James 1

2. No period put to his being. 1. No eclipse of his brightness: His essence shines with a fixed luster (James 1:17). With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Vespasian the Emperor gave a great reward to a woman who came to him, and professed she loved him. God gives a crown of life to them that love him (James 1:12). 3. Love is the only grace that shall live with us in Heaven.

Such glorious rewards are laid up for such as love God: That (as Austin says) they do not only transcend our reason, but faith itself is not able to comprehend them. A crown is the highest ensign of worldly glory; and God has promised a crown of life to them that love him (James…

Secondly, God is holy primarily: he is the original and pattern of holiness; holiness began at him who is the Ancient of Days. Thirdly, God is holy efficiently: he is the cause of all that holiness in others (James 1:17): "Every good and perfect gift comes from above." He made t…

Had I the tongue of angels, I could not sufficiently set forth the excellency of Scripture. It is a spiritual optic glass in which we behold God's glory; it is the tree of life, the oracle of wisdom, the rule of manners, the heavenly seed of which the new creature is formed (Jam…

Give your servant an understanding heart, and the speech pleased the Lord; and there is encouragement for us. If any one lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives liberally and upbraids not (James 1:5). Wisdom is in God, tanquam in fonte, as in the fountain; his wisdom is impart…

The oil of the sanctuary was made up of several sweet spices, pure myrrh, cassia, cinnamon (Exodus 30:23). Faith is the chief spice or ingredient in prayer, which makes it go up to the Lord as sweet incense (James 1:6). Let him ask in faith.

Pray that God's special presence may be with us, that our hearts may burn within us while God speaks. Pray that we may receive the word into meek humble hearts (James 1:22). That we may submit to it, and bring forth the fruits of it.

The word preached anoints the blind eye, mollifies the rocky heart; it beats off our fetters, and turns us from the power of Satan to God, (Acts 26:18). The word is the seed of regeneration, (James 1:18). The engine of salvation.

Come not here with hard hearts: who can expect a crop when the seed is sown upon stony ground? 4. If you would have the Word effectual, receive it with meekness (James 1:21). Receive with meekness the engrafted Word.

God would have us in patience possess our souls; (Luke 21:19) The Greek word for patience, [illegible], signifies to bear up under a burden without fainting or [reconstructed: fretting]; but to be contrary in affliction, and quarrel with God's will, where is this Christian patie…

The turning of the will to God is from God (Jeremiah 31:19): After I was turned I repented. 2. The organical cause, or instrument, by which the new creature is formed, is the Word of God (James 1:18): Of his own will he begat us by the Word of Truth. The Word is the seed out of…

From where also is that prayer of the Apostle for the blessing of God upon the Church, in the use of them (Ephesians 3:16, 17, 18): "That he will grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inward man, that Christ may dwell…

Quest. 19. What is an instituted Church of the Gospel? A society of persons, called out of the world, or their natural worldly state, by the administration of the Word and Spirit, to the obedience of the faith, or the knowledge and worship of God in Christ, joined together in an…

For as it is said of the Gentiles that when 'their foolish heart was darkened' (that is, when left and given over to their own natural darkness) 'they became vain in their imaginations' — or as the original has it, in their reasonings (Romans 1:21) — and this even in those thing…

Is your heart inconstant and full of double-mindedness? He is unchangeable also, as he speaks there (James 1). Thus all objections that can be made may be answered out of his name.

Objection. But against this it may be objected, that Saint James says, James 1:13, God tempteth no man: and therefore no temptation is the action of God? Answer.

But we may safely and truly read the words thus; They were tempted: conceiving hereby, that they were enticed and allured by fair promises of life, to forsake their religion. So, the same word is used by Saint James, saying; Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own…

Behold, when we enter the profession of Christianity, we are set upon an high mountain: for the way of life is on high; and Christianity is the high calling of God. We therefore must be wise, as Solomon says, Proverbs 15:24, and look well to our conversation, having a strait wat…

Virtutis, says he, contraria est vitiositas, sic enim malo quam malitiam appellare, quam Graeci [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] appellant; nam Malitia certi cujusdam vitii nomen est, vitiositas omnium. We render it sometimes naughtiness (James 1:22), sometimes, malice or maliciousne…

And they are called so, secondly, with respect to their end; they are mortua because mortifera; dead because deadly; they procure death and end in death. Sin when it is finished brings forth death (James 1:15). They proceed from death spiritual, and end in death eternal.

Christ himself with all the grace and mercy we have by him, is from the free love and will of God. So is our election (Ephesians 1:4, 5), our vocation (1 Corinthians 1:26, 27), our regeneration (John 1:13; James 1:18), our recovery from sin (Hosea 14:4). So is our peace and all…

Yes, the remainders of them do abide in believers themselves, and oftentimes fill them with great perplexities. And these when the promise is proposed to them arise and follow one another like the waves of the sea (James 1:6). No sooner is one of them answered or waved, but imme…

III. This is to be done without wavering, that is, the profession must be immovable and constant. The frame of mind which this is opposed to, is expressed (James 1:6): one that is always disputing, and tossed up and down with various thoughts in his mind, not coming to a fixed r…

See chap. 6. 11, 12. and our exposition thereon. Patience is the perfecting grace of suffering Christians (James 1:4, 5). And that which all tribulations do excite in the first place to its proper actings, whereon the exercise of other graces does depend (Romans 5:4, 5).

So is the gift of Christ used also (Ephesians 4:7): according to the measure of the gift of Christ, that is, according as he is pleased to give and grant of the fruits of the Spirit to men; see (Romans 5:15, 17; Ephesians 3:7). Sometimes it is taken for the thing given; properly…

This word properly signifies the bringing forth of a woman that has conceived with child, [in non-Latin alphabet] (Luke 1:31). And so it is constantly used in the New Testament, and not otherwise but only in this place, and James 1:15. [in non-Latin alphabet], in an elegant simi…

[in non-Latin alphabet] is often used by our Apostle for an experience upon trial (Romans 5:4; 2 Corinthians 2:9; Philippians 2:22), as [in non-Latin alphabet] by Peter (1 Peter 1:7). Hence is [in non-Latin alphabet], one that upon trial is approved, found sound, and therefore i…

Thus he (Psalms 119:18): Open you mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your Law. And all these openings and enlightenings, come from above; they can in no wise be gotten, unless they be given (James 1:17). And does any poor soul that has had them, fear they are of…

Temptation] temptation is nothing else, but the enticement of the soul or heart, either by the corruption of man's nature, or the allurements of the world, or the devil, to any sin. (James 1:15) God tempts no man: that is, God moves no man to sin. Lead us not] Or carry us not in…

Indeed, David desired some kind of temptations (Psalm 26:1): prove me, O Lord. And James says, Account it for exceeding joy, when you shall fall into diverse temptations (James 1:2). Note also that every man by nature is the bondslaves of sin and Satan.

God says, I am Jehovah, and I change not (Malachi 3:6). With God (says Saint James) there is no variableness, nor shadow of change (James 1:17). Now such as God is, such is his decree or counsel.

I proceed next to the exhortation, to beseech you all who hear me this day, to put on bowels of mercies; be ready to indulge the miseries and necessities of others; Saint Ambrose calls charity the sum of Christianity, and the Apostle makes it the very definition of Religion, Jam…

They are set apart by God both in time and before time: Before all time they are set apart by God's decree to be an holy seed to himself in and by Christ, separated from the perishing world to be vessels of honor; as the Reprobate are called vessels of wrath and dishonor: thus w…

Reason 3. That which lusts against the spirit, and by lusting tempts, and in tempting entices and draws the heart to sin, is by nature sin itself: but concupiscence in the regenerate lusts against the spirit (Galatians 5:17) and tempts as I have said (James 1:14): God tempts no…

Paul could bless God if by any means he might attain the resurrection of the dead (Philippians 3:11). 'My brethren,' said James, 'count it all joy when you fall into various trials' (James 1:2-3). My Father is about a design of love upon my soul — and do I do well to be angry wi…

Query 1. Does religion in any way countenance or patronize the sinful practices of its professors, or does it not rather impartially and severely condemn them? It is the glory of the Christian religion that it is pure and undefiled (James 1:27); no doctrine is so holy (Psalm 19:…

Now how far this goes and discovers itself, take up in these following particulars. 1. Men may take up a profession of the truth — and not only seemingly but really; they may do as others do, be carried in the stream and crowd of professors in the place where they are, attend or…

And the consideration hereof should keep believers always on their guard against all the motions of sin; though the matter of them seem but small, and the occasions of them such as are not like to return. For the aim and tendency of every one of them is dominion and death, which…

Yes, its whole power consists in a multiplication of evil imaginations. By them it blinds the mind, draws it off from the consideration of its duty, and entices it to a full conception of sin (James 1:14). Therefore in this case of a prevalent temptation, which may befall a true…

The strict charge given us by our Lord Jesus Christ to watch, and that of the Wise Man, above all keepings to keep our hearts, have especial regard to those beginnings of sin's obtaining power in us. So soon as a discovery is made of its coincidence or conjunction, with any of t…

Therefore (Ephesians 5:4) Awake you that sleepest, stand up from the dead, and Christ shall give you light: because light is the beginning of spiritual life. James 1:18, therefore it is said, Of his own will begot he them, by the word of truth: that is, the word rectifies the un…

[Temptation.] Temptation is nothing else, but the enticement of the soul or heart, either by the corruption of man's nature, or the allurements of the world, or the devil to any sin. (James 1:13) God tempts no man. That is, God moves no man to sin.

A man must have a new heart, and a new spirit created in him, in which heart and spirit the love of God is the reigning principle. And therefore I repeat to you, the things, which eye has not seen — and a crown of life, are prepared, and promised to them that love him (1 Corinth…

3. Then, third: "No one is regenerate except by the power of the Holy Spirit, by whose efficacious operation all who are born of God are translated from spiritual death to life" (John 3:5, 6, 1:13; Titus 3:5). 4. And therefore, fourth: "That Holy Spirit alone is able to bring an…

Theology as a complex of spiritual gifts — Extraordinary or ordinary gifts — Ordinary gifts peculiar to the ministry or common to all — Christ the bestower of all gifts (Psalm 68:19; Acts 2:33; Ephesians 4:8) — The Hebrew word signifies both to receive and to give — Christ the a…

This our wisdom also is the gift of God. "If any of you lacks wisdom," says James, "let him ask of God, who gives generously" (James 1:5). Upon this, therefore, under God, all hope of making progress in theological study depends.

The second thing in practice, is the outward work, when from the inward feeling, the members of the body execute (Romans 6:12-13; Romans 12:1). The want of this forbidden (James 1:26). To all this is commanded, perseverance and watchfulness (Ephesians 6:10).

Which, although it be not proper to this place yet for the simpler sort, it is thus set down. First, to prepare themselves to the preaching of the word, by consideration of God's ordinance and promise, and their corruption: so that laying aside all superfluity of evil, that they…

In the exercise itself, we must draw our whole soul to mark, weigh, and attend upon wholly, which is set forth by lifting up our hands to the Law, to meditate in it, by searching and turning &c. (Psalm 119:48). Also a bowing down to look to it (James 1:25; Psalm 119:15). To incl…