The Progress., 1893-11-25


Introductory. y.-Th. EpiStle of James
has usuallt been snpD sd to present
serious contrast to the EpStle> of
St Paul. inaSmuch rs it emphasizes
the importance of works rather tan
of faith The contrast is, however,
more a matter of form than of sub
stanc~; for Paul never forg is to insist
on the practical character of Chris
tianitv, AM James does not ignore he
ia that the outward IN ,nifcstationS
of religion must spr.ng rom an in
ward te nper of godlincss
l. All Cool Gif 5 Are From Col, vs..
1918. l6. "Do not err That is.
as to the matt RS mentioned in the
following verses
L. Every good gift and every per-
feet gift is from above" etc No mat
ter how they ca ne. they start from
God. "The Father % ghts. The
Creator of sun, moon and stars
with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning" Unlike
he '1ights" that he has made God
changes not Their appearance varies;
in turning over and over they cast
shadows on other objects. But God
abides ere same
Is "Of his own will" In pursu-
ance of his own will "Begat he us. -
Created us anew in the spirit of our
minds. "With the word Of truth" "
Using the word of truth as the instru-
ment of his action. "A kind of first
fruits" Because among the earliest
converts to Chr stianity
II. Therefore We Should Obey Him,
verses 1927. l9 Every man" With
out except n. Swift to hear, slow
to speak, slow to wrath" These ad-
monitions are given because it is by
hearing that we are edited. whereas
10y precipitate speech we may stir up
our own wrath and that of others as
we'll
20. The wrath of man worketh
not the Righteousness of Col" Does
not produce that righteousness of
character which is acceptable in Gods
sight.
II. Lay apart" As a worn-out
garment. "Filthincss" Sen,uality.
'Superhuity of naughtiness." Excess
of malignity. Receive with meek
ness The opposite of "naughtiness. "
The engrafted word The imDlante q
word. Which is able to save your
souls" Because the power of God is
in it.
%. "Be We doers, not hear
ers only" Hearing is better than
speaking but doing is better than
hearing.
%. His natural face The face of
his birth, his fieshly countenance.
"a. He bcholdeth himself and goeth
his way" Taking single idl, glance
and then passing on
% But whose looketh into Gaz-
eth steadfastly into. The perfect
law of liberty" The gospel viewed as
rule of conduet-''perfect' because
it contains all of Coils requirements,
and law of liberty" because it is
obeyed from the heart. and without
constraint blessed in his deed" In
the very act itself, which is its own
reward.
20. If any man among You seem to
be religious" Thi1k himself relig-
ious. "And bridleth not his tongue"
Controls not his speech. This mans
religion is vain" Empty, useless, of
no value in Gods sight
2s. pure religion" The word
translated religion" denotes an out
ward act of Worship. "'To visit the
fatherless and widows" etc TO show
spirit of beneficence. "To keep
himself unspotted from tn world"
To avoid all immoral contamination.
Things to BE Remembered Il.
Everything good is from God. . The
good God never changes. B. Quick
ness of speech is often the forerunner
of wrath. 4. Religion that does not
lead to action is of little value. :.
Beneficence and purity are two chief
Ills nf r,rra raliriAu