Study Desk

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?

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?

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.

it was then, that those words of scripture were accomplished, "Abraham believed God, and he was regarded for it as a man of virtue, and was the favourite of God."

you see then, that a man is accounted just for his actions, and not for his bare faith.

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?

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.

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,

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.

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."

how do you know, what will happen to-morrow? for, "what is your life?" a vapour that just appears, and then vanishes.

As for you that are rich: weep, and lament the miserys that are falling upon you.

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.

be you equally patient, and exercise your fortitude, for the advent of the Lord is nigh.

don't repine, my brethren, against one another, for fear you should be condemn'd. behold, the judge is at the gate.

Is any of you sick? let him send for the pastors of the church, to pray for him, and after giving him the unction, in the name of the Lord,

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.

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 three years and a half:

in the enjoyment of a state, that can never change or decay, a state reserv'd in heaven for us,