Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-01-16
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
ny REV. j. o. SHERBURN.

ers that we have marked in the two
previous ones. In this the precepts arc
less connected than in the former, the
writer passing rapidly over large field
and only stopping to give. here and there
some wise counsel or needed reproof. l
IS as though the author sought, in thu
space of brief letter. to impart the
largest amount OF pious teaching possible;
and for this reason no one topic developed
or much discussed, but many are SO
touched upon "a that each reader ca1
easily develop and apply the teachings
for hin If.
To oct the real force of the first verse
or lessol we need the opening verses
of the chapter. In these James shows
the tr g origin of the ,tri es and conten
tions he had before warned them against
and also the reason why many of their
prayers were unavaiing. Evil desire, OF
lust so prevailed with them that they
could neither have peace, or secure answer
to their prayers. Amcng these evil
,
exalted notion of themselves. This is
rebuked with the decl aration that God
ressteth the proud, but giveth grace to
the humble" Upon this declaration rests
the exhortation of the first verse of our
lesson. Submit yourselves therefore to
God" This with the second command
of the verse puts the matter before every
man in this way: Unless he regards
h mself as supreme, there is a necessary
cho c. OF su geriors. He can either submit
him self to God, or 10 the power OF evil
And, Ger ainly, all wise counsel would
urge the former course. Submission to
God implies that the man surrendered his
own will and desire, and yields himself to
d. and suffer the will OF God. The com
mand-Resist the devil-is a command
with promise So al so the following one
Draw nigh to God. 1t is as though
man was in the plain between the two
contending powers of good and evil. The
leaders on either side solicit his alliance
with them. If man boldly resists the
devil he will recede from him, let him
alone. If, in addition to this resistance,
he shall positively turn to the other force,
and draw nigh to God, then God will
approach to him; and when God appears
in the ehalf of any man we may be sure
Sa.an will be gone. He knows we'll his
helplessness when God takes the part of
any one whom he has attacked. The next
injunction is very closely connected with
the one urging u 10 draw nigh to God,
for we can never do this successfully until
We put away sin from our hearts and
lives. Hence we are 10 cleanse our hands,
l. G., make the outward conduct correct,
and purify our hearts, i. e., drive out and
refuse to harbor unholy desires and imp pure
purposes. Neither of these things can
any man do if left to himself, but as God
never leaves 10 himself any one who turns
to him, every man is addressed as if he
was to do all that is to be done. The
double minded man spoken of here is
simply the one who finds within himself
conf citing desires, some after those things
that are true and pure, others that are vile
and false. 10 cleanse the heart the latter
must be expelled. The two following
verses show how the divine help needed
Tor the difficult work of cleansing heart
and life NAV be secured. Penitent contrl-
ton of soul, and humble presentation OF
te,1 tIn NV
tons. The next verse turns back TO a
subject brought up in the former part OF
the epistle. That of evil speaking before
treated under "control of the tongue. y"
The injunction here given appears to refer
to disposition to censure and condemn
our fellows. perhaps Implying some
imputing of wrong motives to them.
These warnings are supposed to apply to
the conduct of brethren in the church;
but it is not altogether clear just what is
implied, or intended in the remark about
speaking evil of the law and Judging the
law. 1t has generally been understood
that the law of love was spoken of; but
may we not as we'll understand it to mean
the law of divine supremacy, or the order
of things which makes every man directly
accountable to God? In this view of the
matter, every man who presumes to
censure Or condemn his fellow is really
dsputing the claim of God to the right OF
Judging, and condemning or acquitting.
The 18th verse agrees better with this
explanation. In the following verses we
are directed to new subject. 1t may be
termed ungodl5neSs, in the strict, literal
meaning of that word. James warns
against hat kind of unthinking devotion
to worldly pursuits which leads men to 60
on planning and scheming as though there
was no God ruling the affairs of this
world. The specific conduct spoken
against, is that which would be very
natural 10 the Jews, scattered abroad
They went everywhere as traders, and il
would be very natural for them to say
either themselves or their friends, "to
morrow we will go into such city, and
continue there p year; and buy and sell
and get gain" This is rebuked as incon
sistent with a humble view of ourselves
n sense of our own frailty and a proper
recognition of God who holds our interests
and destinies in his hand. Our life is toe
Irail and short to warrant any boasting O.
what we have done or will do; and If We
know this and then fail to recognize Goo
in our thoughts and plans, our conduc
becomes sinful.