The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 91

hns plucked brnnus from tho everlasting burning, and helperl to add new jewels to Irnmanuel's crown. God works for this end; and as often as it is gained, there is joy in heaven in the presence of the angels. For this the apostles laboured. For this the martyrs bled. For this evangelists toil. Who does not envy the life-work of men like Luther, Wesley, Whitefield, M'Cheyne, when viewed in the light of a Scripture like this? Yet there are many humble Christiane who have tasted of this joy, and whose heaven shall be "two heavens," because they have "turned many to righteous- ness " (Dan. xii. 3). LEBBONS. 1. Let us beware of backsliding ourselves; and let us ask the Holy Spirit to "see if there be any wicked way in us." 2. Let us be concerned a.bout om erring brethren, and labour to compass their conversion. 3. Let us take encouragement to missionary effort from the melting motive presented in this closing counsel.-C. J. Vere. 1-6.-The doom of misused wealth. We have in these opening words an echo of eh. iv. 9; but with a difference. There, a. call to repentance; here, a. denunci- ation. 'l'he very word "howl" recalls old prophecies of doom (Isa. xiii. 6; xiv. 31; xv. 3). So here, the coming doom. The destruction of Jerusalem? Yes; but this only the "beginning of sorrows." The culminating judgments, and the second advent, These rich, ~these delicate-living and pleasure-taking ones? Yes, let them weep and howl; for their miseries a.re coming upon them I I. THE sm OF THE RICH. Professedly religious or not, they were great sinners, and as sinners alone does he regard them. And as sinners he denounces them. 1. Indul- gence. "Ye have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure." What is the law of the true lire? A thankful acceptance of such joys as God gives, and increased service in the consecration of such joys. But they? Their pleasure was their all. They were pampering their lusts. Instead or making self a. centre from which, under God, all blessing should radiate, they made it a centre to which all pleasure must converge. 2. L'IJl.1!ury. "Your riches are corrupted, and your garments a.re moth-eaten." What is the law of property? A thankful use of such things as God gives, that we and the world may be the better for them. But they? They were guilty of a wanton accumulation of wealth, and so their very plenty was corrupting in its idleness. Like com in a famine, heaped up and mouldering. 3. Selfish oppres- sion. " The hire of the labourers," etc. What is the law of work? A mutual ministry of employers and employed, involving a recognition of the rights of labour. How spoke their Law on this matter, and the prophets (see Lev. xix. 13; Deut. x:xiv. 14, 15; Jer. xxii. 13; Mai. iii. 5)? But they? The words suggest sufficient. So their indulgence a,id luxury were not merely selfish in themselves, but at others' expense. They, forsooth, were all in all, and others must work for them, and yet starve and be naked, while they heaped up their_riches I Verily, they were thieves and robbers. 4. Ruthless persecution. "Ye ha.ve condemned, ye have killed," etc. The historical fact; probably judicial tyranny, these rich men refusing justice to the poor, when pleading against the fraud perpetrated towards them by their rich employers. But what was the essential fact? Him, the Just One, they had virtually condemned. and killed I Yes, for so they were filling up the measure of their fathers (see Matt. xxiii. 32; xxvii. 25). For the spirit which actuated them was the selfsame spirit of unjust cruelty which had actuated those to whom Stephen spoke of the Just One- "of whom," he ea.id, "ye have been the betrayers and muruerers." So also Ja.mes " the Just" was afterwards their victim. II. THE DOOM OF THE BICB. Sin and judgment, in the ways of God, are ever closely joined. For "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience he ~tands waiting, with exactness grinus he ull." 1. Thus their selfish indulgence wa.a but indulgence for the slaughter; they were fattening themselves for the sha!llbles. We are reminded of the time of the slaughter that came, when "the temple floora ran with blood, and the roofs raged in fire till all was utter desolation" (see Punchard, Ellicott's 'Commentary'). 2. The canker of their wealth was premonitory of the judgment of remorse, that 11hould eat their flesh n11 fire (Luke xvi. 24). S. '!'heir oppression and fraud, likewise, were marked by ona o3 88 THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. [OH, V, 1-20.