James 5

Christ's intercession must needs be effectual, if you consider, (1.) The excellency of his person; if the prayer of a saint be so prevalent with God: Moses's prayer did bind God's hands (Exodus 32:10): Let me alone; and Jacob as a prince prevailed with God (Genesis 32:28); and E…

He who forecasts sufferings, will have the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit ready, that he may not be surprised. 3. If afflictions do come, let us labor to conduct ourselves wisely as Christians, that we may adorn our sufferings: that is, let us endure with patience…

2. God is the best Father, because he is perfect; (Matthew 5:48) Your Father which is in Heaven is perfect. He is perfectly good: Earthly fathers are subject to infirmities: Elijah (though a prophet) was a man of like passions (James 5:17), but God is perfectly good: All the per…

Jacob wept and made supplication, and had power over the Angel (Hosea 12:4). 3. Prayer must be fired with zeal and fervency (James 5:16). Effectual fervent prayer prevails much.

They glorified him not as God. 1. Let us pray to him as to a God, pray with fervency (James 5:16). An effectual fervent prayer prevails much; this is both the fire and the incense, without fervency it is no prayer.

It is too much for a Christian to have two heavens, that is more than Christ had. It has been ever the lot of the saints to encounter with sore trials; both of the prophets (James 5:10): Take my brethren the prophets for an example of suffering affliction: And of the apostles, P…

But especially be earnest and fervent in pouring forth your own complaint, for though the speaking of friends may somewhat further your case, yet it must be worked out between God and you alone in private, and his good will must be obtained by wooing him in secret. This counsel…

As Christ learned obedience by what he suffered, so will you also if you have his Spirit. The second application is to exercise graces in their seasons: when you are afflicted, pray; when joyful, sing psalms (James 5:13); when filled with assurance, then mourn and be humbled (Ez…

This is the principal thing, which in those Psalms is propounded of David. And so the Apostle counsels, James 5:14, 15: Is any man sick among you? let him call for the Elders of the Church: and what must they do? Surely, first pray for him; and then (as the custom was in those d…

How eminent was Job for his patience! God leaves his name upon Record, Ye have heard of the patience of Job, James 5.11. Job the Sufferer, was more renowned than Alexander the Conqueror.

Therefore wicked is the opinion of the Catharists or Puritans, which hold that men may be without sin in this life. 4. And when we say, forgive, not me but us: we are put in mind to pray, not only for the pardon of our own sins, but likewise for our brothers and enemies (James 5…

Opened prisons (Acts 12:9). Shut heaven (James 5:17). Prayer has had power with God (Hosea 12:4).

But in the word of God there is no warrant for this confession, nor in the writings of orthodox antiquity for the space of many hundred years after Christ, as one of their own side avouches. And the commandment of the Holy Spirit — confess one to another and pray one for another…

Not the second: 'The earth is the Lord's and the fullness of it' (Psalm 24:1); his name is God All-sufficient (Genesis 17:1). Not the last: 'As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those that fear him' (Psalm 103:13); 'The Lord is exceedingly pitiful and of tender me…

Yet he meekly receives and patiently bears it from the hand of the Lord. You have heard of the patience of Job (James 5:11), and seen the end the Lord brought about. Not only the gracious intention of the Lord in all his afflictions, but the happy outcome the Lord gave to all hi…

James commands not such a confession. Daniel's, Ezra's, Peter's confession were some other thing (John 1:20; Acts 19:18; Hebrews 11:13; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 4:2; Mark 3:6; Joshua 7:19; Daniel 9:4; Romans 10:10; 1 Timothy 6:13; Psalm 32:5; James 5:16; Leviticus 5:5; Leviticus 1…

To show you, there was an inward sensible work of the Spirit of God in her heart that did enlarge her, not so much to pour out words, as sighs, and groans; this feeling power of the Spirit does mightily express what the will of God is that we should ask, this is according to the…

Answ. But yet though love cover a multitude of sins, yet how does it cover them? First, with a mantle of wisdom, then with a mantle of faithfulness, and then a mantle of compassion. A mantle of wisdom, when a man so covers it as not to skin it over, but to cover it so effectuall…

This was extraordinary, but surely the more often we converse with God, the more holy and heavenly should we grow, more like him in spirit, be changed into the glory of the Lord spiritually, and so we are if we be instant and earnest in prayer, if we have communion with God ther…

1. The human spirit, or our natural faculty; so that by our understandings we may work upon our wills and affections, surely God makes use of this, for the Holy Ghost does not work upon a man as upon a block, and we are to rouse up ourselves and to attend upon this work with the…

1. God considers what will become himself, his pity, and fidelity. 1. His own pity and mercy (James 5:11): "You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." God will give a happy end to our conflicts a…

Section 5. Five more Instances produced. 6. Another example from Scripture of the performance of this duty of secret prayer, is, the famous man of God Elijah, who wrought many miracles, and was mighty in prayer, for so the Apostle James testifies of him (James 5:17-18), that he…

I might from hence take occasion to discover the strength and efficacy of this duty of prayer, from the consideration of closet prayer: though but a poor single person get upon his knees in a corner, and have no creature to help him, yet he can even undertake to grapple with the…

I will pray with understanding: For blind devotion is not pleasing to God: 2. A sensible feeling of our wants, we must come weary and heavy laden (Matthew 11:28). Pressed with the guilt of sin, pinched with want of grace: 3. Fervency of spirit (James 5:17), arising from a consid…

Secondly, if the laborer works, not in regard of the common good only, but also with respect of his wages: he that runs a race, to attain the garland: if the husbandman sets and sows, plants and plows, in hope to reap a harvest, and to receive some fruit of his labors: It is law…

To comprehend the meaning of the holy virgin, it must be observed that what is here placed second is first in order; for the excitement of the will of man to praise God must be preceded by a rejoicing of the spirit, "Car avant que la volonte de l'homme soit mise en train de loue…

37. But your speech shall be, Yes, yes; No, no for what is beyond these comes from evil. "Du mal, ou, malin, ou meschant," (James 5:12;) — "from evil, or, malignant, or wicked." 33. You shall not perjure yourself This also is not a correction of the law, but a true interpretatio…

The first Choice a Natural Mind makes, is of a Life in Sin and Pleasure; which is but a Death, a Death to God, 1 Tim. 5. 6. James 5. 5. a Life without the Law, and before it comes, Rom. 7. 9. This is the Life which is suited to the Carnal Mind, which it desires, delights in, and…

We see what tender resentments the Lord has of all our wants, straits and burdens, Psalm 103:13 Like as a Father pitieth his Children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. He is full of bowels, as the word in James 5:11 signifies. Yea, there are not only bowels of compassion…

Surely, teachers; for he adds, if any be blameless, etc., for a Bishop must be above reproach, etc. And (James 5:14) the sick are asked to send for the Elders of the Church, that they may pray over, and anoint the sick with oil in the name of the Lord, which is no layman's duty.…

This the Apostle James speaks of. You have heard of the patience of Job (James 5:11). As if he should say, do you not know why the Book of Job was written?

By Joseph Caryl, Preacher to the Honorable Society of Lincolnes-Inne. James 5:10-11 Take my brethren the Prophets, who have spoken in the Name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold we count them happy which endure.

There are (among others) five cases, in which to sing, does sometimes stumble, at least, stick much with those who are weak and tender; all which, we will find cleared in the bride's practice of singing this Song. First, it's doubted whether sad cases should be sung, seeing, Jam…

Consider, 2. her desire to them, Tell him (says she) I am sick of love, make my case known to him, and hold it up by prayer: She had been doing so herself, and had not come speed, and therefore she puts them upon it, that they might help her to obtain an answer. Obs. 1. That pra…

This oppression of servants in withholding from them their covenanted reward of their labor, is a crying and provoking sin. So the Apostle, (James 5:4) The hire of the laborers which have reaped down the fields, (so likewise of those who have done any other work and service for…

For this day being a festival to God, a day of spiritual joy and gladness, how can we better testify our joy, than by our melody? Is any man merry? says St. James (James 5:13), let him sing psalms. And therefore let profane spirits deride this how they please, yet certainly it i…

Can anything be more express against all manner of oaths than this, where we have a cautious enumeration of many of them which were most vulgar and common? The other place is that of Saint James (James 5:12): But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neith…

What rioting and banqueting has there been daily in London, many feeding themselves without fear; as if gluttony were not any sin at all? How many have been like fed horses in the city, or like fatted oxen, who as the apostle James speaks, have lived in pleasure and been wanton,…

God has been righteous in his judgments, because you have been unrighteous in your dealings; and as his judgments are a reproof of your sin, so are they a warning to you to leave it. Unrighteous gains will yield you little advantage in the end: See what the Apostle James speaks…

He that spent his strength and time to compass his worldly ends, shall have nothing but his labor for his pains in the upshot, what has he gained, (let him brag of his bargain) when God takes away his soul? Nay, this very treasure that he has heaped up shall rise up in judgment…

As Hannibal forced a way for his army over the Alps and craggy rocks: so must we force our way to Heaven. We must not only pray, but pray fervently (James 5:16). This is offering violence to Heaven.

It was also a matter of great consequence that the church should have a book of divine songs given by inspiration from God, wherein there should be a lively representation of the true spirit of devotion, of faith, hope, and divine love, joy, resignation, humility, obedience, rep…

Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart (Psalm 92:11). Behold the Husbandman waits, etc. (James 5:7). Be patient therefore my brethren, for the coming of the Lord draws near.

The time may come when you may be glad of the plainest sermon, from the mouth of the meanest ambassador of Christ. To conclude, the prayers of saints are the keys that open and shut the natural clouds, and cause them either to give out, or withhold their influences (James 5:18).…

It is not the giving out of mercy (says one) that grieves God, but the recoiling of his mercies back again upon him by the creature's ingratitude. When husbandmen have been at cost and pains about their husbandry, they expect fruit from it, answerable to their pains and expenses…

This, this is that gold, and silver, and those precious stones, which will stand the test of the fire that shall try every man's work (1 Corinthians 3:12-13), and will be found to praise, and honor, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7). Assure yourselves (Chr…

Secondly, they are pleasantness, because in them the soul of a man is in the true and right temper and frame of it: Now the delight of nature, it is the right temper and frame, suitable to the principles of nature in every thing; And therefore, that Text that you all know, where…

To this purpose, I beseech you, weigh these Scriptures; and methinks, unless God has lost all his Authority with you, and Hell all its Terrors, it should startle you. The first is that dreadful Scripture, James 5. 12. But above all things, my Brethen, swear nat; neither by Heave…

Saint Peter requires such a conduct of man and wife one towards another, as their prayers be not hindered (1 Peter 3:7): whereby he takes it for granted, that prayer is a mutual duty which one owes to the other: which duty Isaac performed for his wife (Genesis 25:21). In this ma…

Was it not an extraordinary fact of Elijah to pray first that there might be no rain, and then again that there might be rain? Yet is this proposed as a general pattern to move us to pray for things lawful (James 5:17). Now in laying down this duty I added the clause and caveat…