James 3

I shall now speak of the negative expressed in this commandment, or the prohibition, You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. The tongue is an unruly member; all the parts and organs of the body are defiled with sin, as every branch of wormwood is bitter, but th…

James 3:6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The Apostle James in this Scripture describes the evil of the tongue: The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.

How amiable is this, the union of the dove and the serpent? The Scripture joins these two together: meekness of wisdom (James 3:13) — wisdom, there is the serpent; meekness, there is the dove. This beautifies a Christian, when he has the serpent's eye in the dove's head.

Answer: No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but does daily break them in thought, word and deed. (James 3:2) In many things we offend all. Man in his primitive state of innocency was endued with ability to keep the whole mor…

So that sin which you did wear as a crown of gold, throw it away that you may run the faster to the kingdom of heaven: O if you would not lose glory, mortify the beloved sin, set it as Uriah in the forefront of the battle to be slain; by plucking out this right eye, you will see…

First, Joseph takes down the body of Christ from the cross on which he was executed, but mark in what manner: he does it not on his own head without leave, but he goes to Pilate and begs the body of Christ, and craves liberty to take it down, because the disposing of dead bodies…

For private prayer, using of a voice is convenient; yet so as it may be done in silence. 1. The Lord gave us the voice, as well as the heart to bless him with (James 3:9). 2. God created the tongue as well as the heart; and so will be praised by both.

God undertakes by promise, yes by his simple word, to fulfill what he promises, and says he will work all these in us, yes to will and to do; therefore, if it be not done, the fault cannot be man's, but it must be — which I abhor to write or speak — the Lord's. 3. God takes all…

There are two properties more of life, Where there is any life, there is some kind of pliableness, whereas dead carcasses are cold and stiff, and unsavory though never so sweet before, this is a certain truth, the more you keep a dead corpse above ground, the more it stinks and…

And hence a Christian man that is sensible of this, he knows there is not anything found in his brother that is singular, but he knows that both himself and all the rest of his brethren are subject to the like evils, and that is an eye of sincerity, by which we should ever surve…

The kinds of temptations are reckoned up (1 John 2:16): The lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. And (James 3:15): This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. With these temptations he assaulted our first parents (Genesis 3:…

And there be many reasons to induce us to the practice of this duty. First, it is God's commandment (James 3:14). Secondly, lying is a conformity to the devil, and by truth we are made conformable to God, who is truth itself.

And the word that answers to it, signifies as well quantity, as quality (Colossians 2:1): I would you knew what great fight I have —. (James 3:5): Behold, how great a thing a little fire kindles? The plain and simple meaning therefore of Paul, is this, that he never wrote so lon…

God indeed permits them to work their wills for the trial of the faithful: but after patience has had her perfect work in them, he strips the wicked of all the force and power in which they trusted. Now having spoken in general of the weapons and instruments of war, with which t…

It is not necessary that believers should become blind, and perceive nothing, but only that they should refrain from an undue eagerness to judge: for otherwise the proper bounds of rigor will be exceeded by every man who desires to pass sentence on his brethren. There is a simil…

For doubtless, by spiritual Wisdom, is meant that which is opposite to what the Scripture calls natural Wisdom; as the spiritual Man is opposed to the natural Man. And therefore spiritual Wisdom is doubtless the same with that Wisdom which is from above, that the Apostle James s…

Neither of them mend the sense of the Hebrew Text, and the latter makes it worse. For it is a higher and clearer testimony to say, In all this Job sinned not, than to say, In all this Job sinned not with his lips, for he might sin in thought, etc. though it be most true which th…

Again as the teeth evidence first the nature and inward disposition, so we conceive they are also made use of here (as the commendation also clears) to show, 1. The zealous nature which is, and ought to be in believers, they have teeth, and ought not always to be soft, when the…

And to this the Scriptures give abundant testimony (Romans 3:23): All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (James 3:2): In many things we offend all. And the prophet confesses the corruption of our natures, and the imperfection of our best performances (Isaiah 64:6):…

Revilers, govern your tongues; If any man among you seems to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, that man's religion is vain (James 1:26). Would you govern yourselves well according to Scripture rules, bridle and govern your tongues (James 3:3-4): Behold we put bits into t…

2. They are violent in their passions. Anger is a short frenzy (James 3:9). The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.

Simon Magus would be [in non-Latin alphabet], (Acts 8:9); there is a natural itch and desire after mastery in Israel. James checks it (James 3:1): my brethren, be not many masters — we naturally affect the honor of this chair; some bottles will burst if they have not vent. Tertu…

Thus (Genesis 11:5) the Lord came down to see the pride of the Babel-builders, before he scattered them, and (Genesis 18:21) he came down to see the wickedness of Sodom, before he overthrew it, though both were obvious and bare-faced, to teach us to consider before we are angry,…

We must not only be moderate, but let our moderation be known (Philippians 4:5). He that is in this respect a wise man, let him show it in the meekness of wisdom (James 3:13). What are good clothes worth, if they be not worn?

Let us therefore adhere to the sure and large foundations, and be acted by a principle of love to, and so maintain communion with all that in every place, and under every denomination, call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours (1 Corinthians 1:2). Let us be…

Fear is both as a fountain from where all other duties flow: and also as a sauce to season them all. Commonly the season and savor of waters comes from the fountain: which Saint James implies, where he says, no fountain yields salt water and fresh (James 3:12): for if the founta…

Such bitterness also is mixed with the chidings of many, as they belch out of their black mouths, most direful imprecations. What can be said of such tongues, but that they are set on fire of hell (James 3:6)? As other aberrations wherein masters are reproved, are to be applied…

In a word, it is a secret but deadly enemy to Christian love and peace. Let them that are wiser and more orthodox and godly than others, show it as the Holy Ghost directs them, James 3:13, et cetera. The Baptists in their appendix to their confession of faith, 1677, say, The dis…

Such a Wisdom composed of mere Opinion and Wrath can never lead aright up to Heaven, for it did not descend from thence: The Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of Mercy and good Fruits, without Partiality, and without Hypo…

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. This is to signify perfect holiness, according to that James 3:2. Man a little world, a world of wickedness, and that little part of him a little world of iniquity.

(2.) There are many actual sins. James 3:2: In many things we offend all. And, Ecclesiastes 7:20: There is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not: that is, that sins not either in omitting of good, or committing of evil.

Our tongue is our glory, why? Because we have this advantage by it, we may speak for God, With it we bless God (James 3:9). The benefit of speech is our privilege above angels and beasts.

4. Sometimes a faulty easiness. As there is an ingenuous facility, The wisdom that is from above is gentle, and easy to be entreated (James 3:17), so there's a faulty easiness, when men cannot say no; when they change their religion with their company, out of a desire to please…

Upon hearing the words, presently there occurs a doubt, How then can any man be blessed? For there is not a man that lives and sins not (Ecclesiastes 7:20), and (James 3:2) In many things we offend all. To deny it, is a flat lie against the truth, and against our own experience.

4. A fond easiness: Men change their religion with their company, out of a desire to please all, as the chameleon changes colors, according as it touches. True religion is indeed easy to be entreated (James 3:17), but now to make bold with God and conscience to please men is a s…

(Daniel 2:21) He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. Certainly all true wisdom is from above, (James 3:17) The wisdom that is from above is first pure, etc.; he distinguishes there between the wisdom that is not from above, and that which is…

Holy David was so afraid of his tongue, lest he should offend with it, that he put a bridle into his mouth (Psalm 39:1). And surely the tongue is an unruly thing, that it must be bridled like a horse or a donkey; indeed, it is so unruly, that one may better rule horses, and mana…

Job made a covenant with his eyes (Job 31:1). King David said he would take heed to his ways, that he might not sin with his tongue (Psalm 39:1) — that is, that he might be perfectly holy in the sense of Saint James's phrase (James 3:2): "If any man offend not in word, the same…

Pride produces discontent, discontent produces envy, and envy, hatred and malice, and hence comes murder. If you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, this is not only earthly and sensual, but devilish (James 3:14-15). So that originally the devil's sin, and his condemn…

2. Coloring of the loathsomeness of sin that it might not appear like itself, by the paint and varnish of lying words. Thus some translate that of James, and though it be not the full meaning, yet I see not but it is part of the meaning; the tongue is a world of evil (James 3:6)…

(Jeremiah 17:9) The will of man is uncontrollable. That which the Apostle James speaks of the tongue, that it is an unruly evil full of deadly poison, none can tame it (James 3:8), is much more true of the heart, for whatever wickedness is vented by the tongue, it is first in th…

The tongues of many are on fire, and it is the devil who lights the match. Therefore they are said in Scripture to be set on fire of hell (James 3:6). Men have learned of the old serpent to spit their venom at one another in disgraceful revilings.

Observe the connection: the Scripture links together pureness of heart and peaceableness of spirit. James 3:17: The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable. Hebrews 12:14: Follow peace and holiness.

Self-wisdom is carnal policy; it is wisdom (says the flesh) to keep out of suffering; it is wisdom not to declare against sin; it is wisdom to find out subtle distinctions to avoid the cross; the wisdom of the flesh is to save the flesh. Indeed there is a Christian prudence to b…

Why is the work of holiness in the heart called grace? Because it has a super-eminency above nature; it is a flower which does not grow in nature's garden — it is of a divine extraction (James 3:17). By reason we live the life of men; by grace we live the life of God.

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things with which one may edify another; while the contentious for meat will destroy the work of God. The union between peace and holiness is so strict that he who truly promotes one, promotes both. (Hebrews 12:1…

All the sinners apprehension of things are shaped by Satan: he looks on sin with the devils spectacles: he reads the Word with the devils comment: he sees nothing in its native colours, but is under a continual delusion. The very wisdom of a wicked man is said to be devillish, J…

And the fault were the less, if our works were only called the way to the kingdom, not the cause of reigning, but they are called perfect, both in their nature, and conform to the rule, and also in order to the end, to justify us before God, and to save us. And if so, all in Chr…

He filled Ananias heart to lye, (Acts 5:3). He often stirs up our passions, (James 3:6). Now, as it is a shame to bring forth a child illegitimate; so to bring forth such sins as may call the Devil Father.

James 1.26, If any man among you, seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, this mans religion is vain. Every member of the Body is infected with sin, as every branch of Wormwood is bitter; but the Tongue is full of deadly poison, James 3.8. St. Augustine, compares the T…