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heaven," or "the earth," or their own "head" or life to witness, as if they would thus strengthen their assertions. He had required of them, that they "swear not at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne: neither by the earth, for it is his footstool: neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black." St. James repeats the command, and earnestly enforces it: Above all things, my brethren, swear not: as much as to say, if you indulge this sin, it shows that there is corruption at the root; for "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh;" and therefore" by thy words shalt thou be justified, and by thy words shalt thou be condemned.”1.

Truly, nothing can more surely disclose an evil and unrenewed nature than the profane habit of swearing a wanton defiance of God, without temptation, and without return. All that is solemn and sacred upon the tongue, nothing of awful or serious feeling in the heart.

Let then your yea be yea, and your nay, nay. Let there be no hesitation, no equivocation in your mind, and there will be no need of an oath to strengthen your words. Your yea will be believed as certain your nay be taken as the sure proof of your intention.2 "Whatsoever is more than this cometh of evil," and leads to condemnation: that condemnation which God has so clearly pronounced on those who "take his name in vain."

1 Matt. xii. 37.

2 So 2 Cor. i. 20, "All God's promises in him were yea ;” certain and sure.

As scripture supplies rules for every case of conduct, so it also makes provision for every state of mind.

13. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Is any afflicted? The Christian has no security against affliction. God may see fit to visit him with many sorrows. He may suffer from poverty; he may suffer from reverses of fortune; he may suffer from sickness; he may suffer from the distresses whch affect those dear to him. From the calamities which belong to a fallen state, he has no exemption but he has a resource in them. In everything by prayer and supplication he may make his sorrows known unto God. Even to a man like ourselves, it is a consolation to communicate our griefs and anxieties. How much more, to "cast our care upon God, knowing that he careth for us?" That "his eyes are over the righteous, and his ears open to their prayers?" Misery, however severe, is never without mitigation, where there is the heart to pray.

This, then, is a balm against affliction; and there is also an employment for a different state of mind. Is any merry? Does any one enjoy that cheerfulness of heart and spirit which belongs to health and prosperity? Lay that also open before God; "speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs: singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord." The prophet rebuked the Israelites, because "the harp and the viol, the * Eph. v. 20.

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tabret and pipe, and wine, were in their feasts: and men regarded not the work of the Lord, neither considered the operation of his hands."3 If the

harp and the viol are used in the festivities of the Christian, it must not be to exclude the Lord from the heart, but to promote his abiding there; they must resound in his praise; they must be attuned to the voice of thankfulness, and express our sense of his mercy, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

St. James has already made provision for a time of prosperity, and for a time of trial. He does not forget another condition to which the uncertain state of man is liable.

14. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Thus, in case of severe illness, they were to seek the aid of the elders of the church: those who "were set over them," and "watched for their souls." These should entreat God for the sick man, and, according to ancient custom, anoint him with oil, the emblem of comfort, health, and gladness.

3 Isa. v. 12.

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+ The custom prevailed among the Jews, to anoint their sick with oil. In compliance with the custom, the disciples did so when merely commanded to heal the sick. Mark vi. 13. They anointed many that were sick with oil, and healed them."

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It might prove, as in the instance of Hezekiah of old, that the prayer of faith might save the sick, and the Lord might raise him up: it might prove, that if sin had brought upon him this affliction, if he had committed sins,-they should be forgiven him; he should not die, but live," and be restored to the favour of God. So, at the prophet's entreaty, the Lord had raised up the widow's son: and so it might often please him to put honour upon his ministering servants, to show how effectual a return is made to the prayer of the righteous man.

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Thus throughout the various changes of the Christian's life, he walks as one who has his conversation in heaven. Affliction leads him to nearer intercourse with God in prayer. Ease and comfort excite his heart to praise. Sickness warns him to look into himself, to try and examine his thoughts, and see if there be any way of wickedness in him. Then, if the infirmities of the body should so depress the soul, that it should faint and fail in the hour of need, there are elders of the church to aid, and comfort, and advise. There is man's intercession upon earth. And-if this is little-there is the blessed assurance that He through whom all this provision is ordained, "ever liveth at the right hand of God to make intercession" there.

5 See 2 Kings xx.

6 See 1 Kings xvii. 22.

LECTURE XXI.

THE BLESSINGS OF SPIRITUAL ADVICE AND MENTAL PRAYER.

JAMES V. 16-20.

16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent

prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

17. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

If a man is perplexed with anxiety, or falls into temporal misfortunes, he desires the counsel of a friend. It is a relief to his mind under difficulty to seek an opinion on which he can rely. St. James advises the same resource in the case which is the greatest of all misfortunes, and ought to cause the most anxiety. Confess your faults one to another, pray one for another, that ye may be healed: 1

and

1 On this foundation the Romish church has built the system of auricular confession. Weeds readily spring up; a little seed spreads very widely. Here is only the word confess. No mention is made of confession to the ruler of the church, any more than to another Christian.

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