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The Giver of All Good.
by Isaac Williams
from Sermons on the Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays and
Holy Days
throughout the Year,
Vol. I. Advent to Tuesday in Whitsun
Week
Rivingtons, London, 1875, pp. 462-465.
First part of
Sermon XL. for the Fourth Sunday after Easter.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the FATHER of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow
of turning.
- ST. JAMES i.
17.
THE Collect, Epistle, and Gospel for this Sunday, which are found the
same in our own and other Churches, combine to form one lesson, the object
of which seems to be to prepare our hearts for the Unspeakable Gift. And
surely it is impossible to conceive anything more divinely sweet and heavenly
than the mode in which this subject is thus inculcated throughout. If on
Sunday last we were taught to look forward for "a little while" from earth
to Heaven, on this we are taught to make a heaven of earth itself; "among
the manifold changes of the world" to have our hearts at anchor within
the veil, and so to be at rest.
Every good gift, says St. James, and every perfect gift is
from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning. All mankind are seeking for
some good; but whatever good this world can afford is but imperfectly good
at best, if it were but for its very transient and perishable nature; everything
beneath the sun hath its shadow accompanying it, and that shadow deepening
into night, in which it soon is lost. But not so with the good and perfect
gift which God bestows from above, which partakes of His own un-changeableness—a
light which never wanes, has no shadow, never goes down. And therefore
the Psalmist, after stating this unceasing want, saying, "There be many
that say, Who will show us any good?" himself gives the answer, or rather
turns the answer into a prayer, "Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance
upon us." [Ps iv. 6,7]
And speaking of the Father of Lights, the Author of all good, the Apostle
adds, Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should
be a kind of first- fruits of His creatures. For how did we obtain
this New birth, that we should be the children of the light? Not of our
own merit, or by any works of our own, but of His own free will. "Of His
own will begat He us." And in distinction from all the vanities and shadows
of this world, it was "with the Word of truth," the Word of God which abideth
for ever. The" first-fruits" of old were by the Law hallowed to God, and
offered up to Him at this season of the Passover; so are they who are thus
sanctified and "redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God
and to the Lamb." [Rev. xiv. 4]
And to this St. James, ever clothing the highest doctrine with precepts
of practical duty, adds, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man
be swift to hear; that is to say, since it is of the will of God that
we are made His children; since it is from Him, and not from ourselves,
that every good gift cometh, the disposition suitable to us is that of
listening, and waiting upon God. "I will stand upon the watch;" "I will
watch to see what He will say unto me." [Hab. ii. 1.] "I waited patiently
for the Lord, and He inclined unto me." [Ps. xl. 1.]
"Let every man be swift to hear," slow to speak, slow to wrath,
for the wrath of man worketh, not the righteousness of God. This
temper, ever ready to obey, is contrary to zeal and forwardness in dictating
to others; and to that passionate earnestness which partakes more of human
infirmity than of Divine love. By such the cause of God is not promoted.
They are not congenial to that spirit which is conscious of owing everything
to the undeserved goodness of God; which hangs upon Him, which looks to
Him, leans upon Him; which has nothing, hopes for nothing but in Him; has
no strength, no good but from above. "Swift to hear, slow to speak
;" this characterizes the meekness of wisdom which is in the sight of God
of great price.
And again, St. James, as his custom is, comprises it all in a few memorable
words: Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness;
or, rather, " having laid aside," as washed from all stains, and having
put on Christ in Baptism, as circumcised in Him—in spirit, in heart, in
tongue, from the superfluities of carnal affection. For wickedness arises
from superfluity, from seeking what is not needful for us. Having laid
aside these, receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able
to save your souls, "the Word able to save," the gift of all gifts,
the good gift from above. O that we may ever cherish and keep this treasure
of great worth, which is only preserved in this spirit of meekness!
Thus, in this short passage of the Epistle, are we spoken of throughout
as not our own; as begotten by His Word; as receiving His Word engrafted
into us as a new life; as looking up to Heaven for the only good and perfect
gift; as having nothing of our own but what is evil; no earthly good but
what is transient; and therefore possessing our souls in meek and patient
reliance on the Giver of all good.
(for the second part, on the Gospel.)
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