is an object worthy of all our anxiety: a certain reward for our most earnest care. He that labours only to preserve this life, labours to "sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind." He spends his money for that which is not bread, and his labour for that which satisfieth not.g His toils are wearisome, and continued; and all must ultimately fail. He that labours for the life to come, labours for a reward equally certain and valuable. Let him love that life—it is life eternal—let him give all that he hath for it—he gives it as a ransom for his soul.

f Hos. viii. 7.

Isaiah lv. 8.

LECTURE XVII.

THE NECESSITY OF BEING DOERS OF THE WORD,

AND NOT HEARERS ONLY.

JAMES I. 22—25.

Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass, for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man is blessed in his deed.

It has ever been a common error to rest contented with a nominal profession of faith, while the actions are little, if at all, controlled by the principles which are maintained. To say we believe is so easy, often so profitable, that many readily assent without duly consi

dering what they do. And many more deceive themselves with the idea that they really possess religious qualifications, of which they are found to be utterly destitute, whenever an occasion arises which puts their principles to the test.

There are few parts of Holy Scripture more directly levelled against errors of this nature, than the Epistle of St. James. It was composed for the purpose of correcting the abuses, which, even at that early period of the Church, had arisen among Christians: and sets forth, in the clearest manner, the necessity of exhibiting the reality of faith by its practical effects.

The passage just recited contains one of those precepts, enforced with great energy, and illustrated with peculiar clearness. As this illustration is perhaps less obvious, in the authorized version of the Bible, in consequence of a word introduced in one part of it, it may be desirable to notice the whole passage, and observe the nature of the comparison, which the Apostle draws.

The Apostle begins with the plain precept, "Be ye doers of the word," displaying in your lives the fruit of the faith which you have in your hearts," and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." He then proceeds to illustrate the use which should be made of the

Holy Scriptures, by an image at once familiar and expressive. He He compares the word of God to a perfect mirror, in which, if any man looks, he may discern the exact lineaments of his mind, without exaggeration or distortion. But then the use, which may be made of this instruction, will vary with the diligence of each individual to avail himself of the advantages thus afforded him. If he examine himself carelessly and casually, without waiting to study his real character, the benefits which he obtains will be as fruitless as they are transitory. But if he continue to study diligently what are the precise defects of his character, he will derive from the study the benefits which it is calculated to produce.

The unhappy state of the heedless and forgetful hearer is thus represented. "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way; and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was."

The second manner of looking into the Scriptures, that in which the word of God ought to be used, is represented in the verse immediately succeeding. But the contrast between the two passages is rendered less obvious by the introduction of the word therein, which

a

is printed in our Bibles in a different character, to intimate that the expression does not occur in the original: and the connection with the context would be more clear if the word were omitted. The term which is rendered "looketh to," is in another passage rendered, "to look into;" and signifies properly, "stooping down so as to study attentively." It is, in fact, the very same term used by two of the evangelists, when they describe the disciples as "stooping down" to look into the sepulchre whence Christ had risen: and the term "continueth" appears to indicate the stedfast and constant attention which is requisite, in order rightly to appreciate the benefits which are to be derived from the Scriptures, that perfect law of liberty, revealed to mankind, which has made all true believers "free from the law of sin and death;" for "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

е

d

The whole passage, therefore, will appear more clearly to agree with the context, if it be paraphrased somewhat in this manner: "But whoso looketh attentively into the perfect law of liberty, and remaineth by it, and continueth to look, he being not a hearer of