Matthew Poole and continuators on James 2:17

17 Even so faith , if it hath not works, is dead , being alone .

That which they boasted of, and called Faith.

Void of that Life, in which the very Essence of Faith consists, and which always discovers it self in Vital actings, and good Fruits, where it is not hindred by some forceable Impediment; in Allusion to a Corps, which plainly appears to have no vital Principle in it, all vital Operations being ceased. It resembles a Man's Body, and is called so, but in reality is not so, but a dead Carkase.

Margin, by it self, or in it self, be it what it will, it is but dead; or, as we render it, being alone, i. e. not in conjunction with Works, which always it should be.

Marginal references: Gr. by it self.