James 2

Mace^{(i) 1} My brethren, let not your christian profession be accompanied with partiality. ² when any one, adorn'd with a gold ring, and a splendid dress, enters into your assembly; and a poor man comes in meanly habited: ³ if you should respectfully say to the suit of fine cloths, sit you there, that's for quality; and to the poor man, stand thou there, or place your self at my feet: ⁴ have not you made an arbitrary distinction, don't your judgments flow from a vicious principle? ⁵ consider, my dear brethren, has not God chose the poor of this world to be rich by faith, and to inherit the kingdom he has promised to those who love him? ⁶ but you, who despise the poor, are not you oppress'd by the rich? is it not they who drag you to their tribunals? ⁷ they who blaspheme that sacred name by which you are distinguish'd? ⁸ If, agreeably to the scriptures, you observe that royal law, "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self," you do well. ⁹ but partiality is iniquity; and the law will convict the offender of transgression. ¹⁰ for he that violates but one precept of the whole law, is as obnoxious to punishment, as if he had broke thro' all the rest. ¹¹ he that said, "do not commit adultery," said too, "do not kill." though you should not commit adultery, yet if you kill, you are a transgressor of the law. ¹² speak and act as those, who are to be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³ for he that has not shewed mercy, shall be condemn'd without mercy: while the merciful shall triumph at his trial. ¹⁴ What advantage is it, my brethren, for a man to say he has faith, if he has no beneficence? can such a faith save him? ¹⁵ suppose one of your brethren should be destitute of cloths, and of his daily nourishment, ¹⁶ and one of you should thus address him; "go and prosper, I wish you a warm fire, and a full meal:" without relieving his wants, would he be the better for your wish? ¹⁷ just so faith, if it be not operative, is intirely lifeless. ¹⁸ it will be said, "you have a speculative faith, but mine is practical. where is your faith, if no effects appear? as for me, my actions will vouch for my faith. ¹⁹ you believe there is but one God, very well: the demons believe as much, and tremble." ²⁰ Vain man, must I show you how lifeless a thing faith is, without its effects? ²¹ was not our father Abraham treated as just, in consequence of his actions, when he had attempted to sacrifice his son upon the altar? ²² don't you see his actions and his faith conspir'd, and that his faith had its perfect effect in his conduct? ²³ it was then, that those words of scripture were accomplished, "Abraham believed God, and he was regarded for it as a man of virtue, and was the favourite of God." ²⁴ you see then, that a man is accounted just for his actions, and not for his bare faith. ²⁵ was it not likewise for her actions, that Rahab, formerly a loose liver, was accounted as just, for having entertain'd the messengers of Joshuah, and dismiss'd them the securest way? ²⁶ as the body then without the soul is a meer carcase, so faith without its effects is lifeless.