But I answer, it is clear that the place speaks of God's consequent love to the work of his own grace ; for it is impossible that ever a man can fear God and work righteousness until he hath some grace wrought in him ; those things are not the effect of nature, but of grace. That place only shows that Peter was convinced of his error ; he thought none could be saved, but either a Jew, or a proselyte — one converted to the Jewish religion. Now I see my mistake, that of a truth, wherever there is real grace in any, God will accept of him. Take the sentence either in a legal or evangelical sense. If you take it evangelically, the sense is — whoever worketh righteousness, that obeyeth the gospel, and renounceth his own righteousness, and seeks the favour of God in Christ, he shall be accepted with God ; or if you take it in a legal sense, those things are not the fruits of mere nature, it is to be expounded by way of evidence — whoever thus worketh righteousness it is a sign he is accepted with God ; and he that fears God, it is a visible sign and testimony by which the favour of God towards him may be cleared up.
Ohj. 2. Again, Christ is said to love the young- man that was of a civil life : Mark x. 21, ' Jesus, beholding him, loved him.' I answer, this was but a human affection, which our Lord manifested in all cases ■out of respect to human society ; ' Christ loved him,' that is, showed some outward signs of favour and respect to him ; as we pity a man that is in a dangerous course : it is pity such courteous persons should go to hell. Our Saviour 'loved him,' certainly he could not approve of his hypocrisy, vanity, and self-confidence ; but pitied him as one that with so much care kept the law, which others did not, and yet deceived himself with a vain opinion of righteousness. Christ, as man, was to have all human affections; but as lord and judge of the creature, so he hated him, as will be manifested at the last day.
Again, they say, God rewards wicked men for their natural actions ; as Ahab's humiliation was rewarded with a suspension from wrath, 1 Kings xxi. 29, and Jehu's obedience was rewarded with the reign of his posterity to the fourth generation, 2 Kings x. 30.
VeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 99
I answer, This God may do out of his own bounty. Wicked men can look for nothing ; it is his grace to reward wicked men's actions ; and he may do it to make them more culpable, and to encourage the godly, as many times a general will reward the valour of an enemy to encourage his own soldiers. It is a document of God's bounty to the world, to prize true grace the better ; and it is notable, all those bless- ings were but temporal, and salted with a curse : dogs may have temporals, the offals of providence.
ObJ. 3. Again, what ground have we to persuade men to the use of means, if all their endeavours be in vain, and if God will not accept them ? I answer —
[1.] We have ground to press them to duty, that wicked men may be more sensible of their own weakness. Men think it is easy to believe till they put themselves upon the trial, action, and endeavour ; as the lameness of the arm is found by exercise. Solomon saith, Prov. ii. 2, 3, ' Apply thine heart to understanding ; ' then saith he, ' If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding ;' &c., ' then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.' Certainly, he that seeks knowledge will be driven to cry for it to free grace; and they that attempt the duties and exercises of religion, will see the necessity of divine help, and will be forced to lie at God's feet. Were there no other end l)nt this, that wicked men may be certainly convinced that all their sufficiency is in God, to bring them to cry to God, Lord, help me against my unbelief, this were enough. When we look to towns in a map, we think the way to them easy, as if our foot were as nimble as our thoughts, but we are soon discouraged and tired, when we meet with dangerous and craggy passages, and come to learn the difference between glancing and serious endeavours. So in matters of religion, he that endeavours to bring Christ and his soul together, before he hath done, will be forced to sit down and cry. Lord, help me ! As in the matters of the world, young men have strong hopes, therefore think it is nothing to live in the world ; but when they are engaged in the cares of a family, they are soon crushed. So iii the spiritual life ; nothing doth rebuke sudden and easy hopes so much as trial and experience ; then men find their hearts are hardly brought to apply themselves to the means whereby they may draw nigh to God, and see that no man can come to God without an attractive force, and unless the Father draw him.