Trial of Faith Works Patience
T. Manton. James 1:2-4 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations;… 1. The chief grace which is tried in persecution is faith. Partly because it is the radical grace in the life of a Christian (Hebrews 2:4); we work by love, but live by faith; partly because this is the grace most exercised, sometimes in keeping the soul from using ill means and unlawful courses (Isaiah 28:16); sometimes in bringing the soul to live under gospel-comforts in the absence or want of worldly, and to make a Christian fetch water out of the rock when there is none in the fountain. Use 1. You that have faith, or pretend to have it, must look for trials. Graces are not crowned till they are exercised; never any yet went to heaven without conflicts. Use 2. You that are under trials, look to your faith (Luke 22:32). (1) Hold fast your assurance in the midst of the saddest trials. (2) Keep your hopes fresh and lively. 2. Many trials cause patience, that is, by the blessing of God upon them. Habits are strengthened by frequent acts; the more you act grace, the stronger; and often trial puts us upon frequent exercise (Hebrews 12:11). (1) It showeth how careful you should be to exercise yourselves under every cross; by that means you come to get habits of grace and patience: neglect causeth decay, and God withdraweth His hand from such as are idle: in spirituals, as well as temporals, "diligence maketh rich" (Proverbs 10:4). (2) It showeth that if we murmur or miscarry in any providence, the fault is in our own hearts, not in our condition. 3. It is an excellent exchange to part with outward comforts for inward graces. Fiery trials are nothing, if yon gain patience; sickness, with patience, is better than health; loss, with patience, is better than gain. 4. Patience is a grace of excellent use and value. We cannot be Christians without it; we cannot be men without it: not Christians, for it is not only the ornament, but the conservatory of other graces. How else should we persist in well-doing when we meet with grievous crosses? You see we cannot be Christians without it; so, also, not men. Christ saith, "In patience possess your souls" (Luke 21:19). A man is a man, and doth enjoy himself and his life by patience: otherwise we shall but create needless troubles and disquiets to ourselves, and so be, as it were, dispessessed of our own lives and souls — that is, lose the comfort and the quiet of them. (T. Manton.) Parallel Verses KJV: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; WEB: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,