My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. (2) For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; (3) And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: (4) Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? (5) Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (6) But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? (7) Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? (8) If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: (9) But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. (10) For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (11) For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. (12) So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. (13) For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
I have brought all these verses into one view, not for that they all refer to one, and the same subject; but to compress as much as possible, into a little compass. Very beautifully, as well as graciously, the Chapter opens, with calling upon the whole Church, of regenerated believers, as brethren of one family, to consider of relationship, and to have the same love, one for another. And to be sure, there cannot be an argument upon earth, more persuasive. And equally sure I am, that while a child of God, keeps in remembrance that tie, and feels the common equality, both in nature and grace; there will be no respect of Persons, more than the Lord himself hath in his providences appointed. In our Churches, however, made up as they are of nominal and real Christians; distinctions will be preserved by the former; and what, the Apostle here saith of partiality to the person in gay clothing, and neglect of the man in poor apparel, are but too visible. Indeed, had James been supposed to have been present, in our modern Churches, he could not have drawn the characters more truly. But I beg it may be observed, that this is chiefly, if not altogether, applicable to carnal worshippers. I should blush to have it said, if it could be said with truth, of any real and regenerated child of God, that he said to a brother in Christ, stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool.
Reader! do not hastily pass away from this very lovely description, which, by the pen of the Apostle, the Holy Ghost hath given of the Lord's people. The words are put, in a way of question; but they decide the thing while asking of it, God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom. Not simply poor, in outward things; though for the most part, the Lord's people are, every way poor, in body and in spirit; but spiritually poor in their own attainments; for the riches of faith, find larger scope for exercise, where the soul is always laying humble before God! Sweet is that scripture of the Lord, by the Prophet to this amount, Zephaniah 3:12
I do not think it necessary to swell these pages of the Poor Man's Commentary, with observations, on what is so plain as to need none. And everything, within the limits of those verses, is like the Prophet's vision, he that runs may read it. One point just let me remark on what the Apostle hath said, of a single offence committed against the law, becoming a breach of all. The fact is undeniable. And it were much to be wished, that the world at large, would consider the justice, and equity of it; for it would tend, under the grace of God, to carry conviction, to every man's heart, that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of the Lord; and, consequently, no flesh can be justified in the sight of God.
Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all. And for this plain reason. Because that one breach, as fully shews the contempt for the law giver, as the breach of all. The man could not have committed this one breach, before that he had first lost all reverence to the divine sanction. And, therefore, it is not on account of his obedience to God, that he doth not break all; but because the temptation to other breaches are wanting. If causes operated, with equal strength to break many, there would be no restraint in the fear of God, to keep back. And, therefore, all the world are found alike guilty before God; though all mankind, do not alike commit the same offences. The child of God, knows this, after regeneration hath passed upon him, in the workings and plague of his own heart. And it is to such only, Christ becomes exceedingly precious, who though they are kept by grace through faith, unto salvation; know, like Paul, that in them, that is in their flesh, dwelleth no good thing, Romans 7:1.