James 1:23 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

If any be a hearer of the word merely, and not a doer If he do not comply with its design, do not so consider and believe it as to lay it to heart, and be influenced by its doctrines, obey its precepts, embrace and rely on its promises, revere and stand in awe of its threatenings, guarding against what would expose him to them; he is like a man beholding From custom or by accident; his natural face in a glass Without any intention to discover, and wash or wipe off, the spots that may be on it. For he beholdeth himself Without taking particular notice of what renders his visage disagreeable; and goeth his way To other business; and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was What renders his countenance uncomely, and requires to be removed. Here the word of God is represented as a mirror, in which, if a man will look with attention and care, he will see the face of his soul, and discover in what state he is, and what character he bears in the sight of God. It will manifest to him those principles and practices, those thoughts and imaginations, those affections, intentions, dispositions, words, and actions, which are contrary to truth and grace, to wisdom, piety, and virtue. But frequently those who discover all this through the word heard or read, go away, and so occupy themselves in secular affairs, as immediately to forget what manner of persons they were, and continue the same in their temper and conduct as before. Reader, is this thy case?