{"collection":"Bible & Christianity","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bib/cmt/wesley/jam004.htm","path":"bib/cmt/wesley/jam004.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/wesley/jam004.htm","text":"Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley, [1754-65]\n \nJames 4:1\n \njam 4:1\nFrom whence come wars and fightings - Quarrels and wars among you, quite opposite to this peace? Is it not from your pleasures - Your desires of earthly pleasures. Which war - Against your souls. In your members - Here is the first seat of the war. Hence proceeds the war of man with man, king with king, nation with nation. \nJames 4:2\n \njam 4:2\nYe kill - In your heart, for \"he that hateth his brother is a murderer.\" Ye fight and war - That is, furiously strive and contend. Ye ask not - And no marvel; for a man full of evil desire, of envy or hatred, cannot pray. \nJames 4:3\n \njam 4:3\nBut if ye do ask, ye receive not, because ye ask amiss - That is, from a wrong motive. \nJames 4:4\n \njam 4:4\nYe adulterers and adulteresses - Who have broken your faith with God, your rightful spouse. Know ye not that the friendship or love of the world - The desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life, or courting the favour of worldly men, is enmity against God? Whosoever desireth to be a friend of the world - Whosoever seeks either the happiness or favour of it, does thereby constitute himself an enemy of God; and can he expect to obtain anything of him? \nJames 4:5\n \njam 4:5\nDo you think that the scripture saith in vain - Without good ground. St. James seems to refer to many, not any one particular scripture. The spirit of love that dwelleth in all believers lusteth against envy - Gal 5:17; is directly opposite to all those unloving tempers which necessarily flow from the friendship of the world. \nJames 4:6\n \njam 4:6\nBut he giveth greater grace - To all who shun those tempers. Therefore it - The scripture. Saith, God resisteth the proud - And pride is the great root of all unkind affections. Pro 3:34 \nJames 4:7\n \njam 4:7\nTherefore by humbly submitting yourselves to God, resist the devil - The father of pride and envy. \nJames 4:8\n \njam 4:8\nThen draw nigh to God in prayer, and he will draw nigh unto you, will hear you; which that nothing may hinder, cleanse your hands - Cease from doing evil. And purify your hearts - From all spiritual adultery. Be no more double minded, vainly endeavouring to serve both God and mammon. \nJames 4:9\n \njam 4:9\nBe afflicted - For your past unfaithfulness to God. \nJames 4:11\n \njam 4:11\nSpeak not evil one of another - This is a grand hinderance of peace. O who is sufficiently aware of it! He that speaketh evil of another does in effect speak evil of the law, which so strongly prohibits it. Thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge - Of it; thou settest thyself above, and as it were condemnest, it. \nJames 4:12\n \njam 4:12\nThere is one lawgiver that is able - To execute the sentence he denounces. But who art thou - A poor, weak, dying worm. \nJames 4:13\n \njam 4:13\nCome now, ye that say - As peremptorily as if your life were in your own hands. \nJames 4:15\n \njam 4:15\nInstead of your saying - That is, whereas ye ought to say. \nJames 4:17\n \njam 4:17\nTherefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not - That knows what is right, and does not practise it. To him it is sin - This knowledge does not prevent, but increase, his condemnation.","title":"Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible: James: James Chapter 4","type":"page"}