02.03. Chapter 3 - Verse 03, 04
James 3:3-4. Behold, we put bits into horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole bodies. Behold also the ships, which, though they be great, and driven of fierce ivinds, yet they are turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
These two verses being spent in comparisons and similitudes, need the less of comment and illustration. The drift of them is to show that little things are able to guide great bodies, as a bridle and a rudder; and so the guiding of the tongue, a little member, may be of as great use and consequence in moral matters. By the bridle we keep the horse from stumbling, and by the rudder the ship from rocks. So answerably Solomon saith, Proverbs 21:23, ‘Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles.’
Out of these verses observe:—
Obs. 1. That it is good to illustrate divine things by similitudes taken from earthly. (1.) Our knowledge is by sense; by things known we the better apprehend those that are unknown: and by an earthly matter, with which we are acquainted, we conceive of the sweetness and worth of that which is heavenly and spiritual. (2.) In a similitude the thing is doubly represented, and with a sweet variety; though we know the man, we delight to view the picture Christians should use their parts more this way; there is much benefit in it; fancy is polished: we are more fit for occasional meditation, and we apprehend spiritual things with more clearness and affection.
Obs. 2. Nature, art, and religion show that the smallest things, wisely ordered, may be of great use. Neglect not small things; we are often snared by saying, ‘Is it not a little one?’ Genesis 19:20. And we lose much advantage by ‘despising the day of small things,’ Zechariah 4:10.
Obs. 3. God’s wisdom is much seen by endowing man with an ability of contrivance and rare invention; that so fierce and wild a creature as the horse should be tamed with a bridle, that things of so great a bulk as ships should be turned about, and that against the violence of boisterous winds, with a small helm: Aristotle1 proposeth it as a worthy matter of consideration. These crafts are all from the Lord: Isaiah 54:16, ‘Behold, I create the smith that bloweth in the coals in the fire, and bringeth forth an instrument for his work.’ He left these inventions to human industry, but he giveth the wit and abilities.2 The heathens had a several god for every several craft, as the Papists have now a tutelar saint; but the Lord giveth wisdom. As for embroidery: Exodus 31:2-3, ‘Bezaleel was filled with the Spirit of God,’ &c. Every art is a common gift of the Spirit. So for husbandry, see Isaiah 28:24-26. So for war, Psalms 144:1. Well, then, bless God for the various dispensations of his gifts for the good of mankind, and wait upon him, that you may understand the matter of your callings, and find good in them: Proverbs 16:20, ‘He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good; and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.’ You must wait upon the Lord for skill and for success; he teacheth to tame the horse, to steer the ship.
1 ‘Διὰ τὶ πηδαλιον μίκρον ἐπʼ ἐσχάτου ποίου τοσαύτην δύναμιν ἔχει,’ &c.—Arist. 2. Μηχανικῶν, cap. 5.
2 ‘Reliquit hæc sane Deus humanis ingeniis eruenda; tamen fieri non potest quin ipsius sint omnia, qui et sapientiam tribuit homini ut inveniret, et illa ipsa quæ possunt inveniri primus invenit.’ Lactant. de Falsa Relig., lib. 1. cap. 18.
Obs. 4. From the first similitude you may observe, that men, for their natural fierceness and wantonness, are like wild beasts. Man affected to be God, but became like ‘the beasts that perish,’ Psalms 49:12. The psalmist saith, Psalms 32:9, ‘Be not like horse and mule, whose mouth must be held with bit and bridle, lest they come near thee.’ To keep them from doing harm, they must be held in with bit and bridle. So there is a wantonness by which we are apt to kick with the heel against God’s precepts, Deuteronomy 32:15. It is God’s mercy that we are restrained. This natural fierceness may be discerned to be abated by the guidance of the tongue.