4. Contents and Character. This epistle commences with consolations addressed to the faithful converts, with exhortations to patience, humility, and practical piety (ch. i:1-27). Undue respect to persons is then condemned, and love enjoined (ch. ii). Erroneous ideas on justification are corrected (ii. 3-26), the temerity of.new teachers is repressed (iii:12); an unbridled tongue is in veighed against, and heavenly wisdom contrasted with a spirit of covetousness 03-18). Swearing is prohibited (v:12). The efficacy of prayer is proved by examples, and the unction of the sick by the presbyters, together with prayer and mutual confes sion, are enjoined as instruments of recovery and of forgiveness of sins (v :14-18). The approach ing advent of thc Lord is foretold (v :7).
The style of this epistle is close and senten tious, and is characterized by Calmet as con sisting of 'expressions thrown together without connection, and adorned by poetical similitudes.' It has, however, been illustrated by no one with greater felicity than by the learned and pious Bishop of Limerick, who has adduced tnany ex amples from James of poetical parallelism— which was the principal characteristic of Hebrew poetry. In reference to one of these passages (iii. 1-12) the bishop observes that 'its topics arc so various, and, at first sight, so unconnected, not tO say incongruous, that it may be thought a rash undertaking to explore the writer's train of thought, and to investigate the probable source and the orderly progress of his ideas—an evidence at once most brilliant and satisfactory that the easy flow of a great mind, when concentrated on a great object, will be found at least as logically just as it may be poetically bcautiful."His gen
eral manner,' he observes, 'combines the plainest and most practical good sense with the most' vivid and poetical conception ; the imagery various and luxuriant ; the sentiments chastened and sober ; his images, in truth, are so many analogical argu ments, and if, at the first view, wc are disposed to recreate ourselves with the poet, we soon feel that we must excrt our hardier powers to keep pace with the logician' (Jcbb's Sacred Literatttre). Seiler designates the style of this epistle as 'some titnes sublime and prophetical, nervous, and full of imagery' (Biblical Hermeneutics, sec. 315; Wright's translation, p. 548). Wetstein (note to ch. iv :5) conceives the author to have been fa miliar with the book of Wisdom. Thc eloquence and persuasiveness of St. James' Epistle, as an ethical composition, arc such as must command universal admiration. W. W.