1884 JAMES II-OF GOOD WORKS Chapter 2 1 It is not agreeable to Christian profession to regard the rich, and to despise the poor brethren: 13 rather we are to be loving, and merciful: 14 and not to boast of faith where no deeds are, 17 which is but a dead faith, 19 the faith of devils, 21 not of Abraham, 25 and Rahab. Y brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called ?1 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 'Leviticus, 19, 18. Exodus, 20, 13f; Deuteronomy, 5, 17f. The Tumult in Jerusalem FROM THE BIBLICAL SERIES BY GUSTAVE DORÉ. + "And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.”— Acts, 21, 35. N JERUSALEM, Paul's welcome was less loving. I The members of the earliest Church, all Hebrews themselves, could not quite feel satisfied with Paul's tremendous extension of their religion to the Gentiles, especially since he coupled this with neglect of the Faith's Jewish foundation and traditions. The Apostles now counselled Paul that he should go through a Jewish ceremony of repentance, so as to convince the people that he himself had not abandoned Judaism. Paul did this, and those of the Faith were satisfied; but as he stood in the Temple engaged in the ceremonial, the other Jews saw and knew him as the man who had been so hated by the Jews of other cities. They attacked Paul and would have slain him, had not the Roman soldiers interfered. These seeing Paul the centre of such frenzy supposed him to be some terrible criminal. They bound him with chains; but when they would have carried him away "into the castle," Paul entreated to be allowed to address the people. Being permitted, he began a noble defense; but the moment he mentioned having taught the Gentiles, the mob burst again into such uproar that the soldiers could scarce defend their prisoner, and hurried him away. |