the high calling in Christ Jesus, and therefore care about nothing but buying and selling and getting gain-can receive but one counsel, and that is, To-day rather than to-morrow to seek in true repentance salvation from the mercy of God in Christ. But we who know Him, and belong to Him in our hearts, though we may have been seduced into that foolish security which St James here condemns in Christians-may hear what now follows for us and the direction of our better thoughts. It is no other than the exhortation to place our willing absolutely from this time under the will of God; and that not merely in the doing of what we will, that is, in the execution of our permitted plans and undertakings, but pre-eminently in diligent doing good according to the will of God.

It is not St James' purpose to condemn the Christian's saying, under any circumstances, "To-day, or to-morrow, during this year, I will do this or that." For, we have all to ponder beforehand what it is our duty to do; he who should altogether refuse to do so would do no good thing generally, though that is matter of exhortation in the following verses. The good which is given us to do is not always the mere work of a day; it must often be the well-considered and continuous labour of patience, carrying out careful plans through many years. Moreover, as it regards the business and sustentation of our earthly life, we are commanded by God Himself to give all prudential diligence. But what the Apostle demands is, that all our plans be subordinated to the will of the Lord, who ruleth all things above; and that we say, "This will we do" indeed, but only "if the Lord will." So St Paul to the Ephesians: "I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem; but I will return again unto you, if God will" (Acts xviii. 21). And again to the Corinthians: "But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will” (1 Cor. iv. 19). We need not anxiously and literally add this word on all occasions, to avoid sin, when we utter any resolution. At another time, we read that St Paul determined in spirit to journey through Macedonia and Achaia, and thence to go to Jerusalem, and he said-Afterwards, I must see Rome also! (Acts xix. 21). He does not there add-If the Lord will. It is the over-anxious addition of this proviso which has given rise to the empty, thankless forms of speech which have become so common, such as "God save you!" and "Thank God!"

We will, but only if the Lord will: that should be self-understood in our hearts; as it is self-understood with God that His will is supreme over all. And if this is the real earnestness of our souls, much will follow from it! Then we shall not only resign to the disposal of the government of God what should happen to us, whether the success or failure of our plans, whether we should go here or there; but the condition will be never forgotten-If the Lord will, and we live. My times are in Thy hand (Ps. xxxi. 16); the end of my earthly course at any moment Thou mayest assign. Our calendar gives us the longest and shortest days, the feast-days and festivals; but the last day of the world, which cannot be calculated like an eclipse, will never be there; and thy last day, O man, is not there marked out. Therefore, when thou lookest into the calendar of thy existence, forget not to look backwards to the old sins registered against thee, that none of them may remain unblotted out. And when thou reckonest forward, be sure thou form good plans for the right use of thy time of grace. It is short and fleeting; but long enough to seek and find salvation. He who redeems it, will have no lack; but the dreamers and sleepers will find the one day they calculated on too short. Time enough one day before death-said a Jewish sage when asked about this matter. But when it was further demanded-How may I know the day? he replied-Therefore begin to-day! Well for him who can in humility reckon upon and glory in the grace of God for preparation!

But to the rest saith St James, But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Is it not the highest pride, when regarding our actions, to think that we by our own will accomplished anything, whether the Lord would or not? As the Prophet rebukes the proud in Zion, and those who were secure in the mountain of Samaria-Ye rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? (Amos vi. 1, 13). Instead of that, we should always and everywhere say-Blessed be God, who hath borne with me, spared me, kept me, and strengthened me, so that hitherto the Lord hath helped me! Similar pride is it, when we think only of our own will in the prospect and provision of our plans; instead of saying, if we can with good conscience-May God give His blessing, and help me still, as it pleaseth Him. He that

glorieth, let him glory in the Lord! (1 Cor. i. 31). All glorying which forgets that is evil: in itself it is sin, comes from the sin of the heart, and worketh nothing but vain boasting, forgetfulness of God, and sin. Yea, all supposed good which man may effect with zeal, if it proceed from this glorying and this security, is not good before God.

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Unprofitable servants are we all before God; that is certain, for all our ability comes directly from Him. But, because He makes us able, therefore we are under obligation to do all that is commanded us. Diligently to do good, as we know how, according to the will of God, is the concluding exhortation of St James, as better than such self-willed purpose to do this or that. If we are found diligently aiming in good works at the possession of eternal life, then verily our fleeting earthly life becomes more than a mere vapour which vanisheth away; then it becomes the seedtime of the great harvest of everlasting gain. Let us do good, and not be weary; for in due season we shall reap without ceasing ! (Gal. vi. 9). This is our best buying and selling, and getting gain; and touching this we should every day say, We will, Lord help us! Occupy till I come," saith the Lord, who giveth the pounds, to His servants (Luke xix. 13). To this end, we must observe the time and opportunity, while we have it. Every day when we ask for it, the duty of the day which lies before us gives its reply from God. Then should we say-This or that I ought to do to-day, and that will I do. But we must not think that it is enough, as many say, to mark each day with a good work; if so, the Lord would every day indicate to us specifically this or that to do. He has in His word declared to us His will, His will that we should do all the good that we know to do and can do. Again, St James tells us by the Holy Ghost-He that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin! All, everything down to the least, is included in that great word of the Lord Himself concerning the servant who knew his master's will and did it not (Luke xii. 47). Every one of us has the task of his life, and has for every day the task to do all the good that it is in his knowledge, and his knowledge in his position, to do. How much might be said upon this word of St James, which condemns the countless sins of omission even among believers; which urges us alike to repentance for the past, and a holier zeal for the time to come! But we will now confine ourselves

to a few remarks upon an obvious misunderstanding of these words..

What is the good which we must do? First of all, it is that one thing, from which every other good may spring, the great act of repentance and conversion, of believing self-consecration to God, and the continuing in this deed. Take care of the business of thy salvation, and neglect not the one thing which is needful! Of that never say, in the spirit of procrastination -To-day or to-morrow; for thou knowest not what shall be on the morrow. Not of that say even -After a year or so there will be time enough for it; first, I will for a year buy and sell, and then I will give diligence in those good works which the Lord expects from His redeemed people!—But be wise to know aright, how and in what a man truly does that which is good! Thus, for example (I give one instance only for many), it is not of itself doing good to our neighbour, to give him in sympathy all that he asks: we should sometimes know that unwise giving is not true benevolence, and should do to our neighbour what is good for him, though it be by refusing the alms which would do him harm. Further, when we are bidden to let our moderation be known unto all men (Phil. iv. 5), it does not mean a love which should always and under all circumstances show itself externally gracious. If God resisteth the proud, to make them humble for the reception of His grace, and the best thing He can do is thus to thwart them, it may be your duty sometimes to be His ministers in this necessary and good work. If you can, without pride on your own part, resist the proud, you will do him good. By this it appears that a sure knowledge belongs to the doing, if it is to be a good work; for the heart of a wise man discerneth both time and judgment (Eccles. viii. 5).

Brethren! Does not every one of us know to do much more good than he actually does? How much sin, then, how much guilt of idleness and neglect remains with us all! St James had before presented the very simple truth, and how do we deal with it ourselves? Do you say-O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps (Jer. x. 23)? then direct not your own way according to your own will, but submit yourself to the will of the Lord. Do you say-I know in whom I have believed (2 Tim. i. 12)? then live as a righteous man by this faith; for

whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom. xiv. 23). Do we know that faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself; and do we know, further, that we are by nature dead in trespasses and sins, that all our own works are dead works; then let us, when St James urges us to do good, say in the full sense of his meaningIf the Lord will, and we live, if He giveth us the life which this requires! But the Lord will make us ready to every good work, that also we know: therefore let us ask and receive, hold fast and use His grace, which worketh in us all that is good.

XXVI.

THE MISERY COMING UPON THE RICH.

(Ch. v. 1–6.)

Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together in the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton: ye have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he hath not resisted you.

Go to now! Thus St James takes up again the sentiment begun in ch. iv. 13, which has not yet been closed. But if we look carefully, we note that the Spirit, guiding his pen, gives him another conclusion than that which he had intended. For he would, when he began with the first Go to, condemn the proudly secure Christians, who had let their desires loose upon selling and getting gain; and till now he had those in his mind who would be susceptible of a better feeling, who would say, if God will! and do good when they knew to do it. But now a sudden spirit of prophecy seizes him; so that he is constrained most significantly to include those gain-seeking Christians among those unbelieving rich men who hasten forward the judgment already impending. This much is clear: in ch. v. 1-6 he speaks,