The Jews, to whom St. James directed this epistle, had at that time great wars and fightings, not only with their neighbours, but even among themselves: in every city there were WARS AND FIGHTINGS AMONG THEM. Now, the apostle here puts it to their consciences to tell and declare whence these animos... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews, at the writing of this epistle to them, did vehemently lust after liberty, and freedom from the Roman yoke, and for dominion and government over other nations; believing that their Messiah was to be. temporal prince, who should enable them to lord it over the Heathen world: "Now, says our... [ Continue Reading ]
It is spiritual, not corporal adultery, which these words take notice of: the inordinate love of this world is called spiritual adultery; because it draws away the love of the soul from God, and dissolves the spiritual marriage between God and the soul; YE ADULTERERS AND ADULTERESSES, KNOW YE NOT TH... [ Continue Reading ]
Some by the spirit here understand the holy Spirit of God, and make the words run in the form of an interrogation, thus, "The Spirit, that dwelleth in us Christians, lusteth he to envy as your's doth? Nay, rather is he not the Spirit of love and goodness?" Others understand our own spirit; our corru... [ Continue Reading ]
The sin of envy being censured before, our apostle next condemns the sin of pride; he uses. military term when he tells us, the God RESISTED THE PROUD; it signifies, that he sees himself as in battle array against the proud, in. direct oppositon to him; there are no sort of sinners whom God sets him... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "Submit to his government and authority, to his preceptive and commanding will, and to his providential and disposing will: submit yourselves to the guidance of his word, to the direction of his Spirit, to the conduct of his providence; submit your whole selves to the whole law and will of... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. Man by nature, since his fall, is afar off from God, not barely by. natural distance as. creature, but also by. moral distance as. sinner; God made man near him, but when man sinned, he departed from him; now we draw nigh to God by conversion, and in all the actings of repentance; t... [ Continue Reading ]
The next duty we are exhorted to by the apostle, is. deep humiliation, and. voluntary affliction of our souls before God for sin, and upon the account of any calamity, either on ourselves or others. Learn hence, that as the afflicting hand of God does increase upon. person,. family, or. people, so o... [ Continue Reading ]
These words, as generally delivered by our apostle, are. disuasive from the sin of detraction, or speaking evil of one another, either by secret whispering, or open backbiting;. very common but most unbecoming sin amongst Christians. What pleasure do some persons take in divulging the faults of othe... [ Continue Reading ]
For the clear understanding of these words, consider, 1. What is not here forbidden or condemned by our apostle; namely, prudential resolutions for. right management of human affairs: It is lawful for men to take up. purpose to go to such. place, and follow their trade there, to buy, and sell, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That sins of ignorance are sins, and render men greatly culpable, though ignorance will in some degree lessen their punishment. Observe here, 2. That to sin against light and knowledge is. very heinous aggravation of sin; because the knowlege of our duty lays us under the greatest... [ Continue Reading ]