531 21 sheep by the blood* of the everlasting covenant †, make you perfect in every good work, that ye may do his will; working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ to whom ‡ be glory for ever [and ever. Amen. 22 : Now I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty: with Salute all 24 whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. those who preside over you ||, and all the saints. They 25 of Italy salute you. The favour of God be with you all. Amen T. By shedding his blood, to ratify that covenant which will never be annulled. Ch. viii. 13." Newcome. + who brought from the dead that shepherd of the sheep, become great by the blood of an everlasting covenant, even our Lord Jesus Christ. Wakefield. ti. e. to the God of peace. མ Or, your leaders, or guides. N, m. The epistle to the Hebrews is the first of those books which are distinguished by Eusebius, as having been disputed in the primitive ages of Christianity, and which, therefore, are not to be received as of equal authority with the rest. This epistle, however, which contains many important observations and many wholesome truths, mingled, indeed, with some far-fetched analogies and inaccurate reasonings, was probably written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, for it contains no allusion to But by whom it was written is uncertain. Origen says, that those calamitous events. no one can tell who was the author of it. It has been ascribed to Paul, to Barnabas, to Luke, and to Timothy: but if Origen, the most learned and inquisitive writer in the third century, could not discover the author, it is in vain for us to attempt it; and we must be content to remain in ignorance. THE EPISTLE GENERAL OF JAMES. CHAP. I. JAMES, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various 3 trials; knowing that the proof of your faith worketh 4 patience. And let patience have its perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 Now if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and 6 it shall be given him. But let him ask in† faith, nothing doubting. For he that doubteth is like a wave of 7 the sea, moved by the wind and tossed about. And let not that man think that he will receive any thing from 8 the Lord: he is a man of a divided mind, unsteady in all his ways. 9 Now let the brother of low degree glory in that he is 10 exalted; but the rich, in that he is made low for as 11 the flower of the herb he will pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the herb, and its flower falleth, and the beauty of its appearance perisheth: so the rich man also will fade in his ways. Happy is the man that endureth trial: for, when he 12 * N. m. temptations, N. t. Or, with, N. m. hath been proved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say, when he is tempted, "I am tempted of God:" for God cannot be tempted by evils, nor doth he 14 tempt any man. But every man is tempted, when he is 15 ensnared and allured by his own evil desire. Then when desire hath conceived, it beareth sin and sin, when it 16 is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my be17 loved brethren. Every good gift, and every perfect be nefit, is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of 18 turning. Of his own will he regenerated* us by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. 19 21 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be 30 swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger: for the anger of man worketh not the righteousness of God †. Wherefore lay aside all defilement, and abundance of wickedness, and receive with meekness the word im22 planted in you, which is able to save you ‡. But be ye doers of the word; and not hearers only, deceiving your 23 own selves. For if any one be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face 24 in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and immediately forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoever looketh into the perfect law of freedom, 26 and continueth in it, this man, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work commanded, will be happy in his deed. If any man seem to be religious, and bridle not his tongue, but deceive his own heart, this man's religion is 27 vain. The religion which is pure and undefiled before our God and Father, is this; to take care of orphans and * begat, N. + Or, the righteousness which God requireth. N. m. N. m. your souls, Gr. and N. t. Or, an active doer, Wakefield. any man among you, R. T. and N. with doubt. widows in their affliction, and to keep one's-self unspotted from the world. CH. 11. My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus 2 Christ, the Lord of glory*, with respect of persons. For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring in gorgeous apparel, and there come in also a poor man 3 in vile apparel; and ye regard him who weareth the gorgeous apparel, and say [to him], "Sit thou here in a good place;" and say to the poor man, "Stand thou 4 there," or, "Sit here under my footstool;" have ye not then been partial among yourselves, and have ye not be5 come judges whose thoughts are evil? Hearken, my beloved brethren hath not God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which 6 he hath promised to those who love him? But ye have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress 7 you, and draw you before the judgement-seats? Do not they blaspheme that honourable name by which ye are 8 called? Now if ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," 9 ye do well: but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit 10 sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of shewing disrespect to all†. 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not commit murther." Now if thou commit no adultery, and yet commit murther, thou becomest a 12 transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so act, as those 13 who will be judged by the law of freedom. For he shall have pitiless judgement, that hath shewn no pity: but pity glorieth over judgement. 14 WHAT doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say that he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? *Or, hold not your glorious belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, Wakefield. + See Bell on the Lord's Supper, p. 101, 102. This indeed is all the writer could mean. Comp. 1 Cor. xi, 27. "He is liable to the punishment of offending in all.” N. 15 Now if a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily 16 food; and one of you say unto them, "Depart in peace, be ye warmed, and be ye filled;" but ye give them not those things which are necessary for the body; what doth 17 it profit? Thus faith also, if it have not works, is dead 18 by itself. Yea, a man will say, "Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without* thy works, 19 and I will shew thee my faith by my works." Thou be lievest that God is one † : thou doest well: the demonst 20 also believe, and tremble. But art thou willing to know, 21 O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not our father Abraham justified by works, when he offered 22 up his son Isaac on the altar? Dost thou see that faith wrought with his works; and that faith was made perfect 23 by works? and that the scripture was fulfilled which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness:" and he was called the Friend of 24 God? Do ye see that a man is justified by works ¶, and 25 not by faith only? In like manner was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the mes26 sengers, and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit ft is dead, so faith without works is dead also. CH. II. My brethren, be not many teachers; knowing that 2 we shall receive a greater condemnation. For in many things we all offend: if any offend not in word, he is a + that there is one God; N. by thy works, MSS. human ghosts:-Mr. Farmer supposes an allusion to Job xxvi. 5, which he renders, "the giants, or the ghosts of the dead, tremble under the waters together with their host." He adds, that St. James doth not appear to be delivering any new doctrine concerning demons, but rather to be arguing with the persons to whom he writes it, on their own principles. Farmer on demoniacs, p. 211-216. 1st edition. See, therefore, R. T. "So as to receive God's continued and final favour. St. Paul's justification, Rom. iii. 28. v. 1. etc. etc., is admission into the gospel-covenant. St. James declares that such as are admitted into that covenant must perfect their faith by works, ver. 22, ia order to be finally justified." Newcome. ++ Or, breath, N. m. |