Practical Christianity (6): Every Good and Perfect Gift (James 1:16-17) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. The Meaning of It
II. The Source of It
III. The Errors Regarding It
Prof. Herman Hanko on James 1:16: “James uses the tender address ‘my beloved brethren,’ which reminds God’s people that although they do sin frequently when temptation has its way with them, nevertheless they are still of the family of God, brothers with the apostle, and thus have hope even in the dire circumstances of a melancholy fall” (Faith Made Perfect, p. 44).
Thomas Manton on James 1:17: “God, and all that is in God, is unchangeable; for this is an attribute that, like a silken string through a chain of pearl[s], runneth through all the rest: his mercy is unchangeable, ‘his mercy endureth for ever,’ Ps. c. 5. So his strength, and therefore he is called ‘The Rock of ages,’ Isa. xxvi. 4. So his counsel, Mutat sententiam, sed non decretum (as Bradwardine); he may change his sentence, the outward threatening or promise, but not his inward decree; he may will a change, but not change his will. So his love is immutable; his heart is the same to us in the diversity of outward conditions: we are changed in estate and opinion, but God he is not changed; therefore when Job saith, Job xxx. 21, ‘Thou art turned to be cruel,’ he speaketh only according to his own feeling and apprehension.”