The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 89

lio.rly efl'ectunl. The petitioner, however, muAt be "a righteous man." He who would intercede successfully must himself have faith in Christ-that faith which is made perfect by holy deeds (Ps. lxvi. 18; John ix. 31). "The supplication" of such a man "o.vailcth much in its working," i.e. when energized by the Holy Spirit, who "maketh intercession for us" (Rom. viii. 26). Mere routine prayer avails nothing. A form of sound words is not enough. We must put our heart's blood into our request. Indeed, who.t we desire must be begotten within us of "the spirit of grace and of supplica- tions." 2. An historical example of this power. (Vers.17, 18.) With such examples the pages of the Old Testament are thickly strewn ; but the apostle selects one CD.88 only-that of Elijah. Although an extraordinary personage, and a very eminent prophet, Elijah was by no means a demigod: he was "a man of like passions Lliterally, 'homceopathic '] with us." He had the same human natnre which we have- the same susceptibilities, dispositions, and infirmities. He, too, had his secret faults, and his presumptuous sins. But, being "a righteous man," he was a man of prayer; and his success as a suppliant should be an example to us. Two special petitions presented by this prophet are cited. (1) A prayer for judgment. (Ver.17.) The Old Testament history does not mention the fact that the long drought which fell upon the land of Israel in the days of Ahab was ijent in answer to the prayer of Elijah. It was so, however. The prophet had been brooding, among the uplands of Gilead, over the wickedness of the court and of the people; and at length he prayed by the Spirit that Jehovah, for his own glory and for the well-being of the nation, woald send this drought upon the land. And God heard him, and closed the windows of heaven for three years and a half. (2) A prayer for mercy. (Ver. 18.) This request Elijah presented upon Mount Carmel, on the evening of that memorable day when God had answered by fire, and the prophets of Baal had been slain. God had intimated to Elijah at Zarephath that he was about to send rain ; and now the prophet wrestled for the fulfilment of the promise, and sent his servant seven times to the mountain-top to watch for the visible answer, And soon "the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain." Both of these chapters in Elijah's life illustrate vividly the power that there is in "the prayer of faith." And should any one ask, "Where jg the Lord God of Elijah?" the answer is, that heis "with us" yet; and that prayer is still the golden key which opens the door of heaven, and brings us "in its working" salvation mani- fold.-C. J. Vera. 19, 20.-The conversion of a sinner. With this emphatic sentence the Epistle closes. There are no personal references, Christian greetings, or notices of friends, such as Paul would have had. Perhaps James ends thus~bruptly, because he desires to impress upon his readers' hearts this last thought, that every Christian should aim at being a soul-winner. We have here- I. A BROTHER GOING ASTRAY. The case supposed is the apostasy of a professing Christian. We must notice, at the outset, the supreme importance which our apostle ascribes here, and throughout his Epistle (eh. i. 18, 21-23; iii. 14), to" the truth." He strikes as loyal a note as Paul does, regarding the necessity of "consenting" to sound doctrine if one would live the Christian life. He assumes that all backsliding is aberration from the truth. His words cover both forms which apostasy may take- errors of creed and of conduct. A brother may go astray : 1. As regards doctrine. Many in our times, alas I attach small importance to error of this kind. Libertines in practice are apt to be latitudinarians in opinion. Many " moral" men act as if they do not regard any of the doctrines of the creed as vital. Some really pious people seem to believe that the Christian life can be lived with equal success by men holding the most diverse views regarding the central facts of Christianity. But Scripture teaches that it is through the knowledge and faith of certain great truths alone that men's hearts will be imbued with Christian principle, and their lives become acceptable to God. Among the essential doctrines are those of human depravity and inability; the Divine inspiration of Holy Scripture ; the supreme Deity of Jesus Christ; his substitutionary atonement; and man's dependence on the gracious indwelling of the Holy Spirit. To deny any of these doctrines is to "err from the truth," and to "fall from grace." Among the causes of such doctrinal aberration are (1) pride of intellect; (2) giving one's self over to the guidance of speculation; (3) aversion of heart to evan-  S4 THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. Lo11. v. 1-20.