given to faith in the Inspired Vohime are inseparable from it : it works by love^ and overcomes the world % and purifies the heart '' : and if it produce not these effects, it will never be- nefit the soul. Knowing therefore in what way God will appreciate it hereafter, it becomes us to form a correct estimate of it now ; and to weigh ourselves in the balance of the sanctuary now, that we may not be found wanting in the day of judgment]
It will here be expected, of course, that we answer a common objection to the foregoing state- ment—
[It is said that St. Paul's sentiments and declarations on this subject are directly opposed to those of St. James ; since, after a long argument, he comes to this conclusion : " There- fore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law ^" He goes farther still, and says, that " to him that uorketh not, but believeth in him that jvstifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness '*." Now it may well be asked, * How can this be reconciled with the foregoing statement?' I answer, ' Only examine St. Paul's argument, as you have that of St. James, and you will see that there is no opposition at all between their respective assertions. The two Apostles are wnriting on two different subjects. St. Paul is proving that a man is not to seek salvation by any righteousness of his own, but simply by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: whereas St. James is proving, that the man who professes to have faith in Christ, must shew forth his faith by his works. St. Paul endeavours to convince the self-justiciary ; St. James, the Antinomian ; — St. Paul, by shewing, that works are nothing without faith ; St. James, by shelving, that faith is nothing without works. St. Paul ex- alts Christ, as giving a title to heaven ; St. James, as giving a meetness for heaven. St. Paul bends the whole force of his mind to establish the one leading doctrine of the Gospel ; St. James, to have that doctrine adorned. Thus, according to the two Apostles, a man is justified by faith, because by it he is inade righteous ; and he is justified by works, because by them he is proved righteous : and God in justifying him, whe- ther on the one ground, or the other, approves himself both "a just God and a Saviour." We may render this matter somewhat more clear by means of a familiar illustration. A cion must be engrafted into a stock in order that it may live : and it must bring forth fruit in order to prove that it does Uve. Is there any opposition between these two assertions ? None whatever. So then with Paul I assert, that man must
be
' Gal. v, 6. » 1 John v. 4. " Acts xv. 9.
• Rom. in. 28. * Rom. iv. 5. ,