Jam. V. 7, 8. Be patient. Brethren, Jinio the coming of the
Lord. Behold, the husbandman ivaiteth for the precious
fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive
the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient : siablish your
hearts : for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
CHRISTIANITY, even in the Apostolic age, was professed by maltitudes who neither understood its doctrines nor obeyed its precepts. The great and fundamental doctrine of justification by faith was denied by some, and abused by others ; who took occasion from it to " turn the grace of God into licentiousness," and to ** continue in sin that grace might abound." To this latter class more especially St. James directed his epistle. He did indeed write to the unbelieving Jews also : for his epistle is addressed " To the twelve tribes who were scattered abroad:" and, as they were in no state to receive such affectionate salutations as are observable in the epistles which were addressed to Christians only, he contented himself with merely sending to them " greeting ''." There were indeed many truly pious persons who were suffering for the truth sake ; and these he sought to comfort and encourage. The foregoing part of this chapter seems addressed to the former : the text and following verses, to the latter. We cannot conceive that the oppressive and murderous conduct which he lays to the charge of some, could ad- mit of their being numbered with the Church of God. But their cruelties rendered the path of the true Christians who were among them far more difficult : and therefore, after warning those who were so grossly violating every principle of common morality, he encourages the suffering Christians to persevere
in * Jam. i. 1.