Matthew Poole and continuators on James 4:15

15 For that ye ought to say , If the Lord will , we shall live , and do this, or that.

It is the real Acknowledgment of God's Providence, and the Dependance of all our Affairs upon him, which is here required; and this is to be done, either expresly with the Mouth in such like Forms of Speech as this is, so far as is needful for our glorifying God, and distinguishing our selves from those that are profane, as hath been customary with the Saints in Scripture, Acts 18.21. Rom. 1.10. and other places, but always inwardly, and in the Heart.

i. e. With his providential, or directive Will, which as yet we do not know, and therefore we say, If the Lord will: for all our Counsels and Determinations must be regulated by his preceptive, or directive Will, which we do know; and therefore with respect to that Will, we are not to say, We will do this, or that, if God will, i. e. commands it, but we must first see that it be commanded, and then resolve to do it, if God will, that is, if in his Providence he shall permit us.

Some read the words, if the Lord will, and we shall live, we will do this, or that; and then the latter copulative, and, is redundant, and the sense is, That all our Actions depend not only upon our living, but upon God's Willing. God may permit us to live, and yet not permit us to do this or that. But if we take the words according to our reading, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that, the meaning is, That both our Life and Actions depend upon the Will of God, nor the one, nor the other is in our Power. And so here is a double Check to the vain Boasts of those that were so peremptory in their Resolutions, without considering the Frailty of their own Lives, or the Dependance of their Actions upon God's Will, when both the one, and the other, are at his dispose.

Marginal references: 1 Cor. 4.19.