1   James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the TWELVE TRIBES dispers'd thro' the world, sends greeting.

2   Consider the various tryals that surround you, my brethren, as matter of great joy; knowing this, 3   that the bringing your faith to the test, produces constancy. 4   but constancy should be brought to its perfection, that you may be entirely accomplished, without any defect.

5   If any of you is deficient in prudence, let him ask it of God, who liberally gives to all without upbraiding: and he will give it. 6   but let him be fully persuaded of the lawfulness of what he asks: for he that is diffident about that, is like the waves that fluctuate with the wind. 7   such a man must not expect any answer from the Lord. 8   a diffident

man is inconstant in all his actions.

9   Let him that is poor triumph in the advantages of being a christian. 10   let the rich be humbled by his instability: for he is as transitory as a flower in the field. 11   the sun is up and darts its rays, the grass is wither'd, its flowers droop, and all their beautiful appearance vanishes away. just so the rich man fades with all his projects. 12   happy is he that can stand the tryal: for when he has undergone the test, he shall receive that crown of life which the Lord has promised to those that love him.

13   Let no man under temptation, say, it is God that tempts him; for as he is incapable of moral evil, he can't influence any one thereto. 14   a man is instigated, and drawn into the snare by his own vicious passions, which once indulg'd, are productive of sin, 15   and the genuine offspring of sin is death.

16   Don't be deluded, my brethren; 17   every thing that is valuable, every gift that leads to perfection is deriv'd from heaven, it descends from that original light, which knows no change, no shadow, or decline: 18   'tis he that has voluntarily renew'd us by the oracles of truth, that we might

be the first converts of the new creation.

19   Wherefore, my dear brethren, let every one be eager to hear, averse to contradiction, and deaf to passion. 20   for he that is not dispassionate is a stranger to the practice of true virtue. 21   throw off then your vices as dregs and scum: and receive with docility that genuine doctrine, which is effectual to your salvation.

22   Don't delusively content your selves with being of the audience, but put what you hear in practice: 23   for a bare auditor without practice is like one who sees his image form'd by a mirror: 24   he takes a view, turns away, and instantly loses his appearance. 25   whereas, he that attentively considers the perfect law of liberty, and is attach'd thereto, he is not a forgetful hearer, but reduces it to practice, and his conduct is crown'd with hapiness.

26   If a person of an ungovernable tongue pretends to religion, he abuses himself: for his religion is meer illusion. 27   pure and unadulterated religion, in the eye of God our father, consists in taking care of orphans and widows in their distress: and in keeping clear of the vices of the age.

1   My brethren, let not your christian profession be accompanied with partiality. 2   when any one, adorn'd with a gold ring, and a splendid dress, enters into your assembly; and a poor man comes in meanly habited: 3   if you should respectfully say to the suit of fine cloths, sit you there, that's for quality; and to the poor man, stand thou there, or place your self at my feet: 4   have not you made an arbitrary distinction, don't your judgments flow from a vicious principle? 5   consider, my dear brethren, has not God chose the poor of this world to be rich by faith, and to inherit the kingdom he has promised to those who love him? 6   but you, who despise the poor, are not you oppress'd by the rich? is it not they who drag you to their tribunals? 7   they who blaspheme that sacred name by which you are distinguish'd?

8   If, agreeably to the scriptures, you observe that royal law, “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self,” you do well. 9   but partiality is iniquity; and the law will convict the offender of transgression. 10   for he that violates but one precept of the whole law, is as obnoxious to punishment,

as if he had broke thro' all the rest. 11   he that said, “do not commit adultery,” said too, “do not kill.” though you should not commit adultery, yet if you kill, you are a transgressor of the law. 12   speak and act as those, who are to be judged by ^note the law of liberty. 13   for he that has not shewed mercy, shall be condemn'd without mercy: while the merciful shall triumph at his trial.

14   What advantage is it, my brethren, for a man to say he has faith, if he has no beneficence? can such a faith save him? 15   suppose one of your brethren should be destitute of cloths, and of his daily nourishment, 16   and one of you should thus address him; “go and prosper, I wish you a warm fire, and a full meal:” without relieving his wants, would he be the better for your wish? 17   just so faith, if it be not operative, is intirely lifeless. 18   it will be said, “you have a speculative faith, but mine is practical. where is your faith, if no effects appear? as for me, my actions will vouch for my faith. 19   you believe there is but one God, very well: the demons

believe as much, and tremble.”

20   Vain man, must I show you how lifeless a thing faith is, without its effects? 21   was not our father ^note Abraham treated as just, in consequence of his actions, when he had attempted to sacrifice his son upon the altar? 22   don't you see his actions and his faith conspir'd, and that his faith had its perfect effect in his conduct? 23   it was then, that those words of scripture were accomplished, ^note “Abraham believed God, and he was regarded for it as a man of virtue, and ^note was the ^note favourite of God.” 24   you see then, that a man is accounted just for his actions, and not for his bare faith. 25   was it not likewise for her actions, that Rahab, formerly a loose liver, was accounted as just, for having entertain'd the messengers of Joshuah, and dismiss'd them the securest way? 26   as the body then without the soul is a meer carcase, so faith without its effects is lifeless.

1   My brethren, don't affect many of you to be doctors, considering, that those of us who are such, shall be tried with the greater severity. 2   for we

are all liable to frequent mistakes. he that does not give too great a loose to his tongue, is an accomplish'd person and fit to moderate the whole church. 3   you see how manageable horses are made by the application of a bit, which makes them take what motion we please. 4   a ship too of the greatest burthen, tho' the wind bears hard, by means of an inconsiderable helm, veers about as the hand of the pilot directs her. 5   so the tongue is but a small part of the body, yet how grand are its pretensions. a spark of fire! what quantities of timber will it blow into a flame? 6   the tongue is a brand that sets the world in a combustion: it is but one of the numerous organs of the body, yet it can blast whole assemblies: tipp'd with infernal sulphur it sets the whole train of life in a blaze. ^note





7   creatures of every kind, beasts, birds, reptiles, and sea-monsters, are frequently tamed by human industry. 8   but who could ever tame the ^note tongue? arm'd

with deadly poison, the mischief scorns restraint.

9   By that we give praises to God the father: and that pronounces curses even against men, who are form'd after the divine resemblance. 10   from the same mouth shall blessing and cursing proceed? this ought not to be practis'd, my brethren; 11   does a fountain throw up salt water and fresh, by the same conveyance? 12   can a fig-tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine figs? no more can the sea yield water that is fresh.

13   Whoever is a skilful moralist, let him show by his virtuous conduct, that he practises the humble precepts of wisdom. 14   but if envy and contention imbitter your minds, don't think your false pretences can stand against the truth: 15   such wisdom is not derived from heaven; but is terrestrial, sensual, demoniacal. 16   where false zeal, and a spirit of contention reign, there confusion and every vice prevail. 17   but wisdom deriv'd from heaven is first dispassionate, then pacific, equitable, and obsequious: full of beneficence, and all social virtue, free from partiality, and hypocrisy. 18   they who cultivate peace, enjoy the reward of their virtue.

^note 1   Whence come quarrels and battles, but from the struggle of your sensual passions? you desire, and are disappointed. 2   you breathe slaughter and revenge for what you cannot obtain. you quarrel and go to war, but without success, because you don't petition for it: and if you did, 3   you would not obtain it, because you wickedly request to have your passions gratified.

4   Degenerate race, don't you know that friendship with vice is hostility against heaven. he that is a friend to the vicious world, is an enemy to God. 5   or do you imagine that passage of scripture to be insignificant, ^note “does the spirit that dwells in you, incite you to vice?” 6   on the contrary, he heaps his favours upon you. wherefore 'tis said, ^note “God defeats the proud, but is gracious to the humble.”

7   Surrender therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8   address your selves to God, and you will find him present with you: cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, you that are diffident. 9   be afflicted, be mournful, and

weep: let your mirth be converted to sadness, and your joy to vexation. 10   humble your selves before the Lord, and he will raise you up.

11   Don't, my brethren, treat one another with detraction. he that reflects upon his brother, and censures his brother, reflects upon the law, and censures the law: if you censure the law, instead of obeying it, you set up for a judge. 12   there is but one legislator, and judge, he that has the power of life and death: who art thou, to pass sentence upon another?

13   As for you, who affirm, “to-day, or, to-morrow we will go to such a city, we will stay there a whole year, there we will traffic, and find our account.” 14   how do you know, what will happen to-morrow? for, “what is your life?” a vapour that just appears, and then vanishes. 15   your language ought to be this, “if the Lord pleases to give us life, we shall do this, or that.” 16   you triumph in your vain projects, but your presumption is vicious. 17   he then that knows what is virtuous, and does not practise it, is a criminal.

1   As for you that are rich: weep, and lament the miserys that are falling upon you. 2   your wealth is wasted, your wardrobe is devour'd by the worm, 3   and your gold and silver by rust: that rust shall convict you: that rust shall corrode your flesh like a caustic, which you have treasur'd up against the last days. 4   hark! what a noise there is of hire, of which you cheated the labourers, who gather'd in your harvest! the cries of the reapers have reach'd even the Lord of the celestial militia. 5   you have liv'd on the earth in voluptuousness and luxury: you have indulg'd your selves as in a day of sacrifice: 6   you have condemn'd the just, you have put him to death, though he did not oppose you.

7   As for you, my brethren, bear your sufferings with constancy, till the advent of the Lord. the farmer, from the prospect of a golden crop, patiently expects the showers of the spring and the autumn. 8   be you equally patient, and exercise your fortitude, for the advent of the Lord is nigh. 9   don't repine, my brethren, against one another, for fear you should be condemn'd. behold, the judge is at the gate. 10   let the prophets,

my brethren, who were commission'd by the Lord, be your examples; suffer persecution with constancy like them. 11   we pronounce those happy, who have so endur'd. you have heard of the constancy of Job, you know with what success he was crown'd by the Lord, who is all mercy and compassion.

12   Above all things, my brethren, don't swear, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor use any other oath; but let your affirmation, or negation, be sincere, lest you fall under condemnation.

13   Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. is his mind serene? let him sing psalms.

14   Is any of you sick? let him send for the pastors of the church, to pray for him, and after giving him the ^note unction, in the name of the Lord, 15   the prayer that proceeds from faith, shall save the sick; the Lord will raise him up, and his sins that may have been the occasion, shall be forgiven. 16   confess then to one another the offences you have committed, and pray for one another, that you may be healed; the fervent prayer of a virtuous man has great influence. ^note

17   Elias was only a man, as we are; however, having ardently prayed, that it might not rain, it did not rain in that country for ^note three years and a half: 18   then be pray'd again: the heavens sent its showers, and the earth push'd out its fruit.

19   My brethren, when any of you deviates from the truth, ^note whoever sets him right, may be assured, 20   that the retrieving of a sinner from his erroneous habits, is saving a soul from ruin, and cancels ^note a multitude of sins. ^note

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