Come now, ye rich — The apostle does not speak this so much for the
sake of the rich themselves, as of the poor children of God, who were
then groaning under their cruel oppression. Weep and howl for your
miseries which are coming upon you — Quickly and unexpectedly. This
was written not long before... [ Continue Reading ]
The riches of the ancients consisted much in large stores of corn, and
of costly apparel.... [ Continue Reading ]
The canker of them — Your perishing stores and motheaten garments.
Will be a testimony against you — Of your having buried those
talents in the earth, instead of improving them according to your
Lord's will. And will eat your flesh as fire — Will occasion you as
great torment as if fire were consumi... [ Continue Reading ]
The hire of your labourers crieth — Those sins chiefly cry to God
concerning which human laws are silent. Such are luxury, unchastity,
and various kinds of injustice. The labourers themselves also cry to
God, who is just coming to avenge their cause. Of sabaoth — Of
hosts, or armies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye have cherished your hearts — Have indulged yourselves to the
uttermost. As in a day of sacrifice — Which were solemn feast —
days among the Jews.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye have killed the just — Many just men; in particular, "that Just
One," Acts 3:14. They afterwards killed James, surnamed the Just, the
writer of this epistle. He doth not resist you — And therefore you
are secure. But the Lord cometh quickly, James 5:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit — Which will
recompense his labour and patience. Till he receives the former rain
— Immediately after sowing. And the latter — Before the harvest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Stablish your hearts — In faith and patience. For the coming of the
Lord — To destroy Jerusalem. Is nigh — And so is his last coming
to the eye of a believer.... [ Continue Reading ]
Murmur not one against another — Have patience also with each other.
The judge standeth before the door — Hearing every word, marking
every thought.... [ Continue Reading ]
Take the prophets for an example — Once persecuted like you, even
for speaking in the name of the Lord. The very men that gloried in
having prophets yet could not bear their message: nor did either their
holiness or their high commission screen them from suffering.... [ Continue Reading ]
We count them happy that endured — That suffered patiently. The more
they once suffered, the greater is their present happiness. Ye have
seen the end of the Lord — The end which the Lord gave him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Swear not — However provoked. The Jews were notoriously guilty of
common swearing, though not so much by God himself as by some of his
creatures. The apostle here particularly forbids these oaths, as well
as all swearing in common conversation. It is very observable, how
solemnly the apostle introdu... [ Continue Reading ]
Having anointed him with oil — This single conspicuous gift, which
Christ committed to his apostles, Mark 6:13, remained in the church
long after the other miraculous gifts were withdrawn. Indeed, it seems
to have been designed to remain always; and St. James directs the
elders, who were the most, i... [ Continue Reading ]
And the prayer offered in faith shall save the sick — From his
sickness; and if any sin be the occasion of his sickness, it shall be
forgiven him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Confess your faults — Whether ye are sick or in health. To one
another — He does not say, to the elders: this may, or may not, be
done; for it is nowhere commanded. We may confess them to any who can
pray in faith: he will then know how to pray for us, and be more
stirred up so to do. And pray one f... [ Continue Reading ]
Elijah was a man of like passions — Naturally as weak and sinful as
we are. And he prayed — When idolatry covered the land.... [ Continue Reading ]
He prayed again — When idolatry was abolished.... [ Continue Reading ]
As if he had said, I have now warned you of those sins to which you
are most liable; and, in all these respects, watch not only over
yourselves, but every one over his brother also. Labour, in
particular, to recover those that are fallen. If any one err from the
truth — Practically, by sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall save a soul — Of how much more value than the body! James
5:14. And hide a multitude of sins — Which shall no more, how many
soever they are, be remembered to his condemnation.... [ Continue Reading ]