_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 ]