James 4

2. The meditation of Christ's coming to judge us, would keep us from judging our brethren. We are apt to judge others as to their final state, which is for men to step into Christ's place, and take his work out of his hand (James 4:12). Who are you that judges another?

Words that are of no account will turn to a heavy account. 5. The evil tongue is the censorious tongue: James 4:12. Who are you that judges another? Some make it a part of their religion to judge and censure others; they do not imitate their graces, but censure their failings: S…

Patience in prayer is nothing but faith spun out. USE 1. It reproves them that pray in formality, not in faith: they question whether God hears, or will grant; (James 4:3) "You ask and receive not because you ask amiss." He does not say you ask that which is unlawful, but you as…

To pray for outward things only to satisfy nature, is to cry rather like ravens than Christians. We must have a higher end in our prayers, we must aim at heaven, while we are praying for earth: And must we pray for temporal things for spiritual ends, that we may be fitter to ser…

Qu. 8. How many we sanctify the name of God in the use of Gospel institutions? Answ. 1. By a holy reverence of his sovereign authority appointing of them. 2. A holy regard to his special presence in them. 3. Faith in his promises annexed to them. 4. Delight in his will, wisdom,…

Q. Why say you that sinne is a transgression of the law of God only? for are not transgressions of the lawful commandments of parents and other superiors, sins also? A. Yes so far as they tend to the dishonor of superiors, such transgressions are also sins; but the reason of tha…

Q. What is the general nature of prayer? A. Not only a wish or desire after this, or that; for a man may have so much and never pray (James 4:2). Q. What is it then?

For the victory of our faith in these disputes and the resistance it makes lies chiefly in those replies which are made, whereby it quenches all his darts — whereof the devil, when he is once sensible and perceives it, he is confounded. For then, when he is once sensible and app…

Second, when this fuel is taken away the fire goes out, and so do people's hearts die when outward things are taken from them. When Nabal thought David might still come and take his goods, his heart died within him. For people live in the creatures, and when those are gone they…

And therefore Azariah the Prophet says notably to King Asa, 2 Chronicles 15.2, The Lord will be with you while you be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you: but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. And James says, Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…

And from the same root still springs all contention. From where come wars and fightings, come they not hence, even from your lusts (James 4:1). In the former revelations of the will of God as in the Law, there was mutual love commanded, envy, hatred, and revenge being forbidden.

This our nature, and the nature of all our affairs, as they are in the hand of God, and at his disposal, do require of us. And therefore also it is expressly enjoined us as a duty to be continually minded in all we undertake or do (James 4:13, 14, 15). If this be intended (as it…

Romans 10:12. He that is Lord over all, is rich to all that call on him. James 4:8. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. - 5. If God be a father who is called upon, then prayer is the mark of God's child.

Thus David when he was to encounter with Goliath, gathered hope and confidence to himself for the time to come, by the observation of God's providence in the time past: for says he, when I kept my father's sheep, I slew a lion and a bear that devoured the flock: now the Lord tha…

The first, because oftentimes we know not to ask as we ought (Matthew 20:22). The second, because we ask amiss (James 4:3). The third, because sometimes the things which we ask, though they be good in themselves, yet they are not good for us, and for that cause are withheld (2 C…

'Tis robbery to use goods without the owner's leave; so to use any creature, food, or physic without sanctifying it by the Word and prayer — that is, knowing our liberty and right from the Word of promise, and asking God's leave and blessing in prayer — or to go about any busine…

What is the true cause of tumults and sedition? Not religion, as is falsly pretended, but irreligion; witness (James 4:1). From where come wars and fightings among you?

To go on boldly, carelessly and impenitently in any known sin is inconsistent with effectual faith in Christ, and with that regeneration that the believer is made partaker of. 4. They are yet in unbelief that are so engaged to the things and contentments of the world as that the…

Romans 10:12. He that is Lord over all, is rich to all that call on him. James 4:8. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. 5. If God be a father who is called upon, then prayer is the note of God's child.

These three may further confirm it: 1. If we look in general to what the Scripture speaks of men by nature (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3 and 5); they being as it is (Isaiah 57, penultimate verse), as the raging sea that casts out dirt and mire continually — it is always moving and…

And as you gain nothing by your striving with him, so you lose nothing but gain much by your soft stooping and silent submitting to him. If you humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, he shall lift you up (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6). Humble yourselves therefore under the might…

The wicked cry, but there is none to save; they do not pray, but cry. 2. We storm, and are offended that our humor, rather than our faith is not answered, either at our own time, or that the thing which we ask to spend on our lusts (as James 4:3) is not granted. 3. We are more c…

The World is an enemy of our salvation, as well as the Devil and the Flesh; all the other enemies get strength by it; by the bait of worldly things the devil pleases the flesh; we are in continual danger of being everlastingly undone by it. Whoever is a lover of the world is pre…

As here, when the adversary was put to the foil he went his way. Therefore this is often pressed upon us in Scripture (James 4:7). Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Now he brings in God speaking: for that which God pronounces with his mouth, has greater vehemence than if he should have spoken by the voice of the Prophet. From here we are to draw a general doctrine; namely, that God cannot endure the insolence of the proud, but he must needs…

Neither must we here consider the person of one tyrant only, but the damnable fury of all the wicked, which make their conclusions in secret, no otherwise than if they were able to dispose of all things according to their own fantasy. Whose plots Saint James describes in lively…

He sets forth that more plainly which he touched before: to wit, that this pride and cruelty which proceeds thereof, shall be the cause of Moab's ruin. For seeing the Lord resists the proud (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5), he must needs take down this haughtiness, under which the Churc…

We forget God, because we are hurried away by the dread of men. Is it not very evident that we set a higher value on the shadowy life of the body "La vie de ce corps, laquelle n'est qu'une fumee;" -- "the life of this body, which is but a vapor," (James 4:14.) than on the eterna…

He who desires to approach God with the conviction that he will be heard, must learn to restrain his heart from asking any thing that is not agreeable to his will. "You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts." (James 4:3) Instead of…

11. For everyone that exalts himself shall be humbled. This clause makes it evident that ambition was the subject of which Christ was speaking; for he does not state what usually happens in the ordinary life of men, but declares that God will be their Judge, who resists the prou…

I reply, if any man estimate aright the immediate grace of God, by which he relieves the sorrows of his people, he will acknowledge that it is justly preferred to all the riches of the world. For though unbelievers flourish, (Psalm 92:7,) yet as they know not what awaits them on…

Section 9. It must be granted therefore that the end of gospel commands requiring holiness is not that thereby we should be justified — God has provided another righteousness for that end which is the righteousness of Christ imputed to us (Romans 10:4); but God has appointed oth…

You complain, Providence delayes to perform to you the mercies you have prayed and waited for; but have you right ends in your desires after these mercies? It may be that's the cause, you ask and receive not, James 4:3 The want of a good aim, is the reason why we want good succe…

They had grace before, but God would give them a life of comfort; he will restore your consolation to you in case you are a humble people. Hence it is, in James 4:6: "The Lord gives grace to the humble." Indeed, he gives more grace.

Habakkuk 2:4: If a man's heart be exalted, his spirit is not upright within him. James 4:6: God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. So that pride is not only an enemy to your comforts, but to the very getting of grace likewise; when the branches of a vine grow luxu…

The world is also a professed enemy of the kingdom of Christ (John 15:18); in the things of it, the men of it, the rule of it, it sets itself against the work of the Lord Christ on his throne. The things of it, as under the curse and subject to vanity, are suited to alienate the…

What is this life, which is valued thus above all that a man has? The Apostle James makes the question, and gives the answer, It is even a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away (James 4:14). A man's breath it is but in his nostrils, it is gone presently, y…

In serious thoughts of Gods marking sin, he is represented unto the soul under all those glorious terrible attributes and Excellencies which are apt to beget a dread and terror in the hearts of sinners, when they have no relief from any covenant engagements in Christ. The soul l…

And this is done two ways: First, when in our prayers we ask those things of God which are unlawful, or unwarrantable; as when we pray on the behalf of our lusts, to obtain provision to fulfill them (James 4:3): "You ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts." When we p…

These judgments they could not foresee; but future judgment far more dreadful, they might have foreseen, which should have made an impression of sorrow upon them if possibly by repentance they might avoid and escape it. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep, let your laughter be tur…

Let tears run down like a river day and night, give yourself no rest, let not the apple of your eye cease: Arise, cry in the night, in the beginning of the watches pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. God does not only expect that his ministers and priests…

Our life we live now flies away as a shadow. It is called a flower (Psalm 103:15), a vapor (James 4:14). Job sets forth fragile life very elegantly in three of the elements — land, water, air (Job 9:25-26).

4. We may marre influences of grace. IT is not to be thought that influences, being acts of omnipotency, can properly be hindered; but by way of promise and judicial threatning, he has revealed in his word that he will give grace to the humble, and resist the proud (James 4:6; 1…

You would not have committed adultery and bloodshed; could you have commanded the influences of God, and warded off an evil hour of a sad desertion? So vain men have their own middle science, the new scientia media, that Jesuits have put upon God: the man foresees he could make…

And when such small fins (so they appear to men) leave an impression of remorse, the heart is like melted wax that easily admits a figure and the print of an image of a man or a Lion. Influences are some way due to softness of heart as grace to the lowly, rain and dew to meadows…

When there is a bentness of heart such a day or such a fixed hour to pray, build not too much upon the appointment and promises of our own heart, to say tomorrow, I'll do wonders by prayer, and remove mountains. It's good here, as in a purpose of going to a city to continue ther…

Assert. 5. Far less can we engage to run the way of the Lord upon our own strength. 1. The Apostle James rebukes such as say they shall go to such a city and buy and sell, and say not if God will (James 4:10, 11); far less can we engage to spiritual duties on our own strength. 2…

Again, the injury which you offer to others, though in itself it be a great sin, yet that inward brooding of it in your heart, plotting mischief, that boils within you, while it hatches rancor and revenge, this is that which he hates, though you should never commit any actual si…

And so is it when there is any inordinate affection, be it what it will be, there is not a simplicity of heart; and if there be not, you will never look upon God alone, but upon some creature, upon some object or other. Therefore, (James 4:8): Cleanse your hearts you wavering-mi…

First, strength of lust: that causes men to be inconstant. (James 4:8) Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purge your heart, you wavering-minded: what is the reason that the Apostle bids them to purge their hearts, that were wavering-minded, but because that corruption, and tho…