James 1

James 1:1-12

After the inscription and salutation, ver. 1. Christians are taught how to carry it when under the cross, ver. 2—12. He warns them not to impute to God any temptations to sin, since he cannot be the author of sin, but is the author of all good, ver. 13—18. All passion, and rash anger, and vile affections ought to be suppressed. The word of God should be made our chief study: And what we hear and know of it, we must take care to practise; otherwise our religion will prove but a vain thing. To which is added, an account wherein pure religion confists, ver. 19—27.

1. JAMES a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, warring nothing. 5. It may of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind, and toffed. 7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted;

2. But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it persheath: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12. Bleifed it the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tired, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

We have here,

1. The inscription of the epistle, James, who counts it his highest honour to subscribe himself a servant of God, and, or even, of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, wherever dispersed throughout the world, fendeth greeting, wishing that all blessings may descend upon them, whether of this world or a better.

2. He eshoets them, under the persecutions and troubles which for Christ’s sake they endured, to rejoice. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations, and by Divine Providence are permitted to be variously exercised by the malice of the wicked; esteem their reproaches your honour, and your lustre your truest gain, knowing this, by divine testimony, and happy experience, that the trying of your faith worketh patience; your faith is proved genuine by this blessed effect, and every exercise of it tends to confirm your hearts in meek and humble resignation. But let patience have her perfect work; be the trials never so many, never so grievous, never so long continued, bear up

tertained disincline and indispose the soul for receiving God’s word, turn us away from hearing it, and prejudice us against the truth.

4. He marks the difference between true and false religion. If any man among you seem to be religious, making such a profession, and yet bridith not his tongue, from railing, reproach, slander, profaneness, bitterness, or proud talkativeness to display his own culture; also man’s religion is quite however plausible he may appear, his heart is rotten; and whilst he would build up his own excellence by detracting from others’ worth, his hypocrisy is visible through the mark. Pure religion, and undefinite before God and the Father, that religion which he approves, is dictated by his word, and aims at his glory, is this, To wish the fatherless and widows in their affliction; stretching out the kind hand of charity to relieve, sympathizing with them, and affording them every assistance which they need, and we can give; and to keep himself unspotted from the world; neither polluted by the lust of the faith, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life; but professed pure for God amidst the overflowing of ungodines. Note. (1.) We have to do with a heart-searching God, who requires truth in the inward parts. (2.) Where the soul is right with God, there purity and charity will be manifest in every word and work. (3.) This world is full of deference; it will need much watchfulness to keep our garments unspotted.