THE

GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES.

CHAPTER I.

TO REJOICE UNDER THE CROSS OF

CHRIST.TO SEEK DIVINE

ASSISTANCE. TO ENDURE TEMPTATION.-NOT TO HEAR ONLY, BUT TO DO THE WILL OF GOD.-VANITY OF MERE PRETENCE TO RELIGION.

How does the apostle James encourage his fellow disciples to endure with patience the cross, of Christ?

2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Is there not ground to expect Divine assistance if we ask it in faith?

5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering;

for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed :

7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

What is the promise to such as endure temptation?

12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.

What will it avail us to hear the word of God, and not to obey it?

22. Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

May not men deceive themselves with the appearance of religion, though they are not governed by its influence ?

26: If any man among you seem to be teli

gious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Is it not the effect of true religion to excite us to good, and to keep from evil?

27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

What does the apostle James teach concerning a vain respect of persons?

1. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2, For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there; or, Sit here under my footstool;

4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

What is the Royal Law he refers to on this point?

8. If ye fulfil the Royal Law, according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.

19. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Can we expect to be saved by faith, if it produces no good fruits?

14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though

a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?

15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17. Even so, faith if it hath not works is dead, being alone.

How is the connexion between faith and works exemplified in the case of Abraham?

21. Was not Abraham our Father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? Are not good works then the necessary fruits of a living faith?

26. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

CHAPTER III.

NOT TO OFFEND BY ARROGATING AUTHORITY.-TO BRIDLE THE TONGUE.-THE EFFECT OF WISDOM FROM ABOVE.

Does not the apostle instruct us to avoid wounding others by an assumed authority, or by giving offence with our tongues?

1. My brethren, be not many masters, know. ing that we shall receive the greater condemna-. tion.

2. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

What are the mischiefs of an unbridled tongue? 6. The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell... Does not true wisdom manifest itself by meek

ness?

13. Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works, with meekness of wisdom.