Matthew Poole and continuators on James 4:8

8 Draw nigh to God , and he will draw nigh to you : Cleanse your hands , ye sinners , and purifie your hearts ye double-minded .

By Faith, which is a coming to God, Heb. 7.25. by true Repentance, which is a returning to God, Hos. 14.1 Mal. 3.7. and by fervent Prayer to him for the help of his Grace, Psal. 25.1.

By the Manifestation of his Grace, and Favour to you, particularly giving you strength against the Devil and your Lusts.

Reform your Actions, amend your lives. Hands, the principal Instruments of Bodily Actions, being but for the Actions themselves; cleanness of Hands signifies the Innocency of the outward Conversation, Iob 22.30. Psalm 26.6. and 24.3. Isa. 33.15, 16.

You that are openly, and notoriously vicious, whose Wickedness appears in your ordinary Practices: So such are called, Matth. 11.19. Mark 2.15. Luke 7.37. and 15.2. Iohn 9.31.

Your Thoughts and inward Affections, from whence the Evils of your outward Actions proceed, Isa. 55.7. See 1 Pet. 1.22. and 1 Iohn 3.3.

Either by the former he understands the Profane, and by these, Hypocrites, or the same by both, viz. such as had wicked Hearts, and led wicked Lives; only he shews wherein true Repentance consists, viz. in the Reformation both of the inward and outward Man.

Marginal references: 2 Chro. 15.2.; Isa. 1.16.; Chap. 1.8.