SEKMON XLIII.
Who sJiall lay anyOmxg to the charge of God's elect ? it is God that justifieth. — Kom. viii. 33.
We have done with the general triumph of believers, and considered wliat supported them against the fear of evil and the fear of death — viz., the hope of good. Now the apostle descendeth to particulars ; and
VeR. 33.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VJII. 349
the first ground of a believer's trouble is sin, the guilt of which raiseth many doubts and fears within us, all which are removed by justification. Now justification is opposite to two things, accusation and condemnation : the one maketh way for the other ; for thoge that are justly accused are also condemned. As it is opposite to accusation, so to justify is the part of an advocate ; as to condemnation, so to justify is the part of a judge. A believer is upon good terms in both respects ; there are no accusers before God that we need to be afraid of, and they may with comfort appear before the bar of their judge. If we are impleaded, we may stand in the judgment ; as to accusation here, and as to condemnation hereafter, accusation may seem to infringe our present comforts, condemnation make void our future hopes. But things present and to come are both ours.
The apostle beginneth with the accusation in this verse, and speaketh of condemnation in the text — WTio shall lay anything, &c.
In which words observe —
1. A question, or bold challenge of faith — Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect ?
2. The reply, or answer, It is God that justijieth. The question or interrogation intimateth the matter of our trouble, something that may be laid to our charge ; the answer, the ground of our support and comfort, which is God's free justification by Christ. In the challenge, or question, first, what is denied, having anything laid to our charge ; secondly, the persons concerned, God's elect. Both must be explained.
First, The question implieth a denial, not simple and absolute, but in some respects ; not as if no accuser, for the devil accuseth us : Rev. xii. 10, he is called ' The accuser of the brethren, who accusetii us before God day and night.' And the world accuseth us : it accused Jeremiah, Jer. xsxvii. 13, as a revolter to the Chaldeans ; Amos vii. 10, as a mover of sedition ; Paul as a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition, and, in general, all christians : 2 Cor. vi. 8, ' As deceivers and yet true.' Our own consciences accuse us : Rom. ii. 15 ; 1 John iii. 20, ' For if our hearts condemn us ; ' and David, Ps. xxv. 7, saith, ' Remember not the sins of my youth.' Nor is it to be understood as if there were no ground for the accusation. The devil is Kari^yopo^, not a whisperer or a slanderer, but an impleader in a court of justice, before the tribunal of God, avrlBcKo^, that is, an adversary in law, one that joineth with us in plea of law ; he may slander us, as he did Job, that he was a mercenary man, though perfect and upriglit, Job i. 8, 11. But too often there is too much ground for the accusation. The world accuseth us, but we often give them too great occasion : 2 Cor. xi. 12, ' That I may cut off occasion from them that desire occasion.' Our hearts accuse us for committing and omitting many things contrary to the law of God : James iii. 2, ' In many things we off"end all ; ' so that it is not an absolute denial of a legal accusation. How then can the apostle say, ' Who shall lay anything to our charge ? ' I answer, it is to be interpreted as to the success ; they cannot prevail in the plea ; if they charge, God will discharge. The devil is often a slanderer, the world raileth, conscience may give a wrong judgment ; but when the accusation cannot be wholly denied, yet there is a remedy for the penitent believer: it is in vain to accuse those whom God upon just
350 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeB. XLIII.
reasons acquil'teth. God is not in danger to be mistaten by false accusation, or to do us an injustice; but when our real guilt is before our face, and the malice of 8atan will seek thereupon to procure our condemnation, yet there are just reasons to be presented before him to procure our pardon.
2. The persons — ' God's elect,' who in justification are considered, not as elect, but as effectually called ; for the order is set down, ver. 30, ' Whom lie did jiredestinate, them he called ; and whom he called, them he justified.' Those whom God hath chosen before the founda- tion of the world, and now truly believing in Christ, these are justified, for otherwise they are condemned already, John iii. 18 ; children of wrath as well as others, Eph. ii. 3 ; for we must consider the elect as to the purpose of his grace, or the sentence of his law ; for till the elect are effectually called and justified they are children of wrath as well as others.