aside — envytngs, desire the milk of the word — a spiritual HOUSE. And that which here follows. But He giveth more grace , agrees with that, the Lord is gracious , ver. 3. He who has this passage of St Peter well impressed upon his mind, will altogether recognise the reference of St James to it. Nor does the chronological order of the epistles stand in the way. Thus James not only concurs with St Peter, but also with St Paul. — <pd6vov) The friendship of the world necessarily produces envy : the Spirit, wdiich has taken up His dwelling in us, does not bear envy. — r'o nvfv/j,u) The Spirit of grace and love. — xuruxrjfcv) takes up His dwelling. — ev jj/a/v, in us) Sons, of the New Testament.
6. MziZpva) So much the greater the farther you depart from
envy. — didu<n, He giveth ) God. — >iys/, it saith) the Scripture , ver. 5. James confirms the authority of Solomon, whom he quotes with great propriety, when he would dissuade us from the hinderances to wisdom. — o Qzbg—^dpiv) Prov. iii. 34. Septuagint has K vpiog — the rest in the same words. James altogether agrees with Peter : see 1 Pet. v. 5. — bnzpriydms , the proud) Pride is the mother of envy, respecting which see ver. 5. The Hebrew is scoffers , such
are they who think that the Scripture speaks in vain. — dvTiruGffsrui, resists ) In the Hebrew He will laugh at. The humble are of such a spirit, that if it were possible for God to require the service of any one, they would afford it ; but the proud endeavour to resist Him, as Pharaoh did ; therefore He repays each according to their own deservings. He resists the proud, but He gives grace to the lowly. — %ap/v, grace) He, to whom God gives grace , learns to lay aside all envy.
7. ' Tnordyrirs olv rOj 0ew) Submit yourselves therefore to God: Ps.
lxii. 5. Septuagint, tGj 0e& vnordyriOt i] pov, but , my
soul , submit thyself to God. This exhortation, submit yourselves , agrees with the lowly , ver. 6 ; and after an intermediate explanation of this submission, it is brought to a close in ver. 10 : comp. 1 Pet. v. 6. — dvrlffryjrs — d<p resist — from you) The opposite follows,
Draw nigh — to you. Comp, resist , 1 Pet. v. 9. — diu(36\u, the
devil) who is proud, and especially tempts men by pride ; the enemy, under whose banner pride and envy are enlisted in the world. — pfugera/, will flee) as overcome. A word of joy, 1. John v. 18.
8. ’Eyy/trare, draw near) The flight of the devil is followed, in the order of nature rather than of time, by an approach to God, in holy prayer, ver. 2, 3. — v/ytz?. He will draw near) as propitious. A most joyous word. — xa0ap/<rars, cleanse) That you may be able to put to