Observe here, 1. The author and penman of this epistle described by his name, James; by his office, A SERVANT OF GOD, AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: that is, by special office, as. dispenser of his gospel. It is the highest honor that can be conferred upon the greatest person, to be the servant of Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle's design in this epistle being to support the believing Jews under their great sufferings for the cause of Christianity, he first acquaints them with the nature of those sufferings which they might expect to fall under for the same; he calls them TEMPTATIONS, that is, trials, they are co... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "Let your patience and perseverance under sufferings resolutely continue and hold out to the end;" this the apostle urges, because some persons bore out the first brunt and onset of persecution, but being exercised with diversity and length of trials, they fainted. Now, as if the apostle ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. truth necessarily supposed, that every man, more or less, lacketh wisdom to enable him patiently to bear, and prudently to manage, the afflictions of this life; and that there is need of great wisdom to enable us to glorify God in. sufffering hour. Observe, 2. The person directed t... [ Continue Reading ]
By. DOUBLE-MINDED MAN, we are to understand one that is divided in his own thoughts between two different ways and opinions, as if he had two minds, or two souls. Many such there were in the apostles' days, judaizing brethren, that sometimes would sort with the Jews, sometimes with the Christians. M... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having finished his necessary digression concerning prayer, in the foregoing verses, returns now to his former argument, concerning bearing affliction with joy; and urges. strong reason here to enforce the duty, LET THE BROTHER OF LOW DEGREE; that is, such. Christian as is brought low by... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle exhorts suffering Christians to patience, by the example of the Old-Testament saints, who were exceeding dear to God, employed in special services for God, yet exercised with long and sharp affliction for him. Now, their nature was as tender and as frail as ours, and we have the sam... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words the apostle lays down. forcible argument, to persuade Christians to bear sufferings and persecutions with invincible patience, drawn from the blessedness which attends such. condition: BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATIONS, &C. Note here, 1. The character of the person whom Go... [ Continue Reading ]
There are three sorts of temptations spoken of in scripture, temptations of SEDUCTION, temptations of SUGGESTION, and temptations of AFFLICTION; the last were spoken of, in the former verses, BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDUREDTH TEMPTATION: the second sort are spoken of in this verse, LET NO MAN SAY WH... [ Continue Reading ]
As if he had said, "Be not deceived about the causes of good and evil; sin and death are certainly from ourselves. Let us therefore never ascribe either our sins or our temptations unto God: but every good and perfecting gift is of God's free donation and grace, even from above, from the Father of l... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are very expressive of four things, namely, of the efficient cause, the impulsive cause, the instrumental and the final cause fo our regeneration. Observe, 1. The author and efficient cause of regeneration; he that is the FATHER OF LIGHTS, mentioned in the foregoing verse, begat us. No... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "Seeing God has put such an honour upon his word, the word of truth, as by it to beget us to himself; therefore be swift to hear it, prize it highly, and wait upon the means of grace readily and diligently; but BE SLOW TO SPEAK, that is, to utter your judgments of it, muc... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are. direction given for the right hearing of, and due profiting by the word of God. In order to the former, our apostle shews, 1. What we must lay aside, namely, ALL FILTHINESS AND SUPERFLUITY OF NAUGHTINESS; that is, all sensual lusts, and angry passions. And, 2. RECEIVE WITH MEEKNES... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words our apostle declares the vanity and unprofitableness of. bare hearing of the word, by. similitude taken from. man looking in. glass; though he sees in. glass his own natural face, which he was born with, whilst he is looking in it, yet no sooner is he gone from it, but he forgets the... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The title given to the word of God, particularly the gospel, it is called LIBERTY,. LAW of liberty, and. PERFECT law of liberty: partly because it calleth us to. state of liberty and freedom, and teacheth us the way to true liberty, and offers us the assistance of. spirit of liberty... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That there have been, are, and ever will be, many professors of religion, who seem, and only seem to be religious. Observe, 2. That an unbridled and ungoverned tongue, is. certain sign and evidence of. man's being only seemingly religious; it seems there were many unbridled tongues... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That the apostle doth not set down the whole of religion, but an eminent part and instance of it only: PURE RELIGION IS THIS, that is, this is the practice of religion, without which all religion is vain; this is an eminent fruit, which springs from the root of pure religion; if pur... [ Continue Reading ]