Matthew Poole and continuators on James 1:3

3 Knowing this , that the trying of your faith worketh patience .

Considering.

The reason why he called Afflictions, Temptations, as well as why Believers should count it all Joy to fall into them, viz. because they are Trials of their Faith, and such Trials as tend to Approbation, as the word (different from that in the former Verse) imports.

Both of the Truth of the Grace it self, and of your Constancy in the Profession of it.

Not of it self, but as a means in the Hand of God, made effectual to that end. Obj. Rom. 5.3. it is said, Tribulation worketh Patience, and Patience Experience, or Trial; whereas here it is said, that Trial works Patience. Ans. The Words used here, and Rom. 5. are different; here it is [non-Latin text not transcribed], which signifies actively, the trying it self, and this works Patience; there it is [non-Latin text not transcribed], which is taken passively for the Experiment following upon the Trial; or, as we read it, the Experience, viz. of our Sincerity, as well as of God's Consolation, which may well be the Effect of Patience wrought by, and under Trials. And so both are true, that Tribulation, as Paul speaks, and Trial, as Iames, work Patience, and Patience not a further Trial, but rather Discovery, or Experiment, or Approbation of what we are, which appears by nothing more, than by Patience under Sufferings.

Marginal references: 1 Pet. 1.6.