3. What need have we to wait continually upon our God in prayer !
[This wisdom is " from above," and can be derived from God alone; and how can we obtain it of him, but in the exer- cise of prayer? Let us then ask it of him, who lias promised to impart it " liberally, and without upbraiding0."]
c Jam. i. .r>.
Jam. iv. I. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, knoio ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God ? whoso- ever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
THERE is a boldness of speech, which not only comports well with the character of God's ambas- sadors, but is necessary to the faithful discharge of the ministerial office. To those who are unused to the figurative language of Scripture, the address of St. James to the professors of Christianity may appear coarse and severe. But the truth he delivered, needed to be strongly insisted on even in the apo- stolic age ; so much did the practice of the Church fall short of the knowledge which was at that time generally diffused. As to the appellation which he gave the worldly temporizing Christians, it could not fail of being understood in its proper sense ; because all knew that God called himself the hus- band of the Church ; and consequently, that the violation of the people's engagements to him justly entitled them to the name by which they were addressed.
To the Christians of this age the doctrine of the text should be very fully opened. It is indeed far from being calculated to please men : but we proceed to the consideration of it, in the hope that the word shall not "o forth in vain.
We shall endeavour to shew,