James 2

4. Motive. The kingdom of grace enriches the soul: a kingdom has its riches. A believer is said to be rich in faith (James 2:5). How rich is he who has God for his God, who is heir to all the promises (Hebrews 6:17).

First, works of charity evidence grace. 1. Faith. James 2:18. I [reconstructed: will] show you my faith by my works. Works are faith's letters of credence to show. We judge of the health of the body by the pulse, where the blood stirs and operates. Christian, judge of the health…

He would not dare speak it with his tongue, but said it in his heart; he wished it. Sure none can be speculative atheists: The devils believe and tremble (James 2). I have read of one Arthur a professed atheist, who when he came to die, cried out, he was damned.

How can they expect mercy from God whose hearts are shut up, and are merciless to their trespassing brothers? (James 2:13): "He shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy." "I cannot forgive," said one, "though I go to hell."

If a man has kept the Law in every other point but one, and that one be alleged against him he cannot be justified; for if he have not persisted in all, it declares him to be accused (Galatians 3:10): Cursed is every one that continues not in all things written in the book of th…

Q. What is the special rule according to which the life of a christian ought to be framed? A. The life of a christian ought to be framed according to the moral Law of God (Romans 13:8, 9; Ephesians 6:2, 3; James 2:8). Q. How may that be further cleared?

Faith in the word of God is specially of three sorts: Historical, Miraculous, Justifying or saving faith. 1. Historical faith, is not only a knowledge of the word, but an assent of the heart to the truth of it: and this faith is general not only to all men, good and bad, but eve…

Further, in that this fact of offering up Isaac, was only Abraham's trial; we may observe, that it did not make him just before God, but only served to prove his faith, and to declare him to be Just. And therefore, whereas Saint James says, James 2:21, That Abraham was justified…

Now this is not a prerogative of Prophets alone, or of such as were extraordinary men as Abraham was: but the secrets of the Lord are amongst such as fear him, Psalm 25:14. All that fear the holy name of God; are God's friends, and of his Counsel: and therefore not Abraham only…

The third thing to be considered in this example, is the testimony of her faith, in receiving the Spies peaceably. This was a notable work of faith, as Saint James notes, James 2:25; and the more commendable, because she received them into her house, and entertained them: yea, s…

At the earnest suit and intercession the Church made to God, Peter the Apostle was released out of his imprisonment, and brought to the house where they were praying (Acts 12). Seventhly, lastly, there is no society that has such privileges, as this spiritual house, which is con…

It is the work of Faith which the Apostle here commends. This case is so stated by James that it needs no farther confirmation (James 2:20). Will you know, or do you know not, O vain man, that Faith without works is dead?

(2) The value of it is inexpressible. It is a kingdom (Matthew 25:34; James 2:5). Salvation (Hebrews 1:14).

2. In all our dealings with God, respect must be had to every one of his precepts. And the reason hereof is given by the Apostle James, namely, that the authority of God is the same in every one of them, and so may be despised in the neglect of the least as well as of the greate…

It is not an unaccountable severity that they are threatened withal, but it is a just and righteous sentence denouncing punishment proportionate to their sin and crime. Judgment is taken sometimes for punishment itself (Psalms 9:16; James 2:13; 1 Peter 4:17; 2 Peter 2:3). But mo…

James 2:20. But will you know, O Vain Man, that Faith without Works is Dead? The Apostle Paul had abundantly taught (as appears in divers of his Epistles) that man is justified by faith alone, without works: See (Romans 3:28) Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by fai…

To answer that case, the blessed Apostle James, under the inspirations of the Almighty, declares to us, the marks of a justifying faith; and those marks are, the works which it perpetually disposes the believer to. Now among the admonitions of the Apostle to this purpose, there…

Blind people play with the Lord's prayer, as the fly does with the candle till she be burnt: for the more they pray these words, the more they call for vengeance against themselves. (James 2:13) Neither will it help to omit this clause, as some have done in Chrysostom's days: fo…

Works are the touchstone of faith. Show me your faith by your works, James 2. 18. Works are faith's letters of credence to show.

It is reported of the young Lord Harrington, that he gave the tenth part of his yearly revenue to charitable uses: as Mary brought her sweet ointments to anoint Christ's dead body; so a gracious soul brings his ointments of charity to anoint the saints which are Christ's living…

'Tis as pleasing to God to do it, as 'tis to us to receive it. The Scripture, after the manner of men, does often represent a conflict in the attributes about sinners; and if mercy get the upper-hand, 'tis always with joy and triumph (James 2:13): mercy rejoiceth over judgment.…

Again, works are to be done in regard of men: that our neighbor may be helped in worldly things — Luke 6:38; that he may be won by our example to godliness — 1 Peter 3:14; that we may prevent in ourselves the giving of any offense — 1 Corinthians 10:32; that by doing good we may…

3. We hold and believe, that the righteous man, is in some sort justified by works: for so the Holy Ghost speaks plainly and truly (James 2:21), that Abraham was justified by works. Thus far we join with them: and the very difference is this.

But it is not so with you. Though you are poor in this world, yet you are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God has promised (James 2:5). O learn to set spiritual riches over against temporal poverty!

So in 2 Timothy 1:5, the Apostle speaks of an unfeigned faith, therefore there is a feigned faith. James 2:14, 17 mentions a dead faith which saves not. Thus the Scripture is frequent in the mentioning of a faith that is not saving (Psalm 78:34, 37; Isaiah 48:1-2).

3. That faith is sound and effectual, that purifies the heart, and is fruitful in the course of one's life. A purifying and a working faith, such a faith as is accompanied with repentance, and followed with new obedience (Acts 15:9; James 2:18; Galatians 5:6). That faith is effe…

The poorest man on earth may get to heaven, as soon as the richest, and you often sooner. It is he that is rich in faith, that is the heir to the kingdom (James 2:5). 2. Some build up their hopes and confidence, upon their gifts and parts.

See it by the contrary. In evil men who are dead there is an aptness to dead others, their words are as continual droppings to put out this life; their tongues are set on fire of hell (James 2:6). The tongue of good men is a coal fetched from the Altar, they have fire within the…

Blind people play with the Lord's prayer, as the fly does with the candle till she be burnt: for the more they pray these words, the more they call for vengeance against themselves. James 2:13.

Whoever calls his Brother, Racha, shall be in danger of the counsel; the word Racha, it is empty, it is as much as if he should call his Brother an empty fellow, for that's the signification of the word Empty. And in James 2:20, Do you not know, O empty man, that faith without w…

That faith that's not affected with God's dishonor out of love to Him, and that can endure to look upon the difficulties, sufferings and afflictions of the children of God, without sympathizing and being kindly affected therewith, is not to be taken for a sound faith, but to be…

There may be, I say, in this Historical Faith of divine truths, a higher or greater assent than there is in believing of any human history, which may be the reason why many mistake Historical Faith, and yet it is but of the same kind, and a thing which many reprobates have, as J…

2. All the scriptures that charge us to try ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28), to examine ourselves, whether we be in the faith, and to know ourselves, that Jesus Christ is in us, except we be reprobates (2 Corinthians 13:5), and to know the things that are freely given us of God…

By this allegory Christ signifies, that the eye, that is to say, the doctrine ought to be most simple, clear and sincere, having in it no darkness, no cloud. And James the Apostle says: He that fails in one point is guilty of all (James 2:10). This place therefore makes very muc…

Sometimes again, the word justify, signifies the act of the party judged, or of the witnesses: and then it imports as much, as to give testimony, or to declare and approve. Thus James says, Abraham was justified by works (James 2:22): that is, declared, and approved to be a just…

The end of teaching is love out of a pure heart, good conscience, and faith unfeigned. It is objected, that as the body is dead without the soul, so is faith without works (James 2:26): and therefore that works are the life of faith. Answer: Saint James by faith, understands a p…

All the parts of it are linked one to another. He that is bound to one commandment, is bound to all: he that keeps one indeed, keeps all: he that breaks one, in respect of the disposition of his heart, is a breaker of all (James 2:10). He that makes no conscience to keep some on…

Besides, it meets with the practice of those men, which sow nothing but cockle, and yet expect a crop of wheat: or nothing but darnel, and yet look to reap a barley harvest: that is, such as sow nothing but the cursed seeds of a damnable life, and yet look to reap the harvest of…

To whom will you flee?] He shows how they shall rest upon their forces in vain, because they shall avail them nothing at all to resist the hand of God. He also shows, that as they have been cruel toward others, so it should be a most just recompense, that in their need they shou…

Blessed is he, says David, which judges wisely of the poor and needy, the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble (Psalm 41:1). Whereas on the contrary there shall be judgment merciless to him that shows no mercy (James 2:13). Now in that the Lord calls the Jews here his b…

Moreover we are diligently to observe, that men ought not to abuse their victories, to handle their prisoners hardly, as often it falls out, for when they cast off all humanity, they become like wild beasts, and spare neither old nor young, men nor women, when they have gotten t…

But I view it more simply, as an admonition that, even among men, it is usually advantageous for us to come to an early agreement with adversaries, because, with quarrelsome persons, their obstinacy often costs them dear. At the same time, I admit, that the comparison is justly…

2 Corinthians 8. 8. 'I speak not by Commandment, but by Occasion of the Forwardness of others, and to prove the Sincerity of your Love.' James 2. 13, 14, 15, 16. 'For he shall have Judgment without Mercy, that has shown no Mercy. What does it profit my Brethren, though a Man say…

Section 3. God's commands for holiness may be considered two ways: first, as they belong to and are parts of the covenant of works; second, as they belong to and are inseparably annexed to the covenant of grace — in both respects they are materially and formally the same, that i…

None are so low, or so inferior, but Christ's condescension is sufficient to take a gracious notice of them. He condescends not only to the angels, humbling himself to behold the things that are done in heaven, but he also condescends to such poor creatures as men; and that not…

God, say they, does elect men upon the foresight of their good works; and they allege four Scriptures to prove this. James 2:2: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith? Now, say they, their laying out their estates for good uses, and so becoming poor, that…

Seventhly, that God in choosing or electing men to life, does let his election run ordinarily to the meanest, and to the worst sort of men in the world, [reconstructed: men] that have least natural endowments, least moral excellencies, least worldly gallantry; ordinarily electio…

9. When Christ has an intent to call a poor sinner, neither their poverty, nor their impiety shall hinder the call of Jesus Christ. Not your poverty; God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of a kingdom (James 2). Not your impiety; poor Christians th…

That an exemplary conversation was ever required in the dispensers of holy things, both in the Old Testament and New, is apparent: the glorious vestment of the old ministering Priests, Urim and Thummim, with many other ornaments, though primitively typical of Jesus Christ, yet d…

In Church affairs to make no difference of persons, but to condescend to the meanest persons and services, for the use of the Brethren. James 2:1. My Brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. Ver. 2. For if there come one t…