2. That faith, of whatever kind it be, is of no value, any farther than it is attested by works —
[If faith in the first instance apprehends Christ as a Sa- viour from guilt and condemnation, it does not rest there : it lays hold on him for sanctification, as well as for righteousness31 ; and would account him not worthy of the name of Jesus, if he did not save his people from their sinsy. The characters given to faith in the inspired volume are inseparable from it : it works by love2, and overcomes the world a, and purifies the heartb: and if it produce not these effects, it will never benefit 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 law0." He goes farther still, and says, that "to him that worketh not, but believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness11." 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 writing on two different subjects. St. Paul is proving that a man is not to seek salvation by any right- eousness of his own, but simply by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: whereas St. James is proving, that the man who pro- fesses 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 shewing, that faith is nothing without works. St. Paul exalts 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 doc- trine adorned. Thus, according to the two Apostles, a man is justified by faith, because by it he is made righteous; and he
x 1 Cor. i. 30. y Matt. i. 21. z Gal. v. 6.
a 1 John v. 4. b Acts xv. 9. c Rom. hi, 28.
d Rom. iv. 5.