Matthew Poole and continuators on James 4:6

6 But he giveth more grace : wherefore he saith , God resisteth the proud , but giveth grace to the humble .

Either the Spirit of God, if Spirit in the former Verse be understood of the Spirit of God, or God, if Spirit be there taken for the Spirit of Man.

Either, tho we, according to our natural Inclination, be envious, yet God (or his Spirit) is bountiful and liberal; or God gives to those that are renewed, more Grace than to be hurried on by their own old Spirit, to Envy, Strife, and such like Lusts.

God saith, viz. in the Scripture: Or it may be taken indefinitely, and impersonally, for it is said; The particular place he refers to, is Prov. 3.34. according to the Translation of the LXX, which, not only Iames, but other New-Testament VVriters frequently follow.

It is a military Term. God sets himself, as in Battel, against the Proud, defying, beating down, exposing to Contempt, and destroying them. He is so far from giving them more Gifts, that he rather spoils them, as sworn Enemies, of what they have.

Those that by reason of the Gifts God hath given them, lift themselves above others: Solomon, in the parallel place, calls them Scorners; it being the usual Guize of those that think over-well of themselves, to despise others, and even contemn the VVarnings and Judgments of God himself, which may well draw him out to fight against them.

Not only gives Favour and Honour in the sight of Men, to those that are lowly in their own Eyes, but especially furnisheth them with Grace for the overcoming, and mortifying their carnal Desires, and remaining Corruptions.

Marginal references: 1 Pet. 5.5.