EXPOSITORY LECTURES.

THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES.

LECTURE I.

TEMPTATIONS THE TEST OF FAITH.

JAMES i. 1-4.

1. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Among the apostles, two bore the name of James. One, the brother of John, was early put to death by Herod. The writer of this epistle was the son of Alpheus, and the brother of Jude. We learn from the Acts of the Apostles, that he resided chiefly at Jerusalem, and took the lead there in directing the affairs of the church. He was most concerned, therefore, with the Hebrew converts: and to them he addressed his letter: to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, i. e., to the believing Jews dispersed throughout the world. It relates, especi

1 Acts xii. 1.

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2 So as to be styled, in the chronicles of the church, the first bishop of Jerusalem.

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ally, to the circumstances in which they were placed, and the errors which prevailed amongst them, and is calculated alike for consolation and for correction.

May those who now read it, so receive the correction as to be entitled to the consolation!

2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.

At first, this seems strange; because we daily pray that we may not be "led into temptation."

The same word, however, is used to signify both temptation and trial. Against trials, in the form of sin, against sinful temptations, we must watch and we must pray. But we need not feel the same anxiety concerning trial, in the sense of affliction, or reproach, or worldly difficulties, in the course of duty. If divers temptations of this kind befal us, they are of God, sent for a purpose, and leading to an end which our heavenly Father sees to be desirable.

Such is the apostle's meaning, when he says, Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. Be not cast down by the present affliction and distress, to which as Christians ye are exposed. Let it never shake your faith: nay, rather learn to glory in tribulations;" count them matter of rejoicing when you look to the end; and let comfort be mixed with your tears, like the sun shining through a summer cloud.

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But this is not natural. It is one of the many cases in which the Christian must strive against nature, and rise above it. And if so, he must have a reason. If he is thus to overcome his natural

feeling, he must have another feeling to set against it. If he is to mount upward, when he would naturally sink, he must have somewhat to buoy and support him. Something must enable him to strive against the stream.

What is here needed St. James supplies.

3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Count it joy, when you find yourselves in the midst of trials. They put your faith to the test. And when faith bears this test, and does not fail in the trial, then it appears to be true and genuine ; to be divinely planted, and firmly rooted; for it has borne fruit, has produced patience: produced in your soul the needful gift, the christian quality of patience, of resolution, of constancy. For this reason count it joy. God is not visiting you with his anger, but proving you in his love. He is accomplishing a gracious purpose in you, as it is written, (John xv. 2,)" Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." So does the heavenly husbandman treat the trees of his vineyard, the trees of his planting. He employs the means which shall add fresh graces to their character, and bring forth in them the precious fruit of patience.

Let us then consider the way in which this purpose is fulfilled, and the trial of faith worketh patience.

When we desire to know the quality of anything, we bring it to a test. We doubt the quality of a metal. We prove it; we submit it to a trial. When particular strength is needed, we use especial means

by which that strength may be ascertained, may be manifested to exist. And so the quality of faith is shown, when that undergoes a test; when it is proved not to be an empty notion or a vain profession, but a pure consistent principle, actuating the Christian in the various circumstances of his life, regulating and governing his character, and still continuing to support him, even though he may fall into divers temptations. Thus the trial of faith worketh patience, produces and displays it; as hardships borne, prove endurance; opposition resisted, proves perseverance; losses and afflictions undergone, prove constancy: none of which might have existed, certainly none would have been known to exist, if there had been no afflictions, no hardships, no opposition. It is to be counted joy, that faith has risen superior to such trials: has come out like gold from the refiner's fire. Faith itself is of all things most precious. And, therefore, that is precious too, which has shown faith to be sincere.

We may take example from the temptations of which St. James was thinking when he wrote these words: the temptations which beset the early Christian; trials of reproach, and hatred, and poverty, and imprisonment, and every kind of persecution. Perhaps he was remembering his own experience for he was one of those, whom (as we are told, Acts v. 12-42,) the rulers summoned, and imprisoned, and commanded "that they should not speak in the name of Jesus. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

Now there could be but one sentiment in the mind of these apostles, inducing them to count their ill treatment and persecution joy: enabling them to rejoice in pain and shame. They had before learnt, that we know not how much or how little we can do, till the trial proves our weakness or our power. And now they had felt and shown the reality of their faith. A few weeks before, their faith had borne no such test. Their Lord had been in danger. One of their number had basely denied him; all had forsaken him, and fled. Now they were themselves in danger; yet none denied his Lord, none forsook his service: in the face of those who had power and authority, they had declared their resolution to obey God rather than men: and the trial of their faith working patience, had given them an inward satisfaction which amply recompensed their temporary sorrow, and enabled them to count it joy, that they had fallen into this temptation.

And now, if we follow this out, we shall see that it applies to other times and seasons than those in which the apostle lived. No person can work out his salvation as a disciple of Christ, without falling into divers temptations. If he is poor, poverty has its temptations; if he is in easy circumstances, prosperity has its temptations. Every season of life has its temptations: every vocation has its temptations; and when these are seen and known, and resisted and overcome, then there is cause of joy: "The trial of faith has wrought patience:" and the experience of that patience leads to all that blessed hope which the apostle indulged; that our short affliction, which is but for a mo

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