been here ſaid. 25 Like-
Chap. III.
25 Likewiſe alſo was not Rahab z the harlot x juſtified by works y, when ſhe had received the mel-
{engers, and had ſent them out another way = ?
u This Inſtance of Rahab is joyned to that of Abraham, either to ſhew, that none of any Condition, Degree, or Nation, was ever numbred among true Believers, without good Works, or elſe to prove, that Faith, where-ever it is fincere and genuine, is likewiſe operative, and fruitful, not enly in older Diſciples and ſtronger, ſuch as Abraham was, but even proportionably in thoſe that are weaker, and but newly converted to the Faith, which was Rahab's caſe. x Really and properly ſo, Joſh. 2.1, Heb. 11. 31. tho' poſſibly ſhe might keep an Inn, and that might occaſion the Spies going to her Houſe, not knowing her to be one of ſo ſcandalous a Life ; which yet the Holy Ghoſt takes ſpecial notice of, that by the Infamouſ neſs of her former Converſation, the Grace of God in her Conver- ſion might be more conſpicuous. - y. In the ſame ſence as Abraham was, 7. e. declared to be righteous, and her Sincerity approved 1n the Face of the Congregation of J/rael, when, upon her hiding the Spies, God gave a Commandment to fave her alive, though the reſt of her People were to be deſtroyed. ' xz Her receiving them implies likewiſe her hiding them; both which, together with her ſending them forth another way, were As of Love to the Pcople of God, of Mercy to the Spies, and of great Self-denial in reſpe(t of her own Safety, which ſhe hazarded by thas expofing her ſelf to the Fury 0! the King of Fericho, and her Countrymen ; but all this proceeded from her Faith in the God of J/rae/, of whoſe great Works ſhe had heard, and whom ſhe had now taken to be her God, and under whoſe Wings ſhe was now come to truſt. .
© 26 For as the body without the|| ſpirit * is dead, ſo
faith + without works is dead alſo.
* This may be underſtood, either, according to the marginal reading, of the Breath, and then the ſenſe is, that Life and Breath being 1nſeparable Companions, as the want of Breath argues want of Life in the Body; fo lively Faith and Works beins as inſeparable, want of Works argues want of Life in Fa1th: Or, according to the reading in the Text, Spirit, taking it for that Subſtance which ani- mates the Body, and 15 the cauſe of vital FunGtions in it, which is ſometimes called Spirit, Pſalm' 21. 5. Eccl. 12.7. and 1 Cor. 2.11. and then the ſenſe 1s, that as a Body is without a Soul, fo Faith is without Works, 7. e. both are dead. As a Body without the Soul hath the Shape aad Lineaments of a Man, but nothing that may dif- cover Life in it, fo Faith without Works may be like true Faith, have ſome reſemblance of it, but hath nothing to diſcover the Truth and Life of it. F Not true Faith, for that cannot be dead, but an empty Profeſfion of Faith, which is rather called Faith, by way of | '$ Conceſſion, or becauſe of ſome likeneſs it hath to it, than really is q ſo; as a dead Body, tho' called a Body, is really but a Carkale.
CH A P.+-IIL We are not rafhly or arrogantly to reprove others, when as we our ſelves « often do amiſs. ' The difficultyof bridling the Tongue move then that of the other members,” this illuſtrated, 1 — $. - The Tongue is as a Fire, Or wild beaſt, 5 8. With this Man ought to bleſs Gad ; and not to curſe his Neighbour made after the Image of God : This illuſtrated, 9 —--.- 12. The different Nature, Properties, and Fruits 5f Earthly and Heavenly Wiſdom, 13-———18.
Y brethren, be not many maſters -a, , knowing that we ſhall receive: the || greater condemna-
with
# | Or, breath.
i| Or, judg- 4 ment, tions. a Let not every Man make himſelf a Maſter of other Mens Faith and Manners, a Cenſor, or ſupercilious Reprover. of their Failings and Infirmities, Matth. 7. 1. All Reproof is not here torbidden, net- ther Authoritative by Church Officers, nor Charitative by private Brethren, but that which is irregular either in the gone of it, when that is falſe, or the manner of it, when it is maſterly and 1m- perious, or prepoſterous (as when we reprehend others, and are no leſs. reprehenſible our ſelves, Rom. 2. 21.) or in the end of it, when we ſeck to advance our own Reputation by obſerving or ag- grayating others Faults, &c. b By how much the more ſevere and reid we are in judging others, the greater will be our Judgment, hot only from Men,. who will be apt to retaliate, but from God him- ſelf, Matth. 7. 1, 2, 3. Luke 6. 38. Rom. 2.2, 3. See the like Ex- preſſion, Mat. 23. 8, 14. . +> Chron, 2 For * in many things we offend all c. T If any 6.36. man offend notin word d, the || ſame 7a perte&tman
+ Pal. 34.'e, ard able alſo to bridle the whole body .
: 13. c There is no Man abſolutely free from Sin, 1 Iing 8. 46. Fob 14. | Chap. 1. 4. Prov. 20. 9. Eccleſ. 7.20. and 1 Fohn 1. 8, 10. And therefore we 26, muſt not be too critical inother Mens' Ations, having fo many Fail-
= {{ Mat. 12. ings our ſelves, Gal. 6. 1. d Knows how to govern his Tongue atight, | 37. ſpeaks what, and when, as he ought. _ e Eitherfincere in oppoſition Plal. 32.5. to the Hypocriſie of thoſe that pretend to great Zeal in correting others, when they are alike, or more guilty themſelves: Or rather,
we may underſtand it comparatively, and with reſpe& to others, of
: one that hath made good Proficiency in Religion, and 1s. of greater | Attainments than others. See 1 Cor. 2.6. f To govern all the other
| parts ( Eyes, Ears, Hands, gc.) as to thoſe Afftions which are per- formed by them. No Member of the Body being more ready to
offend than the Tongue ; he that can rule that, may rule all elſe. | 3 Behold we put bits in the horſes mouths that
| they may obey us, and we turn abour their whole | body 2. g He illuſtrates the former Propoſition, that he that can rule his | Tongue, may rule his whole Body, by two Similitudes; the firſt of an unruly Horſe, which yet, as. wanton as he is, being curbed in with a Bit, may be eafily managed; intimating, that even ſo, if a Man's Tongue be well governed, the reſt of the Men will be under command,
4 Behold alſo the ſhips which, though they be ſo great, and driven of fierce winds, yet are they turn-
FUMES.
Chap. I1L.