Matthew Poole and continuators on James 3:17

17 But the wisdom that is from above , is first pure , then peaceable , gentle , and easie to be entreated , full of mercy , and good fruits , without partiality , and without hypocrisie .

True Wisdom, which is of God, opposed to that which descendeth not from above, v. 15.

Either excluding mixture, and then it is opposed to hypocritical, or rather excluding Filthiness, and then it is opposed to sensual, v. 15. and implies Freedom from the Defilement of Sin and Error, it being the property of true Wisdom to make Men adhere both to Truth and Holiness.

Disposeth Men to peace, both as to the making and keeping it, in opposition to Strife and Contention, which is a Fruit of the earthly Wisdom. Peaceableness, which relates to Man, is set after Purity, which respect[illegible: 1 letter] God in the first place, to intimate, that Purity must have the [illegible: 1 letter]reference to Peace. Our Peace with Men must always be with a Salvo to our Respects to God, and Holiness.

Or, equal, or moderate, Phil. 4.5. 1. Tim. 3.3. Tit. 3.2. It implies, that Gentleness (as we translate it) whereby we bear with others Infirmities, forgive Injuries, interpret all things for the best, recede from our own right for Peace-sake, and is opposed to that Austerity and Rigidness in our Practices, and Censures, which will bear with nothing in weak, dissenting, or offending Brethren.

Easily perswadable. True Wisdom makes Men yield to good Admonitions, good Counsel, good Reason. This is opposed to Implacableness, Rom. 1.31. Pride and Obstinacy in evil, Prov. 12.1. and 13.1.

A Grace whereby we pity others that are afflicted, or that offend, and is opposed to Inhumanity, and Inexorableness.

Beneficence, Liberality, and all other Offices of Humanity, which proceed from Mercy.

Or, without judging, i. e. either a curious inquiring into the Faults of others, to find matter for Censures, which many times infers Wrangling, as our Margin renders it; or a discerning between Person and Person, upon carnal Accounts; which is P[illegible: 2 letters]ti[illegible: 2 letters]ity, as it is here translated, and ch. 2.4.

Or, Counter[illegible: 1 letter]eiting, as they do that judge others, being guilty of the same things, or as bad themselves; or Hypocrisy may be here added, to shew that Sincerity is the Perfection of all the rest before named; Purity, Peace, and Gentleness, &c. may be counterfe[illegible: 1 letter]e; Hypocrisy spoils all, and therefore the Wisdom that is from above, is sincere, and without Hypocrisy.

Marginal references: 1 Cor. 2.6, 7.; Or, without wrangling.