or the same field, both blessed with the faculty of speech, and delighting to converse with all others, but never conversing with each other, what would be your conclusion? "(1) Men draw near to God by outward profession, though it be not always in sincerity of heart. (6) God finally draweth near unto us in a spiritual union with man, through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, whereby God is united unto us and we to Him, by which means God dwelleth among us, and is made manifest in the flesh, as St. John and St. Paul speak. He is never found justifying himself, or flattering himself with human purity and excellence. The believer's humility is therefore, in the second place, a true humility. (B)Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and (C)purify your hearts, (D)you double-minded. A true humility is alive, and bears fruit in a new and holy life. That is the measure of your sinfulness; and if your humility should be in proportion to your sinfulness, what limit can be set to it? The saddest duties are sweeter than the greatest triumphs, and the worst and most afflicted part of godliness is better than all the joys and comforts of the world. But if God be with us, we have nothing to fear.III. Had we nothing more to tell you than that you are sinners, it would only fill you with mortification, hopelessness, and anguish. Trapp. But which of you can venture to say that your transgressions are few in number? And therefore Christ is Emmanuel. It is the nature of sin itself, and not its multiplicity merely, which subjects you to degradation. )Let your laughter be turned to mourning.Carnal joy exchanged for godly sorrowT. It know its own worthlessness, but it knows also the Lord's grace.3. CONSIDERATIONS ON THE PERFECTIONS OF GOD AND HIS RELATIONS TO US, AS MOTIVES AND INDUCEMENTS FOR DRAWING NIGH TO HIM. The connection is just as necessary, but it is of a different kind. (7) Of none of all these the apostle here seemeth to speak properly, but of another drawing near, which is by purity and sincereness of life, whereof chiefly in this place he speaketh, which be commendeth unto us in these words, "Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purge your hearts, you double-minded," which I take not for a new precept, but with and others as the manner of performing that which is now enjoined.Let us then consider the place —1. The abjectness and servility of one man to another are not pleasing to God. 2. This is the glorious "lifting up" which always accompanies a true humility. He abhors self, and finds a refuge in Jesus Christ, who is made unto him wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. To use a very rude metaphor, just as a man cannot go up another hill till he has gone down the one on which he happens to be, so a soul cannot be exalted in God until it has thoroughly come down from self. Time to Retreat. 8, 9.) But after having told you all that we can add intelligence as pleasing as that which went before it was painful. But when the man is to be exalted by the Divine grace and the Divine Spirit, that is a true humility which foresees this exaltation, and acts in view of it. Reynolds.The mother of Artaxerxes was wont to say, that they who would address themselves unto princes must use silken words: surely he that would approach unto God must consider, and look as well to his words as to his feet. It is not a humility of despair, but of faith. James then gives us the formula for drawing near. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to James 4:8. We can speak of blessings that are to follow in its train, and that are sufficient to compensate you a thousand-fold for all the distress which may have been inflicted upon your feelings by our delineations of the abject state to which you are reduced as transgressors. (James 4:7-10) We come to Another installment of James. It know its own worthlessness, but it knows also the Lord's grace.3. On the wall was a large painting of an eye. The believer's humility, being in the sight of the Lord, implies a life in the sight of the Lord. By no means; but the reverse. says an objector, "is that a true humility which is humble in order to be exalted?" THE MOTIVES.1. By wavering or double-minded he noteth the shameful hypocrisy which was crept in, even into their lives, which made some show of religion, And had a pretence of godliness, but in their hearts were full of ungodliness. When the sinner is made humble, he is merely undergoing a part of that moral process which must take place, in order that he may be raised from the death of sin to the life of holiness and peace. W. That they loved each other? As one the qualities that God highly values, there are real benefits to developing this godly quality.. The graciousness of the invitation.2. Trapp.Turn all the streams into one channel, that may drive the will, that may grind the heart. (1) By the manifestation of His majesty, as to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and others (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 17:1; Genesis 18:1; Genesis 26:1; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 32:24; Exodus 33:23; Exodus 24:1; Exodus 3:2). And can we have been often with the holy God, and not be holy?(O. (Isaiah 59:2; Jeremiah 5:25).2. Where, then, the apostle saith draw near to God, and He will draw near to you, he speaketh chiefly of drawing near by His grace, favour, mercy; who enlargeth His lovingkindness towards all those which with reverence and fear draw near unto Him.3. A true humility sees the truth regarding itself, that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, and cries out for God. THE MANNER.1. Such an exaltation implies satisfaction and joy. But after having told you all that we can add intelligence as pleasing as that which went before it was painful. )Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He shall lift you up.Lividly as in God's sightH. The exaltation, then, in this case must be an illusion. The essential excellence of what is done by a moral agent, consists in its recognition of the existence, and in its submission to the will of Him who ruleth over all. The essential excellence of what is done by a moral agent, consists in its recognition of the existence, and in its submission to the will of Him who ruleth over all. Consider the extent — the strictness — the spirituality of that law to which you are subject. He is never found justifying himself, or flattering himself with human purity and excellence. He sees Him who is invisible, and his motives come from that source, so invisible to the world. Beecher. It is not a humility of despair, but of faith. When the sinner is made humble, he is merely undergoing a part of that moral process which must take place, in order that he may be raised from the death of sin to the life of holiness and peace. It is our pleasure to be in the society of those we love, and to converse with them. (6) By reposing all trust and confidence in God, and clinging constantly unto Him, whereof Psalm 73:28. What great reason have we to be animated in our Christian warfare by the presence and support of the Lord of hosts! )Communion with GodAlex. (1) By the manifestation of His majesty, as to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and others (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 17:1; Genesis 18:1; Genesis 26:1; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 32:24; Exodus 33:23; Exodus 24:1; Exodus 3:2). When you take one step closer to God, you actually get two steps closer to God, for James 4:8 tells us, ''Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.'' 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