EPISTLE OF ST JAMES, a canonical book of the New Testament, being the first of the catholic or general epistles; which are so called, as not being written to one but to several Christian churches.
This general epistle is addressed partly to the believing and partly to the infidel Jews; and is designed to correct the errors, soften the ungoverned zeal, and reform the indecent behaviour of the latter; and to comfort the former under the great hardships they then did, or shortly were to suffer, for the sake of Christianity.