James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. Ver. 1. _To the twelve tribes_] Once very devout, Acts 26:7; still the most nimble and mercurial wits in the world, but light, aerial, and fanatical, apt to work themselves into the fool... [ Continue Reading ]
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Ver. 2. _Count it all joy_] The world wondereth (saith Mr Philpot the martyr) how we can be so merry in such extreme misery. But our God is omnipotent, who turneth misery into felicity. Believe me, there is no such joy in the world... [ Continue Reading ]
Knowing _this_, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Ver. 3. _The trial of your faith_] Yea, such a well knit patience, as maketh a man suffer after he hath suffered, as David did from Shimei, but first from Absalom. Tile stones till baked are not useful; but well burnt and hardened they... [ Continue Reading ]
But let patience have _her_ perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Ver. 4. _Let patience have her perfect work_] Patience must not be an inch shorter than the affliction. If the bridge reach but half-way over the brook, we shall have but ill-favoured passage. It is the de... [ Continue Reading ]
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all _men_ liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Ver. 5. _If any of you lack wisdom_] That is, patience to bear afflictions as he ought, cheerfully, thankfully, fruitfully, so as to be able to say, "Well for the presen... [ Continue Reading ]
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Ver. 6. _But let him ask in faith_] _See Trapp on "_ Heb 11:6 _"_ Nothing wavering] We are too ready in temptation to doubt, yea, to hold it a duty to doubt. This (saith one)... [ Continue Reading ]
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Ver. 7. _That he shall receive_] Unless he strive against his doubting, and wade out of it, as the moon doth out of the cloud. _Qui timide rogat, negare docet; _ He that prayeth doubtingly, shuts heaven's gates against his own... [ Continue Reading ]
A double minded man _is_ unstable in all his ways. Ver. 8. _Unstable in all his ways_] As he is that stands on one leg, or as a bowl on a smooth table. Contrariwise, a believer is as a square stone set into the building,1 Peter 2:7; shaken he may be, but he is rooted as a tree; wag he may up and do... [ Continue Reading ]
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: Ver. 9. _Rejoice in that he is exalted_] Gr. εν τω υψει αυτου, in his sublimity, in that high honour of his, John 1:12. This should make him hold up his head, but not too high; be cheerful, but not withal scornful. _Laeti simus, sed non s... [ Continue Reading ]
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. Ver. 10. _In that he is made low_] Drawn from that high esteem of outward excellencies. He is now made a greater man, because he seems too big for them; or low, that is, lowly.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Ver. 11. _Shall the rich man fade_] Perish eternally, if he trust in uncertain riches, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _is_ the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Ver. 12. _Blessed is the man_] Provided that God teach him, as well as chastise him, Psalms 94:12, instruct him as well as correct him. See my... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Ver. 13. _I am tempted of God_] The inclination of man's heart to good, is of itself and properly of God, as light is of the sun. His inclination to evil is by accident only of... [ Continue Reading ]
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Ver. 14. _Drawn away of his lust_] Δελεαζομενος, Satan hath only a persuading sleight, not an enforcing might. Our own concupiscence carries the greatest stroke. _ And enticed_] As the silly fish is by the bait covering... [ Continue Reading ]
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Ver. 15. _When lust hath conceived_] As the plot of all diseases lies in the humours of the body; so of all sin, in the lust of the soul. There is in it a πανσπερμια, a tacit consent, a seed pl... [ Continue Reading ]
Do not err, my beloved brethren. Ver. 16. _Do not err_] Wander not, as wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever, Judges 1:13, by seeking to father your faults upon God, as Adam did, Genesis 3:12 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Ver. 17. _Every good gift, &c._] A hexameter verse in the Greek; as little intended perhaps by the apostle as the first line in Tacitus, which ye... [ Continue Reading ]
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Ver. 18. _Of his own will begat he us_] Gr. απεκυησε, brought he us forth, as a special instance of his free grace and fatherly goodness, Ephesians 1:4,5. The word properly signifies, He di... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: Ver. 19. _Swift to hear_] Reaching after that word of truth, the gospel,James 1:18, and drinking it in as the dry earth doth the dew of heaven. Life doth now enter into the soul at the ear, as at first dea... [ Continue Reading ]
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Ver. 20. _For the wrath of man_] Unless it be as Moses' and Christ's anger was, pure and free from guile and gall, prompting us to pity and pray for the party, Exodus 32:32; Mark 3:5 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. Ver. 21. _All filthiness_] Gr. ρυπαριαν, the stinking filth of a pestilent ulcer. Sin is the devil's vomit, the soul's excrement, the superfluity or gar... [ Continue Reading ]
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Ver. 22. _And not hearers only_] The Panotii in Scythia are said to have such large ears, as that therewith they cover their whole bodies. (Isidore.) Such are our hearers only. _ Deceiving your own souls_] Either as by f... [ Continue Reading ]
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: Ver. 23. _His natural face_] Gr. the face of his nativity, that wherewith he was born into the world. Pythagoras wished his scholars often to view themselves in a glass, that if they wer... [ Continue Reading ]
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. Ver. 24. _Straightway forgetteth_] Naturalists make mention of a certain creature called _cervarius, _ that though he be feeding never so hard and hungerly, if he cast but back his head, he forgets im... [ Continue Reading ]
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth _therein_, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Ver. 25. _Whoso looketh into, &c._] παρακυψας, as into a glass, wishly and intently with the body bowed down. Get thee God's l... [ Continue Reading ]
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion _is_ vain. Ver. 26. _Seem to be religious_] There is a great deal of this seemingness now abroad: _Aliud in titulo, aliud in pyxide. Verba tua Dei plane sunt, facta veto Diaboli,... [ Continue Reading ]
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, _and_ to keep himself unspotted from the world. Ver. 27. _And widows_] A vine whose root is uncovered thrives not; a widow whose covering of eyes is taken away, joys not.... [ Continue Reading ]