Well, then, so far it is good ; but now the servility, that is sinful. The servility is seen partly in the disingenuity of it, when our own smart and torture is more feared than the displeasing of God, as a slave careth not how his master's goods go to wreck, so he may avoid stripes. Partly because it is accompanied with an enmity against God. Slavish fear hatetli God for his holiness, and feareth him for his wrath ; they wish his destruction, that there were no God. Partly because it causeth but an incomplete reformation ; it makes a man forbear sin, but not hate sin. A wolf may be scared from the prey, that yet keepeth his preying and devouring nature. I'artly because there is torment and perplexity in it, 1 John iv. 18. A tender conscience is a blessing, but a stormy conscience is a judgment. Slaves are exer- cised with the torture and rack of perplexing fears.
Ohs. 4. Again, from that 'pulling them out of the fire. A poor, guilty, secure sinner is like a drunken man that is fallen into the fire. He is so in three respects : —
1. In point of security. A drunkard is ready to be burned, but he feeleth it not ; so they are upon the brink of hell, but are not sensible of it : Eph. iv. 19, ' past feeling.'
2. In point of danger. Sinners are often compared to a ' brand in the burning,' Zech. iii. 2, Amos iv. 11. They are already under the wrath of God, as a believer hath eternal life whilst he is here in the world. They are in the suburbs of hell, the fire is already kindled.
3. In point of impotency and inability to help themselves. A sottish drunkard, that is overpoised by his own excess, lieth where he falleth, and except some friendly hand lift him up, there he perisheth ; and just so it is with sinners, they are pleased with their condition, and if they be not soundly roused up and awakened, they lie and die, and fry in their sins. Oh ! then, pluck them out of the fire, ' warn them to flee from wrath to come,' Mat. iii. 7. Minister ! art thou sensible of the danger of souls ? Are thy words as burning coals ? Do they fret
362 AX EXPOSITIO>'; WITH NOTES, [YeR. 24.
througli tlie heart of a sinner ? Christian ! art thou sensible of the .danger of thy carnal neighbours ? they are burning in their beds, and thou wilt not cry, Fire ! fire ! they are besotted with lust and erroi-, and wilt thou let them alone ? Oh, unkind !
Ohs. 5. The next point is from the last clause, liating the garment spotted hy the flesh. Some sinners are so unclean that we cannot keep company with them without defilement; see 1 Cor. v. 9-11 ; 2 Thes. iii. 14 ; and 2 Tim. iii. 5, ' From such turn away.' Now, the reason is partly for our own caution. Evils made familiar by a customary converse seem less odious.^ Partly to vindicate the honour of Christ and the societies of his people. The blemishes of their miscarriages redounds to the whole church, Heb. xii, 15, till they be disclaimed. Partly to punish the offenders, that it may be a means to reduce them, 2 Thes. iii. 14. It is a sad thing to live an outcast from God's people. Let obstinate and scandalous sinners think of it, and let others learn to bear reverence to church censures.
Ver. 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faidtless before the ^presence of his glory ivith exceeding
The apostle having persuaded them to duty, now commendeth them to the divine grace, as it is usual with the apostles to shut up their exhortations with prayer, to intimate that the fruit of all must be expected from God, without whose blessing exhortations or endeavours would be nothing.
To him that is able to keep you, it may be referred either to God, or to Christ as Mediator : from falling, a7rraiarov<;, that is, from total apostasy. God is able to keep us altogether from sin, if we speak of his absolute power ; but he speaketh here of such a power as is en- gaged by promise and office. Christ, who is the guardian of believers, hath received a charge concerning them, and is to preserve them from total destruction. A7id to present you faidtless. This clause showeth more clearly that Christ is intended in these expressions ; for it is his office to keep the church till it be presented to the Father, and at length will present them faidtless; it is, Eph. v. 27, ' Without spot and blemish.' Before the presence of his glory ; that is, at his glorious appearance. Col. iii. 4, when he shall come to judge the world. With exceeding joy is meant rather passively on our part than on Christ's, though it will be a sweet interview between Christ and believers, and he will rejoice to see us, as we to see him.
The observations are these : —
Obs. 1. All means without the Lord's grace will not keep us from falling. The apostle requireth duty of the faithful, but asketh grace of God. He had before said, ' Keep yourselves in the love of God,' and now ' to him that is able to keep from falling,' &c. We fall not because God doth not let go his hold ; our necessities and difficulties are so great that nothing less than a divine power can support us : 1 Peter i. 5, ' Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.' This power of God is set a-work to encourage hope, not to check industry ; use means, but look for his blessing. We cannot stand a moment longer than God upholdeth us; we are as a staff in