Obs. 7. From that let Mm know. To quicken ourselves in a good work, it is good we should actually consider the dignity and benefits of it ; <yL^vwaKeroi^ let him consider what a high honour it is to have a hand in such a work. So the apostle presseth to patience upon this ground, Rom. v. 3, ' Knowing that tribulation worketh experience.' So to sincerity, Col. iii. 23, 24, ' Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance.' Well, then, learn this wisdom in case of deadness and opposition of spirit, act your thoughts upon the worth of your duties and the success of them. Man's Strength lieth in his discourse and reason, and there is no such relief to the soul as that which Cometh by seasonable thoughts ; Whom do I serve ? the Lord ? Can any labour undertaken for his sake be in vain ? &c.
Ohs. 8. From that, he loliicli converteth a sinner from the error of his way. Before it was expressed by ' erring from the truth,' and now by the ' error of his way.^ You may note that errors in doctrine usually end in sins of life and practice: Jude 8, 'Filthy dreamers, defiling the flesh.' First men dream, and then defile themselves. We often see that impurity of religion is joined with uncleanness of body, and spiritual fornication punished with corporal : Hosea iv. 12, 13, ' They have gone a-whoring from their God, therefore their daughters shall commit whoredom.' Austin saith, Anima qucefornicata est a Deo casta esse nan potest,^ that those caimot be chaste that go a-whoring from God. Truth aweth the soul, and a right belief guideth the conversation : unbelief is the mother of sin, and misbelief the nurse of it. In error there is a sinful confederacy between the rational and sensual part, and so carnal affections are gratified with carnal doctrines. The spirit or upper part of the soul gratifieth the flesh or lower faculties, and therefore the convictive power of the word is said to * distinguish between flesh 2 and spirit,' Heb. iv. 12, between carnal affection and those crafty pretences and excuses by which it is palliated.
Obs. 9. From that shall save. Man under God hath this honour, to be a saviour. We are avifepyoi Qeov, ' workers together with God,' 2 Cor. vi. 1. He is pleased to take us into a fellowship of his own work, and to cast the glory of his grace upon our endeavours. It is a high honour which the Lord doth us ; we should learn to turn it back again to God, to whom alone it is due : 1 Cor. xv. 10, ' I laboured more abun- dantly than they all ; yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me;' Luke xix. 16, 'Thy pound hath gained ten pounds;' not my industry, but thy pound : so Gal. ii. 20, ' I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.' When God shall put the glory of his own work upon the head of the creature, certainly they have great cause to lay the crown of their excellency at the feet of the Lord ; and when the
1 Aug. adversus Julian., lib, iv. - Qu. ' soul ' ? — Ed.
478 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [JaS. V. 19, 20.
lionour of the supreme cause is put upon the instrument, the instru- ment may well ascribe all to the efficacy of the supreme cause. Such is the grace of God, that when thou hast used the means, he will reckon it to thy score : ' Thou hast plained thy brother,' Mat, xviii. 15. A man loseth nothinjjj by being employed in God's service. Oh ! let us strive and take pains in this work : Paul would be anything that he might gain some, 1 Cor, ix. 19-21. It serveth also for direction to Christians ; you must not neglect the means, God giveth them the terms proper to the supreme cause. God saith to his interpreter, Job xxxiii. 24, ' Deliver him from going down into the pit,' &c. So the apostles and the ministers of the gospel that were to preach to Iduransa for the conversion of the elect there are called saviours: Obad. 21, 'And. saviours shall come from Mount Sion to judge the mount of Esau.' It is notable, that though the work of conversion be properly the Lord's, yet it is sometimes ascribed to ourselves, to show that we must not be negligent ; sometimes to the ministers and instruments, to show that we must not contemn their help ; sometimes to God, that we may not be self-confident or unthankful.
Ohs. 10. From that soul. Salvation is principally of the soul ; the body liatii its share : ' This vile body' shall be a ' glorious body,' Phil, iii. 21. But the soul is first possessed of glory, and is the chief receptacle of it, as it is of grace for the present ; see 1 Peter i. 9. Well, then, it teacheth us not to look for a carnal heaven, a Turkish paradise, or a place of ease and sensitive pleasure. This is the heaven of heaven, that the soul shall be filled up with God, shall understand God, love God, and be satisfied with his presence. Complete know- ledge, complete love and union with Christ, are the things that Christians should look after. And it teacheth us to keep our souls pure: 'Fleshly lusts war against the soul,' 1 Peter ii. 11, not only against the present welfare of it, but your future hopes. It also comforteth the children of God ; whatever their estate be it shall go well with their souls.