The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-22


made constant study of the command
ments, the precepts. the judgments, the
testimonies, the law, the word, the will
of the God of the covenant of his ia
TIERS"
James was probably Nazarite from
birth. Possessing such sanctity, and es-
teemed as having the knowledge OF Jesus
which close family relationship could
give, he was naturally held in special rev.
erence by his Christian brethren. He
was favored by his fellow Jews; but his
purity, his spiritual devotion, his calm
wisdom, gave to his words of living au
thority exceptional weight in the church.
The Epistle of James is peculiar
among the New Testament writings. 1t
puts such emphasis on works, in opposi
ton to those who regarded faith as
not needing works for it's verification,
that some theologians have thought it
to be I'M Christian. This was Luther's
mistaken view. Because this Epistle
exalts works, Luther spurned the writ
ings as an "epistle of straw" But the
fault Luther thought he discovered in
it was imaginary. James makes no
recommendation that any ritualistic
"works" be done. His sole recommends
ton is that Christian believers realize
that their faith can serve its true OBJ
ject only as it results in right-doing in
the daily life. 1t is probable that there
had in his day school of Christians ap
peared who, by misinterpreting Pauls
doctrine of justification by faith" had
maintained that faith is thing to be
eulogized rather than exemplified.
James set his great influence against
this wrong tendency. In his Epistle he
teaches with directness and plainness
that the personal salvation which the
Gospel promises is entirely contained
in the personal character of the be-
lever. He took the emphasis from
faith. only to place it on faithfulness,
The whole Epistle should be read,
by both teachers and pupils. in connec-
ton with the two selections from it
which are set for study in this lesson
and the one following.
1. Dead Faith is Valueless,-
VS.. 14-17.
What doth 1T profit, mig brethren, If
a man sag he hath faith, but haze not
aoorks? can that faith save hinaP EN-
phasis and contempt are in the word
that" THAT faith! James returns to
his main proposition (ch. l, vs. 22-27,
which is in effect, that it is only as one
is doer of the work as we'll as nearer
of the word. righteous as we'll as
believing man. that he is saved,-name-
ly, saved from SHINING. He wishes now
to make his main proposition plain.
If brother or sister be naked, and IN
lack of daily food. and one of you sag
unto them. Go IN peace, be ye alarmed
and filed; and get ye giue them not
the things needfWl to the body; aohat
doth 1T profit? or what value is the
emotion which expends itself in words?
Mist lowering over the bay is similar to
the steam that propels the steamship;
but of what value as motor is unor-
ganized, undirected vapor? How much
vaporish emotion, vaporish sympathy,
vaporish profession. will it take to save
the world or one soul? EUen so faith
If 1T haze not acorks. is dead IN ITSELF
Faith cannot remain within itself. and
be faith; as a seed cannot be true
seed except it fulfill its destiny by bear
ing fruit. Words, gush, emotion, sym
pathy, when resulting in no good acts,
make religion dissipation rather than
a growth.
2. Faith is made Manifest by
WOrks,-vs. 1920.
Yea, man aoiH sdy Thou hast faith,
and haze acorks: shoaC me thy faith
apart from thy acorks, and l by mig
acorks aoiU shoao thee mig faith. James
had friendly feeling for the one who
preferred to speak in deeds rather than
in words. He respected the good sense
of believer who said to a voluble
brother who did nothing but eulogize
his own faith: Thou affirmest that
thou hast faith; ! affirm that l have
works. Show me thy faith without
works; nay, it cannot be done; it is no
faith if it result in no good works. l
show my faith by my works: the fruit is
the evidence of the seed" Thou be-
lievest that God is one; thou doest sceU;
the deUils also believe and shudder.
The grandest affirmation of faith, the
| Unity of God. while it remains lifeless
| in the mind, is destitute of moral value;
the worst men. the very demons of the
Imagination, may. while shuddering be-
fore Justice. be to this extent, orthodox
in faith. But t0iH thou knoa1 o cain
man, that faith apart from a1orks is
barren? Oh empty brain, empty soul!
can you rot see that all faith separated
from its logical ethics is worthless, be-
cause fruitless?
3. Abraham Justified by his
WOrEs,-vs. 21-23.
Was not Abraham, oar father, justi-
fed by works. IN that he offered up Isaac
has SON upon the altar? Thou seest
| that faith 1crOu0ht 11ith has leOrks, and