The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 90

gelical truth; (4) the vanity of desiring to be thought independent; (6) neglect of the means of grace. Or, again, e. brother may err: 2. .As regaivi& fractice. He may turn his back upon the gospel without formally renouncing any o its doctrines. Immo- rality is e. departure from the faith, no less the.n error in opinion. To "walk ln the truth" is t,o follow holiness. The man, therefore, who pl'ofesses zea.l for orthodoxy and all the while is wallowing in sin, or becoming entangled with the world, is ree.lly a heretic. Such e. man is e. living lie against the truth. But what temptations there 11re everywhere to leave the na1Tow way I And do not professing Christiane in large numbers 1mccnmb to these? The masses of our home heathen are in a great measure composed of members of Churches who have finally lapsed into worldliness. It is a 1mre sign of spiritual cleclension to cease to find pleasure in public worship, and to allow one's place in the house of God to be empty. II. ANOTHER BROTHER CONVERTING THE ERRING BROTHER. Usually the term ., con- vert" is employed to clescrihe that great ·moral revolution within the soul which is cffoctecl by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. And, doubtless, we may understand it here in this radical sense, as well as in its secondary meanina when applied to the reclamation of a backsliding believer. For there are member; of the ,·isible Church who are not true Christians. They make for some time a fair pro- fession ; but by-e.nd-by they visibly fall away. Well, the counsels and prayers and pious example of a fellow-member of the congregation may be blessed to the real con- version of such. But, again, the erring one may be already a believer; and a brother believer may become instrumental in reclaiming him from his apostasy. This also is a conversion, although as such only supplementary to "the great change." Simon Peter was a truly godly man when he denied his Master; yet Jesus called his repent- ance after that foul sin his "conversion" (Luke :x.xii. 32). Some Christians a.re in this sense converted many times. Their religioll!! life ebbs and flows ; and each turn of the tide after a period of declension amounts to a fresh conversion. Of course, it is only God who can," convert a sinner" in either sense. But be employs believers as his instruments. The Holy Spirit bestows his grace in connection with human prayer and effort (Acts x::xvi. 18; Luke i. 15, 16; 1 Cor. iv. 15; Philem. 19). And any Christian may become such an instrument. James does not say," If any preacher, or pastor, or <:lder, convert him;" the work may be accomplished by the humblest member of the congregation. Even a servant-maid, or a little child, may be honoured to do it, Each member is bound to seek the spiritual good of every other member. For, we are our "brother's keeper." . III. THE GLORIOUS RESULTS OF SUCH CONVERSION. The full flower of this .glory shall bloom in eternity; but its bud appears just now in time, The ultimate result is the salvation of the soul; and the immediate result is the covering of many sins. But who can estimate the blessedness of such an experience? These last burning words of the Epistle remind us of the priceless value of the human spirit. Man is " the image and glory of God." Think of the high endowments of the soul, its lofty powers, its immortal destiny, the price paid for its reclemption, and the dreadfulness of its ruin, should it continue unsaved. The unconverted sinner is an heir-apparent to eternal death; and the backsliding professor, if he be not restored, must slip down into the same undone eternity. Now, the glorious effect of conversion is to deliver from the power of sin in the future, and from its guilt in the present. The convert's sins a.re "a multitude," for every day has contributed to their number; but now they are covered with the Redeemer's merit. The blood-sprinkled mercy-seat hides the violated Law from Jehovah's eye. And what a joy to the sinner to be made the subject of such a conversion l " Blessed is he whose sin is covered" (Ps. xxxii. 1). Where paBt sin is thus hidden, much future sin is prevented. This, therefore, is the best "tum" which one can do to his neighbour-to "convert him from the error of his way." 1V. THE ENCOURAGEMENT THUS SUPPLIED TO CHRISTIAN EFFORT. "Let him know" (ver. 20). These animating words express the ma.in thought in the text. The Christian worker mUBt not forget that to restore an erring soul is one of the noblest of e.chieve- menra. It is a far grander triumph than even to save a man's natural life. Let him remember this for his comfort in thinking of the work which he has already done, and for his encouragement in aeeking to do more. It is inspiring to realize that one 011. v. 1-20.] THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF Jf.MER. 85