James 5

James 5:1

RIch] Saint James threatneth not all rich men, but such onely who made not either a right use of their riches, vers. 2, 3. because they did hoard up, and not distribute them to the necessities of their brethren; or else abused them to oppression, vers. 4. and 6. or to luxury, vers. 5.

miseries] Luke 16:23.

James 5:2

corrupted] Or, rotted.

James 5:3

cankered] Or, grown rusty.

a witnesse] Matthew 10:18. & Matthew 23:31. & Matthew 24:14. Mark 1:44.

eat] That is, the abuse of your riches shall be like fuell to put on fire the wrath of God against you. Some conceive that Saint James intends hereby that their carking for riches should consume them, or shorten their dayes. See Matthew 6:25, &c.

treasure] It is as if the Apostle had said, viz. ye thought that ye had provided for many years, Luke 12:19. and it is true, ye have done it, but it is a treasure of wrath, Romans 2:5. Some understand the place as if hereby the Apostle condemned their folly in heaping up riches in the last times, or in their lusts, and therefore not likely to enjoy them.

James 5:4

the hire of the labourers] Job 31. 38, &c. Lev. 19. 13. Deuteronomy 24:15.

crieth] Though all sinne deserves Gods wrath, yet some especially are called, for their greatnesse, crying sinnes, because they crie unto God for sudden vengeance, and as it were violently force God unto it: thus bloud, Genesis 4:10. the sinnes of Sodom, Genesis 18:20. & Genesis 19:13. oppression, Job 31:34. and the keeping of the wages of the hirelings, here.

sabaoth] Or, hosts; or, armies. So God is often styled, because all creatures are his armies, and are readie to execute his will at his command. Esa. 1. 9. Jet. 11. 20. Romans 9:29.

James 5:5

nourished] Or, pampered.

in a day] That is, say some, unto the day of slaughter, as if here were an allusion unto the fatting of beasts for slaughter: or, as others conceive [in the day] that is, as in a day of feasting, Proverbs 7:14. Esa. 22. 13. because at such times there is usually made a slaughter of beasts; this these rich men did daily. See Luke 16:19.

James 5:7

Be patient] Or, be long patient, or suffer with long patience. 2 Tim. 2. 3. Hebrews 6:12.

early and latter raine] Deuteronomy 11:14.

James 5:8

stablish] By meditating upon that crown of glory which is laid up for you. See 2 Tim. 4. 6, &c.

for the coming] Job 19:25.

nigh] The time of suffering in this life is but short; but for a moment in comparison of that eternity of glory, which the faithfull shall enjoy hereafter. Hence it is said that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh; Yet a little while, and he that cometh will come. Revelation 22:20.

James 5:9

Grudge not] Or, groan, or grieve not. Hereby S. James forbids not all grieving for, or sensiblenesse of afflictions, or a groaning and sighing for the day of our redemption; but that groaning, grieving, or inward complaining and crying for vengeance, which is joyned with impatiency and murmuring against God.

condemned] That is, lest God chastise and punish you for it.

judge] That is, Christ. See John 5:22. Acts 10:34. & Acts 17:31. 2 Corinthians 5:10. 2 Timothy 4:8.

standeth] It is a proverbiall speech, whereby the nearnesse of a thing is denoted. See Genesis 4:7. Matthew 24:33. Mark 13:24. The judge, &c. that is, he is nigh at hand. See vers. 8.

James 5:10

Take my brethren] Hebrews 13:7.

of suffering affliction] Gr. of suffering evill.

James 5:11

happy] Chap. 1. 12.

end] That is, how God rewarded his patience, or what end God gave unto it. See Job 41:10.

pitifull] Gr. of many bowels. Even as a tender mother hath her bowels moved when her childe is to suffer. See 1 Kings 3:26. Luke 1:78.

James 5:12

Swear not] Matthew 5:34. & 23. 15, 28. Saint James doth not forbid all swearing, as unlawfull; see Deuteronomy 6:13. Esa. 65. 16. Jeremiah 12:16. Rom. 9 1, 2. 2 Corinthians 1:13. Phil. 1 8. Hebrews 6:16. but rash and customary swearing, too usuall (it seems) in his time. Some conceive, that the Apostle forbids onely swearing by the creature. Or, do not above all things, through impatience, be moved to take Gods Name in vain.

let your] That is, that which ye have to affirme, affirme it simply, without an oath; and that which ye have to deny, deny simply, without an oath.

lost ye fall] Exodus 20:7. See vers. 9.

condemnation] Some Copies read, hypocrisie.

James 5:13

Is any amongst you afflicted] Or, doth any amongst you suffer evill.

afflicted] He shews the best remedy against all affliction, viz. prayers. See Job 16:12. Psalms 77:8.

psalmes] Ephes. 5. 19, 20.

James 5:14

sick] Or, weak.

elders] That is, those who had the gift of healing by miracle, which was given to some in those Primitive times. See Mark 6:13. & Mark 16:18. 1 Corinthians 12:9.

pray] Genesis 20:9. That God would be pleased to pardon his sinnes, and restore his health.

anointing] This was an extraordinary signe of that extraordinary manner of healing by miracle, and not an ordinary sign of any sacrament under the Gospel.

in the name] That is, by calling on the Name of the Lord.

James 5:15

of faith] Which proceedeth from faith; or made in faith. See Chap. 1. 6.

save] See Matthew 9:22. Mark 5:23, Luke 8:36.

raise] See Matthew 9:5, &c. Mark 9:27. Luke 8:54. John 5:8.

if he have] It is not the Apostles intention by this conditionall speech, to intimate, as if any man was without sinne; See 1 John 1. 13. but here he speaks of such speciall sinnes, for which God doth often lay sicknesse upon men. See John 5:14. 1 Corinthians 10:5. & 1 Corinthians 11:30.

James 5:16

Confesse] Some understand it of forgiving one another, but the Originall is no where found in that sense; it is applyed to confessing of sinnes, Matthew 3:6. Mark 1:5. Acts. 19. 18. and so here.

one to another] That is, say some, to those Elders which were to be sent for; but others more probably of all the faithfull, whether Pastors or people, though chiefly the Pastors, it being presumed; that they are best able to comfort them, who finde any sinne lie heavie upon their soule, and to assist, them with their prayers.

pray] Ephesians 6:8. 1 Timothy 2:1-2.

effectuall] Or, vehement, or, earnest.

righteous] John 9:31.

James 5:17

passions] Acts 14:15.

he prayed] 1 Kings 17:1.

earnestly] Or, in his prayer.

six moneths] Luke 4:25.

James 5:18

be prayed] 1 Kings 18. 42, 45.

James 5:19

if any of you] Matthew 18:15.

erre] As a wandring traveller doth out of his way.

truth] That is, of the Gospel; either in faith or manners. See vers. 20.

convert] That is, the means or instrument, through Gods blessing, of converting him.

James 5:20

hide a multitude of sinnes] Some understand this clause of the sinnes of the converting; as of Gods rewarding out of promise and mercy those who take paines to convert others; see 2 Corinthians 2:15. Others of the sinnes of the converted, whose sinnes the converting are said to hide, because they are a means of Gods hiding and not imputing them unto them.