JaS. I. 26.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 169
were troubled about the death and resurrection of Christ, because they had forgotten what he had spoken to them in GaHlee, Luke xxiv. 6, 8. So when the Thessalonians were troubled at the growing of errors, and extremely shaken in their confidence, Paul saith, 2 Thes. ii. 5, * Remember ye not how I spake of those things ? ' It is very observ- able that in many places of scripture all duty is expressed by this word rememher, as if it did necessarily imply suitable actions and aftections ; so Exod. XX. 8, ' Eemember the sabbath-day ;' as if, then, they must needs sanctify it : so Eccles. xii. 1, ' Remember thy Creator ;' it is put for all that reverence, duty, and worship which we owe to God. In other places the link between memory and duty is plainly asserted : Num. XV. 40, ' That ye may remember to do all my commandments :' a seasonable recalling of truths doth much. You see, out of all this, that we should not only get knowledge, but remembrance ; that we should not only faithfully lay up truths, but seasonably lay them out ; it is a great skill to do so, and we had need call in the help of the Spirit. There are some truths that are of a general use and benefit ; others that serve for some cases and seasons. In the general, hide the whole word in your heart, that ye may have a fresh truth to check sin in every temptation, Ps. cxix. 11. So lay up the mercies of God that you may be thankful ; forget not all his benefits, Ps. ciii. 2 ; your sins, that you may be humble : Deut. ix. 7, ' Remember and forget not how thou provokedst the Lord thy God in the wilderness ; ' so remark- able experiences, ' the years of God's right hand,' that you may be confident. Labour thus to get a present ready memory, that will urge truths in the season when they do concern us.
Ohs. 8. From that hut a doer of the loork. The word layeth out work for us. It was not ordained only for speculation ; it is a rule of duty to the creatures. There is the ' work of faith,' John vi. 29 ; the ' labour of love,' Heb. vi. ] 0 ; and ' fruits worthy repentance,' Mat. iii. 8. All this work is cut out to us in the gospel — faith, love, and new obedience. Do not content yourselves, then, with a module of truth. The apostle calleth it, Rom. ii. 20, fi6p(f)coatv i7rcar->jfiT]<;, ' a form of knowledge.' With a winter sun, that shineth, but warmeth not, let not the tree of knowledge deprive you of the tree of life ; work the works of God. Faith is your work, repentance is your business, and the life of love and praise your duty.
Obs. 9. From that shall be blessed in Ms deed.. There is a blessed- ness annexed to the doing of the work of the word ; ^ not for the work's sake, but out of the mercy of God. See then that you hear so that you come within the compass of the blessing ; tlie blessing is usually pronounced at the time of your addresses to God in this worship. See that your own interest be clear, that when the minister, in God's name, saith, ' Blessed is he that heareth the word and keepeth it,' you may echo again to God, and bless him in your reins, for that he hath bowed your heart to the obedience of it.
Ver. 26. But if any man among you seemeth to be religious, and hridleih not his tongue, hut deceiveth his ovm soul, this m/xn's religion is vain.
The apostle having showed the blessedness of those which are doers
^ Qu. ' Lord ' .?— Ed.
170 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [JaS. I. 26.
of the word, lest any slioulJ seem to challenge a share in it to whom it doth not belong, he discovereth who are hearers only, and not doers of the word ; men that do allow themselves in any known sin ; and he instunceth in the evils of tlie tongue.
Quest. Before I open the words any further, I shall inquire why James doth pitch so much weight upon this one particular, it seeming so inconsiderable in itself, and it having so little respect to the context.
Ans. The reasons assigned in the answer will aftbrd us so many notes.
Reas. 1. Because this is a chief part of our respect to our neighbour, and true love to God will be manifested by love to our neighbour. They do not usually detract from others whom God hath pardoned. He that saith, ' Thou shalt love God,' hath also said, ' Thou shalt love thy neighbour ;' though the object be diverse, yet the ground for obedience is the same ; therefore the apostles usually bring this argu- ment to unmask and discolour hypocritical persuasions ; as 1 John ii. 9, 'He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even till now;' so 1 John iii. 17, 18, 'If he shut up his bowels from his brother, how dwelleth the love of God in him ? ' How can it be imagined that those that are sensible of the love of God should be merciless towards others ? So 1 John iv. 20, ' He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?' The good and attractiveness that is in others is an object of the senses, and usually they make a strong impression. Well, then, do not flatter yourselves with duties of worship, in the neglect of duties of commerce.