man's mortality : but^ if the argument shewed, that the conclusion referred to his soul alone, the con- clusion would be found perfectly consistent with an apparently opposite position, naraely, That man is a mortal Being. In like manner, if the Apostle's argu- ment in the preceding context be candidly examined, there will be found no real inconsistency between the deduction contained in the text, and an appa- rently opposite deduction which may be founded on premises altogether different.
Let us consider then, I. The Apostle's argument —
The first thing to be inquired is, Whence the argument arose? or. What was the occasion of it?
[St. James was reproving an evil vvhich obtained to a very great extent among the Church in his day ; namely, the shewing partiality to the richer members, whilst the poorer were treated with supercilious contempt, and harassed with the most flagrant acts of oppression **. Now, as this was di- rectly contrary to the whole spirit of Christianity, he intro- duced his reproof with these words ; " My Brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, with respect of persons ^" Now these words, duly no- ticed, WILL GIVE A CLUE TO THE WHOLE. " Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons :"
A MANNER. He then proceeds to shew, that a faith produc- tive of no better conduct than that, will never justify, " never save," the soul^: for that it is a dead faith, and not a living one, " a mere carcase, and not a living body '."]
The next thing we have to do is, to trace the steps of his argument —
[Having reproved the partiality before mentioned, he shews, that it is alike contrary both to the law and to the Gospel: to the law, the very essence of which is love, (which if any person habitually violates, he violates the whole law^) : and to the Gospel; which inspires its votaries with a more liberal spirit^, and declares, that the person who exercises not mercy to his brethren, of whatever class they may be, shall find no mercy at the hands of God''.
He then appeals to the whole Church ; and calls upon them to say. Whether any person so holding the faith of Christ can
be
* ver. 2—6. • ver. 1. * ver. 14. • ver. 26.
'ver. 8— 11. « ver. 12. ? Ver. 13.