Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-01-02

Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBURN i.

because it is by many supposed to have
been written about the time of the confer.
ence held at Jerusalem, noticed in our
last lesson. 1t may be doubted whether
the two are connected, even in point OF
time, yet it would be somewhat natural
that James, as the leading elder, should
send some letter to the Jewish believers
after the decision which was given by the
council had been promulgated; and this
would be the more natural inasmuch as
the decision appeared to be adverse to the
Jewish faction. The letter is addressed
to the Twelve tribes which are scattered
abroad" or to the Jewish believers which
did not reside in Judea.
The epistle is full of counsel and warn
ing upon many practical points of the
Christian life, and applies as well to the
state of things to-day, as in the time it was
written. There is dispute as to the
author of the epistle. Some hold that it
was one of the apostles, while others
contend that it was James, the Lords
brother. Others hold that the two are
Identical, and that the little James-the
son of Al phcus-is the name of relative
of Jesus, called his brother. Without
doubt the author is James the leading
elder of tho church at Jerusalem, several
times mentioned by Paul. The drift of his
letter is, in the beginning, to encourage
his brethren under the trials and tempta-
tions they were called to endure. At
length he puts in this warning, "Let no
man say, when he is tempted. am
tempted of God" Immediately connect
ed with that warning, in thought, is the
first injunction of our lesson; "Do
not err, my beloved brethren" The
teaching is. in form, both positive and
primitive. Everything good and perfect
comes from God, and nothing evil like
temptations. God is spoken of as the
Father of lights" This is very fitting
title, as he is the creator of all physical
luminaries, and the auhor of all moral,
soul light. AS he is unchangeable,
we cannot think of him as sending
darkness or obscurity. AS he is the
author of gifts, good aad perfect And as
he is without change or turning it is
absurd to talk Of things malign as coming
from him. The eighteenth verse describes
the method of our regeneration. First,
the plan and thought of new creation,
spiritual, is of God. "Of his own will"
we were brought forth; second, the agon-
cy employed to produce the work-"The
word of TRUTH" third, the design of this
gracious plan and provision, THAT we
should be kind of first fruits of his
creatures;'' that it might be seen how
exalted being man is when brought
into conformity TO Gods will and plan.
If this epistle has anything to do with the
action OF the council at Jerusalem and
the decision it sent forth to the churches,
we can very easily see the bearing of the
nineteenth verse. "Let every man be
swift to hear,' or to get the true import
of the letter of mutual concession that was
sent out to the churches. Having been
quick and eager to hear, let every man be
slow TO speak. Three-fourths of all the
qnarrels that the world knows might be
obviated if men would wait little before
they speak their minds about various
matters. A little reflection wonder fully
dulIs the edge OF anger AS indicated
this Injunction would have a direct bear
ing upon the questions between Jew and
Gentle christians; it has bearing equally
direct upon those questions about which
good people honestly differ in the present
time A sufficient reason for this counsel
is given in the next verse. For the wrath
of man worketh not the righteousness of
God, j. e., that which is regarded right.
eOus with him.
The 2lst verse contains standard
requirement of Gods word, the putting
off of all the defiement of sin. Filth
and sin are kindred. The passage indi-
Gates that as man may put off clothing
that has become filthy and cleanse his
person from material defilement, so it is
possible for him, using the means within
his reach, TO lay apart, or put off moral
pollution. Wash, and make you clean"
is the command. Then, having put away
pollution and sin, take the word of life
into the soul. The claim of the word
upon our careful attention arises from the
fact that it has such power 10 do us good.
1t is able to save the soul.
The scripture requirement is by no
means met, however, when ye hear the
word. Indeed simple hearing is some-
thing different from receiving with meek
ness the tngrafted word. This word
engrafted signifies that the word Of God
has been so received that it has grown to
the living man, and again, in positive
sense, the word is made flesh. Hearing
is TO be followed by doing. Jews and
Gentles are both to be judged according
10 deed and not according 10 what they
may huOWs ITO lDhu WIN hSa'h ~
sufficient, or comforts himself upon the
fact of his full apprehension of gospel
truth is deluding himself. The necessity
of doing while we hear is enforced by an
illustrations A man may see himself in
the word of God, but unless he sets
himself to work to become like the perfect
pattern there given, he will soon forget
how far from it he is; just as the man
who looks occasionally in the glass.
(rather mirror, as nothing like our looking
glass then existed) is never able to retain
his own features in mind. Verse 25 con-
tinues the same thought and uses an
expression that may point to the question
dividing the Jews and Gentiles at that
timo. The perfect law of liberty may BIZ
put in contrast with the law which bound
men. Another form of self deception is
II ontioned in the next verse; that of the