02.02. Chapter 2 - Verse 18

James 2:18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. The apostle amplifieth the present argument against an empty, solitary faith, by supposing a dialogue between a believer, that can manifest his faith by his works, and a boasting hypocrite, that can produce no such effect and experience. So that the dispute doth not lie so much, between faith and works, as between faith pretended and faith discovered by works; for the apostle doth not introduce them speaking thus, Thou standest upon thy faith, and I upon my works; but ‘Show me thy faith without works, and I will,’ &c., that is, Show me a warrant for thy faith, and I will soon prove mine own.

Yea, a man may say; that is, some true believer may come and plead thus with a boasting hypocrite.

Thou hast faith.—Let it be as thou sayest, but that is all thou hast; a naked profession of faith, or at best, but some historical assent; for the apostle granteth that, James 2:19, yea, not only to them, but to the devils. And I have works.—He doth not mean without faith; that is contrary to an expression in the text, ‘I will show thee my faith by my works.’ Works without faith are as a building without a foundation, but acts of nature lustred with common graces. Thou boastest with thy tongue of faith; I shall not boast, but produce works, which are but a real apology and commendation. Christ produceth no other testimony but his works, Matthew 11:4-5. Our works do best ‘praise us in the gates.’

Show me thy faith without thy works.—This clause is diversely read in the original. Some, as (Ecumenius, read only δεῖξον τὴν πίστιν σοῦ, ‘Show me thy faith,’ and I will soon warrant mine. Most copies read ἐκ τῶν ἔργων, that is, prove thy works, since they are such inseparable fruits of faith, where are they? But the most approved copies have χωρὶς ἔργων, ‘without thy works;’ and the meaning is, Thou wantest the truest testimony and discovery of faith. Now, show me such a faith, that is, make it good by any warrant from the principles and maxims of our religion. And I will shoiv thee my faith by my works; that is, soon evidence it to the world, or soon evince it to be true faith out of the word. The notes are these:—

Obs. 1. A great means to convince hypocrites is to show how grace worketh in true Christians. The apostle instituteth a dialogue between both; thus Christ compareth the two builders, Matthew 7:24, &c., and the wise virgins and the foolish, Matthew 25:1-46. This awakeneth emulation; it showeth that the austerities of Christianity are possible. Others can go higher than your forms. Take this course, Do we live as they do—as they that, through faith and patience, inherit the promises?

Obs. 2. From that show me thy faith without works, &c.—In all our hopes and conceits of grace we should always look to the warrant we have for them. Can I show or prove this to be faith or love by any rational grounds or scripture arguments? If Christians would look to the warrant of their hopes, they might discern more of the guile of their spirit. Presumption is a rash trust, without the sight of an actual or clear ground. He that ‘built on the sand,’ built hand over head, not considering whether the foundation were sufficient to support the structure. But he that built on the rock, did not only consider whether it would bear up such a stress, but was clearly resolved in his mind of the strength and sufficiency of the foundation. It is good to believe, ‘as the scripture saith,’ John 7:38, to cherish no persuasion without an actual sight of a clear and distinct warrant, that we may be able to ‘show our faith,’ upon all cavils and challenges, that is, evince it to be good.

Obs. 3. Works are an evidence of true faith. Graces are not dead, useless habits; they will have some effects and operations when they are weakest and in their infancy. It is said of Paul, as soon as he was regenerate, ‘Behold, he prayeth.’ New-born children will cry at least before they are able to go. This is the evidence by which we must judge, and this is the evidence by which Christ will judge. (1.) The evidence by which we must judge. It is the drift of many scriptures to lay down evidences taken from sanctification and the holy life; they were written to this very purpose; as more especially Psalms 119:1-176 and the first epistle of John; see 1 John 5:13. Yea, conclusions are drawn to our hands. It is said, ‘Hereby we may know,’ &c. See 1 John 3:14, and 1 John 3:19. In many places promises are given out, with descriptions annexed, taken from the meekness, piety, good works of the saints, as Psalms 1:1-2; Psalms 32:1-9; Romans 8:1. Good works are the most sensible discovery; all causes are known by their effects. The apples, leaves, and blossoms are evident when the life and sap is not seen. (2.) This is the evidence according to which Christ proceedeth at the day of judgment: Revelation 20:12, They were ‘judged according to their works.’ So Matthew 7:23, ‘Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.’ They made profession, but their works were naught. So Matthew 25:41-42.

Use. You may make use of this note to judge yourselves and to judge others. (1.) Yourselves: when the causes are hidden, the effects are sensible; therefore you may try graces by their fruits and operations. Works are not a ground of confidence, but an evidence; not the foundations of faith, but the encouragements of assurance.¹ Comfort may be increased by the sight of good works, but it is not built upon them; they are seeds of hope, not props of confidence; sweet evidences of election, not causes; happy presages and beginnings of glory; in short, they can manifest an interest, but not merit it. We have ‘peace with God’ by the righteousness of Christ, and ‘peace of conscience,’ by the fruits of righteousness in ourselves; but more of this anon. (2.) Others may be judged by their works: where there is knowledge, and a good life, it is not Christian to suspect the heart. The devil said, when he had nothing to object against Job’s life, ‘Doth Job serve God for nought?’ If men be knowing, and profess, and be fruitful in good works, it is an injury to say they are only civil, moral men. Profession may be counterfeited, but when it is honoured with works, you must leave the heart to God, James 1:27. To be ‘undefiled,’ and ‘visit the fatherless and widows,’ that is ‘true religion;’ that is the great note and discovery of it. Empty profession may have more of a party in it, than of power; but profession honoured with works is charity’s rule to judge by.

¹ ‘Bona opera sunt spei quædam seminaria, caritatis incentiva, occulta prædestinationis judicia, non fiduciæ fundamenta, futuræ felicitatis præsagia,’ &c.—Bernard.