been much prevented if we had been watchful, or did we, in a Christian manner, reason together with each other ; what comfort and establishment might we receive from one another's faith and gifts ! As no man is born for himself, so no man is born anew for himself. We often converse together as men, but not as Christians. We should Trapo^vueiv, Heb. x. 24, ' quicken one another ; ' be as goads in each others' sides, &c. (2.) It showeth what a heinous sin it is in them that watch over each's hurt ; as the dragon for the man child, Rev. xii. 4, or as angry Herod sought to destroy the babes of Bethlehem, or a nipping March wind the early blossoms of the spring, so they nip and discourage the infoncy and first buddings of grace by censure, re- proach, carnal suggestions, and put stumbling-blocks in the way of young converts, and so destroy Christianity in the birth. Usually thus it is, when men begin to look after the ways of Grod, profane men make them objects of their scorn and contempt, and fanatical men lie in wait with sleight and crafty enterprise to deceive them. If to save a soul be a duty, certainly to seduce a soul is a dangerous sin. Such men are devil ised, factors for hell, and agents for the kingdom of darkness. Satan goeth to and fro, and so do they. It is dangerous to partake of other men's sins, to draw that guilt upon your own head ; you had need be established in that way which you propagate and promote with a zealous industry ; you had need, I say, have high assurance of the truth of it. But usually in them that propagate errors there may be observed either a blind and rash zeal, or a corrupt aim usually. ' With feigned words they make merchandise of you,' 2 Peter ii. 3, and propagate their opinion with heat and earnestness, that they may promote their own gain.