The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 15

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-4.-.A joyfrd salutation for a time of adversity. James, in the opening sentence of his letter, "wisheth joy " to the Christian Jews who were scattered over the Roman world (ver. 1). He knew that they were environed with adversity; they suffered from the persecution of the heathen, and from the upbraidings of their unbelieving countrymen. Yet his loving, sympathetic heart wishes them joy even in all time of their tribulation. I. THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD BEJOI0E AMIDST TRIALS. (Ver. 2.) It was natural that the readers of the Epistle, when they received this counsel, should ask. how they could reasonably be expected to do so. 1. This i,s possible. Only, however, to the Christian. The worldly-minded man will regard such a suggestion as unnatural, and indeed unintelligible. The Stoic, when plunged into adversity, can at best only school himself to submit to inevitable fate. The Epicurean becomes quite helpless in presence of calamity. Only the man who holds the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ possesses the alchemy by which sorrow may be turned into joy. 2. It is dutiful. To rejoice amidst trials is in the line of all Christian knowledge and faith and hope. The believer knows that God is his Father, and that he " pitieth his children." He is sure that God's arrangements for him must be absolutely the best, He is persuaded that, although God chastises his sons, he has still the heart of a Father. Not only do tribu- lation and distress not separate the believer from the Divine love; they work for him "more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory." So it belongs to the afflicted Christian to adorn in his own experience this paradox of the renewed life-" Sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing." 3. It is often exemplified. Only, however, in the most exalted ranks of the peerage of faith. Moses "accounted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." Paul sang hymns to God in the prison of Philippi, although his feet were fast in the stocks. The apostles "rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for Christ's name." Latimer closed his brave career at the stake with the famous words, " Be of good comfort, Master Ridley." Bunyan lay for twelve years in an execrable prison, but he made his cell the vestibule of heaven. Dr. Arnold could say, between the paroxysms of angina pectoris, " Thank God for paiu." And from thousands of death-beds, of which the world has never heard, there bas gone forth the testimony of God's hidden ones: "We glory in tribulations also." II. THE REASONS FOB SUCH REJOICING. These may be reckoned. Vers. 3 and 4 supply a basis of judgment. 1. Trial promotes self-knowledge. It is •• the proof c,f yc,ur faith" (ver. 3). It tests the reality and the strength of character. The person who stands on the deck of a sinking ship will learn, if he did not know it before, whether he is a hero or a coward. Aflliction shows a man "all that is in his heart." The strain caused by some unexpected calamity may reveal defects of character which he would not otherwise discover, or possibilities of holy attainment about which he might never have dreamed. 2. It developes patience. (Ver. 3.) James, throughout his Epistle, exalts and inculcates this grace. His word for it here means "perseverin.~ endurani;:e." Christian patience is not the submission of indifference, or merely tho determination of an obstinate will; it is inspired by living piety, and is therefore full of iotelligence and IDJ1.nliness. Patience consists in the holding still of some parts of our nature in calm waiting upon the Divine will, in order that other parts may be <:xercistd and educated. 'l'he apostle's words show that he regards this grace of endurance as inexpressibly precious. He looks upon its possessor as in the truest sense i. wist aod wealthy E,m. The man who uses every fresh trial in such a way as only Oil, I, 1-27,] THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. !)