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grafted) by regeneration, ver. 18, and by habit \ which you have acquired from your earliest years. — V. g.], Heb. v. 14; and also by custom derived from their ancestors, who were Israelites [ 'namely , the ■people of GOD. — Y. g.], ver. 1. Comp. 2 Tim. i. 5. It is engrafted, and therefore most intimately connected with the faithful, and nigh unto them ; Rom. x. 8 : therefore it is to be received with meekness. — \6yov, the word ) the Gospel : 1 Pet. i. 23, etc. — rov dvvdfisvov, which is able) with great efficacy. — cobcai, to save) The hope of salvation nourishes meekness ; and this in turn supports that.
[22. TLapaXoyt^o/^svoi havrovg, deceiving their [“ your”] own selves) Pleasing themselves in their hearing. — Y. g.]
23. "On, because) The false reasoning , self-deceit, of careless hearers is explained. — yz/scsug, of nature) Comp. ch. iii. 6. — Jv ieoKrpuj, in a mirror) The truth of Scripture is proved from this, that it pre- sents to a man a most accurate portrait of his soul.
24. [Karsvoyjcs, he hath contemplated himself) It can hardly happen that no knowledge whatever of one’s self is imparted by the hearing of the word : 1 Cor. xiv. 24. — Y. g.] — svkug, straightway) turning away to other subjects. The repetition of %«/' has great force in ex- pressing this hastiness joined with levity. Gen. xxv. 34 (Septuagint). — ittXdQero, he forgetteth) Forgetfulness is no excuse : ver. 25 ; 2 Pet. i. 9.
25. Uapazv-^ag, ivhoso looheth into) This answers to ver. 24, he belioldeth himself. The word cr upaxvKrw gives the idea of such a search after an object which is concealed as does not confine itself to the surface of the mirror , but penetrates to that which is within. Ecclus. xiv. 23, 'O ‘nupunvftnjyj did, ruv 6vp/dwv rrjg cocp'iag, he that prietli in at the windows of wisdom. A blessed curiosity, if it is efficacious in bearing fruit. — e/g vo^ov reXziov rbv rr\g sXtvkpiag, into the perfect law of liberty) He applies this appellation to the lawT, inasmuch as [in so far as] it is established by faith : Rom. iii. 31. Comp, the notes on ch. ii. 12 and 8. St James takes care that no one should abuse the peculiar expressions employed by St Paul respecting the bondage and yoke of the law. He who keeps the law is free : John viii. 31 and 32. Man ought to agree with the perfection of the law, in the perfection of his knowledge and obedience ; otherwise he is not free, but guilty. Comp. ii. 10. — %ai ^apayjzivag, and continued) This is antithetical to goeth his way, ver. 24. — olrog — olrog) this man — this man, I say. The words here inserted express the reason of the assertion (of the predicate), and the repetition has weight.
26. E/ rig, if any man) He now adds examples of doing the
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