to the Catholic epistle of St. James.

133

especially to an ingenuous and candid reception of his word, and a concern resolutely and constantly to adhere to its directions; particularly by bridling their tongues, and succouring such as were afflicted, ver. 17, to the end. And then the apostle, by an easy transition having glanced at some of their particular failings, takes the occasion of introducing cautions on sundry other articles in which they needed reprehension; particularly against showing an undue respect to men's external circumstances, and resting satisfied in a partial observation of the Divine precepts, especially where the royal law of charity, or universal benevolence, was in question; chap. ii. 1-13. After this, as several of the Jewish Christians discovered a disposition to rest in an external and empty profession of religion, probably from an abuse of the doctrine of justification by faith, he largely descants on the inefficacy of a mere historical faith, and evinces, by most striking instances and illustrations, the utter insufficiency of it for our justification and eternal salvation, ver. 14, to the end. And as such a barren profession is apt to inspire men with conceited and vain glorious sentiments of themselves, while they are destitute of every Divine hábit and attainment, he deems it expedient to subjoin a caution to these Jewish Christians, against their being too forward in assuming the office and character of teachers; and as spiritual pride tends to inflame men's unbridled passions, and to set on fire their licentious tongues, he resumes and expatiates on a subject which he had before only slightly touched upon, recommending a strict government of the tongue as a matter, though of great difficulty, yet of the highest importance; chap. iii. 1-12. And in close connection with such a topic, it was very natural to inculcate, as the apostle does, a candid benevolent disposition, guarding them against censoriousness and animosities, and that love of the world which tends to excite them; to restrain which, he recommends a humble application to God for divine influences, ver. 13-chap. iv. 10. Suggesting particular cautions against evil speaking, and vain confidence in the events of futurity,

134

A general introduction, &c.

or in any worldly possessions, which often prove a temptation to luxury, and an occasion of ruin. And then as to afflicted and oppressed Christians, he encourages and exhorts them to wait patiently for the coming of the Lord, ver. 11.-chap. v. 8. And concludes the epistle, with condemning prophane and vain swearing, with recommending moderation, fortitude, and prayer, a ready acknowledgment of our faults, and a solicitous concern for the common salvation, ver. 9. to the end.

A

PARAPHRASE AND NOTES

ON

THE CATHOLIC EPISTLE OF ST. JAMES;

SECT. I.

The apostle James endeavours to fortify the Christians to whom he writes, under those trials wherewith they would be exercised, by suitable representations of the benefit of those trials, and of the readiness of God to communicate all necessary supplies of wisdom and grace, in answer to the fervent prayer of faith; and by exposing the vanity of all worldly enjoyments, which often prove the means of ensnaring and ruining their possessors. James I. 1-16.

JAMES I. 1.
is written by a

sen HIS epistle is written by James, who SECT.

THIS

THIS

i:

James

ant and constant worshipper of the true and liv-
ing God, and of his Son the Lord Jesus Christ; i. 1
and is addressed with the sincerest affection to

James.] That is, as we have already most of the apostles. He was the brother observed, the apostle James the less of Christ and it is said he was exalted whom antiquity, (I know not on what to this office, on the death of James the pretence,) calls bishop of Jerusalem; per- great, beheaded by Herod. Acts xii. 2, haps because he resided there more than 17.

136

i.

St. James inscribes his epistle to the twelve tribes ;

SECT. twelve tribes of Israel in this their state of to the twelve tribes dispersion, so that he would have every son which are scattered abroad, greeting. of Abraham according to the flesh consider it as James addressed to him, and would himself be consid

i. 1

ered as greeting them all with the most cordial
wishes of grace and peace; though especially as
addressing himself to those whom the bond of
the same Christian profession unites yet more
strictly to the author.

2 My dear brethren, count it matter of all joy, 2 My brethren,
when you fall into a variety of trials, for the count it all joy when
ye fall into divers
sake of the true religion, which so many, in- temptations;

stead of embracing with a becoming thankful

ness and zeal, are by all possible methodsendeav

patience.

3 ouring to extirpate. Far from being dicourag- 3 Knowing this,
ed by such trials, in such a cause, rejoice in that the trying of
them, as knowing that the little and short proof your faith worketh
of your faith to which it is now broguht, in its
natural consequences, under the influences of
Divine grace, worketh patience, which will grow
4 by such exercise. And let patience have [its] 4 But let patience
perfect work, that it may rise to its highest have her perfect
improvements, during this little space of time, work, that ye may
in which alone you will have an opportunity of wanting nothing.
be perfect and entire,
glorifying God, and adorning Christianity, that
so ye may be made perfect and complete, deficient
in nothing; for the other graces of Christianity
will generally shine brighest where patience is
most conspicuous.

5

5 If any of you

But if any one of you be deficient in wisdom,d and incapable of certainly discerning his duty in lack wisdom, let him such critical conjunctures as these in which you are called out to act; let him ask further supplies

the citations in Dr. Whitby, produces another remarkable passage to the same purpose, from a letter of Agrippa to the Emperor. See Credibility of the gospel history, Part I. Book. I. chap. 3. Compare Acts. ii. 4-11.

b Twelve tribes.] Dr. Lardner (Credi- the world. And Dr. Lardner, besides bility, Vol. I. p. 223, &c.) very justly observes, that Josephus concludes the twelve tribes to be still in being, when he says, that six persons were sent out of every tribe, to assist in translating the scriptures into Greek. It is very evident, that at the restoration in Zorobabel's time, ten tribes stayed behind. See Dr. Whitby in

loc.

In this their state of dispersion] Dr. Whitby in loc. hath some very pertinent quotations from Josephus, Philo, and even Cicero, to shew that the Jews were dispersed abroad, and were to be found in great multitudes, in almost all parts of

d If any one of you be deficient in wisdom.] Several interpret this of wisdom to bear afflictions well, and suppose, that when God is said not to upbraid, it is upon supposition of former impatience; but this, though authorized by so great a name as Mr. Howe, (see his Works, Vol. I. p. 690,) is one of those limited interpretations which I cannot fully approve.

given him.

And exhorts them to patience and steadfastness:

137

James

ask of God, that giv- of [it] from God, its eternal fountain, who gives SECT. eth to all men liber to all every necessary communication of that, i. ally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be and all other blessings, liberally, and upbraideth not any with the importunity or frequency of 1.5 their addresses; and it shall be given him, so far as is needful for his safety, and the discharge of 6 But let him ask his duty. But then let him take care, that he 6 in faith, nothing wa- ask in steady faith, nothing wavering, nor divering: for he that wavereth is like a vided by the desires of obtaining, and the fears wave of the sea, of not obtaining the grace he asks, or doubting driven with the wind of God's readiness to bestow it; for he that wa

and tossed.

man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

vers, and has not a firm confidence in the Divine goodness and faithfulness, can have no other solid and substantial support; but is like a billow of the sea, driven on, and tossed by the wind, in a restless and unsettled condition, (Isa. lvii. 20,) easily discomposed and agitated by every adverse blast, and in the greatest danger 7 For let not that of being dashed in pieces. Let not that man 7 therefore think, that he shall receive any thing of the Lord, while he continues in such a situation, and dares not trust in him for those supplies of grace which he professes to seek. These unworthy suspicions, as they wrong the Divine goodness, may in many instances prevent the communication of those favours which might other8 A double mind. wise be obtained. Such a double minded man, 8 ed man is unstable in whose schemes are divided between God and the world, and who cannot cheerfully and resolutely commit himself, in confidence of Divine support, to be led whithersoever Providence shall please, [is] unsettled in all his ways; he will perpetually be running into inconsistencies of conduct, and those imperfect and undetermined impressions of religion which he feels, will serve rather to perplex and torment, than guide and secure him.

all his ways.

9 Let the brother

In nothing are the generality of men more 9 apt to mistake, than in estimating the value of

pears to me much more simple and natural. He elsewhere paraphrases it, "Like a wave which moves on, and seems to come to the shore, but immediately returns with impetuosity into the gulph from whence it came." Ibid. Vol. V. p. 56, 57.

Like a wave of the sea.] Mr. Saurin terpretation given in the paraphrase, ap. paraphrases it thus: "He ought not to resemble the waves of the sea, which seem to offer to the spectator, that is upon the shore, the treasures with which they are charged; but soon plunge it in the abyss, from which it cannot be recovered." Saurin's Serm. Vol. IX. p. 438. But the in