The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 83

fruit of the Spirit." And spiritual fruit takes far longer time to mellow than the natural harvest does. So "it is good for a man quietly to wait" for it. We have the assurance that in spiritual husbrrndry the ultimate reward is never disappointin". 0 11 In due season we shall reap, if we faint not." III. THE ENCOURAGEMENT. (Ver. 8, second part.) "The coming of the Lord is at hand." This implies, first of all, that the Lord is sure to come. While no farmer possesses an absolute certainty in reference to the harvest on his own particular farm, every one who in the spiritual sphere "sows to the Spirit" may rest assured that the day of an abundant and blessed ingathering will arrive. The Lord Jesus, who came to our world nearly nineteen centuries ago, is to come again. His second coming is the greatest event in the future of the Church. It is the pole-star of her hopes. When he appears, the spiritual harvest shall be reaped. We, accordingly, ~hall cherish the tru.e spirit of long-suffering, only in so far as we "love his appearing," and realize that the purpose of it is to reward his people and take vengeance upon their enemies. It is a sign that our faith is weak, if we meditate seldom, and pray little, about our Lord's second coming. How different was it in this respect with the apostles and the early Church! But, if the final advent was near in the first century, it is still nearer now; and in the interval what arrears of vengeance have been accumulating I It should be our comfort in the time of trouble to reflect that "the coming of the Lord is at hand." The whole New Testament Church lies under the shadow of the second advent. It will be an event of infinite moment, and therefore it is never far away. To the view of God, with whom "one day is as a thousand years," this event is nigh; and the men of faith learn to see it from God's point of view. Compared, also, with the great eternity on the other side, the second advent seems "at hand." What an encouragement does this thought supply, in the direction of devout patience, both in working and in suffering! It should be at once a. spur and an anodyne, to know that the Lord is already on his way. For, when he comes, he will reward all service, and right every wrong, and take his people home to himself.-C. J. Vers. 9-11.-Bear and forbear. Here we have another exhortation to patience, with other examples of its exercise. In vers. 7, 8, however, the apostle bas had in view the persecutions which believers suffer at the hands of the ungodly; while be now refers to the trial of patience which a.rises from collision of feeling among Christian brethren themselves. I. A WARNING AGAINST IMPATIENCE WITH ONE ANOTHER. (Ver. 9.) "Murmur not, brethren," implies that believers are apt within their hearts, if not also openly, to complain of each other. Indeed, it sometimes requires greater patience to bear with composure the little frictions of feeling to which close contact with Christian brethren exposes, than to endure open and overt wrongs at the hands of persons who are not such. 'l'he warning has a lesson : 1. For the family circle. What a. happy society is that of a well-ordered family, where love reigns between husband and wife, and where the parents enjoy the confidence and obedience of wisely trained chihlrcn ! But this fireside happiness can be enjoyed only in connection with constant mutual forbearance. How prone, sometimes, are even husband and wife to misunderstand ea.eh other! And how often are households made unhappy by envying and quarrelling among the chil- dren I Let us remember that the persons who live in the same house with us are in the very best position for appraising the value of our Christian profession. They know at least whether we a.re learning to bear kindly with the infirmities of our own relations, and to endure with patience petty discomforts in domestic life. The grace of Gou within the soul will enable us to "walk within our house with a perfect heart " (Ps. ci. 2). 2. For the business circle. How many offences arise among Christian men when encra."ed in the toil and strain of commeNia.l competition ! One brother grudges the w~rld.ly successes of his neighbour; and perhaps his heart harbours against him uncharitable accusations of dishonest dealing. But, as Abraham long a.go was content that Lot should appropriate to himself the best of the laud rather tha.n that their herdmcn should quarrel, so still it will do a Christian man less harm to make sometimes what is financially a bad bargain, than to soil his soul by cherishing evil thoughts regarding any brother believer. 3. 1/or the Church circle. There is a.pt to be murmuring and grumbling in ecclesiastical life. Sometimes the spiritual office-bearers  78 THE GENEllAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. [oB, V, 1-20,