Matthew Poole and continuators on James 2:14

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man s[illegible: 1 letter]y he hath faith , and have not works can faith save him ?

Viz. As to his eternal Salvation; Wherein are the ends of Religion promoted by it? the Apostle had just before declared, that they who are unmerciful to Men, shall find God severe to themselves, and have Judgment without Mercy: but Hypocritical Professors, boasted of their Faith as sufficient to secure them against that Judgment, though they neglected the practice of Holiness and Righteousness. Hence he seems to take occasion for the following Discourse, to beat down their vain boasting of an empty unfruitful faith; and possibly, lest they should abuse or misunderstand what he had said about the Law of Liberty, as if that inferred a license of sinning, and living as they pleased.

Whether boastingly with his mouth to others, or flatteringly in his heart to himself. The Apostle doth not say, that a Man's having Faith simply is unprofitable, but either that Faith he pretends to without Works, or his boasting he hath Faith, when the contrary is evident by his not having works.

Such as he pretends to be good, and sound and saving, but is really empty and dead, v. 26. and unfruitful.

i. e. Good works, such as are not only acts of Charity, to which the Papists would restrain it, but all the fruits of Righteousness and Holiness proceeding from Faith, and appearing both in Heart and Life.

The Interrogation is a vehement negation, q. d. it cannot save him, viz. such a Faith as a Man may have (as well as boast he hath) without works. This Iames calls Faith only by way of concession for the present, though it be but equivocally called Faith, and no more really so, than the Carcase of a Man is a Man.

Marginal references: Matth. 7.26. Chap. 1.23.