Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/763

 AN EXPOSITION, PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS, OF THE GENERAL EPISTIE OF JAMES. Completed hy DrS. JVright. THE writer of this espistle was not James the son of Ztedee : for he was put to death by Herod, (A< 12.) before Christianity had gained so much ground amig the Jews of the dispersion, as is here implie But it was the other James, the son of Alpheus ; wj was cousin-german to Christ, and one of i twelve apostles. Matt. 10. 3. He is called a pillar; &a. 2. 9.) and this epistle of his cannot be d puted, without loosening a foundation-stone. It is called a general epistle, because (as some think) n( directed to any particular person or churc but such a one as we call a circular letter. Others thk it is called gaieral or catholic, to distingui it from the epistles of Ignatius, Barnabas, Polycarp, ai others who were noted in the primitive tim( but not generally received in the church, and on that xount not canonical, as this is. Eusebius te us, that this efiistle was generally read in the church iviih the other catholic efiistles. Hist. Eccl page 53. Ed. Val. Anno 1678. St. James, our authorwas called the just, for his great piety. He w an eminent example of those graces which he presses oon others. He was so exceedingly revered 1 his justice, temperance, and devotion, that Josephus tl Jewish historian records it as one of the caui of the destruction of Jerusalem, "That St. James waaiartyred in it." This is mentioned in hopes procuring the greater regard to what is penned by so Hy and excellent a man. The time when this epistle was written is uncertain. Te design of it is, to reprove Christians for th great degeneracy both in faith and manners ; and to jevent the spreading of those libertine doctrii which threatened the destruction of all practical godless. (Particulars shall be laid down in the c( tents at the beginning of each chapter. ) It was also special intention of the author of this epistle, awaken the Jewish nation to a sense of the greatness annearness of those judgments which were comi upon them ; and to support all true Christians in the ay of their duty, under the calamities and p( secutions they might meet with. The truths laid dvn are very momentous, and necessary to maintained ; and the rules for practice, as here statedare such as ought to be observed in our times well as in preceding ages. JAMESL CHAP. I. After t.ie inscription and salutation, (v. 1.) Christians are tausht how to conduct themselves when under the cross. Several graces and duties are recommended ; and those who endure their trials and afiBictions as the apostle here directs, are pronounced blessed, and are assured of a glo- rious reward, V. 2.. 12. But those sins which brinj^ suf- ferings, or the weaknesses and faults men are chargeable with under them, are by no means to be imputed to God ; who cannot be the author of sin, but is the Author of all good, V. 13. . 18. All passion and rash anger, and vile affections, ous;ht to be suppressed. The word of God should be ma"de 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 thin§. To this is added an account wherein pure religion consists, v. 19 . . 27. . XAMES, a servant of God and of the J Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. . My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3. Knowing thi, that the trying of your faith worke paence. 4. But let patience have her fe( work, that ye may be perfect and e tir, wanting nothing. 5. If any of you lai wriom, let him ask of God, that giveth all«e« liberally, and upbraideth not; ai it lall be given him. 6. But let him a in aith, nothing wavering For he th WFereth is like a wave of the sea, driv* wii the wind, and tossed. 7. For let n thi man think that he shall receive ai thig of the Lord. 8. A double-mind( ma is unstable in all his ways. 9. L thibrother of low degree rejoice in that 1 is waited: 10. But the rich, in that he mde low : because as the flower of tl grss he shall pass away. 1 1 . For the si