Matthew Poole and continuators on James 2:22

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works , and by works was faith made perfect ?

He doth not say, works wrought with his Faith, as he should have said, if he had intended their concurrence in Justification; but Faith wrought with his Works, i. e. his Faith was not idle, but effectual in producing good Works, it being the Office and Business of Faith to respect Christ for Sanctification, as well as Righteousness, Acts 26.18.

Either, 1. Faith by producing good Works is it self encouraged, heightned, improved; and so not made perfect by any Communication of the Perfection of Works to it, but by being stirred up, and exercised as to the internal Strength and Power of it. Or, 2ly. rather, Faith is made perfect by Works declaratively, in as much as Works evidence, and manifest the Perfection and Strength of Faith. Faith is the Cause, and Works are the Effects, but the Cause is not perfected by the Effect, only its Perfection is demonstrated by it, as good Fruit doth not make a Tree good, but shew that it is so. See 2 Cor. 12.9.

Marginal references: Or, than seest.; Heb. 11.17.