_WE ARE TO REJOICE UNDER THE CROSS, TO ASK WISDOM OF GOD, AND IN OUR
TRIALS NOT TO IMPUTE OUR WEAKNESS OR SINS UNTO HIM; BUT RATHER TO
HEARKEN TO THE WORD, TO MEDITATE UPON IT, AND TO ACT ACCORDINGLY:
OTHERWISE MEN MAY SEEM, BUT NEVER CAN BE, TRULY RELIGIOUS._
_Anno Domini 60._
THE object of this... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE TWELVE TRIBES, &C.— It is well known, that the Jews were
dispersed abroad, and to be found in great multitudes in almost all
parts of the world, as well at the time of writing this epistle, as at
present.It seems to be plainly deducible from this passage, that no
entire tribes were lost in th... [ Continue Reading ]
COUNT IT ALL JOY— Under the law, great temporal blessings were
promised to the people of God as long as they continued obedient, and
terrible afflictions threatened if they were disobedient: but the Jews
expected even far better temporal things under the Messiah; there was
great occasion therefore t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE— _Produceth patience._
Heylin. The word Δοκιμιον signifies _proof_ or _evidence,_ in
most other authors: but still, as it denotes a proof given by trial,
the meaning will be, "That proof or evidence which you give, (by
undergoing trials or afflictions,) of y... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK— "that it may rise to its
highest improvements during this little space of time, in which alone
you will have the opportunity of preparing for glory and promoting the
interests of the church of Christ, that so you may be made perfect and
complete, deficient in... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM— That is, _wisdom_ in general. But if the
word be particularly applied to sufferings and trials, as many
commentators do apply it, the passage may be paraphrased thus: "But if
any of you should be deficient in wisdom, or at a loss what method to
take, or how to behave in a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT LET HIM ASK IN FAITH, &C.— "But then let him take care that he
ask in steadyfaith, nothing wavering, nor divided by the desires of
obtaining, and the fears of not obtaining, the grace he asks, or
doubting of God's readiness to bestow it; for he that wavers, and has
not a firm confidence in the D... [ Continue Reading ]
A DOUBLE-MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE— "He, whose schemes are divided
between God and the world, and who cannot cheerfully and resolutely
commit himself, in confidence of divine support, to be led
whithersoever Providence shall please, is unsettled in all his ways:
he will perpetually be running into inco... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE BROTHER OF LOW DEGREE REJOICE, &C.— "In nothing are the
generality of men more apt to mistake, than in estimating the value of
external circumstances; but let the principles of Christianity
instruct you, my brethren, to correct that mistake; and in this
respect, let the brother of low degree... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SUN IS NO SOONER RISEN, &C.— _For the sun ariseth with
burning heat; it withereth the grass; the flower thereof falleth; and
all the beauty of its colour perisheth: Even so shall the rich man
fade away in his course;_— πορειαις αοτου; in all the
projects and pursuits in which he has been imm... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION— _Happy is the man who
persevereth under temptation,_ or _trial; for, being approved, he
shall receive,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES 1:13. St. James had said so much about the benefit of
temptations, or trials, that he thought it necessary to guard his
readers against so dangerous a mistake, as that of making God the
author of sin, or ascribing _temptations_ to him, as they signify "a
seducing men to what is evil:" In that... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE IS DRAWN AWAY OF HIS OWN LUST, &C.— "Drawn out of the water,
and taken with the bait;" εξελκομενος και
δελεαζομενος : in both these words there is an allusion to
the _catching a fish with a bait;_ and _lusts,_ or sensual pleasures,
are here represented as the bait with which wicked men are c... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WHEN LUST HATH CONCEIVED, &C.— "For the gradation is much more
swift and fatal than the generality of mankind are aware: lust having
conceived, brings forth _actual_ sin by a speedy birth, where perhaps
the full indulgence of it was not intended; and sin, when it is
finished, or perpetrated, is... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT ERR, &C.— Or, _Be not deceived._... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY GOOD GIFT, &C.— The first part of this verse is in the Greek
an _hexameter,_ and possibly was quoted by St. James from some of the
Greek poets. See Acts 17:28. 1 Corinthians 15:33.Titus 1:12. _Father_
in this verse signifies _author,_ or cause. Com. Genesis 4:20. Hebrews
12:9. The _Father of L... [ Continue Reading ]
A KIND OF FIRST-FRUITS, &C.— More excellent than others, and in a
peculiar manner separated and consecrated to him. By
κτισματων, _creatures,_ the apostle here means _the new
creation;_ and he seems by the expression to allude to Jeremiah 2:3.
See also Romans 11:16; Romans 16:5. As in James 1:15 we... [ Continue Reading ]
SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK— Agreeably to this inspired direction
of the apostle, and the sentiments of the wisest of the Jews, the
ancient philosophers have taken notice, that men have _two ears,_ and
but one tongue; that they should hear more than they speak: as also
that the ears are continually... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WRATH OF MAN WORKETH NOT, &C.— Multitudes of Christians, so
called, seem either to have disbelieved this, or to have forgottenit;
for how often have they attempted to bring others over, to what they
have apprehended to be the truth of doctrine, or the right manner of
worship, by using them i... [ Continue Reading ]
SUPERFLUITY OF NAUGHTINESS— _Vicious superfluity;_ every vice, and
especiallyworldly cares or desires: these, if allowed in the mind,
will, as weeds, choke up the _good seed;_ which is the same as the
_engrafted word,_ immediately following. The word of God is frequently
compared to a _seed,_ or pla... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARERS ONLY, DECEIVING, &C.— The Jews did indeed place much of
their religion in going up at proper times to the synagogue to hear
the law read; and there may possibly be an allusion to that
disposition, The exact signification of the word
παραλογιζομενοι, rendered _deceiving,_ is, _"imposing
upon_... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE UNTO A MAN BEHOLDING HIS NATURAL FACE, &C.— By way of
opposition to the moral temper and disposition of his mind;—which he
is to view in the glass of the gospel, and carefully regulate thereby;
James 1:25. Perhaps some of them pretended, that _Abraham believed,_
and _that was counted unto him f... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHOSO LOOKETH, &C.— Ο δε παρακυψας : _He that hath
bowed his head,_ or _stooped down,_ more curiously to pry into any
thing. The word is used concerning the disciples bowing down curiously
and intensely to pry into our Lord's sepulchre, Luke 24:12. John 20:5;
John 20:11. But the image which the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BRIDLETH NOT HIS TONGUE— _Not bridling his tongue, but deceiving
his heart._ Bishop Butler. As if the apostle had said, "It is
impossible that any man should so much as _seem to be religious,_ if
he does not at least think that he bridles his tongue; but if he
deceive himself in this important b... [ Continue Reading ]
PURE RELIGION— By the word θρησκεια, _religion,_ is often
meant the worship of God; but here it evidently takes in a larger
compass; namely, that men_visit the fatherless,_ &c. "Pure and
undefiled religion, that which is clear and without any flaw or
blemish before the penetrating eyes of God, even... [ Continue Reading ]