Graphautarkeia, or, The Scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated wherein whatsoever is contain'd in Scripture, respecting doctrine, worship or manners is reduced to its proper head, weighty cases resolved, truths confirmed, difficult texts illustrated and explained by others more plain. 1676 Approx. 1544 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 271 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A41801 Wing G1563 ESTC R180052 12881145 ocm 12881145 94934 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A41801) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 94934) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 381:10) Graphautarkeia, or, The Scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated wherein whatsoever is contain'd in Scripture, respecting doctrine, worship or manners is reduced to its proper head, weighty cases resolved, truths confirmed, difficult texts illustrated and explained by others more plain. Locke, John, 1632-1704. [32], 508 p. Printed for Sampson Evans ..., London : 1676. Title transliterated from Greek. Attribution doubtful. Sometimes ascribed to John Locke. Cf. NUC pre-1956. Reproduction of original in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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ΓΡΑΦΑΥΤΑΡΚΕΙΑ OR , THE SCRIPTURES SUFFICIENCY Practically Demonstrated . WHEREIN Whatsoever is contain'd in Scripture , Respecting Doctrine , Worship , or Manners , is reduced to its proper Head. Weighty Cases resolved , Truths confirmed , difficult Texts illustrated , and explained by others more plain . All Scripture is given by inspiration of God , and is profitable for Doctrine , for Reproof , for Correction , for instruction in Righteousness , 2 Tim. 3. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Clem. Alex. l. 4. LONDON , Printed for Sampson Evans , Bookseller in Worcester . 1676. THE PREFACE . AMong the many and various Dispensations of Blessings which God hath always confer'd on his Church-Militant here on earth , This of revealing his holy Will to the sons of Men , upon a due and serious reflection , seems to be none of the meanest : for if the gradual conveyance of the S. Scriptures be considered in all its circumstances , it will not only exhibit unto us matter of Astonishment and Wonder ; but it will also be an invinsible Argument to prove their Divine extraction . To omit the many and wonderful preservations of the Law under the Jewish Oeconomy , and to proceed to the Gospel-Dispensation : When Christianity began so mightily to prevail , and to extend it self over the whole World ; then it was that the Enemies of those Sacred Writings began to appear : the Devil ( who hath never omitted any Arts or Stratagems that would any way conduce to the eternal ruine of man-kind ) rallies up all his forces in opposition to them ; well knowing how greatly they would tend to the diminution of his Kingdom ; for as long as those Sacred Oracles stood as the Basis and Foundation on which Christianity was built , his other attempts must necessarily prove vain and unsuccessful ; wherefore like a subtil Enemy , and cunning Polititian , he levies all his Forces to destroy the Foundation : rightly concluding , that if that were once shattered , the whole Fabrick must consequently come to ruine and desolation . And in prosecution of this Design , he and his Agents have endeavoured to invalidate those Writings ; though as to their matter of Fact , not a Julian , nor a Celsus did ever assume impudence enough to deny : and that they might the more amuse the minds of men , they imposed spurious writings , under the Names of the venerable Pen-men of the Sacred Scriptures : but this fallacy was soon discover'd ; for the Majesty of those Holy Writings eminently appearing above the others , soon put a period to this Controversie . All pretended Revelations have visibly discover'd their nakedness , and soon betrayed their own mean descent . But as it is commonly observed , that after a Defeat , there is a general Rendezvous of all Forces , to make the last assault , which is usually very formidable ; so these infernal Powers having been disappointed in their first enterprize , could not rest satisfied , until they had changed the Scene , and appear'd in more hostile shape than ever : Defamation now was not sufficient , but the total Destruction of the Word of God was design'd . And now to the amazement of the World ( after many other mighty Enemies to the Christian Cause ) up starts Dioclesian , an Enemy no less potent than formidable , who set forth an Edict that all Christians should deliver up their Scriptures , and that the Writings of the Church should be burnt , which was prosecuted with great rigour and fierceness ; and he was so confident of the success of it , that on a Column which was erected to him , as a Trophy of his extinguishing the Christian faith , he had this in the inscription . — Superstitione Christi ubique deleta , Grut●… inscript . pag. 280. And what could now be expected , but that the whole Christian Name should have been extirpate ? for Persecutions began again to look with a most terrible aspect ; and now it was that such a multitude of Christians offer'd themselves as Victims to appease the rage of their cruel Adversaries with their Martyr-flames , rather than deliver up what was most dear to them in the World , viz. their Bibles : and those who by fear or any other inducements were perswaded to the contrary , were approbriously called Traditores . And who could imagine that this stratagem should have been defeated ? Who could have thought that these inquisitive and inveterate Enemies should have their designs and intentions thus frustrated ? But God , who at all times hath given us signal Demonstrations of their Divinity , by his miraculous and wonderful preservation of them , was not wanting at this time , but mightily rescued them from the flames of these wicked Persecutors . What was here but the special Providence , the Finger of God , to be seen in this great Deliverance ? Who but an Omnipotent Power could now sustain the Christian faith , when all humane and infernal Power were bent against it ? But thus did the sacred Oracles triumph over its Adversaries , baffled all assaults and Enemies , and stood unmov'd like a mighty Rock in the midst of the Sea , outbraving all Storms and Tempests . But although the Sacred Scriptures have been thus conveyed down to us , having their Divine Authority confirm'd by the suffrages of all Ages ; and although they answer the ends and purposes of their Author , viz. That they should be the Rule of our Faith , the infallible Standard by which all Actions should be measured ; That in them are contained the whole Essentials of Religion , the words of Eternal Life , &c. Yet it is thought ( and not without just grounds ) a Design that may not be altogether unuseful to the Publick , for the more exquisite use upon any emergent occasion , that those Scriptures which lie here and there dispers'd throughout the whole Sacred Repository , belonging to one place or Subject , be reduced to their proper Heads , that so the use of the whole may be rendred more obvious to the diligent Enquirer . This is the Design of the ensuing Tract ; a Work of no small pains and labour : For it is possible a man may be a good Textuary , and yet upon many occasions may want that full satisfaction which those sacred Treasures afford : To obviate which difficulty , no Concordance ( that I know of will very much contribute . And indeed , the Reduction of the Sacred Scriptures to this Method must needs be very grateful to any that have time and leisure for a serious perusal of them , especially to Divines , who cannot chuse but frequently have recourse to a Work of this nature . As to the whole Composure , or selecting the Texts of Scripture to their several Heads or Subjects , or the pertinency of them to the place they belong to , either for probation , illustration , or the like : The Author hath consulted several Eminent and learned Men , who have fufficiently given their Approbation of it , and greatly encouraged its Publication . The Epistle to the Reader will give a particular account of the usefulness of the Work. The PREFACE to the Reader . THat the Holy Scriptures are one of the greatest blessings which God bestows upon the sons of men , is generally acknowledged by all who know any thing of the value and worth of them . To shew their Use and Excellency , is beyond the Authors present design or intendment ; 't is already done by one or other to good purpose every day . In them the Lord hath dilucidly displayed that Counsel of his Will , that is of infinite concernment to us to understand , in order to our present being accepted of him here , and at last brought to the fullest enjoyment of himself in glory . 'T is wonderful to behold , how full and perfect this Word is , with respect to this end ; What can man desire to know , which is necessary hereunto , that the light thereof discovers not ? What direction can he expect , by which he may be fortified against all enemies of his good , either within or without him , that is not there given ? What encouragements would he have which are not therein displayed before him ? And what Cavils can be brought against any part of Truth contained therein , to which they themselves yield not a full resolve ? ( one place of Scripture so exactly clearing , expounding , and illustrating another ) yet ( to amazement ) it s observ'd , That man ( who is so highly and principally concerned in it ) doth too too little value it ; he can weary himself in any secular affair , but diligently to search the Scriptures ( according to our Lords advice ) is to him tedious and burdensom . Few covet to be mighty in the Scriptures ; though convinced , their great concern is inveloped in them : A spirit of self-fulness , pride , spiritual sloth , drowsiness and deadness , lyes at the bottom of this sinful neglect . To encourage , awaken persons to a more diligent thorow search of the mind of God herein , is a service no less profitable than seasonable at this day . And what greater external encouragement , than to make that facile and easie , which seem'd inconquerably arduous and difficult ? This is the design of the ensuing Treatise : nor is the Author altogether without hopes ( wherein he hath the concurring-judgment of several eminently learned and judicious Divines who have perused it ) but , by the blessing of God , it may have a singular tendency to the enlightning of some , and establishing of others in divine Tuths ( when uno intuitu they see the Scriptures , upon which they are built ) , and enabling them with ease to confute gainsayers . This hath prevailed upon him , to give leave for the publishing of it fot the Common good , having found it to be of great use to himself to the ends before-mentioned . For here the several Texts of Holy Scripture ( which lie scattered in the book of God , are collected together , transcribed and placed ( in the order as they lie in the Bible ) under several and particular Heads ( a fruit of many years labour in frequent reading through the whole Old and New Testament , with serious thoughts upon it , and prayer to God , to the end the scope and meaning of the Holy Ghost in each Text might be found out ) . And where any Subject is fallen on , and mentioned in the general head , ( and sometimes also in a particular head ) there ( for the most part ) is to be found all that relate to that matter , immediately following under particular heads , or subdivisions , to the end that the whole thereof may be met with together : or , at least , there are references to some other general or particular head , where it is placed more properly . And here note , Christian Reader , That thou hast not only the places positive to the Subject there , but also such which are any ways argumentative , or enforcing ( whether by Examples , the equity of the things , the nature of God , his approbation of Promises to , or threatnings against it ) or any way illustrating or expounding of it , by whatsoever terms they are expressed : whereof a little use of this Treatise will soon give thee a full evidence . But , to prevent prejudice and mistakes , and give thee some light in the way and method the Author hath taken , He proposeth to thy observation these few things following . First , To prevent prejudice , do the Author and thy self this right , Not to make a judgment by the reading of one or two Texts at the beginning of any head : for possibly they may not at the first blush seem to thee so pertinent to the matter , as others do which follow ; they may be only argumentative , and not positive : For the Author so placed them on purpose , that they might run in order , as they lie in the Bible , that the Reader might go to any Text of either Testament , without turning backward and forward , and for other advantages ; and thence it happens sometimes , That the Scriptures less to the purpose , first occur to thy View . Likewise , pass not sentence upon any Text thou shalt find under any head , as impertinent to the Subject there , until thou hast seriously weighed the same : for possibly in so doing , thou mayst discern something in that Scripture , which thou never didst observe before , nor mightest have taken notice of , had not the Head or Subject there , turned thy thoughts upon it . And then , the Author doubteth not , but that the Composure it self ( when judiciously considered ) will prevent this Censure , That it 's a needless Work , as having been done already by others : This being a thing of another nature than any yet extant , and will be helpful at another rate . For , ( notwithstanding any other helps ) the finding out of apt Scriptures for illustrating , confirming , and making use of any Truth which may be upon the thoughts of any , have been , as it is , a difficult and laborious Work ; and thence men oft-times use Scriptures , either not Apt , according to the intent of the Holy Ghost there ; or such , the genuine sense of which is doubted . And for the use of Concordances herein , each mans memory must record the Scriptures : for they must first occur to his thoughts , then his judgment must fix upon some word therein , under which the Text is placed : and 't is possible not hit the right term under which it is ; and oft-times look a long time ere he come to it , because of the multitude of words there used : and happily miss at last too , and be put upon searching under another term . But here thou mayst only turn to the Subject thou enquirest after , and ( without any such steps ) find Scriptures full and apt thereto ( by whatsoever Terms or Phrases they are expressed ) occur to your Eye at an instant ; and almost ( if not altogether ) all the Scripture affords to that Subject ; and present thee with matter of Enlargement , which possibly thou thoughtest not of . Secondly , To give thee some light in the Method , and to help thee in the use of this . First , Take notice , that in Chap. 13. [ of Saints failings ] The first Texts are to prove each person his Saintship ; then the next following , their failings : and this is done on purpose , that it might appear they are the failings of Saints : and so proper to the Head. 2dly , Note also , That the words within a Parenthesis beginning with [ or ] are the Marginal Readings . 3dly , Some general Heads have no particulars following , but the whole placed under that general Head. This is so done , either because the Texts which the Scripture affords to that Subject , are but few in the whole , and so easily run through ; or that the matters are so various , that almost every verse carries a distinct thing in it , yet still relating to the general Head ; as that [ of the Saints Priviledges ] each Text almost a distinct Priviledg : so that [ of the Character of Saints ] and some others of like nature : And here to have descended to particular Heads , would have been tedious and unnecessary ; for the words being there transcribed , the Reader may presently inform himself , in the whole , and in every particular . Lastly , A little pains in observing the Contents or Table in the front of the Book , which doth contain the General and particular Heads therein , and also the References thereto , and directs to Chapter and Page where each lieth , will enable thee to discern more of the Method and usefulness of this Work , than can be well expressed in a short Epistle . Therefore this shall suffice , supposing the Work it self will shew its own usefulness and advantage to Meditation about Divine matters : holding a man to one Subject , and yielding variety of matter to enforce it upon the mind , and leave impression there : when bare reading a Chapter or two ( as fome use to do as a task ) proves not effectual for that end ; and searching proves laborious : and to many ( by reason of the difficulty of finding ) discouraging also . A Table of the several Heads herein contained , and their Subdivisions , in order as they lye , and Directing to Chapter and Page . OF the Scriptures , their Authority , Use and Excellency . Chap. 1. Page 1. Of God , Chap. 2. His Name and Title . p. 8 He is a Spirit . p. 9 His excellency , majesty , greatness , perfection , glory , soveraignty and absoluteness . p. 9 See more in the Duty of fearing God , chap. 16. p. 179. He is Invisible . p. 17 He is Incorruptible . p. 17 He is the most strong , Almighty , Omnipotent God ; A Rock . p. 18 He is Omniscient , Omnipresent . p. 19 He is most Wise. p. 20 He is most Holy. p. 20 He is most Just. p. 21 He is compassionate , pitiful , and merciful . p. 21 He is long-suffering and patient . p. 22 He is gracious , good , kind , and bountiful . p. 22 He is Faithfulness and Truth . p. 23 He is unchangeable . p. 23 He is infinite and unsearchable . p. 24 He is Eternal . p. 24 He only is the true and living God. p. 25 Of the one God , Father , Son and Spirit : or the Trinity . chap. 3. p. 27 See more of Christs Excellency . chap. 7. p. 54. See more of the Spirit . chap. 21. p. 301. Of man in his first estate wherein he was created , and his fall . chap. 4. p. 31 Of Mans state by Nature , since sin entred , Chap. 5. P. 32. 1. Corrupt , unclean , and desperately wicked . p. 23 See more of sin , chap. 16. p. 218. 2. Ignorant and sottishly opposing the true God , and adoring Idols . p. 37 3. In servitude to sin and Satan . p. 39 See more of Ignorance , chap. 38. p. 466. 4. The sad fruit and end of such a state . p. 40 See more of Gods Judgments against sinners , chap. 16. p. 218. The Case the Law concludes men under , Chap. 6. P. 44. Under sin and guilt . p. 44 Under the curse thereof . p. 44 The deeds of the Law , or Sacrifices under it , cannot justify or purge sin , but still leaves sinners under guilt , condemnation and wrath . p. 45 Of mans Salvation and Redemption ; how it came , and by what means , Chap. 7. P. 47. See more in pardon and Salvation by Christ alone . Ch. 10. P. 84. From God only , and no otherwise . p. 47 Who is he , in and by whom this salvation is conveyed and wrought : Jesus Christ. p. 49 The excellency of this Saviour , his dignity and authority in his person and nature . his person and authority . p. 54 his nature , p. 60 How Christ wrought this Salvation for Sinners : what he was made , and what he did in order to it . Chap. 8. P. 62. 1. He is Mediator . p. 62 2. He took upon him the nature of man , and humbled himself . p. 62 3. He is made an High priest . p. 64 4. He offered himself to God as a sacrifice , suffered for the sins of mankind , made peace through the shedding of his own blood , by which he entred into the Holiest . p. 65 5. He fulfilled all righteousness of the Law : bear the curse , took away the Hand-writing of Ordinances , is our righteousness . p. 68 See more of Justification , chap. 10. p. 88. 6. He sanctifieth us , is our sanctification . p. 69 7. He riseth from the dead . p. 70 8. He ascended into heaven : is our way to the Father , our Advocate and Intercessor there . p. 72 9. He is made our King and Head , to encounter and conquer our enemies : to rule for and in us , p. 74 10. He is our Prophet and Shepherd , to teach , guide and feed us , p. 75 11. He is our All in all things : our Compleatness and Perfection . p. 77 Gods free choice of his in Christ Jesus to eternal life , and calling of them according to his Purpose and Grace . Chap. 9. p 79. Pardon and remission of sins , reconciliation and peace with God ; Justification and Sanctification before God ; eternal life and salvation free through the grace of God , by the death , sacrifice , and sufferings of Christ , without works . Chap. 10. P. 84. 1. In general . p. 84 2. In particular , pardon of sins . p. 84 3. Reconciliation and peace with God. p. 87 4. Justification and Sanctification before God. p. 88 5. Eternal life and salvation . p. 91 See more in Chap. 11. of Faith. p. 93. How men have the benefit of this Salvation , or by what means it becomes theirs in particular . Chap. 11. P. 93. By Faith. p. 93. Of Faith in its nature and Objects , use , benefits and advantages , further than as before , relating to this Salvation : 1. In its nature and object . p. 96 2. In its use , benefit and advantages further . pag. 100 See more , trusting in God , Chap. 16. p. 186. The effects or fruits by which Faith is known to be true . p. 102 Also , see fruits of the Spirit , Chap. 21. p. 307. The dangerous state and issue of Unbelief . p. 103 Characters of Saints , good men , Believers , appearing in Word and Deed. Chap. 12. P. 106. 1. That such may be known from others by their fruits . p. 106 2. The particular fruits of the Spirit in them , or good things appearing , or necessary to be in such who are real Saints . p. 106 See more of the fruits of Faith , ch . 11. p. 102. Of the fruits of the Spirit , ch . 21. p. 307. In Duties , ch . 16. ch . 17. ch . 18. ch . 19. In each Duty in affliction , chap. 22. p. 335. In Duties to Magistrates , ch . 24. p. 375. Saints , Believers , the children of God themselves may be overtaken with faults , are not altogether free from sinful dispositions and inclinations in this life ; That they may be corrected of God for them . Chap. 13. P. 117. 1. In general it is affirmed . p. 117 2. Particular instances of the Saints failings recorded . p. 118 3. That God will punish and correct his for sinning . p. 122 See Gods threatnings and judgment against sin and sinners . Chap. 16. p. 218. Of the Priviledges of the Saints , and their excellency above others : What God hath done , doth do , and will do , for and be unto them , more than others , and what they can do with God , &c. Chap. 14. p. 124. See more in the next Chap. of Union and relation to Christ. p. 135. See the advantages of Faith. chap. 11. p. 100. See their Priviledges in Afflictions . chap. 22. p. 325. In times of ●…on-Calamities . chap. 23. p. 365. See the Glory Believers shall have , chap. 37. p. 462. 4. Of the Union and relations between Christ and his Church and the mutual love and esteem of each other : and the manifestation thereof . Chap. 15. p. 135.   Of the Duties of Believers , such as profess to be Saints . Chap. 16. p. 138. First , towards God. Chap. 16. p. 138. 1. In general , to live to God only , not to self ; to be holy , fruitful , walk in the light , in an honest , heavenly and spiritual conversation , worthy of our High-calling : to glorifie God , and mind things above . p. 138 2. In particular : To love God , and the Father , and our Lord Jesus Christ. p. 142 3. As fruits of love to God & Christ , to delight themselves in God , long for , pant after him , make their boast of glory , & rejoyce in God and Christ as their Portion , All , and Rest. And to obey and hearken to the laws and words of God and Christ. 1. To delight in , long for , pant after , make their boast of glory , and rejoyce in God and Christ as their portion . p. 144 2. To obey and hearken to the Laws and Word of God , and our Lord Jesus . p. 149 See more of Disobedience . p. 218. 4. Worship God , and sanctifie him therein . p. 153 See more in ch . 27. p. 407. and of Idol . ch . 40. p. 487. 5. To believe , imbrace , and be found in the practise of nothing in the things of God , and about his worship , but that which clearly ( according to Precepts , Rules and Examples of Scripture ) appears to be Christs mind , upon which we may in Faith expect acceptance . p. 158 6. To pray to God. Of Prayer at large . p. 161 See more in Afflictions , ch . 22. p. 351. Common Calamities . chap. 23. p. 366. 7. To take especial notice of the Acts of Gods goodness and mercy : keep memorials thereof , celebrate his praises , extol him , stir up others so to do . p. 170 8. To fear God : and none else , or other fear . The Arguments thereto . p. 177 1. Not to fear any else , or other fear . p. 177 2. Fear God. p. 179 9. To trust in God , and in none else in all cases : the Arguments thereto . p. 184 1. Not in any else p. 184 2. In God , as a suitable Object . p. 186 See more of Faith , ch . 11. p. 93. 10. To look believingly unto , hope in , and patiently wait for God , his salvation , in all cases : The Arguments thereto . p. 193 See more in the nature & use of Faith , ch . 11. p. 100. 11. To walk humbly before God , abasing self , opposing all high thoughts . Avoid boasting of self : The Reasons . p. 198 See more of submitting in Affliction , ch . 22. p. 345. See Death , ch . 34. p. 450. 12. To be moderate , meek , patient and quiet in all things : Yhe encouragements thereto . p. 205 See more Duties to Brethren , ch . 17. p. 25. Duties to all men , ch . 19. p. 279. Duties to Persecutors , ch . 22. p. 356. See Words , chap. 16. p. 207. 13. To take heed to our lips : That our words be not rash , but true , well ordered , and savoury , and seasonable . p. 207 14. To acknowledg sin , depart from it , and watch against it , the Arguments thereto . Gods complaining of it , reasonings with sinners about it ; threatnings and judgments against sinners for it : 1. What sin is . p. 211 2. To acknowledg sin to God , mourn for it : both our own and others . p. 211 See more in Affliction , ch . 22. p. 347. In Common Calamities , ch . 23. p. 366 In Prayer , ch . 16. p. 161. 3. To depart from sin and all appearance of it : hate it , and avoid the occasions of it : the Reasons . p. 213 See Duties in general , ch . 16. p. 138. 4. Gods reasonings , with complainings of , and threatnings and judgments against sinners for their several sins , disobedience and rebellions . p. 218 See more of sin in Mans nature , chap. 5. p. 32 , 40. Of Gods correcting his for sin , ch . 13. p. 122. Pardon of sin , ch . 10. p. 84. 15. To own and profess the true God and our Lord Jesus Christ , and his , before men boldly . To wait for Christs second coming . 1. To own and confess the true God , and our Lord Jesus Christ before men . p. 229 See more of owning him in time of Persecution , ch . 22. p. 348. Of Perseverance , ch . 16. p. 241. 2. To wait for the second coming of Christ. p. 231 See more his coming to judgment , ch . 36 p. 457. 16. To walk with God heartily , uprightly , sincerely , and to follow him fully and zealously : the Reasons of it . p. 232 See also Hypocrites , &c. ch . 28. p. 417. 17. To stick fast to God , not to depart , abide in the faith and practice of what we know of his will , to the end : That the Saints shall be kept : 1. To persevere and abide in Faith and Practice , &c. p. 241 See more of holding fast in time of Affliction . ch . 22. p. 348. 2. That Saints shall be kept , have power to stand . p. 246 See more of God , upholding in Affliction . ch . 22. p. 332. 18. To take heed , to observe and watch diligently over our selves with a holy jealousie and fear , lest we should apostatize and depart from God , his truths , and ways , into any error or sin : the Reasons , our danger . p. 248 See more of Saints aptness to fall , chap. 13. p. 117. Of the Tempters Methods , chap. 30. p. 422. 2. Duties of Saints , Believers , brethren in the Lord , each to other , as such ; and as standing in that relation one to another . Chap. 17. P , 251. 1. To love each other : the kinds of it . p. 251 2. To sympathize with each other , in pity and compassion help and comfort one another : bear one anothers burthens , have mutual care of each other . p. 253 See also this Duty to Afflicted ones , ch . 22. p. 361 3. To honour and respect each other : and be kind and affectionate . p. 254 See more , walking humbly , ch . 16. p. 198. 4. Not ' rashly and unadvisedly to take up a prejudice against any , believe reports , take offence , or be angry : but tenderly forgive , cover faults , and restore offenders in love . p. 255 5. To live peaceably among themselves : avoid whisperings , tale-bearing , and whatsoever tends to divide or disturb peace . p. 257 6. To rebuke , reprove , exhort , admonish and warn each other , &c. To take such rebuke , &c. well from each other . 1. To rebuke , exhort , &c. p. 259 2. To take such rebuke , &c. well . p. 260 See more Church discipline , ch . 27. p. 413. 7. To confess sins to , and pray each for other . p. 261 8. To be of one mind . p. 261 9. To walk wisely and charitably one towards another : and in things indifferent , to have respect to the weak , and to avoid offences ; p. 262 10. To destribute and communicate to each others necessities : Of giving to the poor in general . p. 264 See more in shewing mercy to all , ch . 19. p. 280. Of giving to Enemies , ch . 22. p. 358. Of Church-collections for poor , ch . 27. p. 400. 3. Duties of Saints , Believers , each to others , as they stand related one to another in the Flesh. Chap. 18. p. 268. 1. Husbands to Wives , and Wives to Husbands . Of Marriage , women , &c. p. 268 2. Parents to their Children , and Children to their Parents . p. 271 3. Masters to their servants , and servants to their Masters . p. 274. 4. Magistrates to Subjects , and Subjects to Magistrates . See Magistrates at large , ch . 24. p. 375. 4. The Duties of Saints towards all men , those who are without , unbelievers , Enemies . Chap. 19. P. 276. 1. In the general . p. 276 2. In particular , not to speak evil of them , or judg them . p. 277 3. Be just , righteous , true and faithful to , and with them in all things of trust and dealing . p. 277 4. To live at peace with them , every one doing their own works : not intermedling with others . p. 278 5. Not to be discontented , angry , or revengeful against them ; but to behave themselves meekly , gently and patiently towards them , bearing wrong . p. 279 See more of Meekness , ch . 16. p. 205. 6. To pity them , shew them mercy , pray for them : requite them good for evil , love for hatred . p. 280 See more of doing good to Persecutors , ch . 22. p. 358. See giving the poor , ch . 17. p 246. 7. To behave themselves humbly and courteously towards all : giving them due respect . p. 281 8. To avoid all unnecessary society and fellowship with wicked men . p. 282 5. Of the Duties of Saints , in times of Affliction and Persecution , both towards God : such as persecute , and such as are persecuted and afflicted . See Afflictions and Persecutions at large , chap. 22. p. 356. 6. Their Duties in times of Common Calamities , See Common Calamities at large . Chap. 23. p. 366. 7. Their Duties towards the Spirit . See it at large . Chap. 21. p. 309. 8. Their Duties towards their Ministers or Pastours . See Church-Affairs at large . Chap. 27. p. 404. 9. Their Duties in case of Temptation by Satan , and False-teachers , Errors , &c. See Satan his Instruments , False-teachers , &c. in general . Chap. 30. p. 429. 10. Their Duties in relation to the things of this World. See the things of this World in general Chap. 39. p. 476. How men come truly and spiritually to know the only true God , and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent , and the Mystery of Salvation by him , and expressed in the Word . To believe , bring forth fruit , and persevere through difficulties to eternal life . Chap. 20. P. 284 1. A man of himself can do neither of these . p. 284 2. God in Christ doth all freely , hath promised so to do . 1. In General . p. 285 2. In Particular , to give knowledg of himself , &c. p. 288 See more of Knowledg , ch . 38. p. 466 3. To give Faith , or enable to believe . p. 291 4. To enable them to subdue sin , bring forth fruit , profit , &c. p. 292 5. To give power to persevere in faith , &c. See more , ch . 16. p. 246. p. 295 6. God in Christ doth command , encourage and invite by promises , to come to kim for these , and cast our care upon kim . p. 297 How God doth work and , effect these things in the hearts and spirits of his Elect. Chap. 21. P. 301. By his Spirit , whom he promised . p. 301 Of the spirit of God further , his being given to , & dwelling in the saints ; working in them and others ; the nature and fruits thereof ; Saints duties towards the Spirit . 1. Of the Spirit given to , and in the Saints , and what he did , and doth . p. 303 2. The nature , working , and fruits of the spirit . p. 307 3. Saints Duties towards the spirit . 1. To follow him , and make use of him . p. 309 2. Not to sin against , grieve , or quench the spirit . p. 309 Of Afflictions , Troubles , and Persecutions . Chap. 22. P. 311. 1 To whom they belong , or who may expect them . p. 311. 1. Common to all . p. 311. 2 More especially to the Saints : 1. The Holy Gost affirms it . p. 311 2 That the Saints have been so exercised : 1. From God more immediately . p. 313 2. From men , wicked ones , heathens . p. 314 3. From Professors , men zealous of the Law and Traditions . p. 317 2 For what ends God doth correct his Children , and fuffer them to be persecuted : p. 319. 1. To exercise and try their faith and obedience . p. 319 2. To humble and purge them . p. 320 3. To make them to remember God , and things above : look to , own , and close with them . p. 321 4. For Gods own glory , and the furtherance of the Gospel . p. 322 5. For the effecting of great good and advantage to those who are exercised with trouble , &c. p. 323 3. The Considerations which should bear up , stay & comfort the spirits of the Saints in their afflictions , and under porsecutions . p. 325. 1. That God appoints them , and that for such ends as before . p. 325 2. That such , who are so exercised , are blessed and happy , and so pronounced ; it 's a seal of son-ship , of Gods choice love , and of their salvation . p. 325 3. That God well knows the design and ways of Satan , and of all the Adversaries of Believers ; and that they can do no more , or proceed further against the Saints , than what God permits : he turns about the purposes of Adversaries . p. 326 4. That God orders and determines of the measure , manner , time , and continuance of afflictions and persecutions , and that according to our need . p. 329 5. That God doth sometimes make Enemies and Persecutors themselves to acknowledg the Saints innocency when they suffer , and will surely avenge them of their Adversaries . p. 330 6. That God will comfort , uphold , and preserve his in all their troubles , and not lay more upon them than they can bear . p. 332 See Common Calamities , ch . 23. p. 364. 7. That the Saints are near and dear to God in Christ ; so that he takes notice of their afflictions and Persecutions : and is said to be persecuted and afflicted in their persecutions , &c. p. 335 For more , See Union and Relation between Christ and his Church , ch . 15. p. 135. 8. That the greater the Afflictions and distresses of the Saints have been , the more wonderful have their deliverance been ; and then hath salvation been nearest , when extremity hath been highest , and danger greatest . p. 337 9. That Affliction and Persecution shall be for the great good of Saints . p. 339 More , See the ends of God in afflicting , before . p. 319. 10. That God will not always chide , nor suffer his to lye under Affliction and Persecutions ; they shall have an end : he will bring deliverance , and restore joy . p. 340 11. That Afflictions and Pesecutions have been the lot of Christ himself , and of the Saints in all Ages . p. 343 4. The Duties of the Saints , and how they ought to behave themselves in trouble , both towards God , and man. P. 344. First , towards God. 1. To eye God in them , as being sent by him . p. 344 Also see Common Calamities , ch . 23. p. 364. 2. To submit to God with an humble , quiet and silent spirit under them . p. 345 3. To confess their sins , and justifie God. p. 347 See more of confession of sin , ch . 16. p. 211. 4. To hold fast to God ; own the Lord Jesus , his people , and ways , in the midst of trouble and persecution . p. 348 See Perseverance , ch . 16. p. 241. 5. To be chearful under Afflictions , and rejoyce to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ. p. 350. 6. To cry to the Lord for help , support , and salvation therein . p. 351 See more of Prayer , ch . 16. p 161. In Common Calamities , ch . 23. p. 366. 7. Not to fear , but believingly commit their case to God , and quietly wait for his salvation . p. 354 Also , see trusting in , and waiting for God , ch . 16. p. 186 , 193. 2. Duties of Saints towards Enemies , and Persecutors , in such a time . 1. To be patient , and quiet , and sober , towards them , not revenge , or return evil for evil , reviling for reviling : but forgive them . p. 356 2. Not to desire or rejoyce in the hurt of Enemies , &c. p. 357 3. To pray for , and do good to Persecutors and Enemies . p. 358 4. To use lawful and honest means for avoiding and easing of , and delivering themselves and others from afflictions and persecutions . p. 358 5. To look to the cause of our suffering : that it be for well-doing , for Christ and a good conscience : and not as busie-bodies , in things unnecessary . p. 360 3. The Duties of others , and how they ought to behave themselves towards such who are afflicted and persecuted : To sympathize with them , visit , help , comfort , and pray for them : and take heed they add not to their trouble . P. 361 Of Publick and Common Calamities and Judgments . Chap. 23. P. 364. 1. That they are of Gods ordering , and none can keep them off . p. 364 Also , see Eying of God in Affliction , ch . 22. p. 344. 2. The Priviledg of the Saints and servants of God in such a time . p. 365 See more , in Saints priviledges in general , ch . 14. p. 121. 3. The Duties of Saints in such a time . p. 366 Of Magistrates and Magistracy . Chap. 24. P. 369. 1. That Magistracy is an Ordinance of God ; that by him are Magistrates advanced to Office : The Titles given to them . p. 369 2. What they are in the sight of God , and considered as men . p. 370 3. What are the Duties of Magistrates ; What they should not be , and what they should be . p. 371 4. The Duties of Subjects to their Magistrates , in respect both to their persons and decrees . P. 375. 1. What they may not do : when and wherein they may not obey them . p. 375 2. What they may and ought to do in respect to their persons and decrees . 1. To submit to , and obey them in things lawful . p. 376 2. To give to them due honour and respect : not contemn their persons , or speak evil of them . p. 376 3. To pray for them . p. 377 4. To endeavour to get good Magistrates . p. 377 5. To be content with such Magistrates which God bath set up , although they be not such as they should be . p. 377 Also see the Kings of Israel and Judah , ch . 44. p. 503 Of an Oath for Testimony , Confirmation , and ending of Controversies , and upon other occasions . Chap. 25. p. 379   Of Preachers in general , Gospel-Ministers : what spirit they should be of ; their Duty and Recompence . Chap. 26. p. 382 See more of Church-Officers . chap. 27. p. 401. Of the Church of Christ , under the several Notions thereof , and the things belonging thereto : and as considered in the several Congregations or particular Churches thereof . Chap. 27. P. 388. 1. The several acceptations of the Church of Christ , mentioned in Scripture . 1. General or Universal . p. 388 2. Universal , Visible . p. 388 3. Particular visible Churches of Believers , who are joyned together as one body , and usually meeting together in one place , for the participation of the same Ordinances , and exercising Duties as a Church , and one to another as members thereof , p. 388 2. The Dignity , Priviledges and Blessings belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ in general : In general , as such . p. 390 Also , see Union and Relation between Christ and his Church , Chap. 15. p. 135. 3. Of the Qualifications of the members of the Churches ; what they should be . p. 392 4. Of the propriety that particular Churches had in their members , and of others joyning themselves to them . p. 393 5. Of Letters Commendatory , and the Churches receiving of such who were commended to them by word or Letter , p. 394 6. Of the order of the Churches in their Assemblies and Meetings : what they did there as their Duty , and how they should order it in their constant Worship . p. 395 7. Of the gifts of Prayer , Prophecying , Psalmes , Tongues , &c. which the members of Churches received : how they did use them in the Church-Assemblies , and elsewhere , for the edification and good one of another , and of others : The order how they should be used , directed : such gifts were to be desired for that end . p. 396 8. Of other Acts done in , and by these particular Churches , in sending out Messengers to other Churches , and upon occasion determining of Controversies , writing and sending of Epistles , and other Affairs : of their meeting together in order thereto , and to the receiving and hearing of such Epistles : The Epistles directed to the Churches . p. 398 Also , see Church-Discipline . p. 413. 9. Of the ending of Controversies arising between the members of Churches , to avoid going to Law before others . p. 399 10. Of the Relief of the poor of their Churches , and their contribution to the necessity of other Churches , and the order of it . p. 400 Also , see distributing to the poor at large , Chap. 17. p. 264. 11. Of the Officers of the particular Churches ; their power , duties and recompence : how they should be qualified for their Office ; and of the Churches duty to them . P. 401. 1. Of Officers power , duty , qualification and recompence . p. 401 See more of Gospel-Ministers in General , ch . 26. p. 382. 2. Complaints of , and threatnings against evil Officers , or Ministers of the Church . p. 403 3. Of the Churches duties towards their Ministers , and such others who labour amongst them . p. 404 4. Of the Elections and Ordination of Officers in Churches . p. 405 12. Of laying on of hands upon the several occasions , and to the several ends in Scripture mentioned . p. 406 13. Of the several Ordinances of Christ , to be observed in and by the Churches of Christ , and elsewhere . P. 407. 1. Prayers . p. 407 See more in Prayer at large , ch . 16. p. 161. See Praising at large , ch . 16. p. 170. 2. Reading , Teaching , preaching of the word of God , Prophefying . p. 407 See more of Ministers in general , and of gifts of Church-members . ch . 26. p. 382. p. 396. 3. Baptisms . p. 411 4. Breaking of Bread , or the Lords Supper . p. 412 5. Discipline , Church-Censures , or removing of Scandals , &c. p. 413 See more of Rebuking one another , ch . 17. p. 259. Of Hypocrites and Hypocrisie ; The spirits and practises of such who are very formal and earnest in and about the external parts of Worship and Profession , and in a shew for God , yet high in their opposition of Christ , the truth of the Gospel , and power of Godliness in others . Chap. 28. p. 417 See more of their pesecuting temper . chap. 22. p. 317. The Danger of Hypocrisie , and of Formality , and end of Hypocrites . p. 425 Also , see Sincerity . Chap. 16. p. 223. Of the Conscience . Chap. 29. p. 427. Of the Devil : of his subtilty , wiles and ways by himself : and in and by his Instruments , wicked men , false Teachers , Deceivers and Seducers : The description of them , and what concerns the Saints therein . chap. 30. p. 429. 1. Of Satan , the Devil himself , his subtilty , &c. p. 429 See more , Sinners bondage , ch . 5. p. 32. 2. The Instruments of Satan , Seducers , Deceivers , &c. And the Saints Duty about it . p. 432 Of Consideration , Meditation , pondering upon , and serious weighing of the things of God , his Word and Works , ourselves , &c. Chap. 31. p. 437 Of the Thoughts , Mind and Affections . Chap. 32. p. 441 Of Repentance in the General : wherein God cannot repent ; and wherein , or how he is said to Repent : Repentance in Man , and of his turning to God from sin : and in such who have back-slidden from following of God , and otherwise . ch . 33. p. 444. 1. Wherein God cannot repent , and wherein , or how he is said to repent . p. 444 2. Repentance in man in general : and of Back-sliders returning , &c. p. 445 Also , see Gods reasonings with Sinners , ch . 16. p. 218. Of Death : the laying down of these Tabernacles . Chap. 34. p. 450 Of the Resurrection from the Dead . Chap. 35. p. 455 Of Christ's Second coming to the Judgment , and rendring unto every man according to his Deeds done in the Body , whether good or bad . Chap. 36. p. 457 Also , see waiting for Christ's coming , chap. 16. p. 231. Of the Glory prepared for the Saints , and reserved to be given to them at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. Chap. 37. p. 462 Also , see the end of the Wicked , ch . 5. p. 40. Of Knowledg and Understanding in and about Divine things , and of the want thereof . Ignorance about such things , and the evil thereof , Chap. 38. p. 466 See more of the sottish nature of Man , chap. 5. p. 37. See also the giver of Knowledg , chap. 20. p. 288. Of this present World , and the Titles , Honours , Pleasures , and other things in this World : The use of them : the snares and temptations in them : and of the Saints Duties in relation to them . Chap. 39. p. 476 Of Idolatry , setting up and worshipping of strangs gods , graven Images , &c. Chap. 40. p. 487 Also , see worshipping the true God , chap. 16. p. 153. Of the Angels : their appearing to men ; what they are ; and do . Chap. 41. p. 494 Of the Parables and Similitudes which Christ spake . Chap. 42. p. 499 Of the Miracles and wonderful things which were done by Christ and his Apostles : Chap. 43. p. 501 Of the Kings of Israel and Judah : how they came to their Power and Office . Chap. 44. p. 503 Also , see Magistrates at large , chap. 24. p. 369. Of Sacrifices and Altars , and calling upon the Name of the Lord before the coming of the Law. Chap. 45. p. 507 Reader , THese few Mistakes of the Press , ( the greater part whereof being in the Figures only ) you may easily correct with your Pen : to which end you have the Word , Titles , References and Figures , noted severally , and not together . And for the Figures , you are not directed to the Line , but to the Page only ; because the order that the Texts are placed in , will more suddenly send you to it . 1. In the words : pag. 13. l. 3 , for counsel , r. people . p. 29. l 23. f the Lord of the spirit , r. of the Lord the spirit , p. 40. l. 27 , for curse , r. cup. p. 48. l. 19 , f. branch , r. or branch . p. 257. l. 12 , f. prophet , r. report . p. 262. l. 9 , f. me●…k , r. weak . p 372 , l 35 , f. have eaten , ●…r . have not eaten . 2. In the Titles : P. 105 , f nature of faith , r. the danger and issue of unbelief . p. 325 , f. Gods ends in afflicting , ●…r . Considerations comforting in afflictions , through 4 pages . 3. In the Rèferences at the end of the Heads : P. 30. f. ch . 5. r. 7 , f. ch . 19. r. 21. p. 36 , f. ch . 15. r. 16. p. 39 , f. ch . 37. r 38. p. 43 , f. ch . 15. r. 16. p. 54 , f. ch . 9. r. 10. p. 69. r. ch . 10 , p. 134 , f. ch . 36. r. 37. p. 158 , f. ch . 39. r. 40. p. 204 , f. ch . 33. r. 34. p. 232 , f. ch . 35. r. 36. p. 283. f. ch . 38. r. 39. p. 291 , f. ch . 37. r. 38. p. 403 , f. ch . 16. r. 26. 4. In the Number upon the pages : P. 248 , in the next page , f. 241. r. 249 , and so on through 8 pages : and then it falls in right . 5. In the Chapter , or Verses of the Scriptures : P. 9 , for Gen. 9. 21 , 11. r. 2. 3 , 11. p. 10 , f. Exo. 29. r. 19. p. 32 , f. Gen. 27. 4. r. 37. 4 , & f. 2 Kings 19. r. 18. p. 3●… , f. 1 Sam. ch . 1. r. ch . 5. p. 54 , f. Ps. 100. r. 110. p. 80 , f. Mark 11. r. 4. p. 86 , f. Pet. 3. 13. r. 3. 18. p. 90 , f. Gal. 2. 19. r. 16. p. 117 , f. John 1. 1. r. 1 Epist. 1. p. 121 , f. Mat. 16. 16. r. 16. 17. p. 179 , f. Exo. 5. r. 1. p. 182 , f. Eccl. 18. r. 8. p. 186 , f. 1 Cor. r. 2. p. 192 , f. Mark 1. 2 , 32. r. 1●… . 32. p. 201 , f. Zech. 4. 1 : r. 9. 9 p. 202 , f. Acts. 12. r. 14. p. 206 , f. Rom. 13. r. 1 Cor. 13. p. 213 , f. Hosea 5. 14. r. 5. 15. p. 214 , f. Exo. 29. r. 20 , & f. Gen. 14. 16. r. 44. 16 , & f. 1 Sam. 2. 24. r. ver . 25. p. 215 , f. John 8. 1. r. 5. 14. p. 216 , f. 2 Co. 16. r. 6. p. 120 , f. 1 Sam. 18. r. 28. p. 222 , f. 2 Kings 10. r. 9. p. 232 , f. 1 John 20. r. 2. p. 234 , f. 2 Kings 23. 35. r. 23 25. p. 234 , f. Isa. 37. r. Ps. 37. p. 235 , f. Ps. 51. 8. r. 51. 6 , & f. Ps. 63. 1. r. 63. 8 , & f. Ps. 49. r. 94. p. 240 , f. Hebr. 4. 2. r. 4. 13. p. 245. r. James 1. 25. p. 259 , f. Rom. 15. 4. r. 15. 14. p. 261 , f. John 19. 11 , 12. r. 17. 11 , 22. p. 267 , f. Eph. 4. 29 , r. 4. 28. p. 272 , f. Ps. 7. r. 78. p. 274 , f , Matth. 1. r. Malachi 1. p. 303 , f. 2 Thes. 12. r. 2. p. 309 , f. Joh. 4. 14 , 15. r. 4. 23 , 24 , & f. 1 Cor. 12. 18. r. 14. 15. p. 314 , f. Ps. 3. 12. r. 3. 2. p. 315 , f. Psalm 38. r. 83. p. 320 , f. Rev. 3. 24. r. 3. 10. p. 321 , f. Ezek. 40. r. 20. p. 334 , f. Psalm 114. r. 124. p. 337 , f. Acts 16. r. 26. p. 345 , f. Heb. 17. 29. r. 11. 27. p. 349 , f. Isa. 28. r. 8. p. 351 , f. Acts 6. r. 16. p. 352 , f. Job 34. 23. r. 34. 28. p. 360 , f. Matth. 50. r. 5. p. 365 , f. Psalm 5. r. Job 5. p. 375 , f. Acts 41. r. 4. p. 406 , f. Numb . 17 r. 27. p. 418 , f. Jer. 41. r. 42. p. 430 , f. Matth. 5. r. Mark 5. p. 431 , f. 1 Thess. 5. 3. r. 3. 5 , p. 444 , f. Psalm 95. r. 90. p. 451 , f. Job 41. r. 14. p. 453 , f. Hos. 13 4. r. 13. 14. p 462 , f. Luke 21. 18. r. 21. 28. An Alphabetical Table of the most and principal things contained in this Book . A ACts of Churches , Chap. 27. p. 395 Admonition , ch . 17. p. 259 Afflictions , ch . 22. p. 311 Gods ends in it , p. 319 Comforts therein , p. 325 Duties then , p. 344 Affections , ch . 32. p. 441 Altars before the Law , ch . 45. p. 507 Angels , ch . 41. p. 494 Anger among Saints , ch . 17. p. 155 Apostacy : see Watchfulness . Attributes : see God. B Belief : see Faith. Believers Character , ch . 12. p. 106 Blessings belonging to the Church God as such , ch . 27. p. 309 Baptism : see Ordinances . C Christ : see Saviour , salvation . Calling : see Election . Calamities common , ch . 23. p. 364 Character of Believers : see Believers . Confess sin : see sin . Confess Christ , chap. 16. p. 229 In Persecution , ch . 22. p. 348 Charitable walking : see Offences . Children , ch . 18. p. 271 Considerations comforting in Afflictions , ch . 22. p. 325 Church of God , ch . 27. p. 388 Coming of Christ , ch . 36. p , 457 Conscience , ch . 29. p. 427 Consideration , ch . 31. p. 437 D Duties towards God , ch . 16. p. 138 Of Saints to each other , ch . 17. p. 251 Of relations in the flesh , ch . 18. p. 268 Of Saints to all men , ch . 19. p. 276 Towards the Spirit , ch . 21. p. 309 In times of affliction towards God and man ch . 22. p. 344 In common calamities , ch . 23. p. 364 Of Subjects to Magistrates , ch . 24. p. 375 Of Churches to their Ministers , ch . 27. p. 404 In relation to the World , ch . 39. p. 481 Devil , ch . 30. p. 432 Deceivers , ch . 30. p. 432 Death , ch . 34. p. 450 Dignity of Christ : see Excellency . Dignity of the Church : see Blessings . Discipline in the Church , ch . 27. p. 413 E Election of God , ch . 9. p. 71 Election of Officers in Churches , ch . 27. p. 405 Eternal life , ch . 10. p. 91 Excellency of Christ , ch . 7. p. 54 Excellency of Saints , see Priviledges . F Faith , ch . 11. p. 93 its nature and objects , p. 96 use and advantage , p. 100 effects , p. 102 who gives it , ch . 20. p. 291 Failings of Saints , ch . 13. p. 117 Fear of God , ch . 16. p. 177 Forgiveness in Saints one to another ch . 17. p. 155 Forsake sin : see Sin. Fruits of love to God , ch . 16. p. 144 of love to Saints , ch . 17. p. 253 of the spirit in Saints , ch . 21. p. 307 Fruitfulness in Saints : bow , ch . 20. p. 292 Free Grace , ch . 9 , & 10. p. 71 , 84 G Giver of knowledg , faith , power , &c. who , ch . 20. p. 288 Glory to be given to the Saints at last , ch . 37. p. 462 God , his name and attributes , ch . 2. p. 8. 9 , &c. Grace free , ch . 9 , & 10. p. 71 , 84 H Heart : see Sincerity . Hands laying on , ch . 27. p. 406 Hope , ch . 16. p. 193 Humility , ch . 16. p. 198. ch . 19 p. 281 Hypocrites , Hypocrisie . ch . 28. p. 417 I Idolatry , ch . 4. p. 487. ch . 5. p. 37 Jesus : see Saviour . Invitations and encouragements to come to Christ for all , ch . 20. p. 297 Justification , ch . 10. p. 88 The Judgment , ch . 36. p. 457 K Kindness of Saints to each other , ch . 17. p. 153 to all men , ch . 19. p. 180 Kings of Israel and Judah , ch . 44. p. 503 Knowledg of divine things , ch . 38. p. 466 The giver of it , ch . 20. p. 288 L The Law : Sinners cast under it , ch . 6. p. 44 Life : see Eternal . Live to God , ch . 16. p. 138 Love to God , ch . 16. p. 142 to Saints , ch . 17. p. 251 to Christ , and Christ to them : see Relation . Lords Supper , ch . 27. p. 412 M Man in his Fallen-state , ch . 5. p. 32 Man's salvation : see Salvation . Man's impotency , ch . 20. p. 284 Masters , ch . 18. p. 274 Magistrates , Magistracy , ch . 24. p. 369 Meekness : see Patience . Mercy in saints to all , ch . 19. p. 280 Mediator : see salvation , How wrought . Meditation : see Consideration . Mind : see Thoughts . Miracles , ch . 43. p. 501 Ministers : see Preachers , Officers , Mourn : see Sin. N Nature of Man , ch . 5. p. 32 O Oaths of Testimony , ch . 25. p. 379 Obedience , ch . 16. p. 149 Offences amongst Saints avoid , ch . 17. p. 262 Officers of Churches , ch . 27. p. 491 Order in Churches , ch . 27. p. 395 Ordination : see Election . Ordinances of Christ , ch . 27. p. 407 P Pardon of sin , ch . 10. p. 84 Parents , ch . 18. p. 271 Parables , ch . 42. p. 499 Patient , ch . 16. p. 205 Peace with God : see Reconciliation . Saints with Saints , ch . 17. p. 257 with all men , ch . 19. p. 278 Perseverance , ch . 16. p. 241. ch . 22. p. 248. ch . 20. p. 295 Poor , Relief , ch . 17. p. 264 Persecution . ch . 22. p. 211 Prayer , ch . 16. p. 161 Praises , ch . 16. p. 170 Preachers in general , ch . 26. p. 382 Preaching : see Ordinances . Priviledges of saints , ch . 14. p. 124. ch . 16. p. 246 In afflictions , ch . 22. p. 325 In common calamities , c. 23. p. 365 Punishment of sin : see Sin. Q   R Reconciliation , ch . 10. p. 87 Redemption : see salvation . Repentance in God , ch . 33. p. 444 In man , p. 445 Relation between Christ and his Church , ch 15. p. 135 Resurrection , ch . 35. p. 455 Righteousness towards God : see Justisication towards men , ch . 19. p. 277 S Sacrifices before the Law , ch . 45. p. 507 Satan : see Devil . Salvation , ch . 7. p. 47 The Saviour Jesus , ch . 7. p. 49 How he wrought salvation , ch . 8. p. 62 Saints Character , ch . 12. p. 106 Saints failings : see Failings . Their Priviledges : see Priviledges . Scriptures , ch . 1. p. 1 Signs of love to God : see Fruits . Society with the wicked , ch . 19. p. 282 Sin : What ? ch . 16. p. 211 confess , mourn for it , p. 211. ch . 22. p. 347 forsake it , p. 213 Threatning , &c. against it , p. 218 Effects or Punishment , ch . 5. p. 40 ch . 13. p. 122 Sinfulness of mans nature , ch . 5. p. 32 Sins : Pardon , ch . 10. p. 84 Servants , ch . 18. p. 274 Sincerity in following God , ch . 16. p. 232 Similitudes : see Parables . Seducers , see Deceivers . Speeches : see Words . Spirit of God , ch . 21. p. 31 Submission to God in affliction , ch . 22. p. 345 Subjects : see Duties . T Trinity , ch . 3. p. 27 Thoughts , ch . 32 p. 441 Threatning against sin : see Sin. Trust in God only , ch . 16. p. 144 In time of affliction , ch . 22. p. 354 U Unbelief : the evil , ch . 11. p. 103 Union between Christ and his : see Relation . among the Saints , ch . 17. p. 261 Uprightness : see Sincerity . W Wait on God : see Hope . for Christs coming , ch . 16. p. 231 Watch against sin , and apostacy , ch . 16. p. 248 Wickedness of man : see Sin. Wives , ch : 18. p. 268 Word : see Scriptures . Words , ch . 16. p. 207. ch . 19. p. 277 World , ch . 39. p. 476 Worship God , ch . 16. p. 153 according to the Word , p. 158 X   Y   Z Zeal : see Sincerity . CHAP. I. Of the Scriptures , Written Word of God , the Word of Truth , their Authority , Use , End and Excellency , Heb. 1. 1. ch . 2. 3 , 4. THerefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart , and in your soul , and bind them for a sign upon your hand , that they may be as frontlets between your eyes . And you shall teach them your children speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house , and when thou walkest by the way , when thou lyest down , and when thou risest up . And thou shalt write them upon the dore-post of thy house , and upon thy gates , That your days may be multiplied , &c. Deut. 11. 18 , 19 , 20. Thou shalt read the Law before all Israel in their hearing , &c. That they may hear , that they may learn , and fear the Lord your God , and observe to do all the words of this Law. And that their Children who have not known may hear and learn to fear the Lord , &c. Deut. 31. 11 , 12 , 13. When Josiah heard it read , he rent his cloths , 2 Kings 22. 11 , &c. I have esteemed ( hid or laid up ) the words of his mouth more than my necessary food ( or appointed portion ) Job 23. 12. The word of the Lord is tryed ( or refined , ) Psal. 18. 30. Psal. 12. 6. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul , the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple . The statutes of the Lord are right , rejoycing the heart , the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes , &c. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether , more to be desired than fine gold ; sweeter also than the honey and the honey-combs , &c. Moreover by them is thy servant warned , Psal. 19. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Lo I come , in the volume of the Book it is written of me , &c. Psal. 40. 7. He established a Testimony in Jacob , and appointed a law in Israel which he commanded our fathers that they should make them known to their children , that the generation to come might know , the children , who should be born should arise and declare to their Children , that they might set their hope in God , and not forget the works of God , but keep his commandments , and might not be as their fathers , &c. Psal. 78. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Because they rebelled against the words of God , and contemned the counsel of the most high . Therefore he brought down their heart , &c. Psal. 107. 11 , 12. Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his ways , by taking heed according to thy word , &c. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee , &c. Remember thy word unto thy servant , upon which thou caused me to hope , &c Thy word hath quickened me , &c. Unless thy law had been my delight , I had perished in my affliction , &c. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies , &c. I have more understanding than all my teachers ; for thy Testimonies are my meditation . I understand more than the ancients , &c. How sweet are thy words to my taste ! thy word is a lamp to my feet , &c. I hope in thy word , the entrance of thy words giveth light , it giveth understanding to the simple , Psal. 119. 9 , 11 , 49 , 50 , 92 , 96 , 98 , 99 , 103 , 105 , 114 , 130. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee , O Lord : when they hear the words of thy mouth , Psal. 138. 4. He shewed his words to Jacob , and his statutes and his judgments unto Israel . He hath not dealt so with any nation : and as for his Judgments , they have not known them , Psal. 147. 19 , 20. Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed ; but he who feareth the commandments shall be rewarded ( or in peace ) . Prov. 13. 13. To the Law and to the Testimony : if they speak not according to this word , it is because there is no light ( or morning ) in them , Isaiah 8. 20. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who bringeth good-tidings , who publisheth peace , who bringeth good-tidings of good , who publisheth salvation , who saith unto Zion thy God reigneth , Isaiah 52. 7. As the rain cometh , &c. So shall my word be which goeth out of my mouth : It shall not return unto me void , but it shall accomplish that which I please , and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it , Isa. 55. 10 , 11. To this man will I look , to him who is poor , &c. And trembleth at my word , &c. Hear the word of the Lord , ye who tremble at his word , &c. He shall &c. Isa. 66. 2 , 5. Behold the word of the Lord , is to them a reproach : they have no delight in it . Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord , &c. Jer. 6. 10 , 11. The prophet who hath a dream let him tell a dream ; and he who hath my word let him speak my word faithfully : what is the chaff to the wheat , saith the Lord ? Is not my word like as fire , saith the Lord , and like a hammer which breaketh the rock in pieces ? Jer. 23. 28 , 29. Because Ephraim hath made many altars , &c. I have written unto him the great things of my law , but they were counted as a strange thing , Hose . 8. 11 , 12. Behold , &c. I will send a famine , &c. not of bread , &c. but of hearing the words of the Lord , and they shall wander from sea to sea , &c. to seek the word of the Lord and shall not find , Amos 8. 11 , 12. Christ ( when the Devil tempted him , ) said to him , it is written , man lives not by bread alone , &c. It is written again , thou shall , &c. Matt. 4. 4 , 7 , 10. Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them , I will liken him to a wise man who buildeth his house upon a rock , &c. Matt. 7. 24 , 25. When the Pharisees contended , Christ said unto them , have ye not read , what David did when he was an hungry , & c ? Or have ye not read in the law , how that on the sabbath-day , & c ? Matt. 12. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Have ye not read , that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female , &c. What God hath joyned together let no man , &c. Matt. 19. 4 , 5 , 6. Did ye never read in the Scriptures , that , the stone which the builders refused , the same is become the head of the corner , Matt. 21. 42. Have you not read , that which was spoken unto you by God , saying , I am , &c. Matt. 22. 31 , 32. All ye shall be offended , &c. For it is written ; I will smite the shepherd , and the flock shall be scattered abroad , &c. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray , &c. But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled , that thus it must be , &c. But all this was done , that the scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled , Matt. 26. 31 , 53 , 54 , 56. Jesus said , do ye not therefore err , because ye know not the scriptures , &c. Mark. 12. 24. They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them , &c. If they hear not Moses and the Prophets , neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead , Luk. 16. 29 , 31. When Jesus taught his Disciples , he said , O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken , &c. And beginning at Moses , &c. He expounded unto them in all the scriptures , the things concerning himself , &c. All things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses , and in the Prophets , and in the Psalms concerning me ; then opened he their understandings that they might understand the scriptures ; and he said unto them , Thus it is written , and thus it behoveth Christ to suffer , &c. Luk. 24. 25 , 27 , 44 , 45 , 46. Ye have not his word abiding in you : for whom he hath sent , ye believe not . Search the Scriptures , for in them ye think ye have eternal life , and they are they which testify of me , &c. Had ye believed Moses , ye would have believed me ; for he wrote of me : But if ye believe not his writings , how shall ye believe my words ? John 5. 38 , 39 , 46 , 47. Christ said , it is written in the Prophets , And they shall be all taught of God , every one therefore who hath heard and learned of the father , &c. Joh. 6. 45. I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me , and they have received them , &c. Neither pray I for these alone ; but for them also , who shall believe on me through their word , Joh. 17. 8 , 20. These things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God , and that believing ye might have life , John 20. 31. When the Apostles preached , they proved their doctrine by the scriptures ; but this is that which was spoken by the Prophet , &c. And David , &c. Act. 2. ch . 3. ch . 4. ch . 5. ch . 7. ch . 17. 2 , 3. Is it reason we should leave the word of God and serve tables ? &c. Act. 6. 2 , 4 , 7. ch . 13. 7. Samaria had received the word of God , yet had not received the holy Ghost . The Eunuch reading the scripture , had Phillip sent to him to convert him by it , Act. 8. 14 , 15 , 16 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , &c. Call for Simon who shall tell thee words , whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved , Act. 11. 13 , 14. ch . 10. 33. Sergius Paulus desired to hear the word of God , &c. The whole city came together to hear the word of God , &c. Act. 13. 7 , 44 , 45 , 46. Those were more noble than those in Thessalonica , in that they received the word with all readiness of mind , and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so , Act. 17. 11. Apollos , &c. Mighty in the scriptures , &c. Mightily convinced the Jews , and that publickly , shewed by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ , Act. 18. 24 , 25 , 28. Paul said , I wist not brethren that he was the High-priest : For it is written thou shall not speak evil of the Ruler , &c. Act. 23. 5. After the way they call heresie , so worship I , &c. believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets , Acts 24. 14. Saying ( saith Paul ) none other things than those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come , Act. 26. 22. There came many to Paul , &c. To whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God , perswading them concerning Jesus , both out of the law of Moses and out of the Prophets from morning , &c. Act. 28. 23. Which he had promised , &c. by his Prophets in the holy scriptures , &c. The Gospel of Christ : For it is the power of God to salvation , &c. Rom. 1. 2 , 16. What advantage , & c ? Much : Because that unto them were committed the Oracles of God. By the law is the knowledg of sin , Rom. 3. 2 , 20. Ye have obeyed that form of doctrine whereinto ye were delivered , Rom. 6. 17. I had not known sin , but by the law , &c. Unless the law had said thou , &c. Rom. 7. 7. For the scripture saith , whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed , &c. So then faith cometh by hearing , and hearing by the word of God , Rom. 10. 11 , 17. It is written , the reproaches , &c. For whatsoever things were written aforetime , were written for our learning , that we thorow patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope , Rom. 15. 3 , 4. The mistery which was kept secret since the world began ; but now is made manifest , and by the scriptures of the Prophets , &c. made known , &c. Rom. 16. 25 , 26. Ephes. 5. 13. The preaching of the cross , is to them who perish foolishness , &c. For it is written , I will destroy the wisdom of the wise , &c. 1 Cor. 1. 18 , 19. Which things we speak , not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth ; but which the holy Ghost teacheth , comparing spiritual things , &c. 1 Cor. 2. 13. When the Apostle had mentioned may things Israel did , &c. He saith , now all these things happened unto them for ensamples : and they are written for our admonition , upon whom the ends of the world are come , 1 Cor. 10. 11. Ye keep the ordinances ( or traditions ) as I delivered them unto you , 1 Cor. 11. 2. I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached , &c. By which also ye are saved , if ye keep in memory , &c. For I delivered unto you first of all , that which I also received ; how that Christ dyed for our sins according to the scriptures : That he was buried , that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures , 1 Cor. 15. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. God who commandeth the light to shine out of darkness , hath shined in our hearts , to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus , 2 Cor. 4. 6. chap. 3. 18. There are some who would pervert the Gospel , &c. But though we , or an Angel from Heaven , preach any other than that which we have preached unto you , let him be accursed , as we have said before , so say I now again ; If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received , let him be accursed , Gal. 1. 7 , 8 , 9. Having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace , &c. And take , &c. The sword of the spirit , which is the word of God , Ephes. 6. 15 , 17. Those things which ye have both learned and received ; and heard and seen in me , do , and the God of peace shall be with you , Phil. 4. 9. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly , in all wisdom teaching and , &c. Col. 3. 16. Ye received the word of God , which ye heard of us , ye received it not as the word of men , but ( as it is in truth ) the word of God , which effectually worketh also in you who believe , 1 Thes. 2. 13. As ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God , so ye would abound , &c. Wherefore comfort ( or exhort ) one another with these words , 1 Thes. 4. 1 , 18. Hold the traditions ye have been taught , whether by word or our Epistle , 2 Thes. 2. 15. These things write I unto thee , &c. That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God , &c. 1 Tim. 3. 14 , 15. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things , thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus , &c. 1 Tim. 4. 6. I charge thee before God , and the Lord Jesus Christ , and the elect Angels , that thou observe these things without preferring one before another , &c. 1 Tim. 5. 21. ch . 6. 13 , 14. If any men teach otherwise , and consent not to wholsom words , the words of our Lord Jesus , and to the doctrine which is according to godliness ; he is proud ( or a fool ) knowing nothing , but doteing about questions , and strifes of words , &c. 1 Tim. 6. 3 , 4. 2 Tim. 2. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me , &c. 2 Tim. 1. 13. Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned , and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned . And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures , which are able to make thee wise to salvation , &c. All scripture is given by inspiration of God , and is profitable for doctrine , &c. That the man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good works , 2 Tim. 3. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. Preach the word , &c. For the time will come , they will not endure sound doctrine , &c. 2 Tim. 4. 2 , 3 , 4. Therefore ought we to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard , lest at any time we should let them slip : for if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast , &c. How shall we escape , if we neglect so great salvation , which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord , was confirmed unto us by them who heard , God also bearing witness both with signs , &c. Heb. 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Wherefore as the holy Ghost saith , To day if ye will hear his voice , Heb. 3. 7. The word of God is quick and powerful , and sharper than any two-edged sword ; piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit , &c. Heb. 4. 12 , 13. Every one who useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness , Heb. 5. 13. Begat he us with the word of truth , &c. Be swift to hear , &c. The engrafted word able to save , &c. James 1. 18 , 19 , 21. If you fulfil the royal law according to the scripture , Thou shalt love , &c. James 2. 8. Being born again not of corruptible seed , but , &c. by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever , &c. And this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you , 1 Pet. 1. 23 , 25. As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word , that ye may grow thereby , 1 Pet. 2. 2. I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things , though ye know them , and be established in the present truth , &c. Moreover , I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease , to have these things always in remembrance : for we have , &c. We have also a more sure word of prophesie , whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light which shineth in a dark place , &c. Knowing this , first , that no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private ( or proper ) interpretation : for the Prophesie came not in old ( or any ) time by the will of man ; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost , 2 Pet. 1. 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 19 , 20 , 21. This second Epistle I write unto you , in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance , That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken of before by the holy Prophets , and of the commandment of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour , &c. Paul also according unto the wisdom given unto him , hath written unto you , as also in all his epistles , &c. In which are some things hard to be understood , which they who are unlearned and unstable , wrest as they do also other scriptures unto their own destruction , 2 Pet. 3. 1 , 2 , 15 , 16. And these things write we unto you , that your joy may be full , 1 John 1. 4. He who doth not abide in the doctrine of Christ , hath not God , &c. If there come any unto you , and bring not this doctrine , receive him not into your house , neither bid him God-speed : for he who bids him God-speed , &c. 2 John 9 , 10 , 11. It was needful for me to write to you , and exhort you , That you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints , &c. I will put you in remembrance though ye once knew , &c. Remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ ; That they told you there should , &c. Jude vers . 3 , 5 , 17 , 18. Christ sent and signified by his Angel unto his servant John , the things which must shortly come to pass , &c. Blessed is he who readeth , and they who hear the words of this Prophesie , and keep those things which are written therein , &c. Write the things which thou hast seen , &c. Rev. 1. 1 , 2 , 3 , 19. You shall not add unto the word which I command you , neither diminish from it , Deut. 4. 2. Every word of God is pure , &c. Add thou not unto his words , lest he reprove thee , and thou be found a lyar , Prov. 30. 5 , 6. I testify , &c. if any man shall add unto these things , God shall add unto him the Plagues which are written in this book . And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this Prophesie , God shall take away his part out of the book of life , &c. Rev. 22. 18 , 19. Secret things belong to God , revealed things to us and our children , that we may do all the words of this law , Deut. 29. 29. CHAP. II. Of GOD. First , his Names and Titles . IN the beginning God created the Heavens , &c. Gen. 1. 1. And the Lord God formed man , &c. Gen. 2. 7. chap. 15. 7. ch . 28. 13. Then began men to call upon the Name of the Lord , Gen. 4. 26. And he was the Priest of the Most High God , Gen. 14. 18 , 19 , 20. The Lord appeared unto Abraham , and said , &c. I am the Almighty God , &c. Gen. 17. 1. chap. 28. 3. Rev. 21. 22. The Lord , the God of Heaven , and the God of the Earth , Gen. 24. 3 , 7. And God said unto Moses , I am that I am , &c. Thus shall you say , &c. I am hath sent me unto you , &c. The Lord God of your fathers , the God of Abraham , the God of Isaac , and the God of Jacob hath sent me , &c. This is my name for ever , and this is my memorial unto all generations , &c. The Lord God of the Hebrews , &c. Exod. 3. 6 , 14 , 15 , 18. chap. 9. 1 , 13. I appeared unto Abraham , &c. By the Name of God Almighty , but by my name Jehovah was not known to them , Exod. 6. 2 , 3. Isa. 12. 2. chap. 26. 4. And the Lord , &c. proclaimed the name of the Lord , &c. The Lord God , merciful and gracious , &c. The Lord whose name is Jealous , is a jealous God , &c. Exod. 34. 5 , 6 , 14. chap. 33. 19. The Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh , Numb . 27. 16. That thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name , the Lord thy God , Deut. 28. 58. To sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shilo , &c. 1 Sam. 1. 3 , 11. The Lord of hosts , the God of the Armies of Israel , &c. 1 Sam. 17. 45. The God of Israel said , The rock of Israel speak to me , &c. 2 Sam. 23. 3. Extol him who rideth upon the heavens , by his name Jah , &c. Psal. 68. 4. That men may know , that thou , whose name alone is Jehovah : the most high over all the earth , &c. Psal. 83. 18. Holy and Reverend is his name , Psal. 111. 9. They have provoked the holy one of Israel , Isa. 1. 4. Ezek. 39. 7. I am the Lord , that is my name , and my glory will I not give unto another , Isa. 42. 8. Jer. 16. 21. As for our redeemer , the Lord of hosts is his name , the holy one of Israel , Isa. 47. 4. ch . 54. 5. Jer. 32. 18. O the hope of Israel , the Saviour thereof , &c. Jer. 14. 8. I will sanctify my great name , &c. And the heathen shall know , that I am the Lord , Ezek. 36. 23. So will I make my holy name known in the middest of my people Israel , and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord , the holy one of Israel , Ezek. 39. 7. The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob , Amos 8. 7. Now the God of patience and consolation , grant , &c. Rom. 15. 5 , 33. Now the God of peace be with you all , &c. 1 Thes. 5. 2 , 3. God is not the author of confusion , but of peace , 1 Cor. 14. 33. Heb. 13. 20. God is light , and in him is no darkness , 1 John 1. 5. James 1. 17. God is love , 1 Joh. 4. 8 , 16. And the Lord God of the holy Prophets sent , &c. Rev. 22. 6. 2dly . He is a Spirit . God is a spirit , John 4. 24. 3dly , His Excellency , Majesty , Greatness , Perfection , Glory , and Soveraignty , and Absoluteness . He created the world and all things in it , Gen. 1. ch . 2. And the fear of you , &c. shall be upon every beast , &c. Into your hands are they delivered , &c. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you , &c. Have given you all things , &c. Neither shall there be any more a flood to destroy the earth , Gen. 9. 21. 3. 11. And the Lord said to Abraham , &c. Lift up thine eyes , &c. For all the land which thou seest , to thee will I give it , and to thy seed for ever , &c. Gen. 13. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. The Priest of the most high God , &c. The most high God , possessour of heaven and earth , Gen. 14. 18 , 19 , 20 , 22. Psal. 9. 2. I am the Lord , and I will bring you out from under the burthens of the Egyptians , and I will rid you of their bondage , and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm , and with great judgment , &c. Exod. 6. 6 , 7. That thou maist know that there is none like unto the Lord our God , &c. I will sever , &c. To the end thou maist know , that I am the Lord in the middest of the earth , Exod. 8. 10 , 22. Thy right hand , O Lord , is become glorious in power , &c. hath dasned in pieces the enemy . And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown , &c. With the blast of thy nostrils , the waters were gathered , &c. Who is like unto thee , O Lord , amongst the Gods , &c. Glorious in holiness , fearful in prayses , doing wonders , &c. The Lord shall reign for ever and ever , Exod. 15. 6 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. I now that the Lord is greater than all Gods : for in the thing they dealt proudly , he was above them , Exod. 18. 11. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke , because the Lord descended , &c. And the whole mount quaked greatly , Exod. 29. 18. ch . 20. 18 , 19. And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai , &c. And the sight of the glory of the Lord , was like devouring fire , on the top of the mount , &c. Exod. 24. 16 , 17. Ezek. 3. 23. chap. 8. 4. ch . 9. 3. There will I meet with the children of Israel , and they shall be sanctified by my glory , Exod. 29. 4. 3. I beseech thee , shew me thy glory , &c. Thou canst not see my face : For there shall no man see me and live , &c. And it shall come to pass , while my glory passeth by , that I will put thee in a clift , &c. Exod. 33. 18 , 19 , 20 , 22. I will do marvails , such as have not been done in all the earth , &c. And all the people shall see the work of the Lord ; for it is a terrible thing that will do with thee , Exod. 34. 10. The glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle , Exod. 40. 34 , 35. Levit. 9. 23. Num. 14. 10. ch . 16. 42. As truly as I live , all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord , because all those men who have seen my glory and my miracles , &c. Numb . 14. 21 , 22. Balaam said , &c. All that the Lord speaketh that I must do , Numb . 23. 26. Let the Lord God of the spirits of all flesh set a man , Numb . 27. 16. O Lord God , thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness , and thy mighty hands , for what God is there in heaven , or in earth , that can do according to thy work , and according to thy might ? Deut. 3. 24. The Lord thy God is a consuming fire , a jealous God , &c. Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the middest of the fire as thou hast heard , and live , &c. The Lord he is God in heaven above , and upon the earth beneath , there is none else , Deut. 4. 24 , 33 , 39. chap. 5. 24 , 25 , 26. The Lord thy God is among you , a mighty God and terrible , Deut. 7. 21. Nehem. 1. 5. ch . 4. 14. The Lord thy God , he who goeth before thee is a consuming fire , &c. Thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness , &c. Deut. 9. 3 , 26. Isa. 60. 16. Behold the heaven , and the heaven of heavens , is the Lords thy God , the earth also , with all that therein is , &c. For the Lord your God , is God of Gods , and Lord of Lords , a great God mighty and terrible , who regardeth not persons , nor taketh rewards , Deut. 10. 14 , 17. And know you , &c. The Lord your God , his greatness , his mighty hand , and his stretched-out arm , and his miracles , and his acts which he did , &c. Deut. 11. 2 , 3. Thou maist fear this glorious and fearful name , the Lord thy God , Deut. 28. 58. Ascribe ye greatness unto our God , the Rock , his work is perfect , all his ways are judgment , &c. When the most high divided , &c. See now that I , I am he , and there is no God with me , I kill and I make alive : I wound and I heal : Neither is there any who can deliver out of my hands . For if I lift up my hand to heaven , &c. Deut. 32. 3 , 4 , 8 , 39 , 41 , 42 , &c. There is none like unto the God of Jesurun , who rideth upon the heavens in thy help , and in his excellency on the sky , The eternal God , thy refuge , and underneath are everlasting arms , and he shall thrust out , &c. Deut. 33. 26 , 27. There is none besides thee , neither is there any rock , like our God , &c. The Lord is a God of knowledg , and by him are actions weighed , &c. The Lord killeth and maketh alive , he bringeth down to the grave , and bringeth up , the Lord maketh poor and maketh rich , he bringeth low and lifteth up . He raiseth up the poor , &c. So the pillars of the earth are the Lords , and he hath set the world upon them . He will keep the feet of his Saints , &c. 1 Sam. 2. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , &c. Job . 9. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God , 1 Sam. 6. 20. Thou art great , O Lord God : For none is like thee , neither is there any God beside thee , 2 Sam. 7. 22. The earth shook and trembled ; the foundations of heaven moved and shook , because he was wrath . There went up a smoke out of his nostrils , and fire out of his mouth devoured , &c. 2 Sam. 22. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. The Glory of the Lord had filled the house , 1 King. 8. 11. Thou art the God , thou alone , of all the kingdoms of the earth , thou hast made heaven , and earth , 2 King. 19. 15. Declare his glory , &c. For great is the Lord , and greatly to be praised , to be feared above all Gods : For all the Gods of the people are Idols : but the Lord made the heavens . Glory and honour are in his presence , strength and gladness in his place , &c. Give unto the Lord , the glory due to his name , 1 Chron. 16. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , &c. Psal. 96. 4 , 5. Thine , O Lord , is the greatness , and the glory , and the victory , and the majesty ; for all in heaven and earth is thine , thine the kingdom , O Lord , and thou art exalted as head above all . Both riches and honour come of thee , and thou reignest over all , and in thine hand is power and might , and in thine hand to make great , and to give strength unto all , 1 Chron. 29. 11 , 12. Blessed be thy glorious name , who art exalted above all blessing and praises ; thou , thou art Lord alone , thou hast made heaven , &c. And thou preservest them all , Nehem. 9. 5 , 6. The Lord gave , and the Lord hath taken away , Job 1. 21. God , &c. Who doeth great things , and unsearchable without number . Who giveth rain upon the earth , and sendeth waters upon the fields , to set up on high those who are low , &c. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty , so that their hands cannot perform , &c. Job . 5. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , &c. Canst thou by searching find out God ? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection , & c ? If he cut off ( or make a change ) and shut up , or gather together , then who can hinder him ? &c. Job 11. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. chap. 9. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , &c. Who knoweth not in all these , that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this ? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing , and the breath of all manking , &c. With him is wisdom and strength , he hath counsel and understanding . Behold he breaketh down , and it cannot be built up again : He shutteth up a man , and there can be no opening ; he withholdeth the waters , and they dry up , &c. He leadeth counsellors away spoiled , and maketh the judges fools . He looseth the bond of kings , &c. He leadeth princes away spoiled , and overthroweth the mighty , &c. Job 12. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , &c. Shall not his excellency make you afraid ? and his dread fall upon you ? Job 13. 11. He stretcheth out the north over the empty places , and hangeth the earth upon nothing , he bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds , &c. He hath compassed the waters with bounds , until the day and night come to an end ; the pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof . He divideth the sea , &c. By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens , &c. Lo these are parts of his ways , but how little a portion is heard of him ? But the thunder of his power who can understand ? Job 26. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Destruction from God was a terrour to me : and by reason of his highness I could not endure , Job . 31. 23. God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive against him ? For he giveth not account of any of his matters , Job 33. 12 , 13. ch . 9. 12. He thundereth with the voice of his excellency , &c. God thundereth marvellously with his voice : great things doth he which we cannot comprehend . For he saith to the snow , be thou on the earth , likewise to the small rain , &c. He sealeth up the hand of every man , that all men may know his works , &c. With God is terrible majesty , &c. Job 37. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , &c. 22 , 23. The Lord said unto Job , &c. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth , & c ? Who hath laid the measures thereof , & c ? Job . 38. toto . Who is able to stand before me ? who hath prevented me that I should repay ? Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine , Job 41. 10 , 11. The kings of the earth set themselves , &c. He that sitteth in heaven shall laugh : The Lord shall have them in derision . Then shall he speak unto him in his wrath , &c. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill Sion , Psal. 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. Lord our God , how excellent is thy name in all the earth ? Who hast set thy glory above the heavens , Psal. 8. 1 , 9. The Lord is in his holy Temple , the Lord's Throne is in Heaven , Psal. 11. 4. The kingdom is the Lords : and he is the Governour amongst the Nations , Psal. 22. 28. Psal. 47. 2 , 7. Who is the king of Glory ? the Lord of hosts he is the king of Glory , Psal. 24. 10. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters : The God of glory thundereth , the Lord is upon many waters . The voice of the Lord is powerful ( or power ) the voice of the Lord is full of majesty : The voice of the Lord breaketh the Cedars , &c. The Lord sitteth upon the floods : yea the Lord sitteth king for ever , Psal. 29. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made , &c. He spake and it was done , he commanded and it stood fast . The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought : He maketh the devices of the counsel of none effect ; the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever , the thoughts of his heart to all generations , Psal. 33. 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11. Great is the Lord , and greatly to be praised , Psal. 48. 1. Psal. 50. 1. Let them know that God ruleth in Jacob , unto the ends of the earth , Selah . Psal. 59. 13. Isa. 60. 16. He that is our God , is the God of salvation ; and unto God the Lord , belong the issues from death , &c. To him who rideth upon the heavens of heavens , &c. His excellency is over Israel , and his strength in the heavens . O God , thou art terrible out of thy holy places , &c. Psal. 68. 20 , 33 , 34 , 35. Promotion cometh not from the east , &c. But God the judge : He putteth down one , and setteth up another , Psal. 75. 6 , 7. In Judah is God known , his name is great in Israel , &c. Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey , &c. At thy rebuke , O God of Jacob , the chariot and horse are cast into a deep sleep . Thou , thou art to be feared , and who may stand in thy sight , when once thou art angry , &c. He shall cut off the spirit of princes : He is terrible to the kings of the earth , &c. Psal. 76. 1 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 12. Nahum . 1. 5 , 6. Who is so great a God as our God ? Thou the God that doest wonders ; &c. The waters saw thee , O God , &c. They were afraid ; the depths also were troubled , &c. Psal. 77. 13 , 14 , 16. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty : he judgeth among the Gods , Psal. 82. 1. That men may know that thou , whose name alone is Jehovah : Art the most high over all the earth , Psal. 83. 18. Psal. 91. 1. Among the Gods none like unto thee ( O Lord ) neither is there any works like unto thy works . All nations whom thou hast made , shall come and worship before thee , &c. For thou art great and doest wondrous things , thou art God alone , Psal. 86. 8 , 9 , 10. Psal. 87. 5. Who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord ? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord ? God is greatly to be feared , &c. Who is a strong Lord like unto thee , &c. Psal. 89. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11. Thou turnest man to destruction , and saist , return ye children of men , &c. Psal. 90. 2 , 3. The Lord reigneth , he is clothed with majesty , &c. The Lord on high , is mightier than the noise of many waters , yea , than the mighty waves of the sea , Psal. 93. 1 , 4. Psal. 97. 1. Psal. 99. 1. Psal. 104. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , &c. The Lord is a great God : and a great King above all Gods. In his hands are the deep places of the earth , &c. Psal. 95. 3 , 4 , 5. Psal. 96. 4. Psal. 97 9. The Lord made the heavens . Honour and majesty are before him : Strength and beauty , in his sanctuary , &c. Psal. 96. 5 , 6. Fire goeth before him , and burneth up his enemies round about him , &c. The hills melt like wax at the presence of the Lord : At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth , &c. Psal. 97. 3 , 4 , 5. Psal. 114. 7. Nahum . 1. 4 , 5. The Lord hath prepared his Throne in the heavens , and his kingdom ruleth over all , Psal. 103. 19. The Lord is high above all nations , his glory above the heavens ; who like unto the Lord our God : who dwelleth on high , &c. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust , &c. That he may set him with princes , &c. He maketh the barren woman to keep house , &c. Psal. 113. 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9. Our God is in the heavens , he hath done whatsoever he pleased , &c. The heaven , the heavens are the Lords , but the earth hath he given to the children of men , Psal. 115. 3 , 16. Psal. 135. 6. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty , and of thy wondrous works . And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts , and I will declare thy greatness , &c. Psal. 145. 5 , 6. Let them praise the name of the Lord , for his name alone is excellent , his glory is above the earth and heaven , Psal. 148. 13. There is no wisdom , nor understanding , nor counsel against the Lord , Prov. 21. 30. I know that whatsoever God doth , it shall be for ever : nothing can be put to it , nor any thing taken from it , and God doth it , that men should fear before him , Eccles. 3. 14. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks , and into the caves of the earth , for fear of the Lord , and for the glory of his majesty , when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth , Isa. 2. 19 , 21. Job 37. 22 , 23. Holy , holy , holy , the Lord of hosts , the whole earth is full of thy glory : Woe is me , &c. I have seen the king the Lord of hosts , Isa. 6. 3. Great is the holy one of Israel , in the middest of thee , Isa. 12. 6. Rev. 19. 17. Let favour be shewed to the wicked ; yet will he not , &c. behold the majesty of the Lord , Isa. 26. 10. The Lord of hosts , wonderful in counsel , and excellent in working , Isaiah 28. 29. The Lord God , &c. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand ? And meted out heaven with the span , and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure , and weighed the mountains in scales , and the hills in a ballance ? Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord , or being his counsellor , hath taught him ? With whom took he counsel , &c. Behold the nations are as the drop of a bucket , and are counted as the small dust of the ballance : Behold , he taketh up the Isles as a very little thing , &c. All nations before him are as nothing , and they are counted to him less than nothing , and vanity . To whom then will ye liken God ? or what likeness will ye compare unto him , & c ? He who sitteth upon the circle of the earth , &c. That bringeth the princes to nothing , &c. To whom will ye liken me , or shall I be equal ? Saith the holy one . Lift up your eyes on high , and behold who hath created these things , Isa. 40. 10 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26. chap. 42. 5. ch . 46. 5 , 9 , 10. Yea , before the day was , I am he , and there is none that can deliver out of my hand : I will work , and who shall let , &c. I the Lord , your holy one , the creator of Israel , your king , &c. Who maketh a way in the sea , and a path in the mighty waters , &c. I have given Jacob to the curse , and Israel to reproaches , Isa. 43. 13 , 15 , 16 , 28. I the Lord who maketh all things , who stretcheth forth the heavens alone , who spreadeth abroad the earth by my self ; who frustrateth the tokens of the lyars , and maketh diviners mad , who turneth wise men backward , and maketh their knowledg foolish , &c. Who saith to the deep be dry , and I will dry , Isa. 44. 24 , 25 , 27. I form light , and create darkness : I make peace and create evil : I the Lord do all these things , &c. Woe to him who striveth with his maker : let the potsheard strive with the potsheards of the earth , &c. I have made the earth , and created man upon it . I , even my hands , hath stretched out the heavens , &c. Every knee shall bow to me , every tongue shall swear , Isa. 45. 7 , 9 , 12. Behold , at my rebuke I dry up the sea , &c. I cloth the heavens with blackness , &c. Isa. 50. 2 , 3. Thus saith the high and lofty one who inhabiteth eternity , whose name is holy ; I dwell in the high and holy place , &c. Isa. 57. 15. Thus saith the Lord , The heaven is my throne , and the earth my foot-stool : where is the house ye build unto me ? And where is the place of my rest : for all these things hath mine hand made , &c. Isa. 66. 1 , 2. Hath a nation changed their Gods , which are yet no Gods ; but my people hath changed their glory , &c. Jer. 2. 11. The Lord our God who giveth rain , both the former and the latter in his season : he reserveth unto us the appointed weak of the harvest , Jer. 5. 24. There is none like unto thee , O Lord , thou art great , and thy name is great in might . Who would not fear thee , O king of nations ? For to thee doth it appertain ? Forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations , and in all their kingdoms , none like unto thee , &c. At his wrath the earth shall tremble , and the nations , &c. He hath made the earth by his power , &c. The portion of Jacob is not like them : for he is the former of all things , Jer. 10. 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 16. chap. 51. 15 , 16 , 19. Cannot I do with you as this Potter , saith the Lord ? Behold , as the clay in the Potters hand ; so are ye in mine hand , O house of Israel . At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation ; and concerning a kingdom to pluck up , and to pull down , and to destroy , &c. Jer. 18. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Thus saith the Lord of hosts , &c. I have made the earth , the man and the beast , that are upon the ground , by my great power , and by my outstretched arm , and have given it unto whom it seemeth meet unto me . And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar , &c. Jer. 27. 4 , 5 , 6 , &c. ch . 32. 17. The great ; the mighty God , the Lord of hosts is his name , great in counsel , and mighty in works , &c. I the Lord , the God of all flesh , is any thing too hard for thee ? Jer. 32. 18 , 19 , 27. Behold , all souls are mine , as the soul of the father , so also the soul of the son is mine , Ezek. 18. 4. Behold , the glory of the God of Israel , &c. And his voice was like a voice of many waters , and the earth shined with his glory , &c. The glory of the Lord filled the house , Ezek. 43. 2 , 4 , 5. ch . 8. 4. ch . 9. 3. Wisdom and might are his : And he changeth the times and the seasons : He removeth kings , and setteth up kings , &c. The God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom , power and glory , &c. And in the days of these kings , shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom , which shall never be destroyed , &c. He is a God of Gods , and Lord of Kings , Dan. 2. 20 , 21 , 37 , 38 , 44 , 47. Ye servants of the most high God , come forth , &c. Dan. 3. 26. Mark 5. 7. Luk. 1. 32 , 35 , 76. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom , and his dominion from generation to generation , &c. The most high ruleth in the kingdoms , and giveth it to whomsoever he will , and setteth up over it , the basest of men , &c. The most high , &c. Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion , &c. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing , and he doth according to his will in the army of heaven , and the inhabitants of the earth : And none can stay his hand , or say unto him , what doest thou , & c ? Those who walk in pride , he is able to abase , Dan. 4. 3 , 17 , 25 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 37. The God in whose hands thy breath is , and whose are all thy ways , hast thou not glorified , Dan. 5. 23. The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob , Amos 8. 7. I am a great king , saith the Lord of hosts , and my name is dreadful among the heathen , Mal. 1. 14. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest , that he will send forth labourers into the harvest , Matt. 9. 38. I thank thee , O Father , Lord of heaven and earth , because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent , and hast revealed them to babes . Even so , father , for it seemed good in thy sight . All things are delivered to me of my father , with God all things are possible , Matt. 11. 25 , 26 , 27. chap. 19. 26. Luk. 1. 37. The God of Glory appeared unto our father Abraham , &c. Howbeit the most high dwelleth not in temples made with hands ; as saith the Prophet , heaven is my Throne , &c. He looked up , &c. And saw the glory of God , and Jesus standing , Act. 7. 2 , 48 , 55. Turn from these vanities , unto the living God , who made heaven and earth , and the sea and all things therein , &c. He gave us rain from heaven , and fruitful seasons , &c. Act. 14. 15 , 17. Rev. 14. 7. God who made the world , and all things therein , seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth , dwelleth not in Temples made with hands , neither is worshipped with mens hands , as though he needed any thing ; seeing he giveth to all , life and breath , and all things , and hath made of one blood all nations , of men to dwell on the face of the earth , and hath determined the times before-appointed , and the bounds of their habitations , &c. For in him we live , and move , and have our being , &c. Act. 17. 24 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29. For the invisible things of him , &c. Are clearly seen , &c. His eternal power and Godhead , &c. They glorified him not as God , &c. And changed the glory of the incorruptible God , Rom. 1. 20 , 21 , 23. For of him , and through him , and to him , are all things , &c. Rom. 11. 3 , 6. Who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will , &c. The God of our Lord Jesus , the father of glory , Ephes. 1. 11 , 17. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction , from the presence of the Lord , and from the glory of his power , when he shall come to be glorified in his saints , 2 Thes. 1. 9 , 10. God who quickeneth all things , &c. Who is the blessed , and only potentate , the king of kings and Lord of Lords : Who only hath immortality , dwelling in the light , which no man can approach unto , whom no man hath seen , nor can see , to whom be honour and power everlasting , 1 Tim. 6. 13 , 15 , 16. Who being the brightness of his glory , &c. Sate down on the right hand of the majesty on high , Heb. 1. 3. chap. 8. 1. He who buildeth all things is God , Heb. 3. 4. For our God is a consuming fire , Heb. 12. 29. There is one lawgiver , who is able to save and to destroy , James 4. 12. The God of all grace , who hath called us into his eternal glory , &c. 1 Pet. 5. 10. Jude vers . 24. There came such a voice to him , from the excellent glory , &c. 2 Pet. 1. 17. Thou hast created all things , and for thy pleasure they are and were created , Rev. 4. 11. The City had no need of the sun , &c. for the glory of god did lighten it , &c. Rev. 21. 23. 4thly , He is Invisible . And he said , thou canst not see my face , for there shall no man see my face and live , Exod. 33. 20. No man hath seen God at any time : &c. John 1. 18. 1 John 4. 12. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his shape , John 5. 37. Not that any man hath seen the father : save he which is of God , he hath seen the father , &c. John 6. 46. The invisible things of him , &c. even his eternal Power and Godhead , Rom. 1. 20. Who is the Image of the Invisible God , Col. 1. 15. Who , &c. dwelling in the light , which no man can approach unto , whom no man hath seen nor can see , 1 Tim. 6. 16. Now to the king eternal , immortal , invisible , &c. 1 Tim. 1. 17. 5thly , Incorruptible . And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an Image , &c. Rom. 1. 23. To the king , &c. immortal , &c. 1 Tim. 1. 17. 6thly , He is the most strong , Almighty , and Omnipotent God , a Rock . The Lord appeared to Abraham , and said , &c. I am the Almighty God , &c. Gen. 17. 1. chap. 28. 3. chap. 35. 11. And the Lord said , &c. Is any thing too hard for the Lord , Gen. 18. 13 , 14. His hands were made strong , by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob , &c. By the Almighty , &c. Gen. 49. 24 , 25. I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm , Exod. 6. 6. The Lord is a man of war , &c. Thy right hand , O Lord , is become glorious , &c. Exod. 15. 3 , 6. He who saw the vision of the Almighty , &c. Numb . 24. 4 , 16. Thou hast shewed thy servant , &c. thy mighty hand : For what God is there , &c. who can do according to thy works , and according to thy might , Deut. 3. 24. Thou shalt not fear , &c. For the Lord thy God is among you , a mighty God , Deut. 7. 21. The Lord thy God , &c. He is a consuming fire , Deut. 9. 3. He is the rock , his work is perfect , &c. Jesurun , &c. Forsook God , &c. And lightly esteemed of the rock of his salvation , &c. Of the rock who begat thee , thou art unmindful , &c. Their rock is not as our rock , the enemies themselves being Judges , &c. Neither is there any , who can deliver out of my hand , Deut. 32. 4 , 15 , 18 , 31 , 39. That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord , that it is mighty , that ye may fear , &c. Joshua 4. 24. The Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me , &c. And the Almighty hath afflicted me , Ruth 1. 20 , 21. John 8. 3. There is no restraint to the Lord , to save by many or by few , 1 Sam. 14. 6. The strength of Israel will not lye , &c. 1 Sam. 15. 29. Behold God is mighty , &c. Mighty in strength , &c. Job 36. 5. Isaiah 28. 2. Shall he who contendeth with the Almighty instruct , &c. Hast thou an arm like God ? or canst thou thunder , &c. Job 40. 2 , 9. I know that thou canst do every thing , and that no thought can be withholden , Job 42. 2. Luk. 1. 37. Matt. 19. 26. Who is a strong Lord like unto thee , & c ? Thou hast a mighty arm : strong is thine hand , high is thy right hand , Psal. 89. 8 , 13. Isa. 63. 1. They shall sight against thee , but they shall not prevail against thee , for I am with thee , saith the Lord , Jer. 1. 19. The Lord is , &c. A strong-hold in the day of trouble , Nahum 1. 7. The Lord thy God in the middest of thee is mighty , Zephan . 3. 17. 2 Cor. 6. 18. Do we provoke the Lord , &c. are we stronger than he ? 1 Cor. 10. 22. To him who is able to do exceedingly , abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the power thatworketh in us , Ephes. 3. 20. Rom. 14. 4. Strengthened , &c. According to his glorious power , &c. Col. 1. 11. Ephes. 1. 19 , 20 , &c. Our God is a consuming fire , Heb. 12. 29. Humble your selves therefore , under the mighty hand of God , &c. 1 Pet. 5. 6. Lord God Almighty , Rev. 4. 8. chap. 11. 17. ch . 15. 3. ch . 21. 22. The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth , Rev. 19. 6. 7thly , He is Omniscient . Thou Lord seest me : for she said , have I here looked after him that seeth me ? Gen. 16. 13. The Lord is a God of knowledg , and by him Actions are weighed , 1 Sam. 2. 3. The Lord seeth not as man seeth ; for man looketh on the outward appearance , but the Lord looketh on the heart , 1 Sam. 16. 7. Thou , thou only knowest the hearts of all the children of men , 1 Kings 8. 39. The Lord searched all hearts , and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts : if thou seek him he , &c. 1 Chron. 28. 9. Hell is naked before him and destruction hath no covering , Job 26. 6. God understandeth the way thereof , and he knoweth the place thereof . For he looked to the ends of the earth , and seeth under the whole heaven , Job 28. 23 , 24. His eyes are upon the ways of man , and he seeth all his goings , Job 34. 21. Psal. 11. 4 , 5. The righteous God tryeth the hearts and reins , Psal. 7. 9. Jer. 11. 20. The Lord looketh from heaven ; and beholdeth all the sons of men , Psal. 33. 13. Understand ye brutish , &c. He that planteth the ear , shall he not hear ? He that formed the eye shall he not see , & c ? The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man : that they are vanity , Psal. 94. 8 , 9 , 11. Thou , &c. art acquainted with all my ways . For not a word in my tongue , but lo , O Lord , thou knowest it altogether , &c. Such knowledg is too wonderful for me : &c. Whither shall I go from thy spirit ? Or whither shall I fly from thy presence ? If I ascend up into Heaven , thou art there , &c. Psal. 139. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , &c. Prov. 5. 21. The eyes of the Lord are in every place , beholding the good and the bad , &c. Hell and destruction are before the Lord : how much more then the hearts of the children of men ? Prov. 15. 3 , 11. Shall the thing framed , say of him who framed it , he had no understanding , Isa. 29. 16. Mine eyes are upon all their ways : They are not hid from my face : Neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes , Jer. 16. 17. ch . 32. 19. I the Lord search the heart , I try the reins , Jer. 17 10. ch . 20. 12. I know the things which come into thy mind , every one of them , Ezek. 11. 5. He revealeth the deep and ●…ecret things : He knoweth what is in the darkness , and the light dwelleth with him , Dan. 2. 22 , 28. Thy father who seeth in secret , himself shall reward thee openly , &c. Your father knoweth what things ye have need of , before ye ask him , Mat. 6. 4 , 6 , 8 , 18. But of that day and hour knoweth no man , &c. but the father , Mark 13. 32. That should seek the Lord , &c. though he be not far from every one of us , Act. 17. 27. O the depth of the riches , &c. Of the knowledg of God , &c. Rom. 11. 33 , 34. Pleasing , &c. God who tryeth our hearts , &c. 1 Thes. 2. 4. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight : But all things are naked , and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do , Heb. 4. 12 , 13. 8thly , He is most Wise. He is wise in heart , and mighty in strength , &c. Job 9. 4. The Lord of host , wonderful in counsel , Isa. 28. 29. The Lord is a God of judgment , Isa. 30. 18. He hath established the world by his wisdom , and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion , Jer. 10. 12. O the depth of the riches , both of the wisdom and knowledg of God , Rom. 11. 33. To God only wise be glory , &c. Rom. 16. 27. 1 Tim. 1. 17. The foolishness of God is wiser than men : 1 Cor. 1. 25. To the only wise God our saviour be glory , &c. Jude vers . 25. 9thly , He is most Holy. Who like thee , O Lord , &c. glorious in holiness , &c. Exod. 15. 11. I the Lord thy God am a jealous God , visiting the iniquity , &c. Exod. 20. 5. Nahum 1. 2. Ye shall be holy : for I am holy , &c. Levit. 11. 44 , 45. chap. 19. 2. chap. 20. 26. I the Lord who sanctifieth you , am holy , Levit. 21. 8. For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you , Deut. 6. 15. The Lord : for he is an holy God : he is a jealous God , he will not forgive , &c. Josh. 24. 19. There is none holy as the Lord : for there is none besides , 1 Sam. 2. 2. Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God ? 1 Sam. 6. 20. The holy one of Israel is our king , Psal. 89. 18. Psal. 99. 9. The knowledg of the holy , is understanding , Prov. 9. 10. Holy , holy , holy , is the Lord of hosts , Isa. 6. 3. Behold , from the habitation of thy holiness , &c. The people of thy holiness hath possessed , &c. Isa. 63. 15 , 18. So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel , &c. And the heathen shall know , that I am the Lord , the holy one in Israel , Ezek. 39. 7. Isa. 43. 14 , 15. The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness , &c. Amos 4. 2. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil , and canst not look at iniquity , Habak . 1. 13. Holy , holy , holy , Lord God Almighty , which was , and is , &c. Rev. 4. 8. Who shall not fear thee , O Lord , &c. for thou only art holy , &c. Rev. 15. 4. 10thly , He is most just . A God of truth , and without iniquity ; just and right is he , Deut. 32. 4. Thou art just in all that is brought upon us , for thou hast done right , &c. Nehem. 9. 33. Surely God will not do wickedly , neither will the Almighty pervert judgment , &c. Wilt thou condemn him who is most just , Job 34. 12. 17. He is excellent , &c. and in plenty of justice , Job 37. 23. The righteous Lord loveth righteousness , &c. Psal. 11. 7. Psal. 33. 5. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne , Psal. 89. 14. No God besides me , a just God , &c. Isa. 45. 21. I am the Lord who exercise , &c. judgment , and righteousness in the earth , &c. Jer. 9. 24. The Lord our God is righteous in all his works , which he doth , Dan. 9. 14. The just Lord is in the middest thereof : he will not do iniquity : every morning he doth bring his judgment to light , Zephan . 3. 5. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love , which ye have shewed , &c. Heb. 6. 10. Lord God Almighty , just and true are thy ways , &c. Rev. 15. 3. 11thly , He is Compassionate , Pitiful , and Merciful . The men laid hold upon his hand , &c. the Lord being merciful unto him , Gen. 19. 16. The Lord , the Lord God , merciful and gracious , &c. keeping mercy for thousands , &c. Exod. 34. 6 , 7. The Lord is , &c. Of great mercy , Numb . 14. 18. The Lord thy God is a merciful God , he will not forsake thee , neither destroy thee , &c. Deut. 4. 31. O give thanks unto the Lord , &c. For his mercy endures for ever , 1 Chron. 16. 34. 2 Chron. 20. 21. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful , and will not turn away his face from you , if ye return , &c. 2 Chron. 30. 9. Psal. 116. 5. Thou a God , &c. merciful , slow to anger , &c. For thy great mercies sake , thou didst not consume them , &c. For thou art a gracious and merciful God , Nehem. 9. 17 , 31. Psal. 145. 8. Thou a God full of compassion , and gracious long-suffering , and plenteous in mercy , &c. Psal. 86. 15. Psal. 111. 4. Psal. 145. 8. Mercy , &c. shall go before thy face , Psal. 89. 14. The Lord is God , his mercy is everlasting , Psal. 100. 5. The Lord is merciful , &c. He will not alway chide , &c. As the heaven is high above the earth , so great is his mercy towards them who fear him , &c. Like as a father pitieth his children , so the Lord pitieth them who fear him ; for he knoweth our frame , he remembreth that we are dust , Psal. 103. 8 , 9 , 11 , 13 , 14. His mercy endureth for ever , &c. Psal. 136. 1 , 2 , &c. Where , &c. is the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies , Isa. 63. 15. I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you , for I am merciful , saith the Lord , I will not keep anger for ever , &c. Jer. 3. 12. To the Lord our God belongs mercy , &c. Dan. 9. 9. I knew that thou a gracious God , and merciful , slow to anger , and of great kindness , and repentest thee of the evil , &c. Jonah 4. 2. Joel 2. 13. Who is a God like unto thee who pardoneth iniquity ? &c. he retaineth not his anger for ever , because he delighteth in mercy , Micah 7. 18. Remission of their sins . Through the tender mercies ( or bowels of mercy ) of our God , whereby the day-spring from on high , &c. Luk. 1. 77 , 78. 12thly , He is long-suffering , and patient . The Lord , &c. Longsuffering , &c. Exod. 34. 6. Psal. 86. 15. The Lord is long-suffering , &c. Num. 14. 18. Thou art a God , &c. slow to anger , &c. Nehem. 9. 17. Psal. 103. 8. Despisest thou the , &c. forbearance , and long-suffering , &c. Rom. 2. 4. 13. He is Gracious , Good , Kind , and Bountiful . I am gracious , Exod. 22. 27. The Lord God merciful and gracious , &c. abundant in goodness , &c. Exod. 34. 6. Thou a God , &c. gracious , &c. and of great kindness , Nehem. 9. 17 , 31. For the Lord God , a sun and shield , no good thing will he withhold from them who walk uprightly , Psal. 84. 11. For the Lord is good , &c. Psal. 100. 5. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness , &c. The Lord is gracious , &c. The Lord is good to all , &c. Psal. 145. 7 , 8 , 9. Let him who glorieth glory in this , that , &c. he knoweth me , That I am the Lord , who exerciseth loving kindness , &c. in the earth : for in these things I delight , saith the Lord , &c. Jer. 9. 24. The Lord your God , for he is , &c. Of great kindness , &c. Joel 2. 13. Jonah 4. 2. Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance , Rom. 2. 4. The forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace , wherein he hath abounded towards us , &c. Ephes. 1. 7. That in the ages to come , he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace , in his kindness towards us , through Jesus Christ , Ephes. 2. 7. The God of all grace , who hath called us , &c. 1 Pet. 5. 10. 14. He is faithfulness and truth . The Lord , &c. abundant in goodness and truth , Exod. 34. 6. God is not a man that he should lye , &c. Hath he said , and shall he not do it ? Or hath he spoken , and shall he not make it good , Numb . 23. 19. Heb. 6. 18. Know therefore that the Lord thy God , he is God , the faithful God , who keepeth covenant , &c. To a thousand generations , &c. Deut. 7. 9. 1 Cor. 1. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 13. Thou art that God , and thy words be true and thou hast promised , 2 Sam. 7. 28. Heb. 10. 23. The heavens shall praise thy wonders , O Lord , thy faithfulness also in the congregation of thy saints , &c. Mercy and truth shall go before thy face , &c. Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him : nor suffer my faithfulness to fail , Psal. 89. 5 , 14 , 33. Psal. 36. 5. Deut. 32. 4. The Lord is good , &c. His truth endureth to all generations , Psal. 100. 5. Psal. 117. 2. He will ever be mindful of his covenant , &c. The work of his hands are verity , &c. Are done in truth and uprightness , Psal. 111. 5 , 7 , 8. Happy is he , &c. whose hope is in the Lord his God , &c. Who keepeth truth for ever , Psal. 146. 5 , 6. He who blesseth himself in the earth , shall bless himself in the God of truth : and he who sweareth in the earth , shall swear by the God of truth , Isa. 65. 16. Great is thy faithfulness , &c. Out of the mouth of the most high , proceedeth not evil and good , &c. Lam. 3. 23 , 38. God is faithful , and will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able , &c. 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Thes. 5. 24. Commit the keeping of their souls , &c. as unto a faithful creatour , 1 Pet. 4. 19. How long , O Lord , holy and true , dost thou not judge and avenge , &c. Rev. 6. 10. 15. He is unchangeable . I am the Lord , I change not , therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed , &c. Mal. 3. 6. God willing , &c. To shew to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel , confirmed it by an oath . That by two immutable things , in which it was impossible for God to lye , &c. Heb. 6. 17 , 18. The father of lights , with whom is no variableness or shadow of turning , James 1. 17. 16. He is infinite and unsearchable . Unto God would I commit my cause : Who doth great things and unsearchable , &c. Job 5. 9. chap. 37. 5. Who doeth great things past finding out , &c. Lo he goeth by me and I see him not , he passeth on also , but I perceive him not , Job 9. 10 , 11. Canst thou by searching find out God ? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection ? Job 11. 7. By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens , &c. lo these are parts of his ways ; but how little a portion is heard of him ? Job 26. 14. Behold , God is great , and we know him not , neither can the number of his years be searched out , Job 36. 26. Touching the Almighty , we cannot find him out : he is excellent in power , &c. Job 37. 23. Thy way is in the sea , and thy path in the great waters : and thy footsteps are not known , Psal. 77. 19. O Lord , how great are thy works ? and thy thoughts are very deep , Psal. 92. 5. Great is the Lord , &c. and his greatness is unsearchable , Psal. 145. 3. Great is our Lord , &c. his understanding is unsearchable , Psal. 147. 5. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit , nor how the bones do grow in the womb , &c. even so thou knowest not the work of God , who maketh all , Eccl. 11. 5. Hast thou not known , hast thou not heard the everlasting God , &c. There is no searching of his understanding , Isa. 40. 28. Neither knoweth any man the father save the son , and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him , Matt. 11. 27. O the depth of the riches , both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! How unsearchable are his judgments , and his ways past finding out ? For who hath known the mind of the Lord , or who hath been his counsellour , &c. Rom. 11. 33 , 34 , 35. 17. He is eternal . And Abraham , &c. called there on the name of the Lord , the everlasting God , Gen. 21. 33. The eternal God is thy refuge , and underneath are the everlasting arms , Deut. 33. 27. And also the strength ( or eternity ) of Israel will not lye , 1 Sam. 15. 29. The Lord shall endure for ever , &c. Psal. 9. 7. Before the mountains were brought forth , &c. even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God , &c. For a thousand years in thy sight , are as yesterday when it is past : and as a watch in the night , Psal. 90. 2. 4. Thou Lord art high for evermore , Psal. 92. 8. The Lord reigneth , &c. Thy throne is established of old , thou art from everlasting , Psal. 93. 1 , 2. Psal. 146. 10. Thou , O Lord , shalt endure for ever : and thy remembrance unto all generations , &c. They shall perish , but thou shalt endure , &c. Thou art the same , and thy years shall have no end , Psal. 102. 12 , 26 , 27. Lam. 5. 19. Thy name , O Lord , endureth for ever , and thy memorial throughout all generations , Psal. 135. 13. Isa. 63. 16. Hast thou not known , &c. that the everlasting God , the Lord , &c. Isa. 40. 28. Thus saith the Lord , &c. I the first , and I the last , and besides me there is no God , Isa. 44. 6. ch . 48. 12. Thus saith the high and lofty one , who inhabiteth eternity , &c. Isa. 57. 15. The Lord , the true God , he is , &c. An everlasting king , Jer. 10. 10. Dan. 4. 3 , 34. For the invisible things of him , &c. even his eternal power and Godhead , Rom. 1. 20. Now is made manifest , &c. according to the commandment of the everlasting God , Rom. 16. 26. Christ , &c. Who through the eternal spirit offered himself , &c. Heb. 9. 14. Now unto the king eternal , &c. the only wise God , &c. 1 Tim. 1. 17. I am Alpha and Omega , the beginning and the ending , saith the Lord , which is , and which was , and which is to come , the Almighty , Rev. 1. 8 , 11. chap. 11. 17. Lord God Almighty , which was , and is , and is to come , Rev. 4. 8. Worshipped him , who liveth for ever and ever , Rev. 5. 14. chap. 15. 7. 18. He only is the true and living God. Unto thee it was shewed , that thou mightest know , that the Lord he is God , there is none else besides him , &c. Know therefore this day and consider it in thine heart , that the Lord he is God in heaven above , and upon the earth beneath , there is none else , Deut. 4. 35 , 39. ch . 7. 9. 1 Sam. 2. 2. The Lord our God , is one Lord , Deut. 6. 4. Mark 12. 29 , 32. 1 Cor. 8. 4 , 5 , 6. Gal. 3. 20. See now that I , I am he , and there is no God with me ; I kill and I make alive , I wound and I heal , &c. Deut. 32. 39. Isa. 43. 10 , 11 , 12. And Joshua said , hereby shall ye know that the living God is among you . And that he will , &c. Josh. 3. 10. Ruth 3. 13. 1 Sam. 20. 3. 2 Sam. 22. 47. 1 King. 17. 1. Job 27. 2. Who is God save the Lord ? And who is a rock , save our God ? 2 Sam. 22. 32. Psal. 18. 31. O Lord God of Israel , &c. Thou art the God , thou alone , of all , &c. 2 King. 19. 15 , 19. Nehem. 9. 6. Psal. 86. 10. Now for a long season , Israel hath been without the true God , 2 Chron. 15. 3. My heart and flesh cryeth out for the living God , Psal. 84. 2. Jer. 44. 26. Know ye that the Lord , he is God , he hath made us , and his we are , &c. Psal. 100. 3. I am the Lord , that is my name , and my glory will I not give to another , neither my praise to graven images , Isa. 42. 8. Thus saith the Lord , the king of Israel , &c. I am the first , and I the last , and besides me there is no God , &c. Have not I told thee from that time , and have declared ye are my witnesses . Is there a God besides me . Yea , no God , &c. Isa. 44. 6 , 8. ch . 45. 5 , 6 , 18 , 20 , 21 , 22. ch . 46. 9 , 10. Joel 2. 27. But the Lord is the true God , he is the living God , Jer. 10. 10. chap. 23. 36. Matt. 16. 16. John 6. 57 , 69. Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles who can cause rain , & c ? Art not thou he , O Lord our God , &c. thou hast made all , Jer. 14. 22. Behold , I the Lord , the God of all flesh , is there any thing too hard for me , Jer. 32. 27. And this is life eternal , that they might know thee , the only true God and Jesus , &c. John 17. 3. 1 Thes. 1. 9. Turn from these vanities , unto the living God , who made heaven , &c. Act. 14. 15. 2 Cor. 6. 16. 1 Tim. 4. 10. ●…ho changed the truth of God into a lye , and worshipped and served the creature more than the creatour , who is blessed for ever , Amen . Rom. 1. 25. We know , &c. That there is none other God but one . For though there 〈◊〉 that are called Gods , &c. But to us , there is but one God , &c. Of whom 〈◊〉 all things , 1 Cor. 8. 4 , 5 , 6. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Who only hath immortality dwelling in the light , &c. 1 Tim. 6. 16. Worshipped him who liveth for ever and ever , Rev. 4. 8 , 9 , 10. ch . 5. 14. 10. 6. ch . 15. 7. CHAP. III. Of the one God , Father , Son and Spirit , or the Trinity . GOD said , let us make man in our image , after our likeness , &c. So God created man in his own image , in the image of God created he him , Gen. 1. 26 , 27. Col. 1. 15 , 16 , 17. Heb. 1. 2. And the Lord God said , behold , the man is become as one of us , &c. Gen. 3. 22. And the Lord said , Behold , the people is one , &c. Go to let us go down , and there confound their language , Gen. 11. 6 , 7. Not so my Lord , &c. I have accepted thee concerning this thing , that I will not overthrow this City , for the which thou hast spoken , &c. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah , brimstone and fire , from the Lord out of heaven , Gen. 19. 18 , 21 , 24. And the Lord said unto Satan , the Lord rebuke thee , O Satan , even the Lord who hath chosen Jerusalem , &c. Zechar. 3. 2. All things are delivered unto me of my father : and no man knoweth the son but the father , neither knoweth any man the father save the son , and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him , Matt. 11. 27. The woman of Canaan came to Jesus and worshipped him , saying , Lord help , Matt. 15. 25. The Eleven disciples went , &c. Where Jesus had appointed them , and when they saw him they worshipped him , &c. And Jesus came and spake unto them , saying , all power is given to me in heaven and earth , go ye therefore and teach all nations , baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy Ghost , Matt. 28. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Why doth this man speak blasphemy ? Who can forgive sins but God only , &c. but that ye may know , that the son of man hath power on earth to forgive sin , he saith unto the sick , &c. arise , Mark 2. 7 , 9 , 10 , 11. In the beginning was the word , and the word was with God , and the word was God , &c. The world was made by him , &c. And the word was made flesh , &c. John 1. 1 , 2 , 10 , 14. Jesus , &c. knew all men , and needed not that any should testify of man : For he knew what was in man , John 2. 24 , 25. No man hath ascended , &c. but he who came down , &c. even the son of man who is in heaven , John 3. 13. Jesus answered them , my father worketh hitherto , and I work , &c. The Jews sought the more to kill him , &c. Because , &c. He said God was his father , making himself equal with God , &c. The son can do nothing of himself , but what he seeth the father do : for whatsoever things he doth , these also doth the son likewise , &c. As the father raised up the dead , and quickened them , even so the son quickeneth whom he will , &c. That all men should honour the son , even as they honour the father : he who honoureth not the son , honoureth not the father who sent him , John 5. 17 , 18 , 19 , 21 , 22 , 23. What and if ye shall see the son of man ascend up where he was before , John 6. 62. Jesus said unto them , verily , verily , I say unto you , Before Abraham was , I am , John 8. 58. Dost thou believe on the son of God ? and Jesus said , &c. Thou hast both seen him , and it is he who talketh with thee , &c. and he worshipped him , John 9. 35 , 36 , 37 , 38. My father who gave them me , is greater than all : and no man is able to pluck them out of my fathers hand . I and my father are one , &c. Believe the work , that ye may know , and believe that the father is in me , and I in him , John 10. 29 , 30 , 38. Jesus knew Lazarus was dead , John 11. 14. He who believeth on me , believeth not on me , but him who sent me . And he who seeth me , seeth him who sent me , John 12. 44 , 45. Jesus knowing , &c. That he was come from God , and went to God , John 13. 3. If ye had known me , ye should have known my father also : and from henceforth ye know him , and have seen him . Philip saith unto him : Lord , shew us the father , and it sufficeth us . Jesus faith unto him , have I been so long time with you , and yet hast thou not known me Philip ? He who hath seen me , hath seen the father , and how sayest thou shew us the father ? believest thou not that I am in the father and the father in me . The words I speak unto you , I speak not of my self : but the father who dwelleth in me , he doth the works . Believe me that I am in the father and the father in me , &c. Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name , that will I do , &c. I will pray the father , and he shall give you another comforter , that he may abide with you for ever , even the spirit of truth , &c. I will come to you , &c. He who loveth me , I will love him and manifest my self to him , &c. My father will love him , and we will come unto him , and make our abode with him , &c. The comforter , the holy Ghost , whom my father will send in my name , he shall teach you , John 14. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 21 , 23 , 26. When the spirit of truth is come , &c. He will shew you things to come , he shall glorify me , for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you . All things which the father hath , are mine : therefore said I , that he shall take of mine , and shall shew it unto you , &c. Whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name , he will give it you , &c. I came forth from the father , and am come into the world , again I leave the world and go to the father , &c. John 16. 13 , 14 , 15 , 23 , 27 , 28 , 30. Now , O Father , glorify thou me , &c. With the glory which I had with thee before the world was , &c. And all mine are thine , and thine are mine , and I am glorified in them , &c. That they may be one , as thou father art in me and I in thee , John 17. 5 , 10 , 21. Thomas answered and said unto him , my Lord and my God , John 20. 28. Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lye to the holy Ghost , &c. Thou hast not lied unto men but to God , &c. How is it that ye are agreed together to tempt the spirit of the Lord ? Act. 5. 3 , 4 , 9. Stephen calling and saying , Lord Jesus receive my spirit , Act. 7. 59. Peter said to Aeneas , Jesus Christ maketh thee whole : arise , &c. Act. 9. 34. The Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood , Act. 20. 28. Of whom , as concerning the flesh , Christ came , who is over all God blessed for ever , Amen . Rom. 9. 5. With all in every place , who call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord , 1 Cor. 1. 2. The spirit searcheth all things , yea , the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man , but the spirit of man which is in him , even so the things of God , knoweth no man but the spirit of God , 1 Cor. 2. 10 , 11. Know you not that ye are the temple of God , and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you , &c. 1 Cor. 3. 16. He who is joyned unto the Lord , is one spirit , &c. Know you not that your body is the temple of the holy Ghost , who is in you which ye have of God , &c. 1 Cor. 6. 17 , 19. To us there is but one God the father , of whom are all things , and one Lord Jesus , 1 Cor. 8. 6. Now the Lord is that spirit , and where the spirit of the Lord is , there is liberty , &c. Even as by the spirit of the Lord ( or the Lord of the spirit ) 2 Cor. 3. 17 , 18. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ , the Love of God , and the Communion of the holy Ghost , be with you all , 2 Cor. 13. 14. God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into our hearts , &c. Gal. 4. 6. Through him , we both have an access by one spirit unto the father , &c. In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit , Ephes. 2. 18 , 22. By him , were all things created , &c. By him and for him , and he is before all things , and by him all things consist , Col. 1. 16 , 17. Heb. 1. 2 , 3. The mistery of God , and of the father , and of Christ ; in whom ( or wherein ) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledg , &c. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily , Col. 2. 2 , 3 , 9. Now God himself , and our father , and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way , 1 Thes. 3. 11. Now our Lord Jesus himself , and God even our father , &c. Comfort your hearts , 2 Thes. 2. 16 , 17. God our saviour , and Lord Jesus Christ our hope , Grace , mercy , and peace from God our father , and our Lord Jesus Christ , &c. I thank Jesus Christ our Lord who hath enabled me , for that he counted me , &c. 1 Tim. 1. 1 , 2 , 12. Rom. 1. 7. 1 Tim. 2. 3. Great is the mistery of Godliness , God was manifested in the flesh , justified in the spirit , seen of Angels , &c. Received up into glory , 1 Tim. 3. 16. According to the commandment of God our saviour , &c. Grace and peace from God the father , and the Lord Jesus Christ our saviour , Titus 1. 3 , 4. Looking for , &c. The glorious appearing of the great God , and our saviour Jesus , Titus 2. 10 , 13. ch . 3. 4. Christ , who through the eternal spirit offered himself , Heb. 9. 14. Let all the Angels of God worship him , &c. Unto the Son he saith , thy throne O God , &c. Heb. 1. 6 , 8. The Prophets , &c. Searching what , &c. The spirit of Christ which was in them , 1 Pet. 1. 10 , 11. God , and our saviour Jesus Christ , 2 Pet. 1. 1. Hereby perceive we the love of God , because he laid down his life for us , 1 John 3. 16. Three who bare record in heaven , the Father , the Word and the holy Ghost , and these three are one , &c. His son Jesus Christ ; This is the true God , &c. 1 John 5. 7 , 20. Denying the only Lord God , and our Lord Jesus , &c. To the only wise God our saviour , &c. Jude vers . 4 , 25. All the Churches shall know , that I am he who searcheth the reins , and hearts , Rev. 2. 23. See more of Christ's Excellency , Chap. 5. more of the Spirit , Chap. 19. CHAP. IV. Of Man in his first estate , wherein he was created , and of His fall . Of his first state . AND God said , let us make man in our image , after our likeness : and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea , and over the foul of the air , and over the cattle , and over all the earth , and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth . So God created man in his own image , in the image of God created he him , male and female created he them . And God blessed them ; and God said unto them , be fruitful , and multiply , and replenish the earth , and subdue it , and have dominion over the fish of the sea , &c. Gen. 1. 26 , 27 , 28 , 29. Psal. 8. 5 , 6 , 7. Adam gave names to all the creatures which were brought to him , Gen. 2. 19 , 20. God hath made man upright , &c. Eccles. 7. 29. Of his fall . The manner and occasion of mans fall , at large , Gen. 3. 2 Cor. 11. 3. God made man upright : but they have sought out many inventions , Eccles. 7. 29. By one man sin entred into the world , and death by sin : and so death passed upon all men , for that ( or , in whom ) all have sinned , &c. If through the offence of one man many be dead , &c. The judgment was by one to condemnation : &c. For if by one mans offence ( or , one offence ) death raigned by one , &c. By one mans disobedience , many were made sinners , Rom. 5. 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. I fear , &c. as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty , so your minds should be corrupted , &c. 2 Cor. 11. 3. CHAP. V. Of Mans state by nature , since sin entered . 1st . Corrupt , unclean , and desperately wicked . CAin was very wrath , and his countenance fell , because God had not respect unto his offering , as unto Abels , and he rose up against his brother and slew him , Gen. 4. 8 , 9. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth , and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart , ( or the whole imagination , purposes and desires , ) was only evil continually , &c. The earth also was corrupt before God : and the earth was filled with violence , &c. For all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth , &c. Gen. 6. 5 , 11 , 12. The imaginations of mans heart are evil from his youth , Gen. 8. 21. The wickedness of Sodom , at the time when God came to destroy it , Gen. 19. Esau hated his brother , because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him : and Esau said in his heart , &c. Then will I slay my brother Jacob , Gen. 27. 41. Joseph his brethren hated him , could not speak peaceably to him , envied him . They conspired against him to slay him , and to cover it with a lye , Gen. 27. 4 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 23 , 24. And Pharaoh said , who is the Lord , that I should obey his voice to let Israel go ? I know not the Lord , neither will I let Israel go , Exod. 5. 2. After all the wonders Moses wrought , and the judgments against Egypt , his heart was still hardened against God , and would not yield , Exod. 7. chap. 8. ch . 9. ch . 10. Absalom had a tent spread upon the top of the house , and went in unto his fathers concubines in the sight of all Israel , 2 Sam. 16. 22. Ahab had sold himself to work evil in the sight of the Lord , &c. None like to Ahab , who did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord , 1 Kings 21. 25. Ahaziah being sick , sent to an idol to enquire , and after sent a captain and his fifty to take the Prophet , whom God destroyed with fire ; yet he sent again and again , 2 Kings 1. 2 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. Hazael , when the Prophet had told him how wicked he should be , said , is thy servant a dog , &c. 2 King. 8. 11 , 12 , 13. Rabshakeh said , what confidence is this wherein thou trustest , & c ? Let not Hezekiah deceive you , &c. Neither make you trust in the Lord , &c. Have any of the Gods of the nations delivered at all his land , &c. Who , &c. hath delivered , &c. That the Lord should deliver out of my hand , &c. 2 King. 19. 30 , 32 , 33 , 35. Isa. 36. ch . 37. The words of Sennacherib , who hath sent him to reproach the living God , &c. Whom thou hast reproached and blasphemed , and against whom thou hast exalted thy voice , &c. Against the holy one of Israel ; by thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord , &c. 2 King. 19. 16 , 22 , 23. King Ahaz did wickedly , and in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord. This that king Ahaz , 2 Chron. 28. 19 , 22. The chief Priests and the people transgressed very much after all the abomination of the heathen , &c. And the Lord , &c. Sent to them his messengers , &c. But they mocked the messengers of God , and despised his words , and misused his Prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose , &c. Till there was no remedy , 2 Chron. 36. 14 , 15 , 16. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean thing ? not one , Job 14. 4. What is man that he should be clean , or he who is born of a woman that he should be righteous ? &c. Yea , the heavens are unclean in his sight : how much more abominable and filthy is man , who drinketh in iniquity like water ? Job 15. 14 , 15 , 16. ch . 25. 4. The wicked say , &c. What is the Almighty that we should serve him , and what can he do , &c. Job 21. 15. ch . 22. 17. The kings of the earth set themselves , and the rulers take counsel together , against the Lord , and against his anointed , saying , let us break their bands asunder , and cast away their cords from us , Psal. 2. 2 , 3. The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek God , God is not in all his thoughts , &c. His mouth is full of cursing , and deceit , and fraud , &c. He hath said in his heart , God hath forgotten , he hideth his face , he will never see , &c. Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God , &c. Psal. 10. 4 , 7 , 11 , 13. With our tongue will we prevail , our lips are our own , who is Lord over us , Psal. 12. 4. The fool hath said in his heart there is no God ; they are corrupt , they have done abominable works , there is none who doeth good , &c. They are all gon aside , they are together become filthy ( or , stinking ) : there is none who doth good , no not one , Psal. 14. 1 , 2 , 3. Psal. 53. 1 , 2 , 3. He deviseth mischief on his bed , he setteth himself in a way , not good , Psal. 36. 4. Prov. 4. 16. I was shapen in iniquity , and in sin did my mother conceive me , Psal. 51. 5. The wicked estranged from the womb , they go astray assoon as they are born speaking lyes , Psal. 58. 3. Pride compasseth them about as a chain , violence covereth them as a garment , &c. They are corrupt and speak wickedly , &c. They set their mouth against the heavens , and their tongue walketh through the earth , &c. They say how doth God know ? and is there knowledg in the most high ? Psal. 73. 6 , 8 , 9 , 11. The wrath of God came upon them and slew the fattest of them , &c. For all this they sinned still , and believed not for his wondrous work , Psal. 78. 30 , 31 , 32. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people , &c. They have consulted together with one consent ( or heart ) : They are confederate against thee , Psal. 83. 3 , 5. Fools make a mock at sin , Prov. 14. 9. Not a just man upon the earth , who doth good and sinneth not , Eccles. 7. 20. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily , therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil , Eccles. 8. 11. The king of Assyria lifted up in pride , said , shall not I do to Jerusalem as to Samaria , &c. By the strength of my hand have I done it , and by my wisdom , for I am prudent , Isa. 10. 10 , 11 , 13. Let favour be shewed to the wicked , yet will he not learn righteousness , &c. Deal unjustly in the land of uprightness , and will not behold the majesty of the Lord , &c. Thy hand is lifted up , they will not see , &c. Isa. 26. 10 , 11. Thou hast trusted in thy wickedness , thou hast said , none seeth me , &c. and thou hast said in thine heart , I and none else beside me , Isa. 47. 10. All we like sheep have gone astray : We have turned every one to his own way , Isa. 53. 6. Thou said there is no hope , no , for I have loved strangers , and after them will I go , Jer. 2. 25. Thou hast stricken them , but they have not grieved ; thou hast consumed them , they have refused to receive correction , they have made their faces harder than a rock , they have refused to return , Jer. 5. 3. Thus saith the Lord , stand ye in the way , and see and ask for the old paths , where is the good way , and walk therein , &c. But they said we will not walk therein , Jer. 6. 16. They spake not aright , no man repented of his wickedness , saying , what have I done ; every one turned to his course as the horse rusheth into the battle , Jer. 8. 6. The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron , with the point of a diamond it is graven upon the table of their heart , &c. The heart is deceitful above all things , and desperately wicked , &c. Jer. 17. 1 , 9. Thus saith the Lord , return ye , &c. And they said there is no hope , but we will walk after our own devices , and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart , &c. Let us devise devices against Jeremy , &c. And let us not give heed to any of his words , Jer. 18. 11 , 12 , 18. The king cut and burned the roll , wherein was written Jeremy's Prophesie , and would have taken the Prophet himself , Jer. 36. 21 , 23 , 24 , 26. The people told Jeremy , we will not hearken unto thee , but we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth out of our own mouth , to burn incense to the Queen of heaven , &c. Jer. 44. 15 , 16 , 17. Hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark , every man in the chambers of his Imagery ? For they say , the Lord seeth not us , the Lord hath forsaken the earth , &c. Ezek. 8. 12. When they had slain their children to their Idols , then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it , &c. Ezek. 23. 39. Nebuchadnezzar said , who is that God who can deliver out of my hands ? Dan. 3. 15. The king said , is not this great Babylon which I have built for the house of the kingdom , by the might of my power , and for the honour of my majesty ? While the word was in his mouth , &c. A voice said , the kingdom is departed , Dan. 4. 30 , 31. Though Nebuchadnezzar knew all which God had done to his father for his pride : yet he humbled not his heart . But thou hast lifted up thy self against the Lord of heaven , &c. Thou hast praised the gods of silver , &c. Dan. 5. 21 , 22 , 23. Their mother hath played the harlot , &c. For she said , I will go after my lovers who gave me my bread , &c. Hosea 2. 5. They set their heart on their iniquity , Hos. 4. 8. God repeats many judgments he had brought upon Israel , and saith , Yet they have not returned unto me , &c. Amos 4. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. They hate him who rebuketh in the gate : and they abhor him who speaketh uprightly , Amos 5. 10. Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts , execute true judgment , &c. But they refused to hearken , and pulled away the shoulder , and stopped their ears that they should not hear . Yea , they made their heart as an Adamant-stone , lest they should hear the law , &c. Zech. 7. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Your words have been stout against me , saith the Lord : Yet ye say , what have we spoken against thee ? Ye have said , it is vain to serve God , and what profit that we have kept his ordinances , &c. Mal. 3. 13 , 14. Job 21. 14 , 15. When Pilate had said , I am innocent of the blood of this just person : see ye to it . Then answered all the people and said , his blood be on us and our children , Matt. 27. 24 , 25. That which cometh out of them and defileth the man. For from within , out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts , adulteries , fornications , thefts , covetousness , wickedness , deceit , lasciviousness , an evil eye , blasphemy , pride , foolishness : all these evil things come from within , and defile the man , Mark 7. 20 , 21 , 22 , 23. Certain of the Jews banded together , and bound themselves with a curse , saying , that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. More than fourty , Acts 23. 12 , 13. They became vain in their imagination , and their foolish heart was darkned , &c. And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image , &c. Wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness , through the lusts of their own hearts , &c. Who changed the truth of God into a lye , and worshipped and served the creature more than the creator , &c. For this cause , God gave them up to vile affections : for even the women did change the natural use into that which is against nature , &c. Being filled with all unrighteousness , fornication , wickedness , covetousness , maliciousness , full of envy , murder , debate , deceit , malignity , whisperers , backbiters , haters of God , despightful , proud , boasters , inventers of evil things , disobedient to parents , &c. Covenant-breakers , without natural affections , implacable , unmerciful , &c. Not only do the fame , but have pleasure in them who do them , Rom. 1. 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32. They are all gon out of the way , &c. Their throat is an open sepulchre , with their tongues they have used deceit , the poison of Asps is under their lips : Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness : Their feet are swift to shed blood , &c. There is no fear of God before their eyes , Rom. 3. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. When we were yet sinners , &c. Enemies , we were reconciled , Rom. 5. 8 , 10. The carnal mind is enmity against God ; for it is not subject to the Law of God , neither indeed can be , &c. Rom. 8. 7. You who were dead in trespasses and sins ; wherein in times past ye walked , &c. In the lusts of our flesh , fulfilling the desires of our flesh , &c. Ephes. 2. 1 , 2 , 3. Col. 2. 13. Other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minds , &c. Being alienated from the life of God : Who being past feeling , have given themselves over unto lasciviousness , to work all uncleanness with greediness , &c. The old man which is corrupt , Ephes. 4. 17 , 18 , 19 , 22. The enemies of the Cross of Christ , &c. Whose god is their belly , whose glory is their shame , who mind earthly things , Phil. 3. 18 , 19. You who were sometimes alienated , and enemies in your mind by wicked works , Col. 1. 21. The Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets , and have persecuted us : And they please not God , and are contrary to all men . Forbidding us to speak , &c. To fill up their sins alway : for the wrath , &c. 1 Thes. 2. 14 , 15 , 16. Who was before a blasphemer , and a persecutor , and injurious ; but I obtained mercy , 1 Tim. 1. 13. We our selves were sometimes foolish , disobedient , deceived , serving divers lusts and pleasures , living in malice and envy , hateful , and hating one another , Titus 3. 3. Every man is tempted , when he is drawn away of his own lust and inticed , and when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin , James 1. 14 , 15. chap. 4. 1 , 2. Your vain conversation by tradition from your fathers , 1 Pet. 1. 18. The time past of our life may suffice us , &c. When we walked in lasciviousness , lusts , excess of wine , revellings , banquetings , and abominable idolatries ; wherein they think it strange that you run not with them , to the same excess , 1 Pet. 4. 3 , 4. They have eyes full of adultery , who cannot cease from sin , 2 Pet. 2. 14. We know that , &c. The whole world lyeth in wickedness , 1 John 5. 19. See more of sin , Chap. 15. 2dly . Ignorant , and sottishly opposing the true God and his ways , and adoring Idols of stocks and stones . When Jacob went from Laban , Laban complains that he had stolen his gods , Gen. 31. 30. Pharaoh said , who is the Lord that I should obey him , & c ? I know not the Lord , Exod. 5. 2. Israel by Aaron made a molten Calf , and they said , these be thy gods , O Israel , which brought thee out of Egypt , &c. They built an altar , and offered sacrifice to it , Exod. 32. 4 , 5 , 6. The men of Ashdod were so sottish , that when Dagon their idol-god had fallen down before the Ark twice , and was broken in pieces , and themselves had confessed the hand of the God of Israel to be sore against them and their god . Yet they continued to call him their God , and neither the Priest , nor any who came into Dagon's house , would after tread upon the threshold whereon Dagon fell , 1 Sam. 1. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7. The wicked say unto God , depart from us : for we desire not the knowledg of thy ways . What is the Almighty that we should serve him , and what profit should we have , if we pray unto him ? Job 21. 14 , 15. Who said unto God , depart from us , and what can the Almighty do for ( or by ) them ? Job 22. 17. They are those who rebel against the light , they know not the way thereof , nor abide in the path thereof , Job 24. 13. Great men are not wise , neither do the aged understand judgment , Job 32. 9. The fool hath said in his heart , there is no God , Psal. 14. 1. But unto the wicked , God said , what hast thou to do to declare my statutes , &c. Seeing thou hatest instruction , and castest my words behind thee , &c. Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thy self , Psal. 50. 16 , 17 , 21. They slay the widow , &c. Yet they say the Lord shall not see , neither shall the God of Jacob regard . Understand O ye bruitish , &c. He who planteth the ear shall , &c. Psal. 94. 6 , 7 , 8. The Ox knoweth his owner , and the Ass his masters crib , Israel doth not know , my people doth not consider , Isa. 1. 3. He heweth down Cedars , &c. For a man to burn and warm himself , &c. Yea , he maketh a god , and worshippeth it , he maketh a graven image , and falleth down thereto . He burneth part thereof , &c. The residue thereof , he maketh a god , and worshippeth it , and prayeth to it , and saith , deliver me , for thou art my god . They have not known , nor understood , &c. And none considereth in his heart , neither is there knowledg or understanding , to say I have burned part , &c. Shall I make the residue thereof an abomination , shall I fall down to the stock of a tree , Isa. 44. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. They have not known me , they are sottish children , they have no understanding , Jer. 4. 22. The word of the Lord , is unto them a reproach , they have no delight in it , Jer. 6. 10. Though Nebuchadnezzar had acknowledged the God of Daniel , to be the God of Gods , and a Lord of Kings , &c. Yet he presently makes a molten image , and commands his people to worship it , &c. And said , who is that God who shall deliver you out of my hands , Dan. 2. 47. ch . 3. 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 15. Belshazzer and his princes , &c. Praised the gods of gold and of silver , &c. Dan. 5. 3 , 4. The Gergesons , so ignorant , that because of the loss of their swine , The whole city came out to meet Jesus , &c. And besought him to depart out , &c. Matt. 8. 32 , 33 , 34. O Jerusalem , &c. How often would I have gathered , &c. And ye would not , Luk. 13. 34. Christ was in the world , &c. And the world knew him not , &c. He came to his own , and his own received him not , John 1. 10 , 11. Light is come into the world , and men love darkness rather than light , Joh. 3. 19. Jesus said to the woman , ye worship ye know not what , John 4. 22. Ye will not come to me , that ye may have life , John 5. 40. Jesus said , the world , &c. Me it hateth , because I testify of it , that , &c. John 7. 7. The spirit of truth , whom the world cannot receive , because it seeth him not , neither knoweth him , John 14. 17. The world , &c. It hated me before it hated you . Because I have chosen you , &c. Therefore the world hates you , &c. These things will they do , &c. Because they know not him who sent me , they hated both me and my father , John 15. 18 , 19 , 21 , 24. Simon Magus , so sottish , that he offered money for power , to confer the holy Ghost by imposition of hands , Acts 8. 18 , 19 , 20. When Paul was at Athens , &c. He saw the city wholly given to idolatry ( or , full of Idols ) &c. Certain Philosophers , &c. incountred him , and some said , what will this habler ( or , base fellow ) say ? Other some , he seemeth to be a setter sorth of strange gods : because he preached unto them , Jesus and the resurrection , &c. I perceive ( saith Paul ) ye are too superstitious , &c. I found an Altar with an Inscription , To the unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship , him declare I , Act. 17. 16 , 18 , 22 , 23. When Paul preached , many believed not , but spake evil of that way before the multitude , &c. Demetrius and his company , cry up great is Diana the goddess , &c. And cryed out against Paul , for saying , that they were no gods which were made with hands ; and endeavouring to turn men to the true God , &c. The Town-clark said , the whole city is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana , and of the Image which fell down from Jupiter , Act. 19. 9 , 24 , 25 , 26 , to the end . Certain questions , &c. Of one Jesus which was dead , whom Paul affirmed to be alive , Act. 25. 19. The way of peace they have not known , Rom. 3. 17. The carnal mind is enmity against God , for it cannot be subject , &c. Rom. 8. 7. The preaching of the cross , is to them who perish foolishness , &c. After that in the wisdom of God , the world by wisdom knew not God , 1 Cor. 1. 18 , 21. The natural man , receiveth not the things of the spirit of God : for they are foolishness unto him , neither can he know , for they are spiritually discerned , 1 Cor. 2. 14. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not , lest the light of the glorious Gospel , &c. Should shine unto them , 2 Cor. 4. 4. Act. 26. 17 , 18. Howbeit then , when ye knew not God , ye did service unto them , who by nature are no Gods , Gal. 4. 8. Walk not as other Gentiles walk , in the vanity of their minds , having the understanding darkened , being alienated from the life of God , through the ignorance which is in them , because of the blindness , &c. Ephes. 4. 17 , 18. Ye were sometimes darkness , but now , &c. Ephes. 5. 8. Not in the lust of concupiscence , even as the Gentiles who knew not God , 1 Thes. 4. 5. See ignorance in Divine things . Chap. 37. 3dly . In servitude and subjection to Satan and Sin. In the parable of the sower , Christ saith , the tares are the Children of the wicked one , &c. The enemy who soweth them is the Devil , Matt. 13. 38 , 39. When the strong man armed keepeth his palace , his goods are in peace ; but when a stronger than he shall come upon him , &c. Luk. 11. 21 , 22. Ye are of your father the Devil , and the lusts of your father ye will do , John 8. 44. To whom ye yield your selves servants to obey , his servants ye are to whom ye obey : whether of sin unto death , &c. Ye were servants of sin , Rom. 6. 16 , 20. Them who are lost , in whom the God of this world hath blinded the mind , &c. 2 Cor. 4. 3 , 4. The Prince of the power of the air , the spirit who now worketh in the children of disobedience , Ephes. 2. 2. Thanks be to God , &c. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness , &c. Col. 1. 12 , 13. That they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil , who are taken captive by him at his will , 2 Tim. 2. 26. In this , &c. Are manifest , and the children of the Devil , whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God , neither he who loveth not his brother , and Cain who was of that wicked one , &c. 1 John 3. 8 , 9 , 10 , 12. The fad fruit and end of such a state . When Adam and Eve had sinned , they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God , &c. And was afraid , because naked , Gen. 3. 8 , 10. Aaron made Israel naked by sin , Exod. 32. 25. If there be any among you , &c. That he bless himself in his heart , saying , I will have peace , though I walk in the imagination ( or , stubbornness ) of my heart , to add drunkenness to thirst . The Lord will not spare him , but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoke against that man , and all the curses which are written in this book , shall lye upon him , and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven , Deut. 29. 19 , 20. If a man sin against the Lord , who shall intreat for him ? They who despise me ( saith the Lord ) shall be lightly esteemed , 1 Sam. 2. 25 , 30. The triumph of the wicked is but short , &c. Though his excellency mount up to the heavens , and his head reach unto the clouds , he shall perish for ever like his own dung , &c. Job . 20. 5 , 6 , &c. How often is the candle of the wicked put out , and cometh their destruction upon them , God distributeth sorrows in his anger , they are as stubble , &c. His eyes shall see his destruction , he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty , &c. The wicked is reserved unto the day of destruction ; they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath , Job . 21. 17 , 18 , 19 , 30. The ungodly are like the chaff which the wind driveth away , &c. They shall not stand in Judgment , &c. The way of the ungodly shall perish , Psal. 1. 4 , 6. Thou not a God who hath pleasure in wickedness , &c. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity , Psal. 5. 4 , 5. The wicked his soul hateth . Upon the wicked he shall rain snares , fire and brimstone , and an horrible ( or , burning ) tempest , this the portion of their curse , Psal. 11. 5 , 6. Because they regard not the works of the Lord , &c. He shall destroy them and not build , Psal. 28. 5. The face of the Lord is against them who do evil , to cut off the remembrance , &c. Psal. 34. 16. The transgressors shall be destroyed together : The end of the wicked shall be cut off , Psal. 37. 1 , 2 , 38. Consider , ye who forget God ; lest I tear you in pieces ; and none to deliver , Psal. 50. 22. Who knoweth the power of thine anger : even according to thy fear is thy wrath , Psal. 90. 11. When the wicked spring as the grass , and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish : That they should be destroyed for ever , Psal. 92. 7. Psal. 49. 17 , 19. They shall eat of the fruit of their own way , and be filled with their own devices , Prov. 1. 30 , 31. The name of the wicked shall rot , &c. The expectation of the wicked shal●… perish , Prov. 10. 7 , 28. ch . 11. 7. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man : but the end thereof , the ways of death , Prov. 14. 12. The sacrifice of the wicked , is an abomination to the Lord , &c. So his thoughts are , Prov. 15. 8 , 26. ch . 21. 27. But it shall not be well with the wicked , &c. Because he feareth not before God , Eccles. 8. 13. No peace saith my God to the wicked , Isa. 48. 22. ch . 57. 20. They shall look on the carkases of men , who have transgressed against me , for their worm shall not dye , neither shall their fire be quenched , and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh , Isa. 66. 24. Every one shall dye for his own iniquity , Jer. 31. 30. The soul who sinneth shall dye , Ezek. 18. 4 , 20. Can thine heart endure , can thine hands be strong , in the day that I shall deal with thee ? I the Lord have spoken , and will do , Ezek. 22. 14. Behold , the day cometh which shall burn as an oven , and all the proud , yea , and all who do wickedly , shall be stubble , and the day which cometh shall burn them up , saith the Lord of hosts , and it shall leave them , neither root , nor , &c. Mal. 4. 1. Jude v. 7. The Axe is layd to the root of the tree : Therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit , is hewen down and cast into the fire , Matt. 3. 10. ch . 7. 19. The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outward darkness , there shall be weeping , &c. Matt. 8. 12. The Angels shall gather out of the kingdom , &c. them which do iniquity , and shall cast them into a furnace of fire , there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth , &c. At the end of the world , the angel shall come forth and sever the wicked from the just . And shall cast them into the furnace of fire , &c. Matt. 13. 41 , 42 , 49 , 50. See Mark 9. 45 , 46. Cast the unprofitable servants into outer darkness , there shall be weeping , &c. When the son of man comes , &c. Then shall he say unto them on the left hand , depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire , prepared for the Devil , Matt. 25. 30 , 31 , 41. ch . 23. 33. ch . 8. 11 , 12. The chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire , Luk. 3. 17. The Parable of the rich in dying , and being in Hell in the flames , Luk. 16. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , &c. Except a man be born again , he cannot enter into the kingdom of God , &c. He who believeth not , is condemned already , &c. He shall not see life , but the wrath of God abideth on him , John 3. 3 , 18 , 36. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven , against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men , Rom. 1. 18. Thinkest thou this , &c. That thou shalt escape the judgment of God ? &c. Thou treasurest up unto thy self , wrath against the day of wrath , and revelation of the righteous judgments of God , &c. Indignation and wrath ; tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man who doeth evil , &c. Rom. 2. 4 , 5 , 8 , 9. Sin entered , and death by sin , Rom. 5. 12. Whether of sin unto death , &c. What fruit had ye , &c. The end of those things is death , &c. The wages of sin is death , Rom. 6. 16 , 21 , 23. James 1. 15. To be carnally minded , is death , &c. So then , they who are in the flesh cannot please God , &c. For if ye live after the flesh , ye shall dye , Rom. 8. 6 , 8 , 13. The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God , &c. Neither fornicators , nor idolaters nor adulterers , &c. Shall inherit the kingdom of God , 1 Cor. 6. 9 , 10. If any man love not the Lord Jesus , let him be Anathema Maranatha , 1 Cor. 16. 22. If our Gospel be hid , it is hid unto them who are lost , in whom the God of , &c. 2 Cor. 4. 3. The work of the flesh , &c. adultery , fornication , &c. They who do such things , shall not inherit the kingdom of God , Gal. 5. 19 , 20 , 21. He who soweth to the flesh , shall of the flesh reap corruption , Gal. 6. 8. You , &c. Were dead in trespasses and sins , &c. Ye were without Christ ; being aliens of the Common-wealth of Israel , and strangers from the covenants of promises , having no hope , and without God in the world , Ephes. 2. 1 , 12. No whoremonger nor unclean person , &c. hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ , and of God , &c. Because of these things , cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience ( or , unbelief ) . Ephes. 5. 5 , 6. Colos. 3. 5 , 6. Many walk , &c. Whose end is destruction , Phil. 3. 18 , 19. When they say peace , &c. Then sudden destruction cometh upon them , as travail upon a woman with-child , and they shall not escape , 1 Thes. 5. 3. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven , &c. Taking vengeance on them who know not God , and who obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus , who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord , and the glory of his power . When , &c. 2 Thes. 1. 7 , 8 , 9. That they all might be damned , who believe not , &c. 2 Thes. 2. 12. To them who are unbelieving is nothing pure , &c. Titus 1. 15. It is a fearful thing , to fall into the hands of the living God , Heb. 10. 31. Whoremongers and adulterers God will judg , Heb. 13. 4. Judgment must begin at the house of God , and if first at us : what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God ? &c. Where shall the ungodly and sinners appear , 1 Pet. 4. 17 , 18. The Lord knows , &c. To reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment , to be punished . The day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men , 2 Pet. 2. 9. chap. 3. 7. Jude vers . 15. And the kings of the earth , and the great men , and the rich-men , and the chief captains , and the mighty men , and every bond-man , and every free-man hid themselves in the dens , and in the rocks , &c. And said to the mountains and rocks , fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sitteth on the Throne , and from the wrath of the lamb : for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand , Rev. 6. 15 , 16 , 17. The fearful and unbelieving , and the abominable , &c. shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone : which is the second death , Rev. 21. 8. See more of Gods judgments against sin and sinners , Chap. 15. CHAP. VI. The Case the Law concludes men under . Under sin and guilt . DO not think that I will accuse you to the father : there is one who accuseth you , even Moses , in whom ye trust , John 5. 45. We have before proved ( or , charged ) both Jews and Gentiles , that they are all under sin ; as it is written , there is none righteous , &c. Whatsoever the law saith , it saith unto them who are under the law : that every mouth may be stopped , and all the world may become guilty ( or , subject to the judgment of God ) before God , &c. There is no difference , for all have sinned , and come short of the glory of God , Rom. 3. 9 , 19 , 23. Where no law is , is no transgression , Rom. 4. 15. Until the law , sin was in the world : but sin is not imputed , when there is no law , &c. The law entered , that the offence might abound , &c. Rom. 5. 13 , 20. I had not known sin but by the law : &c. Without the law , sin was dead , I was alive without the law once , but when the commandment came , sin revived and I dyed , &c. That sin might appear sin , &c. And by the commandment might become exceeding sinful , Rom. 7. 7 , 8 , 9 , 13. For God hath concluded them all ( or , shut them up together ) in unbelief , &c. Rom. 11. 32. The strength of sin is the law , 1 Cor. 15. 56. The scripture hath concluded all men under sin , Gal. 3. 22. Under the curse thereof . Cursed be he , who confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them ; And , &c. Deut. 27. 26. If thou wilt not , &c. To do all his commandments and his statutes , which I command thee , &c. All these curses shall come upon thee . Cursed thou , &c. Deut. 28. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. &c. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel , cursed the man who obeyeth not , &c. Jer. 11. 3 , 4. For as many as are of the works of the law , are under the curse , for it is written , cursed is every one who continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them , Gal. 3. 10. The Deeds of the Law , or sacrifices under it , cannot justifie , o●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but still leave sinners under guilt , condemnation and wrath . How should man be just with God ( or , before God ) ? if he will 〈◊〉 with him , he cannot answer one of a thousand , Job 9. 2 , 3. Enter not into judgment , &c. For in thy sight shall no flesh be justified , Psal. 143. 2. When ye have done all that is commanded you , say , we are unprofitable servants , &c. Luk. 17. 10. The parable , to such who trusted in themselves , that they were righteous , &c. Two men went into the temple , &c. The Publican went away justified , rather than the Pharisee , who had much to boast of his doings , Luke 18. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Matt. 3. 9. There is one , who accuseth you , even Moses in whom ye trust , Joh. 5. 45. By him , all who believe are justified from all things , from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses ; Act. 13. 39. By the deeds of the Law , there shall no flesh be justified in his sight , Rom. 3. 20. For if they who are of the law be heirs , faith is made void , and the promise is made of none effect . Because the law worketh wrath , Rom. 4. 14 , 15. For when we were yet without strength , in due time Christ dyed , &c. Rom. 5. 6 , 10. What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh , &c. Rom. 8. 3. Israel who followed after the law of righteousness , hath not attained to the law of righteousness . Wherefore ? because not by faith , but as it were , by the works of the law : for they stumbled at that stumbling stone , Rom. 9. 31 , 32. Christ is the end of the law , for righteousness to every one who believe , Rom. 10. 3 , 4. I know nothing by my self : yet am I not hereby justified : but he that judgeth me is the Lord , 1 Cor. 4. 4. The strength of sin is the law , 1 Cor. 15. 56. A man is not justified by the works of the law , &c. For by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified , &c. If righteousness come by the law , then Christ is dead in v●…in , Gal. 2. 16 , 21. That no man is justified by the law , in the sight of God it is evident : for the just shall live by faith , and the law is not of faith ; but the man who doth them , shall live in them , &c. Wherefore then serveth the law ? it was added because of transgression , till the seed should come , &c. If there had been a law given , which could have given life , verily , righteousness should have been by the law , &c. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ , Gal. 3. 11 , 12 , 19 , 21 , 24. Christ is become of none effect unto you , whosoever of you are justified by the law , ye are fallen from grace , Gal. 5. 4. By grace ye are saved , &c. Not of works , lest any man should boast , Ephes. 2. 8 , 9. Paul was very zealous of the law , and if any man had whereof to boast in that respect , he more ; yet he accounted all but loss and dung for Christ , and that he might be found in him , not having his own righteousness , which is of the law , Phil. 3. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. The law is good , if a man use it lawfully , knowing that the law is not made for the righteous man , but for the lawless and disobedient , &c. 1 Tim. 1. 8 , 9. Not by works of righteousness which we have done , but according to his mercy he hath saved us , Titus 3. 5. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical Priesthood , &c. What further need was there that another priest should rise , & c ? For the law made nothing perfect , but the bringing in of a better hope , Heb. 7. 11 , 19. chap. 8. 5 , 6 , 8. In which were offered both gifts and sacrifices , which could not make him who did the service perfect , as pertaining to the conscience , Heb. 9. 9. For the law having a shadow of good things to come , and not the very image of the things , can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually , make the comers thereunto perfect : For then would they not have ceased to be offered , because that the worshippers once purged , should have had no more conscience of sins : But in those sacrifices a remembrance of sin again every year : For it is not possible that the blood of Bulls and Goats should take away sins , &c. Sacrifice and offerings thou wouldest not , &c. In burned offerings , &c. Thou hadst no pleasure , &c. Sacrifices which can never take away sin , Heb. 10. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11. chap. 13. 9 , 10. Whosoever shall keep the whole law , and yet offend in one point , he is guilty of all . For he who said , &c. James 2. 10. We are all as an unclean thing , and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags , Isa. 64. 6. When ye have done all these things which are commanded you , say , we are unprofitable servants , we have done that which was our duty to do , Luk. 17. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. If the ministration of death written and ingraven in stones was glorious , so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses , for the glory of his countenance , which was to be done away , &c. How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious ? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory , much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory ; for even that which was made glorious , had no glory in this respect , by reason of the glory which excelleth : For if that which is done away was glorious , much more that which remaineth is glorious , 2 Cor. 3. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. CHAP. VII . Of Mans Salvation , and Redemption , how it came , and by what means . From God only and no otherwise . NOne can by any means redeem his brother , nor give to God a ransome for him : For the redemption of their soul is Pretious , &c. That he should live for ever , Psal. 49. 7 , 8. Will the Lord be pleased with Thousands of Rams , or with Ten thousand rivers of Oil ? shall I give my first-born for my transgression , the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul , &c. Micha . 6. 7. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things , as silver or gold , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 18. He saw that there was no man , and wondered that there was no intercessour , therefore his arm brought salvation to him , &c. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion , &c. Isa. 59. 16 , 20. The year of my redeemed is come : And I looked , and there was none to help , therefore mine own arm brought salvation to me , &c. Isa. 63. 4 , 5. Then thou spakest in a vision to thy holy one , and saidst , I have laid help upon one who is mighty : I have exalted one chosen amongst the people , &c. Psal. 89. 19. Thus saith the Lord , behold I lay in Zion for a foundation , a stone , a tryed stone , a precious corner-stone , a sure foundation , &c. Isa. 28. 16. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed , and all flesh shall see it together , &c. Isa. 40. 5. Luk. 3. 4 , 5 , 6. Behold , my servant whom I uphold , mine elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him , he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles , &c. I the Lord have called thee in righteousness , &c. And give thee for a covenant of the people : for a light of the Gentiles , to open the blind eyes , to bring out the prisoners , &c. Isa. 42. 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. I will bring neer my righteousness , it shall not be far off , and my salvation shall not tarry , and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel , Isa. 46. 13. It is a light thing , that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob , and restore the reserved of Israel , I will also give thee for a light unto the Gentiles , that thou maist be my salvation to the ends of the earth , &c. That thou maist say to the prisoners , go forth , &c. Isa. 49. 6 , 9. Act. 13. 46 , 47. To whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed ? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant , and as a root out of a dry ground , &c. Isa. 53. 1 , 2. The spirit of the Lord is upon me , because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good-tidings to the meek , he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted , to proclaim liberty to the captives , and the opening of the prison to them who are bound , to proclaim the acceptable year , &c. To comfort them who mourn , &c. Isa. 61. 1 , 2 , 3. Saith the Lord , I will raise unto David a righteous branch , &c. In his days shall Judah be saved , and Israel shall dwell safely , and this his name , whereby he shall be called , the Lord our righteousness , &c. Jer. 23. 5 , 6. Behold , I will bring forth my servant the branch , Zechar. 3. 8. Behold , I will send my messenger , &c. And the Lord whom ye seek , shall suddenly come to his temple : even the messenger of the covenant whom ye delight in : Behold , he shall come , saith the Lord of hosts , Mal. 3. 1. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel , for he hath visited and redeemed his people ; and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us , in the house of his servant David ; as he spake by the mouth of the holy prophets , &c. That we should be saved from our enemies , &c. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers , and to remember his holy covenant , &c. To give knowledg of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins , through the tender mercy of our God , whereby the day-spring ( or , sun-rising , bravith ) from on high visited us to give light , &c. Luk. 1. 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 77 , 78 , 79. Mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before all people , a light to the Gentiles , &c. Luk. 2. 30 , 31. God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten son , that whosoever believed should not perish , &c. That the world through him might be saved , John 3. 16 , 17. If thou hadst known the gift of God , and who it is , who saith unto thee , &c. John 4. 10. I came from heaven to do the will of him who sent me : And this is the fathers will who sent me , that of all he hath given me , I should lose nothing , &c. That every one who seeth the son , and believeth on him , may have everlasting life , John 6. 38 , 39 , 40. Him being delivered by the determinate counsel , and foreknowledg of God , ye have taken , &c. Act. 2. 23. Against the holy child Jesus whom thou hast anointed , both Herod , and Pontius Pilate , &c. Were gathered together : for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done , Acts 4. 27 , 28. Him hath God exalted with his right hand , a Prince and a Saviour , Act. 5. 31. God commended his love towards us , in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us , &c. The grace of God , and the gift by grace , &c. Rom. 5. 8 , 15 , 16. What the law could not do , &c. God sending his own son , &c. Rom. 8. 3. All things are of God , who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus , 2 Cor. 5. 18. Jesus who gave himself , &c. According to the will of God and our father , Gal. 1. 4. God sent forth his son made of a woman , made under the law to redeem them who are under the law , &c. Gal. 4. 4 , 5. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus , &c. Who hath blessed us , &c. in Christ , and chosen us , adopted us , &c. Ephes. 1. 3 , 4 , 5 , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 3 , 4. God who is rich in mercy , for his great love wherewith he loved us , even when we were dead in sins , hath quickened us , &c. That in ages to come , he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace , in kindness towards us through Jesus Christ : for by grace are ye saved , Ephes. 2. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. chap. 3. 9 , 10. Titus 3. 4 , 5 , 6. What is man that thou art mindful of him , or the son of man that thou visitest him , Heb. 2. 6. Psal. 8. 4. In this was manifest the love of God towards us , because that God sent his only begotten son into the world , that we might live through him ; herein is love , not that we loved God , but that he loved us ; and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins , &c. And we have seen , and do testifie , that the father sent the son , the saviour , &c. 1 John 4. 9 , 10 , 14. And this is the record , that God hath given us eternal life , and this life is in his son , 1 John 5. 11. God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise , the immutability of his counsel , confirmed it by an oath , that by two immutable things , in which it was impossible for God to lye , we might have strong consolation , who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us , Heb. 6. 17 , 18. Who is he , in and by whom this salvation is conveyed and wrought . John 1. 17. It is Jesus Christ. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman , and between thy seed and her seed : it shall bruise thy head , and thou shalt bruise his heel , Gen. 3. 15. The Lord said unto Abram , &c. And in thee shall all families in the earth be blessed , Gen. 12. 3. Abraham shall , &c. And all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him , Gen. 18. 18. The Lord said to Isaac , &c. In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed , Gen. 26. 4. The Lord said to Jacob , &c. and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed , Gen. 28. 14. The scepter shall not depart from Judah , nor a Lawgiver from between his feet , until Shiloe come , and unto him shall the gathering of the nations be , binding his foal unto the vine , and his Asses colt , &c. Gen. 49. 10. I know my redeemer lives , &c. Job . 19. 25. Sacrifice and offering thou didest not desire , &c. Then said I lo I come , &c. Psal. 40. 6 , 7 , 8. Heb. 10. 5 , 6 , 7. The stone which the builders refused , is become the head of the corner , Psal. 118. 22. Act. 4. 10 , 11 , 12. The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way , before his works of old . I was set up from everlasting , from the beginning , or ever the earth was , &c. Then I was by him , one brought up , and I was dayly his delight , rejoycing always before him , rejoicing in the habitable parts of his earth , and my delight with the sons of men , Prov. 8. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light : They who dwell in the land of the shadow of death , upon them hath the light shined , &c. For unto us a child is born , unto us a son is given , &c. Isa. 9. 2 , 3 , 6. Matt. 4. 15 , 16. There shall be a root of Jesse , who shall stand for an ensign of the people , to it shall the Gentiles , &c. Isa. 11. 1 , 2 , 10. O Zion , who bringeth good tidings , &c. Behold , the Lord shall come , &c. His arm shall rule for him : his reward is with him , he shall feed his flock like , &c. Isa. 40. 10. Behold , my servant whom I uphold , &c. He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles , he shall not cry nor lift up , &c. I will give thee for a Covenant to the people , for a light to the Gentiles , to open the blind eyes , to bring out the Prisoners , Isa. 49. 1 , 2 , 6 , 7. Act. 13. 47. The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned , that I should know how to speak a word in season , &c. I gave my back to the smiters , and my cheeks , &c. Isa. 50. 4 , 6. Matt. 26. 67. The spirit of the Lord God is upon me , because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings , &c. To bind up the broken heart , to proclaim liberty to the captives , and the opening of the prison unto them who are bound , &c. Isa. 61. 1 , 2 , 3 , &c. Luk. 4. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. Who is this who cometh from Edom , with dyed garments , &c. Mighty to save , why art thou red in apparel , and thy garment like him who treadeth , &c. Isa. 63. 1 , 2 , 3. I will raise unto David a righteous branch , &c. And in his days , Judah shall be saved , &c. He shall be called the Lord our righteousness , Jer. 23. 5 , 6. Joh. 1. 45. I will shake all nations , and the desire of all nations shall come , &c. Hagga . 2. 7. Behold the man whose name is the Branch , and he shall grow up out of his place , and he shall build the temple of the Lord , &c. Zech. 6. 12 , 13. Behold , thy king cometh , he is just , and having salvation , lowly , and rideing upon an Ass , and upon a Colt the fole of an Ass , &c. Zech. 9. 9. Matt. 21. 5 , 7 , 8. That which is conceived in her , is of the holy Ghost , and she shall bring forth a son , and thou shalt call his name Jesus : for he shall save his people from their sins , Matt. 1. 21. The spirit of God , like a dove lighted upon Jesus , and loe a voice from heaven , saying , this is my beloved son , in whom I am well pleased , Matt. 3. 16 , 17. John said unto him , art thou he who should come , or do we look for another ? Jesus said , &c. Shew John , &c. The blind receive their sight , &c. And blessed is he who shall not be offended in me , &c. For this is he of whom it is written , &c. Come unto me all that labour , &c. Matt. 11. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 28 , 29. The voice out of the cloud , said , This is my beloved son , in whom , &c. I am well pleased , hear ye him , Matt. 17. 5. And the Angel said , &c. I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people : For unto you is born this day in the City of David , a saviour , who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you , you shall find the babe wrapped in swadling clothes , lying in a manger , &c. Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace , good-will towards men , &c. Symeon , to whom it was revealed by the holy Ghost , that he should not see death , before he had seen the Lord Christ , took up the child Jesus into his arms , and blessed God , and said , &c. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation , &c. Luke 2. 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 30. They who are whole need not a Physician , &c. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance , Luke 5. 31 , 32. Jesus said unto Zacheus , this day is salvation come to this house , &c. For the son of man is come to seek , and to save that which was lost , Luke 19. 8 , 9 , 10. John seeing Jesus coming unto him , said , behold , the Lamb of God who taketh away ( or , beareth ) the sins of the world , &c. We have found the Messias , which is ( being interpreted ) the Christ : and he brought him to Jesus , &c. Phillip said to Nathaniel , we have found him , whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write , Jesus , &c. John 1. 29 , 30 , 41 , 42 , 45. As Moses lifted up the Serpent , &c. Even so must the son of man be lifted up : that whosoever believed in him should not perish , but have everlasting life , &c. That the world through him should be saved , John 3. 14 , 15 , 17. Num. 21. 8 , 9. I know that Messias cometh which is called Christ , when he cometh he will tell us all things . Jesus said unto her , I who speak unto thee , am he , John 4. 25 , 26. The works that I do bear witness of me , that the father sent me , &c. And ye will not come to me , that ye might have life , John 5. 36 , 40. Labour , &c. for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life , which the son of man shall give you : for him hath God the father sealed , &c. The bread of God , is he who cometh down from heaven , and giveth life unto the world , &c. And Jesus said unto them , I am the bread of life , he who cometh to me , shall never hunger , &c. I am the living bread which came down from heaven , if any man eat of this bread , he shall live for ever , &c. John 6. 27 , 33 , 35 , 51. When ye have lift up the son of man , then shall ye know that I am he , &c. John 8. 28. Jesus said , doest thou believe on the son of God ? he said , &c. who is this Lord , that I might believe on him ? And Jesus said unto him , thou hast both seen him , and it is he who talketh with thee , John 9. 35 , 36 , 37. I am the door ( said Jesus ) by me if any man enter in , he shall be saved , &c. I am come , that they might have life , and that they might have it more abundantly . I am the good sheepherd , &c. I give them eternal life , John 10. 9 , 10 , 11 , 15 , 28. I came not to judge , &c. but to save the world , John 12. 47. I have glorified thee on earth , I have finished the work thou gavest me to do , John 17. 4. These things are written , that ye might believe that Jesus is that Christ the son of God , and that believing , ye might have life through his name , John 20. 31. Jesus Christ , &c. Whom ye crucified , whom God raised , &c. This is the stone which was set at nought , &c. Neither is their salvation in any other : For there is none other name under heaven given among men , whereby we must be saved , &c. Against thy holy child Jesus , whom thou hast anointed , both Herod and Pontius Pilate , Act. 4. 10 , 11 , 12 , 27. Jesus whom ye slew , &c. Him hath God exalted , &c. to be a Prince and a saviour , to give repentance unto Israel , and forgiveness of sins , Act. 5. 30 , 31. Through this man , is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins , Act. 13. 38. We believe , that through the grace of our Lord Jesus , we shall be saved , Act. 15. 11. Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth ( or , fore-ordained ) to be a propitiation through faith in his blood , Rom. 3. 24 , 25. Who was delivered for our offences , and raised again for our justification , Rom. 4. 25. When we were yet without strength , in the set time Christ dyed for the ungodly , &c. While we were yet sinners , Christ dyed for us , &c. If when we were enemies , we were reconciled unto God by the death of his son , &c. our Lord Jesus by whom we have now received the atonement , Rom. 5. 6 , 8 , 10 , 11. Who shall deliver me from this body of death ? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord , Rom. 7. 24 , 25. For other foundation can no man lay , than that is laid which is Jesus Christ , 1 Cor. 3. 11. They were all baptized into Moses , &c. did all drink the same spiritual drink : for they did all drink of the same spiritual Rock which followed ( or , went with ) them , and that Rock was Christ , 1 Cor. 10. 4. All the promises of God into him are , yea , and in him are Amen unto the glory of God , 2 Cor. 1. 20. God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ , &c. God was in Christ , reconciling the world unto himself , 2 Cor. 5. 18 , 19. Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins , Gal. 1. 3 , 4. In him we are blessed , chosen , adopted , accepted , have remission of sins , all things , Ephes. 1. 3 , 4 , &c. The son of God who loved me , and gave himself for me , Gal. 2. 20. Jesus himself being the chief corner-stone , in whom all the building , &c. Ephes. 2. 20 , 21. Christ is the head of the Church , and the saviour of the body , Ephes. 5. 23. We look for the saviour , the Lord Jesus Christ , Phil. 3. 20. It pleased the father , that in him all fulness should dwell , &c. By him to reconcile all things to himself , &c. Christ in ( or , among ) you the hope of glory , Col. 1. 19 , 20 , 27. Your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall , &c. Col. 3. 3 , 4. His son Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come , 1 Thes. 1. 10. This is a faithful saying , and worthy of all acceptation , That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners , of whom I am chief , 1 Tim. 1. 15. One mediatour between God and man , the man Christ Jesus , who gave himself a ransome for all , to be testified in due time , 1 Tim. 2. 5 , 6. Is now made manifest by the appearing of our saviour Jesus Christ , who hath abolished death , and hath brought life and immortality to light , 2 Tim. 1. 10. Jesus Christ , who gave himself for us , that he might redeem us from all iniquity , and purifie unto himself a peculiar people , &c. Titus 2. 14. Ephes. 5. 2. His son , &c. When he had by himself purged our sins , sate down , &c. Heb. 1. 3. Christ , &c. He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them , &c. Heb. 5. 5 , 9. Christ now once in the end of the world hath he appeared , to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself , &c. Unto them who look for him , he shall appear the second time , without sin unto salvation , Heb. 9. 24 , 26 , 28. We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all , &c. By one offering , he hath perfected for ever them who are sanctified , &c. Heb. 10. 10 , 14. Who hath begotten us again to a lively hope , through the resurrection of Jesus Christ , &c. The Prophets , &c. who prophesied of the grace , &c. Searching what , &c. The spirit of Christ which was in them , did signifie before hand , the sufferings of Christ , and the glory which should follow , &c. Ye were not redeemed with silver and gold , &c. But with the precious blood of Christ , &c. Who verily was fore-ordained , before the foundation of the world , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 3 , 10 , 11 , 18 , 19 , 20. Our Lord Jesus Christ , &c. He received from God the father , honour and glory , when there came such a voice to him , from the excellent glory , this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased , 2 Pet. 1. 16 , 17. Jesus Christ , &c. He is the propitiation for our sins : and not for ours only , but also for the sins of the whole world , &c. Who is a lyer , but he who denyeth that Jesus is the Christ ? 1 John 2. 2 , 22. For this purpose the son of God was manifest , that he might destroy the works of the Devil , 1 John 3. 8. God sent his only begotten son into the world , that we might live through him , &c. We , &c. testify that the father sent the son the saviour of the world , 1 John 4. 9 , 14. God hath given us eternal life , and this life is in his son , 1 John 5. 11 , 12. Unto him who hath loved us , and washed us from our sins in his own blood , Rev. 1. 5. Col. 1. 14. They fell down before the lamb , &c. Saying thou art worthy , &c. For thou wast slain , and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood , out of every kindred , and tongue , and people , and nation : and hast made us unto God , &c. Rev. 5. 8 , 9 , 10. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world , &c. Rev. 13. 8. I Jesus , have sent mine Angel to testify unto you these things , &c. I am the root and the off-spring of David , and the bright and morning-star , Rev. 22. 16. See pardon and reconciliation , by Christ only , Chap. 9. The excellency of this Saviour , and his fulness and dignity . In his person and authority . Yet have I set my king ( or , anointed ) upon my holy hill of Sion , &c. The Lord hath said , thou my son , this day have I begotten thee , &c. I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance , &c. Thou shalt break them with a rod of Iron , &c. Psal. 2. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Thou art fairer than the children of men , grace is poured into thy lips , &c. Gird thy sword upon thy Thigh , O Mighty , with thy glory , and thy majesty , and in thy majesty ride , &c. Thine arrows sharp in the hearts of the kings enemies , whereby the people shall fall under thee . Thy throne , O God , for ever and ever : The scepter of thy kingdom a right scepter , &c. God thy God , hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness , above thy fellows , &c. The king , &c. He is thy Lord , and worship thou him , Psal. 45. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 11. Thou hast ascended on high , thou hast led captivity captive , thou hast received gifts , Psal. 68. 18. Ephes. 4. 8. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea , and from the river unto the ends of the earth , They , &c. shall bow before him : and his enemies shall lick the dust , &c. All kings shall fall down before him : all nations shall serve him , &c. His name shall endure for ever : his name shall be continued , as long as the sun ( or , shall be as a son , to continue his fathers name for ever : ) &c. And all nations shall call him blessed , Psal. 72. 8 , 9 , 11 , 17 , 18. I will set his hand also in the sea : and his right hand in the rivers , &c. Also I will make him first-born : higher than the kings of the earth , &c. His Throne as the days of heaven , &c. As the sun before me , Psal. 89. 25 , 27 , 29 , 36. The Lord said unto my Lord , sit thou at my right hand : until I make thine enemies thy footstool , &c. Rule thou in the middest of thine enemies , Psal. 100. 1 , 2. The stone which the builders refused , is become the head of the corner , Psal. 118. 22. Act. 4. 11 , 12. Matt. 21. 42. Wisdom is better than rubies , and all the things which may be desired , are not to be compared unto it , &c. Counsel is mine , and sound wisdom : I understanding , I strength , by me kings reign , and princes decree justice . By me princes rule , and nobles , yea , all the judges of the earth , &c. Riches and honour are with me , yea , durable riches , and righteousness . My fruit better than gold , &c. I may cause those who love me to inherit substance : and I will fill their treasures , &c. The Lord possessed me in the beginning , &c. When he appointed the foundation of the earth , then was I by him , &c. His delight , whoso findeth me , findeth life , &c. Prov. 8. 11 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 29 , 30 , 35. Thy name is as ointment poured out , &c. Cant. 1. 3. The beauty of his person described by the parts thereof , and said in the close to be altogether lovely , Cant. 5. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Rev. 1. 13. 14 , 15. A virgin shall , &c. bear a son , and shall call his name Emanuel , God with us , &c. Isa. 7. 14. Matt. 1. 23. Unto us a child is born , &c. His name shall be called wonderful Counseller , the mighty God , the everlasting Father , the Prince of Peace : of the increase of his government and peace , no end , upon the Throne of David , and upon his kingdom , to order it , Isa. 9. 6 , 7. There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse , &c. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him , the spirit of wisdom and understanding , the spirit of counsel and might , &c. Isa. 11. 1 , 2. And the key of the house of David , will I lay upon his shoulder : So he shall open and none shall shut , and he shall shut and none shall open , Isa. 22. 22. Rev. 3. 7. I lay in Zion , &c. a stone , a tryed stone , a precious corner-stone , a sure foundation , Isa. 28. 16. Him whom man despiseth , &c. Kings shall see and arise , Princes also shall worship , &c. Isa. 49. 7. Behold , my servant shall prosper ( or , deal prudently ) he shall be exalted and extolled , and be very high , &c. The kings shall shut their mouths at him , Isa. 52. 13 , 15. Behold , I have given him , &c. A leader and a commander to the people , Isa. 55. 4. I will overturn , overturn , &c. until he come whose right it is : and I will give it him , Ezek. 21. 27. I will raise up for them a plant of renown , &c. Ezek. 34. 29. And my servant David , their Prince for ever , Ezek. 37. 25. From the going forth of the commandement , &c. unto the Messiah the prince , &c. Dan. 9. 25. They shall smite the judg of Israel with a rod upon his cheek , &c. Beth-lehem ephratah , &c. Out of thee shall come forth unto me to be ruler in Israel : whose goings forth have been from of old ( or , the days of eternity ) Micah 5. 1 , 2. The desire of all nations shall come , Haggai 2. 7. He shall bear the glory ; and shall sit and rule upon his throne , &c. Zech. 6. 13. Rejoice greatly , &c. behold , thy king cometh unto thee , &c. Zech. 9. 9. Awake , O Sword , &c. against the man my fellow , Zech. 13. 7. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth , &c. Zech. 14. 9. Who may abide the day of his coming ? And who may stand when he appeareth ? For he is like a refiners fire , &c. Malachi 3. 1 , 2 , 3. Mary , &c. was found with child of the holy Ghost , &c. That which is conceived in her , is of the holy Ghost , Matt. 1. 18 , 20. Luk. 1. 35. He taught as one having authority , and not as the scribes , Matt. 7. 29. Luk. 4. 32. The Devil cryed out saying , &c. Jesus thou son of God , &c. Matt. 8. 29. Jesus knowing their thoughts , &c. That ye may know that the son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins , Matt. 9. 4 , 6. All things are delivered unto me of my father , and no man knoweth the son but the father : Neither knoweth any man the father but the son , and he to whom , &c. Matt. 11. 27. John 10. 15. Behold , a greater than Jonas is here , &c. A greater than Solomon is here , Matt. 12. 41 , 42. The woman of Canaan came and worshipped him , and said Lord help me , Matt. 15. 25. Why callest thou me good ? there is none good , but one God , Matt. 19. 17. The mother of Zebedees children , with her sons came to him , and worshiped , Matt. 20. 20. When Christ was riding , &c. the multitude cryed Hosanna to the son of David , blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord , Hosanna in the highest , Matt. 21. 9. Jesus said , all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth , &c. Matt. 28. 18. The unclean spirit said , I know thee who thou art , the holy one of God , &c. With authority commanded he even the unclean spirits , and they obey him , &c. He cast out many Devils , and suffered not the Devils to speak , because they knew him ( or , to say that they knew him , ) Mark 1. 24 , 27 , 34. ch . 5. 7. Christ said to the man sick of the palsie , son , thy sins are forgiven thee , &c. Who can forgive sins but God only ? &c. The son of man hath power , &c. To forgive sins , Mark. 2. 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10. Jesus , he shall be great , and shall be called the son of the highest , and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David , and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever , and of his kingdom there shall be no end , &c. The holy thing which shall be born of thee , shall be called the son of God , Luk. 1. 31 , 32 , 33 , 35. At twelve years old , he sate in the middest of the Doctors , in the Temple , both hearing them , and asking them questions . And all who heard him , were astonished at his understanding and answers , Luke 2. 46 , 47. John 7. 46. In the beginning was the word , and the word was with God , and the word was God , &c. All things were made by him , and without him was not any thing made which was made , &c. He was in the world , and the world was made by him , &c. And the word was made flesh and dwelled amongst us , and we beheld his glory , as the glory of the only begotten son of the father , full of grace and truth , &c. Is preferred before me , for he was before me , John 1. 3 , 10 , 14 , 15. ch . 3. 16. Jesus , &c. knew all men , and needed not that any man should testify of man : For he knew what was in man , John 2. 24 , 25. Luk. 9. 47. No man hath ascended up to heaven , but he who came down from heaven , even the son of man who is in heaven , &c. He who cometh from above , is above all , &c. The father loved the son , and hath given all things into his hands , John 3. 13 , 31 , 34 , 35. Whatsoever things the father doeth , those also doeth the son likewise , &c. for as the father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them , even so the son quickeneth whom he will , &c. He hath committed all judgment to the son : That all men should honour the son , even as they honour the father , &c. As the father hath life in himself , so hath he given the son to have life in himself : And hath given him authority to execute judgment also , because , &c. John 5. 19 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 26 , 27. I came down from heaven , &c. If ye see the son of man ascend up where he was before , &c. Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not , and who should betray him , &c. We believe , and are sure , that thou art that Christ the son of the living God , John 6. 38 , 51 , 62 , 64 , 69. Jesus said , I am the light of the world , &c. Jesus said unto them , verily , verily , I say unto you , before Abram was I am , John 8. 12 , 58. ch . 9. 5. Jesus knowing that the father had given all things into his hands , and that he was come from God , and went to God , &c. Ye call me Master , and Lord , and ye say well , for so I am , John 13. 3 , 13. Philip said unto him , Lord , shew us the father , and Jesus said , &c. He who hath seen me hath seen the father , &c. Believe me that I am in the father , and the father in me , &c. The Prince of this world cometh , and hath nothing in me , John 14. 8 , 9 , 11 , 30. When the spirit of truth comes , &c. He shall glorify me , for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you . All things which the father hath are mine , therefore said I , that he shall take of mine , &c. We are sure that thou camest forth from God , &c. John. 16. 13 , 14 , 15 , 28 , 30. O Father , glorify thou me , &c. with the glory which I had with thee before the world was , John 17. 5. When Jesus said I am he , those who came to take him , went backward and fell to the ground , John 18. 5 , 6. Thomas said unto Jesus , my Lord and my God , John 20. 28. chap. 21. 12. Jesus , &c. a man approved of God , &c. He hath made the same Jesus whom ye have crucified , both Lord and Christ , Act. 2. 22 , 36. But ye denyed the holy one , and killed the prince of life , &c. Act. 3. 14 , 15. ch . 7. 52. Against the holy child Jesus , whom thou hast anointed , &c. Act. 4. 27 , 30. Jesus Christ , he is Lord of all , &c. God anointed Jesus , &c. with the holy Ghost and power , Act. 10. 36 , 38. 2 Cor. 4. 5. Feed the Church of God , which he hath purchased with his own blood , Act. 20. 28. Concerning his son Jesus Christ our Lord , &c. And declared to be the son of God , with power according to the spirit of holiness , &c. Rom. 1. 3 , 4. Christ who is over all , God blessed for ever , Amen , Rom. 9. 5. Christ both dyed , and rose , and revived , that he might be Lord both of the dead and living , Rom. 14. 9. There is one Lord Jesus , by whom are all things , and we by him , 1 Cor. 8. 6. When he shall have put down all rule , and all authority and power , for he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet , 1 Cor. 15. 24 , 25. He hath made him , &c. who knew no sin , &c. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Heb. 4. 15. He raised him from the dead , and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places , far above all principalities and powers , might and dominion , and every name which is named , not only in this world , but also in that which is to come ; and hath put all things under his feet , and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church , &c. Who filleth all in all , Ephes. 1. 20 , 21 , 22 , 23. The unsearchable riches of Christ , &c. God who created all things by Jesus Christ , &c. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named , Ephes. 3. 8 , 9 , 15. He descended first into the lower parts of the earth : He who descended is the same who ascended up far above all heavens , Ephes. 4. 9 , 10. Jesus , who being in the form of God , thought it not robbery to be equal with God , &c. God also hath highly exalted him , and given him a name above every name , that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow , of things in heaven , and things in earth , and things under the earth : and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord , &c. Phil. 2. 5 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 11. Jesus Christ : who shall , &c. according to the working , whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself , Phil. 3. 21. Who is the image of the invisible God , the first-born of every creature . For by him were all things created that are in heaven , and which are in the earth , visible and invisible , whether thrones , or dominions , or principalities , or powers , all things were created by him and for him , and he is before all things , and by him all things consist , and he is the head , &c. That in ( or , amongst ) all things he might have the preeminency : for it pleased the father , that in him all fulness , &c. Col. 1. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. 2 Cor. 4. 4. Christ , for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily , &c. The head of all principalities , and powers , &c. Having spoiled principalities , &c. Col. 2. 9 , 10 , 15. God was manifested in the flesh , justified in the spirit , seen of Angels , &c. received up , &c. 1 Tim. 3. 16. Jesus Christ , who in his times , he shall shew who is the blessed and only potentate , the King of Kings , and Lord of Lords : who only hath immortality dwelling in the light , which no man can approach unto , which no man hath seen , &c. To whom honour , &c. 1 Tim. 6. 14 , 15 , 16. The doctrine of God our Saviour , &c. Titus 2. 10. chap. 3. 4. His son , whom he hath appointed heir of all things , by whom also he made the worlds , who being the brightness of his glory , and the express image of his person , and upholding all things by the word of his power , when he had by himself purged our sins , sate down on the right hand of the majesty on high , being made so much better than the Angels , &c. As he hath a more excellent name , &c. Unto which of the Angels said he at any time , thou art my son , &c. He saith , and let all the Angels of God worship him , &c. Thy God , O God , hath anointed thee , Heb. 1. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , &c. chap. 8. 1. ch . 10. 12. ch . 12. 2. Col. 3. 1. We see Jesus , &c. crowned with glory and honour , &c. Heb. 2. 9. Having neither beginning of days , nor end of life : but made like unto the son of God , &c. Such a high priest became us , holy , &c. And made higher than the heavens , Heb. 7. 3 , 26. Jesus Christ , the same yesterday , and to day , and for ever , Heb. 13. 8. Our Glorious Lord Jesus Christ ( or , our Lord Jesus Christ of Glory ) &c. That worthy name by which we are called , James 2. 1 , 7. The precious blood of Christ , as of a lamb without spot or blemish , 1 Pet. 1. 19. 1 John 2. 1. A living stone , &c. chosen of God and precious , &c. Who did no sin , 1 Pet. 2. 4 , 22. Jesus Christ ; who is gon into heaven , and is on the right hand of God , Angels , and authorities , and powers , being made subject unto him , 1 Pet. 3. 22. The power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ , were eye-witnesses of his Majesty : for he received from God the Father , honour and glory , when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory : This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased , 2 Pet. 1. 16 , 17. 1 Pet. 1. 21. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ , to him be glory both now and for ever , 2 Pet. 3. 18. Jude vers . 25. In him is no sin , &c. Hereby perceive we the love of God , because he laid down his life for us , 1 John 3. 5 , 16. 1 Pet. 3. 18. His son Jesus Christ , This is the true God and eternal life , 1 John 5. 20. Jesus Christ , &c. The Prince of the kings of the earth , &c. To him be glory , and dominion for ever and ever , Amen . I am Alpha and Omega , the beginning and the ending , saith the Lord , which is , and which was , and which is to come , the Almighty , &c. I am the first and the last , I am he who liveth and was dead , and behold I am alive for evermore , Amen , and have the keys of hell and death , Rev. 1. 5 , 6 , 8 , 17 , 18. I am he who searcheth the reins and hearts , Rev. 2. 23. Those things , saith he , who hath the seven spirits of God , &c. Who is holy &c. Who hath the key of David , he who openeth and no man shutteth , &c. Rev. 3. 1 , 7. Worthy is the lamb which was slain to receive power , and riches , and wisdom , and strength , and honour , and glory , and blessing , &c. Blessing , honour , and glory , and power , be unto him who sitteth upon the Throne , and unto the Lamb for ever , &c. The elders fell down and worshipped him who liveth for ever , Rev. 5. 12 , 13 , 14. And the kings of the earth , and the great men , &c. Said to the mountains , &c. Hide us from the face of him who sitteth upon the throne , and from the wrath of the lamb : For the great day of his wrath is come , and who shall be able to stand , Rev. 6. 15 , 16 , 17. The Lamb shall overcome them , for he is the Lord of Lords , and King of Kings , Rev. 17. 14. ch . 19. 16. See more of the one God , Father , Son and Spirit , or the Trinity , Chap. 3. In his Nature . He shall not cry , nor lift up , nor cause his voice to be heard in the street . A bruised reed shall he not break , smoaking ( or , daily burning ) flax shall he not quench , Isa. 42. 2 , 3. Matt. 12. 18 , 19 , 20. I gave my back to the smiters , and my cheeks to them who plucked off hair ; I hid not my face from shame and spitting , Isa. 50. 6. Matt. 26. 67. He was oppressed , &c. He opened not his mouth , he is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter , and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb , so he opened not his mouth , &c. He had done no violence , neither was guile found in his mouth , Isa. 53. 7 , 9. Mal. 2. 6. Thy king cometh unto thee , he is just , &c. lowly and riding upon an Ass , &c. Zech. 9. 9. The son of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings , Mal. 4. 2. Jesus sate at meat , &c. Many publicans and sinners came , &c. The Pharisees said , why eat your Master with Publicans and sinners , &c. Jesus said unto them , they who are whole need not a Physician , but they who are sick ; but go and learn what that meant , I will have mercy and not sacrifice : for I am not come to call the righteous , but sinners to repentance , &c. When he saw the multitude , he was moved with compassion on them , because they fainted ( or , were tired ) and were scattered abroad as sheep having no sheepherd , &c. He healed their sick , &c. Would not send them away fasting , &c. Matt. 9. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 36. chap. 14. 14. ch . 15. 30 , 32. Learn of me , for I am meek and lowly of heart , Matt. 11. 29. When Peter was sinking , and cryed out Lord save me , and immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him , and said unto him , &c. wherefore didest , &c. Matt. 14. 30 , 31. O Jerusalem , Jerusalem , thou who killest the prophets , &c. how often would I have gathered thy children together , even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings , and ye would not , Matt. 23. 37. Christ excused his Disciples when they slept , &c. He said the spirit indeed is willing , but the flesh is weak , Matt. 26. 41. When he came neer the City he wept over it , saying , if thou hadest known , even thou , at least in this thy day , the things which belong to thy peace , &c. Luk. 19. 41 , 42. And the word was made flesh , &c. full of grace and truth , John 1. 14. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping , &c. He groaned in the spirit , and was troubled , &c. Jesus wept , then said the Jews , behold how he loved him , John 11. 33 , 35 , 36. Let not your hearts be troubled , ye believe in God , &c. Peace I leave with you , my peace I give unto you , &c. Let not your heart be troubled , neither let it be afraid , John 14. 1 , 27. When Mary sought Jesus , weeping , he appeared to her to comfort her , &c. He shewed himself also to his Disciples , his hands and feet , and the second time to Thomas , when he would not believe the report of the rest , John 20. 11 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 19 , 25 , 27. Christ gives charge three times to Peter , that , if he loved him , he should feed his lambs and his sheep , John 21. 15 , 16 , 17. Ye denied the holy and just one , Act. 3. 14. I obtained mercy , for this cause , that in me first , Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering , for a pattern to them who should hereafter believe on him , 1 Tim. 1. 16. In that he himself hath suffered being tempted , he is able to succour them who are tempted , Heb. 2. 18. chap. 4. 15. Who is holy , harmless , undefiled , &c. Heb. 7. 26. Christ , as of a Lamb , without spot and blemish , 1 Pet. 1. 19. Hereby perceive we the love of God , because he laid down his life for us , &c. 1 John 3. 16. Behold , I stand at the door and knock , if any man hear my voice , and open the door , I will come in to him and sup with him , and he with me , Rev. 3. 20. CHAP. VIII . How Christ wrought this Salvation for sinners , and what he was made , and is ; what he undertook , and did , in order to it . First , He is Mediatour . THere is one God , one Mediatour between God and man , the man Jesus Christ , 1 Tim. 2. 5. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament , Heb. 7. 22. He is made the Mediatour of a better Testament , which was established upon better promises , Heb. 8. 6. And for this cause he is the mediatour of the New-testament , that , &c. Heb. 9. 15. And to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant , or Testament , Heb. 12. 24. 2dly . He took upon him the nature of man , and humbled himself . God said to the serpent , &c. I will put enmity between thee and the woman , and between thy seed and her seed , it shall bruise thy head , and thou shalt bruise his heel , Gen. 3. 15. Behold , a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son , and shall call his name Immanuel , Isa. 7. 14. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse , and a branch shall grow out of his roots : And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him , &c. Isa. 11. 1 , 2. Act. 13. 22 , 23. His visage was so marred , more than any man , and his form more than the sons of men , Isa. 52. 14. He hath no form nor comeliness : and when we shall see him , there is no beauty that we should desire him , he is despised and rejected of men , a man of sorrows , &c. We hid , as it were , our faces from him , he was despised , and we esteemed him not , Isa. 53. 2 , 3. The Lord hath created a new thing in the earth : a woman shall compass a man , Jer. 31. 22. They shall smite the Judg of Israel with a rod upon the cheek , Micha . 5. 1. The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise , &c. Mary was found with child of the holy Ghost , &c. She had brought forth her first-born son , and he called his name Jesus , Matt. 1. 18 , 20 , 23 , 25. Thou shalt conceive in thy womb , and bring forth a son , and shall call his name Jesus , the holy thing which shall be born of thee , shall be called the son of God , Luk. 1. 31 , 35. He was tempted of the Devil , Matt. 4. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. And Jesus said unto them , the foxes have holes , and the birds of the air have nests : but the son of man hath not where to lay his head , Matt. 8. 20. Is not this the Carpenters son ? Is not his mother called Mary ? And his brethren James , & c ? And they were offended in him , Matt. 13. 55 , 56 , 57. He rode upon an Ass into the City of Jerusalem , Matt. 21. 2 , 4 , 7. She brought forth her first-born son , and wrapped him in swadling-clothes , and laid him in a manger , because there was no room for them in the Inn , &c. He went down with them , &c. And was subject to them : But his mother kept , &c. Luk. 2. 7 , 51. And the word was made flesh , and dwelled among us , John 1. 14. Jesus therefore being weary with his journey , sate thus on the Well , John 4. 6. The bread which I give is my flesh , which I give for the life of the world , John 6. 51. David , &c. Knowing that God had sworn with an Oath to him , that of the fruit of his loins according to the flesh , he would raise up Christ , &c. Act. 2. 29 , 30. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord , who was made of the seed of David , according to the flesh , Rom. 1. 3. 2 Tim. 2. 8. God sending his Son , in the likeness of sinful flesh , Rom. 8. 3. Of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came , Rom. 9. 5. Ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ , that though he was rich , yet for your sakes he became poor , &c. 2 Cor. 8. 9. Though he was Crucified through weakness , yet he lived , 2 Cor. 13. 4. God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law , Gal. 4. 4. But made himself of no reputation , and took upon him the sorm of a Servant , and was made in the likeness of men ; and being found in fashion as a man , he humbled himself , and became obedient , &c. Phil. 2. 7 , 8. Hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through Death , &c. Col. 1. 21 , 22. Great is the mistery of godliness , God was manifested in the flesh , 1 Tim. 3. 16. Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels , for the suffering of death , &c. He who sanctifieth , and they who are sanctified are all of one , for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren , &c. As the children are partakers of flesh and blood , he also himself likewise took part of the same , that through death , &c. Verily he took not on him the nature of Angels , but he took on him the seed of Abraham , wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren , Heb. 2. 9 , 11 , 14 , 16 , 17. Who in the days of his flesh , when he had offered up prayers , &c. Though he were a son , yet learned he obedience , &c. Heb. 5. 7 , 8. Sacrifice , &c. thou wouldest not , but a body hast thou prepared me , &c. A new and living way which he hath consecrated ( or , made ) for us , through the vail , that is to say , his flesh , Heb. 10. 5 , 20. Every spirit who confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh , is of God , and every spirit which confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh , is not of God , 1 John 4. 2 , 3. Many deceivers are entered into the world , who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh , 2 John v. 7. 3dly , He is made an high Priest. And I will raise me up a faithful Priest , who shall do according to that which is in mine heart , and in my mind , and I will build him a sure house , and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever , 1 Sam. 2. 35. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent , thou a Priest for ever , after the order of Melchisedeck , Psal. 110. 4. Heb. 5. 5 , 6. Thus saith the Lord , David shall never want a man , &c. Neither shall the Priest , the Levites want a man before me to offer , &c. Jer. 33. 17 , 18. The man whose name is the branch , &c. he shall be a Priest upon his Throne , and , &c. Zech. 6. 13. It behooveth him in all things to be made like his brethren , that he might be a merciful and faithful high Priest in things pertaining to God , to make reconciliation for sins : for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted , he is able to succour them who are tempted , Heb. 2. 17 , 18. Consider the Apostle and high-Priest of our profession Christ Jesus , who was faithful to him who appointed him , as also Moses was , &c. Heb. 3. 1 , 2. Seeing then , that we have a great high-Priest , who is passed into the heavens , Jesus the son of God , let us hold fast , &c. For we have not an high-Priest , which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities : but was in all points tempted like as we are , yet without sin , Heb. 4. 14 , 15. For every high-Priest taken from among men , is ordained for men in things pertaining unto God , that he may offer , &c. Who can have compassion on ( or , can reasonably bear with ) the ignorant and them who are out of the way , &c. And no man taketh this honour to himself , but he who is called of God , as Aaron . So also Christ glorified not himself , to be made an high-Priest : but he who said unto him , thou art my son , &c. Thou a Priest , &c. Heb. 5. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Hope which we have as an anchor of the soul , sure and stedfast , and which entereth within the vail ; whither the fore-runner is for us entered ; Jesus made an high-Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck , Heb. 6. 19 , 20. For this Melchisedeck king of Salem , Priest of the most high God , &c. having neither beginning of days , nor end of life : but made like unto the son of God , abideth a Priest continually , &c. After the similitude of Melchisedeck , there ariseth another Priest , who is made not after the law of a carnal commandment , but after the power of an endless life : for he testifieth thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck , &c. Not without an oath , for those were made without an oath , but this with an oath , by him who said unto him , the Lord sware and will not repent , thou art a Priest , &c. And they truly were many priests , because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death : but this man because he continueth for ever , hath an unchangeable Priesthood ( or which passeth not from one to another , wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost ( or , for evermore ) who come unto God by him , seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them . For such an high-Priest became us , who was holy , &c. Who needeth not dayly as those high priests offer , &c. For this he did once when he offered up himself . For the law maketh men high-Priests who have infirmities , but the word of the Oath which was since the law , maketh the son who is consecrated ( or , perfected ) for evermore , Heb. 7. 1 , 3 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. But Christ being come an high-Priest of good things to come , by a greater and more perfect tabernacle , &c. Heb. 9. 11. Now of the things which we have spoken , this is the sum . We have such an high-Priest , who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens . A minister of the sanctuary ( or , holy things ) which the Lord pitched and not man ; for every high-Priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices , wherefore it is of necessity that this man should have somewhat also to offer , Heb. 8. 1 , 2 , 3. 4thly , He offered himself as a sacrifice to God , suffered for the sins of mankind , and so made peace through the shedding of his own blood , by which he entered into the Holiest for us . The Assembly of the wicked have enclosed me ; they pierced my hands and my feet , &c. they part my garment amongst them , and cast lots for my vesture . Psal. 22. 16 , 18. For thy sake I have born reproach , shame hath covered my face : I am become a stranger to my brethren , an alien unto my mothers children : for the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up ; and the reproaches of them who reproach thee , are fallen upon me , &c. reproach hath broken my heart , and I am full of heaviness , &c. they gave me also gall for my meat , and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink , Psal. 69. 7 , 8 , 9 , 20 , 21. I gave my back to the smiters , and my cheeks to them who plucked off the hair : I hid not my face from shame and spitting . Isa. 50. 6. He is despised and rejected of men , a man of sorrows , and acquainted with grief , &c. Surely he hath born our griefs , and carried our sorrows : yet we did esteem him stricken , smitten of God , and afflicted : he was wounded for our transgressions , he was bruised for our iniquities , the chastisement of our peace was upon him , and with his stripes ( or , bruise ) we are healed , &c. We have turned every one to his own way , and the Lord hath laid the iniquity of us all upon him ( or , he hath made the iniquity of us all to meet on him ) . He was oppressed , he was afflicted , &c. He was taken from prison and from judgment , &c. He was cut off out of the land of the living , for the transgression of my people was he stricken ( or , was the stroke upon him ) . He made his grave with the wicked , &c. It pleased the Lord to bruise him , he hath put him to grief ; when thou shalt make his soul an offering ( or , when his soul shall make an offering ) for sin , &c. he shall bear their iniquities , &c. He hath poured out his soul unto death ; and he was numbered with the transgressors ; and he bare the sins of many , and made intercession for the transgressors , Isa. 53. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Who is this who cometh from Edom , with dyed garments from Bosrah , & c ? Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel , & c ? . I have trodden the Wine-press alone , and of the people there was none with me , Isa. 63. 1 , 2 , 3. Shall Messiah be cut off , but not for himself , &c. And he shall confirm the Covenant with many , &c. He shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease , Dan. 9. 26 , 27. By the blood of thy Covenant ( or , whose Covenant is by blood ) I have sent forth thy prisoners , Zech. 9. 11. What are these wounds in thine hands ? Then shall he answer , Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends . Awake , O sword , against my shepherd , and against the man , my fellow , saith the Lord of Hosts ; smite the shepherd , &c. Zech. 13. 6 , 7. Mat. 26. 31. From that time forth began Jesus to shew , &c. how that he must suffer many things of the Elders , &c. and be killed , &c. When Peter had said , Be it far from thee , Lord ; he turned and said to Peter , Get thee behind me , Satan , &c. thou savourest not the things of God , &c. Mat : 16. 21 , 22 , 23. Luk. 17. 25. Likewise also shall the Son of Man suffer of them , &c. The Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of men , and they shall kill him , Mat. 17. 12 , 22 , 23. Acts 3. 13 , 15. The Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of the chief Priests , &c. and they shall condemn him to death , and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock , and to scourge , and to crucifie him , Mat. 20. 17 , 18 , 19. Luke 18. 31 , 32 , 33. and Acts 10. 39. The chief Priests , &c. assembled and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty and kill him , &c. Jesus , &c. began to be sorrowful and very heavy ; then said he unto them , My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death , &c. Put up thy sword ; thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father , and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of Angels ? But how then shall the Scripture be fulfilled , that thus it must be ? They spit in his face , and buffeted him , Mat. 26. 2 , 37 , 38 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 67. Joh. 12. 27. The Soldiers mocked him , they spit upon him , and smote him on the head , &c. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall , &c. They crucified him between two thieves , &c. They parted his garments , &c. He cryed with a loud voice , saying , My God , my God , why hast thou forsaken me , &c. Jesus when he had cryed again with a loud voice , yeelded up the Ghost , Mat. 27. 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 34 , 35 , 46 , 50. See John 19. 23 , 24 , &c. The Son of man came to give his life for a ransome for many , Mar. 10. 45. I have a baptism to be baptized with , and how am I straitned till it be accomplished ! Luke 12. 50. And being in an agony , he prayed more earnestly , and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood , falling down to the ground , Luke 22. 44. Thus it is written , and thus it behooveth Christ to suffer , Luke 24. 46. My flesh , which I will give for the life of the world , John 6. 51. I lay down my life for the sheep , &c. I lay down my life , that I may take it up , &c. no man taketh it from me , but I lay it down of my self , &c. John 10. 15 , 17 , 18. It is expedient for us that one man should dye for the people , &c. He prophesied , That Jesus should dye for that Nation ; and not for that Nation only , but , &c. John 11. 50 , 51 , 52. Greater love hath no man than this , that a man lay down his life for his friends , John 15. 13. The cup which my Father hath given me , shall I not drink it ? Joh. 18. 11. Those things which God spake before by the mouth of all his Prophets , that Christ should suffer , he hath so fulfilled , Acts 3. 18. The Church of God , which he hath purchased with his own blood , Acts 20. 28. Jesus Christ , whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation for sin , through faith in his blood , Rom. 3. 24 , 25. Jesus , who was delivered for our offences , Rom. 4. 25. Christ dyed for the ungodly , &c. While we were yet sinners , Christ dyed for us , &c. We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son , Rom. 5. 6 , 8 , 10. God sent his Son , &c. and for sin ( or , by a sacrifice for sins ) condemned sin in the flesh , &c. Who is he who condemneth ? it is Christ that dyed , Rom. 8. 3 , 34. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us , 1 Cor. 5. 7. Ye are bought with a price , 1 Cor. 6. 20. Christ dyed for our sins , according to the Scripture , 1 Cor. 15. 3. He hath made him to be sin for us , who knew no sin , 2 Cor. 5. 21. Jesus Christ , who gave himself for our sins , &c. Gal. 1. 4. The Son of God , &c. who gave himself for me , Gal. 2. 20. Christ hath loved us , and given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour , &c. Christ loved the Church , and gave himself for it , Ephes. 5. 2 , 25. He became obedient unto the death , even the death of the Cross , Phil. 2. 8. We have redemption through his blood , &c. having made peace through the blood of his Cross , &c. hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death , Col. 1. 14 , 20 , 21 , 22. The Man Jesus Christ , who gave himself a ransome for all , &c. 1 Tim. 2. 5 , 6. His Son who , &c. when he had by himself purged our sins , &c. Heb. 1. 3. Jesus made , &c. for the suffering of death , &c. that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man , for it became him , &c. to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings , &c. that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death , that is , the Devil . Heb. 2. 9 , 10 , 14. Though he were a Son , yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered , Heb. 5. 8. Who needed not daily , as those High-Priests , to offer up sacrifice , &c. for this he did once , when he offered up himself , Heb. 7. 27. Christ being come , &c. by his own blood he entered in once into the Holy Place , &c. How much more shall the blood of Christ , who through the eternal Spirit offered up himself without spot to God , purge your consciences , & c ? that by the means of death for the redemption of transgressions , &c. Where a Testament is , there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator , &c. Neither was the first Testament dedicated without blood , &c. And without shedding of blood is no remission , &c. Nor yet that he should offer himself often , &c. But now once , in the end of the world , hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself , &c. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many , &c. Heb. 9. 11 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 28. We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all , &c. This man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins , for ever sate down , &c. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them who are sanctified , &c. To the blood of sprinkling , which speaks better things than that of Abel , Heb. 10. 10 , 12 , 14. Heb. 12. 24. Jesus also , that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood , suffered without the gate , Heb. 13. 12. The spirit of Christ , &c. When it testified before-hand the sufferings of Christ , &c. The precious blood of Christ , 1 Pet. 1. 11 , 19. Christ also suffered for us , leaving us an example , &c. Who his own self , bare our sins in his own body , on ( or , to ) the tree , 1 Pet. 2. 21 , 24. Christ also hath once suffered for sins , the just for the unjust , &c. Being put to death in the flesh , &c. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh , let us , &c. 1 Pet. 4. 1. Jesus Christ , who gave himself a ransom for all , &c. 1 John 2. 6. Hereby perceive we the love of God , because he laid down his life for us , 1 John 3. 16. Unto him who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood , Rev. 1. 5. Thou wast slain , and hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood , &c. Rev. 5. 9. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world , Rev. 13. 8. He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God , Rev. 19. 15. 5thly , He fulfilled all righteousness of the Law , bare the Curse , took away the hand-Writing of Ordinances , is our righteousness . I will make mention of thy name , of thine only , Psal. 71. 16. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day , and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted , Psal. 89. 16. Surely shall one say , in the Lord have I righteousness , &c. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified , and shall glory , Isa. 45. 24 , 25. The servants of the Lord , and their righteousness is of me , saith the Lord , Isa. 54. 17. I will cause the branch of righteousness to grow up unto David , &c. And this is the name wherewith he shall be called , the Lord our righteousness , Jer. 33. 15 , 16. ch . 23. 6. Seventy weeks are determined &c. to make an end of sins , &c. and to bring in everlasting righteousness , Dan. 9. 24. Jesus came to John to be baptized , &c. Jesus said , suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness , Matt. 3. 13 , 15. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the Prophets , I am not come to destroy , but to fulfill , Matt. 5. 17 , 18. The spirit will convince the world , &c. Of righteousness , because I go to my father , John 16. 8 , 10. I am not ashamed of the Gospel , For therein is the righteousness of God revealed , Rom. 1. 16 , 17. Christ is the end of the Law , for righteousness to every one who believeth , Rom. 10. 4. Christ Jesus , who of God is made unto us , &c. Righteousness , &c. 1 Cor. 1. 30 , 31. He hath made him to be sin for us , &c. that we may be made the righteousness of God in him , 2 Cor. 5. 21. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law , being made a curse for us : For it is written , cursed is every one who hangeth on a tree , Gal. 3. 13. Deut. 21. 23. But now in Christ Jesus ye are made nigh , &c. For he , &c. hath broken down the middle-wall of partition between us , having abolished in his flesh , the enmity , the law of commandments in ordinances , &c. Ephes. 2. 13 , 14 , 15. Paul counted all things but dung , that he might win Christ , and be found in him , not having his own righteousness , &c. But that which is through the faith of Christ , the righteousness which is of God by faith , Phil. 3. 8 , 9. Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances , which was against us , which was contrary to us , and took it out of the way , nailing it to his Cross , Col. 2. 13 , 14. See more of Justification , &c. Chap. 6thly . He sanctifieth us , is our sanctification . In that day there shall be a fountain opened , &c. For sin , and for uncleanness , Zeoh . 13. 1. Peter said unto him , thou shalt never wash my feet , Jesus saith unto him , if I wash thee not , thou hast no part in me : Simon Peter saith unto him , Lord , not my feet only , but also my hands and my head , John 13. 8 , 9. And for their sakes , I sanctify my self , that they also might be sanctified through the truth ( or , truly sanctified ) . John 17. 19. Christ Jesus who is made of God unto us , wisdom , and righteousness , and sanctification , &c. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Ye are washed , ye are sanctified , &c. in the name of our Lord Jesus , 1 Cor. 6. 11. Christ also loved the Church ; and gave himself for it : that he might sanctifie and cleanse it , with the washing of water by the word ; that he might present it to himself , a glorious Church , not having spot , or wrinkle , or any such thing : but that it should be holy and without blemish , Ephes. 5. 25 , 26 , 27. Both he who sanctifieth , and they who are sanctified , are all of one , &c. Heb. 2. 11. If the blood of Bulls , &c. sanctifieth , &c. How much more shall the blood of Christ , &c. purge , Heb. 9. 13 , 14. We are sanctified , through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all , &c. For by one offering ( or , one only oblation ) he hath perfected for ever them who are sanctified , &c. And hath counted the blood of the Covenant , wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing , &c. Heb. 10. 10 , 14 , 29. Jesus also , that he might sanctify the people with his own blood , suffered without the gate , &c. Heb. 13. 12. Jesus , &c. who loved us , and washed us from our sins in his own blood , Rev. 1. 5. These are they who came out of great tribulation , and have washed their robes , and made them white in the blood of the lamb , Rev. 7. 14. 7thly . He ariseth from the dead . I know my Redeemer liveth , and he shall stand at the latter day on the earth , Job 19. 25. My soul shall rest in hope , ( or , dwell confidently ) for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell , neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption , Psal. 16. 10. Acts 2. 27. Jesus said he must go , &c. And be killed , and be raised again the third day , Matt. 16. 21. ch . 20. 19. Tell the vision to no man , until the son of man be risen again from the dead , &c. They shall kill him , and the third day he shall be raised again , Matt. 17. 9 , 23. The Angel said , &c. he is not here : for he is risen , as he said , &c. The Eleven Disciples saw him , they worshipped him , Matt. 28. 6 , 16 , 17. Luke 24. 5 , 6. The world seeth me no more , but ye see me : because I live , ye shall live also , John 14. 19. Mary saw Jesus after he was risen , he said unto her , touch me not : For I am not yet ascended , &c. John 20. 14 , 16 , 17. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself , &c. after that he was risen from the dead , John 21. 14. Whom God hath raised up , having loosed the pains of death , because it was not possible he should be holden of it , &c. This Jesus hath God raised up , whereof we all are witnesses , Act. 2. 24 , 31 , 32. Christ , whom ye crucified , whom God raised from the dead , &c. With great power , gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus , Act. 4. 10 , 33. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew , &c. Act. 5. 30. Whom they slew and hanged on a tree , him God raised up the third day , and shewed him openly , &c. Unto witnesses chosen before of God , Act. 10. 40 , 41. God raised him from the dead , &c. And as concerning that , he raised him up from the dead no more to return to corruption , he said on this wise , I will give you the sure mercies of David , &c. He whom God raised again , saw no corruption , Act. 13. 30 , 33 , 34 , 37. He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world , &c. By that man whom he hath ordained , whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead , Act. 17. 31. The Prophets and Moses did say , &c. that Christ should suffer , and that he should be the first who should rise from the dead , Act. 26. 22 , 23. Concerning his son Jesus Christ our Lord , &c. declared to be the son of God with power , &c. by the resurrection from the dead , Rom. 1. 4. Who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead , who was delivered for our offences , and was raised again for our justification , Rom. 4. 24 , 25. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead , dyeth no more , death hath no more dominion over him , Rom. 6. 9. And God hath both raised up the Lord , and will also raise up us by his own power , 1 Cor. 6. 14. I delivered unto you first of all , that which I also received , how that Christ dyed , &c. That he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures , and that he was seen of Cephas , &c. If Christ be not risen , then our preaching is vain , and your faith is also vain , &c. Ye are yet in your sins , &c. But now Christ is risen from the dead , and become the first-fruits of them who slept , 1 Cor. 15. 3 , 4 , 5 , 14 , 17 , 20. Though he was crucified through weakness , yet he lived by the power of God , 2 Cor. 13. 4. Ephes. 1. 19 , 20. And you being dead , &c. Hath he quickened together with him , &c. Through the faith of the operation of God , who hath raised him from the dead , Col. 2. 12 , 13. Wait for his son from heaven , whom he raised from : the dead , 1 Thes. 1. 10. Great is the mistery of Godliness : God manifested in the flesh , justified in the spirit , &c. 1 Tim. 3. 16. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David , was raised from the dead according to my Gospel , 2 Tim. 2. 8. Now the God of peace , who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus , &c. Heb. 13. 20. Blessed be God , &c. who hath begotten us again to a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus , &c. Who by him , do believe in God who raised him up from the dead , that our , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 3 , 21. Christ , &c. being put to death in the flesh , but quickened by the spirit , by the which , &c. not the putting away of the filth of the flesh , but the answer of a good conscience , towards God , by the resurrection of Jesus Christ , 1 Pet. 3. 21. Jesus Christ the first-begotten of the dead , Rev. 1. 5. 8thly . He ascended into Heaven , is our way to the Father , our Advocate and Intercessour there . So then , after the Lord had spoken unto them , he is received up into Heaven , and sate on the right hand of God , Mark 16. 19. Luke 24. 51. Simon , behold , Satan hath desired you , that he might sift you as wheat , but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not , Luke 22. 31 , 32. I am the door , by me , if any man enter in , he shall be saved , and shall go in and out and find pasture , John 10. 9. Jesus saith unto him , I am the way , and the truth , and the life , no man cometh to the father but by me , John 14. 6. It is expedient for you , that I go away , &c. If I depart , I will send the comforter unto you , and when he is come , he will convince the world , &c. of righteousness , because I go to my father , &c. I came forth from the father and am come into the world ; again , I leave the world and go to the father , Joh. 16. 7 , 8 , 10 , 16 , 28. Christ prays for his , at large , John 17. Jesus said unto her , touch me not , for I am not yet ascended to my father , but go unto my brethren , and say unto them , I ascend unto my father and unto your father , and to my God and your God , John 20. 17. All that Jesus began both to do and teach , until the day in which he was taken up , &c. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion , &c. When he had spoken these things , while they beheld , he was taken up , and a cloud received him out of their sight ; and while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as he went up , behold , two men , &c. said , ye men of Galilee , why stand ye gazing up into heaven ? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven , shall , &c. Act. 1. 1 , 2 , 3 , 9 , 10 , 11. This Jesus , &c. being by the right hand of God exalted , &c. For David is not ascended into the heavens ; but he saith himself , The Lord said unto my Lord , sit thou on my right hand , &c. God hath made the same Jesus whom ye have crucified , both Lord and Christ , Act. 2. 33 , 34 , 36. Jesus , &c. whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitutions , &c. Act. 3. 21. Behold ( said Stephen ) I see the heavens open , and the son of man standing on the right hand of God , Act. 7. 56. Who is he who condemneth ? It is Christ who dyed , &c. who is even at the right hand of God , who also maketh intercession for us , Rom. 8. 34. He raised him from the dead , and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places , &c. Ephes. 1. 20. But now in Christ Jesus , ye who were sometimes far off , are made nigh , &c. Through him we both have an access by one spirit unto the father : Now therefore , ye are no more strangers , but fellow Citizens , &c. of the houshold of God , Ephes. 2. 13 , 18 , 19. Jesus our Lord : in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith , Ephes. 3. 11 , 12. Christ sitteth on the right hand of God , &c. Do all in the name of our Lord Jesus , Col. 3. 1 , 17. God was manifest in the flesh , &c. received up into glory , 1 Tim. 3. 16. When he had by himself purged our sins , sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high , Heb. 1. 3. ch . 12. 2. Seeing then that we have a great high-Priest , who is passed into the heavens , Jesus the son of God , &c. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace , &c. Heb. 4. 14 , 15 , 16. Within the vail , whither the fore-runner is for us entered : Jesus made an high-Priest for ever , Heb. 6. 19 , 20. He is able also to save them for evermore ( or , to the uttermost ) who come unto God by him , seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them : For such an high-Priest became us , who is , &c. made higher than the heavens , Heb. 7. 25 , 26. We have such an high-Priest , who is set on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the heavens , Heb. 8. 1. But Christ being come an high-Priest of good things to come , by a greater and more perfect tabernacle , not made with hands , &c. By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place , &c. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands , &c. But into Heaven it self , now to appear before God for us , Heb. 9. 11 , 12 , 24. Ephes. 4. 8. After he had offered one sacrifice , &c. sate down on the right hand of God , &c. Having therefore , brethren , boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus , by a new and living way , which he hath consecrated ( or , new made ) for us , &c. Let us draw nigh , Heb. 10. 12 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. Ye are come to the heavenly Jerusalem , &c. And to Jesus the Mediatour of the New Testament , and to the blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things than that of Abel , Heb. 12. 22 , 24. Christ ; &c. once suffered for sins , the just for the unjust , that he might bring us to God , &c. Christ , who is gon into Heaven and is on the right hand of God , 1 Pet. 3. 22. If any man sin , we have an Advocate with the father , Jesus Christ the righteous ; 1 John 2. 1 , 2. 9thly . He is made our King and Head , to encounter and conquer our enemies , to Rule for us , and in us . There shall come a star out of Jacob , and a scepter shall arise out of Israel , Numb . 24. 17. Gen. 49. 10. Yet have I set my king ( or , mine anointed ) upon my holy hill of Sion . I have given thee the heathen for thine inheritance , &c. Psal. 2. 6 , 8. Thine arrows sharp in the hearts of the kings enemies , whereby the people fall under thee . Thy throne , O God , is for ever and ever , the scepter of thy kingdom a right scepter , &c. The Lord thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl , &c. Psal. 45. 5 , 6 , 7. Heb. 1. 8. Thou hast ascended on high , thou hast led captivity captive , thou hast received gifts for men , Psal. 68. 18. Unto us a son is given , and the government shall be upon his shoulders , &c. Of the increase of his government shall be no end , upon the Throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it , &c. Isa. 9. 6 , 7. The days come saith the Lord , that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch , and a king shall reign and prosper , &c. In his days Judah shall be saved , and Israel shall dwell safely , Jer. 23. 5 , 6. ch . 33. 17. Zech. 6. 12 , 13. I will set up one sheepherd over them , and he shall feed them , even my servant David , &c. I will be their God , and my servant David a Prince among them . Ezek. 34. 23 , 24. The Messiah , the Prince , Dan. 9. 25. Thou Bethlehem , &c. out of thee shall he come forth unto me , to be ruler in Israel , Micah 5. 2. Rejoice greatly , O daughter of Zion , &c. behold , thy king cometh , &c. Zech. 9. 9. Jesus , he shall be great , &c. And the Lord God shall give him the Throne of his father David ; and he shall reign , &c. for ever , and of his kingdom no end , Luk. 1. 31 , 32 , 33. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace , his goods are in peace ; but when a stronger than he shall come upon him , and overcometh him , he taketh from him all his Armour , &c. Luke 11. 21 , 22. When he is come , he will convince the world , &c. of judgment , because the prince of this world is judged , &c. Be of good chear I have overcome the world , John 16. 8 , 11 , 33. God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified , both Lord and Christ , Act. 2. 36. Him hath God exalted with his right hand , to be a Prince , and a Saviour , &c. Act. 5. 31. O Death where is thy sting ? O grave where is thy victory ? &c. Thanks be unto God , who gave us the victory through our Lord Jesus , 1 Cor. 15. 54 , 55 , 56 , 57. Christ , &c. He set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places , far above all principalities , and powers , and might , and dominion , &c. And hath put all things under his feet , and given him to be head over all things to the Church , Ephes. 1. 20 , 21 , 22. Grow up in him in all things , who is the head Christ , &c. Ephes. 4. 15. Christ is the head of the Church , and Saviour of the body , Ephes. 5. 23. He is the head of the body , the Church , &c. that in all things he might have the preeminence , Col. 1. 18. He blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances which was against us , which was contrary unto us , and took it out of the way , &c. And having spoiled principalities , and powers , he made a shew of them openly , triumphing over them in it , ( or , in himself , ) Col. 2. 14 , 15. It became him , &c. in bringing many sons unto glory , to make the captain of their salvation perfect , &c. He also himself took part likewise of the same , that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death , that is the Devil , and deliver them who through fear of death , were all their life-time subject to bondage , Heb. 2. 14 , 15. But this man , &c. sate down on the right hand of God from henceforth , expecting till his enemies be made his footstool , Heb. 10. 12 , 13. Even as I also have overcome , and am sate down with my father in his throne , Rev. 3. 21. These shall make war with the Lamb , and the Lamb shall overcome them , for he is Lord of Lords , and King of Kings , Rev. 17. 14. 10thly . He is our great Prophet and Sheepherd , to teach , guide , and feed us . The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the middest of thee , of thy brethren like unto me , unto him thou shalt hearken , &c. And the Lord said , they have well spoken , &c. I will raise them up a Prophet , &c. and I will put my words into his mouth , and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him : And it shall come to pass , that whosoever will not hearken unto my words , which he shall speak in my name , I will require it of him , Deut. 18. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. Act. 3. 22 , 23. Act. 7. 37. I will declare thy name unto my brethren , Psal. 22. 22. I have preached righteousness in the great Congregation , &c. I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation , &c. Psal. 40. 9 , 10. Thou hast received gifts for men , yea , for the rebellious also , Psal. 68. 18. Unto us a son is given , &c. he shall be called wonderful Counseller , Isaiah 9. 6. Behold , the Lord God will come , &c. He shall feed his flock like a Sheepherd , he shall gather the lambs with his arms , and carry in his bosom , and shall gently lead those who are with young , Isa. 40. 10 , 11. A bruised reed shall he not break , and the smoaking flax shall he not quench : He shall bring forth judgment unto truth , &c. The Isles shall wait for thy law . I the Lord give thee , &c. a light of the Gentiles , to open the blind eyes , to bring out the prisoners from the Prison , them who sit in darkness out of the prison house , Isa. 42. 3 , 4 , 6 , 7. Behold , I have given him , &c. a leader and commander unto the people , Isa. 55. 4. The Lord hath anointed me to preach good-tidings to the meek , &c. to bind up the broken-hearted , to proclaim liberty to the captives , and the opening of the Prison to them who are bound : To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord , &c. To appoint unto them who mourn in Zion , to give unto them beauty for ashes , the oil of joy for mourning , &c. Isa. 61. 1 , 2 , 3. I will feed them in goodly pasture , &c. and they shall lye in a good fold , and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel . I will feed my flock , and will cause them to lye down saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost , and bring again that which was driven away : I will bind up that which was broken , and will strengthen that which was sick , &c. And I will set up one sheepherd over them , and he shall feed them , my servant David he shall feed them , and he shall be their sheepherd , Ezek. 34. 14 , 15 , 16 , 23. Luk. 19. 10. Out of thee shall come a Captain , or Governour , who shall rule ( or , feed ) my people , Matt. 2. 6. All things are delivered to me of my father : and no man knoweth the son but the father : neither knoweth any man the father save the son , and he , to whomsoever the son will reveal him , &c. Learn of me , Matt. 11. 27. Luk. 10. 22 , 23. The day-spring on high hath visited us , to give light to them who sit in darkness , and in the shadow of death , to guide our feet into the way of peace , Luke 1. 78 , 79. I will give you a mouth , and wisdom , which all your adversaries shall not be able to gain-say nor resist , Luk. 21. 15. Matt. 10. 19 , 20. Jesus , beginning at Moses and all the Prophets , he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself , &c. Then opened he their understanding , that they might understand the scriptures , Luke 24. 26 , 27 , 45. I am the light of the world : he who followeth me shall not walk in darkness , but shall have the light of life , &c. If ye continue in my word , then are ye my Disciples indeed , and ye shall know the truth , &c. John 8. 12. 32. I am the good sheepherd , the good sheepherd giveth his life for the sheep , &c. I know my sheep , &c. Other sheep I have which are not of this fold , and them also I must bring , and they shall hear my voice , and there shall be one fold , one sheepherd , John 10. 11 , 12 , 14 , 16. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world , &c. I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me , and they received them , &c. While I was with them in the world I kept them , &c. I have given them thy word , &c. I have declared unto them thy name , and will declare it , John 17. 6 , 8 , 12 , 14 , 26. To this end was I born , and for this cause came I into the world , that I should bear witness unto the truth : every one who is of the truth , heareth my voice , John 18. 37. God who , &c. spake in times past to the fathers by the Prophets , hath in these last days spoke unto us by his son , &c. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard , &c. Heb. 1. 1 , 2. chap. 2. 1. Wherefore , &c. Consider the Apostle and high Priest of our profession , Jesus Christ , who was faithful to him who appointed him , as also Moses was faithful in all his house , &c. Christ as a son in his own house , whose house are we , &c. Wherefore , &c. to day if ye will hear his voice , harden not your hearts , Heb. 3. 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Our Lord Jesus Christ , that great sheepherd of the sheep , Heb. 13. 20. Ye were as sheep going astray , but are now returned unto the sheepherd and Bishop of your souls , 1 Pet. 2. 25. 11thly , He is our all in all things , our compleatness and perfection . I will make him first-born , &c. My covenant shall stand fast with him , Psal. 89. 27 , 28. By the blood of thy Covenant , I have sent forth thy Prisoners out of the pit , Zech. 9. 11. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased , &c. Matt. 17. 5. Of his fulness have all we received , grace for grace , &c. John 1. 16. I am the door , by me if any man enter in , he shall be saved , and shall go in and out and find pasture , John 10. 9. I am the way , the truth and the life , John 14. 6. As the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine , no more can ye , except ye abide in me . I am the vine , ye are the branches , he who abideth in me and I in him , the same bringeth forth much fruit : for without me ( or , severed from me ) ye can do nothing , John 15. 4 , 5. It is expedient for you that I go away , for if I go not away , the comforter will not come unto you , but if I depart I will send him unto you , these things I have spoken unto you , that in me ye might have peace , in the world ye shall have tribulation , John 16. 7 , 33. I in them , and thou in me , that they may be made perfect in one , John 17. 23. Other foundation can no man lay , than that is laid , which is Jesus Christ , &c. All things are yours , whether Paul or Apollos , &c. All are yours , and ye are Christs , 1 Cor. 3. 11 , 21 , 22 , 23. The sting of death is sin , and the strength of sin is the law . But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ , 1 Cor. 15. 56 , 57. All the promises of God in him are , yea , and in him Amen , to the glory of God , 2 Cor. 1. 20. He became poor , that ye through his poverty might be rich , 2 Cor. 8. 9. I live , yet not I , but Christ liveth in me , Gal. 2. 20. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ , &c. There is neither Jew nor Greek , there is neither bond nor free , there is neither male nor female , for ye are all one in Christ Jesus , and if Christs , then are ye Abrahams feed and heirs according to promise , Gal. 3. 14 , 28 , 29. Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places ( or , things ) in Jesus Christ , &c. Chosen us in him , &c. Predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ , &c. He hath made us accepted in the beloved , &c. That he might gather together in one all things in Christ , both which are in heaven , and which are on earth , even in him , &c. who filleth all in all , Ephes. 1. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 10 , 23. Hath quickened us together with Christ , &c. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus . Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone , in whom all the building fitly framed together , groweth up into an holy temple in the Lord , in whom you also are builded together , for an habitation of God , &c. Ephes. 2. 5 , 6 , 20 , 21 , 22. That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs , and of the same body , and partakers of his promises in Christ , &c. The unsearchable riches of Christ , Ephes. 3. 6 , 8. Grow up into him in all things , who is the head Christ , from whom the whole body fitly joyned together , Ephes. 4. 15 , 16. We are the circumcision , &c. who rejoice in Christ Jesus , and have no confidence in the flesh , Phil. 3. 3. It pleased the father , that in him all fulness should dwell , &c. Christ in ( or , among ) you the hope of glory , whom we preach , warning every man , &c. That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus , Col. 1. 19 , 27 , 28. In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily , and ye are compleat in him , who is the head , &c. Not holding the head , from which all the body by joints and bands , having nourishment administred and knit together , increaseth with the increase of God , Col. 2. 9 , 10 , 19. Your life is hid with Christ in God , when Christ who is our life , &c. Put on the new man , &c. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew , &c. But Christ is all in all , &c. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed , do all in the name of the Lord Jesus , &c. Col. 3. 3 , 4 , 10 , 11 , 17. Jesus Christ who hath abolished death , and hath brought light and immortality to light through the Gospel , 2 Tim. 1. 9 , 10. In that he himself hath suffered being tempted , he is able to succour them who are tempted , Heb. 2. 18. By one offering , he hath perfected for ever them who are sanctified , &c. Heb. 10. 14. Ye are built up , &c. To offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ , 1 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 13. 15. The God of all grace , who hath called us into his eternal glory by Jesus Christ , 1 Pet. 5. 10. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich , and white raiment that thou maist be clothed , that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear , and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve , that thou mayest see , Rev. 3. 18. CHAP. IX . Gods free choice of His in Christ to Eternal Life , and calling them according to his Purpose and Grace . AND ye shall be holy unto me , for I the Lord am holy , and have severed you from other people , that ye should be mine , Levit. 20. 26. Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God , the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself , above all people that are upon the face of the earth , the Lord did not set his love upon you , nor choose you because ye were more in number than any people : for ye were the fewest of all people , but because the Lord loved you , &c. Deut. 7. 6 , 7 , 8. ch . 14. 2. Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers , to love them , and he chose their seed after them , even you above all people as at this day , Deut. 10. 15. The Lord will not forsake his people for his names sake , because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people , 1 Sam. 12. 22. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people , like Israel whom God went to redeem for a people to himself , and to make him a name , and to do for you great things , & c ? For thou hast confirmed to thy self thy people Israel , a people unto thee for ever , and thou Lord art become their God , 2 Sam. 7. 23 , 24. Wo unto him who striveth with his maker , let the Potsherd strive with the Potsherds of the earth : Shall the clay say to him who fashioneth it , what makest thou ? Woe unto him who saith unto his father , what begettest thou , &c. Isa. 45. 9 , 10. The Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken , and grieved in spirit , a Wife of youth when thou wast refused , saith thy God , Isa. 54. 5 , 6. I am found of them who sought me not : I said , behold me , behold me , unto a nation , which was not called by my name , Isa. 65. 1. Rom. 10. 20. ch . 15. 21. The Lord said to Jeremy , before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee , and before thou camest out of the womb I sanctified thee , I ordained thee a Prophet unto the nation , Jer. 1. 5. I have loved thee with an everlasting love , therefore , with loving kindness have I drawn thee , Jer. 31. 3. When God gives out the great promises of a new heart , a new spirit , &c. He said , not for your sakes do I this , be it known unto you ; be ashamed , &c. Ezek. 36. 22 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32. ch . 20. 43 , 44. It shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them , ye are not my people , there it shall be said unto them , ye are the sons of the living God , Hosea 1. 10. I will have mercy upon her who had not obtained mercy , and will say to them which were not my people : thou my people , and they shall say thou my God , Hosea 2. 23. Afterward shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God , &c. and shall fear the Lord , &c. Hosea 3. 5. When Israel a child , then I loved him , &c. I taught Ephraim also to go , taking them by their arms : but they knew not that I healed them●… I drew them with cords of a man , with bands of love , &c. Hosea 11. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. O Children of Israel , &c. You only have I known of all the families of the earth , Hosea 3. 1 , 2. At that time , Jesus answered and said , I thank thee O Father , Lord of Heaven and earth , because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent , and hast revealed them unto babes . Even so , Father , for so it seemed good in thy sight , Matt. 11. 25 , 26. Luk. 10. 21. It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven ; but to them it is not given , &c. Therefore spake I to them in parables : because they seeing see not , &c. Blessed are your eyes for they see , and your ears for they hear , Matt. 13. 11 , 13 , 16. Mark 11. 12 , 34. I will give unto this last , even as unto thee . Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own ? Is thine eye evil because I am good ? So the last shall be first and the first last : for many be called but few chosen , &c. To sit on my right hand or my left , is not mine to give , but to them for whom it is prepared of my father , Matt. 20. 14 , 15 , 16 , 21 , 23. Mark 10. 40. Jesus called Simon , and Andrew , and James , and John , to follow him , and they did , Mark 1. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Except that the Lord had shortned those days no flesh should be saved , but for the elects sake whom he hath chosen , he hath shortened the days , Mark 13. 20. Thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son , and thou shalt call his name John : He shall be great in the sight of the Lord , &c. He shall be filled with the holy Ghost even from his mothers womb , Luke 1. 13 , 15. Many Widows were in Israel in the days of Elias , &c. When great famine was throughout all the land : but unto none of them was Elias sent save unto Sarepta , &c. And many leapers were in Israel in the time of Elizeus the Prophet , and none of them was cleansed saving Naaman , &c. Luke 4. 25 , 26 , 27. Christ called Zacheus to come down , &c. And he received him joyfully , and Christ said to him , this day is salvation come to thy house , for so much as he also is the son of Abraham . For the son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost , Luke 19. 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10. All which the father hath given me , shall come to me : and him who cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out , &c. This is the fathers will , &c. That of all which be hath given me , I should lose nothing , &c. There are some of you who believe not , &c. No man can come unto me , except it were given him of my father , John 6. 37 , 39 , 64 , 65. Jesus called the blind man , whom he had healed , and discovers himself to him , John 9. 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39. Other sheep I have which are not of this fold : Them also I must bring , and they shall hear my voice , and there shall be one fold , &c. Ye believe not , because ye are not of my sheep , &c. My sheep hear my voice , John 10. 16 , 26 , 27. They believed not on him , that the saying of Esaias the Prophet might be fulfilled , &c. Lord who hath believed , &c. Therefore they could not believe , because Esaias had said , again he hath blinded their eyes , &c. John 12. 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41. I speak not of you all , I know whom I have chosen , John 13. 18. Ye have not chosen me , but I have chosen you , and ordained you , that you should go and bring forth fruit , &c. I have chosen you out of the world , &c. John 15. 16 , 19. That he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him , &c. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world , thine they were , and thou gavest them me , &c. I pray , &c. but for them whom thou gavest me out of the world , John 17. 2 , 6 , 9. The promise is made to you and your children , and to all who are afar off , even as many as the Lord our God shall call , &c. And the Lord added unto the Church daily such as should be saved , Act. 2. 39 , 47. Phillip sent on purpose to meet the Eunuch , and commanded to go neer his Chariot , where he preached unto him and converted him , Act. 8. 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 36 , 37. Paul was persecuting the Church , &c. And was converted in the middest of his rage , &c. And Christ said to Ananias , go thy way , for he is a chosen vessel to bear my name before the Gentiles , &c. And I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name , Acts 9. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 15 , 16. Acts 22. 14. God in a special manner calls Cornelius to the faith , Acts 10. 1 , 2 , &c. Which extraordinary call , Peter after declares at large to those of the Circumcision , Act. 11. 2 , 3 , &c. When the Gentiles heard , &c. as many as were ordained to eternal life believed , Act. 13. 48. Paul and others were forbidden of the holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia , &c. They assayed to go into Bithynia , but the spirit suffered them not , &c. When Paul preached at Philippi , &c. Lydia heard him , and the Lord opened her heart , that she attended unto the things which were spoken , &c. was baptized , Act. 16. 6 , 7 , 14 , 15. Paul came to Corinth , &c. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision ; be not afraid , but speak and hold not thy peace , &c. For I have much people in this City , Acts 18. 1 , 9 , 10. We know that all things shall work together for good to them who love God , to them who are called according to his purpose : for whom he did foreknow , he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son , &c. Whom he did predestinate them he called : whom he called he justified , &c. Them he also glorified , Rom. 8. 28 , 29 , 30. When Rebeckah also had conceived by one , Isaac , the children not yet born , neither having done any good or bad , that the purpose of God according to election might stand , not of works , but of him who calleth , it was said unto her , the elder shall serve the younger ; as 't is written Jacob have I loved , but Esau have I hated , &c. Is there unrighteousness with God! God forbid , for he saith to Moses , I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy , and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion ; so then , it is not of him who willeth , nor of him who runneth , but of God who sheweth mercy : for the scripture saith unto Pharaoh , &c. Thou wilt say unto me , why doth he yet find fault ? For who hath resisted his will ? Who art thou who replyest ( or , answerest against , or disputest with ) God ? Shall the thing formed , say to him who formed it , why hast thou thus made me ? &c. Rom. 9. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , &c. God hath not cast away his people whom he fore-knew , &c. I have reserved to my self Seven thousand men , who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal ; even so then at this present time also , there is a remnant according to the election of grace : If by grace , then it is no more of works , otherwise grace is no more grace , &c. The election hath obtained it , and the rest were blinded ( or , hardened ) as it is written , &c. As ye in times past have not believed God , yet have now obtained mercy , &c. O the depth of the riches , both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out ! for who hath known the mind of the Lord , or who hath been his Counseller , &c. For of him , and through him , and to him are all things , Rom. 11. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33. 1 Kings 19. 18. God is faithful by whom ye are called into the fellowship of his Son , &c. For you see your Calling , brethren , how that not many wise men after the flesh , not many mighty , &c. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world , &c. That no flesh should glory in his presence ; but of him are ye in Christ Jesus , &c. As it is written , he who glorieth let him glory in the Lord , 1 Cor. 1 , 9 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. I am , &c. not meet to be called an Apostle , &c. But by the grace of God I am what I am , 1 Cor. 15. 9 , 10. He who hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God , &c. All things are of God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ , 2 Cor. 5. 5 , 18. When it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb , and called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me , that I might preach , &c. Gal. 1. 15 , 16. Blessed be God , &c. according as he hath chosen us in him , before the foundation of the world , &c. Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of children by Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of his will : to the praise of the glory of his grace , &c. Having made known to us the mistery of his will according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself , &c. Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will , Ephes. 1. 4 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 11. Which in other ages was not made known , &c. That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs , and of the same body , and partakers of his promise in Christ , Ephes. 3. 5 , 6. Work out your own salvation , &c. for it is God who worketh in you , both to will and to do of his good pleasure , Phil. 2. 13. Giving thanks to the father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the saints in light : who hath delivered us from the power of darkness , and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son , Col. 1. 12 , 13. Knowing , &c. Your election of God , for our Gospel came not unto you in word , but also in power , &c. 1 Thes. 1. 4 , 5. God hath not appointed us unto wrath : but to obtain salvation by our Lord , 1 Thes. 5. 9. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation , &c. Whereunto he called you by our Gospel , 2 Thes. 2. 13 , 14. God who hath saved us , and called us with a holy calling , not according to our works , but according to his own purpose and grace , which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began , 2 Tim. 1. 8 , 9. I endure all things for the elects sake , &c. Who concerning the truth have erred , &c. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure , having this seal , the Lord knoweth them that are his , 2 Tim. 2. 10 , 18 , 19. If they shall enter into rest , although the works were finished from the foundation of the world , Heb. 4. 3. To the strangers , &c. Elect according to the foreknowledg of God the father , 1 Pet. 1. 1 , 2. Being disobedient , whereto they were appointed , but ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood , a peculiar ( or , a purchased ) people that ye may shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness , &c. 1 Pet. 2. 8 , 9 , 10. The God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory , &c. 1 Pet. 5. 10. They went out from us , &c. That they might be made manifest that they were not all of us , 1 John 2. 19. All who dwell upon the earth shall worship him , whose names are not written in the Book of life , of the Lamb , Rev. 13. 8. And they who dwell on the earth shall wonder ( whose names were not written in the Book of life from the foundation of the World ) when &c. Rev. 17. 8. CHAP. X. Pardon and remission of sins , reconciliation and peace with God ; Justification and Sanctification before God ; eternal-life and Salvation , free through the grace of God only ; by the death , sacrifice and sufferings of Christ without Works . In General . THis is the true grace of God wherein ye stand , 1 Pet. 5. 12. The Law was given by Moses , but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ , John 1. 17. If by grace , then is it no more works , otherwise grace is no more grace : but if it be of works then is it no more of grace , otherwise work is no more work , &c. That he might have mercy on all , O the depth of the riches , both of the wisdom , &c. Rom. 11. 6 , 32 , 33. We are the Circumcision who worship God in spirit , rejoyce in Christ , have no confidence in the flesh , Phil. 3. 3. We are come , &c. to the blood of sprinkling , which speaketh better things than that of Abel , Heb. 12. 24. Who testified before-hand the sufferings of Christ , and the glory which should follow , 1 Pet. 1. 11. In Particular . Pardon of Sins . The Lord proclaimed himself , The Lord , the Lord God , merciful and gracious , long-suffering , and abundant in goodness and truth , &c. Forgiving iniquity , transgression and sin , Exod. 34. 6 , 7. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven , whose sin is covered ; blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity . I said , I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord , and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin , Psal. 32. 1 , 2 , 5. As for our transgressions , thou shalt purge them away , Psal. 65. 3. But there is forgiveness with thee , that thou mayest be feared , Psal. 130. 4. Though your sins be as scarlet , they shall be as white as snow ; though they be red as crimson , they shall be as wooll , Isa. 1. 18. I am he who blotteth out thy transgression for mine own sake , and will not remember thy sins , Isa. 43. 35. I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions , and as a cloud thy sins . Sing , O Heavens , for the Lord hath done it , Isa. 44. 22 , 23. He was wounded for our transgressions , he was bruised for our iniquities , &c. the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all , &c. he shall bear their iniquities , Isa. 53. 5 , 6 , 11. Let him return unto the Lord , and he will have mercy upon him ; and unto our God , for he will abundantly pardon ( or , multiply pardons ) : for my thoughts are not your thoughts , &c. Isa. 55. 7 , 8 , 9. I will make a new Covenant , &c. for I will forgive their iniquity , and will remember their sins no more , Jer. 31. 31 , 34. Heb. 10. 17 , 18. I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me ; and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned against me , and whereby they have transgressed against me , Jer. 33. 8. In those days , and in that time , saith the Lord , the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for , and there shall be none ; and the sins of Judah , and they shall not be found ; for I will pardon them whom I reserve , Jer. 50. 20. Seventy weeks are determined , &c. to finish the transgression , and to make an end of sins , and to make reconciliation for iniquity , &c. the Messiah shall be cut off , but not for himself , &c. Dan. 9. 24 , 26. Who is a God like unto thee ? who pardoneth iniquity , and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage , &c. thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea , Mic. 7. 18 , 19. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David , and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem , for sin and for uncleanness , Zech. 13. 1. Thou shalt call his name Jesus , for he shall save his people from their sins , Mat. 1. 21. Jesus said to the sick of the Palsie , Son , be of good cheer , thy sins be forgiven thee , &c. Ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins , Mat. 9. 2 , 6. All manner of sins and blasphemies shall be forgiven to men , but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men . And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man , it shall be forgiven him ; but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost , it shall not be forgiven him in this world , neither in the world to come , Mat. 12. 31 , 32. To give knowledg of salvation unto his people , by the remission of their sins through the tender mercies of our God , whereby the day spring from on high hath visited us , Luke 1. 77 , 78. I say unto thee , Her sins which are many , are forgiven , for she loved much ; but to whom little is forgiven , the same loveth little . And he said unto her , Thy sins are forgiven thee , Luke 7. 48 , 49. It behoveth Christ to suffer , &c. and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name , Luke 24. 46 , 47. Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world , John 1. 29. Repent , &c. that your sins may be blotted out , when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord , and he shall send Jesus , &c. Acts 3. 19 , 20. Jesus , &c. hath God exalted with his right hand , to be a Prince and a Saviour , for to give repentance to Israel , and forgiveness of sins , Acts 5. 30 , 31. To him gave all the prophets witness , That through his name whosoever believeth in him , shall receive remission of sins , Acts 10. 43. Be it known unto you , &c. that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins , Acts 13. 38. To open the eyes , &c. that they may receive forgiveness of sins , &c. Acts 26. 18. Whom God hath set forth ( or , fore-ordained ) to be a propitiation through faith in his blood , to declare his righteousness for the remission ( or passing over ) of sins , Rom. 3. 25. Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures , &c. The sting of death is sin , and the strength of sin is the Law ; but thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ , 1 Cor. 15. 3 , 56 , 57. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself , not imputing their trespasses unto them , &c. For he hath made him to be sin for us , 2 Cor. 5. 19 , 21. Jesus Christ , who gave himself for our sins , Gal. 1. 3 , 4. In whom ye have redemption through his blood , the forgiveness of sins , according to the riches of his grace , wherein he hath abounded , &c. Eph. 1. 7 , 8. Col. 1. 14. And you , &c. hath he quickned together with him , having forgiven you all trespasses , Col. 2. 13. Jesus Christ , who gave himself for us , that he might redeem us from all iniquity , Tit. 2. 13 , 14. His Son , &c. when he had by himself purged our sins , sate down , Hebr. 1. 2 , 3. Wherefore it behoveth him to be made like unto his brethren , &c. to make reconciliation for the sins of the people , Heb. 2. 17. I will be merciful unto their unrighteousnesses , and their sins , and their iniquities I will remember no more , Heb. 8. 12. If the blood of bulls , &c. sanctifieth , &c. how much more shall the blood of Christ who offered himself , &c. purge our consciences , &c. by means of death for the redemption of the transgression . Without shedding of blood , no remission of sin , &c. Once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself , &c. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many , Heb. 9. 13 , 14 , 15 , 22 , 26 , 28. This man , after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever , sate down , Heb. 10. 12. Who his own self bear our sins in his own body on ( or to ) the tree , &c. by whose stripes ye were healed , 1 Pet. 2. 24. Christ also hath once suffered for sins , the just for the unjust , that he might bring us unto God , 1 Pet. 3. 13. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son , cleanseth us from all sin , &c. If we confess our sins , he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins , and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness , 1 Joh. 1. 7 , 9. If any man sin , we have an Advocate with the Father , Jesus Christ the righteous , and he is the propitiation for our sins ; and not for ours only , but also for the sins of the whole world , &c. I write to you , little children , because your sins are forgiven you for his names sake , 1 John. 2. 1 , 2 , 12. He was manifested to take away our sins , &c. 1 John 3. 5. Herein is love , not that we loved God , but that he loved us , and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins , 1 John 4. 10. Jesus Christ , &c. who hath loved us , and washed us with his own blood from our sins , Rev. 1. 5. Reconciliation to , and peace with God. Fury is not in me , &c. Let him take hold of my strength ; he may make peace with me ; he shall make peace with me , Isa. 27. 4 , 5. The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake , Isa. 42. 21. The chastisement of our peace was upon him , and with his stripes we are healed , Isa. 53. 5. Seventy weeks are determined , &c. to make reconciliation for iniquity , Dan. 9. 24. He shall be a Priest upon his throne , and the counsel of peace shall be between them both , Zech. 6. 12 , 13. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased , Mat. 3. 17. Go to my brethren , and say unto them , I ascend unto my Father , and unto your Father ; and unto my God and your God , John. 20. 17. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel , preaching peace by Jesus Christ , Acts 10. 36. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ , &c. For if when we were enemies , we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son , much more being reconciled , &c. We say in God through our Lord Jesus Christ , by whom we have now received the Atonement , Rom. 5. 1 , 10 , 11. God , who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ , and hath committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation , to wit , that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself , not imputing their trespasses , &c. 2 Cor. 5. 18 , 19. The glory of his grace , wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved , Eph. 1. 6. But now in Christ Jesus , ye who sometimes were far off , are made nigh by he blood of Christ ; for he is our peace , who hath made both one , hath broken down the middle-wall of partition between us ; hath abolished in his flesh the enmity , the law of commandments in ordinances , for to ma●…e in himself of twain one new man , so making pea●… . That he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross , having slain the enmity thereby , ( or , in himself ) and came and preached peace to you who were far off , and to them who are near , &c. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and forreigners , but fellow-citizens with the saints , and of the houshold of God , Eph. 2. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 8 , 19. And having made ( or , making ) peace through the blood of his cross , by him to reconcile all things to himself ; by him , whether they be things , &c. And you who were sometimes alienated , and enemies in your minds by wicked works , yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death , to present you holy and unblameable , &c. Col. 1. 20 , 21 , 22. It behoveth him to be made like unto his brethren , that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest , &c. to make reconciliation for the sins of the people , Heb. 2. 17. Who his own self bare our sins , &c. by whose stripes ye were healed : for ye were as sheep going astray , but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of our souls , 1 Pet. 2. 24 , 25. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins , the just for the unjust , that he might bring us to God , 1 Pet. 3. 18. Justification and Sanctification before God. Let not them who wait on thee , O Lord God of Hosts , be ashamed for my sake ; let not those who seek thee , be confounded for my sake , O God of Israel ; because for thy sake I have born reproach , shame hath covered my face ; I am become a stranger to my brethren , &c. for the zeal of thine house , &c. and the reproaches of them who reproached thee , have fallen upon me , &c. Psal. 69. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , &c. Surely shall one say , In the Lord have I righteousness and strength , &c. in the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified , and shall glory , Isa. 45. 24 , 25. By his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many ; for he shall bear their iniquities , Isa. 53. 11. I will sprinkle clean water upon you , and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness , and from all your idols will I cleanse you , &c. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses , &c. Not for your sakes do I this , saith the Lord God , be it known unto you : Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways , O house of Israel . Thus saith the Lord God , in the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities , &c. Ezek. 36. 22 , 25 , 29 , 32 , 33. The Lord whom ye seek , shall suddenly come , &c. for he is like a refiners fire , &c. He shall purifie the sons of Levi , and purge them as gold and silver , &c. then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord , Mal. 3. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. The Pharisee prayed thus : God , I thank thee that I am not as other men are , extortioners , &c. I fast twice a week , &c. And the Publican standing afar off , would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven , &c. saying , God be merciful unto me a sinner . I tell you , This man went down unto his house justified , rather than the other , Luke 18. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. And by him all who believe are justified from all things , from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses , Acts 13. 39. Therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith ; as it is written , The just shall live by faith , Rom. 1. 17. The righteousness of God without the law is manifested , being witnessed by the law and the prophets , even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ , unto all , and upon all them who believe , &c. Being justified freely by his grace , through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ , whom God hath set forth , &c. to declare his righteousness , &c. to declare , I say , his righteousness ; that he might be just , and the justifier of them who believe in Jesus : where is boasting then , & c ? Wherefore we conclude , That a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law , Rom. 3. 21 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. Abraham believed God , and it was counted unto him for righteousness . Now to him who worketh , is the reward not reckoned of grace , but of debt . But to him who worketh not , but believeth on him who justifieth the ungodly , his faith is counted unto him for righteousness , even as David describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works , &c. He received the sign of circumcision , a seal of the righteousness of the faith , &c. that he might be the father of them who believe , though they be not circumcised , that righteousness might be imputed unto them also , &c. for the promise , &c. not to Abraham , or to his seed through the law ; but through the righteousness of faith , &c. It was imputed to him for righteousness : now it was not written for his sake alone , that it was imputed unto him ; but for us also , to whom it shall be imputed , if we believe on him who raised up Jesus , &c. who was delivered for our offences , and was raised again for our justification , Gen. 15. 6. Rom. 4. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 , 13 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25. Being justified by faith , &c. much more then being now justified by his blood , we shall be saved , &c. The free gift of many offences unto justification , &c. As by one offence judgment came upon all to condemnation ; even so by the righteousness of one ( or , by one righteousness ) the free gift came upon all men to justification of life , &c. By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous , Rom. 5. 1 , 9 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus , &c. Whom he did foreknow , &c. them he also justified , &c. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect ? it is God who justifieth : Who is he who condemneth ? it is Christ who died , yea rather that is risen again , &c. Rom. 8. 〈◊〉 . 29 , 30 , 33 , 34. The Gentiles who followed not after righteousness , have attained unto righteousness , &c. which is of faith . But Israel who followed after the law of righteousness , hath not attained unto the law of righteousness . Wherefore ? because they sought it not by faith , but as it were by the works of the law , Rom. 9. 30 , 31 , 32. They being ignorant of Gods righteousness , and going about to establish their own righteousness , have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God : for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believeth , &c. The righteousness which is of faith saith on this wise , &c. for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness , Rom. 10. 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Christ Jesus , who of God is made unto us wisdom , and righteousness , and sanctification , &c. 1 Cor. 1. 30. But ye are washed , but ye are sanctified , but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus , 1 Cor. 6. 11. God was in Christ , reconciling the world to himself , not imputing their trespasses to them . He hath made him to be sin for us , who knew no sin , that we might be made the righteousness of God in him , 2 Cor. 5. 19 , 21. A man is not justified by the works of the law , but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we believe , &c. that we may be justified by the faith of Christ , and not , &c. Gal. 2. 19. Paul to the Galatians doth argue this at large , Gal. 3. We through the spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith , &c. Gal. 5. 5. Christ gave himself , &c. that he might sanctifie and cleanse it , &c. that he might present it to himself a glorious Church , not having spot or wrinkle , or any such thing ; but that it should be holy , and without blemish , Ephes. 5. 25 , 26 , 27. When Paul above any others had whereof to boast for his exactness in keeping the Law , he said , But what things were gain to me , them ( or , those ) I counted loss for Christ , &c. that I may win Christ , and be found in him , not having mine own righteousness which is of the law , but that which is through the faith of Christ , the righteousness which is of God by faith , Phil. 3. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. And you , &c. hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death , to present you holy , and unblameable , and unreprovable in his sight , Colos. 1. 21 , 22. And ye are compleat in him , who is the head of all principalities , &c. Col. 2. 10. Jesus Christ , who gave himself for us , that he might redeem us from all iniquity , and purifie unto himself a peculiar people , Tit. 2. 14. After that the loving-kindness of God appeared , &c. not by works of righteousness which we have done , &c. that being justified by his grace , we should be made heirs , &c. Tit. 3. 4 , 5 , 7. Who , &c. when he had by himself purged our sins , sate down , &c. Heb. 1. 3. If the blood of bulls , &c. sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh : how much more shall the blood of Christ , who , &c. purge your consciences from dead works , &c. Heb. 9. 13 , 14. By the which will we are sanctified , through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all , &c. by one offering he hath for ever perfected them who are sanctified , &c. Heb. 10. 10 , 14. Wherefore Jesus also , that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood , suffered without the gate , &c. Heb. 13. 12. Who his own self bare our sins , &c. by whose stripes we were healed , 1 Pet. 2. 24. Isa. 53. 5. Jesus , &c. who hath loved us , and washed us with his own blood , &c. Rev. 1. 5. These were redeemed ( or , bought ) from among men , &c. they were without fault before the throne of God , Rev. 14. 4 , 5. Eternal life and Salvation . The just shall live by his faith , Hab. 2. 4. Christ said unto Zacheus , This day is salvation come to this house , &c. for the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost , Luk. 19. 9 , 10. So must the Son of man be lifted up , that whosoever believeth in him , should not perish , but have eternal life . For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten Son , that whosoever believed in him , should not perish , but have everlasting life , &c. He who believeth on the Son , hath everlasting life , &c. John 3. 14 , 15 , 16 , 36. Ye will not come unto me , that ye may have life , John 5. 40. The bread of God is he who cometh down from heaven , and giveth life unto the world , &c , I am the bread of life , &c. This is the will of him who sent me , that every one who seeth the Son , and believeth on him , may have everlasting life ; and I will raise him up at the last day , &c. This is the bread which came down from heaven , that a man may eat thereof and not dye . I am the living bread which came down from heaven ; if any man eat of this bread , he shall live for ever : and the bread that I will give , is my flesh , which I will give for the life of the world , &c. Whoso eateth my flesh , &c. hath eternal life , &c. As , &c. I live by the Father : so he who eateth me , even he shall live by me , &c. Lord , to whom shall we go ? thou hast the words of eternal life , John 6. 33 , 35 , 40 , 50 , 51 , 54 , 57 , 58 , 68. John 5. 24. I am the dore ; by me if any man enter in , he shall be saved , &c. I am come , that they might have life , and that they might have it more abundantly . My sheep hear my voice , &c. and I give unto them eternal life , and they shall never perish , neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand , John 10. 9 , 10 , 27 , 28. Because I live , ye shall live also , John 14. 19. As thou hast given him power over all flesh , that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him , John 17. 2. These things are written , that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ , the Son of God , and that believing ye might have life through his name , John 20. 31. Why tempt ye God , to put a yoke upon the neck of his disciples , &c. But we believe , that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they , Acts 15. 10 , 11. I send thee ( said Christ to Paul ) to open their eyes , &c. that they might receive forgiveness of sins , and an inheritance among them who are sanctified through faith that is in me , Acts 26. 17 , 18. Being justified by his blood , we shall be saved from wrath through him , &c. much more , being reconciled , we shall be saved by his life , &c. If by one offence death reigned by one ; much more they who receive abundance of grace , &c. shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ , &c. that as sin hath reigned unto death , even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life , by Jesus Christ our Lord , Rom. 5. 9 , 10 , 17 , 21. The gift of God is eternal life , through Jesus Christ our Lord , Rom. 6. 23. Whom he justifies , them also he glorifies . What shall we say ? &c. Rom. 8. 30 , 31. I declare unto you the Gospel , &c. by which also ye are saved , if , &c. 1 Cor. 15. 1 , 2 , 3. In Christ , &c. in whom also we have obtained an inheritance , Ephes. 1. 11. God who is rich in mercy , for his great love wherewith he hath loved us , even when we were dead in sins , hath quickned us together with Christ. By grace are ye saved , that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace , &c. for by grace are ye saved through faith , &c. not by works , lest any man should boast , Ephes. 2. 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9. Christ in ( or , amongst ) you the hope of glory , Col. 1. 27. Jesus , who delivered us from the wrath to come , 1 Thes. 1. 10. God hath not appointed us unto wrath ; but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ , who dyed for us , that whether we wake or sleep , we should live together with him , 1 Thes. 5. 9 , 10. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Chap. 2. 10 , 11. Believe on him to life everlasting , 1 Tim. 1. 16. Jesus Christ , who hath abolished death , and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel , 2 Tim. 1. 10. Not by works of righteousness which we have done , but according to his mercy he hath saved us , &c. Tit. 3. 5. He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them who obey him , Heb. 5. 9. Ephes. 5. 23. By his own blood he entred in once into the holy place , having obtained eternal redemption for us , &c. they who were called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance , &c. He shall appear , &c. unto salvation , Heb. 9. 12. 15 , 28. Receiving the end of your faith , even the salvation of your souls , 1 Pet. 1. 9. The God of all grace , who hath called us into his eternal glory by Jesus , 1 Pet. 5. 10. And this is the promise which he hath promised us , eternal life , 1 Joh. 2. 25. 2 Tim. 1. 1. In this was manifest the love of God towards us , because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world , that we might live through him , 1 Joh. 4. 9. This is the record , that God hath given to us eternal life , and this life is in his Son ; he who hath the Son , hath life , &c. 1 John 5. 10 , 11 , 12. Keep your selves in the love of God , looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus , unto eternal life , Jude v. 21. See more in the next Chapter . CHAP. XI . How Men have the benefit of this Salvation , or by what means , it becomes theirs , in particular . By Faith. THE just shall live by his faith , Habak . 2. 4. Abram believed in the Lord , and he counted it to him for righteousness , Gen. 15. 6. Rom. 4. 3. He who believeth and is baptised , shall be saved , Mark 16. 16. Blessed is she who believeth that there ( or , for there ) shall be a performance of those thing which were told her from the Lord , Luk. 1. 45. Jesus said to the woman , thy sins are forgiven , &c. Thy faith saved thee , go , &c. Luk. 7. 48 , 50. But to as many as received him , to them he gave power ( or , the right or priviledg ) to become the sons of God , to them who believe on his name , John 1. 12. The son of man must be lifted up . That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life , &c. He who believeth on him is not condemned , &c. He who believeth on the son , hath everlasting life , John 3. 14 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 36. He who heareth my word , and believeth on him who sent me , hath everlasting life , and shall not come into condemnation : but is passed from death unto life , &c. Whom he hath sent , him ye believe not , &c. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life , John 5. 24 , 38 , 40. What shall we do that we may work the works of God ? Jesus answered and said unto them , this is the work of God , that ye believe on him whom he hath sent , &c. He who cometh to me shall never hunger , and he who believeth on me , shall never thirst , &c. This is the will of him who sent me , that every one who seeth the son and believeth on him , may have everlasting life , &c. He who believeth on me hath everlasting life , &c. I am the living bread which came down from heaven , if any man eat of this bread , he shall live for ever , &c. Whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood , hath eternal life , John 6. 28 , 29 , 35 , 40 , 47 , 51 , 54. He who believeth in me , though he were dead , yet shall he live , and whosoever liveth and believeth in me , shall never dye , &c. John 11. 25 , 26. Jesus said unto Thomas , reach hither thy finger , &c. Be not faithless but believing , &c. Jesus said unto him , because thou hast seen thou hast believed , blessed are they who have not seen , and yet have believed , &c. These things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God , and that believing ye might have life through his name , &c. John 20. 27 , 29 , 31. Through his name , whosoever believeth in him , shall receive remission of sins , Act. 10. 43. By him all who believe are justified from all things , &c. Act. 13. 39. We believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus we shall be saved , Act. 15. 11. Sirs , what must I do to be saved ? And they said , believe on the Lord Jesus Christ , and thou shalt be saved and thine house , Act. 16. 30 , 31. I kept back nothing which was profitable , &c. Testifying both to the Jews , and also to the Greeks , repentance towards God , and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ , Acts 20. 20 , 21. That they may receive forgiveness of sins , and inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith that is in me , Act. 26. 18. The Gospel of Christ : for it is the power of God unto salvation unto every one who believeth , &c. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith ; as it is written the just shall live by faith , Rom. 1. 16 , 17. Now the righteousness of God without the law is manifest , &c. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all , and upon all them who believe , &c. Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood , &c. That he may be just , and the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus , &c. We conclude , that a man is justified by faith without , &c. It is one God , who shall justifie the Circumcision by faith , and uncircumcision through faith , Rom. 3. 21 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 30. To him who worketh not , but believeth on him who justifieth the ungodly ; his faith is accounted for rightecusness , &c. We say , that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness , &c. Therefore it is of faith , that it might be by grace , &c. It was imputed to him for righteousness , &c. For us also to whom it shall be imputed , if we believe on him who raised up Jesus our Lord , &c. Rom. 4. 5 , 9 , 16 , 22 , 23 , 24. Being justified by faith , we have peace with God , &c. We have access by faith , into this grace wherein we stand , &c. Rom. 5. 1 , 2. We are saved by hope , &c. Rom. 8. 24. The Gentiles , &c. have attained unto the righteousness which is of faith , &c. But Israel hath not attained , &c. because they sought it not by faith , Rom. 9. 30 , 32. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believeth , &c. If thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus , and shalt believe in thine heart , that God hath raised him from the dead , thou shalt be saved . For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness , &c. For the scripture faith , whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed , Rom. 10. 4 , 9 , 10 , 11. Isa. 28. 16. For by faith ye stand , 2 Cor. 1. 24. A man is not justified by the works of the law , but by the faith of Jesus Christ : Even we have believed in Jesus Christ , that we might be justified by the ●…aith of Christ , and not by the works of the law , &c. And the life which I now live in the flesh ; I live by the faith of the son of God , Gal. 2. 16 , 20. Abraham believed God , and it was accounted to him for righteousness , &c. God would justifie the heathen through faith , &c. They who are of faith , are blessed with faithful Abraham , &c. That the promise through faith of Jesus , might be given unto them who believe , &c. We are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ , Gal. 3. 6 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 22 , 26. We through the spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith : For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing , but faith which worketh by love , Gal. 5. 5 , 6. In whom also , after that ye believed , ye were sealed with the holy spirit , &c. Ephes. 1. 13. By grace are ye saved through faith , Ephes. 2. 8. We have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him , &c. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith , Ephes. 3. 12 , 17. Not having mine own righteousness , &c. but that which is through the faith of Christ , Phil. 3. 9. You are risen with him , through the faith of the operation of God , &c. Col. 2. 12. God hath , &c. chosen you to salvation through sanctification , &c. and belief of the truth , 2 Thes. 2. 13. Now the end of the commandment is Charity , &c. and of faith unfeined , 1 Tim. 1. 5. Wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus , 2 Tim. 3. 15. Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ , &c. Of faith towards God , &c. but followers of them , who through faith and patience inherit the promises , Heb. 6. 1 , 12. Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward , &c. Yet a little while , and he who shall come , will come , and will not tarry . Now the just shall live by faith , &c. We are not of them who draw back to perdition ; but of them who believe to the saving of the soul , Heb. 10. 22 , 35 , 37 , 38 , 39. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Kain , by which he obtained witness that he was righteous , &c. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death , &c. He had this Testimony , that he pleased God , but without faith it is impossible to please God. For he who cometh to God must believe that he is , and that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him . By faith Noah , &c. And became heir of righteousness which is by faith , Heb. 11. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. For you , who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation : For you , who do believe in God who raised him , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 5 , 21. Behold , I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone , &c. and he who believeth on him shall not be confounded . 1 Pet. 2. 6. This is his commandment , that we should believe on the name of his son Jesus Christ , and love , &c. 1 John 3. 22 , 23. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ , is born of God , &c. This is the victory which overcometh the world , even our faith . Who is he who overcometh the world , but he who believeth that Jesus is the son of God , &c. He who believeth on the son of God hath the witness in himself , &c. You that believe , &c. that ye may know that ye have eternal life , 1 John 5. 1 , 4 , 5 , 10 , 13. Blessed be God , &c. who according to his abundant mercy , hath begotten us again unto a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead , 1 Pet. 1. 3. Of Faith , in its Nature , and Objects , and Use , Benefits and advantages , further the nas before , as relating to this Salvation . Holding the mistery of faith in a pure conscience , &c. Without controversie great is the mistery of godliness : God was manifested in the flesh , &c. 1 Tim. 3. 9 , 16. 1. In its Nature and Objects . I know my redeemer liveth , and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth , and though after my skin worms destroy this body ( or , after I shall awake , this body shall be destroyed ) yet out ( or , in ) my flesh , shall I see God , whom I shall see for myself , and mine eyes shall behold , and not another , &c. Job 19. 25 , 26 , 27. Behold , I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone , &c. He who believeth shall not make hast . The Centurion said , Lord , I am not worthy , &c. But speak the word only , and my servant shall be healed ; for I am a man under authority , &c. And I say to this man , go and he goeth , and unto another , come and he cometh , &c. When Jesus heard this , he said , &c. I have not found so great faith no not in Israel , &c. Many shall come from east and west , and shall sit down with Abraham , &c. Matt. 8. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13. The woman of Canaan would not be put off , though Christ spake harsh to her , whereupon Jesus said to her , O woman , great is thy faith , be it unto thee as thou wilt , Matt. 15. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. Simon Peter said , thou art Christ the son of the living God. And Jesus said unto him , blessed art thou , &c. For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee , but my father which is in heaven , Matt. 16. 16 , 17. The woman of the bloody Issue said , if I may but touch his clothes , I shall be whole , &c. Jesus said unto her , thy faith hath made thee whole , go in peace , Mark 5. 27 , 28 , 29 , 34. Jesus said unto them , have faith in God , &c. And shall not doubt in his heart , Mark 11. 22 , 23. O fools , and slow of heart , to believe all which the Prophets have spoken , Luke 24. 25. His own received him not , but as many as received him to them he gave to become , &c. John seeth Jesus coming unto him , and saith , behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world ; This is he of whom I said , after me cometh a man who is preferred before me ; for he was before me , &c. And I saw and bare record that this is the son of God , &c. Andrew said to his brother Simon , we have found the Messias , which is , being interpreted , the Christ , &c. Philip said to Nathaniel , we have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write , Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph , &c. Nathaniel said , Thou art the son of God , thou art the King of Israel , Jesus said , Because I said , &c. Believest thou : thou shalt see greater , &c. John 1. 11 , 12 , 29 , 30 , 34 , 36 , 40 , 41 , 45 , 49 , 50. He who hath received his testimony , hath set to his seal that God is true , John 3. 33. The Samaritans believed on him for the saying of the woman , &c. And more believed because of his own word , and said unto the woman , now we believe not because of thy saying : for we have heard him our selves , and know that this is indeed the Christ , the Saviour of the world , &c. Jesus said to the nobleman , go thy way , thy son liveth , and the man believed the word which Jesus had spoken , and he went his way , &c. And himself believed and his whole house , John 4. 39 , 41 , 42 , 50 , 53. He who believeth on him who sent me , &c. Had ye believed Moses , &c. But if ye believe not his writings , &c. John 5. 24 , 46 , 47. Simon Peter answered him , Lord to whom shall we go , thou hast the words of eternal life ? And we believe and are sure , that thou art that Christ the son of the living God , John 6. 68 , 69. For if ye believe not that I am he , ye shall dye in your sins , Joh. 8. 24. The man who was born blind Christ cured , and when the Jews had cast him out , Jesus heard of it , and when he had found him , he said unto him , dost thou believe on the son of God , and he answered and said , who is he Lord , that I might believe on him , & c ? It is he who talketh with thee . And he said , Lord I believe , and he worshipped him , John 9. 35 , 36 , 37 , 38. Jesus , &c. whosoever liveth and believeth in me , shall never dye . Believest thou this ? She said unto him , yea Lord , I believe that thou art the Christ , the Son of God which should come into the world , John 11. 25 , 26 , 27. He who believeth on me , believeth not on me , but on him who sent me , John 12. 44. That when it is come to pass , ye may believe that I am he , John 13. 19. Ye believe in God , believe also in me , John 14. 1. The father himself loveth you , because ye have loved me , and believe that I came out from God , &c. Now we are sure that thou knowest all things , &c. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God , John 16. 27 , 30. I have given unto them the words which thou gavest to me , and they have received them , and they have known surely , that I came out from thee , and they have believed that thou didest send me , John 17. 8. 1 John 5. 10 , 11. Thomas , &c. said unto him , my Lord and my God ; &c. Jesus said , &c. blessed are they who have not seen , yet believed . These things are written , that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ , the Son of God , John 20. 28 , 29 , 31. The Eunuch said , what doth hinder me to be baptized ? And Philip said , If thou believest with all thine heart , thou mayest . And he answered and said , I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. — He baptized him , Acts. 8. 36 , 37 , 38. Paul preached Christ in the Synagogues , that he is the Son of God , &c. Proving that this is very Christ , Act. 9. 20 , 22. ch . 17. 3. God gave them the li●…e gifts , &c. Then hath God also granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life , Act. 11. 17 , 18. We believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus , we shall be saved even as they , Act. 15. 11. Believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets , and have hope towards God , which they themselves also allow , that there , &c. Acts 24. 14 , 15. Paul said , be of good cheer , for there shall be no loss , &c. Be of good chear : for I believe God , that it shall be , even as it was told me , Acts 27. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25. To him who worketh not , but believeth on him who justifieth the ungodly , his faith is accounted ●…or righteousness , &c. Abraham against hope believed in hope , &c. And being not weak in faith considered not his own body now dead , &c. But was strong in the faith , giving glory to God : and being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform . And therefore it was imputed unto him for righteousness , Rom. 4. 5 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. Now if we be dead with Christ , we believe that we shall also live with him , Rom. 6. 8. We are saved by hope : but hope which is seen , is not hope : for what a man seeth , why doth he yet hope for it ? But if we hope for that we see not , then do we with patience wait for it , &c. I am perswaded that neither life , &c. Rom. 8. 24 , 25 , 38 , 39. The righteousness which is of faith , speaketh on this wise , say not in thine heart , who shall ascend in●… heaven ? That is to bring Christ down from above : or who shall descend into the deep ? That is to bring up Christ from the dead . But what saith it ? The word is nigh thee , in thy mouth and in thy heart , that is the word of faith which we preach , That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus , and shalt believe in thine heart , that God hath raised him from the dead , thou shalt be saved ; for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness , Rom. 10. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord , but by the spirit of God , 1 Cor. 12. 3. Our preaching is not with inticeing words , &c. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men , but in the power of God , 1 Cor. 2. 4 , 5. We also believe and therefore speak , knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus , shall raise up us also by Jesus , and shall present us with you , &c. While we look not at the things which are seen , but at the things which are not seen , &c. are eternal , 2 Cor. 4. 13 , 14 , 18. We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved , we have a building of God , an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens , &c. We are confident I say , and willing rather to be absent from the body , and to be present with the Lord , &c. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we perswade men , &c. 2 Cor. 5. 1 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 11. That we should be to the praise of his glory , who first trusted ( or , hoped ) in Christ , Ephes. 1. 12. Buried with him in baptism , wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God , who hath raised him from the dead , Col. 2. 12. We pray for you always , that our God would , &c. fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness , and the work of faith with power , 2 Thes. 1. 11. Therefore we both labour and suffer reproach , because we trust in the living God who is the saviour of all men , especially of them who believe , 1 Tim. 4. 10. Fight the good fight of faith , lay hold of eternal life , 1 Tim. 6. 12 When I call to remembrance the unfeined faith that is in thee , &c. I am not ashamed , for I know whom I have believed , and am perswaded , that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day , 2 Tim. 1. 5 , 12. According to the faith of Gods Elect , &c. In hope of eternal life , which God who cannot lye promised before the world began , &c. Rebuke them sharply , that they may be found sound in the faith , Titus 1. 1 , 2 , 13. ch . 2. 2. The word , &c. did not profit them , not being mixed with faith in them who heard it , Heb. 4. 2. Faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen , &c. For he who cometh to God must believe that he is , and that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him , &c. By faith Abram , &c. Sojourned in the land of promise , &c. For he looked for a City which hath foundations , whose builder and maker is God through faith , also Sarah her self received strength , &c. Because she judged him faithful who had promised , &c. These all dyed in the faith , not having received the promises , but seeing them afar off , and were perswaded of them , and imbraced them and confessed , &c. Abram offered Isaac , &c. Accounting that God was able to raise him up from the dead , &c. Moses had respect to the recompence of reward , &c. as seeing him who is Invisible , and some refused deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection , Heb. 11. 1 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 17 , 19 , 26 , 35. chap. 6. 18. Blessed be God , &c. who hath begotten us again to a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ , &c. Whom having not seen ye love , in whom though you see not , yet believing , &c. who by him do believe in God , &c. That your faith and hope might be in God , 1 Pet. 1. 3 , 8 , 21. To them who have obtained like precious faith with us , 2 Pet. 1. 1. Who is a lyer , but he that denyeth that Jesus is the Christ ? 1 John 2. 22. We know that when he shall appear , we shall be like him : For we shall see him as he is , 1 John 3. 2 , 3. We have seen and do testifie , that the father hath sent the son to be the saviour , &c. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God , God dwelleth in him , and he in God. And we have known and believed , the love which God hath unto us , &c. 1 John 4. 14 , 15 , 16. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ , is born of God , &c. Who is he who overcometh the world , but he who believeth that Jesus is the Son of God , &c. We know that the Son of God is come , &c. His Son Jesus Christ , this is the true God , and eternal Life , 1 John 5. 1 , 5 , 20. But ye beloved , build up your selves in your most holy faith , Jude vers . 20. 2dly . In its Use , Benefits , and Advantages , further . I had fainted , unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living , Psal. 27. 13. Behold , God is my salvation , I will trust , &c. therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation , Isa. 12. 3. Jesus said unto the blind man , believe ye that I am able to do this ? They said unto him , yea Lord , then touched he their eyes , saying , according to your faith , be it unto you . And their eyes were opened , Matt. 9. 28 , 29 , 30. Luk. 18. 42. When Peter came out of the Ship , he walked on the water to go to Jesus , but when he began to fear , he began to sink , &c. And Jesus said unto him , O thou of little faith , why didst thou doubt ? Matt. 14. 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. When Christ saw the faith of the Woman of Canaan , Jesus answered and said unto her , O woman , great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as thou wilt , and her daughter was made whole , Matt. 15. 26 , 27 , 28. The Disciples came to Jesus apart , and said , why could not we cast him out ? And Jesus said unto them , because of your unbelief : For verily I say unto you , if ye have faith as a grain of mustard-seed , ye shall say to this mountain , remove hence unto yonder place , and it shall remove , and nothing shall be impossible unto you , Matt. 17. 19 , 20. Mark 11. 23. The saith of the Woman with the bloody-issue , derived virtue from Christ to heal her , &c. Jesus said to the Ruler ( when news was brought that his daughter was dead ) be not afraid , only believe , and Christ raised her , Mark 5. 27 , 28 , 29 , 34 , 36 , 42. If thou canst believe , all things are possible to him who believeth , &c. He cryed ou●… , Lord I believe , help thou my unbelief , Jesus healed his child , Mark 9. 23 , 24 , 25. What things soever ye desire when ye pray , believe that ye receive , and ye shall have them , Mark 11. 24. He who believeth on me , as the scripture saith , out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water ; but this spake he of the spirit , which they who believed on him should receive , John 7. 38 , 39. If thou wouldest believe , thou shouldest see the glory of God , John 11. 40 Christ prayed only for those who had , and afterwards should believe in him John 17. 20. Through faith in his name , hath made this man strong whom ye see and know ; yea , the faith which is by him , hath given him this perfect sou●…ness in the presence of you all , Act. 3. 16. What doth hinder me to be baptized ? And if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest , Act. 8. 36 , 37. Putting no difference between them and us , purifying their hearts by faith , Act. 15. 9. Rejoycing in hope , Rom. 12. 12. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing , Rom. 15. 13. We are always confident , knowing that whilest we are at home in the body , we are absent from the Lord , for we walk by faith and not by sight ; we are confident , I say , and willing rather to be absent from the body , and to be present with the Lord , 2 Cor. 5. 6 , 7 , 8. They who are of faith , the same are the children of Abraham , &c. We received , &c. the spirit through faith , Gal. 3. 7 , 14. In whom , after , that ye believed , ye were sealed with the holy spirit , Ephes. 1. 13. In whom ye have boldness , and access with confidence by the faith of him , &c. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith , Ephes. 3. 12 , 17. Heb. 4. 16. Above all , taking the shield of faith , wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked , Ephes. 6. 16. We are the circumcision , &c. Who rejoyce in Christ , and have no confidence in the flesh , Phil. 3. 3. Putting on the brest-plate of faith and love , and for an helmet the hope of salvation , 1 Thes. 5. 8. Therefore we both labour and suffer reproach , because we trust in the living God , who is the saviour of all men , especially of them who believe , 1 Tim. 4. 10. Fight the good fight of faith , lay hold of eternal life , 1 Tim. 6. 12. The word , &c. did not profit , not being mixed with faith in them who heard it , &c. For we who have believed do enter into rest , &c. For he who is entred into his rest , he also hath ceased from his own works , Heb. 4. 2 , 3 , 10. That by two immutable things , &c. we might have strong consolation , who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us . Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul , both sure and stedfast , &c. Heb. 6. 18 , 19. Faith enabled men to do and suffer great things for God. See at large , Heb. 11. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick , and the Lord shall raise him , James 5. 15. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation , &c. receiving the end of your faith , even the salvation of your souls , 1 Pet. 1. 5 , 9. To them who have obtained like precious faith with us , 2 Pet. 1. 1. This is the victory which overcometh the world , even our faith , 1 John 5. 4. ●…dly , In its effects , or the fruits by which it 's known to be true . Examine your selves whether ye be in the saith , 2 Cor. 13. 5. All men have not faith , 2 Thes. 3. 2. It 's called the faith of Gods elect ; sound and unfeigned faith , 2 Tim. 1. 5. Tit. 1. 13. chap. 2. 2. That the trial of your faith being much more precious than that of gold , &c. might be found unto praise , and honour , and glory , at the appearing of Jesus Christ , 1 Pet. 1. 7. Be ready always to give , &c. a reason of the hope that is in you , 1 Pet. 3. 15. He who believeth , will not make haste , Isa. 28. 16. The people of Nineveh believed God , and proclaimed a fast , and put on sackcloath , &c. Who can tell if God will turn and repent ? &c. And God saw their works , that they turned from their evil way , &c. Jonah 3. 4 , 5 , 8 , 9 , 10. The vision is yet for an appointed time ; but at the end it shall speak , and shall not lye ; though it tarry , wait for it , &c. Behold his soul which is lifted up , is not upright in him ; but the just shall live by faith , Hab. 2. 3 , 4. The woman who had much forgiven unto her , loved much , and expressed it much ; and Jesus said , Her sins which are many , are forgiven ; for she loved much : but to whom little is forgiven , the same loveth little , Luke 7. 38 , 42 , 43 , 47. And the Apostles said unto the Lord , Increase our faith , Luke 17. 5. Mar. 9. 24. The faith of poor impotent people made them wait at the Pool for the moving of the water ; and though they were disappointed often , yet still waited , John 5. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard , Acts 4. 20. When the Eunuch had believed , he went on his way rejoycing , Acts 8. 38 , 39. Purifie their hearts by faith , Acts 15. 9. If we hope for what we see not , then do we with patience wait for it , Rom. 8. 25. Rejoycing in hope , Rom. 12. 12. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing , Rom. 15. 13. We having the same spirit of faith , according as it is written , I believed , and therefore have I spoken . We also believe , therefore speak , 2 Cor. 4. 13. We are confident , I say , and willing rather to be absent from the body , and to be present with the Lord , &c. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we perswade men to believe , 2 Cor. 5. 8 , 11. Examine your selves whether you be in the faith : prove your own selves : know you not your own selves , how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates ? 2 Cor. 13. 5. In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing , nor uncircumcision ; but faith , which worketh by love , Gal. 5. 6. In whom , after that ye believed , ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise , Ephes. 1. 13. We give thanks to God , remembring without ceasing your works of faith , &c. patience of hope , 1 Thes. 1. 2. We who believe , do enter into rest , Heb. 4. 3 , 10. We might have strong consolation , who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us , Heb. 6. 18. By faith Noah , being warned of God of things not seen as yet , moved with fear , prepared an Ark , &c. By faith Abraham when he was called to go , &c. obeyed ; and he went out , not knowing whither he went , &c. confessed themselves strangers , &c. By faith Abraham when he was tryed , offered up Isaac , &c. his only begotten son , of whom it is said , &c. By faith Moses , &c. refused to be called the son of Pharoahs daughter ; chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God , than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season : esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt : for , &c. Heb. 11. 7 , 8 , 13 , 17 , 18 , 24 , 25 , 26. What doth it profit , my brethren , though a man say he hath saith , and have not works ? can faith save him ? &c. faith , if it hath not works , is dead , being alone ( or , by it self ) ; yea a man may say , Thou hast faith , and I have works ; shew me thy faith without thy works , and I will shew thee my faith by my works . Thou believest that there is one God , &c. but wilt thou know , O vain man , that faith without works is dead ? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar ? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works ? and by works was faith made perfect , &c. faith without works is dead , James 2. 14 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 26. Jesus Christ , whom having not seen ye love ; in whom , though now ye see not , yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory , 1 Pet. 1. 7 , 8. Unto you therefore who believe , he is precious ( or an honour ) . 1 Pet. 2. 7. We know that when he shall appear , we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is . And every man who hath this hope in him , purifieth himself as he is pure , 1 John 3. 2 , 3. The dangerous state and issue of Unbelief . When Lot had told his sons in law , that God would destroy the city , and had advised him to get out , they believed him not ; and were destroyed in the overthrow , Gen. 19. 12 , 13 , 14 , 25. He did not many mighty works there , because of their unbelief , Mat. 13. 58. Peter began to sink through unbelief . Jesus said unto them , O thou of little faith , wherefore didst thou doubt ? Mat. 14. 29 , 30 , 31. He appeared unto the eleven , and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart , because they believed not them who had seen him after he was risen , &c. but he who believed not , shall be damned , Mark 16. 14 , 16. Thou shalt be dumb , and not able to speak , until the day that these things shall be performed ; because thou believest not my word which shall be , &c. Luke 1. 19 , 20. But those mine enemies who would not that I should reign over them , bring hither , and slay them before me , Luke 19. 27. He who believeth not , is condemned already , because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God , &c. He who believeth not the Son , shall not see life , but the wrath of God abideth on him , John 3. 18 , 36. Verily , verily I say unto you , Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man , and drink his blood , ye have no life in you , John 6. 53. I said therefore unto you , That you shall dye in your sins : for if ye believe not that I am he , ye shall dye in your sins , John 8. 24. Ye believe not , because ye are not of my sheep ; as I said unto you , My sheep hear my voice , &c. John 10. 26 , 27. If any man hear my words , and believe not , &c. He who rejecteth me , and receives not my words , hath one who judgeth him ; the word which I have spoken , the same shall judg him in the last day , John 12. 47 , 48. If a man abide not in me , he is cast forth as a branch , and is withered , and men gather them and cast them into the fire , and they are burned , John 15. 6. He will reprove the world of sin , &c. of sin , because they believe not on me , John 16. 8 , 9. Beware therefore , lest that come upon you , &c. Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish : for I will work a work in your days , a work which you shall in no wise believe , though a man declare it unto you , Acts 13. 40 , 41. How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? Rom. 10. 14. Well , because of unbelief they were broken off , &c. and thou standest by faith , &c. God spared not the natural branches , &c. Rom. 11. 20 , 21. He who doubteth , is damned if he eat , because not of faith : for whatsoever is not of faith , is sin , Rom. 14. 23. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven , &c. taking vengeance on them , &c. who obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ , who shall be punished with everlasting destruction , &c. 2 Thes. 1. 8. Antichrist shall prevail upon such who shall perish ; because they received not the truth in the love thereof ( or , the love of the truth ) , that they might be saved ; and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions , that they shall believe a lye ; that they all might be damned who believe not the truth , but had pleasure in unrighteousness , 2 Thes. 2. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Holding faith , &c. which some having put away , concerning faith have made shipwrack ; of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander , whom I have delivered unto Satan , that being chastised , they might learn not to blaspheme , 1 Tim. 1. 19 , 20. Unto them who are defiled and unbelieving , is nothing pure , but even their minds and consciences are defiled , Titus 1. 15. If the word spoken by Angels was stedfast , and every transgression , and disobedience , received a just recompence of reward : How shall we escape , if we neglect so great salvation , which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord ? &c. Heb. 2. 2 , 3. I swear in my wrath , they shall not ( or , if they shall ) enter 〈◊〉 rest . Take heed brethren , lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief , in departing from the living God , &c. And to whom swear he , that they should not enter into his rest , but to them who believed not ? So we see , that they could not enter in , because of unbelief , Heb. 3. 11 , 12 , 18 , 19. The word Preached , did not profit them , not being mixed with faith ( or , because they were not united by faith to it ) in them who heard , &c. They to whom it was first preached ( or , the Gospel was first Preached ) entered not in because of unbelief : Heb. 4. 2 , 6. The just shall live by faith : but if any man draw back , my soul shall have no pleasure in him . But we are not of those who draw back to perdition , but of them who believe to the salvation of the soul , Heb. 10. 38 , 39. Without faith it is impossible to please God : For he , &c. Heb. 11. 6. See that ye refuse not him who speaketh : for if they escaped not , who refused him who spake on earth ; much more shall not we , if turn away from him who speaketh from heaven , Heb. 12. 25. Let him ask in faith , &c. For he that wavereth is like , &c. Let not that man think he shall receive , &c. James 1. 5 , 6 , 7. Unto you who believe , he is precious ; but unto them who are disobedient , the stone which the builders disallowed of , the same is made the head of the corner , and a stone of stumbling , and a rock of offence unto them who stumble at the word , being disobedient , whereunto also they were appointed , 1 Pet. 2. 7 , 8. What shall the end be of them who obey not the Gospel of God ? 1 Pet. 4. 17 , 18. He who believeth not God , hath made him a lyar , because he believeth not the record which God gave of his Son , and this is the record , That God hath given unto us eternal life , and this life is in his son , &c. He who hath not the son , hath not life , 1 John 5. 10 , 11 , 12. The fearful and unbelieving , &c. shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone , which is the second death , Rev. 21. 8. He who despised Moses law , dyed without mercy , &c. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye , shall he be thought worthy who have trodden under foot the son of God , &c. Heb. 10. 28 , 29. See more of trusting in God , chap. 16. CHAP. XII . Characters of Saints , Good men , and Believers , appearing in word and deed . 1. That such may be known from others by their fruits . THE tree is known by his fruit . O generation of vipers , how can ye being evil , speak good things ! for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh . A good man out of the good treasure of his heart , bringeth forth good things : and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things , Mat. 12. 33 , 34 , 35. John 3. 6. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon , &c. that which is highly esteemed among men , is an abomination , &c. Luke 16. 13 , 15. Some have not the knowledg of God , I speak this to your shame , 1 Cor. 15. 34. Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith : prove your own selves ; know ye not your own selves , how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates , 2 Cor. 13. 5. Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ , he is none of his , Rom. 8. 9. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter ? Can the fig-tree , my brethren , bear olive-berries ? either a vine figs ? So no fountain both yeilds salt-water and fresh . Who is a wise man , and indued with knowledg among you ? let him shew out of a good conversation , his work with meekness of wisdom . But if ye have bitter envying , &c. this wisdom descendeth not from above , but is earthly , sensual , &c. James 3. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you , with meekness and fear , 1 Pet. 3. 15. 2dly , Of the particular fruits of the Spirit in them , or good things appearing , or necessary to be in such who are real Saints . And Enoch walked with God , &c. three hundred years , &c. and Enoch walked with God , and was not , &c. ( or walked according to God continually ) Gen. 5. 22 , 24. Noah was a just man , perfect in his generation . Noah walked with God , Gen. 6. 9. And the Lord said unto Noah , Come , &c. for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation , &c. and Noe did according to all that God commanded him , Gen. 7. 1 , 5. Abraham went into a strange place out of his own countrey , when God bid him , Gen. 12. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. And Abraham said unto Lot , Let there be no strife , I pray thee , between me and thee , &c. for we be brethren . Is not the whole land before thee ? &c. If thou go to the left hand , then will I go to the right ; or if thou to the right hand , then I will go to the left , Gen. 13. 8 , 9. And the Angel of the Lord said , &c. Abraham , &c. for now I know that thou fearest God , seeing thou hast not with-held thy son , thine only begotten son , from me , Gen. 22. 11 , 12. ch . 18 , 19. When Josephs Mistris tempted him to sin , he said , How then can I do this great wickedness , and sin against God ? Gen. 39. 9. When Pharoah said to Joseph , I have heard say of thee , thou canst understand a dream to interpret it : And Joseph answered Pharoah , saying , It is not in me , God shall give Pharoah an answer of peace , Gen. 41. 15 , 16. chap. 40. 8. And the Lord said unto Moses , I have seen this people , &c. now let me alone , that my wrath may wax hot against them , and I will make of thee a great nation . And Moses besought the Lord , &c. saying , Wherefore should the Egyptians say , For mischief did he bring them out , to slay them in the mountains , &c. remember Abraham , Isaac , &c. to whom thou swarest by thine own self , &c. Now if thou wilt forgive their sins ; and if not , I pray thee blot me out of thy book which thou hast written , Exod. 32. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 31 , 32. When Moses was told that Eldad and Medad did prophesie in the Camp , and his servant had said to him , My Lord Moses forbid them . Moses said unto him , Enviest thou for my sake ? Would God that all the Lords people were prophets , and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them , Numb . 11. 26 , 27 , 28 , 29. God said to Moses , I will smite them , &c. and make of thee a greater nation , and mightier than they . And Moses said unto the Lord , Then the Egyptians shall hear ( for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from amongst them ) , and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land , they have heard that thou Lord art among this people , &c. Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man , then the Nations which have heard the fame of thee , will speak , saying , Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them , therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness , &c. Numb . 14. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Deut. 9. 26 , 27 , 28. When God had told Moses that he must dye ; Moses prays for Israel : Let the Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh , set a man over the congregation who may go out before them , &c. that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd , &c. And he appointed Joshua , Numb . 27. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. He exhorts Israel at large to cleave to the Lord , when he was to dye , Deut. 4. 22 , 23 , &c. When Israel fell before Ai , &c. Joshna said , O Lord , what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies ? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear , &c. and what wilt thou do unto thy great name ? Joshua 7. 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9. Joel 2. 17. Eli when he heard the Ark of the Lord was taken , he fell backward and dyed : and his daughter-in-law cryed out , The glory is departed from Israel , for the Ark of God is taken . Yet she was not so much concerned with the news of her Husbands death , and her own being near death at the same time , 1 Sam. 4. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. Davids heart smote him when he cut off Sauls skirt , 1 Sam. 24. 5. When Davids Wife had blamed him for dancing before the Ark , he told her , It was before the Lord , &c. I will play before the Lord , and I will yet be more vile than thus , and will be base in mine own sight , 2 Sam. 6. 20 , 21 , 22. When King David sate in his house , and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies ; that the King said to Nathan the Prophet ; See now I dwell in an house of Cedar ; but the Ark of God dwelleth within curtains , &c. 2 Sam. 7. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Uriah said unto David , The Ark , and Israel , and Judah , abide in tents ; and my Lord Joab and the servants are encamped in the open field ; shall I then go into mine house to eat and to drink , and to lye with my wife , & c. ? I will not do this thing , 2 Sam. 11. 11. I have kept the ways of the Lord , and have not wickedly departed from my God : for all his judgments were before me ; and as for his statutes I did not depart from them . I was also upright before ( or , to ) him ; I have also kept me from mine iniquity , 2 Sam. 22. 22 , 23 , 24. And Davids heart smote him after that he had numbred the people . And David said unto the Lord , I have sinned greatly , &c. And the Lord sent a Pestilence upon Israel for it , &c. And David said , Lo , I have sinned ; I have done wickedly : but these sheep , what have they done ? let thine hand be against me , and against my fathers house , 2 Sam. 24. 10 , 15 , 17. 1 Sam. 24. 5. When Josiah heard the Book of the law , he rent his clothes , &c. was tender , &c. 2 King. 22. 11 , 13 , 18 , 19. Esther , when the Jews were in danger by Haman , ventured her life and all for their security ; she said , Go fast for me , &c. I also and my maidens will fast likewise ; and so will I go unto the King , which is not according to the law ; and if I perish , I perish , Esther 4. 16. His delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and night : he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water , Psal. 1. 2 , 3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? and who shall stand in his holy place ? He who hath clean hands and a pure heart ; who hath not lift up his soul unto vanity , nor sworn deceitfully , &c. this is the generation of them who seek him , that seek thy face , &c. Psal. 24. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. I have loved the habitation of thy house , and the place where thine honour dwelleth , Psal. 26. 8. Seek ye my face : my heart said unto thee , Thy face Lord will I seek , Psal. 27. 8. The righteous sheweth mercy and giveth , &c. is ever merciful and lendeth , &c. the mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom , and his tongue talketh of judgment : the law of his God is in his heart , Psal. 37. 21 , 26 , 31 , 32. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long , Psal. 71. 24. Psal. 119. 46. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion , &c. for thy servants take pleasure in her stones , and favour the dust thereof , Psal. 102. 13 , 14. He shall not be afraid of evil tydings : his heart is fixed , trusting in the Lord , Psal. 112. 7. I have rejoyced in the ways of thy testimonies , as in all riches , &c. I will delight my self in thy statutes , &c. Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellor , &c. O how love I thy law ! it is my meditation all the day , &c. how sweet are thy words ! &c. Psal. 119. 14 , 16 , 24 , 97 , 103. I was glad when they said unto me , Let us go into the house of the Lord , Psal. 122. 1. If I forget thee , O Jerusalem , &c. if I do not remember thee , let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth ; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy , Psal. 137. 5 , 6. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty , and of thy wondrous works ; and shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts , and will declare thy greatness . They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness ; and shall sing of thy righteousness , &c. Thy saints shall bless thee ; they shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom , and talk of thy power ; to make known unto the sons of men his mighty acts , and the glorious majesty of thy kingdom , Psal. 145. 5 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12. The path of the just is as the shining light , that shineth more and more unto the perfect day , Prov. 4. 18. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil , pride and arrogancy , and the evil way , Prov. 8. 13. He who walks righteously , and speaketh uprightly ; he who despiseth the gain of oppression , who shaketh his hands from holding of bribes ; who stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood , and shutteth his eyes from seeing of evil ; he shall dwell on high , &c. Isa. 33. 15 , 16. When the King asked Daniel thus : Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen , and the interpretation thereof ? Daniel answered in the presence of the King , and said : The secret which the King hath commanded , cannot the wise-men , &c. shew unto the King. But there is a God in heaven who revealeth secrets , and maketh known to the King , &c. Dan. 2. 26 , 27 , 28. Then they who feared the Lord , spake often one to another ; and the Lord hearkened and heard , &c. Mal. 3. 16. Blessed are the poor in spirit , for theirs is the kingdom of hraven . Blessed are they who mourn , for they shall be comforted . Blessed are the meek , &c. Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness , for they shall be filled . Blessed are the merciful , for they shall obtain mercy . Blessed are the pure in heart , for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace-makers , for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake , for theirs is the kingdom of heaven , Mat. 5. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. John 16. 20. He who loveth father or mother more than me , is not worthy of me ; and he who loveth son or daughter more than me , is not worthy of me ; and he who taketh not his cross , and solloweth after me , is not worthy of me , Mat. 10. 36 , 37 , 38. ch . 16. 24. Luke 14. 33. He who is not with me , is against me ; and he who gathereth not with me , scattereth abroad , Mat. 12. 30. The kingdom of heaven is like to a treasure hid in a field , the which when a man hath found , he hideth , and for joy thereof he goeth and selleth all he hath , and buyeth that field , Mat. 13. 44. Verily , I say unto you , Except ye be converted , and become as little children , ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven , Mat. 18. 3 , 4. The woman to whom much was forgiven , loved Christ much , Luke 7. 37 , 38 , 45 , 46 , 47. When Andrew had found Christ himself , he tells his brother Simon , and brings him to him . Philip tells Nathaniel , and leads him to Jesus , John 1. 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45. chap. 4. 28 , 29. Jesus answered and said unto him , Verily , verily I say unto thee , Except a man be born again ( or from above ) he cannot see the kingdom of God , &c. Except a man be born of water and of the spirit , he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh , is flesh ; and that which is born of the spirit , is spirit , &c. Every one who doth evil , hateth the light , &c. But he who doth truth , rometh unto the light , that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God , John. 3. 3 , 5 , 6 , 20 , 21. John was a burning and a shining light , &c. Ye have not his word abiding in you ; for him whom he hath sent , ye believe not , John 5. 35 , 38. Simon Peter answered him , Lord , to whom shall we go ? thou hast the words of eternal life , John 6. 68. If ye continue in my word , then are ye my disciples indeed , &c. If ye were Abrahams children , you would do the works of Abraham , &c. If God were your father , ye would love me ; for I proceed forth , and came from God , &c. He who is of God , heareth Gods words ; ye therefore hear them not , because ye are not of God , John 8. 31 , 39 , 42 , 47. 1 John 2. 24. 2 John 9 ver . The sheep hear his voice , &c. the sheep followeth him , for they know his voice ; and a stranger they will not follow , but will flee from him , for they know not the voice of a stranger , &c. I know my sheep , and am known of mine , &c. my sheep hear my voice , &c. and they follow me , John 10. 4 , 5 , 14 , 27. Simon Peter saith unto him , Lord , not my feet only , but also my head and my hands , &c. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples , if ye have love one to another , John 13. 8 , 35. If ye love me , keep my commandments , &c. He who hath my commandments , and keepeth them , he it is who loveth me , &c. If any man love me , he will keep my words , John 14. 15 , 21 , 23. chap. 15. 14. Every branch in me who beareth not fruit , he taketh away ; and every branch which beareth fruit , he purgeth it , that it may bring forth more fruit , &c. If ye were of the world , the world would love his own ; but because ye are not of the world , but I have chosen you out of the world , therefore the world hateth you , John 15. 1 , 2 , 16 , 18 , 19. The world have hated them , because they are not of the world , even as I , &c. John 17. 14. Every one who is of the truth , heareth my voice , John 18. 37. When they saw the boldness of Peter and John , and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men ; they marvelled , and took knowledg of them that they had been with Jesus , Acts 4. 13. Saul , when Christ came to him , and converted him ; he said , Lord , what wilt thou have me to do ? Acts 9. 6. God is no respecter of persons ; but in every nation , he who feareth him , and worketh righteousness , is accepted with him , Acts 10. 34 , 35. When the priests of Jupiter would have done sacrifice to the Apostles , Barnabas and Paul they rent their clothes , and ran in amongst the people , crying out and saying , Sirs , why do ye these things ? we also are men of like passions with you , and preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God , Acts 14. 13 , 14 , 15. chap. 3. 12 , 13. Apollos that eloquent man , was content to learn the way of God more perfectly of Aquila and Priscilla , tent-makers , Acts 18. 24 , 25 , 26. Many who believed , came and confessed and shewed their deeds . Many also of them who used curious arts , brought their books together , and burnt them ; and they counted the price of them , and found it 50000 pieces of silver , Acts 19. 18 , 19. None of these things move me ; neither count I my life dear unto my self , so that I might finish my course with joy , and the ministry which I have , &c. Acts 20. 24. I am ready not only to be bound , but also to dye for the name of the Lord Jesus , Acts 21. 13. I wist not that he was the High-priest : for it is written , Thou shalt not speak evil of , &c. Acts 23. 4 , 5. Paul confesseth freely thus : I verily thought with my self , that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus , &c. which thing I also did in Jerusalem , and many of the saints I did shut up in prison , &c. and being exceeding mad against them , I persecuted them , &c. I would to God that not only thou , but all that hear me , &c. were both almost , and altogether such as I am , except these bonds , Acts 26. 9 , 10 , 11 , 29. Gal. 1. 13. VVe glory in tribulation also , knowing that tribulation worketh patience , &c. the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost , Rom. 5. 3 , 5. How shall we who are dead to sin , live any longer therein ? &c. Ye were the servants of sin ; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine whereto ye were delivered , being made free from sin , ye became the servants of righteousness , Rom. 6. 2 , 17 , 18. That which I do , I allow not , what I would that do I not , but what I hate that do I , &c. I consent unto the law that it is good ; now then it is no more I that do it , but sin which dwelleth in me , &c. To will is present with me , &c. The good that I would I do not , &c. I find then a law , that when I would do good , then evil is present with me : For I delight in the law of God after the inner man ; but I see another law in my members , warring against the law of my mind , &c. O wretched man that I am , who shall deliver me , & c ! Thanks be to God through Jesus , &c. So then with my mind , I my self serve the law of God : but with the flesh the law of sin , Rom. 7. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25. There is therefore no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus , who walk not after the flesh , but after the spirit , &c. For they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh : but they who are after the spirit , the things of the spirit , &c. If any man have not the spirit of Christ , he is none of his ; and if Christ be in you , the body is dead because of sin , but the spirit is life because of righteousness , &c. As many as are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear : but ye have received the spirit of adoption , whereby we cry Abba Father , &c. We our selves groan within our selves , waiting for the adoption , the redemption of our body , &c. Rom. 8. 1 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 14 , 15 , 23. I have great heaviness , and continual sorrow in my heart , &c. For my brethren , my kinsmen according to the flesh , &c. Rom. 9. 2 , 3. ch . 10. 1. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink , but righteousness , and peace , and joy in the holy Ghost . For he who in these things serve Christ , is acceptable to God , and , &c. Rom. 14. 17 , 18. The preaching of the Cross , is to them who perish foolishness : but unto us who are saved , it is the power of God , &c. Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block , &c. but unto them who are called , both Jews and Greeks , Christ the power of God , and the wisdom of God , 1 Cor. 1. 18 , 24. That no man can say , that Jesus is the Lord , but by the holy Ghost , 1 Cor. 12. 3. Though I speak with the tongue of men and of Angels , and have not charity , I am become as sounding brass , or a tinkling cymbal , and though I have the gift of prophesie , and understood all misteries , and all knowledg , and though I have all faith , so that I could remove mountains , and have not charity , I am nothing : And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor , and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity , it profiteth nothing to me , 1 Cor. 13. 1 , 2 , 3. We beholding , &c. the glory of the Lord , &c. are changed into the same image , &c. by the spirit , 2 Cor. 3. 17 , 18. We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written , I believed , and therefore have I spoken ; we also believe , and therefore speak , 2 Cor. 4. 13. In this we groan , earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house from heaven , &c. that mortallity might be swallowed up of life . We are willing to be absent from the body , that we may be present with the Lord , wherefore we labour , that whether present , &c. we may be accepted of him , &c. knowing therefore the terror of the Lord , we perswade men , &c. The love of Christ constraineth us , &c. If any man be in Christ , he is a new creature ; old things are past away , behold all things as become new , 2 Cor. 5. 2 , 4 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 14 , 17. Jesus Christ is in you , except you be reprobates , &c. We can do nothing against the truth , but for the truth , 2 Cor. 13. 5 , 8. When it pleased God , &c. to reveal his Son in me , that I might preach him , &c. immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood , Gal. 1. 15 , 16. I am crucified with Christ ; nevertheless I live , yet not I , but Christ liveth in me , Gal. 2. 20. The works of the flesh are manifest , which are adultery , &c. but the fruit of the spirit is love , joy , peace , long-suffering , gentleness , goodness , faith , meekness , temperance : and they who are Christs , have crucified the flesh , with the affections ( or passions ) and lusts , Gal. 5. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24. God forbid that I should glory , save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ , by whom ( or , whereby ) the world is crucified unto me , and I unto the world : for in Jesus Christ circumcision availeth nothing , &c. but a new creature , Gal. 6. 14 , 15. This I say therefore , and testifie in the Lord , That ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk , in the vanity of their minds , &c. But ye have not so learned Christ. If so be that ye have heard him , and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus , Ephes. 4. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. For the fruit of the spirit is in all , goodness , righteousness , and truth , Eph. 5. 9. Some preach Christ out of envy and strife , &c. what then ? notwithstanding in every way , whether in pretence or in truth , Christ is preached ; and therein do I rejoyce , yea and I will rejoyce , Phil. 1. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. We are the circumcision , who worship God in the spirit , rejoyce in Christ Jesus , and have no confidence in the flesh , &c. What things were gain to me , those I count loss for Christ ; yea doubtless , and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledg of Christ Jesus my Lord , &c. that I might know him , and the power of his resurrection , &c. and be made conformable unto his death , if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead ; not as though I had already attained , or were already perfect ; but I follow after , &c. but this one thing , forgetting those things which are behind , and reaching forth unto those things which are before , I press towards the mark , &c. let us therefore , as many as be perfect , be thus minded , &c. Our conversation is in heaven , from whence we look for the Saviour , &c. Phil. 3. 3. 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 20. I have learned in whatsoever estate I am , therewith to be content . I know how to be abased , and I know how to abound : every where , and in all things I am instructed both to be full , and to be hungry ; both to abound , and to suffer need : I can do all things through Christ who strengthneth me , Phil. 4. 11 , 12 , 13. And bringeth forth fruits , as it doth also in you since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth , Col. 1. 6. If ye be risen with Christ , seek those things which are above , &c. Set your affections on things above , not on things on the earth , &c. seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds , and have put on the new man , which is renewed in knowledg after the image of him who created him , Colos. 3. 1 , 2 , 9 , 10. Remembring without ceasing your work of faith , and labour of love , &c. knowing , beloved , your election of God. For our Gospel came not unto you in word only , but also in power , &c. and ye became followers of us , and of the Lord , having received the word in much affliction , &c. ye turned to God , &c. to serve the living and true God , and to wait for his Son , 1 Thes. 1. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 10. The word of God which effectually worketh also in you who believe : for ye brethren became followers of the Churches of God , which in Judea are in Christ Jesus : for ye also have suffered like things of your own Countrey-men , 1. Thes. 2. 13 , 14. Ye brethren are not in darkness , that that day should overtake you as a thief : ye are the children of the light , &c. 1 Thes. 5. 4 , 5. I thank Jesus Christ our Lord , who hath enabled me , &c. who was before , a blasphemer , and a persecutor , and injurious ; but I obtained mercy , &c. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners , of whom I am the chief , 1 Tim. 1. 12 , 13 , 15. Let every one who nameth the name of Christ , depart from iniquity , 2 Tim. 2. 19. He who is entred into his rest , hath ceased from his own works , Hebr. 4. 10. They who believe , desire a better countrey , that is an heavenly , &c. Moses , &c. chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God , than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season ; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt , &c. Heb. 11. 16 , 24 , 25 , 26. Follow peace with all men , and holiness , without which no man shall see the Lord , Heb. 12. 14. If any among you seem to be religious , and bridle not his tongue , but deceiveth his own heart , this mans religion is vain . Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father , is this , To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction ; to keep himself unspotted from the world , James 1. 26 , 27. What doth it profit , my brethren , though a man say he hath faith , and have not works ? &c. faith , if it hath not works , is dead , &c. I will shew thee my faith by my works , &c. Faith without works is dead also , James 2. 14 , 18 , 26. Who is a wise man , and endued with knowledg amongst you ? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom . But if ye have bitter envying , &c. this wisdom descendeth not from above , &c. but the wisdom which 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 ; and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace , &c. James 3. 13 , 14 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. Jesus Christ , whom having not seen , ye love , &c. seeing that you have purified your souls in obeying the truth , &c. unto unfeigned love of the brethren , 1 Pet. 1. 8 , 22. As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word of God , that ye may grow thereby , if so be ye have tasted , &c. Ye are a chosen generation , &c. that ye should shew forth the virtues ( or , praises ) of him who hath called you , &c. 1 Pet. 2. 2 , 9. The time of our life may suffice , &c. when we walked in lasciviousness , &c. wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot , 1 Pet. 4. 3 , 4. Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust . Add to your faith virtue , and to virtue knowledg , &c. for if these things be in you , and abound , they make you that ye shall neither be barren and unfruitful in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus ; but he who lacketh these things , is blind and cannot see afar off , &c. 2 Pet. 1. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked ; for that righteous man dwelling among them , in seeing and hearing , vexed his righteous soul from day to day with unlawful deeds , 2 Pet. 2. 7 , 8. God is light , &c. if we say we have fellowship with him , and walk in darkness , we lye , &c. but if we walk in the light , &c. If we say that we have no sin , we deceive our selves , 1 John 1. 6 , 7 , 8 , Hereby we know that we know him , if we keep his commandments . He who faith , I know him , and keepeth not his commandments , is a lyar , and the truth is not in him , &c. he who abideth in him , ought himself also so to walk , even as he walked , &c. He who faith he is in the light , and hateth his brother , is in darkness even until now : He who loveth his brother , abideth in the light , &c. if any man loveth the world , the love of the father is not in him , &c. if ye know that he is righteous , ye know ( or , know ye ) that every one who doth righteousness , is born of God , 1 John 2. 3 , 4 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 15 , 29. We shall see him as he is : and every man who hath this hope in him , purifieth himself as he is pure , &c. Whosoever abideth in him , sinneth not , &c. he who committeth sin ( or , giveth his labour to sin ) is of the devil , &c. whosoever is born of God , doth not commit sin , for his seed remaineth in him , and he cannot sin because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest , and the children of the devil ; whosoever doth not righteousness , is not of God ; neither is he who loveth not his brother , &c. We know that we have passed from death to life , because we love the brethren , &c. Whosoever hateth his brother , is a murderer : and ye know , that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him , &c. Whosoever hath this worlds goods , and seeth his brother hath need , and shutteth up the bowels of his compassion from him , how dwelleth the love of God in him ? &c. Let us not love in word , neither in tongue , but in deed and in truth . And hereby we know that we are of the truth , and shall assure our hearts before God , &c. And hereby we know that he abideth in us by the spirit which he hath given us , 1 John 3. 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 24. Chap. 4. 12. Love is God ; and every one who loveth , is born of God , and knoweth God. If a man say , I love God , and hateth his brother , he is a lyar : for he who loveth not his brother whom he hath seen , how can he love God whom he hath not seen ? 1 John 4. 7 , 16 , 20. chap. 5. 1. Whosoever is born of God , overcometh the world ; and this is the victory that , &c. Whosoever is born of God , sinneth not : but he who is begotten of God , keepeth himself , and that wicked one toucheth him not , 1 John 5. 4 , 18. He who doth good , is of God ; but he who doth evil , hath not seen God , 3 John v. 11. See more in the fruits of the Spirit , Chap. 21. See more in the fruits of Faith , Chap. 11. See more in Duties , Chap. 16 , under each Duty . And Chap. 22 , under each Duty in Affliction . And Chap. 24 , Duties to Magistrates . CHAP. XIII . Saints , Believers , the Children of God themselves may be overtaken with faults , are not altogether free from sinful dispositions and inclinations , in this Life : and may be corrected of God for them . 1st . In general it is affirmed . FOR there is no man who sinneth not , 1 Kings 8. 46. How should man be just with God ( or , before God ) If he will contend with him , he cannot answer him one of a thousand , &c. Whom though I were righteous , yet would I not answer , I would make supplication to my judge , &c. If I justifie my self , my own mouth shall condemn me . If I say I am perfect , it shall also prove me perverse , Job 9. 1 , 2 , 3 , 15 , 20. Who can understand his errours ? Cleanse thou me from secret faults , keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins , let them not have dominion over me , Psal. 19. 12 , 13. If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquity : O Lord , who shall stand ? Psal. 130. 3. Who can say I have made my heart clean , I am pure from my sins ? Prov. 20. 9. A just man falleth seven times and riseth up , Prov. 24. 16. For that there is not a just man upon earth , who doth good and sinneth not , Eccles. 7. 20. The flesh lusteth against the spirit , &c. so that ye cannot do the things that ye would , Gal. 5. 17. If any man be overtaken in a fault , ye who are spiritual restore such , &c. Considering thy self , lest thou also be tempted , Gal. 6. 1 , 2. I have no man like minded , &c. For all seek their own , not the things which are Jesus Christs , Phil. 2. 20 , 21. Paul saith , I count not my self to have apprehended but this one thing , &c. I press towards the mark , &c. Let us therefore as many as be perfect , be thus minded , Phil. 3. 13 , 14 , 15. For in many things we offend all : if any man offend not in word , the same is a perfect man , James 3. 2. If we say we have no sin , we deceive our selves , and the truth is not in us . If we confess our sins , he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins , &c. If we say that we have not sinned , we make him a lyar , and his word is not in us , John 1. 1 , 8 , 9 , 10. If any man see his brother sin a sin not unto death , he shall ask , and he shall give him life for them who sin not unto death . There is a sin unto death : I do not say that he shall pray for it , 1 John. 5. 16. 2dly , Particular instances of the Saints failings recorded . Noah was a just man , perfect in his generation . Noah walked with God. Gen. 6. 9. chap. 7. 1. Noah drank of the wine , and was drunken , and was uncovered within his tent , Gen. 9. 21. Abraham believed the Lord , and he counted it to him for righteousness , &c. Abraham my friend . He staggered not through unbelief , Gen. 15. 6. Isa. 41. 8. Rom. 4. 16 , 18 , 19 , 20. They will kill me ; they will save thee alive : say , I pray thee , thou art my sister , &c. And when God had promised him to inherit the land , he said , Lord God , whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it ? &c. When the promise was made to him of a child , he fell on his face and laughed , and said in his heart , Shall a child , &c. O that Ishmael might live before thee , &c. He said of his wife , she is my sister , again at Gerer , for fear of being slain , &c. Gen. 12. 12 , 13. Gen. 15. 8. Gen. 17. 16 , 17 , 18. Gen. 20. 2 , 11. Good Isaac said of his wife also , She is my sister , for fear of the men of the place , lest they should kill him for her , Gen. 26. 7. Just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked : for that righteous man , &c. 2 Pet. 2. 7 , 8. He lingered ; the men laid hold upon his hand , &c. and said , Go escape for thy lise , &c. And Lot said unto him , Oh not so my Lord , &c. I cannot escape to the mountains , lest some evil take me , and I dye : Behold this City is near to flye unto , is it not a little one ? &c. He afterwards drinks wine , and then lay with his two daughters , Gen. 19. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36. Jacob , when he heard his brother Esau was coming with 400 men against him , he was greatly afraid and distressed , &c. Gen. 32. 6 , 7. Moses was very meek above all the men upon the face of the earth , &c. Moses my servant is dead , &c. who was faithful to him in all his house , &c. and Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant , Numb . 12. 3 , 7. Jof . 1. 2 , 13. Heb. 3. 2 , 5. When God was sending Moses , he saith , O my Lord , I am not eloquent , &c. And the Lord said unto him , Who hath made mans mouth ? &c. and he said , O my Lord , send I pray thee by the hand thou wile send ( or , shouldst send ) ; and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses , &c. Moses returned unto the Lord , and said , Wherefore hast thou so evilly entreated this people ? Why is it that thou hast sent me ? &c. Moses was very wroth , &c. now ye rebels , Must we fetch out water out of the rock , & c. ? I am not able to bear this people , &c. If thou deal thus with me , kill me I pray thee out of hand , &c. And Moses said , &c. shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them to suffice them , & c. ? He spake unadvisedly with his lips , being provoked in his spirit , Exod. 4. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Exod. 5. 22 , 23. Numb . 11. 11 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 21 , 22 , 23. Numb . 16. 15. Numb . 20. 10 , 11. Psal. 106. 32 , 33. Numb . 27. 14. Aaron made a molten calf for Israel , &c. he built an altar before it ; and Aaron made proclamation , and said , To morrow a feast to the Lord , &c. And Moses saw that the people were naked , for Aaron had made them naked to their shame amongst their enemies , Exod. 32. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 25. When God had told Gideon , Surely I will be with thee , and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man : He said unto him , &c. Shew me a sign that thou talkest with me , &c. If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand , as thou hast said , behold I will put a fleece of wool in the floor , &c. Let not thine anger be hot against me , and I will speak but this once : Let me prove , I pray thee , but this once with the fleece , &c. Heb. 11. 32. Judges 6. 16 , 17 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40. My servant David , who kept my commandments , and who followed me with all his heart , to do that only which is right in mine eyes , &c. 1 King. 14. 8. Acts 13. 22. And David , &c. was sore afraid of Achish the King of Gath. And he changed his behaviour before them , and feigned himself mad in their hands , &c. David said in his heart , I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul , &c. He went on with the Philistines against Israel , &c. He sent messengers to fetch Uriahs wife , and he lay with her , &c. to cover it , made Uriah drunk , and then sent to Joab to put Uriah into the hottest battel , and then retire from him that he mighe be smitten and dye , &c. O my son Absolom ! my son , my son Absolom ! would God I had dyed for thee , &c. He caused the children of Israel to be numbred , &c. I said in my haste , I am cut off from before thine eyes , &c. I said in my haste , that all men are lyars , &c. 1 Sam. 21. 12 , 13 , 14. 1 Sam. 27. 1. 1 Sam. 29. 2. 2 Sam. 11. 2 , 3 , 4 , 13 , 14 , 15. 2 Sam. 18. 33. 2 Sam. 24. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , &c. Psal. 31. 22. Psal. 116. 11. And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord , as did David his father , &c. Asa his heart was perfect with the Lord all his days , 1 King. 15. 11 , 14. He took out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord , &c. made a league with the King of Assyria : and Hanani the Seer came to him , and said , Because thou hast relyed on the King of Syria , and not relyed on the Lord thy God , &c. Then Asa was wroth with the Seer , and put him in a prison-house ; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing . And Asa oppressed ( or , crushed ) some of the people at that time , &c. In his disease he sought not to the Lord , but to the Physicians , 2 Chron. 16. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 10 , 12. When Elijah the Prophet was in trouble , he said enough : Now , O Lord , take away my life ; for I am not better than my fathers , 1 King. 19. 4. And Jehoshaphat walked , &c. doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord , 2 Chron. 20. 32. 1 King. 22. 42 , 43. The Seer meets him , after he had gone out with the wicked King of Israel and said unto him , Shouldst thou help the ungodly , and love them who hate the Lord ? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord , 2 Chron. 19. 1 , 2. chap. 20. 33. Hezekiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord , he removed the high-places , &c. he trusted in the Lord God of Israel , so that after him was none like him , &c. for he clave to the Lord , departed not from following of him , &c. 2 King. 18. 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. When Isaiah had told Hezekiah , being sick , that he should be healed , &c. He said unto Isaiah , what shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me , &c. He shewed his treasures unto the messenger of the king of Babylons son : for which God was angry , &c. Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him : for his heart was lifted up , therefore there was wrath upon him , &c. In the business of the Ambassadours of the king of Babylon , &c. God left him to try him , that he might know all that was in his heart , 2 Kings 20. 8 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. 2 Chron. 32. 25 , 31. Job , that man was perfect and upright , one who feared God and eschewed evil : hast thou considered my servant Job , that there is none like him in the earth , a perfect and an upright man , & c ? Ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right , like my servant Job , &c. Ye have heard of the patience of Job Job 1. 1 , 8. Job 42. 8. James 5. 11. After this opened Job his mouth and cursed his day , &c. See at large , Job 3. 1 , 2 , &c. O that I might have my request , and that God would grant me the thing which I long for , even that it would please God to destroy me , that he would let loose his hand and cut me off , &c. so that my soul chuseth strangling , death rather than my life , &c. He confessed thus : I have uttered that I understood not ; things too wonderful for me , which I knew not ; wherefore I abhor my self , and repent in dust and ashes , Job 6. 8 , 9. Job 7. 15. Job 42. 3 , 6. As for me , my feet were almost gone , &c. for I was envious at the foolish , when I saw the prosperity of the wicked , &c. Verily I have cleansed my hands in vain , &c. so foolish was I , and ignorant , as a beast , &c. Psal. 73. 2 , 3 , 13 , 22. Will the Lord cast off for ever ? will he be favourable no more ? is his mercy clean gone for ever ? doth his promise fail for evermore ? Hath God forgotten to be gracious ? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercy ? I said , this is mine infirmity , Psal. 77. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. The Prophet Jeremy in his affliction curseth the day of his birth , Jer. 20. 14 , 15 , &c. The Prophet Jonah was very angry because God spared Nineveh , and said , Therefore now , O Lord , take I beseech thee my life from me ; for it is better for me to dye than to live . Then said the Lord , Dost thou well to be angry ? &c. again he said so : And Jonah said , I do well to be angry , even unto death , Jonah 4. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 , 9. chap. 1. 1 , 2 , 3. John sent two of his disciples to Christ , and said unto him , Art thou he who should come ? or do we look for another ? Mat. 11. 2 , 3. When Zacharias had a son promised him , he said unto the Angel , Whereby shall I know this ; for I am an old man , and my wife well stricken in years , &c. Behold , thou shalt be dumb , &c. Because thou believest not my words &c. Luk. 1. 13 , 18 , 20. Jesus said unto Peter , blessed art thou Simon , &c. Matt. 16. 16. Jesus said unto Peter , O thou of little faith ! wherefore didst thou doubt ? Matt. 14. 31. When Jesus spake of his being killed , Peter said , Be it far from thee , Lord , this shall not be unto thee : But he turned and said unto Peter , get the behind me Satan , thou art an offence to me : for thou savourest not the things that be of God , but those which be of men , &c. Thou wast with Jesus , &c. But he denyed before them all , saying , I know not what thou sayest , &c. And again he denyed with an Oath ; I do not know the man : Then began he to curse and to swear , I know not the man , &c. Matt. 16. 21 , 22 , 23. Matt. 26. 69 , 70 , 72 , 74. When Peter came to Antioch , I withstood him to the face , because he was to be blamed ; for before that certain came from James , he did eat with the Gentiles ; but when they were come , he withdrew , and separated himself , fearing them who were of the Circumcision , and the other Jews dissembled likewise with him , insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation , Gal. 2. 11 , 12 , 13. The wise Virgins as well as the foolish , while the bridegroom tarried , they all slumbred and slept , Matt. 25. 5. When the mother of Zebedees Children asked of Christ , that her sons might set one at his right hand , and the other on his left in the kingdom , &c. The Ten heard it , they were moved with indignation against the two brethren , &c. Matt. 20. 20 , 21 , 24. One of his Disciples , stretched out his hand and drew his sword , and struck a servant of the High-Priest , and smote off his ear . Christ rebuked for it , &c. Then all the Disciples forsook him and fled , &c. Jesus said unto them , why reason ye because ye have no bread ? Perceive ye not yet , neither understand ? have ye your hearts yet hardened , &c. Do ye not remember , when I brake five loaves , & c ? Matt. 26. 51 , 56. Joh. 16. 32. Mark 8. 17 , 18 , 19. And there was also a strife amongst them , which of them should be accounted the greatest ; &c. Jesus appeared unto the Eleven , &c. and upbraided them with their unbelief , and hardness of heart , because they believed not them who had seen him , &c. Luk. 22. 24. Mark 16. 14. Luke 24. 21 , 25. Master , we saw one cast out Devils in thy name , and we forbad him , because he followed not with us . And Jesus said , forbid him not , &c. James and John would have had fire from Heaven upon the Samaritans , Jesus rebuked them , and said , ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of , &c. Thomas said , except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails , and put my finger into the print of the nails , &c. I will not believe , &c. Luk. 9. 49 , 50 , 54 , 55. John 20. 25. Paul said , I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day . Paul and Barnabas , men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ , Act. 23. 1. Act. 15. 25 , 26. Barnabas determined to take with them John , &c. But Paul thought not good to take him with them , &c. And the contention was so sharp , that they departed asunder one from the other , &c. Act. 15. 37 , 38 , 39. When we were come into Macedonia , our flesh had no rest , &c. Without , fightings ; within were fears , 2 Cor. 7. 5. Paul did what he hated , &c. and said , O wretched man that I am , &c. Rom. 7. 15 , 18 , 19 , 24. Many Saints , being compelled , did blaspheme , Acts. 26. 10 , 11. I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual , but as unto Carnal , as unto babes in Christ , I have fed you with milk , and not with meat : For hitherto ye were not able , neither yet now are ye able , for ye are yet carnal , &c. There is among you envying , and strife , and divisions ( or factions ) ; are ye not carnal and walk as men ? &c. They were greatly disorderly in the Lords supper , 1 Cor. 3. 1 , 2 , 3. 1 Cor. 11. Ye suffer fools gladly , &c. Ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage , if a man devour you , if a man take of you , if a man exalt himself , if a man smite you on the face , 2 Cor. 11. 19 , 20. I fear , lest when I come I shall not find you such as I would , &c. Lest there be debates , envyings , wraths , strifes , backbitings , whisperings , swellings , tumults ? Lest when I come again my God will humble me among you , and that I shall bewail many who have sinned already , and have not repented of the ●…anness , and fornication , and lasciviousness , which they have committed , 2 Cor. 12. 20 , 21. I marvel that you are so soon removed from him who called you into the grace of Christ , unto another Gospel , &c. And now after that ye have known God , or rather are known of God , how turn ye back to the weak and beggerly elements ( or rudiments ) whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage ? ye observe days , and months , and times , and years , &c. Gal. 1. 6. Gal. 4. 9 , 10 , 11. Paul complains thus , I have no man like minded , who will naturally care for your state ! for all seek their own , not the things which are Jesus Christs , Phil. 2. 20 , 21. Ye are dull of hearing , for when for the time ye ought to be teachers , ye have need that one teach you again , which be the first principles of the oracles of God , and are become such as have need of milk , &c. Heb. 5. 11 , 12. Thou hast borne and hast patience , and for my names sake hast laboured and hast not fainted ; nevertheless I have somewhat against thee , because thou hast left thy first love , &c. So the Church of Pergamos , &c. And the Church of Thiatira , &c. See , Rev. 2. 3 , 4 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 18 , 19 , 20. 3dly , That God will punish or correct his for sinning . God was angry with Moses for his sin , and would not suffer him to go into the good land , Deut. 3. 25 , 26 , 27. chap. 4. 21 , 22. God said to Moses , Dye in the Mount , as Aaron thy brother died in Mount Hor , because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel , &c. Because ye sanctified me not in the middest of the children of Israel , Deut. 32. 48 , 50 , 51. Psalm 106. 32 , 33. Aaron shall be gathered unto his people , he shall not enter into the land , &c. Because ye rebelled against my word , &c. Num. 20. 24. I will be his Father and he shall be my Son : If he commit iniquity , I will chasten him with the rod of men , and with the stripes of the children of men , but my mercy shall not depart away from him , 2 Sam. 7. 14 , 15. David said to Nathan , I have sinned against the Lord ; and Nathan said unto David , the Lord also hath put away thy sin , thou shalt not dye , how-be-it because by this deed , thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme , the child , &c. shall surely dye , 2 Sam. 12. 13 , 14. If his children forsake my law , and walk not in my judgments , &c. Then will I visit their transgressions with a rod , and their iniquity with stripes , Psal. 89. 30 , 31 , 32. Thou wast a God who forgavest them , though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions , Psal. 99. 8. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth , and smote him , I hid me and was wroth , and he went on frowardly ( or turning away ) in the way of his heart : I have seen his way , and I will heal him , Isa. 57. 17 , 18. I will correct thee in measure , and will not leave thee altogether unpunished , Jer. 30. 11. ch . 46. 28. You only have I known of all the families in the earth : Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities , Amos 3. 2. When God sent Jonah to Nineveh , he fled from Gods presence , &c. But the Lord sent out a great wind , &c. And Jonah was cast into the Sea for this , Jonah 1. 1 , 4 , 10 , 11 , 12. Zacharias struck dumb for not believing , Luk 1. 19 , 20. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you , and many sleep , &c. When we are judged , we are chastened of the Lord , that we should not be condemned with the world , 1 Cor. 11. 30 , 31. As many as I love , I rebuke and chasten , be zealous therefore , &c. Rev. 3. 19. Heb. 12. 6 , 7 , 8. See more of Gods Judgments for sin , Chap. 16. CHAP. XIV . Of the Priviledges of Saints , and their excellency above others : VVhat God hath done , doth do , and will do for , and be unto them , more than others ; and what they can do with God , &c. ENoch walked with God , and was not , for God took him , Gen. 5. 24. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord , Gen. 6. 8. And the Lord said unto Noah , Come thou and all thy house into the Ark : for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation , Gen. 7. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 5. And the Lord plagued Pharoah and his house with great plagues , because of Sarai Abrams wife , Gen. 12. 17. The word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision , saying , Fear not Abram , I am thy shield , thy exceeding great reward , Gen. 15. 1. Abram interceded with God for Sodom ; and God granted him as much as he asked . See at large , Gen. 18. 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , &c. When God had sent his Angels to destroy Sodom , they said unto Lot , Hast thou any here besides ? son-in-law , and thy sons , and thy daughters , and whatsoever thou hast in the city , bring out of this place , &c. They hastened Lot , saying , Arise , take thy wife and thy two daughters which are here lest thou be consumed , &c. and while he lingered , the men laid hold upon his hand , and upon the hand of his wife , and upon the hand of his two daughters , the Lord being merciful unto him , and they brought him forth , &c. He prevailed with God to spare Zoar , &c. Hast thee , escape thither : for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither , &c. God remembred Abram , and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow , &c. Gen. 19. 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 29. 2 Pet. 2. 6 , 7. And God said unto Abram , &c. of the son of the bond-woman will I make a nation , because he is thy seed , Gen. 21. 12 , 13. Laban said unto Jacob , I have learned by experience , that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake , &c. Jacob said to him , &c. the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming ( or , at my foot ) , Gen. 30. 27 , 30. When Laban was pursuing Jacob , God came to Laban , &c. and said , Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad ( or , from good to bad ) , &c. Laban said , It is in the power of my hands to do you hurt : but the God of your father spake unto me yester-night , saying , Take thou heed , &c. Gen. 31. 24 , 29. Jacob prevailed with God , &c. I have seen God face to face , &c. Gen. 32. 28 , 30. God appeared unto Jacob again , &c. and blessed him , &c. Gen. 35. 9. The Lord was with Joseph , and he was a prosperous man , &c. and his master saw that the Lord was with him , &c. and made all that he did to prosper in his hand , &c. the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Josephs sake , &c. the Lord was with Joseph , &c. and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper , &c. When Joseph had the custody of the prisoners , that which he did , the Lord made it to prosper , Gen. 39. 2 , 3 , 5 , 21 , 22 , 23. Joseph said unto his brethren , &c. As for you , ye thought evil against me , but God meant it unto good , to bring to pass as at this day , &c. Gen. 50. 20. There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt , such as there was none like it , &c. but against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue against man or beast ; that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel , Exod. 11. 6 , 7. I will pass through the land of Egypt this night , and will smite all the first-born , &c. and the blood shall be to you for a token , &c. when I see the blood , I will pass over you , and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you , &c. Exod. 12. 12 , 13. I will dwell among the children of Israel , and will be their God , &c. Exod. 29. 45. When God had said to Moses , Let me alone , that my wrath may wax hot against them , that I may consume them , &c. Moses prayed for Israel , and prevailed often for them ; and the Lord said , I have pardoned according to thy word , Exod. 32. 9 , 10 , to the 15. Numb . 14. 11 , 12 , 13 , 19 , 20. And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face , as a man speaketh unto a friend , &c. when Moses had said , I beseech thee shew me thy glory : He said , I will make all my goodness pass before thee , &c. Exod. 33. 11 , 17 , 18 , 19. ch . 19. 19 , 20. ch . 34. 2 , 3 , 5 , 6. My servant Moses is not so , who is faithful in all mine house ; with him will I speak mouth to mouth , apparently , and not in dark speeches ; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold , Numb . 12. 7 , 8. He hath blessed , and I cannot reverse it ; he hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob , neither hath he seen perversness in Israel ; the Lord his God is with him , and the shout of a King is among them , &c. surely there is no inchantment against Jacob , neither is there any divination against Israel , Numb . 23. 20 , 21 , 23. For what nation so great , who hath God so nigh unto them , as the Lord our God , in all things which we call upon him for ? and what nation so great which hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law , &c. did ever people hear the voice of God , &c. as thou hast heard , and live ? Deut. 4. 7 , 8 , 33. Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God , and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself , above all the nations which are upon the earth , Deut. 14. 2. For the Lords portion is his people , Jacob the lot of his inheritance , &c. he lead him about , he instructed him , he kept him as the apple of his eye , Deut. 32. 9 , 10. The eternal God thy refuge , and underneath are the everlasting arms , &c. Happy thou , O Israel ; who is like unto thee , O people saved by the Lord , the shield of thy help , and who is the sword of thine excellency ? Deut. 33. 27 , 29. At the word of Joshua , the Sun stood still , and the Moon stayed , Joshua 10. 12 , 13. When Gideon asked signs of God , he gave them to him , Judges 6. 17 , 21 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40. He will keep the feet of his saints , 1 Sam. 2. 9. The Lord will not forsake his people for his great names sake ; because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people , 1 Sam. 12. 22. David went on , and grew great ; and the Lord God of Hosts was with him , 2 Sam. 5. 10. I will surely rend the kingdom from thee , &c. notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it , for David thy fathers sake , &c. I will give one tribe to thy son for David my servants sake , and for Jerusalems sake which I have chosen , 1 King. 11. 11 , 12 , 13. chap. 15. 4. He only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave , because in him is found some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel , 1 King. 14. 13. The Prophet Elijah was taken up into heaven , 2 King. 2. 12. When the King of Israel , and Jehosephat the King of Judah went together , and wanted water ; Elisha the Prophet said , &c. Were it not that I regard the presence of Jehosephat the King of Judah , I would not look towards thee , nor see thee . But now , &c. 2 King. 3. 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 14 , 15 , &c. God hearkened to Hezekiah , and gave him a sign that God would heal him ; he brought the shadow ten degrees backward , 2 King. 20. 9 , 10. Isaiah 38. 7 , 8. Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly , &c. he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water , which bringeth forth his fruit in his season ; his fruit shall not wither ; and whatsoever he doth , it shall prosper , Psal. 1. 1 , 3. Know that the Lord hath set apart him who is godly for himself , Psal. 4. 3. A seed shall serve him ; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation , &c. Psal. 22. 30. The Lord is my shepherd , I shall not want ; he maketh me to lye down in green pastures ; he leadeth me besides the still waters , &c. Psal. 23. 1 , 2. What man is he who feareth the Lord ? him shall he teach in the way which he shall chuse , his soul shall dwell at ease , and his seed shall inherit the earth : the secret of the Lord is with them who fear him , and he will shew them his covenant ( or , make them know it ) , Psal. 25. 12 , 13 , 14. O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them who fear thee ! thou hast wrought for them who trust in thee , before the sons of men : thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man ; thou shalt ●…eep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues , Psal. 31. 19 , 20. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven , whose sins are covered ; blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity , and in whose spirit is no guile , Psal. 32. 1 , 2. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord , the people he hath chosen for his own inheritance , &c. Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them who fear him , upon them who hope in his mercy , to deliver their soul from death , to keep them alive in famine , Psal. 33. 12 , 18 , 19. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous , and his ears unto their cries , &c. None of them who trust in him shall be desolate , Psal. 34. 15 , 22. Delight thy self also in the Lord , and he shall give thee the desire of thine heart , &c. A little that a righteous man hath , is better than the riches of many wicked , &c. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord : And he delighteth in his way . Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down 〈◊〉 for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand , &c. Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken , nor his seed begging their bread , &c. For the Lord loveth judgment , and forsaketh not his saints , they are preserved for ever , &c. Mark the perfect man , and behold the upright ; for the end of that man is peace : the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord , he is their strength in time of trouble , Psal. 37. 4 , 16 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 28 , 37 , 39. The Lord of hosts is with us , the God of Jacob our refuge , Psal. 46. 7 , 11. Blessed is he whom thou choosest to approach unto thee , &c. we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house , of thy holy Temple , Psal. 65. 4. Truly God is good to Israel , to such who are of a clean heart , Psal. 73. 1. The Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will I withhold from them who walk uprightly , Psal. 84. 11. He will speak peace unto his people , and to his saints , &c. His salvation is high unto them who fear him , Psal. 85. 8 , 9. The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-tree , he shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon : Those who be planted in the house of the Lord , shall flourish in the Courts of our God , they shall still bring forth fruit in old age , they shall be fat and flourishing , Psal. 92. 12 , 13 , 14. The Lord will not cast off his people : neither will he forsake his Inheritance , Psal. 94. 14. He is our God , and we the people of his pasture , and the sheep of his hands , Psal. 95. 7. He preserveth the souls of his saints , &c. Light is sown for the righteous , &c. Psal. 97. 10 , 11. When they were few , &c. He suffered no man to do them wrong : yea he reproved kings for their sakes : Saying , Touch not mine anointed , and do my Prophets no harm , Psal. 105. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. Surely he shall not be moved for ever , the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance , Psal. 112. 6. Precious in the light of the Lord is the death of his Saints , Psal. 116. 15. The Lord hath chosen Jacob for himself , and Israel for his peculiar treasure , Psal. 135. 4. 1 Pet. 5. 3. Happy that people who is in such a case , happy that people whose God is the Lord , Psal. 144. 15. He will fulfill the desire of them who fear him , he also will hear their cry and will save them , Psal. 145. 19. Happy is he who hath the God of Jacob for his help ; whose hope is in the Lord his God , Psal. 146. 5. The Lord taketh pleasure in them who fear him , in them who hope in his mercy , Psal. 147. 11. The Lord taketh pleasure in his people , &c. this honour hath all his Saints , Psal. 149. 4 , 9. I love them who love me , &c. blessed are they who keep my ways , &c. who heareth me , watching daily at my gates , waiting at the posts of my dores : for whoso findeth me , findeth life , and shall obtain favour of the Lord , Prov. 8. 17 , 34 , 35. Righteousness shall deliver from death . The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish , &c. blessing upon the head of the just , &c. the memory of the just blessed , &c. the desire of the righteous shall be granted , Prov. 10. 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 24. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted , Prov. 11. 11. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour , Prov. 12. 26. When a mans ways please the Lord , he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him , Prov. 16. 7. The righteous are as bold as a Lyon , Prov. 28. 1. Say ye to the righteous , that it shall be well : for they shall eat the fruit of their doings , Isa. 3. 10. Bind up the testimony ; seal the law among my disciples , Isa. 8. 16. He who walketh righteously ( or , in righteousnesses ) , &c. he shall dwell on high ; his place of defence , the munition of rocks : bread shall be given him ; his waters sure : thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty , and shall behold the land that is far off , Isa. 33. 15 , 16 , 17. This people have I formed for my self ; they shall shew forth my praise , Isa. 43. 21. Ask me of things to come , concerning my sons ; and concerning the works of my hands , command ye me , Isa. 45. 11. Zion said , the Lord hath forsaken me , &c. can a woman forsake her sucking-child , & c. ? yet will I not forget thee : behold , I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands : thy walls are continually before me , Isa. 49. 14 , 15 , 16. With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee , saith the Lord. No weapon which is formed against thee , shall prosper , &c. this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord ; and their righteousness of me , saith the Lord , Isa. 54. 8 , 17. Unto them will I give in my house , &c. a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters : I will give them an everlasting name , that shall not be cut off , &c. them will I bring unto my holy mountain , and make them joyful in my house of prayer ; and their burnt-offerings accepted upon my altar , Isa. 56. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. In all their afflictions he was afflicted , and the angel of his presence saved them , &c. doubtless thou art our father , &c. Return for thy servants sake , the tribes of thine inheritance , the people of thy holiness , &c. Isa. 63. 9 , 16 , 17 , 18. chap. 64. 9. Since the beginning of the world , men have not heard nor perceived by the ear , neither hath the eye seen , O God , besides thee , what he hath prepared for him who waiteth for him ( or a God besides thee , who doth so for him who waiteth , &c. ) Isa. 64. 4. 1 Cor. 2. 9. Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem , &c. If ye can find a man , if there be any who executeth judgment , who seeketh the truth , and I will pardon it , Jer. 5. 1. Gen. 18. 26 , 32. Is Ephraim my dear Son ? he a pleasant child ? since I spake against him , I do earnestly remember him still , therefore my bowels are troubled for him : I will surely have mercy on him , saith the Lord , &c. If the ordinances of heaven cease , then the seed of Israel shall cease from being a Nation before me , Jer. 31. 20 , 36 , 37. When Jerusalem was taken , and Jeremiah the Prophet ; the King of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah , &c. Look well to him , and do him no harm , but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee , Jer. 39. 11 , 12. The Precious sons of Zion comparable to fine gold , how are they esteemed ? &c. Lam. 4. 2. Though I have scattered them , &c. yet will I be unto them as a little sanctuary in the Countreys where they shall come , Ezek. 11. 16. Though these three men , Noah , Daniel , and Job were in it , they should deliver their own souls by their righteousness , saith the Lord , &c. They only shall be delivered themselves , Ezek. 14. 14 , 16 , 18 , 20. I sought for a man amongst them who should make up the hedg , and stand in the gap before me , for the land , that I should not destroy it , but I found none ; therefore , &c. Ezek. 22. 30 , 31. Because thou hast said , &c. These two Countreys shall be mine , and we will possess it , whereas the Lord was there ( or though the Lord was there ) ; Therefore , &c. Ezek. 35. 10 , 11. O Daniel , a man greatly beloved , &c. O man greatly beloved , fear not , &c. Dan. 10. 11 , 19. Jacob , &c. by his strength he had power with God , yea he had power over the Angel , and prevailed , he wept , &c. There he spake with us , even the Lord God of Hosts , Hosea 12. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Gen. 32. 24 , 25. I will be as the dew unto Israel : He shall grow as the Lilly , &c. Hosea 14. 5 , 6. For he who toucheth you , toucheth the apple of his eyes , Zech. 2. 8. We will go with you : for we have heard God is with you , Zech. 8. 23. Ezra 8. 22. The Lord hearkened , and heard , and a book of remembrance was written before him ; for them who feared the Lord , and that thought upon his name . And they shall be mine , saith the Lord of Hosts , in that day when I make up my Jewels ( or special treasure ) ; and I will spare them as a man spareth his son who serveth him : then shall ye return , and discern between the righteous and the wicked , between him who serveth God , and him who serveth him not , Malachi 3. 16 , 17 , 18. Unto you who fear my name , shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings ; and ye shall go forth , and grow up as Calves in the stall , Mal. 4. 2. They are pronounced blessed , and many priviledges mentioned by Christ. They are the salt of the earth , the light of the world , &c. Matt. 5. 3 , 4 , to the 14. The very hairs of your head are all numbred , &c. Ye are of more value then many sparrows , Matt. 10. 30 , 31. Among them who are born of women , there hath not risen a greater then John the Baptist. Notwithstanding he who is least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he , Matt. 11. 11. It is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven , &c. Blessed are your eyes for they see , and your ears for they hear , &c. Matt. 13. 11 , 16. Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me , it were better for him that a Millstone were hanged about his neck , &c. Wo unto the world because of offences , &c. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones , for I say unto you , that in heaven their Angels do always behold the face of my father , &c. Matt. 18. 6 , 7 , 10. For the elects sake whom he hath chosen , he hath shortened the days , &c. Mark 13. 20. Rejoyce not that the spirits are subject unto you : but rather rejoyce , because your names are written in the book of life , Luk. 10. 20. Fear not little flock , it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom , Luk. 12. 32. Joy in Heaven over one sinner who repenteth , more then over Ninety nine just persons , &c. There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over him , &c. Luk. 15. 7 , 10. To as many as received him , to them he gave power ( or the right or priviledge ) to become the sons of God , even to them who believe on his name , who are born not of blood , &c. but of God , John 1. 12 , 13. Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him , shall never thirst , &c. John 4. 14. Jesus said , I am the light of the world : he who followeth me , shall not walk in darkness , but shall have the light of life , &c. If the son therefore shall make you free , ye shall be free indeed , &c. He who keeps my sayings shall never see death , &c. John 8. 12 , 36 , 51. ch . 12. 46. My sheep , &c. I know them , &c. And I give unto them eternal life , and they shall never perish , neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand , John 10. 27 , 28. 1 John 5. 12 , 13. If any man serve me , let him follow me , and where I am , there also shall my servant be ; If any man serve me , him will my father honour , John 12. 26. I will not leave you comfortless , I will come to you , &c. ye see me , &c. Because I live , ye shall live also , &c. He who loveth me , shall be loved of my father , and I will love him , and will manifest my self unto him , &c. And my father will love him , and we will come unto him , and make our abode with him , &c. Peace I leave with you , my peace I give unto you , &c. John 14. 18 , 19 , 21 , 23 , 27. ch . 16. 27. ch . 17. 23. Ye shall ask what ye will , and it shall be done unto you , &c. Ye are my friends , &c. Henceforth I call you not servants , &c. But I have called you friends : for all things which I have heard of my father , I have made known unto you , John 15. 7 , 14 , 15. 1 John 3. 22. Christ prays for them only , not for the world , John 17. 9 , 10. Go to my brethren , and say unto them , I ascend unto my father , and your father , and to my God and your God , John 20. 17. God is no respecter of persons ; but in every nation , he who feareth him , and worketh righteousness , is accepted with him , Act. 10. 34 , 35. The love of God is shed abroad into our hearts by the holy Ghost , which is given unto us , Rom. 5. 5. Sin shall not have dominion over you , because ye are not under the law , but under grace , &c. Now being made free from sin , and become servants to God ; ye have your fruit unto holiness , and the end , everlasting life , Rom. 6. 14 , 22. There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus , &c. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus , hath made me free from the law of sin and death , &c. As many as are led by the spirit of God , are the sons of God : for ye have not received the spirit of bondage , &c. but the spirit of adoption , &c. And if children , then heirs , heirsof God , and joynt heirs with Christ , &c. We know that all things work together for good , to them who love God , &c. If God be for us , who can be against us ; he who spared not his own Son , &c. How shall he not with him also freely give us all things ? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect ? is it not God who justifies ? who is he that condemns , & c ? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ , & c ? We are more then Conquerors , &c. Rom. 8. 1 , 2 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 28 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 37. Gal. 4. 5 , 6 , 7. Whosoever believeth , &c. shall not be ashamed , &c. They that call upon the name of the Lord , shall be saved , Rom. 10. 11 , 12 , 13. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God , &c. Whether Paul , or Apollo , or Cephas , or the World , or Life , or Death , or things present , or things to come , all are ●…ours , and ye are Christs , and Christ is Gods , 1 Cor. 3. 16 , 22 , 23. chap. 6. 19. Do ye not know that the Saints shall judg the world , & c ? We shall judg Angels , how much more things which pertain unto this life ? 1 Cor. 6. 2 , 3. The unbelieving husband , is sanctified by the wife , and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband , else were your children unclean , but now are they holy , &c. He who is called in the Lord , being a servant , he is the Lords free-man , 1 Cor. 7. 14 , 22. If any man love God , the same is known of him , 1 Cor. 8. 3. To the glory of God by us , 2 Cor. 1. 20. Ye are the Temple of the living God ; as God hath said , I will dwell in them , and walk in them , and I will be their God , and they shall be my people , &c. I will be a father unto you , and ye shall be my sons and daughters , saith the Lord Almighty , 2 Cor. 6. 16 , 18. Christ gave himself , &c. that he might deliver us from this present evil world , Gal. 1. 4. Ye are all the children of God , &c. And if Christs , then Abrahams seed , and heirs according to the promise , Gal. 3. 26 , 29. ch . 4. 28. And because ye are sons , God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts , crying Abba father , &c. And if a Son , then an heir of God through Christ , Gal. 4. 6 , 7. Brethren , ye have been called unto liberty , only use not liberty for an occasion unto the flesh , Gal. 5. 13. Blessed be God , who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things , &c. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children , &c. What is the riches of the glory of his Inheritance in the Saints ? &c. The Church , which is the body , the fulness of him who filleth all in all , Ephes. 1. 3 , 5 , 18 , 23. God who is rich in mercy , and hath made us to sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus , &c. We are no more strangers , &c. but fellow-Citizens with the Saints , and of the houshold of God , &c. Ye are built together for a habitation for God through the spirit , Ephes. 2. 4 , 6 , 19 , 22. For me to live is Christ , and to dye is gain , Phil. 1. 21. The peace of God which passeth all understanding , shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ , &c. The God of peace shall be with you , Phil. 4. 7 , 9. Giving thanks to the father , who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light : who hath delivered us from the power of darkness , and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son , &c. The mystery which hath been hid from ages , &c. but now is made manifest unto his Saints ; to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery , &c. Col. 1. 12 , 13 , 26 , 27. Your life is hid with Christ in God , &c. The elect of God holy and beloved , Col. 3. 3 , 12. That ye would walk worthy of God , who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory , 1 Thes. 2. 12. God hath not appointed us unto wrath , but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ , who dyed for us , that whether we wake or sleep , we should live together with him , 1 Thes. 5. 9 , 10. Brethren , beloved of the Lord , &c. He called you by our Gospel , to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ , &c. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself , and God even our father who hath loved us , and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace , 2 Thes. 2. 13 , 14 , 16. Godliness is profitable unto all things , having the promise of the life that now is , and of that which is to come , &c. We trust in the living . God , who is the Saviour of all men , especially of those who believe , 1 Tim. 4. 8 , 10. Godliness with contentment is great gain , 1 Tim. 6. 6. Unto the pure all things are pure , Tit. 1. 15. Being justified , &c. we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life , Tit. 3. 7. The angels , &c. are they not all ministring-spirits , sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation , Heb. 1. 13 , 14. There remaineth therefore a rest ( or , keeping of a fabbath ) unto the people of God , &c. Heb. 4. 9. chap. 6. 19. God is not unrighteous , to forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed towards his name , &c. wherein God , willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel , confirmed it by an oath , that by two immutable things wherein it was impossible for God to lye , we might have strong consolation , who have fled for refuge , to lay hold upon the hope set before us , Heb. 6. 10 , 17 , 18. The excellency of the new Covenant , and the Saints priviledges under it , Heb. 8. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. chap. 10. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. Others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings , &c. of whom the world was not worthy , Heb. 11. 36 , 37 , 38. Ye are come unto Mount Sion , and unto the City of the living God , the heavenly Jerusalem , and to an innumerable company of angels , to the general assembly and church of the first-born , who are written ( or , enrolled ) in heaven , and to God the Judg of all , and to the spirits of just men made perfect , and to Jesus , &c. and to the blood of sprinkling which speaketh , &c. Heb. 12. 22 , 23 , 24. A crown of life , which the Lord hath promised to them who love him , James 1. 12. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world , rich in faith , and heirs of the kingdom , which he hath promised unto them who love him , James 2. 5. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much . Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are , and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain , and it rained not , &c. and he prayed again , and the heavens gave rain , and the earth brought forth her fruit , James 5. 16 , 17 , 18. Blessed be God , &c. who , &c. hath begotten us to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 3. Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house , an holy priesthood , to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ , &c. ye are a chosen generation , a royal priesthood , a holy nation , a peculiar ( or , a purchased ) people , that ye should shew forth the praise ( or , virtues ) , &c. 1 Pet. 2. 5 , 9. Rev. 1. 6. Rev. 5. 10. Ye are thereunto called , that ye should inherit a blessing , &c. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous , and his ears are open unto their prayer , 1 Pet. 3. 9 , 12. Casting all your care upon him , for he careth for you , 1 Pet. 5. 7. According to his divine power hath given us all things which pertain to life and godliness , &c. whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises , that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature , &c. so an entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ , 2 Pet. 1. 3 , 4 , 11. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation , 2 Pet. 2. 9. Truly our fellowship is with the Father , and with his Son Jesus Christ , 1 John 1. 3. We have an advocate with the Father , Jesus Christ the righteous , &c. he who doth the will of God , abideth for ever , &c. ye have an unction from the holy one , and ye know all things , 1 John 2. 1 , 17 , 20. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us , that we should be called the sons of God , &c. Beloved , now we are the sons of God , and it doth not yet appear what we shall be , 1 John 3. 1 , 2. Ye are of God , &c. greater is he who is in you , than he who is in the world , 1 John 4. 4. This is the confidence that we have in him , that if we ask any thing according to his will , he heareth us , 1 John 5. 14. The revelation of Jesus Christ , which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass , &c. he hath made us kings , &c. Rev. 1. 1 , 6. Hurt not the earth , &c. till we have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads , Rev. 7. 2 , 3. And it was commanded them they should not hurt , &c. but only those men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads , Rev. 9. 4. The Lamb shall overcome them , &c. and they who are with him , are called , and chosen , and faithful , Rev. 17. 14. See the advantage of faith , Chap. 11. See more of their priviledges in afflictions and persecutions , Chap. 22. In common calamities , Chap. 23. In the glory believers shall have , Chap. 36. In the next Chapter , of their relation to Christ. CHAP. XV. The Union and Relations between Christ and his Church ; and the mutual love and esteem each of other , and the manifestation thereof . I Will declare thy name unto my brethren , &c. Psal. 22. 22. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth : for thy love is better than wine , &c. Thy name is as ointment poured forth , therefore do the Virgins love thee . Tell me , O thou , whom my soul loveth , where thou feedest , &c. For why should I be as one who turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions ? If thou know not ( O thou fairest among women ) go , &c. A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me , he shall lye all night betwixt my breasts , &c. Behold thou art fair my love , &c. Cant. 1. 2 , 3 , 7 , 8 , 13 , 15 , 16. As the Lilly among thorns , so is my love among the daughters ; as the Apple-tree among the trees of the wood , so my beloved among the sons . I sate down ( or delighted and sate down ) under his shadow with great delight , and his fruit sweet , &c. I am sick of love , his left hand under my head , and his right hand doth embrace me , &c. O my dove , let me see thy countenance , let me hear thy voice : for sweet is thy voice , and thy countenance is comely , Cant. 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 14. By night on my bed , I sought him whom my soul loveth , I sought him , but I found him not . I will rise now , and go about the City , &c. I will seek him whom my soul loveth , &c. Saw ye whom my soul loveth ? I found him , &c. I held him and would not let him go , Cant. 3. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Thou art all fair , my love ; there is no spot in thee ; come with me , &c. Thou hast ravished ( or taken away ) my heart , my sister , spouse : thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes , &c. How fair is thy love , my sister , spouse ? how much better is thy love than wine , & c ? A garden inclosed is my sister , &c. Let my beloved come into his garden , &c. Cant. 4. 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 16. It is the voice of my beloved who knocketh , saying , open to me my sister , my love , my dove , my und●…filed , &c. I opened to my beloved , but my beloved had withdrawn himself , was gon , my soul failed when he spake ; I sought him , but could not find : I called him , but he gave me no answer , &c. Tell him I am sick of love , &c. My beloved is , &c. He is altogether lovely , Cant. 5. 2 , 6 , 10 , 16. I am my beloveds , and my beloved is mine , &c. Thou beautiful , O my love , &c. my dove , my undefiled , &c. Who is she who looketh forth as the morning , fair as the moon , clear as the sun ? Cant. 6. 3 , 4 , 9 , 10. I am my beloveds , and his desire is towards me , Cant. 7. 10. Set me as a seal upon thine heart , as a seal upon thine arm : for love is strong as death , Cant. 8. 6. Behold , I , and the children whom the Lord hath given me , Isaiah 8. 18. Heb. 2. 13. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren , ye have done it unto me , &c. When saw we thee an hungry , &c. and did not minister , & c ? Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these , ye did it not to me , Matt. 25. 34 , 35 , 40 , 45. Go tell my brethren , that they go into Galilee , and there shall they see me , Matt. 28. 10. He who eateth my flesh , and drinketh my blood , dwelleth in me , and I in him , John 6. 56. I am the good shepherd , the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep , &c. I , &c. know my sheep , and am known of mine , John 10. 11 , 14. I am glad for your sakes that I was not there ( to the intent ye may believe ) John 11. 14 , 15. Ye call me master and Lord , and ye say well : for so I am , John. 13. 13. Let not you hearts be troubled , &c. I will come again , and receive you to my self , that where I am , there ye may be also , &c. Ye see me ; because I live , ye shall live also , &c. You in me , and I in you , &c. Peace I leave with you , &c. Let not your hearts be troubled , John 14. 1 , 3 , 19 , 20 , 27. I am the vine , ye are the branches , &c. As the father hath loved me , so have I loved you : continue ye in my love , &c. These things have I spoken unto you , that my joy might remain in you , and that your joy might be full , &c. I have loved you ; greater love hath no man than this , that a man lay down his life for his friends , John 15. 5 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 13. Luk. 12. 4. These things have I spoken , that ye should not be offended , &c. I will see you again , and your heart shall rejoyce , and your joy no man taketh from you , John 16. 1 , 22. Christ prays for his Church at large , John 17. Go to my brethren , and say unto them , I ascend unto my father , and your father , to my God , and to your God , John 20. 17. Jesus said , feed my sheep , feed my lambs , John 21. 15 , 16 , 17. When Saul persecuted the Church , Christ said unto him , why persecutes thou me , &c. I am Jesus whom thou persecutest , Act. 9. 4 , 5. Ye are become dead unto the Law , &c. That ye should be married unto another , even to him who is raised from the dead , Rom. 7. 4. ch . 14. 9. Thou bearest not the root , but the root thee , Rom. 11. 17. Ye are Christs , 1 Cor. 3. 23. Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ , &c. He who is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit , 1 Cor. 6. 15 , 17. When ye sin so against the brethren , ye sin against Christ , 1 Cor. 8. 12. The head of every man is Christ , 1 Cor. 11. 3. All the members of that one body being many , are one body , so also is Christ , &c. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body , 1 Cor. 12. 12 , 13. Gal. 3. 28. The love of Christ constraineth us , 2 Cor. 5. 14. I have espoused you unto one husband , that I may present you a chast Virgin to Christ , 2 Cor. 11. 2. Gave him to be the head over all things to the Church , which is the body , the fulness of him who filleth all in all , Ephes. 1. 22 , 23. Col. 1. 18. To know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg , Ephes. 3. 19. Grow up into him in all things , who is the head Christ , from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted , &c. Ephes. 4. 15 , 16. Christ hath loved us , and given himself for us an offering , &c. Christ is the head of the Church , and the saviour of the body , &c. Christ loved the Church , and gave himself for it , that he might sanctifie and cleanse it , &c. that he might present it to himself a glorious Church , not having spot or wrinckle , &c. No man ever hated his own flesh , but nourisheth and cherisheth it , even as the Lord the Church : for we are members of his body , of his flesh , and of his bones , Ephes. 5. 2 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 30. I am in a strait betwixt two , having a desire to depart , and to be with Christ , which is far better , Phil. 1. 23. What things were gain to me , those I counted loss for Christ ; yea doubtless , I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledg of Christ Jesus my Lord , for whom I have suffered the loss of all things , and do count them but dung that I may win Christ , Phil. 3. 7 , 8. Not holding the head , from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred , and knit together , increaseth with the increase of God , Col. 2. 18 , 19. Both he who sanctifieth , and they who are sanctified , are all of one : for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren : Saying , I will declare thy name , &c. Heb. 2. 11 , 12. Christ as a son over his own house , whose house are we , if we hold fast , &c. Heb. 3. 6. Unto you who believe , he is precious , &c. 1 Pet. 2. 7. Jesus Christ , &c. who loved us and washed us , &c. Rev. 1. 5. CHAP. XVI . Of the Duties of Believers , such as profess to be Saints . First , Towards God. In the general , to live to God , not to themselves ; to be holy fruitful , walking in the light , in an honest , heavenly , and spiritual conversation , worthy of their high calling ; Glorifie God , and mind things above . ENoch walked with God , Gen. 5. 22 , 24. Noah walked with God , Gen. 6. 9. And the Lord said unto Noah , come thou , &c. For thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation , &c. And Noah did according unto all that the Lord had commanded him , Gen. 7. 1 , 5. I am the Lord your God : ye shall therefore sanctifie your selves , ye shall be holy , for I am holy , Levit. 11. 44 , 45. ch . 19. 2. Seek not after your own heart , &c. But be ye holy unto your God , &c. Num. 15. 39 , 40. Thou art an holy people to the Lord , &c. Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing , Deut. 14. 2 , 3. Behold , all souls are mine : as the soul of the father , so also the soul of the son is mine , the soul which sinneth it shall dye , Ezek. 18. 4. Israel is an empty vine , he bringeth forth fruit unto himself , Hosea 10. 1. Is it time for you , O ye , to dwell in your ceiled houses , and this house lye waste ? &c. Ye have sown much , and brought in little , &c. Why , saith the Lord of hosts ? because of mine house that is waste ; and ye run every man to his own house , therefore , &c. Haggai 1. 4 , 6 , 9 , 10. Bring forth therefore fruit meet for repentance , &c. The Axe is laid unto the root of the trees : therefore every tree which bring forth not fruit , is hewen down , and cast into the fire , Matt. 3. 8 , 10. Luk. 3. 8. Let your lights so shine before men , that they may see your good works , and glorifie your father which is in heaven , Matt. 5. 16. Lay up for your selves treasure in heaven , &c. For where your treasure is , there will your hearts be also , Matt. 6. 20 , 21. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart , bringeth forth good things , Matt. 12. 35. They are to improve their Talents . See the Parable , Matt. 25. 14 , &c. Behold , these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree , and find none , cut it down , why cumbreth it the ground , & c ? Strive to enter in at the strait gate , Luke 13. 7 , 24. When ye have done all those things which are commanded you , say , we are unprofitable servants , we have done that which was our duty to do , Luke 17 , 10. In every nation , he that feareth God , and worketh righteousness , is accepted of him , Act. 10. 35. Walk while ye have the light , lest darkness come upon you , John 12. 35. Ye call me Master , and Lord , and ye say well : for so I am , John 13. 13. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit , he taketh away ; and every branch that beareth fruit , he purgeth it , that it may bring forth more fruit , &c. Herein is my father glorified , that ye bring forth much fruit , &c. I have chosen you , and ordained you , that you should go and bring forth fruit , and that your fruit should remain , John 15. 2 , 8 , 16. Herein do I exercise my self , to have always a conscience void of offence , towards God , and towards men , Acts 24. 16. We also should walk in newness of life , &c. Yeild your selves unto God , as those who are alive from the dead , and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God , &c. Know ye not , that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey , his servants ye are to whom ye obey : whether of sin unto death , or obedience unto righteousness ? Rom. 6. 4 , 13 , 16. Ye also are become dead unto the Law , &c. that we should bring forth fruit unto God , &c. That we should serve in newness of spirit , and not in the oldness of the letter , Rom. 7. 4 , 6. We are debtors , not to the flesh , to live after the flesh : for if ye live after the flesh , ye shall dye ; but if ye through the spirit mortifie the deeds of the body , ye shall live , Rom. 8. 12 , 13. I beseech you brethren , by the mercies of God , that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice , holy , acceptable unto God , your reasonable service ; and be not conformed unto this world , but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind , that ye may prove what is that good , that acceptable will of God , &c. Provide things honest in the sight of all men , Rom. 12. 1 , 2 , 17. Ephes. 5. 10. It is high time to awake out of sleep , &c. The night is far spent , the day is at hand : Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness , and let us put on the armour of light . Let us walk honestly as in the day , not in rioting and drunkenness , &c. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ , and make no provision for the flesh , to fulfil the lusts thereof , Rom. 13. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. None of us liveth to himself , and no man dyeth to himself : for whether we live , we live unto the Lord , &c. Whether we live therefore , or dye , we are the Lords , &c. Righteousness and peace , &c. For he who in these things serveth Christ , is acceptable to God , and approved of men , Rom. 14. 7 , 8 , 9 , 17 , 18. I would have you wise to that which is good , and simple concerning evil , Rom. 16. 19. The body is not for fornication , but for the Lord , &c. Your bodies are the members of Christ , &c. And ye are not your own : for ye are bought with a Price : Therefore glorifie God in your bodies , and in your spirit , which are Gods , 1 Cor. 6. 13 , 15 , 19 , 20. chap. 3. 16 , 17. Be ye steadfast , &c. always abounding in the work of the Lord , forasmuch as you know , that your labour is not in vain in the Lord , 1 Cor. 15. 58. Whether therefore ye eat or drink , or whatsoever ye do , do all to the glory of God , 1 Cor. 10. 31. Wherefore we endeavour ( or labour ) that whether present , or absent , we may be accepted of him , &c. The love of Christ constraineth us , because we thus judg , that if one dyed for all , then were all dead , &c. That they who live , should not henceforth live unto themselves , but unto him who dyed for them , 2 Cor. 5. 9 , 14 , 15. Having therefore these promises ( dearly beloved ) let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit , perfecting holiness in the fear of God , 2 Cor. 7. 1. Providing for honest things , not only in the sight of the Lord , but in the sight of men , 2 Cor. 8. 20. Be not deceived , God is not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth , that shall he also reap : for he who soweth to the flesh , shall of the flesh reap corruption : But he who soweth to the spirit , shall of the spirit reap life , &c. Gal. 6. 7 , 8. ch . 5. 16. According as he hath chosen us in him , &c. that we should be holy , and without blame , before him in love , Ephes. 1. 4. Created , &c. unto good works which God hath foreordained , that we should walk in them , Ephes. 2. 10. I therefore , &c. beseech you , that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called , &c. This I say therefore , and testifie in the Lord , that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles in the vanity of their mind , &c. But ye have not so learned Christ , &c. That ye put off concerning the former conversation , the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts : And be renewed in the spirit of your minds ; and that ye put on that new man , which after God , is created in righteousness , and true holiness , Ephes. 4. 1 , 17 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 24. Col. 3. 9 , 10. Be ye therefore followers of God , as dear children , &c. Ye were sometimes darkness , but now light in the Lord : Walk as children of the light , &c. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness , but rather reprove them , &c. See then that ye walk circumspectly , not as fools , redeeming the time , Ephes. 5. 1 , 8 , 11 , 15 , 16. That ye may approve things which differ ( or try things which are excellent ) that ye be sincere , and without offence , till the day of Christ , &c. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness , which are by Jesus Christ , unto the glory and praise of God , &c. According to my earnest expection , &c. Christ shall be magnified in my body , whether it be by life or by death , &c. Let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ , Phil. 1. 10 , 11 , 20 , 27. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling , &c. That ye be blameless and harmless , the sons of God without rebuke , in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation , among whom ye shine ( or shine ye ) as lights in the world , &c. All seek their own things , not the things of Jesus Christ , Phil. 2. 12 , 15 , 21. Brethren , be ye followers of me , and mark them who walk so , as ye have us for an ensample : for many walk , of whom I have told you , &c. even weeping , the enemies of the cross of Christ , &c. who mind earthly things : for our conversation is in heaven , Phil. 3. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Finally brethren , whatsoever things are true , whatsoever things honest , whatsoever things just , whatsoever things pure , whatsoever things lovely , whatsoever things of good report : if there be any virtue , and if there be any praise , think on these things . Those things which ye have both learned , and received , and heard , and seen in me , do , &c. Phil. 4. 8 , 9. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord , unto all pleasing , being fruitful in every good work , Col. 1. 10. If ye then be risen with Christ , seek those things which are above , &c. Set your affections on things above , not on things on the earth , &c. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon earth , fornication , &c. Col. 3. 1 , 2 , 5. Walk in wisdom towards them who are without , redeeming the time , &c. That ye may stand perfect , and compleat in all the will of God , &c. Col. 4. 5 , 12. That ye would walk worthy of God , who h●…h called you unto his kingdom , 1 Thes. 2. 12. We exhort you , by the Lord Jesus , that as ye have received of us , how ye ought to walk , and to please God ; so ye would abound more and more , &c. For this is the will of God , your sanctification , &c. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification , and honour , &c. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness , but unto holiness , 1 Thes. 4. 1 , 3 , 4 , 7. Now the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly , and your whole spirit , and soul , and body be preserved blameless , unto the coming of our Lord , 1 Thes. 5. 23. Exercise thy self to godliness , &c. Godliness is profitable to all things , have promise of this , &c. 1 Tim. 4. 7 , 8. Thou , O man of God , &c. Follow after righteousness , godliness , &c. 1 Tim. 6. 6 , 11. Flee also youthful lusts : but follow righteousness , &c. 2 Tim. 2. 22. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation , &c. teaching us , that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts , we should live soberly , righteously , and godly in this present world , Titus 2. 11 , 12. Put them in mind , &c. to be ready to every good work , &c. A faithful saying , and these things I will that thou affirm constantly , that they which have believed in God , might be careful to maintain good works , Titus 3. 1 , 8. Let us lay aside every weight , and the sin which doth so easily beset us , and let us run with patience the race that is set before us , &c. Follow peace , &c. and holiness , without which no man shall see the Lord , Heb. 12. 1 , 14. Who is a wise man , & c ? Let him shew out of a good conversation , his works with meekness of wisdom , James 3. 13. As obedient children , not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts , in your ignorance : but as he who hath called you is holy , so be ye holy in all manner of conversation ; because it is written , Be ye holy , for I am holy , 1 Pet. 1. 14 , 15. Ye are a chosen generation , &c. that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you , &c. Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul , having your conversation honest amongst the Gentiles , that whereas ( or wherein ) they speak against you , as evil doers , they may by your good works which they behold , glorifie God in the day of visitation , &c. We being dead unto sin , should live unto righteousness , Matt. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 9 , 11 , 12 , 15 , 24. 1 Tim. 5. 14. Titus 2. 5 , 10. Let him eschew evil , and do good , &c. Who is he who will harm you , if you be followers of that which is good , & c ? Sanctifie the Lord in your hearts , and he always ready to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you , with meekness and fear ; having a good conscience , that whereas they speak evil of you , as of evil doers , they may be ashamed who falsly accuse your good conversation in Christ , 1 Pet. 3. 11 , 13 , 15 , 16. The time past of our life may ●…uffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles , &c. 1 Pet. 4. 2 , 3. Giving all dilligence , add to your faith virtue , and to virtue knowledg , and to knowledg temperance , &c. godliness , &c. Give dilligence to make your calling and election sure , 2 Pet. 1. 5 , 6 , 10. Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved , what manner of persons ought ye to be , in all holy conversation and godliness , & c ? Wherefore beloved , seeing ye loo for such things , be diligent , that ye may be found of him in peace without spot or blemish , 2 Pet. 3. 11 , 14. God is light , &c. If we say that we have fellowship with him , and walk in darkness , we lye , and do not the truth ; but if we walk in the light , as he is in the light , &c. 1 John 1. 5 , 6 , 7. He who saith he abideth in him , ought himself also so to walk , even as he walked , 1 John 2. 6. Every man who hath this hope in him , purifieth himself , even as he is pure , &c. He who doth righteousness , is righteous , even as he is righteous , 1 Joh. 3. 7. Beloved , follow not that which is evil , but that which is good : he who doth good is of God , but he who doth evil hath not seen God , 3 John v. 11. In Particular . 1st , To love God , and the Father , and our Lord Jesus Christ. I' the Lord thy God , &c. shewing mercy unto thousands of them who love me , Exod. 20. 6. The Lord our God , one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God , with all thine heart , with all thy soul , and with all thy might , Deut. 6. 4 , 5. The Lord thy God , he is God , the faithful God , who keepeth covenant and mercy with them who love him , Deut. 7. 9. And now Israel , what doth God require of thee , but , &c. to love him , and to serve the Lord thy God , with all thy heart , and with all thy soul ? Deut. 10. 12. Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God , &c. If you shall hearken , &c. to love the Lord your God , and to serve him with all your heart , &c. that I will , &c. Deut. 11. 1 , 13. The Lord your God proveth you , to know whether ye love the Lord your God , with all your heart , and with all your soul , Deut. 13. 3. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart , and the heart of thy seed , to love the Lord thy God , with all thine heart , and with all thy soul , Deut. 30. 6. Take diligent heed to do the commandment , &c. to love the Lord your God , Joshua 22. 5. Take good heed therefore unto your selves ( or souls ) that ye love the Lord your God , Joshua 23. 11. O love the Lord , all ye his saints , &c. Psal. 31. 23. I love the Lord , because he hath heard my voice , Psal. 116. 1. Thy name is as ointment poured out , therefore do the virgins love thee , Cant. 1. 3. Thus faith the Lord , I remember thee ( or for thy sake ) the kindness of thy youth , the love of thine espousals , when thou wentest after me in the wilderness , Jer. 2. 2. Judah hath prophaned the holiness of the Lord , whom he loved ( or ought to love ) Malachi 2. 11. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God , with all thine heart , and with all thy soul , and with all thy mind . This is the first and great commandment , &c. On these , &c. hang all the law and the prophets , Matt. 22. 37 , 38 , 39 , 40. Iniquity shall abound , the love of many shall wax cold , Matt. 24. 12. Her sins which are many , are forgiven , for she loved much : but to whom little is forgiven , the same loveth little , Luk. 7. 47. He who loveth me , shall be loved of my father , and I will love him , and will manifest my self to him , &c. VVe will come unto him , and make our abode with him , John 14. 21 , 23. Peter , &c. lovest thou me more than these ? he saith unto him , yea Lord , thou knowest that I love thee , &c. Again the second and third time , John. 21. 15 , 16 , 17. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts , by the holy Ghosts , Rom. 5. 5. If any man love God , the same is known of him , 1 Cor. 8. 3. Though I speak with the tongue of men and angels , and have not charity , I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling-cymbal : and though I have the gift of prophesie , and understand all mysteries , &c. I have all faith , &c. and have no charity , I am nothing . And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor , and though I give my body to be burned , and have no charity , it profiteth me nothing , &c. Charity never faileth , &c. Now abideth faith , hope , charity ; but the greatest of these is charity , 1 Cor. 13. 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 , 13. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ , let him be anathema maranatha , 1 Cor. 16. 22. Whether we are besides our selves , it is to God , &c. for the love of Christ constraineth us , 2 Cor. 5. 13 , 14. Circumcision availeth nothing , &c. but faith which worketh by love , &c. fruit of the spirit is love , Gal. 5. 6 , 22. The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God , 2 Thes. 3. 5. Hearing of thy love , &c. which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus , &c. Phil. ver . 5. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed towards his name , Heb. 6. 10. Jesus Christ , whom having not seen , ye love , 1 Pet. 1. 7 , 8. God is love ; and he who dwelleth in love , dwelleth in God , and God in him , &c. there is no fear in love , but perfect love casteth out fear , &c. He who feareth , is not made perfect in love . We love him , because he first loved us . If any man say , I love God , and hateth his brother , is a lyar : for he who loveth not his brother whom he hath seen , how can he love God whom he hath not seen ? 1 John 4. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. By this we know that we love the children of God , when we love God , &c. 1 John 5. 2. I have something against thee , because thou hast left thy first love : remember therefore from whence thou art fallen , &c. Rev. 2. 4 , 5. As fruits of love to God and Christ. To delight themselves in him , long for , and pant after him ; make their boast of , and glory and rejoyce in God and Christ , as their portion , all , and rest ; and to obey and hearken to him . First , To delight in , long for , pant after , make their boast of , glory and rejoyce in God and Christ , as their portion , all , and rest . My presence shall go , and I will give thee rest : and he said unto him , If thy presence go not , carry us not up hence , Exod. 33. 4 , 14 , 15. Their rock is not as our rock , even our enemies themselves being Judges , Deut. 32. 31. I rejoyce in thy salvation : there is none holy as the Lord , for there is none besides thee ; neither is there any rock like our God , &c. 1 Sam. 2. 1 , 2. The Lord is my rock , and my fortress , and my deliverer , the God of my rock , &c. my shield , and the horn of my salvation ; my high tower , and my refuge , and my saviour : who is God save the Lord ? and who a rock save our God ? 2 Sam. 22. 3 , 32. When he giveth quietness , who can make trouble ? and when he hideth his face , who then can behold him ? &c. Job 34. 29. Thou , O Lord , a shield for ( or about ) me ; my glory , and the lifter up of my head , Psal. 3. 3. There be many who say , who will shew us good ? Lord , lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us . Thou hast put gladness into my heart , more than in the time that their corn and their wine encreaseth , Psal. 4. 6 , 7. I will be glad and rejoyce in thee : I will sing praises to thy name , &c. Psal. 9. 2. Why standest thou afar off , O Lord ? why hidest thou thy self in times of trouble ? Psal. 10. 1. How long wilt thou forget me , O Lord , for ever ? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me ? Psal. 13. 1. The Lord the portion of mine inheritance , and of my cup : thou maintainest my lot : the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places ; yea , I have a goodly heritage , &c. in thy presence is fulness of joy , at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore , Psal. 16. 5 , 6 , 11. O Lord my strength and my redeemer , Psal. 19. 14. We will rejoyce in thy salvation , and in the name of our God we will set up our banners , Psal. 20. 5. The king shall joy in thy strength , O Lord ; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoyce ? Psal. 21. 1. My God , my God , why hast thou forsaken me ? why art thou so far from helping me , & c ? Be not far from me , for trouble is near , &c. be not thou far from me , O Lord , O my strength , &c. Psal. 22. 1 , 11 , 19. The Lord is my shepherd , I shall not want , &c. thou art with me , thy rod and thy staff they comfort me , Psal. 23. 1 , 4. The Lord is my light and my salvation ; whom shall I fear ? the Lord the strength of my life , of whom shall I be afraid ? One thing have I desired of the Lord , that will I seek after , that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life , to behold the beauty of the Lord , and to enquire in his temple , &c. My heart said , Thy face , Lord , will I seek ; hide not thy face far from me ; put not thy servant away in anger : thou hast been my help ; leave me not , neither forsake me , O God of my salvation , &c. Psal. 27. 1 , 4 , 8 , 9. Sing unto the Lord , O ye saints of his , &c. in his favour is life , &c. Lord , by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong : thou hiddest thy face , and I was troubled , Psal. 30. 4 , 5 , 7. Thou my hiding-place ; thou shalt preserve me from trouble ; thou shalt encompass me about with songs of deliverance , &c. be glad in the Lord , and rejoyce ye righteous , and shout for joy all ye who are upright in heart , Psal. 32. 7 , 11. Our soul waiteth for the Lord ; he our help and our shield : for our heart shall rejoyce in him , Psal. 33. 20 , 21. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord , &c. O magnifie the Lord with me , let us exalt his name together , &c. O tast and see that the Lord is good , Psal. 34. 2 , 3 , 8. How excellent ( or pre●…ous ) is thy loving kindness , O God , &c. For with thee , the fountain of life : in thy light , shall we see light , Psal. 36. 7 , 9. Delight thy self also in the Lord , &c. Psal. 37. 4. Surely , every man walketh in a vain shew , &c. And now Lord , what wait I for , my hope is in thee , Psal. 39. 6 , 7. As the Hart panteth after the water brooks , so panteth my soul after thee , O God. My soul thirsteth for God , for the living God : When shall I come and appear before God ? My tears have been my meat day and night : while they continually say unto me , where is thy God ? When I remember these things , I pour out my soul in me , for I had gon with the multitude , &c. to the house of God , &c. Why art thou cast down , O my soul , & c ? hope thou in God , &c. Psal. 42 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 11. Thou the God of my strength , why dost thou cast me off ? then will I go , &c. unto God my exceeding joy , ( or the gladness of my joy ) , Psal. 43. 2 , 4. In God we boast all the day long , Psal. 44. 8. As we have heard , so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts , &c. According to thy name , O God , so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth , &c. This God is our God for ever and ever : he will be our guide unto death , Psal. 48. 8 , 10 , 14. Ezra . 8. 22. Cast me not away from thy presence , &c. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation , Psal. 51. 11 , 12. O God , thou my God , early will I seek thee : my soul thirsteth for thee , my flesh longeth for thee , in a dry and thirsty land , &c. to see thy power and thy glory , so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary , because thy loving kindness is better than life , &c. My soul followeth hard after thee , Psal. 63. 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 , 11. Blessed is he whom thou chusest , and causeth to approach unto thee , that he may dwell in thy Courts : we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house , of thy holy temple , Psal. 65. 4. He who is our God , is the God of salvation , and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death , &c. Psal. 68. 20. Whom have I in heaven but thee , and none upon earth whom I desire besides thee . My flesh and my heart faileth , but God is the strength of my heart , and my portion for ever , &c. It is good for me to draw near unto God , Psal. 73. 25 , 26 , 28. Who so great a God as our God ? Psal. 77. 13. Turn us again , O God , and cause thy face to shine , and we shall be saved , Psal. 80. 3 , 7. How amiable are thy tabernacles , O Lord of hosts ! my soul longeth , yea , fainteth for the courts of the Lord : my heart and my flesh cryeth for the living God. Blessed are they who dwell in thy house , &c. Behold , O Lord , our shield , &c. For a day in thy courts , is better than a thousand . I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God , than to dwell in the tents of wickedness : for the Lord God is a fun and a shield , &c. Psal. 84. 1 , 2 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11. Blessed the people who know the joyful sound : they shall walk , O Lord , in the light of thy countenance ; in thy name shall they rejoyce all the day , &c. For thou art the glory of their strength : and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted ; the Lord is our defence , and the holy one of Israel , our king , &c. How long , O Lord , wilt thou hide thy face for ever ? Psal. 89. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 46. In the multitude of thoughts within me , thy comforts delight my soul , Psal. 94. 19 , 22. Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous : Psal. 97. 12. My meditation of him shall be sweet : I will be glad in the Lord , Psal. 104. 34. He satisfieth the longing soul : and filleth the hungry soul with goodness , Psal. 107. 9. The Lord is high above all nations , and his glory above the heavens . Who is like unto the Lord our God , who dwelleth on high ? who , & c ? Psal. 113. 4 , 5. Wherefore should the heathen say , where is now their God ? But our God is in the heavens : he hath done whatsoever he pleaseth , Psal. 115. 2 , 3. Return unto thy rest , O my soul : for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee , Psal. 116. 7. Thou art my portion , O Lord , &c. I intreated thy favour ( or face ) with my whole heart , &c. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant , &c. Psal. 119. 57 , 58 , 135. My soul waiteth for the Lord , more than they who wait for the morn , Psal. 130. 6. I know that the Lord is great , and our God is above all Gods , Psal. 135. 5. Thou my refuge , my portion in the land of the living , Psal. 142. 5. My soul thirsteth after thee , as a thirsty land , &c. Hide not thy face from me , Psal. 143. 6 , 7. The Lord my strength ( or rock ) &c. My goodness , and my fortress , my high tower , and my deliverer , my shield , &c. Happy is that people whose God is the Lord , Psal. 144. 1 , 2 , 15. Psal. 146. 5. Let them praise the name of the Lord , for his name alone is excellent ( or exalted ) , his glory above the earth and the heaven , Psal. 148. 13. As the Apple-tree is among the trees of the wood , so is my beloved , &c. I sate down under his shadow with great delight , and his fruit was sweet to my tast , &c. Cant. 2. 3. By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loved , but found him not : I will arise now , and go about the city , &c. I found him , I held him , and would not let him go , &c. Cant. 3. 1 , 2 , 4. I opened to my beloved , but my beloved had withdrawn himself , and vvas gon : my soul failed when he spoke : I sought him , &c. I am sick of love , &c. My beloved is white , &c. This is my beloved , Cant. 5. 6 , 10 , 16. In the way of thy judgments , we have waited for thee : the desire of our soul is to thy name , and to the remembrance of thee : with my soul have I desired thee in the night , yea , with my spirit within me will I seek thee early , Isa. 26. 8 , 9. In that day , shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory , and for a diadem of beauty unto the residue of his people , Isa. 28. 5. As for our redeemer , the Lord of hosts is his name , the holy one of Israel , Isa. 47. 4. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord , my soul shall be joyful in my God , Isa. 61. 10. Hath a nation changed their gods , which yet are no gods ? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit , &c. My people have committed two evils , they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters , and hewed them out cisterns , broken cisterns , &c. Have I been a barren wilderness unto Israel , & c ? Can a maid forget her ornaments , a bride her attire ? yet my people have forgotten me days without number , Jer. 2. 11 , 13 , 31 , 32. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom , neither let the mighty man glory in his might , &c. But let him who glorieth , glory in this , that he understandeth and knoweth me , that I am the Lord , who exerciseth loving kindness , &c. Jer. 9. 23 , 24. 2 Cor. 10. 17. 1 Cor. 29. 31. The portion of Jacob is not like them : for he is the former of all things , &c. The Lord of hosts is his his name , Jer. 10. 16. chap. 51. 19. O the hope of Israel , the saviour thereof in time of trouble , why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land , and as a wayfaring man turneth aside to tarry for a night ? why shouldest thou be as a man astonied , & c ? Yet thou , O Lord , in the midst of us , and we are called by thy name , &c. Jer. 14. 8 , 9. chap. 17. 13. The Lord is my portion , saith my soul , therefore will I hope in him , Lam. 3. 24. Wo also unto them when I depart from them , Hosea 9. 12. Fear not , O land , be glad , and rejoyce , for the Lord will do great things , &c. Be glad then ye children of Zion , and rejoyce in the Lord your God , Joel 2. 21 , 23. But the Lord , the hope ( or harbour ) of his people , and the strength of the children of Israel , Joel 3. 16. Arise , and depart ye , for this is not your rest , because it is polluted , Micha 2. 10. Although the figtree shall not blo●…om , neither fruit in the vine , &c. Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord , I will joy in the God of my salvation . The Lord God is my strength , &c. Habbak . 3. 17 , 18 , 19. Rejoyce , because your names are written in heaven , Luk. 10. 20. Zacheus came down , and received Christ joyfully , Luk. 19. 5 , 6. Lord to whom shall we go ? thou hast the words of eternal ●…ife , &c. Thou art that Christ , the son of the living God , John 6. 68 , 69. Philip said unto him , Shew us the Father , and it sufficeth , John 14. 8. These things have I spoken unto you , that my joy might remain in you , and that your joy might be full , John 15. 11. The Eunuch went on his way rejoycing , Acts 8. 38 , 39. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand , and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God , &c. we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ , Rom. 5. 2 , 11. Rejoycing in hope , Rom. 12. 12. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing , Rom. 15. 13. Our consolation also aboundeth by Jesus Christ , 2 Cor. 1. 5. Now thanks be to God who always causeth us to triumph in Christ , 2 Cor. 2. 14. God forbid that I should glory , save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ , Gal. 6. 14. My brethren , rejoyce in the Lord , &c. we are the circumcision , &c. who rejoyce in Christ , &c. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledg of Christ Jesus my Lord , Phil. 3. 1 , 3 , 8. Rejoyce in the Lord alway ; and again I say , rejoyce , &c. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding , shall keep your heart and mind , &c. Phil. 4. 4 , 7. Rejoyce evermore , 1 Thess. 5. 16. That by two immutable things , wherein it is impossible for God to lye , we might have a strong consolation , who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us , Heb. 6. 18. In whom , though now ye see not , yet believing , ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory , 1 Pet. 1. 8. 2dly , To obey and hearken to the Laws and Word of God in Christ. There is one Law-giver , who is able to save and to destroy , James 4. 12. Now the Lord had said unto Abram , Get thee out of thy countrey , and from thy kindred , and from thy fathers house , unto a land I will shew thee , &c. So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken unto him , Gen. 12. 1 , 4 , 5. Heb. 11. 8. God said unto Abraham , Take now thy son , thine only Isaac whom thou lovest , &c. and offer him there for a burnt-offering , &c. and Abraham rose up early in the morning , and took Isaac , &c. he stretched forth his hand , and took his knife to slay his son , &c. in blessing I will bless thee , &c. because thou hast obeyed my voice , Gen. 22. 1 , 2 , 3 , 10 , 17 , 18. In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed : because that Abraham obeyed my voice , and kept my charge , my commandments , my statutes , and my laws , Gen. 26. 4 , 5. Thus did the children of Israel : as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron , so did they , Exod. 12. 50. If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God , and wilt do that which is right in his sight , and will give ear unto his commandments , and keep all his statutes , I will put none of these diseases upon thee , Exod. 15. 26. Deut. 28. 1. I will rain bread , &c. that I may prove them , whether they will walk in my law , or no , &c. How long refuse ye to keep my commandments , & c ? Exod. 16. 4 , 28. Now therefore , if ye will obey my voice indeed , and keep my covenant , then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people , &c. And all the people answered together , and said , all that the Lord hath spoken , we will do , Exod. 19. 5 , 7 , 8. ch . 24. 3. 7. Shewing mercy unto thousands of them who love me and keep my commandments , Exod. 20. 6. Behold , I will send an Angel before thee , &c. Beware of him , and obey his voice ; provoke him not , for he will not pardon you , &c. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice , and do all that I spake , then , &c. Exod. 23. 21 , 22. That ye seek not after your own heart , &c. Do all my commandments , and be holy , Numb . 15. 39 , 40. We will hear it , and do it . And the Lord said , &c. they have well said , all that they have spoken . O that there were such a heart in them , that they would fear me , and keep all my commandments always , that it might be well with them and their children for ever , &c. You shall observe to do therefore , as the Lord your God hath commanded you , you shall not turn aside to the right hand , or to the left ; you shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you , Deut. 5. 27 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 33. Levit. 18. 3 , 4 , 26. Hear therefore , O Israel , and observe to do ; that it may be well with thee , Deut. 6. 3. The Lord thy God is a faithful God , who keepeth covenant and mercy with them who love and keep his commandments to a thousand generations , Deut. 7. 9. Levit. 20. 22. 1 Kings 6. 12. Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God , and keep his charge , and his statutes , and his judgments , and his commandments alway , &c. And it shall come to pass , if you will hearken diligently unto my commandments , &c. then will I give you , &c. Deut. 11. 11 , 13 , 14. ch . 10. 12 , 13. See , I have set before you this day , life and good , and death and evil , &c. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you , that I have set before you , life and death , blessing and cursing : therefore chuse life , &c. that thou maist love the Lord thy God , that thou maist obey his voice , and that thou maist cleave unto him : for he is thy life , &c. Deut. 30. 15 , 16 , 19 , 20. ch . 13. 4. Take diligent heed to do the commandments and laws , &c. to love the Lord your God , and to walk in all his ways , and to keep all his commandments , and to cleave unto him , and to serve him with all your heart , &c. Joshua 22. 5. If ye will fear the Lord , and serve him , and obey his voice , and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord , then shall both ye , and the king who reigneth over you , continue , &c. 1 Sam. 12. 14. Behold , to obey is better than sacrifice : to hearken , then the fat of rams , for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft , &c. 1 Sam. 15. 22. David charged Solomon to keep the charge of the Lord , his statutes , his commandements , &c. as it is written in the law of Moses , 1 Kings 2. 1 , 2 , 3. ch . 9. 4 , 5. Hear , O my people , and I will testifie unto thee , O Israel , if thou wilt hearken unto me , &c. But my people would not hearken unto me : and Israel would none of me : so I gave them up unto their own hearts lust , and they walked in their own counsels . O that my people had hearkened unto me , and Israel had walked in my ways , I should soon have subdued their enemies , &c. Psal. 81. 8 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 16. 2 Kings 21. 8 , 9. Because they rebelled against the word of God , and contemned the counsel of the most high : therefore he brought down their heart with labour , Psal. 107. 11 , 12. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently , &c. Then shall I not be ashamed , when I have respect unto all thy commandements , &c. I will run the ways of thy commandements , when thou shalt enlarge my heart , &c. O how love I thy law , &c. I love thy testimonies , &c. It is time for thee , O Lord , to work , they have made void thy law ; therefore I love thy commandments above gold , &c. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes , because they keep not thy law , &c. My soul hath kept thy testimony , and I love them exceedingly , Psal. 119. 4 , 6 , 3●… , 97 , 119 , 126 , 127 , 136 , 158 , 167. Because I have called , and ye refused , I have stretched out my hand , and no man regarded : but ye have set at nought my counsel , and would none of my reproof : I also will laugh at your calamity , I will mock when your fear cometh , &c. Prov. 1. 24 , 25 , 26 , 30 , 31. Blessed is the man who heareth me , watching dayly at my gates , waiting at the post of my doors , Prov. 8. 34. Thus saith the Lord , thy redeemer , &c. O that thou hadst hearkned to my commandments ; then had thy peace been as the river , &c. Isa. 48. 17 , 18. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people , who walketh in a way that is not good , after their own thoughts , Isa. 65. 2. I will bring their fears upon them , because when I called , none did answer ; when I spake , they did not hear , but they did evil , &c. Isa. 66. 4. Be thou instructed , O Jerusalem , lest my soul depart from thee , Jer. 6. 8. I spake not unto your fathers , &c. But this thing commanded I them , saying , obey my voice , and I will be your God , and ye shall be my people : and walk ye in all my ways which I have commanded you , that it may be well unto you . But they hearkned not , nor inclined their ear , but walked in the counsels and in the imaginations of their evil heart , &c. Jer. 7. 22 , 23 , 24. chap. 11. 7 , 8. The Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the Prophets , rising early and Israel ; and the tabernacle ( or Israel ) shall be sanctified by my glory , &c. Exod : 25. 22. ch . 29. 42 , 43. Thou canst not see my face ? for there shall no man see my face and live , Exod. 33. 20. Thou shalt worship no other God : for the Lord whose name is jealous , is a jealous God , Exod. 34. 14. Deut. 6. 15. When the tabernacle was set up , the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle , Exod. 40. 33 , 34 , 35. When Aarons sons were consumed for offering strange fire , Moses said unto Aaron , This that the Lord spake , saying , I will be sanctified in them who come nigh me , and before all the people I will be glorified , Levit. 10. 1 , 2 , 3. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God , and serve him , &c. thou shalt not go after other gods , &c. The Lord our God is one Lord , &c. Deut. 6. 4 , 13 , 14 , And now Israel , what doth the Lord require of thee , but to fear the Lord , &c. and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart , and with all thy soul , &c. Behold , the heavens , and the heaven of heavens is the Lords thy God , the earth with all that therein is , &c. For the Lord your God , is God of Gods , and Lord of Lords , a great God , a mighty and a terrible , who regardeth not persons , &c. Deut. 10. 12 , 14 , 17 , 20. ch . 11. 13. Thou may not sacrifice the passover within any of the gates , &c. But at the place which the Lord thy God shall chuse to place his name in , there thou shalt sacrifice , Deut. 16. 5 , 6. Serve ye the Lord ; and if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord , &c. But as for me and my house , we will serve the Lord. And the people answered and said , God forbid that we should forsake the Lord , to serve other gods , &c. He is a holy God , he is a jealous God , Joshua 24. 14 , 15 , 16 , 19. Elkanah went up out of his city yearly , to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts , 1 Sam. 1. 1 , 3. Prepare your hearts unto the Lord , and serve him only , 1 Sam. 7. 3 , 4. Only fear the Lord , and serve him in truth , with all your heart , 1 Sam. 12. 24. And Elijah came unto all the people , and said , how long halt ye between opinions ( or thoughts ) ? if the Lord be God , follow him ; but if Baal , follow him , 1 Kings 18. 21. That the heart be prepared to serve God is expected , commended , and the contrary taken notice of , 2 Chron. 12. 14. ch . 19. 3. ch . 29. 36. ch . 30. 18 , 19. Serve the Lord with fear , and rejoyce with trembling , Psalm 2. 11. But as for me , I will come unto thy house , &c. and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy temple , ( or the Temple of thy holiness ) Psal. 5. 7. Who is God save the Lord ! Psal. 18. 31. All the ends of the world shall remember , and return unto the Lord , and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee : for the kingdom is the Lords , and he the governour among the nations . All they who are fat on earth , shall eat and worship , &c. A seed shall serve him , Psal. 22. 27 , 28 , 29 , 30. I will wash my hands in innocency , so will I compass thine altar , O Lord , &c. I have loved the habitation of thy house , and the place where thine honour dwelleth , Psal. 26. 6 , 8. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto ( or , the honour of ) his name : worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness ( or , in his glorious sanctuary ) , Psal. 29. 2. Psal. 96. 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. For he is thy Lord , and worship thou him , Psal. 45. 11. All the earth shall worship thee , and shall sing unto thee , &c. Psal. 66. 4. Psal. 63. 1 , 2 , 3 , &c. Neither shalt thou worship any strange God , I the Lord thy God , Psal. 81. 9 , 10. How amiable are thy tabernacles , & c ! my soul longeth , &c. a day in thy courts is better , &c. Psal. 84. 1 , 2 , &c. I will call upon thee among the gods ; none like unto thee , O Lord ; neither are there any works like unto thy works : all nations whom thou hast made , shall come and worship before thee , O Lord , and shall glorifie thy name ; for thou art great , and dost wonderful things : thou art God alone , Psal. 86. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Rev. 15. 4. For who in heaven can be compared unto the Lord ? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord ? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints , and to be had in reverence of all them about him , Psal. 89 , 6 , 7. Before the mountains were , &c. even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God , Psal. 90. 2. The Lord is great , and a great King above all gods , &c. O come let us worship and bow down ; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker ; for he is our God , and we are the people of his pasture , Psal. 95. 3 , 6 , 7. The Lord reigneth , &c. worship him all ye gods , &c. for thou Lord art high above all the earth ; thou art exalted far above all gods , Psal. 97. 1 , 7 , 9. Exalt ye the Lord our God , and worship at his footstool , he is holy , Psal. 99 , 5 , 9. Holy and reverend is his name , Psal. 111. 9. I will worship toward his holy temple , Psal. 138. 2. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God ; and be more ready to hear , than to give the sacrifice of fools , &c. Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing ( or , word ) before God : for , God in heaven , and thou upon earth ; therefore let thy words be few , Eccles . 5. 1 , 2. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand , &c. to whom then will ye liken God ? or what , & c ? Isa. 40. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. I am the Lord , that is my name ; and my glory will I not give unto another , Isa. 42. 8. That ye may know and believe me , and understand that I am he : before me there was no God formed ( or nothing formed of God ) , neither shall there be after me . I the Lord , and besides me no Saviour . I have declared , and have saved , and I have shewed when there no God among you : Therefore ye my witnesses , saith the Lord , that I am God ; yea , before the day I am he ; and there is none who can deliver out of my hand . I will work , and who shall let it ? Thus saith the Lord , your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel , &c. But thou hast not called upon me , O Jacob , Isa. 43 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 22. Thus saith the Lord , the King of Israel , and his redeemer , the Lord of Hosts : I am the first , and I the last , and besides me no God , &c. Ye are my witnesses , is there a God besides me ? yea , no God , I know not any , &c. Thus saith the Lord , &c. I am the Lord who maketh all things , who stretcheth forth the heavens alone , who spreadeth abroad the earth by my self , &c. Isa. 44. 6 , 8 , 24. Psal. 96. 5. I am the Lord , and none else ; no God besides me : I girded thee , though thou hast not known me . That they may know from the rising of the sun , and from the west , that there is none besides me . I am the Lord , and none else , I form the light , and create darkness ; I make peace , and create evil : I the Lord do all these things , &c. Thus saith the Lord who created the heavens , God himself who formed the earth , and made it , he hath established it , &c. I am the Lord , and there is none else , Isa. 45. 5 , 6 , 7 , 18 , 21 , 22. I am God , and there is none besides me ; I am God , and none like me , declaring the end from the beginning ; and from ancient times the things which are not done ; saying , My counsel shall stand , and I will do all my pleasure , Isa. 46. 9 , 10. chap. 41. 4. But the Lord is the true God , he is the living God , and an everlasting king ; at his wrath the earth shall tremble , &c. he hath made the earth by his power , he hath established the world by his wisdom , and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion , when he uttereth his voice , &c. Jer. 10. 10 , 12 , 13. Heb. 9. 14. Yet I am the Lord thy God , and thou shalt know no God but me : for there is no saviour besides me , Hosea 13. 4. Isa. 37. 20. I hate , I despise your feasts , and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies , &c. But let judgment run down , &c. Amos 5. 21 , 22 , 23 , 24. And it shall come to pass , that every one who is least of all the Nations which came against Jerusalem , shall even go up from year to year to worship the King the Lord of Host , &c. Zech. 14. 16. If then I be a father , where is mine honour , &c. And if ye offer the blind and the lame , &c. offer it now unto your governour , will he be pleased with thee , or accept thy person , & c ? ye brought that which was torn , and the lame , and the sick ; thus ye brought an offering : should I accept this at your hand , saith the Lord ? But cursed the deceiver , who hath in his flock a male , and voweth and sacrificeth unto God a corrupt thing : for I am a great king , saith the Lord of hosts , and my name is dreadful among the heathen , Mal. 1. 6 , 8 , 13 , 14. Get thee behind me Satan , for it is written : thou shalt worship the Lord thy God , and him only shalt thou serve , Matt. 4. 10. Where two or three are gathered together in my name , there am I in the midst of them , Matt. 18. 20. There is one God , and there is none other but he , Mark. 12. 32. Our father 's worshipped in this mountain , and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship , &c. The hour cometh , when ye shall neither in this mountain , nor at Jerusalem worship the father , ye worship ye know not what , &c. but the hour cometh , and now is , when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth : for the father seeketh such to worship him . God is a spirit , and they who worship him , must worship him in spirit and in truth , John 4. 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24. The father himself , &c. ye have neither heard his voice at any time , nor seen his shape , John 5. 37. Exod. 33. 20. And he said , Lord I believe , and he worshipped him , John 9. 38. The most high dwelleth not in temples made with hands , &c. Heaven is my throne , &c. hath not my hands made all , & c ? Act. 7. 48 , 49 , 50. Whom ye ignorantly worship , him declare I unto you . God who made the world and all things therein , seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth , dwelleth not in temples made with hands : neither is worshipped with mens hands , as though he needed any thing , seeing he gave to all life , and breath , and all things , and hath made of one blood , all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth , and hath determined the times before appointed , and the bounds of their habitations , &c. Acts 17. 24 , 25 , 26. After the way they call heresie , so worship I the God of my fathers , Act. 24. 14. God whom I serve with my spirit , &c. The invisible things of him from the creation of the world , are cleerly seen , being understood by the things which are made , his eternal power and godhead : so that they are without excuse ; because that when they knew God , they glorified him not as God , &c. but became vain , &c. Changed the truth of God into a lye , and served and worshipped the creature more than the Creator , who is blessed for ever , Amen , Rom. 1. 9 , 20 , 21 , 23 , 25. 2 Tim. 1. 3. Not slothful in business , fervent in spirit , serving the Lord , Rom. 12. 11. We know that an Idol is nothing in the world , and there is none other God but one . For though there be that are called Gods , &c. but to us there is but one God the father , of whom are all things , and we in ( or for ) him ; and one Lord Jesus Christ , by whom are all things , and we by him , 1 Cor. 8. 4 , 5 , 6. 1 Tim. 2. 5. So falling down on his face , he will worship God , and report that God is in you of a truth , 1 Cor. 14. 25. We are the circumcision , who worship God in the spirit , Phil. 3. 3. When he bringeth in the first begotten into the world , he saith , and let all the Angels of God worship him , Heb. 1. 6. God , &c. because he could swear by no greater , he sware by himself , &c. The living God , &c. Heb. 6. 13. ch . 9. 14. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved , let us have grace ( or hold fast ) whereby we may serve God acceptably ; with reverence and godly fear : for our God is a consuming fire , Heb. 12. 28 ; 29. Ye also as lively stones , are built up a spiritual house , a holy priest-hood , to offer up spiritual sacrifice , acceptable to God by Jesus Christ , 1 Pet. 2. 5. No man hath seen God at any time , 1 John 4. 12. Fear God , and give glory unto him , &c. And worship him who made heaven and earth , and the sea , and the fountains of waters , Rev. 14. 7. chap. 15. 4. Worship God , Rev. 19. 10. chap. 22. 9. Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts , 1 Pet. 3. 15. See more of Idolatry , and worshipping strange Gods , &c. Chap. 39. See the order of Publick worship , Ordinances , Officers , &c. Chap. 27. Believe , imbrace , and be found in the practice of nothing , in the things of God , and about his worship , but that which clearly ( according to Precepts , Rules , and Examples of the Scriptures ) appears to be Christs mind , upon which we can in faith expect acceptance . And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord , and all the judgments : and all the people answered with one voice , and said , All the words which the Lord hath said , will we do . And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord ; &c. And he took the book of the covenant , and read in the audience of the people , and they said , All that the Lord hath said , will we do , and be obedient , Exod. 24. 2 , 4 , 7. And let them make me a sanctuary , that I may dwell among them : according unto all that I shew thee , after the pattern of the tabernacle , and the pattern of all the instruments thereof , even so shall ye make , Exod. 25. 8 , 9. In the tabernacle without the vail , which is before the testimony , Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening till morning before the Lord , &c. Exod. 27. 21. And these are the garments which they shall make , a breast-plate , &c. And they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother , and his sons , that they may minister unto me in the Priests office , &c. Exod. 28. 4 , 5 , 8 , &c. They made the holy garments for Aaron , as the Lord commanded Moses , Exod. 39. 1. Thus did Moses : according unto all that the Lord commanded him , so did he , &c. he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle , &c. as the Lord commanded Moses , &c. And he lighted the lamps before the Lord , as the Lord commanded Moses , &c. When they came near unto the Altar , they washed as the Lord commanded Moses , Exod. 40. 16 , 19 , 21 , 23 , 25 , 27 , 29. Levit. 8. 4 , 5 , 36. Nadab and Abihu , the sons of Aaron , &c. offered strange fire which he commanded them not , and there went out fire from the Lord , and devoured them , and they dyed before the Lord. And Moses said unto Aaron , This is that the Lord spake , I will be sanctified in them who come nigh me , and before all the people , &c. Levit. 10. 1 , 2 , 3. After the doings of the Land of Egypt , &c. and after the doings of the Land of Canaan , &c. shall ye not do : neither shall ye walk in their ordinances . Ye shall do my judgments , and keep my ordinances to walk therein : I am the Lord your God , Levit. 18. 3 , 4. And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month , at even , in the wilderness of Sinai : according to all that the Lord commanded Moses , so did the children of Israel , &c. They shall leave none of it , &c. according to all the ordinances of the passover , they shall keep it , Num. 9. 5 , 12. Levit. 19. 5 , 6. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you , neither shall you , &c. Deut. 4. 2. Ye shall utterly destroy all the places wherein the nations which ye shall possess , served their gods , &c. ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God ; but unto the place the Lord your God shall chuse out of all your tribes , to put his name there ; unto his habitation shall ye seek , and thither shalt thou come , and thither ye shall bring your burnt-offerings , &c. and ye shall not do , &c. every man what is right in his own eyes , &c. When you go over Jordan , &c. then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall chuse to cause his name to dwell there , thither shall ye bring all that I command you , your burnt-offerings , &c. Take heed to thy self , that thou be not snared by following them , &c. And that thou enquire not after their gods , saying , how did these nations serve their gods ? even so will I do likewise . Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God , &c. Whatsoever thing I command you , observe to do it : thou shalt not add thereunto , nor diminish from it , Deut. 12. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 30 , 31 , 32. Secret things belong unto the Lord our God ; but those things which are revealed , belong unto us , and to our children for ever , that we may do all the words of this law , Deut. 29. 29. Jeroboam ordained a feast , &c. like unto the feast in Judah , &c. upon the month which he had devised in his own heart , 1 Kings 12. 32 , 33. 2 Kings 17. 8. Be not righteous overmuch , neith●… make thy self over wise , Eccles. 7. 16. To the law and to the testimony : if they speak not according to this word , it is because there is no light in them , Isa. 8. 20. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof : because they have transgressed the laws , changed the ordinances , &c. Isa. 24. 5. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed , &c. Wherefore the Lord said , for as much as this people draw nigh unto me with their mouth , &c. and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men : therefore behold , I will proceed to do a marvellous work , &c. The wisdom of the wise men shall perish , &c. Isa. 29. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. I have spread out my hand all the day unto a rebellious people , who walketh in a way that is not good , after their own thoughts , &c. who sacrificeth in gardens , and burneth incense upon altars of brick , &c. Isa. 65. 2 , 3. Thus saith the Lord , stand ye in the ways and see , and ask for the old paths , where is the good way , and walk therein , and ye shall find rest , &c. Jer. 6. 16. The place of my throne , &c. shall the house of Israel no more defile , neither they nor their kings by their whoredom , &c. In their setting of their threshold by my threshold , and their posts by my posts , &c. Ezek. 43. 7 , 8. Son of man , mark well , &c. all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord , and all the laws thereof , &c. And thou shalt say to the rebellious , &c. Ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers , uncircumcised in heart , &c. to pollute it , even my house , when ye offer my bread , &c. And ye have not kept the charge of my holy things , but ye have set keepers of my charge ( or ordinance ) in my sanctuary , for your selves , Ezek. 44. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Why do you transgress the commandments of God by your traditions ? for God commanded , saying , &c. But ye say , &c. thus have ye made the commandments of God of none effect by your traditions , &c. In vain do they worship me , teaching for doctrines the commandments of men , Matt. 15. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9. Where two or three are gathered together in my name , there am I in the midst of them , Matt. 18. 20. Teach them to observe all things , whatsoever I have commanded you , Matt. 28. 20. Act. 10. 33. When Paul , according to advice , had observed some Jewish ceremonies , the Jews came upon him , and layd hold on him ; the very thing his advisers proposed to prevent by it , Act. 21. 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , &c. After the way which they call heresie , so worship I the God of my fathers , believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets , Acts 24. 14. That ye may prove what is that good , that acceptable will of God , Rom. 12. 2. Ephes. 5. 10 , 17. He who doubteth is damned , if he eat , because not of faith : for whatsoever is not of faith , is sin , Rom. 14. 23. Now I praise you , brethren , that you , &c. keep the ordinances ( or traditions ) as I delivered them unto you , &c. For I have received of the Lord , that which also I delivered unto you , that the Lord Jesus the same night , &c. 1 Cor. 11. 1 , 2 , 23. If we , or an Angel from heaven preach unto you , other than that which we have preached , &c. let him be accursed , Gal. 1. 8. Ye did run well , who did hinder you ( or turn you back ) ? this perswasion cometh not of him who called you , Gal. 5. 7 , 8. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro , and carried about with every wind of doctrine , by the slight of men , and cunning craftiness , &c. Ephes. 4. 14. Those things which ye have learned , and received , and heard , and seen in me , do , Philip. 4. 9. Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit , after the tradition of men , after the rudiments of the world , &c. If ye be dead with Christ , why , as though living in the world , are ye subject to ordinances ? touch not , tast not , handle not ; which all are to perish with the using , after the commandments and doctrine of men : which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will-worship , Col. 2. 8 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23. We beseech you brethren , and exhort you by the Lord Jesus , that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk , and to please God , so ye would abound , &c. 1 Thes. 4. 1. Prove all things , hold fast that which is good , 1 Thes. 5. 21. Therefore brethren stand fast , and hold the traditions which ye have been taught , whether by word , or our Epistle , 2 Thes. 2. 15. Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me , 2 Tim. 1. 13. Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned , and hast been assured of , knowing of whom thou hast learned . And that from a Child thou hast known the holy scriptures , &c. 2 Tim. 3. 14 , 15. Not giving heed to Jewish fables , and commandments of men who turn from the truth , Titus 1. 14. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard , lest at any time we should let them slip , Heb. 2. 1. Let that therefore abide in you , which ye have heard from the begining , 1 John 2. 24. It was needful for me to write unto you , and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints : for there are certain men crept in , &c. Jude vers . 3 , 4. The children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God , &c. And had walked in the statutes of the heathen whom , &c. and of the kings of Israel which they had made , &c. Also Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God , but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made , 2 Kings 17. 7 , 8 , 18 , 19. That which is highly esteemed amongst men , is abomination in the sight of God , Luk. 16. 15. Some affirm that we say , Let us do evil that good may come : whose damnation is just , Rom. 3. 8. To Pray unto God : of Prayer at large . Abraham prayed for Abimelech unto God , and God healed him and his , Gen. 20. 17. O Lord God of master Abraham , I pray thee send me good speed this day , &c. Let it come to pass that the damosel to whom I shall say , &c. Gen. 24. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife , because she was barren , and the Lord was intreated of him , and Rebekah his wife conceived , Gen. 25. 21. Jacob prayed unto God , in his distress about Esau , and prevailed , Gen. 32. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 28. ch . 33. 4. Hosea 12. 4 , 5. Moses prayed unto God for Pharoah , to remove their Plagues , Exod. 8. 12 , 13. ch . 9. 33. ch . 10. 18. Moses prayed hard and often for Israel , and prevailed , Exod. 32. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 31 , 32. Num. 14. 13 , to the 20. The forms Moses and Aaron , and his sons used in blessing the people , and in their march , Num. 6. 23 , 24 , 25 , 26. chap. 10. 35 , 36. I besought the Lord at that time , saying , O Lord God , thou hast begun to shew thy servant , &c. Deut. 3. 23 , 24 , &c. If from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God , thou shalt find him , if thou seek him with all thy heart , &c. Deut. 4. 29. Joshua prayed when Israel had fled before the men of Ai , Joshua 7 : 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Then Manoah intreated the Lord , and said , O my Lord , let the man of God whom thou didst send , come again unto us , and teach us what we shall do unto the child , &c. And God hearkened unto the voice of Manoah , Judges 13. 8 , 9. Sampson called on the Lord , and said , Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hands of thy servant , and now shall I dye for thirst ? and God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw , and there came water thereout , Judges 15. 18 , 19. And Sampson called unto the Lord , and said , O Lord God , remember me , I pray thee , and strengthen me , I pray thee , only this once , O God , &c. Judges 16. 28. Hanna prayed unto the Lord and wept sore , &c. She spake in her heart , only her lips moved , but her voice was not heard , 1 Sam. 1. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. As for me , God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you , 1 Sam. 12. 23. David prays that it may be with him and his house , as God had said to him by Nathan the Prophet , 2 Sam. 7. 17 , 18 , 19 , to the 29. While the child was alive , I fasted , and I said , Who can tell whether God will be gracious ? 2 Sam. 12. 22. Jonah 3. 8 , 9. God said to Solomon , ask what I shall give thee . And Solomon asked wisdom to govern ; and God was pleased so with that , and in that he had not asked long life and riches ; that God gave him wisdom , and understanding , and riches , and honour also , 1 Kings 3. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. King Solomon prayed at large , at the dedication of the Temple , and God heard him , 1 Kings 8. 22 , 23 , 24 , &c. ch . 9. 2 , 3. 2 Chron. 1. 7 , 8 , &c. Elijah the Prophet prayed that it might be made known , that God was God in Israel , when others were for Baal . And God he heard him , and caused fire to come down , and consume the sacrifice , 1 Kings 18. 36 , 37 , 38. Seek the Lord and his strength , seek his face continually , 1 Chron. 16. 11. If thou seek him , he will be found of thee , 1 Chron. 28. 9. Judah , &c. fought him with their whole desire , and he was found of them , 2 Chron. 15. 15. There are good things found in thee , thou hast taken away , &c. and hast prepared thine heart to seek God , 2 Chron. 19. 3. Asa prayed for help against the Ethiopian Army of 1000000 , and prevailed , 2 Chron. 14. 10 , 11 , 12. When Moab , &c. came against Jehosaphat , he stood in the congregation in the house of the Lord , and prayed for help , and God heard and answered , 2 Chron. 20. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 15 , 24. Hezekiah being sick , prayed , 2 Chron. 32. 24. Nehemiah when he heard of the affliction of the Jews , he wept , and mourned , and fasted , and prayed , Nehem. 1. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , &c. So again , when Israel were building , and in danger of enemies , Nehem. 4. 4 , 5 , 9. I would make supplication to my judg , Job 9. 15. My God : for unto thee will I pray , my voice shalt thou hear in the morning : O Lord , in the morning will I direct unto thee , and look up , Psal. 5. 2 , 3. I acknowledged my sin , &c. for this shall every one who is godly pray unto thee , in a time when thou maist be found , Psal. 32. 5 , 6. They who seek the Lord , shall not lack any good thing , Psal. 34. 10. Call upon me in the time of trouble ; I will deliver thee , &c. Psal. 50. 15. Though Nathan had told David his sin was forgiven him , yet he prays earnestly to be delivered from blood-guiltiness , &c. Psal. 51. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , to the 15. As for me , I will call upon God : and the Lord shall save me : evening and morning , at noon will I pray and cry aloud : and he shall hear my voice , Psal. 55. 16 , 17. O thou who ●…rest prayer , unto thee shall all flesh come , Psal. 65. 2. If I regard iniquity in my heart , the Lord will not hear me . But verily God hath heard , Psal. 66. 18 , 19. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive : and plenteous in mercy unto all them who call upon thee . Give ear , O Lord , unto my Prayer , &c. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee : for thou wilt answer me , Psal. 86. 5 , 6 , 7. He will regard the prayer of the destitute , and not despise their prayers , Psal. 102. 17. I cryed with my whole heart , &c. I prevented the dawning of the morning , and cryed , Psal. 119. 145 , 147. In my distress I cryed unto the Lord , and he heard me , Psal. 120. 1. 2 Sam. 22. 7. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper who love thee , Psal. 122. 6. The Lord is nigh unto all who call upon him : to all who call upon him in truth ; he will fulfil the desire of them who fear him : he also will hear their cry , and will save them , Psal. 145. 18 , 19. The sacrifice of the wicked , is an abomination to the Lord : but the prayer of the upright is his delight , &c. He heareth the prayer of the righteous , Prov. 15. 8 , 29. He who turneth away his ear from hearing the Law , even his prayer shall be an abomination , Prov. 28. 9. Be not rash with thy mouth , and be not hasty to utter any thing before God : for God is in heaven , and thou upon earth ; therefore let thy words be few , Eccles. 5. 2. When ye spread forth your hands , I will hide my eyes from you : yea , when ye make many prayers ( or multiply Prayers ) I will not hear : your hands are full of blood , wash ye , &c. Isa. 1. 15 , 16. In trouble have they visited thee : they poured out a prayer ( or secret speech ) when thy chastening was upon them , Isa. 26. 16. Thou hast not called upon me , O Jacob , Isa. 43. 21. Thus saith the Lord , &c. ask me of things to come : concerning my sons , and concerning the works of my hands , command ye me , &c. I said not unto the seed of Jacob , seek ye me in vain , Isa. 45. 11 , 19. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found , call ye upon him while he is near , Isa. 55. 6. When thou cryest , let thy companions deliver thee , Isa. 57. 13. For Zions sake will I not hold my peace ; and for Jerusalems sake I will not rest until the righteousness thereof goeth forth , &c. I have set watchmen upon thy walls , O Jerusalem , who shall never hold their peace day nor night . Ye who make mention of the Lord ( or are the Lords remembrancers ) keep not silence : and give him no rest , till he establish , and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth , Isa. 62. 1 , 6 , 7. The Churches prayer for the Lords return unto them , Isa. 63. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. chap. 64. I am found of them who sought me not , Isa. 65. 1. Therefore pray not thou for this people , neither lift up cry nor prayer for them , neither make intercession to me : for I will not hear thee : seest thou not what they do , & c ? Jer. 7. 16 , 17. Pour out thy fury upon the heathen who know thee not , and upon the families who call not on thy name , Jer. 10. 25. I will bring evil upon them , &c. and though they shall cry unto me , I will not hearken unto them , &c. Therefore pray not thou for this people ; &c. for I will not hear them , in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble , Jer. 11. 11 , 14. chap. 14. 11 , 12. Jeremiah prays for Israel , when he prophesied of the dearth , Jer. 14. 7 , 8 , 9 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. The Lord said unto him , Though Moses and Samuel stood before me , my mind could not be towards this people , &c. Jer : 15. 1. Then shall ye call upon me , and ye shall go and pray unto me , and I will hearken unto you . And ye shall seek me and find me , when ye shall search for me with all your heart , Jer. 29. 12 , 13. Call upon me and I will answer thee , and shew thee great and mighty ( or hidden things ) which thou knowest not , Jer. 33. 3. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the heavens , &c. Thou hast covered thy self with a cloud , that our prayer should not pass tho row , Lam. 3. 41 , 44. When God had promised many things that he would do for his ; he saith , I will yet for this , be enquired of by the house of Israel , to do it for them , Ezek. 36. 24 , 25 , 26 , to the 37. Daniel desired his companions , that they would ask mercy of the God of heaven concerning the secret of the kings dream , that Daniel and his fellows should not perish , &c. And it was revealed to him , Dan. 2. 17 , 18 , 19. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed , he went into his house ; and his windows being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem , he kneeled upon his knees three times a day , and prayed , and gave thanks before his God , as he did aforetime , Dan. 6. 10 , 11. And I set my face unto the Lord God , to seek by prayer and supplication , and I prayed unto the Lord my God , and made my confession , and said , O Lord , &c. Dan. 9. 3 , 4 , 5 , &c. They shall go with their flocks , and with their herds to seek the Lord , but they shall not find : he hath withdrawn himself from them , they have dealt treacherously against me , the Lord , Hosea 5. 6. They have not cryed unto me with their heart , when they howled upon their beds , Hosea 7. 14. By his strength he had power with God : yea , he had power over the Angel and prevailed ; he wept and made supplication unto him , Hosea 12. 3 , 4. Gen. 32. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27. Sanctifie a fast , &c. and cry unto the Lord : Alas for the day , &c. Joel 1. 14 , 15 , &c. Sanctifie a fast , &c. let the priests , ministers of the Lord weep , &c. and let them say , Spare thy people , O Lord , and give not thine heritage to reproach , that the heathen should rule over ( or use a by-word against ) them : wherefore should they say amongst the people , where is their God ? Then will the Lord be jealous for his land , and pity his people , &c. And it shall come to pass , that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord , shall be delivered , Joel 2. 15. 16 , 17 , 18 , 32. Act. 2. 21. Seek ye me , and ye shall live , &c. seek the Lord and ye shall live , Amos 5. 4 , 6. When my soul fainted within me , I remembred the Lord , and my prayer came in unto thee , into thine holy temple , Jonah 2. 7. Let man and beast be covered with sackcloth , and cry mightily unto God , &c. who can tell if God will return , & c ? and they prevailed , Jonah 3. 8 , 9 , 10. Seek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth , &c. it may be ye shall be hid , Zeph. 2. 3. As he cryed , and they would not hear : so they cryed , and I would not hear , saith the Lord of hosts , Zech. 7. 13. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another , saying , Let us go speedily ( or continually be going ) to pray before the Lord , and to seek the Lord of hosts : I will go also , Zech. 8. 20 , 21. Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain : The Lord shall Zech. 10. 1. I will pour upon the house of David , &c. a spirit of prayer and supplication , Zech. 12. 10. Pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you , Mat. 5. 44. When thou prayest , thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are ; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues , &c. but when thou prayest , enter into thy closet ; and when thou hast shut the dore , pray to thy father , &c. and when ye pray , use not vain repetitions as the heathens do : for they think , that they shall be heard for their much speaking , &c. your father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask them ; after this manner therefore pray ye : Our Father , &c. Matt. 6. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. Luke 11. 1 , 2 , &c. Ask and it shall be given you : seek and ye shall find : knock and it shall be open●…d unto you : for every one who asketh receiveth , &c. What man is there among you , who if his son ask bread will he give him a stone , & c ? If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children , how much more shall your father which is in heaven , give good things unto them who ask him ? Matt. 7. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Luk. 11. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. Christ looking up to heaven , he blessed the bread and fishes , &c. he went up into the mount apart to pray , &c. Peter said , Lord save me , Matt. 14. 19 , 23 , 30. The woman of Canaan would not give off asking till she had obtained , Mat. 15. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. If two of you shall agree on earth , as touching any thing that they shall ask , it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven , &c. Matt. 18. 19. Ye know not what ye ask , said Christ unto the mother of Zebedees children , &c. The two blind men would not cease crying till they were heard , Matt. 20. 21 , 22 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33. All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer , believing , ye shall receive , Mat. 21 , 22. Mark 11. 24. Christ fell on his face and prayed , saying , O my father , if it be possible , &c. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation , &c. He prayed again and again , &c. He kneeled down and prayed , Matt. 26. 39 , 41 , 42 , 44. Luke 6. 12. Luk. 22. 41. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest , that he would send forth labourers into the harvest , Luk. 10. 2. And it came to pass , as he was praying in a certain place , when he ceased , one of his disciples said unto him , Lord teach us to pray , &c. Luk. 11. 1 , 2. And the Apostles said unto the Lord , Encrease our faith , Luke 17. 5. And he spake a parable unto them , that men ought always to pray , and not to faint ; saying , there was in a city a Judg , &c. Shall not God avenge his elect , who cry day and night unto him , & c ? I tell you that he will , Luk. 18. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Beware of the scribes , &c. who for a pretence ( or a shew ) make long prayers , Luk. 20. 46 , 47. Watch ye therefore and pray always , that ye may be counted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass , &c. Luk. 21. 36. If thou knewest the gift of God , and who it is , &c. thou wouldest have asked of him , and he would , &c. John 4. 10. Whats●…ever ye shall ask in my name , that will I do , that the father may be glorified in the son . If ye shall ask any thing in my name , I will do it , John 14. 13 , 14. If ye abide in me , ye shall ask what ye will , and it shall be done unto you , John 15. 7. Whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name , he will give it unto you : hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name , ask and you shall receive , that your joy may be full , John 16. 23 , 24 , 26. Christs prayer for his at large , John 17. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication , Act. 1. 14. ch . 2. 42. The Apostles and their company , prayed with one accord , and said , Lord , thou art God , &c. And now Lord , behold their threatnings , and grant unto thy servants , that with all boldness they may speak thy word , &c. Act. 4. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30. We will give our selves continually to prayer and , &c. Act. 6. 4. Simon said , Pray ye the Lord for me , that none of these things which ye have spoken , Act. 8. 24. Enquire for one called Saul of Tarsus : for behold he prays , &c. Peter put them forth , and kneeled down and prayed , and turned him , &c. Act. 9. 11 , 40. Cornelius , a devout man , and one who , &c. and prayed unto God always , &c. Peter went up upon the house to pray about the sixth hour , Act. 10. 1 , 2 , 4 , 9 , 30 , 31. Peter was in Prison : but prayer was made without ceasing , of the Church , unto God for him , Act. 12. 5. And on the sabbath-day we went out of the city by a river side , where prayer was wont to be made , &c. And it came to pass , as we went to prayer , a certain damsel , &c. Act. 16. 13 , 16. Paul , when he had thus spoken , he kneeled down , and prayed with them all , Act. 20. 36. And we kneeled down on the shore and prayed , Act. 21. 5. Even while I prayed in the temple , I was in a trance , Act. 22. 17. I make mention of you always in my prayers , making request , &c. I might have a prosperous journey , Rom. 1. 9 , 10. The spirit also helpeth our infirmities : for we know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the spirit himself maketh intercession for us , with groanings which cannot be uttered , Rom. 8. 26. The same Lord over all , is rich unto all who call upon him , &c. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? Rom. 10. 12 , 14. Continuing instant in prayer , Rom. 12. 12. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing , &c. I beseech you , &c. that ye will strive together with me , in your prayers to God for me , that I may be delivered , &c. Rom. 15. 13 , 30 , 31 , 32. With all who in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord , 1 Cor. 1. 2. Every man praying , or prophesying , having his head covered , dishonoureth his head ; but every woman who prayeth , &c. Judg you in your selves , is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered ? 1 Cor. 11. 4 , 5 , 13. Let him who speaketh in a tongue , pray that he may interpret , &c. I will pray with the spirit , and will pray with understanding also , 1 Cor. 14. 13 , 14 , 15. You also helping together by prayer for us , 2 Cor. 1. 11. For this cause I besought the Lord thrice , that it might depart fr●…m me : and he said unto me , My grace is sufficient , &c. 2 Cor. 12. 7 , 8 , 9. Making mention of you in my prayers , That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ , the father of glory , may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation , in the knowledg of him , &c. Ephes. 1. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. For this cause I bow my knees unto the father of our Lord Jesus , &c. That he would grant unto you , according to the riches of his glory , to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man , that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith , &c. Ephes. 3. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. Praying always with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit , and watching thereunto with all perseverance , and supplication for all saints ; and for me , that utterance may be given unto me , that I may , &c. Ephes. 6. 18 , 19. Always in every prayer of mine for you all , making request , &c. And thus I pray that your love may abound , &c. Phil. 1. 4 , 9 , 10 , 11. Be careful for nothing : but in every thing by prayer and supplication , with thanksgiving , let your request be made known unto God , &c. Phil. 4. 6. For this cause we also , &c. do not cease to pray for you , and to desire that ye may be filled with the knowledg of his will , &c. Col. 1. 9 , 10 , 11. Continue in prayer , and watch in the same with thanksgiving : withall , praying also for us , that God would open unto us a dore of utterance , &c. Labouring fervently for you in prayers , that ye may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God , Col. 4. 2 , 3 , 4 , 12. 1 Pet. 4. 7. Night and day praying exceedingly , that we might see your face , and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith : Now God himself , and our Father , and our Lord Jesus Christ , direct our way unto you : and the Lord make you to increase , and abound in love , &c. 1 Thes. 3. 10 , 11 , 12. Pray without ceasing , &c. And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly , &c. Brethren pray for us , 1 Thes. 5. 17 , 23 , 25. We pray always for you , that our God would , &c. fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness , and the work of faith , 2 Thes. 1. 11. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself , and God even our father , who hath loved us , comfort your hearts , and stablish you in every good word and work ' 2 Thes. 2. 16 , 17. Finally , brethren , pray for us , that the word of the Lord may have free course ( or , may run ) and be glorified , and that we may be delivered , &c. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God , &c. 2 Thes. 3. 1 , 2 , 5. Exhort therefore , that first of all , supplications , prayers , intercessions , and giving of thanks be made for all men : for kings , and for all who are in authority ( or , eminent place ) , that we may lead a quiet , &c. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour , &c. I will therefore , that men pray every where , lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting , 1 Tim. 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 8. Every creature of God is good , &c. if it be received with thanksgiving , &c. For it is sanctified by the word of God , and prayer , 1 Tim. 4. 4 , 5. She that is a widow indeed , &c. and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day , 1 Tim. 5. 5. I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day , 2 Tim. 1. 3. Philemon vers . 4. Seeing then that we have a great high-priest that is passed into the heavens , Jesus , &c. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace , that we may obtain mercy , and find grace to help in time of need , Heb. 4. 14 , 15 , 16. Who in the days of his flesh , when he had offered up prayers and supplications , with strong cries and tears unto him who was able to save , Heb. 5. 7. Having therefore , brethren , boldness to enter into the holiest , &c. and having an High Priest over the house of God : Let us draw near with a true heart , in full assurance of faith , &c. Heb. 10. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. Pray for us , &c. Now the God of peace , &c. make you perfect in every good work , to do his will , working in you that which is well pleasing , &c. Heb. 13. 18 , 20 , 21. If any of you lack wisdom , let him ask of God , who giveth unto all men liberally , and upbraideth not , and it shall be given him : but let him ask in faith , nothing wavering : for he who wavereth , is like a wave of the Sea , &c. And let not that man think , that he shall receive any thing of the Lord , James 1. 5 , 6 , 7. Ye have not , because ye ask not ; ye ask and receive not , because ye ask amiss , that ye may consume it upon your lusts ( or pleasures ) James 4. 2 , 3. Is any among you afflicted ? let him pray , &c. is any sick among you ? let him call for the Elders of the Church , and let them pray over him , &c. and the prayer of faith shall save the sic●… , &c. Pray one for another : the effectual fervent prayer , &c. James 5. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. And if ye call on the father , who without respect of persons judgeth , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 17. Likewise ye husbands , dwell with them , &c. that your prayers be not hindred , & ●… . The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous , and his ears are open unto their prayers , 1 Pet. 3. 7 , 12. Be ye therefore sober , and watch unto prayer , 1 Pet. 4. 7. Whatsoever we ask , we receive of him , because we keep his commandments , and do those things which are pleasing in his sight , 1 John 3. 22. This is the confidence that we have in him , that if we ask any thing according unto his will , he heareth us : and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask , we know that we have the petitions that we desire of him . If any man see his brother sin a sin not unto death , he shall ask , and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death . There is a sin unto death , I do not say that ye shall pray for it , 1 John 5. 14 , 15 , 16. Praying in the holy Ghost , Jude vers . 20. The Elders , &c. having every one of them harps , and golden viols full of odours ( or , incense ) which are the prayers of the saints , Rev. 5. 8. Another Angel came and stood at the Altar , having a golden Censer , and there was given unto him much incense , that he should offer it ( or , add it to ) with the prayers of all saints , &c. And the smoke of the incense , which came with the prayers of the saints , ascended up before God , out of the Angels hand , Rev. 8. 3 , 4. See more of Prayer in Affliction , Chap. 22. See more of Common Calamities , Chap. 23. See more in Duty towards all Men , Chap. 19. See Prayer for Magistrates , Chap. 24 To take special notice of the Acts of Gods Goodness and Mercy , keep memorials thereof , celebrate his praises , extol him , and stir up others so to do . Abraham's servant , when God had heard his request , he bowed down his head and worshipped the Lord. And he said , Blessed be the Lord God of my Master Abraham , who hath not left destitute my Master , of his mercy and his truth , &c. When he heard their words , he worshipped the Lord , &c. Gen. 24. 26 , 27 , 52. I have seen thy face , as though I had seen the face of God ; that thou wast pleased with me , Gen. 33. 10. Then Jacob said , &c. Let us arise and go unto Bethel , and I will make there an Altar unto God , who answered me in the day of my distress , and was with me in the way which I went , &c. And he built there an Altar , and called the place , El-Bethel , because there God appeared unto him , when he fled from the face of his brother , Gen. 35. 2 , 3 , 7. Moses and Israel solemnly celebrated his praise for their deliverance at the red Sea , in a song of praise , Exod. 15. 2 , 3 , to the 22. When Israel got victory over the Amalekites , he built an Altar , and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi ; that is , the Lord my banner , Exod. 17. 13 , 14 , 15. And Moses told unto Jethro his Father-in-law all that the Lord had done unto Pharoah , and to the Egyptians for Israels sake , &c. and Jethro rejoyced for all the goodness which the Lord had done unto Israel , &c. and said , Blessed be the Lord , who hath delivered you , &c Now I know that the Lord is greater than all Gods , &c. Exod. 18. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. When thou hast eaten , and art full , then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God , for the good land which he hath given thee , Deut. 8. 10. Moses song , Deut. 32. Joshua pitched stones in Gilgal , in memory of Israels passing dry thorow Jordan ; that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord , that it is mighty , Josh. 4. 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24. The song of Deborah and Barak , which they sang after the victory against Sisera and his Army , Judges 5. Hannah sang praise , when she brought Samuel her son to the house of the Lord , whom the Lord had given her upon her prayer , 1 Sam. 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , to the 11. When the Philistines were beaten , Samuel set up a stone , called the name thereof , Eben-Ezer , saying , Hitherto hath the Lord helped us , 1 Sam. 7. 10 , 11 , 12. When Abigail met David , and prevented him in his hasty purpose concerning Nabals house ; he said unto Abigail , Blessed be the Lord God of Israel , who sent thee this day to meet me ; and blessed be thy advice , &c. And when David heard that Nabal was dead , he said , Blessed be the Lord who hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal , and hath kept his servant from evil , &c. 1 Sam. 25. 32 , 33 , 39. When God had promised many things unto David , he saith , set thy name be magnified for ever : saying , the Lord of Hosts is the God over Israel , &c. 2 Sam. 7. 26. And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song , in the day the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies , and out of the hands of Saul : And he said , the Lord is my rock , my fortress , and my deliverer , &c. 2 Sam. 22. Upon the return of the Ark to the City of David , he prepares a song , and delivers it to be sang by way of thanksgiving unto God , 1 Chron. 16. 8 , 9 , to the 37. When the people had offered willingly towards the building of the house of the Lord , David blessed the Lord before all the congregation ; and David said , Blessed be thou , Lord God of Israel our father , for ever and ever , &c. Now therefore our God , we thank thee , and praise thy glorious name , &c. that we should be able to offer so willingly , &c. the congregation did so , 1 Chron. 29. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , to the 20. Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord , and he spake unto him , &c. but Hezekiah rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him , &c. 2 Chron. 32. 24 , 25. Ezra takes notice of a little favour , and acknowledgeth it to the praise of God , Ezra 9. 8 , 9. Chap. 7. 27 , 28. Stand up , bless the Lord your God for ever and ever ; and blessed by thy glorious name , which is exalted above all blessing and praise , &c. Nehem. 9. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , &c. When Job had lost all , than he said , The Lord gave , and the Lord hath taken , blessed be the name of the Lord , Job 1. 20 , 28. I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness , and will sing to the name of the Lord most high , Psal. 7. 17. O Lord , our Lord , how excellent is thy name in all the earth ; who hast fet thy glory above the heavens ! &c. Psal. 8. 1 , 9. I will praise thee , O Lord , with my whole heart : I will shew forth all thy marvellous works , I will sing praise to thy name , O thou most high , &c. Sing to the Lord who dwelleth in Sion ; declare among the people his doings , Psal. 9. 1 , 2 , 11. I will sing unto the Lord , because he hath dealt bountifully with m●… , Psal. 13. 6. Thou art holy , who inhabiteth the praises of Israel , &c. ye who fear the Lord , praise him : all ye the seed of Jacob , glorifie him , Psal. 22. 3 , 23. That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving , and tell of all thy wondrous works , Psal. 26. 7. The Lord is my strength , &c. with my song will I praise him , Psal. 28. 7. Sing unto the Lord , O ye Saints of his , and give thanks at the remembrance ( or , to the memorial ) of his holy name , &c. thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing , &c. to the end that my glory may sing praise unto thee , amd not be silent : O Lord my God , I will give thanks unto thee for ever , Psal 30. 4 , 11 , 12. Blessed be the Lord , for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness , Psal. 31. 21. Praise is comely for the upright , Psal. 33. 1. Psal. 147. 1. I will bless the Lord at all times : his praise shall continually be in my mouth , &c. O magnifie the Lord with me , and let us exalt his name together : I sought the Lord , and he heard me , &c. O taste and see that the Lord is good , &c. Psal. 34. 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 8. My tongue shall speak of thy righteousness , of thy praise all the day , Psal. 35. 28. Great is the Lord , and greatly to be praised in the city of our God , &c. according to thy name , so is thy praises , O God , unto the ends of the earth , Psal. 48. 1 , 10. Offer unto God thanksgiving , &c. I will deliver thee , and thou shalt glorifie me , &c. whoso offereth praise , glorifieth me , Psal. 50. 14 , 15 , 23. My heart is fixed , O God , my heart is fixed ( or prepared ) , I will sing praise awake , up my glory , &c. I will praise thee , O Lord , among the people ; I will sing unto thee among the nations , Psal. 57. 7 , 8 , 9. Psal. 108. 1 , 2. I will sing of thy power , yea , I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning ; for thou hast been my defence , &c. Psal. 59. 16 , 17. Praise waiteth for thee , O God , in Sion , &c. Psal. 65. 1. Make a joyful noise unto God , all ye Saints : sing forth the honour of his name ; make his praise glorious , &c. All the earth shall worship thee , and shall sing unto thee ; O bless our God , ye people , &c. come hear , &c. all ye who fear God , and I will declare what he hath done for my soul : I cryed , &c. Blessed be God , who hath not turned away my prayer , nor his mercy from me , Psal. 66. 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 , 16 , 17 , 20. Psal. 81. 1. Sing unto God , sing praises unto his name ; extol him who rideth upon the heavens , &c. a father of the fatherless , &c. Psal. 68. 4 , 5. I will praise the Lord with a song , and will magnifie him with thanksgiving : this also shall please the Lord better than an Ox , &c. Psal. 69 , 30 , 31. By thee have I been holpen up from the womb : my praise shall be continually of thee , &c. my mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness , thy salvation all the day , Psal. 71. 6 , 15 , 24. We will not hide them from their children : Shewing to the generation to come , the praises of the Lord , &c. Psal. 78. 4. Psal. 89. 1. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord , and to sing unto thy name O most high ; to shew forth thy loving-kindness in the morning , and thy faithness every night , Psal. 92. 1 , 2. O come , let us sing unto the Lord , let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation : let us come before his presence with thanksgiving , Psal. 95. 1 , 2. Psal. 96. 1 , 2. Sing unto the Lord a new song , for he hath done marvellous things : His right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory , &c. Psal. 98. 1 , 2. Bless the Lord , O my soul , and all that is within me , bless his holy name , &c. and forget not all his benefits ; who forgiveth thee all thy iniquities , who healeth all thy diseases , &c. Psal. 103. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 22. I will sing unto the Lord as long a I live : I will sing praise to my God while I have my being , Psal. 104. 33. Psal. 146. 2. Praise ye the Lord : O give thanks unto the Lord , for he is good , for his mercy endureth for ever . Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord ! Who can shew forth all his praises ! &c. Then believed they his words ; they sang his praise , they soon forgat his works , &c. Psal. 106 , 1 , 2 , 12 , 13. Psal. 147. 1. O give thanks unto the Lord , for he is good , &c. let the redeemed of the Lord say so , whom he hath redeemed , &c. O that men would praise the Lord , &c. let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people , and praise him in the assembly of the elders , &c. Whoso is wise , and will observe these things , even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord , Psal. 107. 1 , 2 , 8 , 15 , 31 , 32 , 43. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart , in the assembly of the upright , and in the congregation , Psal. 111. 1 , 2. Praise ye the Lord , praise , O ye servants of the Lord , &c. from the rising of the Sun , unto the going down of the same : the Lords name is to be praised , Psal. 113. 1 , 3 , Psal. 135. 1 , 2 , 3. Not unto us , O Lord , not unto us , but unto thy name give glory , &c. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore , Psal , 115. 1 , 18. I believed , therefore have I spoken , Psal. 116. 10. Seven times a day do I praise thee , because of thy righteous judgments , Psal. 119. 164. O give thanks unto the Lord , for he is good , &c. O give thanks unto the God of gods , for his mercy is for ever : O give thanks to the Lord of Lords , Psal. 136. 1 , 2 , 3 , 26. I will praise thee with my whole heart : before the gods will I sing praise unto thee , &c. for thy loving-kindness , and for thy truth , &c. Psal. 138. 1 , 2. I will praise thee , for I am fearfully and wonderfully made , &c. Psal. 139. 14. I will extol thee , my God , O King ; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever , &c. Great is the Lord , and greatly to be praised ; and his greatness is unsearchable , &c. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy Majesty , and of thy wondrous works ; and shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts , and will declare thy greatness ; they shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness , &c. thy Saints shall bless-thee , they shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom , and talk of thy power ; to make known unto the sons of men his mighty acts , and the glorious Majesty , &c. Psal. 145. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12. Praise the Lord , O Jerusalem ; praise thy God , O Zion , Psal. 147. 12. All persons , and things , called upon to praise the Lord , Psal. 148. Psal. 149. Psal. 150. O Lord , thou my God , I will exalt thee , I will praise thy name , for thou hast done wonderful things , &c. Isa. 25. 1. This people have I formed for my self , that they should shew forth my praise ; but thou hast not called upon me , &c. Isa. 43. 21 , 22. Give glory to the Lord your God , before he cause darkness , &c. Jer. 13. 16. Daniel said , blessed be the name of God for ever and ever ; for wisdom and might are his , and he changeth the times and the seasons : He removeth Kings , and setteth up Kings ; he giveth wisdom to the wise , &c. He revealeth the deep and secret things , &c. I thank thee and praise thee , O thou God of my fathers , who hast given me wisdom and might , and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee ; for thou hast now made known unto us the Kings matter , Dan. 2. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23. When Christ had healed the two blind men , they spread abroad his fame in all that country , Mat. 9. 30 , 31. Mary , upon the promise made to her , praifeth at large : My soul doth magnifie the Lord , &c. The heavenly host praised God , saying , Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace , &c. Simeon took up Jesus and blessed God , saying , &c. Anna the Prophetess , coming in at that instant , gave thanks likewise unto the Lord , Luk. 1. 46 , &c. Luk. 2. 13 , 14 , 28 , 29 , 38. Christ said unto the man out of whom he had cast Devils , return to thine own house , and shew how great things God hath done unto thee ; and he went his way and published it thorowout the whole city , &c. Luk. 8. 38 , 39. When Christ had healed ten Lepers , one of them returned back , and with a loud voice glorified God , and fell down on his face at his feet , giving him thanks , &c. Jesus answered and said , Were there not ten cleansed ? but where are the nine ? there are not found who returned to give glory unto God , save this stranger , Luk. 17. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. The whole multitude of the Disciples began to rejoyce , and to praise God with a loud voice , for all the mighty works which they had seen ; saying , Blessed be the King , who cometh in the name of the Lord , &c. Luk. 19. 37 , 38. And they continued dayly with one accord in the Temple , &c. Did eat their meat with gladness , and with singleness of heart , praising God , Act. 2. 46 , 47. When the lame man was healed , he stood up , and entered with them into the temple , walking and leaping , and praising of God , Act. 3. 8 , 9. We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard , Act. 4. 20. He took bread , and gave thanks in presence of them all , Act. 27. 35. Having therefore obtained help of God , I continue unto this day , Acts 26. 22. Paul and Silas being in Prison , sang praises to God , that the prisoners heard , Act. 16. 24 , 25. Who shall deliver ? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord , Rom. 7. 24 , 25. O the depth of the riches , both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! how unsearchable are his judgments ! and his ways past finding out ! For who hath known the mind of the Lord ! or who hath been his Counsellor ! or who hath first given unto him , & c ! For of him , and through him , and to him are all things : to whom be glory for ever , Amen . Rom. 11. 33 , 34 , 35 , 36. He who eateth , eateth unto the Lord : for he giveth God thanks , Rom. 14. 6. To God only wise , be glory , through Jesus Christ , for ever , Amen . Rom. 16. 27. I thank my God always on your behalf , for the grace of God which is given you , &c. 1 Cor. 1. 4 , 5. I will sing with the spirit , and I will sing with understanding also , 1 Cor. 14. 15. The sting of death is sin , &c. but thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus , 1 Cor. 15. 56 , 57. You also helping together by prayer for us : That for the gift bestowed upon us , by the means of many persons , thanks may be given by many on our behalf , 2 Cor. 1. 11. Now thanks be unto God , who always causeth us to triumph in Christ , and maketh manisest the favour of his knowledg by us in every place , 2 Cor. 2. 14. We having the same spirit of saith , &c. and therefore speak , &c. All things are for your sakes , that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many , redound unto the glory of God , 2 Cor. 4. 13 , 15. Being inriched in every thing to all bountifulness , which causeth through us thanksgiving unto God : for the administation of this service , not only supplyeth the want of the saints , but is abundant also by many thanksgiving unto God , whilst by the experiment of this ministration , they glorifie God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ , &c. 2 Cor. 9. 11 , 12 , 13. God and our father , to whom be glory for ever and ever , Amen , &c. They glorified , Gal. 1. 4 , 5 , 24. Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ , who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings , &c. That we should be to the praise of his glory , &c. I also , &c. cease not to give thanks for you , &c. Ephes. 1. 3 , 12 , 14 , 15. Unto him who is able to do exeeedingly , &c. unto him be glory in the Church by Jesus Christ , Ephes. 3. 20 , 21. Speaking to your selves in Psalms , &c. giving thanks always for all things unto God , and the father , in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ , Ephes. 5. 19 , 20. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you , Phil. 1. 3. 1 Thes. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 1. 3. Be careful for nothing , but in every thing by prayer and supplication , with thanksgiving , let your request be made known , &c. Now unto God , and our father , be glory for ever and ever , Amen . Phil. 4. 6 , 20. We give thanks to God , and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ , &c. Since we heard of your faith , &c. Giving thanks unto the father , who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints , Col. 1. 3 , 12. 1 Thes. 1. 2 , 3. In the faith , &c. abounding therein , within with thanksgiving , Col. 2. 7. Be ye thankful , &c. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed , do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ , giving thanks to God , and the father by him , Col. 3. 15 , 17. Continue in prayer , and watch in the same with thanksgiving , Col. 4. 2. For this cause also thank we God , without ceasing , because when ye received the word of God , &c. 1 Thes. 2. 13. In every thing give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you , 1 Thes. 5. 18. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord , who hath enabled me , &c. who was before a blasphemer , &c. Now unto the king , eternal , immortal , invisible , the only wise God , be honour , and glory , for ever and ever , Amen . 1 Tim. 1. 12 , 13 , 17. Every creature of God is good , and nothing to be refused , if it be received with thanksgiving , 1 Tim. 4. 3 , 4. By him therefore let us o●…r the sacrifice of praise to God continually , that is , the fruit of our lips , giving thanks ( or confessing ) to his name , &c. Heb. 13. 15 , 21. Jesus Christ , to whom be glory for ever and ever , Amen . 2 Pet. 3. 18. Is any merry ? let him sing Psalms , James 5. 13. Blessed be the God and of father our Lord Jesus Christ , who according unto his abundant mercy , hath begotten us again to a lively hope , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 3. Ye are a chosen generation , &c. that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you , &c. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts , and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason of the hope which is in you , with meekness and fear , 1 Pet. 3. 15. If any man speak , let him speak as the oracles of God , &c. that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ , to whom be praise , and dominion , for ever and ever , Amen . 1 Pet. 4. 11. Now unto him who is able , &c. To the only wise God our Saviour , be glory , and majesty , dominion , &c. Jude vers . 24. 25. Thou art worthy , O Lord , to receive glory , and honour , and power , for thou hast created all things , &c. Rev. 4. 11. And they sung a new song , Thou art worthy , &c. for thou wast slain , &c. Worthy is the lamb which was slain , to receive power , and riches , and wisdome , and strength , and honour , and glory , and blessing , &c. unto him that sits on the throne , and unto the lamb for ever and ever , Rev. 5. 9 , 11 , 12 , 13. chap. 7. 11 , 12. Fear God , give glory unto him , Rev. 14. 7. And they sung the song of Moses , &c. saying , Great and marvellous are thy works , Lord God Almighty , &c. Who shall not fear thee , O Lord , and glorifie thy name ? for thou only art holy , &c. Rev. 15. 3 , 4. Salvation , and glory , and honour , and power , unto the Lord our God : for true and righteous are his judgments , &c. And again , &c. Praise our God , all ye his servants , and ye who fear him , both small and great , Rev. 19. 1. 2 , 5 , 7. To fear God alone ; and none else : the Arguments for it . Not to fear any els●… : or , other fear . Fear not , Abram : I am thy shield , thy exceeding great reward , Gen. 15. 1. God appeared unto Isaac the same night , and said , I am the God of Abram thy father : fear not , for I am with thee , &c. Gen. 26. 24. If thou shalt say in thine heart , These nations are more than I , how can I dispossess them ? thou shalt not be afraid of them : but shalt well remember , what the Lord thy God did unto Pharoah , &c. Thou shalt not be affrighted at them : for the Lord thy God is among you , a mighty God , and terrible , &c. Deut. 7. 17 , 18 , 21. Be strong , and of a good courage ; fear not , nor be afraid of them : for the Lord thy God , he who goeth with thee , he will not fail thee , nor forsake thee , Deut. 31. 6 , 8. Joshua 1. 5 , 6 , 7 , 9. I will not be afraid of ten thousand of people , that have set against me round about , Psal. 3. 6. 2 Chron. 20. 15 , 16 , 17. I will both lay me down in peace , and sleep , for thou , Lord , only makest me dwell in safety , Psal. 4. 8. Yea , though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death , I will fear no evil : for thou with me , &c. Psal. 23. 4. The Lord is my light , and my salvation , whom shall I fear ? the Lord is the strength of my life , of whom shall I be afraid , & c ? though an host should encamp against me , my heart shall not fear , &c. Psal. 27. 1 , 3. God is our refuge , &c. therefore will not we fear , though the earth be removed : and though the mountains be carried , &c. Psal. 46. 1 , 2. In God will I put my trust , I will not fear what flesh can do unto me , Psal. 56. 4 , 11. The righteous , &c. shall not be afraid of evil tidings , &c. Psal. 112. 6 , 7 , 8. Be not afraid of sudden fear , neither of the defolation of the wicked when it cometh : for the ●…rd shall be thy confidence , &c. Prov. 3. 25 , 26. The fear of man bringeth a snare , Prov. 29. 25. Say ye not a confederacy , &c. neither fear ye their fear , nor be afraid , &c. Isa. 8. 12. ch . 7. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. Say unto them who are of a fearful heart , Be strong , fear not : behold , your God will come , Isa. 35. 4. Fear thou not , for I am with thee : be not dismayed , for I am thy God , &c. fear not I will help thee , &c. Fear not thou worm Jacob , Ye men of Israel , I will help thee , saith the Lord , Isa. 41. 10 , 13 , 14. Thus saith the Lord who created thee , O Jacob , &c. fear not ; for I have redeemed thee , &c. when thou passest through the waters , I with thee , Isa. 43. 1 , 2 , 5. Fear ye not , neither be afraid : have not I told thee , &c. is there a God besides me , &c. Isa. 44. 8. Hearken unto me , ye who know righteousness , &c. Fear ye not the reproach of men , neither be afraid of their revilings ; for the moth shall eat them , &c. I am he who comforteth you . Who art thou , that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall dye , and of the son of man who shall be made as grass , and forgettest the Lord thy maker ? Isa. 51. 7 , 8 , 12 , 13. Be not afraid of their faces : for I am with thee to deliver thee , &c. Jer. 1. 7 , 8 , 17 , 18 , 19. Learn not the ways of the heathen , and be not dismayed at the signs of the heavens ; for the heathen are dismayed at them , for the customs of the people are vain , Jer. 10. 2. Be not afraid of them , neither be afraid of their words , &c. nor be dismayed at their looks , &c. Ezek. 2. 6. chap. 3. 9. When Christ had told his disciples , what persecutors would do to them , he saith , Fear them not , &c. And fear not them which kill the body , but are not able to kill the soul , Matt. 10. 26 , 28. Luke 12. 4. Why are ye so fearful ? how is it that ye have no saith , Mark 4. 40. We being delivered out of the hands of our enemies , might serve him without fear , Luke 1. 74. Fear not little flock : for it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom , Luke 12. 32. Let not your hearts be troubled , &c. neither let it be afraid , John 14. 1 , 27. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear ; but , &c. Rom. 8. 15. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear , but of power , 2 Tim. 1. 7. Moses parents feared not the kings edict ; nor did he the kings wrath , Heb. 11. 25 , 27. We may boldly say , The Lord is my helper , and I will not fear what man shall do unto me , Heb. 13. 5 , 6. If ye suffer for righteousness sake , happy ; and be not afraid of their terrour , neither be troubled , but sanctifie the Lord , &c. 1 Pet. 3. 14 , 15. There is no fear in love , but perfect love casteth out fear ; because fear hath torment : he who feareth , is not made perfect in love , 1 John 4. 18. Fear God. Now I know that thou fearest God , seeing thou hast not withheld thy son , Gen. 22. 12. But the midwives feared God , and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them , but saved the men-children alive , &c. Therefore God dealt well with the Midwives , &c. Exod. 5. 17 , 20 , 21. I will at this time send all my plagues , &c. that thou maist know , that there is none like me in all the earth , &c. He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh , made his servants , &c. flee into the houses , Exod. 9. 14 , 20. Israel saw that great work , of drowning the Egyptians , &c. which the Lord did : and the people feared the Lord , and believed the Lord , Exod. 14. 31. The Sea covered them , &c. Who is like unto thee , O Lord , amongst the Gods ( or , mighty ones ) ? who like thee , glorious in holiness , fearful in praises , doing wonders ? Exod. 15. 10 , 11. When God appeared upon the mount , with a sound of a trumpet , &c. All the people that was in the camp trembled , Exod. 19. 16 , 18. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain : for the Lord will not hold him guiltless , who taketh his name in vain , Exod. 20. 7. Thou canst not see my face : for there shall no man see me and live , Exod. 33. 20 , 21 , 23. Thou shalt not curse the deaf , &c. but shalt fear thy God : I the Lord , &c. Levit. 19. 14 , 32. Ye shall not therefore oppress one another ; but thou shalt fear thy God : for I am the Lord your God , &c. Levit. 25. 17 , 36 , 43. Did ever people hear the voice of God , &c. as thou hast heard , and live ? &c. unto thee it was shewed , that thou mightest know , that the Lord he is God , there is none else besides him , Deut. 4. 32 , 33 , 35. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God , and serve him , &c. Deut. 6. 13. chap. 10. 20. Understand therefore this day , that the Lord thy God , he who goeth over before thee as a consuming fire , he shall destroy , &c. Deut. 9. 3. And now Israel , what doth the Lord thy God require of thee , but to fear the Lord thy God , & c ? Behold , the heaven , and the heaven of heavens are the Lords , &c. For the Lord your God , is God of gods , and Lord of lords , a great God , and a mighty and terrible , who regardeth not persons , nor taketh reward , Deut. 10. 12 , 14 , 17. I , I am he , and there is no God with me ; I kill , &c. Neither is there any who can deliver out of my hands , &c. If I whet my glittering sword , &c. Deut. 32. 39 , 41. That all the people of the earth may know the hand of the Lord , that it is mighty , that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever , Joshua 4. 24. Deut. 3. 24. There is none holy as the Lord , &c. the Lord killeth and maketh alive : he bringeth down unto the grave , and bringeth up : the Lord maketh poor , &c. 1 Sam. 2. 1 , 6 , 7 , 8. Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God! 1 Sam. 6. 20. Then the earth trembled : the foundations of heaven moved and shook , because he was wroth ; there went up a smoke out of his nostrils , &c. 2 Sam. 22. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. My servant Job , &c. one who feareth God , and escheweth evil , Job 1. 1 , 8. How should man be just with God! &c. He is wise in heart , and mighty in strength : Who hath hardened against him , and hath prospered ? who removeth the mountains , and they know not : who overturneth them in his anger : who shaketh the earth out of her place , and the pillars thereof tremble : who commandeth the sun , and it riseth not ; and sealed up the stars : who alone spreadeth out the heavens , &c. Job 9. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Canst thou by searching find out God ? canst thou find out the Almighty ? Job 11. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. The Lord hath wrought this : in whose hand is the soul ( or , life ) of every living thing , and the breath of all mankind , Job 12. 9 , 10. Will you speak wickedly for God , & c ? shall not his excellency make you afraid ? and his dread fall upon you ? Job 13. 7 , 8 , 11. And unto man he said , Behold the fear of the Lord , that is wisdom , Job 28. 28. God said to Job , None is so fierce ; who dare stir him up ? ( speaking of a creature ) Who then is able to stand before me ? Job 41. 10. Stand in awe , and sin not , Psal. 4. 4. Who is the king of glory ? the Lord of hosts , he is this king of glory , Psal. 24. 10. What man is he who feareth the Lord ? him he shall teach in the way which he shall choose , &c. The secret of the Lord is with them who fear him , and he will shew them his Covenant , Psal. 25. 12 , 13 , 14. O! how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them who fear thee ! Psal. 31. 19. He gathereth the waters of the sea together , &c. Let all the earth fear the Lord , let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him ; for he spake and it was done , &c. Behold , the eye of the Lord is upon them who feareth him , &c. Psal. 33. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 18. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them who fear him , and delivereth them , &c. O fear the Lord , ye his saints : for there is no want unto them who fear him , &c. hearken unto me , I will teach you the fear of the Lord , Psal. 34. 7 , 9 , 11. The transgression of the wicked , saith , within my heart , there is no fear of God before his eyes , Psal. 36. 1. He uttereth his voice , the earth melteth , Psal. 46. 6. The Lord most high is terrible , he is a great king over all the earth , Psal. 47. 2. Because they have no changes , therefore they fear not God , Psal. 55. 19. To him who rideth upon the heavens of heavens of old ; lo he doth send ( or , give ) out his voice , a mighty voice , &c. His excellency over Israel , and his strength in the clouds ( or , heavens ) : O God , thou art terrible out of thy holy places , Psal. 68. 33 , 34 , 35. At thy rebuke , O God of Jacob , both the chariot and horse are cast into a deep sleep . Thou , thou art to be feared ; and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry ? &c. The earth feared and was still , Psal. 76. 6 , 7 , 8. Surely his salvation is nigh them who fear him , Psal. 85. 9. Before the mountains were , &c. even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God : Thou turnest man to destruction , and sayest , Return ye children of men . Who knoweth the power of thine anger ! even according to thy fear , is thy wrath , Psal. 90. 2 , 3 , 11. The Lord reigneth , he is clothed with Majesty ; the Lord is clothed with strength , &c. Thy throne is established of old , thou from everlasting , &c. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters , Psal. 93. 1 , 2 , 4. The Lord , a great God , and a great King above all gods , Psal. 95. 3. Psal. 135. 5 , 6 , 7. The Lord is great , &c. he is to be feared above all gods , &c. The Lord made the heavens ; honour and majesty are before him , &c. fear before him all the earth , Psal. 96. 4 , 5 , 6 , 9. A fire goeth before him , and burneth up his enemies round about ; his lightnings enlighteneth the world : the earth saw , and trembled ; the hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord , at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth , Psal 97. 3 , 4 , 5 , 9. The Lord reigneth , let the people tremble : He sitteth between the Cherubins ; let the earth be removed ( or , stagger ) : the Lord is great in Zion , he is high above all people ; let them praise the great and terrible name , it is holy , Psal. 99. 1 , 2 , 3. As the heavens are high above the earth , so great is his mercy towards them who fear him , &c. As a father pitieth his children , so the Lord pitieth them who feareth him , &c. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting , unto them who fear him , Psal. 103. 11 , 13 , 17. He hath given meat unto them that fear him , &c. Holy and reverend is his name . The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom , Psal. 111. 5 , 9 , 10. Tremble thou earth , at the presence of the Lord ; at the presence of the God of Jacob : who turneth the rock into a standing water , the flint into a fountain of water , Psal. 114. 7 , 8. He will bless them who fear the Lord , small and great , Psal. 115. 13. He will fulfil the desire of them who fear him : he also will hear , &c. Psal. 145. 19. The Lord taketh pleasure in them who fear him , &c. Psal. 147. 11. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledg , Prov. 1. 7. Chap. 9. 10. Fear the Lord , and depart from evil , Prov. 3. 7. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence , &c. it is the fountain of life , to depart from the snares of death , Prov. 14. 26 , 27. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord , than great treasures , &c. Prov. 15. 16. By the fear of the Lord , men depart from evil , Prov. 16. 6. Let not thine heart envy sinners ; but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long , Prov. 23. 17. Whatsoever God doth , it shall be for ever , &c. and God doth it that men should fear before him , Eccl. 3. 14. It shall be well with them , who fear God , who fear before him , Eccl. 18. 12. The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day , &c. And they shall go into the holes , &c. for fear of the Lord , and for the glory of his Majesty : when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth , Isa. 2. 17 , 19 , 21. I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne , &c. and one cryed unto another , and said , Holy , holy , holy is the Lord of Hosts ; the whole earth is full of his glory , &c. then said I , Wo is me , &c. because I , a man of unclean lips , &c. have feen the King the Lord of Hosts , Isa. 6. 1 , 3 , 5. Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself , and let him be your fear , and let him be your dread , Isa. 8. 13. The Lord of Hosts hath sworn , saying , Surely as I thought , so shall it come to pass , and as I have purposed , it shall stand , &c. The Lord of Hosts hath purposed , and who shall disannul it ? and his hand is stretched out , and who shall turn it back ? Isa. 14. 24 , 27. Thou hast made of a city an heap , &c. therefore shall the strong people glorifie thee ; the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee , Isa. 25. 1 , 2 , 3. Who would set the briers and thornes against me in battel ? &c. I would burn them together , Isa. 27. 4. Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth , &c. and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men ; therefore , &c. They shall sanctifie my name , and sanctifie the holy one of Jacob , and shall fear the God of Israel , Isa. 29. 13 , 14 , 15 , 23. Behold , the Lord God will come , &c. who hath measured the waters in the hallow of his hand , and meeted heaven with the span , and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure , &c. behold , the nations as a drop of a bucket , and are counted as the small dust of the ballance ; behold , he taketh up the isles as a very little thing , &c. all nations before him are as nothing , Isa. 40. 10 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. I the Lord the first , and with the last , I am he ; the isles faw it , and feared , the ends of the earth were afraid , drew near , &c. Isa. 41. 4 , 5. The heaven is my throne , and the earth is my footstool ; where is the house ? Isa. 66. 1. Act. 7. 48 , 49 , 50. Know therefore and see , that it is an evil and bitter thing , that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God , and that my fear is not in thee , Jer. 2. 19. O foolish people , &c. fear ye not me , saith the Lord ? Will ye not tremble at my presence ? Who hath placed the sands , for the bounds of the Sea , by a perpetual decree , that it cannot pass it , &c. But this people hath revolted , &c. neither say they in their hearts , Let us now fear the Lord our God , who giveth rain , &c. Jer. 5. 21. 22 , 23 , 24. None like unto thee , O Lord : thou great , and thy name great in might ; who would not fear thee , O King of nations ! for to thee it appertaineth , &c. The Lord is the true God , he the living God , an everlasting King ; at his wrath the earth shall tremble , and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation , &c. Jer. 10. 6 , 7 , 10. 12 , 13. Dan. 2. 20 , 21 , 22 , 47. Chap. 4. 17 , 32. O house of Israel , cannot I do with you , as this potter , saith the Lord ? behold , as the clay in the potters hand , so ye , in my hand , O house of Israel , Jer. 18. 6. Can any hide himself in secret praces , that I shall not see him , saith the Lord ? Do not I fill heaven and earth , & c ? Jer. 23. 24. The great , the mighty God , the Lord of Hosts is his name : great in counsel , and mighty in work , &c. I will give them one heart , and one way , that they may fear me for ever , &c. I will put my fear into their hearts . Jer. 32. 18 , 19 , 39 , 40. The Lord shall utter his voice before his army , &c. for the day of the Lord is great , and very terrible , and who can abide it ? Joel 2. 11. God is jealous , the Lord revengeth , &c. He rebuketh the Sea , and maketh it dry , &c. The mountains quake at him , and the hills melt , &c. Nahum . 1. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. If I be a master , Where is my fear , & c ? I am a great King , saith the Lord of Hosts ; and my name is dreadful amongst the heathen , Mal. 1. 6 , 14. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerer , &c. And fear not me , saith the Lord of Hosts , &c. A book of remembrance was written before him , for them who feared the Lord , and that thought of his name . And they shall be mine , saith the Lord , Mal. 3. 5 , 16 , 17. But unto you , who fear my name , shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings , and ye shall grow , &c. Mal. 4. 2. Fear him , who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell , Mat. 10. 28. His mercy is on them who fear him , from generation to generation ; he hath shewed strength , &c. He hath put down the mighty , &c. Luke 1. 50 , 51 , 52 , 53. The most High , dwelleth not in temples made with hands , &c. Heaven is my throne , &c. Hath not my hand made all these things ? Acts 7. 48 , 49 , 50. The Churches were edified , and walked in the fear of the Lord , Acts 9. 31. In every nation , he who feareth him , &c. is accepted with him , Acts 10. 35. God , who made the world , and all things therein , seeing he is God , &c. Acts 17. 24 , 25 , &c. All things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do , Heb. 4. 13. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God , Heb. 10. 31. Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably , with reverence and godly fear . For our God is a consuming fire , Heb. 12. 28 , 29. Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear , 1 Pet. 1. 17. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Fear God , 1 Pet. 2. 17. Fear God , and give glory to him , for the hour of his Judgment is come , Rev. 14. 7. Great and marvellous are thy works , Lord God Almighty , &c. Who shall not fear thee , O Lord , and glorifie thy name ? for thou only art holy , Rev. 15. 3 , 4. To trust in God , and in none else , in all Cases : The Arguments thereto . 1. Not in any else . There is none besides thee , neither is there any rock like unto God , 1 Sam. 2. 2. Because thou hast relied on the King of Assyria , and not relied on the Lord thy God ; therefore is the host of the King of Syria escaped out of thy hands , &c. Asa in his disease fought not to the Lord , but to the Physicians . 2 Chron. 16. 7. 12. There is no King saved by the multitude of an host : a mighty man is not delivered by much strength . A horse is a vain thing for safety ; neither shall he deliver by his great strength , Psal. 33. 16. 17. They who trust in their wealth , and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches : None can by any means redeem his brother , nor give to God a ransom for him , &c. that he should live for ever , Psal. 49. 6 , 7 , 9. Lo , this is the man who made not God his strength ; but trusted in the abundance of his riches , &c. But I trust in the mercy of God for ever , Psal. 52. 7 , 8. Give us help from trouble , for vain is the help of man , Psal. 60. 11. Surely , men of low degree are vanity , men of high degree a lye ; to be laid in the balance , they are altogether lighter than vanity . Trust not in oppression , &c. Psal. 62. 9 , 10. Put not your trust in Princes , nor in the sons of men , in whom is no help ; his breath goeth sorth , he turneth to his earth : in that very day his thoughts perish , Psal. 146. 3 , 4. He who trusted unto his riches , shall fall , Prov. 11. 28. He who trusteth in his own heart , is a fool , Prov. 28. 26. Cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils : for wherein is he to be accounted of ? Isa. 2. 22. Thou didst look in that day unto the armour of the house of the forest , &c. ye made also a ditch between the two walls , &c. But ye have not looked unto the maker thereof , Isa. 22. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Wo unto the rebellious children , &c. who take counsel , but not of me , &c. who walk to go down to Egypt , and have not asked at my mouth , to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharoah , and to trust in the shadow of Egypt : Therefore shall the strength of Pharoah be your shame , and the trust in the shadow of Egypt confusion , &c. for the Egyptians shall help in vain , and to no purpose , &c. their strength is to sit still , Isa. 30. 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7. Thou hast trusted in thy wickedness : thou hast said , None seeth , &c. Thou hast said in thine heart , I am , and none else besides me , &c. Stand now with thine enchantments , &c. let them stand up and save thee , &c. Behold , they shall be as stubble , &c. None shall save thee , Isa. 47. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. Truly , in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills , and from the multitudes of mountains , &c. Jer. 3. 23. Trust ye not in lying words , Saying the Temple of the Lord , &c. Jer. 7. 4. Trust ye not in any brother , for every brother will utterly supplant , Jer. 9. 4 , 5. This is thy portion , &c. because thou hast forgotten me , and trusted in falshood : Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face , &c. Jer. 13. 25 , 26. Thus saith the Lord , Cursed be the man who trusteth in man , and maketh flesh his arm , and whose heart departeth from God ; for he shall be like the heath in the desert , &c. Jer. 17. 5 , 6. For because thou hast trusted in thy works , and in thy treasures , thou shall also be taken , &c. Jer. 48. 7. Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys , &c. O back-sliding daughter , who trusteth in her treasures , saying , Who shall come unto me ? Behold , I will bring fear upon thee , saith the Lord of Host , Jer. 49. 4 , 5. As for us , our eyes as yet failed for our vain hope in our watching : we have wtached for a nation which could not save us , Lam. 4. 17. Egypt shall know , &c. because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel , when they took hold of thee by thy hand , thou didst break and rent all their shoulders ; and when they leaned upon thee , thou brakest all their loins , &c. Ezek. 29. 6 , 7. They shall know that I am the Lord , when I have set a fire in Egypt , and when all her helpers shall be destroyed , Ezek. 30. 8. Ephraim also is like a silly Dove without heart : they call to Egypt , they go to Assyria ; when they shall go , I will spread my net upon them , I will bring them down , &c. Wo unto them , for they have fled from me , Hosea 7. 11 , 12 , 13. Ephraim feedeth upon wind , &c. they do make a covenant with the Assyrians , &c. Hosea 12. 1. Wo unto them who are at ease in Zion , and trust in the mountains of Samaria , Amos 6. 1. Trust ye not in a friend , put ye not confidence in a guide ; keep the dore of thy mouth from her who lyeth in thy bosom . For the son dishonoureth the father , &c. Micah 7. 5 , 6. We had the sentence of death in our selves , that we should not trust in our selves , 1 Cor. 1. 9. 2. In God alone , a suitable Object . God said , Let there be light , and there was light , &c. Gen. 1. 3 , 6 , 9 , &c. When Sarah doubted of the promise , because of her age : The Lord said to Abraham , Wherefore did Sarah laugh , saying , Shall I of surety bear a child , which am old ? Is any thing too hard for the Lord ? Gen. 18. 12 , 13 , 14. Luk. 1. 37. When Hagar was fainting , and thought there was no way but death with her child , God shewed her a well of water , &c. Gen. 21. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. When Josephs brethren had conspired to kill him , God works for his deliverance , Gen. 37. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , &c. When God was sending Moses upon a great work ; Moses said unto the Lord , O my Lord , I am not eloquent , &c. but I am slow of speech , &c. And the Lord said unto him , Who hath made mans mouth ? or who maketh the dumb , or the deaf , or the seeing , or the blind ? Have not I the Lord ? Now therefore go , and I will be with thy mouth , &c. Exod. 4. 10 , 11 , 12. And Moses said unto the people , Fear ye not , stand still and see the salvation of the Lord ; which he will shew to you to day , &c. the Lord shall fight for you , &c. And the Angel of God which went before the Camp , removed , and went behind them , &c. between the Camp of the Egyptians , and the Camp of Israel , &c. Led them through the Red-Sea , Exod. 14. 13 , 14 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. The Lord shall reign for ever and ever , Exod. 15. 18. The Lord , &c. proclaimed the name of the Lord : The Lord , the Lord God merciful and gracious , long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth ; keeping mercy for thousands : forgiving iniquity , transgression and sin , &c. Exod. 34. 5 , 6 , 7. And Moses said , The people amongst whom I am , are 600000 , &c. shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them , to suffice them ? or shall all the fish of the Sea be gathered together for them ? &c. And the Lord said unto Moses , Is the Lords hand waxed short ? thou shalt see , &c. Numb . 11. 21 , 22 , 23. God is not a man that he should lye , neither the Son of man that he should repent : Hath he said , and shall he not do ? or hath he spoken , and shall he not make it good ? Behold , &c. He hath blessed , and I cannot reverse it , Heb. 6. 18. Numb . 23. 19 , 20. Tit. 1. 2. What God is there in heaven or earth , that can do according to thy works , and according to thy might , Deut. 3. 24. Unto thee it was shewed , that thou mightest know , that the Lord he is God : there is none else besides him , &c. Deut. 4. 35 , 39. Know therefore , that the Lord thy God , he is God , the faithful God ; who keepeth covenant and mercy with them who love him , &c. Deut. 7. 9. Understand therefore this day , that the Lord thy God , he who goeth before thee as a consuming fire , he shall destroy them , and he shalt bring them down before thy face : so shall thou drive them out , &c. Deut. 9. 3. There shall be no man able to stand before you , for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you , &c. Deut. 11. 25. Joshua 5. 1. 2 Chron. 14. 14. Chap. 17. 10. Their rock is not as our rock , the enemies themselves being judges , &c See now that I , I am he , and there is no God with me : I kill , and I make alive ; I wound , and I heal ; neither is there any who can deliver out of my hand : for I lift up my hand to heaven , and say , I live for ever , Deut 32. 31 , 39 , 40. There is none like unto the God of Jesurun , who rideth upon the heaven for thy help , and in his Excellency on the sky : The eternal God thy refuge , and underneath are the everlasting arms ; and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee , &c. Deut. 33. 26 , 27. Hereby ye shall know , that the living God is among you , &c. Joshua 3. 10. Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you : all are come to pass unto you , and not one thing hath failed thereof , &c. Joshua 23. 14. There is none besides thee ; neither is there any rock like our God , &c. The Lord killeth and maketh alive ; he bringeth down to the grave , and bringeth up : The Lord maketh poor , and maketh rich ; he bringeth low , and lifteth up : he raiseth up the poor out of the dust , lifteth up the beggar from the dunghil , to set among Princes ; and make them to inherit the throne of glory : for the pillars of the earth are the Lords , and he hath set the world upon them , 1 Sam. 2. 2 , 6 , 7 , 8. Luk. 1. 51 , 52 , 53. It may be the Lord will work for us ; for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few , 1 Sam. 14. 6. Then said David to the Philistine , Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear , and with a shield : but I come unto thee in the name of the Lord of Host , the God of the armies of Israel , &c. I will smite thee , &c. that all the earth may know there is a God in Israel , 1 Sam. 17. 45 , 46. And David was greatly distressed ; for the people spake of stoning him , &c. but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God , 1 Sam. 30. 6. The Lord is my rock , &c. the God of my rock ; in him will I trust , &c. He is a buckler to all them that trust in him : For who is God save the Lord ? and who a rock save our God ? 2 Sam. 22. 2 , 3 , 31 , 32. Alas my master , how shall we do ? And he answered , Fear not , for they with us are more than they with them . And Elisha prayed , &c. 2 Kings 6. 16. The children of Judah prevailed , because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers , 2 Chron. 13. 18. Hezekiah said unto the people ( when the king of Assyria came against him ) , Be strong and courageous ; be not afraid or dismayed for the the king of Assyria , nor for all the multitude that is with him ; for there are more with us than with them ; with him an arm of flesh ; but with us , the Lord our God , to help us , and to fight our battels , 2 Chron. 32. 6 , 7 , 8. The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to make proclamation for the building of Jerusalem , the Temple , and restoring the vessels of the house of the Lord , when the Jews were in captivity , Ezra 1. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 11. Canst thou by searching find out God ? &c. If he cut off , and shut up , and gather together , then who can hinder him ( or , turn him away ) ? Job 11. 7 , 10. Though he slay me , yet will I trust in him , Job 13. 15. Job reckons up many works of God , and concludes thus : Lo these parts of his ways : but how little a portion is heard of him ! Job 26. 14. I know that thou canst do every thing , and no thought can be withholden from thee ( or , no thought of thine can be hindred ) , Job 42. 2. Kiss the Son , &c. blessed are they who put their trust in him , Psal. 2. 12. I will both lay me down in peace and sleep : for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safety , Psal. 4. 8. Psal. 3. 5 , 6. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed : a refuge in times of trouble ; and they who know thy name will put their trust in thee : for thou Lord , hast not forsaken them who seek thee , Psal. 9. 9 , 10. In the Lord put I my trust : how say ye to my soul , flee as a bird , & c ? Psal. 11. 1. Psal. 31. 1 , 6. The Lord is my rock , and my fortress , &c. in whom I will trust , &c. Psal. 18. 2 , 31. Psal. 91. 2. In the name of our God we will set up our banners , &c. Some trust in chariots , and some in horses : but we will remember the name of the Lord our God , Psal. 20. 5 , 7. The King trusteth in the Lord , and through the mercy of the most high he shall not be moved , Psal. 21. 7. Our father 's trusted in thee ; they trusted , and thou didst deliver , &c. They trusted in thee , and were not confounded , Psal. 22. 4 , 5. Who is this king of glory ? the Lord strong and mighty , the Lord mighty in battel , &c. the Lord of hosts , he the king of glory , Psal. 24. 7 , 8. The Lord my strength and my shield , my heart trusteth in him , and I am helped , Psal. 28. 7. In thee , O Lord , do I put my trust , let me not be ashamed , &c. O how great is thy goodness , &c. which thou hast wrought for them who trust in thee ! &c. Thou shalt hide them , &c. Psal. 31. 1 , 6 , 14 , 19 , 20 , 24. He who trusteth in the Lord , mercy shall compass him about , Psal. 32. 10. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought , &c. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever , Psal. 33. 10 , 11. Prov. 19. 21. Isa. 46. 10. Trust in the Lord and do good , so shalt thou dwell in the land , &c. Commit thy way unto the Lord : trust also in him , and he shall bring it to pass , &c. The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord , he their strength in the time of trouble : And the Lord shall help them , &c. He shall deliver them , &c. because they trust in him , Psal. 37. 3 , 5 , 39 , 40. Blessed is the man who maketh the Lord his trust , Psal. 40. 4. Psal. 84. 12. He maketh wars to cease , &c. Be still , and know that I am God , I will be exalted , &c. The Lord of hosts is with us , the God of Jacob our refuge , Psal. 46. 9 , 10 , 11. I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever , Psal. 52. 8. Cast thy burthen on the Lord , and he shall sustain thee , Psal. 55. 22. What time I am afraid , I will trust in thee , &c. In God I have put my trust , I will not fear what flesh can do unto me , Psal. 56. 3 , 4 , 11. For my soul trusteth in thee : yea , in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge , until calamities be overpast , Psal. 57. 1. Psal. 61. 3 , 4. Through God we shall do valiantly , for he shall tread down our enemies , Psal. 60. 12. In God is my salvation , and my glory : the rock of my strength : my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times , ye people , &c. God hath spoken once , twice have I heard this , that power belongeth unto God , Psal. 62. 7 , 8 , 11 , 12. The God of Israel is he who giveth strength and power unto his , Psal. 68. 35. A fire was kindled against Jacob , &c. because they believed not God , and trusted not in his salvation : though he had commanded the clouds , &c. Psal. 78. 21 , 22 , 23. The Lord reigneth , the Lord is clothed with majesty , the Lord is clothed with strength , &c. Psal. 93. 1. Psal. 97. 1. Psal. 146. 10. The righteous , &c. he shall not be afraid of evil tidings : his heart is fixed , trusting in the Lord , Psal. 112. 6 , 7. It is better to trust in the Lord , than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord , then to put confidence in princes , Psal. 118. 8 , 9. My help cometh from the Lord , who made heaven and earth , &c. Behold , he who keepeth Israel , shall neither slumber nor sleep , Psal. 121. 2 , 3 , 4. They who trust in the Lord , shall be as mount Zion which cannot be removed , &c. as the mountains are round about Jerusalem , so the Lord is round about his people : from henceforth even for ever , Psal. 125. 1 , 2. The Lord great , and our God above all gods . Whatsoever the Lord pleaseth , did he in heaven and in earth , Psal. 135. 5 , 6. Happy is he who hath the God of Jacob for his help , whose hope is in the Lord his God , who made heaven and earth , and the sea , and all that therein is : who keepeth truth for ever , Psal. 146. 5 , 6. He healeth the broken in heart , and bindeth up their wounds : he telleth the number of the stars , &c. Great is our God , and of great power ; his understanding is infinite , &c. Psal. 147. 2 , 3 , 4 , &c. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart , and lean not to thine own understanding : in all thy ways acknowledg him , and he shall direct thy paths , Prov. 3. 5 , 6. Commit thy works unto the Lord , and thy thoughts shall be established : whoso trusteth in the Lord , happy is he , Prov. 16. 3 , 20. The name of the Lord is a strong tower : the righteous runneth into it , and are safe , Prov. 18. 10. There is no wisdom or understanding , nor counsel against the Lord. The horse is prepared against the day of battel ; but safety ( or , victory ) is of the Lord , Prov. 21. 30 , 31. Chap. 19. 21. Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord , shall be safe : Many seek the rulers favour ; but every mans judgment is from the Lord , Prov. 29. 25 , 26. If ye will not believe , surely ye shall not be established , Isa. 7. 9. Associate your selves , &c. take counsel together , and it shall come to nought ; speak the word , and it shall not stand : For God is with us , Isa. 8. 9 , 10. I will trust , and not be afraid ; for the Lord Jehovah is my refuge , Isa. 12. 2. For the Lord of Hosts hath purposed , and who shall disannul it ? and his hand is stretched out , and who shall turn it back ? Isa. 14. 27. There shall be desolation , because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation ; and hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength , Isa. 17. 10. Thou hast been a strength to the poor , a strength to the needy in his distress : a refuge from the storm , a shadow from the heat , when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall , Isa. 25. 4. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace , whose mind is stayed on thee , because he trusteth in thee ; trust ye in the Lord for ever : For in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength ; for he bringeth down , &c. Isa. 26. 3 , 4. Behold the Lord , a mighty and a strong one , Isa. 28. 2 , 6. The Egyptians shall help in vain , and to no purpose ; therefore have I cryed concerning this : Their strength is to sit still , &c. For thus saith the Lord God , the holy one of Israel , In returning and rest shall ye be saved : in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength ; and ye would not , &c. Isa. 30. 7 , 15 , 16. Behold the Lord God will come , &c. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd , &c. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand , and meted out heaven , &c. Isa. 40. 10 , 11 , 12. I the Lord , the first , and with the last I am he , &c. Isa. 41. 4. Chap. 44. 6. When thou passest thorow the waters , &c. they shall not overflow thee , &c. For I am the Lord thy God , the holy one of Israel , thy Saviour , &c. And besides me , there is no Saviour , &c. I will work , and who shall let it ? &c. Isa. 43. 2 , 3 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Chap. 45. 21. Thus saith the Lord thy redeemer , and he who formed thee from the womb , I the Lord who maketh all things , who stretched forth the heavens , &c. who confirmeth the word of his servant , and performeth the counsel of his messengers , &c. who saith to the deep , be dry , Isa. 44. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27. I am the Lord , and there is none else : I formed the light , and create darkness , &c. O God of Israel , the saviour , &c. Isa. 45. 6 , 7 , 15 , 21. My counsel shall stand , and I will do all my pleasure , Isa. 46. 10. Is my hand shortned at all , that I cannot redeem ? or have I no power to deliver ? Behold , at my rebuke , I dry up the sea , &c. Who is among you who feareth the Lord , &c. who sit in darkness and hath no light ? let him trust in the name of the Lord , and stay upon his God , Isa. 50. 2 , 3 , 10. Isa. 8. 17. chap. 59. 1. Fear not , &c. for thy maker is thy husband , the Lord of hosts is his name : and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel , the God of the whole earth , Isa. 54. 4 , 5. But he who putteth his trust in me , shall possess the land , and shall inherit my holy mountain , Isa. 57. 13. Behold , the Lords hand is not shortned , that it cannot save : neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear : but your iniquities have separated , Isa. 59. 1 , 2. chap. 50. 2. Blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord , and whose hope the Lord is : for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters , &c. O Lord , the hope of Israel , Jer. 17. 7 , 8 , 13. Behold , I am the Lord , the God of all flesh : is there any thing too hard for me ? Jer. 32. 27. I will surely deliver thee , &c. because thou hast put thy trust in me , saith the Lord , Jer. 39. 18. Leave thy fatherless , &c. and let the widows trust in me , Jer. 49. 11. Their redeemer is strong , the Lord of hosts , the Lord of hosts is his name , he shall throughly plead their cause , &c. Jer. 50. 34. I the Lord have spoken , and will do , Ezek. 22. 14. Our God whom we serve , is able to deliver us , &c. and he will deliver us , Dan. 3. 17 , 28. Daniel was taken out of the den , and no manner of hurt was found upon him , because he believed in his God , Dan. 6. 23. Blessed be God , &c. for wisdom and might are his ; he changeth the times , &c. removeth kings , &c. Dan. 2. 20 , 21 , 22 , 47. ch . 4. 17 , 32. Thou shalt know no God but me , for there is no saviour besides me , &c. O Israel , thou hast destroyed thy self , but in me is thine help , Hosea 13. 4 , 9. Ashur shall not save us , &c. for in thee the fatherless find mercy , Hosea 14. 3. When my soul fainted within me , I remembred the Lord , Jonah 2. 7. Trust ye not in a friend , &c. for the son dishonoureth the father , &c. Therefore I will look unto the Lord , I will wait for the God of my salvation , Micah 7. 5 , 6 , 7. The Lord is good , a strong hold ( or , strength ) in the day of trouble , and he knoweth them who trust in him , Nahum 1. 7. Although the figtree shall not blossom , neither shall fruit be in the vines : the labour of the Olive shall fail , and the field shall yield no meat , &c. yet I will rejoyce in the Lord ; I will joy in the God of my salvation , the Lord God is my strength , Habbak . 3. 17 , 18 , 19. Wo to her , &c. she trusted not in the Lord : she drew not near to her God , &c. I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people , and they shall trust in the name of the Lord , Zephan . 3. 1 , 2 , 12. Not by might , not by power , but by spirit , saith the Lord of Hosts : who thou , O great mountain before Zerubbabel ? Zech. 4. 6 , 7. Take no thought for your life , what you shall eat , or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body , what you shall put on , &c. behold the fowls of the air , &c. yet your heavenly father feedeth them : are ye not much better than they ? &c. Consider the Lillies , &c. If God so clothe the grass , &c. shall he not much more clothe you , O ye of little faith ? &c. your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of these things , Matth. 6. 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 32. There is one God , and there is none other but he , Mark 1. 2 , 32. Blessed is she who believes , for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her , &c. Luke 1. 45. Let not your hearts be troubled , ye believe in God , believe also in me , Joh. 14. 1. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world . Act. 15. 18. God who made the world and all things therein , seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth , &c. he giveth to all life , and breath , and all things , Acts 17. 24 , 25. Let God be true , but every man a lyar , Rom. 3. 4. If God be for us , who can be against us ? Rom. 8. 31. The foolishness of God is wiser than men , and the weakness of God is stronger than men , 1 Cor. 1. 25 , 27. God , &c. the father of mercies , and the God of all comfort , &c. We had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves , but in God who raiseth the dead : who delivered us from so great a death , and doth deliver , in whom we trust that he will yet deliver , 2 Cor. 1. 3 , 9 , 10. God , who comforteth them who are cast down , &c. 2 Cor. 7. 6. Unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think , &c. Ephes. 3. 20. Be careful for nothing , but in every thing by prayer , &c. let your requests be made known unto God , Phil. 4. 6. The living and the true God , 1 Thes. 1. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 23. Therefore we both labour and suffer reproach , because we trust in the living God , who is the Saviour of all men , specially of those who believe , 1 Tim. 4. 10. In hope of eternal life , which God who cannot lye , promised before the world , &c. Titus 1. 2. Be content with such things as ye have : for he hath said , I will never leave thee nor forsake thee ; so we may boldly say , the Lord is my helper , and I will not fear , Hebr. 13. 5. 6. Every good gift and perfect gift is from above , and cometh down from the father of lights , with whom is no variableness , &c. James 1. 17. Casting all your care upon him , for he careth for you , 1 Pet. 5. 7. See Faith , Chap. 11. To look believingly unto , hope in , and patiently wait for God in all cases : the Arguments hereto . Fear ye not , stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will shew , &c. and the Lord shall fight for you , &c. Exod. 14. 13 , 14. The Lord , the Lord God , merciful and gracious , long-suffering , and abundant in goodness and truth , Exod. 34. 6. When the people complained ( or , were as it were complainers ) it displeased the Lord , &c. Numb . 11. 1. God is not man that he should lye , neither the son of man that he should repent : hath he said , and shall he not do ? or , hath he spoken , and shall he not make it good ? Numb . 23. 19. Heb. 6. 18. Titus 1. 2. Rom. 3. 4. The Lord thy God , he is God : the faithful God who keepeth Covenant , Deut. 7. 9. Not one thing hath failed of all the good things the Lord your God spake , &c. Joshua 23. 14. The King of Israel said , Behold this evil is of the Lord ; what should I wait for the Lord any longer ? 2 Kings 6. 33. We have no might , &c. neither know we what to do : but our eyes are upon thee , &c. ye shall not need to fight in this ; set your selves , stand ye , and see the salvation of the Lord with you , 2 Chron. 20. 12 , 17. I would seek unto God , and unto God would I commit my cause : who doth great things and unsearchable , marvellous things without number , Job 5. 8. 9. In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee , and will look up . Psal. 5. 3. Thou Lord hast not forsaken them who seek thee , Psalm 9. 10. They shall praise the Lord who seek him , Psalm 22. 26. Thou the God of my Salvation : on thee do I wait all the day , &c. mine eyes are ever towards the Lord : for he shall pluck my feet out of the net , Psalm 25. 5 , 15. Wait on the Lord , and be of good courage , and he shall strengthen thine heart : wait , I say , on the Lord , Psalm 27. 14. Behold , the eye of the Lord is upon them , &c. who hope in his mercy , to deliver their soul , &c. Our soul waiteth for the Lord , he is our help , Psalm 33. 18 , 19 , 20. Thy mercy ; O Lord , in the Heavens : thy faithfulness reacheth to the clouds , Psalm 36. 5. Psalm 57. 10. Commit thy way unto the Lord , &c. and he shall bring it to pass , &c. rest in the Lord , and wait patiently for him ; fret not thy self , &c. because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass , &c. Fret not thy self in any wise to do evil , &c. Wait on the Lord and keep his way , and he shall exalt thee , &c. Psalm 37. 5 , 7 , 8 , 34. I waited patiently for the Lord , and he inclined unto me and heard my cry ; he brought me up out of an horrible pit , out of the mire , Psalm 40. 1 , 2. Why art thou cast down , O my soul ? why art thou disquieted in me ? hope thou in God , for I shall yet praise him , Psalm 42. 6 , 11. Psalm 43. 5. God our refuge , &c. a very present help in time of trouble , Psalm 46. 1. O God , thou my God , early will I seek thee : my soul thirsteth for thee , Psalm 62. 1. I am weary of my crying , my throat is dryed : mine eyes fail , while I wait for my God , Psalm 69 3. But I will hope continually , and will yet praise thee more and more , Psalm 71. 14. Thou , O Lord , art a God full of compassion , and gracious : long-suffering , and plenteous in mercy and truth , Psalm 86. 15. Psalm 111. 4. Even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God : Thou turnest man to destruction , and sayest , Return ye children ofmen , Psalm 90. 2 , 3. The Lord will not cast off his people , neither will he forsake his inheritance , Psalm 94. 14. The Lord is merciful and gracious , slow to anger , plenteous in mercy : he will not always chide , neither will he keep anger for ever , &c. like as a father pitieth his children , so the Lord pitieth them who fear him , &c. the mercy of God is from everlasting to everlasting , Psalm 103. 8 , 9. 13 , 17. These all wait on thee , that thou mayst give them their meat in due season , Psalm 104. 27. They soon forgat his works : they waited not for his counsel , Psalm 106. 13. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion : he hath given meat unto them who fear him , he will ever be mindful of his Covenant , Psalm 111 4 , 5. Psal : 116. 5. Psalm 112. 4. My soul fainteth for thy salvation : I hope in thy word , Psalm 119. 81. Behold , as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their Masters , &c. so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God until he have mercy upon us , Psalm 123. 2. I wait for the Lord ; my soul doth wait , and in his word do I hope , &c. my soul waiteth for the Lord more than they who watch for the morn : let Israel hope in the Lord , for with the Lord is mercy and plenteous redemption , Psalm 130. 5 , 6 , 7. Our bones are scattered , &c. but mine eyes are unto thee , O God , the Lord , Psalm 14●… . 7 , 8. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion , slow to anger , and of great mercy : ●…he Lord is good to all , and his tender mercies are over all his works , &c. the Lord upholdeth all that fall , &c. the eyes of all wait upon ( or , look unto ) thee , and thou givest them their meat in due season : thou openest thine hand , and satisfiest the desire of every living thing , Psalm 145. 8 , 9 , 14 , 15 , 16. The Lord taketh pleasure in them , &c. who hope in his mercy , Psalm 147. 11. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick : but when it cometh , &c. Prov. 13. 12. Say not thou , I will recompence evil : wait on the Lord , and he shall save thee , Prov. 20. 22. If thou saint in the day of adversity , thy strength is small , Prov. 24. 10. I will wait upon the Lord who hideth his face from the house of Jacob , and I will look for him , &c. should not a people seek unto the Lord ? Isaiah 8. 17 , 19. At that day shall a man look to his Maker , and his eyes shall have respect unto the holy One of Israel , and he shall not look to the altars , Isaiah 17. 7 , 8. And it shall be said in that day , So this is our God , we have waited for him , and he will save us : this the Lord , we have waited for him , Isaiah 25. 9. In the way of thy Judgment , O Lord , have we waited for thee : the desire of our soul is to the remembrance of thy name : with my soul have I desired thee in the night , &c. Isaiah 26. 8 , 9. He who believeth shall not make haste , Isaiah 28. 16. Wo to the rebellious children who take counsel , but not of me ; and who cover with a covering , but not of my Spirit , &c. Their strength is to sit still , &c. For thus saith the Lord , the holy One of Israel , In returning and rest , shall ye be saved : in quietness and confidence shall be your strength , and ye would not , &c. therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you , &c. for the Lord is a God of judgment , blessed are all they who wait for him , Isaiah 30. 1 , 7 , 15 , 18. Wo to them who go down to Egypt for help , &c. but they look not to the holy One of Israel , neither seek the Lord , Isaiah 31. 1. O Lord , be gracious to us , we have waited for thee , Isaiah 33. 2. Hast thou not known ? &c. the everlasting God , the Lord , the Creator of the ends of the earth sainteth not , neither is weary ; there is no searching of his understanding ; he giveth power , &c. But they who wait upon the Lord shall renew strength : they shall mount up with wings as Eagles : they shall run and not be weary , they shall walk and not be faint , Isaiah 40. 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. Look unto me , and be ye saved , all the ends of the earth : for I am God , and there is none else , Isaiah 45. 22. Thou shalt know that I am the Lord : for they shall not be ashamed who wait for me , Isaiah 49. 23. Who is among you who feareth the Lord , &c. and walks in darkness , and hath no light ? let him trust in the name of the Lord , and stay upon his God , Isaiah 50. 10. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard , nor perceived by the ear , neither hath the eye seen , O God , besides thee , what he hath prepared for him who waiteth for him , Isa. 64. 4. I am the Lord , who exercise loving-kindness , judgment and righteousness in the earth : for in these things I delight , saith the Lord , Jer. 9. 24. O the hope of Israel , the Saviour thereof in time of trouble , &c. Are there any among the vanities of the heathen who can cause rain ? &c. Art not thou he , O Lord our God ? therefore we will wait upon thee : for thou hast made all these things , Jer. 14. 8 , 22. Blessed is the man , &c. whose hope the Lord is , Jer. 17. 7. The Lord is good unto them who wait for him , to the soul which seeketh him . It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord , &c. for the Lord will not cast off for ever : for though he cause grief , yet will he have compassion , according to the multitude of his mercies , Lam. 3. 24 , 25 , 26 , 31 , 32. Wait on thy God continually , Hosea 12. 6. The Lord your God , he is gracious and merciful , slow to anger , and of great kindness , and repenteth him of the evil : Who knoweth if he will return and repent , and leave a blessing behind him ! Joel 2. 13 , 14. Jonah 4. 2. The Lord is the hope of his people , the strength of the children of Israel , Joel 3. 16. Seek ye me , and ye shall live ; but seek not Bethel , &c. seek the Lord , and ye shall live , Amos 5. 4 , 5 , 6. Then I said , I am cast out of thy sight ; yet I will look again towards thy holy Temple , &c. When my soul fainted within me , I remembred the Lord , and my prayer came in unto him , Jonah 2. 4 , 7. Thou hast had pity on ( or , spared ) the gourd , &c. And should not I spare Nineveh that great City , where are more than 120000 persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left , Jonah 4. 10 , 11. A mans enemies are the men of his own house : therefore I will look unto the Lord : I will wait for the God of my salvation , &c. Micah . 7. 6 , 7. For the vision is yet for an appointed time : but at the end it shall speak and shall not lye ; though it tarry , wait for it , because it will surely come , it will not tarry . Behold his soul which is lifted up , is not right in him : but the just shall live by his faith , Habbak . 2. 3 , 4. Though Christ put off the woman of Canaan by sharp words often ; yet she still waited on him , and looks for good , till she had it , Mat. 15. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. So the two blind men would not be put off , but called and waited till Christ heard and answered them , Mat. 20. 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34. The impotent man waited at the pool long to be cured , John 5. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. Tribulation worketh patience , and patience experience , and experience hope : and hope maketh not ashamed ; because the love of God , &c. Rom. 5. 3 , 4 , 5. For we are saved by hope : but hope which is seen is not hope : for what a man seeth , why doth he yet hope for ? but if we hope for that we see not ; then do we with patience wait for it , Rom. 8. 24 , 25. Whatsoever things were written afore-time , were written for our learning , that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope , &c. Now the God of hope fill you , &c. that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost , Rom. 15. 4 , 13. God is faithful , 1 Cor. 1. 9. 2 Thes. 3. 3. God is faithful , who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able : but will with the temptation also make a way to escape , 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Thes. 5. 24. Who delivered us : &c. and doth deliver us : in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us , 2 Cor. 1. 10. God , who comforteth them who are cast down , &c. 2 Cor. 7. 6. God , who is rich in mercy , Eph. 2. 4. Be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel , Col. 1. 23. Remembring , &c. your patience of hope , 1 Thes. 1. 3. He abideth faithful , he cannot deny himself , 2 Tim. 2. 13. Heb. 10. 23. Be followers of them , who through faith and patience inherit the promises , &c. Abraham , &c. after he had patiently endured , he obtained the promise , &c. God willing to shew , &c. the immutability of his counsel , confirmed it by an oath : That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye , &c. Heb. 6. 12 , 15 , 17 , 18. Ye have need of patience , that after ye have done the will of God , ye might receive the promise : For yet a little while , and he who shall come , will come , and will not tarry . Now the just shall live by faith , &c. Heb. ●…0 . 36 , 37 , 38. Let us run with patience the race which is set before us ; looking unto Jesus , &c. Heb. 12. 1 , 2. The trial of your faith worketh patience ; and let patience have her perfect work , that ye may be perfect and intire , &c. James 1. 3 , 4. Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husband-man waiteth , &c. Be ye also patient , stablish your hearts , &c. Behold we count them happy who endure : ye have heard of the patience of Job , and have seen the end of the Lord : That the Lord is very pitiful , and of tender mercies , James 5. 7 , 8 , 10 , 11. Wherefore gird up the loins of your minds , be sober and hope to the end for the grace which is to be brought to you , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 13. Wherefore let them who suffer according to the will of God , commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing , as unto a faithful Creator , 1 Pet. 4. 19. Casting all your care upon him , for he careth for you , 1 Pet. 5. 7. Perfect love casts out fear , &c. he who feareth , is not made perfect in love , 1 John 4. 18. Keep your selves in the love of God , looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus , Jude , verse 21. See more of Faith in its nature and use , Chap. 11. To walk humbly before God , abasing self ; opposing all high thoughts within us , and avoid boasting of our selves : the Reasons . Abraham said , Behold now , I have taken upon me to speak unto thee , who am but dust and ashes , Gen. 18. 27. Jacob said , &c. I am not worthy of the least of all ( or , I am less than all ) the mercy , and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant : for with my staff I passed over , &c. Gen. 32. 10. Pharaoh said unto Joseph , &c. I have heard say of thee , thou canst understand a dream , and interpret it . And Joseph answered Pharaoh , and said , It is not in me : God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace , Gen. 41. 15 , 16. I know that the Lord is greater then all gods : for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly , he was above them , Exod. 18. 11. Hath the Lord spoken only by Moses ? hath he not spoken also by us ? And the Lord heard , &c. and the anger of the Lord was kindled against them , Numb . 12. 1 , 2 , 9. Korah , Dathan and Abiram , and others , gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron , and said unto them , Ye take too much upon you ( or , it is much for you ) , seeing all the Congregation are holy every one of them , and the Lord is among them : wherefore then lift you up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord ? &c. Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram , &c. who said , We will not come up , &c. God was angry , and the earth opened and swallowed them up , Numb . 16. 1 , 2 , 3 , 12 , 21 , 31 , 32. Speak not thou in thine heart , after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee , saying , For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land , &c. Understand therefore , that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it , for thy righteousness : for thou a stiff-necked people , &c. Deut. 9 , 4 , 5 , 6. SauI hath slain his thousands , and David his ten thousands : and Saul was very wrath , and the saying displeased him ; and he said , They have ascribed unto David ten thousands , and to me they have ascribed one thousand : and can he have more but the Kingdom ? 1 Sam. 18. 7 , 8. I will yet be more vile than thus , and will be base in mine own sight , 2 Sam. 6. 22. But thine eyes are upon the haughty , that thou mayst bring them down , 2 Sam. 22. 28. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself , & c ? because he humbleth himself before me , I will not bring the evil in his days , 1 Kings 21. 25 , 27 , 29. Naaman was wroth , and went away , and said , Behold , I thought he would surely have come out unto me , &c. Are not , &c. rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel , &c. so he went away in a rage , &c. 2 Kings 5. 10. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Because thine heart was tender , and thou hast humbled thy self before the Lord , &c. behold therefore , &c. thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace , and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring , &c. 2 Kings 22. 19 , 20. When Uzziah was strong , his heart was lifted up to his destruction , 2 Chron. 26. 16. But Hezekiah rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him ; for his heart was lifted up , therefore there was wrath upon him , &c. Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart ( or , lifting up of his heart ) , so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah , 2 Chron. 32. 25 , 26. What is man that thou shouldst magnifie him ? and that thou shouldst set thine heart upon him ? Job 7. 17 , Psalm 144. 3. Psalm 90 , 5 , 6. For vain ( or , empty ) man would be wise ; though man be born like a wild Asses colt , Job 11. 11 , 12. Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro ? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble ? for thou writest bitter things against me , Job 13. 25 , 26. Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble : he cometh forth like a flower , and is cut down : he fleeth also as a shadow , and continueth not : and dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one ? Job 14. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Psalm 144. 3. When men are cast down , then thou shalt say , There is lifting up : and he shall save the humble person , Job 22. 29. The stars are not pure in his sight : how much less man , a worm ? Job 25. 5 , 6. Job said , Behold I am vile : what shall I answer thee ? I will lay my hand upon my mouth : Once have I spoken , &c. but I will proceed no farther , Job 40. 2 , 3 , 4. Now mine eye seeth thee : wherefore I abhor my self , and repent in dust and ashes , Job 42. 5 , 6. When I consider the heavens , &c. what is man that thou art mindful of him ? and the son of man , that thou visiteth him ? Psalm 8. 3 , 4. He forgetteth not the cry of the humble , Psalm 9. 12. Psalm 10. 17. But I a worm , and no man , Psalm 22. 6. The Lord is nigh unto them who are of a broken heart , and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit , Psalm 34. 18. Every man at his best estate is altogether vanity , Psalm 39. 5 , 11. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : a broken and a contrite heart , O God , thou wilt not despise , Psalm 51. 17. Surely men of low degree are vanity , men of high degree a lye ; to be laid in the balance , they are altogether lighter than vanity , Psalm . 62. 9. If thou Lord shouldst mark iniquities , O Lord , who shall stand ? Psalm 130. 3. Lord , my heart is not haughty , nor mine eyes lofty , &c. Psalm 131. 1 , 2. Though the Lord be high , yet hath he respect unto the lowly : but the proud he knoweth afar off , Psalm . 138. 6. Be not wise in thine own eyes , &c. Surely he scorneth the scorners : but he giveth grace unto the lowly , Prov. 3. 7 , 34. These things doth the Lord hate , a proud look ( or , haughty eyes ) , Prov. 6. 16 , 17. Pride cometh , then cometh shame ; but with the lowly is wisdom , Prov. 11. 2. Only by pride cometh contention , Prov. 13. 10. Before honour is humility , Prov. 15. 33. Chap. 18. 12. All the ways of man are clean in his own eyes , &c. every one who is proud in heart , is an abomination unto the Lord , &c. Pride goeth before destruction , and an haughty look before a fall : better be of an humble spirit with the lowly , than to divide the spoil with the proud , Prov 16. 2 , 5 , 18 , 19. Chap. 18. 12. Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness ( or , bounty ) , Prov. 20. 6. Every way of man is right in his own eyes : but the Lord pondereth the heart , Prov. 21. 2. Put not forth thy self in the presence of the King , and stand not in the place of great men : for better it is that it be said unto thee , Come up hither ; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the Prince , Prov. 25. 6 , 7. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit ? there is more hope of a fool than of him , Prov. 26. 12. Let another man praise thee , and not thine own mouth : a stranger , and not thine own lips , Prov. 27. 2. He who is of a proud heart , stirreth up strife , Prov. 28. 25. A mans pride shall bring him low : but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit , Prov. 29. 23. Surely I am more brutish than man , and have not the understanding of a man , Prov. 30. 2. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled , and the haughtiness of man shall be brought down , &c. for the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon every one who is proud and lofty , and upon every one who is lifted up , and he shall be brought low , &c. Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils : for wherein is he to be accounted of ? Isaiah 2. 11 , 12 , 13 , 17 , 22. Chap. 5. 15. Wo unto them who are wise in their own eyes , and prudent in their own sight , Isaiah 5. 21. Who is me , &c. I am of unclean lips , &c. for mine eyes have seen the King , the Lord of Hosts , Isaiah 6. 5. I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria , and the glory of his high looks : for he saith , By the strength of my hand I have done it , &c. shall the ax boast it self against him that heweth therewith ? &c. therefore shall the Lord , the Lord of Hosts , send among his fat ones , leanness : and under his glory he shall kindle a fire , &c. the high ones of stature shall be hewn down , and the haughty shall be humbled , Isa. 10. 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 33. The Lord of Hosts hath purposed it to stain ( or , pollute ) the pride of all glory : to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth , Isa. 23. 9. Thus saith the high and lofty one , &c. I dwell in the high and holy place ; with him also who is of an humble and contrite spirit , to revive the spirit of the humble , and to revive the heart of the contrite , Isa. 57. 15. Thus saith the Lord , The heaven is my ●…rone , &c. but to this man will I look , to him who is pure and contrite in spirit , and trembleth at my word , Isa. 66. 1 , 2. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom , nor the mighty man in his might , &c. Jer. 9. 23. O house of Israel , cannot I do with you as this Potter , saith the Lord ? behold , as the clay is in the Potters hands , so ye in mine hand , O house of Israel , Jer. 18. 6. When the Prophet Jeremiah had spoken the words of the Lord to the people , then spake Azariah , &c. and all the proud men , saying unto Jeremiah , Thou speakest falsly : the Lord our God hath not sent thee to say , &c. Jer. 42. 1 , 2. Behold , I am against thee , O thou most proud ( or , pride ) saith the Lord God of Hosts , &c. And the most proud shall stumble and fall , &c. Jer. 50. 31 , 32. Behold , this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom , Pride , &c. and the more haughty , &c. Ezek. 16. 49 , 50. Thus saith the Lord , &c. exalt him that is low , and abase him who is high , Ezek. 21. 26. God threatens the Prince of Tyrus for his sacrilegious pride , Ezek. 28. 1 , &c. When the King said unto Daniel , Art thou able to make known unto me the dream ? &c. Daniel answered , &c. there is a God in heaven who revealeth secrets , &c. Dan. 2. 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. Is not this great Babylon which I have built by the might of my power , and for the honour of my Majesty ? while the word was in the kings mouth , there fell a voice , &c. saying , &c. the kingdom is departed from thee , &c. he was driven from men , and did eat grass as oxen , &c. Those who walk in pride , he is able to abase , Dan. 4. 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 37. When his heart was lifted up , and his mind hardned in pride ( or , to deal proudly ) , he was deposed from his kingly Throne , and took his glory from him , &c. and thou his son Belshazzar , hast not humbled thine heart , although thou knewest all this , but hast listed up thy self against the Lord of heaven , &c. Dan. 5. 20 , 21 , 22 , 23. He hath shewed thee , O man , what is good : and what doth the Lord require of thee , but to do justly , &c. and walk humbly with thy God ? Micah 6. 8. Behold , his soul which is lifted up , is not upright in him , Habbak . 2. 4. Moab shall be as Sodom , &c. This shall they have for their pride , because they reproached , and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts , Zephan . 2. 9 , 10. Behold , thy King cometh unto thee , he is just , &c. lowly , Zech. 4. 1. The day cometh that shall burn as an oven , and all the proud , &c. shall be stubble , Mal. 4. 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit , for theirs is the kingdom of heaven , Matth. 5. 3. The Centurion answered and said , Lord , I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof , Matth. 8. 7 , 8. Luke 7. 6 , 7. Learn of me , for I am meek and lowly in heart , and ye shall find rest , Matth. 11. 29. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child , the fame is greatest in the kingdom of heaven , Matth. 18. 4. When the ten heard it , they were moved with indignation against their two brethren : but Jesus called them unto him , ●…nd said , Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them , and they who are great exercise authority upon them ; but it shall not be so amongst you : but whosoever will be great among you , let him be your minister , &c. even as the son of man came not to be ministred unto , but to minister , Mat. 20. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. chap. 23. 11. 12. Luke 22. 24. One is your Master , Christ , and all ye are brethren , &c. whosoever shall exalt himself , shall be abased ; and he who shall humble himself , shall be exalted , Matth. 23. 8 , 12. When Christ had said , one should betray him ; each disciple said , Is it I ? Is it I ? Matth. 26. 22. Peter fell down at Jesus knees , and said , Depart from me , for I am a sinful man , O Lord , Luke 5. 8. When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding , sit not down in the highest room , lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden , Luke 14. 8. When ye have done all , &c. say ye are unprofitable servants , Luke 17. 10. He spake this parable unto certain who trusted , &c. that they were righteous , and despised others , &c. the Publican standing afar off , would not lift so much as his eyes to heaven , but smote upon his breast , saying , Lord be merciful to me a sinner , Luke 18. 9 , 13. This my joy therefore is fulfilled : he must increase , but I must decrease , John 3. 29 , 30. Jesus washed his disciples feet , &c. If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet , ye also ought to wash one anothers feet , for I have given you an example , John 13. 4 , 5 , 14 , 15. Ye men of Israel , why marvel ye at this ? or why look you so earnestly at us , as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk , & c ? through faith in his name , hath made this man strong , Act. 3. 12 , 13 , 16. ch . 4. 9 , 11. Cornelius met Peter , fell at his feet and worshipped him ; but Peter took him up , saying , Stand up , I my self am a man , Acts 10. 25 , 26. When the Priests of Jupiter and the people would have done sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas , they said , We are men of like passions with you , and preach to you that you should turn from these vanities , &c. Acts 12. 13 , 14 , 15. Apollos an eloquent man and mighty in the Scripture , yet submits to be taught the way of God more perfectly by Aquilla and Priscilla Tent-makers , Acts 18. 24 , 25 , 26. I have been with you , &c. serving the Lord with all humility of mind , Acts 20. 18 , 19. The Apostle blames the Jews for boasting of the Law , and of their knowledg and ability to instruct others , &c. Rom. 2. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. For I know that in me ( that is , in my flesh ) dwelleth no good thing , Rom. 7. 18. Boast not against the branches : but if thou boast , thou bearest not the root , but the root thee . Thou wilt say , The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in : well , because of unbelief they were broken off , and thou standest by faith ; be not high-minded , but fear , &c. Rom. 11. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. For I say , &c. to every one among you , not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think , but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith , &c. mind not high things , but condescend to men of low estate ( or , be content with mean things ) ; be not wise in your own conceits , Rom. 12. 3 , 16. God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise , &c. that no flesh should glory in his presence , 1 Cor. 1. 27 , 28 , 29. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world , let him become a fool that he may be wise , for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God , &c. therefore let no man glory in men , 1 Cor. 3. 18 , 19 , 21. That ye might learn in us not to think above that which is written , that no one of you be puffed up for one against another ; for who maketh thee to differ ( or , distinguisheth thee ) ? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive ? now if thou didst receive it , why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it ? &c. the kingdom of God is not in word but in power , 1 Cor. 4. 6 , 7 , 20. If any man think he knoweth any thing , he knoweth nothing as he ought to know , 1 Cor. 8. 2. Wherefore let him who thinketh he standeth , take heed lest he fall , 1 Cor. 10. 12. To one is given the spirit , the word of wisdom , &c. but all these worketh that one and the self-same spirit , dividing to every man severally , as he will , &c. The eye cannot say unto the hand , I have no need of thee ? nor again , the head to the foot , I have no need of you , &c. 1 Cor. 12. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 20 , 21. Charity vaunteth not it self ( or , is not rash ) , is not puffed up , 1 Cor. 13. 4. I am the least of the Apostles , who am not meet to be called an Apostle , &c. but by the grace of God I am that I am , 1 Cor. 15. 9. 10. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing , as of our selves : but our sufficiency is of God , 2 Cor. 3. 5. We have this treasure in earthen vessels , that the excellency of the power may be of God , and not of us , 2 Cor. 4. 7. Some who commend themselves : but they measuring themselves by themselves , &c. are not wise ; but we will not boast of things without our measure , &c. but he who glorieth , let him glory in the Lord : for not he who commendeth himself is approved , but whom the Lord commendeth . 2 Cor. 10. 12 , 13 , 17 , 18. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations , there was given to me a thorn in the flesh , &c. 2 Cor. 12. 7. God accepteth no mans person , Gal. 2. 6. Eph. 6. 9. Let us not be desirous of vain glory , provoking one another , &c. Gal. 5. 26. For if a man think himself to be something , when he is nothing , he deceiveth himself , Gal. 6. 3. Unto me who am less than the least of all Saints , is this grace given , Eph. 3. 8. Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called , with all lowliness and meekness , &c. unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ , Eph. 4. 1 , 2. Submiting your selves one to another in the fear of God , Eph. 5. 21. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory , but in lowliness of mind , let each esteem other better than himself : look not every man on his own things , &c. Let the same mind be in you which also was in Christ , &c. He humbled himself , &c. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling , Phil. 2. 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 10. I know how to be abased , and I know how to abound : Every where , and in all things , I am instructed , &c. Phil. 4. 12. Put on therefore , as the elect of God , holy and beloved , &c. humbleness of mind , meekness , &c. Col. 3. 12. Let us therefore fear , lest a promise being left of entering into his rest : any of us should seem to come short of it , Heb. 4. 1. The rich , in that he is made low ; because as the flower of the grass , he shall pass away , James 1. 10 , 11. Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus with respect of persons : for if there come into your assemblies a man with a gold ring , in goodly apparrel ; and there come in also a poor man in vile rayment ; and ye have respect unto him who weareth the gay clothing , and say unto him , Sit thou here , in a good place ( or , well , or seemly ) ; and say to the poor , Stand thou there , or sit here under my footstool : are you not then partial in your selves , &c. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world , rich in faith , & c ? Ye have despised the poor , James 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. My brethren , be not many masters , knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation : For in many things we offend all , &c. James 3. 1 , 2. God resisteth the proud , but giveth grace unto the humble . Submit your selves therefore to God , &c. humble your selves in the sight of the Lord , and he shall lift you up , James 4. 6 , 7 , 10. Likewise ye younger , submit your selves to the elder : yea , all be subject one to another , and be clothed with humility : for God resisteth the proud , and giveth grace to the humble . Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God , that he may exalt you in due time , 1 Pet. 5. 5 , 6 Thou sayest , I am rich , and increased with goods , and have need of nothing : and knowest not , that thou art wretched , and miserable , and poor , and blind , and naked , Rev. 3. 17. See more Chap. 22 , Of submission to God in affliction . See Death Chap. 33. To be moderate , meek , patient and quiet in all things : And the encouragements thereto . Simeon and Levi are brethren , instruments of cruelty ( or , their swords are weapons of violence ) : O my soul , come not thou into their secret , &c. for in their anger they slew a man , and in their self-will they digged down a wall . Cursed be their anger , for it was fierce , and their wrath , for it was cruel , Gen. 49. 5 , 6 , 7. Gen. 34. 25 , 26 , 27. Now the man Moses was very meek , above all the men upon the face of the earth , Mumb. 12. 3. David had rashly and hastily resolved to have avenged himself upon Nabal and his house : And he blessed God for Abigails counsel , which hindred him , 1 Sam. 25 , 22 , 32 , 33 , 34. With the froward thou wilt shew thy self unfavoury ( or thou wilt wrestle ) , 2 Sam. 22. 27. The meek shall eat and be satisfied , Psal. 22. 26. The meek will he guide in judgment : and the meek will he teach his way , Psal. 25. 9. Fret not thy self because of evil doers , neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity . Fret not , &c. because of the man who bringeth wickekd devices to pass , &c. Cease from anger , and forsake wrath : fret not thy self in any wise to do evil , &c. But the meek shall inherit the earth , Psal. 37. 1 , 7 , 8 , 11. The earth feared , &c. when God arose to judgment , to save all the meek of the earth , Psal 76. 8 , 9. It went ill with Moses for their sakes : because they provoked his spirit , so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips , Psal. 106. 32 , 33. The Lord liftteh up the meek , Psal. 147. 6. Put away from thee a froward mouth : and perverse lips put far , Prov. 4. 24. They who are of a froward heart , are an abomination to the Lord , Prov. 11. 20. A fools wrath is presently known : but a wise man hideth shame , Prov. 12. 16. He who is soon angry , dealeth foolishly , &c. he who is slow to wrath is of great : understanding : but he who is hasty ( or , short ) of spirit , exalteth folly , Prov. 14. 17 , 29. A soft answer turneth away wrath : but grievous words stirreth up anger , &c. a wrathful man stirreth up strife : but he who is slow to anger , appeaseth strife , Prov. 15. 1. 18. A froward man soweth strife , &c. he who is slow to anger , is better than the mighty : and he who ruleth his spirit , than he who taketh a city , Prov. 16. 28 , 32. Chap. 25. 28. He who hath a froward heart findeth no good : and he who hath a perverse tongue , falleth into mischief , Prov. 17. 20. The discretion of a man deferreth anger : his glory to pass over a transgression , &c. a man of great wrath shall suffer punishment ; for if thou deliver him , yet thou must do it again , Prov. 19. 11. 19. It is an honour to a man to cease from strife : but every fool will be medling , Prov. 20. 3. As coals to burning coals , and wood to fire : so is a contentious man to kindle strife , Prov. 26. 21. A stone is heavy , &c. but a fools wrath is heavier , &c. wrath is cruel , and anger is outragious : but who is able to stand before envy ( or , jealousie ) ? Prov. 27. 3 , 4. Wise men turn away wrath , &c. Seest thou a man who is hasty in his words ( or , matters ) , there is more hope of a fool than of him , &c. an angry man stirreth up strife , and a furious man aboundeth in transgression , Prov. 29. 8 , 20 , 22. Better , &c. the patient in spirit , than the proud in spirit : be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry , for anger resteth in the bosom of fools , Eccl. 7. 8 , 9. The meek also shall increase ( or , add to ) their joy in the Lord , Isa. 29. 19. Blessed are the meek , for they shall inherit the earth , &c. Blessed are the peace-makers , for they shall be called the children of God , Mat. 5. 5 , 9. Learn of me , for I am meek and lowly of heart , and ye shall find rest , Mat. 11. 29. Behold , thy King cometh unto thee meek , &c. Mat. 21. 5. In your patience possess ye your souls , Luke 21. 19. Who will render unto every man according unto his deeds , to them who by patient continuing in well doing , seek for glory , &c. eternal life , Rom. 2. 7. Tribulation worketh patience , and patience experience , and experience hope , &c. Rom. 5. 3 , 4 , 5. If it be possible , as much as lieth in you , live peaceable with all men : Dearly beloved , avenge not your selves , but rather give place unto wrath : for it is written , Vengance is mine , &c. Be not overcome of evil , Rom. 12. 18 , 19 , 21. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace , Rom. 14. 19. Charity suffereth long , and is kind ; charity envieth not , &c. is not easily provoked , &c. Rom. 13. 4. 5. The fruits of the flesh , &c. are wrath , strife , &c. but the fruits of the spirit , is peace , long-suffering , gentleness , &c. meekness , temperance , &c. Gal. 5. 20 , 22 , 23. If any man be overtaken in a fault , ye who are spiritual , restore such a one in the spirit of meekness ; considering , &c. Gal. 6. 1. Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called , with all lowliness and meekness , with long-suffering , forbearing : Be ye angry , and sin not ; let not the Sun go down upon your wrath , neither give place to the Devil , &c. let all bitterness , and wrath , and anger , and clamour , and evil speaking , be put away from you , with all malice , Eph. 4. 1 , 2 , 26 , 27 , 31. Let your moderation be known unto all men : the Lord is at hand , Phil. 4. 5. That ye walk worthy of the Lord , &c. strengthened with all might , according unto his glorious power , unto all patience and long-suffering , Col. 1. 10 , 11. But now you also put off all these , anger , wrath , malice , &c. Put on meekness , long-suffering , forbearing one another , Col. 3. 8 , 12. Be patient towards all men , 1 Thes. 5. 14. But thou , O man of God , &c. follow after , &c. patience , meekness , 1 Tim. 6. 11. 2 Tim. 3. 10. The servant of the Lord must not strive ; but be gentle unto all men , &c. patient ( or , forbearing ) , in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves , if God , &c. 2 Tim. 2. 24 , 25. That aged men be sober , grave , temperate , &c. in patience , Tit. 2. 2. Put them in mind , &c. to be no brawler , gentle , shewing all meekness unto all men , Tit. 3. 1 , 2. Ye have need of patience , that after ye have done the will of God , ye might receive the promise , Heb. 10. 36. Follow peace with all men , Heb. 12. 14. The trial of your faith worketh patience . But let patience have her perfect work , that ye may be perfect and entire , wanting nothing , &c. let every man be , &c. slow to wrath : for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God , &c. receive with meekness the ingrafted word , James 1. 3 , 4 , 19 , 20 , 21. Who is a wise man , & c ? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom . But if ye have bitter envyings and strife in your heart , &c. for where envy and strife is , there is confusion , &c. But the wisdom which is from above , is first pure , then peaceable , gentle , and easie to be entreated , &c. James 3. 13 , 14 , 16 , 17. Gird up the loins of your mind : be sober , and hope , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 13. What glory is it , if when ye be buffeted for your faults , ye take it patiently ? but if when ye do well , and suffer for it , you take it patiently , this is acceptable with God , 1 Pet. 2. 20. Whose adorning , let it not be that outward , &c. but the hidden man of the heart , in that which is not corruptible : the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit , which is in the sight of God of great price , &c. He who will love life , &c. let him seek peace , and ensue it , &c. Be always ready to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you , with meekness and fear , 1 Pet. 3. 3 , 4 , 10 , 11 , 15. The end of all things is at hand , be ye therefore sober , 1 Pet. 4. 7. Add , &c. to knowledg , temperance ; and to temperance , patience , 2 Pet. 1. 6. See more in Duties to brethren , Chap. 17. In Duties towards all men , Chap. 19. In Duties towards persecutors , Chap. 22. In words , Chap. 16. To take heed to our lips , that our words be not rash , but true , seasonable , well ordered and savoury . Ye shall not , &c. lye one to another , Levit. 19. 11. How forcible are right words ? But what doth your arguing reprove ? Job 6. 25. 26. Ye are forgers of lyes , &c. O that you would altogether hold your peace , and it should be your wisdom , &c. Will you speak wickedly for God ? and talk deceitfully for him ? Job 13. 4 , 5 , 7. He who speaketh flattery to his friends , even the eyes of his children shall fail , Job 17. 5. My lips shall not speak wickedness , nor my tongue utter deceit , Job 27. 4. Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken , because they were elder than he , &c. He said , I am young , and ye very old ; wherefore I was afraid , and durst not shew my opinion , Job 32. 4 , 6. I uttered that I understood not , things two wonderful for me , which I knew not , &c. wherefore I abhor , &c. Job 42. 3 , 6. Thou shalt destroy them who speak a lye , Psal. 5. 6. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour : with flattering lips , with a double heart do they speak : the Lord will cut off all flattering lips , &c. who have said , With our tongue will we speak , our lips are our own , who is Lord over us ? Psal. 12. 2 , 3 , 4. Lord , who shall abide in thy tabernacle , & c ? he who speaketh the truth in his heart , he who backbiteth not with his tongue , Psal. 15. 1 , 2 , 3. I am purposed , that my mouth shall not transgress , Psal. 17. 3. What man is he who desireth life , &c. Keep thy tongue from evil , and thy lips from speaking guile , Psal. 34. 12 , 13. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom , and his tongue talketh of judgment , Psal. 37. 30. I said , I will take heed to my ways , that I sin not with my tongue : I will keep my mouth with a bridle , while the wicked is before me , Psal. 39. 1. Thou gavest thy mouth to evil , and thy tongue framed deceit : thou sittest and speakest against thy brother , &c. Psal. 50. 19 , 20. The wicked , &c. go astray as soon as they are born , speaking lyes , Psal. 58. 3. The mouth of them who speak lyes , shall be stopped , Psal. 63. 11. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long , Psal. 71. 24. It went ill with Moses for their sakes : because they provoked his spirit , so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips , Psal. 106. 32 , 33. I hate and abhor lying , Psal. 119. 163. Put away from thee a froward mouth : and perverse lips put far from thee , Prov. 4. 24. These six things doth the Lord hate , &c. a lying tongue , &c. a false witness , speaking lyes , Prov. 6. 16 , 17 , 19. A prating fool shall fall : the mouth of a righteous man is a well of life , &c. in the lips of him who hath understanding , wisdom is found , &c. He who hideth hatred with lying lips , and he who uttereth a slander , is a fool : in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin ; but he who refraineth his lips is wise . The tongue of the just is as choice silver , &c. The lips of the righteous feed many , &c. the mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom , &c. the lips of the righteous knows what is acceptable , Prov. 10. 10 , 11 , 13 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 31 , 32. He who speaketh truth , sheweth forth righteousness , &c. lying lips are an abomination to the Lord : but they who deal truly are his delight , Prov. 12. 17 , 22. He who keepeth his mouth , keepeth his life : but he who openeth wide his lips , shall have destruction , &c. a righteous man hateth lying , Prov. 13. 3 , 5. A soft answer turneth away wrath : but grievous words stir up anger : The tongue of the wise useth knowledg aright ; but the mouth of fools poureth forth foolishness , &c. A wholsom tongue is a tree of life : but perversness therein is a breach in the spirit , &c. The lips of the wise disperseth knowledg , &c. A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth , and a word spoken in due season , how good it is ! The heart of the righteous studieth to answer : but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things , Prov. 15. 1 , 2 , 4 , 7 , 23 , 28. Righteous lips are the delight of kings : and they love him who speaketh right , &c. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth , and addeth learning unto his lips . Pleasant words are as an honey-comb , sweet to the soul , Prov. 16. 13 , 23 , 24. Excellent speech becomes not a fool : much less do lying lips a Prince , &c. He who hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief , &c. He who hath knowledg , spareth his words , &c. Even a fool when he holdeth his peace , is counted wife : He who shutteth his lips is a man of understanding , Prov. 17. 7 , 20 , 27 , 28. A fools lips enter into contention , and his mouth calleth for strokes , &c. His mouth is his destruction , and his lips the snare of his soul , &c. The word of a tale-bearer ( or , whisperer ) are as wounds , &c. He who answereth a matter before he heareth , it is folly and shame unto him , &c. Death and life is in the power of the tongue , &c. The rich man answereth roughly , Prov. 18. 6 , 7 , 8 , 13 , 21 , 23. He who speaketh lyes shall perish , &c. shall not escape , Prov. 19. 5 , 9. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue , keepeth his soul from troubles , Prov. 21. 23. A word fitly spoken , is like apples of gold in pictures of silver , Prov. 25. 11. Answer not a fool according to his folly , lest thou also be like unto him : answer a fool according to his folly , lest he be wise in his own conceit , Prov. 26. 4 , 5. Let another man praise thee , not thine own mouth : a stranger , not thine own lips , Prov. 27. 2. A fool uttereth all his mind , but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards , &c. Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words ? there is more hope of a fool than of him , Prov. 29. 11 , 20. Be not rash with thy mouth : and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God , &c. Let thy words be few , &c. for in many words also divers vanities : but fear thou God , Eccl. 5. 2 , 3 , 7. The words of wise men are heard in quiet , Eccl. 9. 17. The words of a wise mans mouth are gracious ( or , grace ) , &c. A fool also is full of words ; a man cannot tell what shall be , Eccl. 10. 12 , 14. I hearkned and heard , they spake not aright , &c. Jer. 8. 6. They bent their tongue like their bow , for lyes : but are not valiant for the truth , &c. will not speak the truth ; they have taught their tongue to speak lyes , &c. Their tongue is an arrow shot out , it speaketh deceit ; one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth , in his heart he layeth in wait , Jer. 9. 3 , 5 , 8. The Lord hath a controversie , &c. because there is no truth , &c. by swearing and lying , &c. Hosea 4. 1 , 2. The prudent shall keep silence in that day : for it is an evil time , Amos 5. 13. Keep the dores of thy mouth from her who lieth in thy bosom , Micah 7. 5. Speak ye every man truth to his neighbour , Zech. 8. 16. How can ye being evil , speak good things ? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh . A good man out of the good treasure of the heart , bringeth forth good things : and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evil things : But I say unto you , That every idle word which men shall speak , they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment ; for by thy words thou shalt be justified , and by thy words thou shalt be condemned , Mat. 12. 34 , 35 , 36 , 37. Those things which proceed out of the mouth , cometh forth from the heart , and they defile the man , Mat. 15. 18. And all wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth ; Luke 4. 22. Peter ( too rashly ) said unto Christ , Thou shalt never wash my feet , Joh. 13. 8. Bless , and curse not , Rom. 12. 14. In the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding , that I might teach others also , than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue , &c. It is a shame for a woman to speak in the Church , 1 Cor. 14. 19 , 35. Evil communication corrupt good manners , 1 Cor. 15. 33. Wherefore putting away lying , speak every man truth with his neighbour , &c. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth , but that which is good to the use of edifying ( or , to edifie profitable ) , that it may minister grace unto the hearers : and grieve not the holy Spirit of God , &c. Let all bitterness , &c. and clamour , and evil speaking , be put away , Eph. 4. 25 , 29 , 30 , 31. But fornication , &c. let it not be once named amongst you , as becometh Saints ; neither filthy nor foolish talking , nor jesting , which are not convenient , Eph. 5. 3 , 4. But now also put off all these , &c. blasphemy , filthy communication out of your mouth : lye not one to another , &c. Col. 3. 8 , 9. Let your speech be always with grace , seasoned with salt , that you may know how ye ought to answer every man , Col. 4. 6. Neither give heed to fables , &c. which minister questions rather than godly edifying , 1 Tim. 1. 4. They learn to be idle , &c. and not only idle , but tatlers also , and busie-bodies , speaking things which they ought not , 1 Tim. 5. 13. Doting about questions , and strifes of words , whereof cometh envy , strife , railing , &c. perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds , &c. 1 Tim. 6. 4 , 5. Charging them before the Lord , that they strive not about words to no profit , to the subverting of the hearers , &c. Shun prophane and vain bablings , for they will increase unto more ungodliness ; and their word will eat as doth a canker , &c. but foolish and unlearned questions avoid , knowing that they do gender strifes , 2 Tim. 2. 14 , 16 , 17 , 23. In all things shew thy self a pattern , &c. sound speech which cannot be condemned ; that he who is of the contrary party may be ashamed , Titus 2. 7 , 8. Speak evil of no man : to be no brawler , &c. Titus 3. 2. Let every man be swift to hear , slow to speak , &c. If any man among you seem to be religious , and bridleth not his tongue , but deceiveth his own heart ; this mans religion is vain , James 1. 19 , 26. If any man offend not in word , the same is a perfect man , and able also to bridle the whole body . Behold we put bits in horses mouths , &c. The ships though great , &c. yet are they turned about with a small helm whithersoever the governour listeth : so the tongue is a little member , and boasteth great things , &c. And the tongue is a fire , a world of iniquity : so is the tongue among our members , that it defileth the whole body , and setteth on fire the course of nature , and it is set on fire of hell . For every kind of beast , &c. hath been tamed of man ; but the tongue can no man tame : an unruly evil full of deadly poyson : Therewith bless we God , even the Father : and therewith curse we men , &c. out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursings : My brethren , these things ought not so to be , James 3. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Speak not evil one of another brethren : for whoso speaketh evil of his brother , and judgeth his brother , speaketh evil of the law , James 4. 11. Wherefore laying aside all malice , &c. and evil speaking , 1 Pet. 2. 1. Not rendring , &c. railing for railing ; but contrariwise blessing , &c. He who would love life , and see good days , let him refrain his tongue from evil , and his lips that they speak no guile , 1 Pet. 3. 9 , 10. But these as natural bruit beasts , &c. speak evil of the things they understand not , 2 Pet. 2. 12. The Lord , &c. to convince all , &c. of all their hard speeches which ungodly , &c. have spoken against me , Jude , verse 14. 15. All lyars shall have their part in the lake which burneth , &c. and there shall in no wise enter in , &c. whosoever worketh , &c. and maketh a lye , Rev. 21. 8 , 27. Without are dogs , &c. and whatsoever loveth and maketh a lye , Rev. 22. 15. To acknowledg and mourn for sin , depart from it , and watch against it , the arguments : God complains of it , reasoning with sinners about it ; threatnings and judgments against sin and sinners . 1. What sin is . By the Law is the knowledg of sin , Rom. 3. 20. Rom. 7. 7 , 13. Sin is the transgression of the Law , 1 John 3. 4. All unrighteousness in sin , 1 John 5. 17. 2. Acknowledg sin unto God , both their own and others : and mourn for them . And Moses returned unto the Lord and said , Oh this people have sinned a great sin , and have made them gods of gold , &c. Exod. 32. 31. And Aaron shall lay both of his hands upon the head of the live goat , and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel , and all their transgressions , and all their sins , &c. Levit. 16. 21. If they shall confess their iniquity , and the iniquity of their fathers , with their trespass which they have trespassed against me : and that also they have walked contrary unto me , &c. then will I remember my covenant , Levit. 26. 40 , 42. When a man or woman shall commit any sin , &c. then they shall confess their sins which they have done , Num. 5. 6 , 7. And David said to Nathan , I have sinned against the Lord , 2 Sam. 12. 13. Davids heart smote him , &c. and David said unto the Lord , I have sinned greatly in that I have done , 2 Sam. 24. 10. Ezra said , I am ashamed , and blush to lift up my face to thee my God : for our iniquities are increased over our head , and our trespasses , &c. Ezra 9. 5 , 6 , 7 , &c. Nehemiah confesseth thus : Both I and my fathers house have sinned : we have dealt very corruptly against thee , and have not kept , &c. Nehem. 1. 6 , 7. Job saith , I have sinned : what shall I do unto thee , O thou preserver of men ? Job 7. 20. If any say , I have sinned and perverted that which was right , and it profiteth me not : he will deliver his soul , &c. Job 33. 27 , 28. Job answered the Lord and said , Behold , I am vile : what shall I answer thee ? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth , Job 40. 3 , 4. I aknowledged my sins unto thee , and mine iniquity have I not hid : I said , I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord : and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin , Psal. 32. 5. I will declare mine iniquity : I will be sorry for my sins , Psal. 35. 18. For I acknowledg my transgressions , and my sin is ever before me : Against thee only have I sinned , and done this evil in thy sight , &c. Psal. 51. 3 , 4 , 5. We have sinned with our fathers : we have commited iniquity , &c. Psal. 106. 6 , 7. Rivers of water run down mine eyes , because they keep not thy Law , &c. I beheld the transgressions , and was grieved : because they keep not thy word , Psal. 119. 136 , 158. If thou shouldst mark iniquities , O Lord , who shall stand ? Psal. 130. 3. He who covereth his sin shall not prosper : but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them , shall have mercy , Prov. 28. 13. Behold , thou art wroth , for we have sinned , &c. We are all as an unclean thing : and all our righteousness as filthy rags , &c. Isa. 64. 5 , 6 , 7. Yet thou sayest , Because I am innocent , surely his anger shall turn from me . Behold , I will plead with thee , because thou sayest I have not sinned , Jer. 2. 35. Go and proclaim these words , &c. Return thou back-sliding Israel , saith the Lord : I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you , &c. Only acknowledg thine iniquity , that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God , and hast scattered thy ways , &c. Jer. 3. 12 , 23. If ye will not hear it , my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride , and mine eyes shall weep sore , Jer. 13. 17. O Lord , though our iniquities testifie against us , do thou for thy Names sake : for our back-slidings are many : We have sinned against thee , &c. We acknowledg , O Lord , our wickedness , the iniquity of our fathers : for we have sinned against thee , Jer. 14. 7 , 20. The Lord is righteous , for I have rebelled against his commandments , &c. My heart is turned within me : for I have grievously rebelled , Lam. 1. 18 , 20. The crown is fallen from our heads : wo unto us that we have sinned , Lam. 5. 16. Set a mark upon the forheads of the men who sigh , who cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof , Ezek. 9. 4. Ye shall remember your ways , &c. and ye shall loath your selves in your own sight , for all your evil which ye have committed , Ezek. 20. 43. Chap. 16. 63. I prayed unto the Lord my God ; and made my confession , &c. We have sinned and committed iniquity , &c. Dan. 9. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 15. I will go and return to my place till they acknowledg their offences and seek my face , Hosea 5. 14. Turn ye unto me with all your heart , with fasting , with weeping , and with mourning : rent your hearts and not your garments , Joel 2. 12 , 13. Blessed are they who mourn , for they shall be comforted , Matth. 5. 4. Peter remembred the words of Jesus , which said unto him , Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice : and he went out and wept bitterly , Matth. 26. 75. The prodigal Son said , I will arise and go to my father , and I will say unto him , Father , I have sinned against heaven and before thee , and am no more worthy to be called thy Son , &c. Luke 15. 18 , 19 , 21. And many who believed , came and confessed and shewed their deeds , Act. 19. 18. Paul made confession of his being a persecutor of the Saints , Acts 22. 4 , 5 , 19 , 20. I rejoyce not that ye were made sorry , but that ye sorrowed to repentance : for ye were made sorry after a godly manner ( or , according to God ) , &c. for godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation , never to be repented of : but the sorrow of the world worketh death , &c. ye sorrowed after a godly sort : what carefulness it wrought in you : yea , clearing of your selves ; yea indignation , yea fear , yea vehement desire , yea zeal , yea revenge , 2 Cor. 7. 9 , 10 , 11. And lest when I come again , my God will humble me among you , and that I shall bewail many who have sinned already , &c. 2 Cor. 12. 21. Delivered just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked : for that righteous man dwelling amongst them , in seeing and hearing , vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds , 2 Pet. 2. 7 , 8. If we say we have no sin , we deceive our selves , and the truth is not in us : If we confess our sins , he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins , and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness : if we say , we have not sinned , we make him a lyar , and his word is not in us , 1 John 1. 8 , 9 , 10. See confession of sin in time of affliction , Chap. 22. In time of common calamity , Chap. 23. See Prayer , Chap. 16. Saints Duty , confess one to another , Chap. 17. Depart from sin and all appearance of it ; hate it , and avoid the occasions of it . The reasons thereof . When Adam had sinned , he hid himself , was afraid , because naked , Gen. 3. 8 , 10. Exod. 32. 25. Abimelech said unto Isaac , What is this thou hast done unto us ? one of the people might lightly have lyen with thy Wise , and thou shouldst have brought guiltiness upon us : And Abimelech charged all his people , saying , He who toucheth this man or his Wife , shall surely be put to death , Gen. 26. 8 , 9 , 10. When Joseph had been tempted to sin by Potiphars Wise , he answered her , How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God & c ? when she layed hold on him , he fled from her , Gen. 39. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. See the Ten Commandments : Exod. 29. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil : Exod. 23. 2. And be sure your sins will find you out , Numb . 32. 23. Gen. 14. 16. If any man sin against another , the Judg shall judg him : but if a man sinneth against the Lord , who shall intreat for him ? 1 Sam. 2. 24. I have kept the way of the Lord , and have not wickedly departed from my God , &c. I have kept my self from mine iniquity , 2 Sam. 22. 22 , 25. Job feared God , and eschewed evil , Job 1. 1 , 8. I made a covenant with mine eyes : why then should I think upon a maid ? Job 31. 1. For thou art not a God who hath pleasure in wickedness , neither shall evil dwell with thee , &c. thou hatest all workers of iniquity , Psal. 5. 4 , 5. I have hated the congregation of evil doers , &c. I will wash my hands in innocency , and so will I compass thine altar , O Lord , Psal. 26. 5. Depart from evil , and do good , Psal. 34. 14. Psal. 37. 27. He prophesied of Christ thus : Thou lovest righteousness , and hatest wickedness , Psal. 45. 7. Heb. 1. 8 , 9. If I regard iniquity in my heart , the Lord will not hear me , Psal. 66. 18. Joh. 9. 31. He will speak peace to his , &c. but let them not turn again to folly , Psal. 85. 8. Holiness becomes thy house , O Lord , for ever , Psal. 93. 5. Ye who love the Lord , hate evil , Psal. 97. 10. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart : I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes , Psal. 101. 2 , 3. I have refrained my feet from every evil way , &c. I hate every false way , Psal. 119. 101 , 104. Thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-risi●… thou understandest my thoughts afar off : thou , &c. art acquainted with all my ways : for not a word in my tongue , but lo , O Lord , thou knowest it altogether , &c. Psal. 139. 2 , 3 , 4. My son , if sinners intice thee , consent thou not : If they say , Come with us , &c. walk thou not in the way with them : refrain thy foot from their path : for their feet run to evil , Prov. 1. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Enter not into the path of the wicked , and go not into the way of evil men : avoid it , pass not by it ; turn from it , and pass away : for , &c. Prov. 4. 14 , 15 , 16. The lips of a strange Woman drop as an honey-comb , &c. remove thy way far from her , and come not near the door of her house : lest , &c. Prov. 5. 3 , 8. chap , 6. 24 , 25 , 29. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil , Prov. 8. 13. Wickedness overthroweth the sinner , Prov. 13. 6. Fools make a mock of sin , &c. A wise man feareth and departeth from evil , &c. Sin is a reproach to any people or nation , Prov. 14. 9 , 16 , 34. The eyes of the Lord are in every place , beholding the evil and the good : Prov. 15. 3. By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil , Prov. 16. 6. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me , & c ? Bring no more Oblations , &c. Wash ye , make ye clean , put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes : cease to do evil , Isa. 1. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Let the wicked forsake his way , and the unrighteous man his thoughts , &c. Isa. 55. 7. The Lords hand is not shortned , &c. but your iniquities have separated betwen you and your God : and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear , Isa. 59. 1 , 2 , 3. He who killeth an ox , as if he slew a man , &c. they have chosen their own ways , and their soul delighteth in their abominations , Isa. 66. 3. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee , &c. Know therefore and see , that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God , Jer. 2. 19. O Jerusalem , wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayst be saved : how long shall vain thoughts lodg within thee , & c ? Thy ways and thy doings have procured those things unto thee : this thy wickedness because it is bitter , because it reacheth unto thine heart , Jer. 4. 14 , 18. Your iniquities have turned away these things : and your sins have withholden good things from you : for among my people are found wicked men , Jer. 5. 25. Thus saith the Lord , amend your ways and your doings , and I will cause you to dwell in this place : trust ye not in lying words , saying , The temple of the Lord , &c. for if ye throughly amend your ways , &c. then will I cause you , &c. Will you steal , murther , and commit adultery , &c. and come and stand before me in this house ? &c. Jer. 7. 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil I purpose to do unto them , that they may return every man from his evil way , that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin . Jer. 36. 2 , 3. Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions , so iniquity shall not be your ruin : cast away from you all your transgressions , &c. Ezek. 18. 30 , 31. Turn ye , turn ye from your evil ways : Why will ye die , & c ? Ezek. 33. 11 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 19. Seek good and not evil , that ye may live , &c. hate the evil , and love the good , Amos 5. 14 , 15. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil , and canst not look on iniquity , Habbak . 1. 13. Be ye not as your fathers , unto whom the former Prophet have cryed , &c. turn ye now from your evil ways , and from your evil doings : but they did not hear , nor hearken unto me , saith the Lord , Zechar. 1. 4. Whosoever looketh on a Woman to lust after her , hath committed adultery with her already in his heart : and if thy right eye offend thee , pluck it out , and cast it from thee , &c. and if thy right hand offend thee , cut it off , Matth. 5. 28 , 29 , 30. Behold , thou art made whole , sin no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee , John 8. 1. Psal. 85. 8. Jesus said unto the Woman taken in adultery , Neither do I condemn thee , Go and sin no more , &c. Verily I say unto you , whosoever committeth sin , is the servant of sin , Joh. 8. 11 , 34. Thou who preachest a man should not steal , dost thou steal ? thou who sayest a man should not commit adultery , dost thou commit adultery , &c. Rom. 2. 21 , 22 , 23. Nor ( as some affirm that we say ) le ts do evil that good may come : whose damnation is just , Rom. 3. 8. What shall I say then ? shall we continue in sin that grace may abound ? God forbid : how shall we who are dead to sin , live any longer therein ? &c. Our old man is crucified with him , &c. that henceforth we should not serve sin , &c. Reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin , &c. Let not sin reign therefore in your mortal bodies , that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof : neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin , Rom. 6. 1 , 2 , 6 , 11 , 12 , 13. What I hate , that do I , &c. the evil which I would not , that do I , Rom. 7. 15 , 19. If ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body , ye shall live , Rom. 8. 13. Abhor that which is evil , &c. recompence to no man evil for evil , &c. be not overcome of evil , but overcome evil with good , Rom. 12. 9 , 17 , 21. The night is far spent , the day is at hand : let us therefore cast off the works of darkness , &c. Let us walk honestly as in the day , not in rioting and drunkenness , not in chambering and wantonness , not in strife and envying , &c. make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts , Rom. 13. 12 , 13 , 14. I would have you wise to that which is good : but simple ( or , harmless ) concerning evil , Rom. 16. 19. Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? be not deceived : neither fornicators , nor idolaters , nor adulterers , nor effeminate , nor abusers of themselves with mankind , nor thieves , nor covetous , nor drunkards , nor revilers , nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God , &c. Now the body is not for fornication , but for the Lord , &c. Flee fornication , 1 Cor. 6. 9 , 10 , 13 , 18. Heb. 13. 4. Now these things were our examples , to the intent we should not lust after evil things , as they also lusted : neither be ye idolaters , &c. nor commit fornication , &c. neither tempt Christ , &c. neither murmur ye , &c. Flee from idolatry , 1 Cor. 10. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 14. Charity rejoyceth not in iniquity , 1 Cor. 13. 6. Awake to righteousness , and sin not , &c. The sting of death is sin , 1 Cor. 15. 34 , 56. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? and what communion hath light with darkness ? 2 Cor. 16. 14. Having these promises , &c. let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit , &c. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil , 2 Cor. 13. 7. Ye are called unto liberty , only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh , &c. fulfil not the lusts of the flesh , &c. adultery , fornication , uncleanness , lasciviousness , idolatry , witchcraft , hatred , variance , emulation , wrath , strife , seditions , heresies , envyings , murders , drunkenness , revellings , and such like , &c. they which do such things , shall not inherit the kingdom of God , Gal. 5. 13 , 16 , 19 , 20 , 21. Be angry and sin not : let not the Sun go down on your wrath , neither give place to the Devil : Let him who stole , steal no more , Eph. 4. 26 , 27 , 28. Fornication , &c. let it not be once named amongst you , as becoming Saints , &c. Have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness : but rather reprove them , &c. Be not drunk with Wine wherein is excess , Eph. 5. 3 , 11 , 18. Col. 3. 5 , 6 , 8. This is the will of God , even your sanctification , &c. for God hath not called us unto uncleanness , but unto holiness , 1 Thes. 4. 3 , 4 , 7. Abstain from all appearance of evil , 1 Thes. 5. 22. She that liveth in pleasure , is dead while she liveth , &c. Keep thy self pure , 1 Tim. 5. 6 , 22. Let every one who nameth the name of Christ , depart from iniquity : and flee also youthful lusts , 2 Tim. 2. 19 , 22. The grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men , hath appeared , &c. teaching us , that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts , we should live , &c. Titus 2. 11 , 12. Exhort one another , &c. lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin , Heb. 3. 13. If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth , there remains no more sacrifice for sin : but a certain fearful looking for of judgment , &c. Heb. 10. 26 , 27. Let us lay aside every weight , and the sin which doth so easily beset us , Heb. 12. 1. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness , &c. Pure religion is , &c. to keep himself unspotted from the world , James 1. 21 , 27. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law , and yet offend in one point , he is guilty of all : for , &c. James 2. 10 , 11. Cleanse your hands , ye sinners ; and purifie your hearts , &c. James 4. 8. Wherefore laying aside all malice , and all guile , and hypocrifies , and envies , &c. Dearly beloved , I beseech you as strangers , &c. Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul , 1 Pet. 2. 1. 11. He who will love lise , &c. let him eschew evil , &c. for the face of the Lord is against them who do evil , 1 Pet. 3. 10 , 11 , 12. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved ; what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness ? 2 Pet. 3. 11. These things write I unto you , that ye sin not , &c. 1 Joh. 2. 1. Every man who hath this hope in him , purifieth himself as he is pure , &c. whosoever abideth in him , sinneth not : whosoever sinneth , hath not seen him , neither knoweth him , &c. he who committeth sin , is of the Devil , 1 John 3. 6 , 8. Hating the very garment spotted with the flesh , Jude , ver . 23. I will therefore ●…hat the younger women , &c. give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully , &c. Some are already turned , &c. 1 Tim. 5. 14. That the word of God be not blasphemed , &c. not purloyning , that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things , Titus 2. 5 , 10. See Doings in general . Chap. And words . Chap. 4. Gods reasonings with , complainings of , and threatnings , and judgments against Sinners for their several sins , disobedience , and rebellions . With Adam and Eve for eating of the forbidden fruit , Gen. 3. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. Cain rose up against Abel his brother , and slew him : And the Lord said unto Cain , &c. Now art thou cursed from the earth , &c. Gen. 4. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth , &c. and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth , and it grieved him at heart . And the Lord said , I will destroy man whom I have created , from the face of the earth , &c. for it repenteth me that I have made them , Gen. 6. 5 , 6 , 7. Accordingly he did destroy them by the flood , Gen. 7. 4 , 22 , 23. Sodom and Gomorrah , because their sin was very grievous , and the cry of them waxed great before the face of the Lord , he rained upon them brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven ; and he overthrew those Cities , and all the plain , and all the inhabitants of the Cities , &c. Gen. 18. 20. chap. 19. 13 , 24 , 25. God met with Josephs brethren for their sin in selling Joseph , Gen. 44. 16. chap. 42. 21. Many plagues and judgments against and upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians for their sins , in not letting Israel go , Exod. 7. chap. 8. chap. 9. chap. 10. chap. 11. chap. 12. And the Lord said unto Moses , I have seen this people , and behold it is a stiff-necked people : now therefore let me alone , that my wrath may wax hot against them , and that I may consume them , &c. Whosoever hath sinned against me , him will I blot out of my Book , &c. I visit their sin upon them : and the Lord plagued the people because they made the Calf , Exod. 32. 9 , 10 , 33 , 34 , 35. Defile not your selves in any of these things , for in all these the nations are defiled , which I cast out before you , &c. therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it : and the land it self vomiteth out her inhabitants , &c. Ye shall not commit any of these abominations , &c. that the land spue not you out also when ye defile it , as it spued out the nations which were before you , Lev. 18. 24 , 25 , 26 , 28. But if ye will not hearken unto me , &c. I will appoint over you terror , &c. And if ye will not for all this hearken , &c. then will I punish you seven times more for your sins , &c. Lev. 26. 14 , 15 , 16 , to the 39. The people murmured ( or , complained ) and it displeased the Lord : and his anger was kindled , and the fire of the Lord burned amongst them , and consumed in the uttermost parts of the Camp , &c. And they fell a lusting , &c. and said , Who shall give us flesh to eat , & c ? And while the flesh was ●…et between their teeth , ere it was chewed , the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people : and the Lord smote the people with a great plague , Num. 11. 1 , 4 , 5 , 32 , 33. And Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses , &c. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them , &c. And Miriam became leprous , Numb . 12. 1 , 2 , 9 , 10. The children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron : and said , Would God we had died in the land of Egypt , &c. Wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land to fall by the sword , that our wives and our children should be a prey , & c ? Let us make us a Captain , and let us return , &c. And the Lord said , I will smite them with the pestilence , and disinherit them , &c. Surely they shall not see the land , &c. Your carcasses shall fall in this Wilderness , &c. But your little ones which you said should be a prey , them will I bring in , and they shall know the land which ye have despised , &c. Numb . 14. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 12 , 22 , 23 , 29 , 31 , 32. Korah aod his company for rebelling against Moses and against Aaron , was swallowed up of the earth , &c. The people murmured against Moses for this : and sent the plague amongst them , Numb . 16. 1 , 2 , 3 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 41 , 45 , 46. Aaron and Moses both died , and were not suffered to enter into the land , because they rebelled against Gods word at the waters of Meribah , Numb . 20. 12 , 23 , 24. Deut. 3. 27. Deut. 32. 48 , 49 , 50 , 51. chap. 4. 21 , 22. The people spake against God and against Moses : Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the Wilderness ? for there is no bread , neither is there any water , and our soul loatheth this light bread : and the Lord sent fiery Serpents among the people , and they bit the people , and much people of Israel died , Numb . 21. 4 , 5. 6. The people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab , &c. and bowed down to their gods , &c. and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel : and there was a plague amongst them , whereof twenty and four thousand died , Numb . 25. 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 , 9. If thou do at all forget the Lord thy God , and walk after other gods , and serve them and worship them : I testifie against you this day , that you shall surely perish as the Nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face , Deut. 8 19 , 20. If thy brother , &c. thy daughter , or thy wise , &c. intice thee secretly , saying , Let us go and serve other gods , &c. thou shalt not spare him , thou shalt surely kill him , &c. Deut. 13. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , &c. If thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God , to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes , which I command you this day : all these curses shall come upon thee , and overtake thee : Cursed thou in the city , and cursed thou in the field , &c. Deut. 28. 15 , 16 , 17 , to the end . chap. 29. 19 , 20. Achan sinned in taking the accursed thing ; and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel , &c. and the men of Ai smote them , &c. And God said , He who is taken with this accursed thing , shall be burned with fire , he and all that he hath , because that he hath transgressed , &c. and accordingly . Achan and his was stoned and burned , Josh. 7. 1 , 4 , 5 , 13 , 15 , 24 , 25 , 26 , If ye forsake the Lord , and serve strange gods , then he will turn and do you hurt , and consume you after he hath done you good , Josh. 24. 20. Sampsons Delelah was his ruine , Judg. 16. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. The Benjamites cut off and destroyed for the great sin in abusing the Levites concubine to death , Judg. 18. chap. 19. God threatens Eli for his suffering his sons to sin so in the Priesthood , 1 Sam. 2. 22 , 23 , to the end . The Lord said , I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house , &c. for I have told him that I will judg his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth : because his sons made themselves vil●… and he restrained them not ; and therefore have I sworn unto the house of Eli , That the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor burnt-offerings for ever , 1 Sam. 3. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. He smote the men of Bethshemesh , because had looked into the ark of the Lord , &c. fifty thousand and seventy men , 1 Sam. 6. 19. The elders of Israel came to Samuel , and said , Make us a king to judg us , like all the nations , &c. And the Lord said unto Samuel , &c. they have not rejected thee , but they have rejected me , that I should not reign over them , &c. and God said , You shall cry out because of your king , &c. and the Lord will not hear you in that day , 1 Sam. 8. 4 , 5 , 7 , 18 , 19. chap. 10. 19. The Lord sent thunder and rain in Wheat-harvest , and all the people feared the Lord and Samuel . We have added unto all our sins this evil , to ask us a king , &c. if ye shall still do wickedly , ye shall be consumed both ye and your king , 1 Sam. 12. 12. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 25. Saul offered sacrifice himself , &c. Samuel said to him , Thou hast done foolishly , &c. but now the kingdom shall not continue , 1 Sam. 13. 9 , 10 , 13 , 14. Samuel said to Saul , Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord , he hath also rejected thee from being King , 1 Sam. 15. 9 , 11 , 23 , 26. The Lord also takes away his Spirit from Saul , and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him , 1 Sam. 16. 1 , 14. And when Saul enquired of the Lord , the Lord answered him not , neither by dreams nor by urim , nor by Prophets , &c. Then he goes to a familar spirit , &c. Samuel said , Why hast thou disquieted me , &c. Saul said , God is departed from me , and answereth me no more , &c. The Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand : because thou obeyed not the voice of the Lord , nor executed his fierce wrath upon Amalek , &c. therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day , &c. 1 Sam. 18. 6 , 7 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. Uzzah put forth his hand unto the Ark of God , and took hold of it , &c. and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah ; and God smote him there for his error ( or , rashness ) , and there he dyed , &c. Michal Davids wife despised David for his dancing before the Ark , &c. therefore she had no child unto the day of her death , &c. 2 Sam. 6. 16 , 23. Davids sin in the matter of Uriahs wife , &c. displeased the Lord , 2 Sam. 11. 27. And Nathan said unto David , &c. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel , I anointed thee king over Israel , &c. and if that had been too little , I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things : Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord , to do evil in his sight ; that thou hast killed Uriah , &c. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house , &c. Behold , I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house ; and I will take thy wives before thine eyes , and give unto thy neighbour , and he shall lye with thy wife in the sight of this Sun , &c. the child also shall surely dye , &c. And the child dyed , 2 Sam. 12. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 , 18. Then Amnon his son forceth Tamar , sister of Absalom , &c. And Absalom killeth A●…non , 2 Sam. 13. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 28 , 29. Absalom conspired against David , and rebels , 2 Sam. 15. Absalom went in unto his fathers concubines , in the sight of all Israel , 2 Sam. 16. 21 , 22. Absalom is slain himself , 2 Sam. 18. 14 , 15. There was a famine , &c. and David enquired of the Lord , and the Lord answered , It is for Saul , and his bloody house ; because he slew the Gibeonites , &c. The children of Israel had sworn unto them , and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal , &c. 2 Sam. 21. 1. Josh. 9. 15. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel , &c. David said , Go number the people , &c. So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel , &c. And there dyed seventy thousand men , 2 Sam. 24. 1 , 2 , 15. Adonijah put to death by Solomons order : and Joab for his sin , killing of Abner ; and Amasa also put to death : and Shimei also put to death for his cursing of David , 1 Kings 2. 24 , 25 , 28 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34. If you shall at all turn from following of me , you or your children ; and will not keep my commandments , &c. then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them ; and this house which I have hallowed for my name , will I cast out of my sight , and Israel shall be a proverb , and a by-word , &c. 1 Kings 9. 6 , 7 , 8. And the Lord was angry with Solomon , because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel , who had appeared unto him twice , &c. Therefore the Lord said unto Solomon , Forasmuch as this is done of thee , and thou hast not kept my covenant , &c. I will surely rend the kingdom from thee , and will give it to thy servant , 1 Kings 11. 9 , 10 , 11. It was charged me by the word of the Lord , saying , Eat no bread , &c. Thus saith the Lord , Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord , &c. and hast eaten bread , and drank water , &c. Thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers , &c. A Lyon met him by the way , and slew him , &c. It is the man of God , 1 Kings 13. 8 , 9 , 21 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 26. Tell Jeroboam , &c. Forasmuch as I have exalted thee from among the people , and made thee prince , &c. yet thou hast done evil above all that were before thee , for thou hast gone and made thee other gods , &c. Therefore behold , I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam , and will cut off from Jeroboam him who pisseth against the wall , &c. him who dyeth of Jeroboam in the city , shall dogs eat ; and him who dyeth in the field , shall the fowls of the air eat ; for the Lord hath spoken it , 1 Kings 14. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Baasha smote all the house of Jeroboam , he left not to Jeroboam any that breathrd , until he had destroyed him , according to the saying of the Lord , &c. Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he had sinned , and which he made Israel sin , 1 Kings 15. 27 , 29 , 30. The very like threatning did God send to Baasha for his sin , &c. and accordingly executed by Zimri his servant , 1 Kings 16. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. God threatens , and sends a famine in Israel for the sins of Ahab , &c. 1 Kings 17. He killed Naboth and possessed his vineyard , &c. Thus saith the Lord , Hast thou killed and taken possession also , & c ? In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth , shall dogs lick thy blood , even thine , &c. All this executed against him , Jezebel and Ahabs house , 1 Kings 21. 14 , 19 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24. Chap. 22. 38. 2 Kings 10. 33. Ahaziah fell down , &c. He sent to enquire of the God of Ekron , &c. And the Lord by Elijah sends , thus : Is it not because there is not a God in Israel , ye go to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron ? Now therefore thus saith the Lord , Thou shalt not come down from thy bed , &c. but shalt surely dye , &c. So he dyed according to the word of the Lord , 2 Kings 1. 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 16 , 17. So it was , that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God , &c. and walked in the statutes of the heathen , &c. The Lord testified against them by the hand of all the Prophets , all the seers , saying , Turn ye from your ways , &c. notwithstanding they would not hear , but hardned their necks , &c. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel , and removed them out of his sight , &c. And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel , and afflicted them , and delivered them into the hand of the spoilers , until he had cast them out of his sight , 2 Kings 17. 7 , 8 , 9 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 18 , 19 , 20. Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations , and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did , &c. and hath made Judah also to sin , &c. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel , Behold , I am bringing evil upon Jeroboam and Judah , that whosoever heareth of it , both his ears shall tingle , &c. I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance , and deliver them into the hands of their enemies , &c. because they have done , &c. 2 Kings 21. 9 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. The Lord turned not from the fierceness of his wrath , wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah , because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked wirhal : And the Lord faid , I will remove Judah also out of my sight , as I have removed Israel ; and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen , and the house of which I have said , my name shall be there , 2 Kings 23. 26 , 27. God accordingly gives them up wholly to their enemies , 2 Kings 24. Chap. 25. Uzziah the king , when he was strong , his heart was lifted up to his destruction , &c. He went into the Temple of the Lord to burn incense ; and when the Priests withstood him , he was wrath ; and while he was yet wrath with the Priests , the leprosie even rose up in his forehead , &c. The Lord had smitten him ; and Uzziah the King was a leper unto the day of his death , 2 Chr. 26. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. Moreover , all the chief of the Priests and the people transgressed very much , &c. And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers , &c. but they mocked the messengers of God , and despised his word , and misused his Prophets , until the wrath of God arose against his people , till there was no remedy : therefore he brought upon them the King of the Chaldees , &c. 2 Chron. 36. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. The Psalmist reckons up the several rebellions of Israel , and Gods judgments against them for sin , Psal. 78. My people would not hearken to my voice : and Israel would none of me ; so I gave them up to their own hearts , &c. O that my people had hearkned unto me , &c. Psal. 81. 11. 12. 13. Israels behaviour and rebellions , together with Gods dealings with them , summed up by the Psalmist , Psal. 106. Because they rebelled against the words of God , and contemned the counsel of the most High : therefore he brought down their heart with labour ; they fell down , and none to help , Psal. 107. 11 , 12. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity , & c ? Turn you at my reproof , &c. because I called and ye refused : I have stretched out my hand , and no man regardeth , but ye have set at nought all my counsel , and would none of my reproof : I also will laugh at your calamity , and mock when your fear cometh ; when your fear cometh as desolation , &c. Then shalt thou call upon me , but I will not answer ; they shall seek me early , but they shall not find me : for they hated , &c. Prov. 1. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30. Hear , O heavens , &c. I have nourished and brought up children , and they have rebelled against me : the ox knoweth his owner , &c. Israel doth not know , my people doth not consider , &c. Why should ye be stricken any more ? ye will revolt more and more , &c. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifice unto me , saith the Lord , & c ? When ye make many prayers , I will not hear you , for your hands are full of blood : wash you , make you clean , &c. Come now , and let us reason , &c. but if ye refuse and rebel , ye shall be devoured by the sword , &c. Ah , I will ease me of mine adversaries , Isa. 1. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 11 , 13 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 20 , 23 , 24. Jerusalem is ruined , and Judah is fallen , because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord to provoke the eyes of his glory ; because the daughters of Zion are haughty , and walk with stretched-forth necks , &c. therefore the Lord will smite with a scab , &c. The Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments , &c. Isa. 3. 8. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24. Judg , I pray you , betwixt me and my vineyard : What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it ? wherefore , when I looked that it should bring forth grapes , brought it forth wild grapes : I will take away the hedg thereof , &c. The Prophet pronounceth many woes against several sinners , Isa. 5. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , to the 26. God threatens Jacob and Israel for their pride and stoutness of heart , because they turned not to him who smote them : their leaders cause them to err : that he will cut off , &c. and for all this his anger is not turned away , Isa. 9. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , to the 21. O Assyrian , &c. I will send him against an hypocritical nation , and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the spoil , &c. Isa. 10. 5 , 6. Gods great judgments threatned against Babylon , Isa. 13. The Lord said , Forasmuch as this people draw near with their mouth , &c. but have removed their hearts far from me , and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men : therefore , &c. the wisdom of the wise shall perish , and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid . Wo unto them who seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord , and their works are in the dark , Isa. 29. 13 , 14 , 15. God threatens Israel for leaning upon Egypt for help , and not hearkning to stay on God , Isa. 30. 1 , 2 , to the 17. This people have I formed for my self , &c. but thou hast not called upon me , O Jacob , but thou hast been weary of me , O Israel ; thou hast not brought me the small cattel , &c. but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins : thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities , &c. thy first fathers have sinned , and thy teachers , &c. therefore I have prophaned the Princes of thy Sanctuary ; and have given Jacob to the curse , and Israel to reproaches , Isa. 43. 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 28. O that thou hadst hearkned to my Commandments : then had thy peace been , &c. Isa. 48. 18. Your iniquities have separated between you and your God , and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear : for your hands are defiled with blood , &c. none call for justice , Isa. 59. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , &c. I have spread out my hands all the day long unto a rebellious people , who walketh in a way which is not good , &c. I will not keep silence , but will recompence , even recompence into their bosoms , &c. Ye are they who forsake the Lord , who forget my holy mountain , &c. therefore will I number you to the sword , &c. Isa. 65. 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 11 , 12. They have chosen their own ways , and their soul delighteth in their abominations : I also will chuse their delusions , and will bring their fears upon them ; because when I called , none did answer , &c. but they did evil before mine eyes , &c. Isa. 66. 3 , 4. What iniquity have your fathers found in me , that they are gone from me , & c ? Wherefore will I yet plead with you , saith the Lord , and with your children , &c. See if there be such a thing : hath a nation changed their gods , & c ? but my people have changed their glory , &c. Be astonished , O heavens , &c. They have sorsaken me the fountain , &c. Hast thou not procured this unto thy self , & c ? Thine own wickedness shall correct thee , and thy backsliding reprove thee , &c. Have I been a barren wilderness , & c ? Can a maid forget her ornaments ? Jerem. 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 17 , 19 , 31 , 32. And I saw , when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery , I had put her away , &c. Yet her treacherous Sister Judah feared not , but went and played the harlot also , &c. Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart , but feignedly , Jer. 3. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. O Jerusalem , wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayst be saved : how long shall vain thoughts lodg within thee , & c ? thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee : this thy wickedness , because it is bitter , it reacheth unto thine heart , Jer. 4. 13 , 14 , 17 , 18. How shall I pardon thee for this ? thy children have forsaken me , and sworn by them who are no gods : when I had fed them to the full , they then committed adultery , and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots houses : they were as fed horses in the morning , every one neighing after his neighbours Wife : and shall I not visit for these things , saith the Lord ? and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this ? Go ye up upon her walls and destroy , &c. A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land : the Prophets prophefie falsly , and the Priests bear rule by their means , and my people love to have it so : and what will ye do in the end thereof ? Jer. 5 , 7. 8 , 9 , 10 , 29 , 30 , 31. Thus hath the Lord of hosts said , &c. Cast a mount against Jerusalem : this is the City to be visited , she is wholly oppression in the midst of her , &c. Be then instructed , O Jerusalem , lest my soul depart from thee , &c. I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land , saith the Lord ; for from the least of them , even to the greatest of them , every one is given unto covetousness : and from the Prophet even unto the Priests , every one dealeth falsly , &c. Hear , O earth : Behold , I will bring evil upon this people , &c. Jer. 6. 6 , 7 , 8 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 19. chap. 7. 8 , 9 , &c. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel , Cursed be the man who obeyeth not the words of this Covenant : they are turned back unto the iniquity of their fathers who refuse to hear my words , &c. Therefore , thus saith the Lord , Behold , I will bring evil upon them , which they shall not be able to escape : and though they shall cry unto me , I will not hearken unto them , &c. therefore pray not thou for this people , for I will not hearken , &c. Jer. 11. 3 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 14. chap. 35. 17. What wilt thou say when I shall punish thee , & c ? Shall not sorrow take thee as a Woman in travel ? &c. for the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered , &c. Jer. 13. 21 , 22. chap. 14. 11 , 12. Though Moses and Samuel stood before me , yet my mind could not be towards this people : cast them out of my sight , &c. such as are for death to death , &c. Who shall have pity upon thee , O Jerusalem ? who shall bemoan thee ? &c. Thou hast for saken me , saith the Lord , Jer. 15. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , , 5 , 6 , &c. Ye have done worse than your fathers : sor , behold , ye walk every one after the imaginations of his own heart , that ye may not hearken unto me ; therefore will I cast you out of this land , &c. Jer. 16. 9 , 11 , 12 , 13. The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron , and with the point of a diamond is graven upon the tables of their heart , &c. Jer. 17. 1. Return ye , &c. And they said , there is no hope : but we will walk after our ow●… doings , &c. Jer. 18. 11 , 12 , 15 , 16 , &c. The land is full of adulterers : for because of swearing ( or , cursing ) , the land mourneth : the pleasant places of the Wilderness are dried up , Jer. 23. 10. As the evil figs , &c. so will I give the King and the Princes , and the residue of Jerusalem which remain in this land , and them who dwell in the land of Egypt , I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt , to be a reproach , &c. And I will send the sword , the famine and the pestilence among them , till they be consumed from off the land , Jer. 24. 8 , 9 , 10. chap. 25. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Thus saith the Lord , If they will hearken , and turn every man from his evil way , that I may repent me of the evil which I purpose to do , because of the evil of their doings , &c. If ye will not , &c. then will I make this house like Shilo : and will make this City a curse to all the nations of the earth , Jer. 26. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. Thus saith the Lord , Thy bruise is incurable , &c. for the multitude of thine iniquity , thy sins were increased : I have done these things unto thee , Jer. 30. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. Because of all the evil of the children of Israel , &c. this City , &c. shall be delivered into the hand , &c. Jer. 32. 32 , &c. Ye have not hearkned unto me , in proclaiming liberty every man unto his brother , and every man to his neighbour : Behold , I proclaim a liberty for you , saith the Lord , to the sword , and to the pestilence , &c. Jerem. 34. 1 , 17. This Jerusalem , &c. hath changed my judgments into wickedness , more than the nations , &c. Therefore thus saith the Lord , I , even I am against thee , &c. therefore the fathers shall eat the sons , &c. Ezek. 5. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. When God had shewed Ezekiel Judahs abominations , he saith unto him , Therefore will I also deal in fury : mine eyes shall not spare , neither will I have pity ; And though they cry , &c. will I not hear them , Ezek. 8. 18. chap. 9. 8 , 9 , 10. But as for them whose heart walketh , &c. I will recompence their way upon their own head . The glory of the Lord left the City , Ezek. 11. 21 , 22 , 23. When the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously , then will I stretch out my hand upon it , and will break the staff of bread thereof , and will send famine upon it , and will cut off man and beast , &c. Though these three men , Noah , Daniel , and Job were in it , they should deliver but their own souls , &c. Ezek. 14. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Thus saith the Lord God , Are ye come to enquire of me ? As I live , saith the Lord God , I will not be enquired of by you , &c. Ezek. 20. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. God reckons up many sins of Jerusalem , and then says , Can thine heart indure ? Can thine hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with thee ? I the Lord have spoken and will do it ; and will scatter thee , &c. Ezek. 22. 1 , 2 , to the 15. When the righteous man turneth from his righteousness , and committeth iniquity , he shall even dye thereby , Ezek. 33. 12 , 13 , 18. The heathen shall know , that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity : because they trespassed against me , therefore , &c. Ezek. 39. 23 , 24. The Kings of Babylon punished for their pride , &c. Dan. 4. 31 , 32. ch . 5. Let her therefore put away her whōredoms out of her sight , &c. lest I strip her naked , and set her as in the day she was born , &c. and I will not have mercy upon her children , &c. Hosea 2. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. The Lord hath a controversie with the land , because no truth , nor mercy , nor knowledg of God in the land : by swearing , and lying , and killing , and stealing , and committing adultery , they break out , and blood toucheth blood : therefore shall the land mourn , &c. Ephraim is joyned to Idols , let him alone , Hosea 4. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , &c. 17. The pride of Israel doth testifie to his face : therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity . Judah also shall fall with them : they shall go with the flocks , and with their herds to seek the Lord : but they shall not find : he hath withdrawn himself from them . They have dealt treacherously against the Lord , Hosea 5. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. Wo unto them , for they have fled from me : destruction unto them , because they have transgressed , &c. they return not to the most high : they are like a deceitful bow : their princes shall fall by the sword , &c. Hosea 7. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Wo unto them when I depart from them , Hosea 9. 12. They hate him who rebuke in the gate : they abhor him who speaketh uprightly , &c. I hate , I despise your feast days , and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies , &c. Amos 5. 10 , 11 , 12 , 21 , 22 , 23. Wo unto them who are at ease in Zion , &c. who lye upon beds of ivory , and stretch themselves upon their couches , &c. who chaunt to the sound of the viol , and invent to themselves instruments of musick , like David : who drink wine in bowls , &c. but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph ; therefore now shall they go captive , &c. I abhor the excellency of Jacob , and hate his palaces , Amos 6. 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. They shall cry unto the Lord , but he will not hear them , he will ever hide his face from them : as they behaved themselves ill in their doings , &c. They build up Zion with blood , and Jerusalem with iniquity : the heads thereof judg for reward , and the Priests thereof teach for hire , and the Prophets thereof divine for money ; yet will they lean upon the Lord , and say , Is not the Lord among us ? none evil can come upon us : therefore shall Zion for your sakes be plowed as a field , and Jerusalem become heaps , &c. Micah 3. 3 , 4 , 5 , 10 , 11 , 12. Hear ye , O mountains , the Lords controversie , &c. for the Lord hath a controversie with his people , and he will plead with Israel ; O my people , what have I done unto thee , and wherein have I wearied thee ? testifie against me : for I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt , &c. There are yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked , &c. the rich men thereof are full of violence , &c. therefore also will I make thee sick , &c. Micah 6. 2 , 3 , 4 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. Several woes pronounced against persons for divers sins , Habbak 2. 9 , 12 , 15 , 19. I will punish the Princes , and the kings children , and all such who are clothed with strange apparel , &c. all those who leap on the threshold , who fill their masters house with violence and deceit , &c. I will punish the men who are setled on their lees , and say in their heart , The Lord will not do good , neither will he do evil , &c. and I will bring distress upon men , &c. because they have sinned , &c. He shall make a speedy riddance of all them who dwell in the land , Zeph. 1. 8 , 9 , 12 , 17 , 18. Is this a time for you to dwell in your seiled houses , and this house lye waste , & c ? because of mine house that is waste , and ye run every man to his own house ; therefore the heavens over you is stayed from dew , and the earth is stayed from fruit , and I called for a drought upon the land , Haggai 1. 4 , 9 , 10 , 11. Cursed be the deceiver , who hath in his flock a male , and voweth , and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing , Mal. 1. 13 , 14. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers , and against adulterers , and against false-swearing , and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages , the widow and the fatherless ; that turn aside the stranger , &c. Ye are gone away from mine ordinances , &c. ye are cursed with a curse , for ye have robbed me , &c. your words have been stout against me , saith the Lord ; yet ye say , What , have we spoken so much against thee ? ye have said , it is in vain to serve God , &c. Mal. 3. 5 , 9 , 10 , 13 , 14. Behold , the day cometh that shall burn as an oven , and all the proud , yea , and all who do wickedly , shall be stubble : and the day which cometh shall burn them up , saith the Lord of hosts , that it shall leave them neither root nor branch , Mal. 4. 1. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto your selves , that ye are the children of them who killed the prophets : fill ye up then the measure of your fathers . Ye serpents , ye generation of vipers , how can ye escape the damnation of hell ? Wherefore behold , I send to you prophets , and wise men , and scribes , and some of them ye shall kill and crucifie , and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues , and persecute them from city to city ; that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth , from the blood of righteous Abel , unto the blood Zacharias , &c. whom ye slew between the temple and the altar . Verily I say unto you , All these things shall come upon this generation . O Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! thou who killest the prophets , and stonest them who are sent unto thee , how often would I have gathered thy children together ? &c. and ye would not : behold , your house is left to you desolate , Mat. 23. 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38. Annanias and Sapphira , for their lying to the Holy Ghost , and Herod for pride , slain , Acts 5. 5 , 10. Acts 12. 21 , 22 , 23. Because when they knew God , they glorified him not as God , neither were thankful , &c. wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness , through the lusts of their own hearts , to dishonour their own bodies between themselves ; who changed the truth of God into a lye , &c. for this cause God gave them up to vile affections , &c. God gave them over to a reprobate mind , Rom. 1. 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you , and many sleep , &c. 1 Cor. 11. 29 , 30 , 31. The Apostle reckons up some of the sins and punishments of Israel ; and concludes : Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples , and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come , 1 Cor. 10. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Now the works of the flesh , &c. adultery , &c. they which do such things , shall not inherit the kingdom of God , Gal. 5. 19 , 20 , 21. He who is unjust , let him be unjust still : and he who is filthy , let him be filthy still , &c. behold I come quickly , &c. Rev. 22. 11. We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth , against them who commit such things , &c. who will render to every man according to his deeds , Rom. 2. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. See more of mans sin and corrupt nature , Chap. 5. The sad affects of such a state : See the same Chapter . See more of Gods punishing his own for sin , Chap. 13. See pardon of sin , Chap. 10. To own and profess the true God and our Lord Jesus Christ , boldly before men and : to wait for Christs second coming . 1. To own and confess the true God and our Lord Jesus Christ before m●…n . I know my redeemer liveth , and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth , &c. Job 19. 25. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings , and will not be ashamed , &c. I am a companion of all them who fear thee , Psal. 119. 46 , 63. Psal. 16. 2 , 3. None call for justice , nor any pleadeth for truth , Isa. 59. 4. Our God whom we serve , is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace , and he will deliver us out of thine hand , O king : but if not , be it known unto thee , O king , that we will not serve thy gods , Dan. 3. 17 , 18. When Daniel knew that the writing was signed , he went into his house , and his window being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem , he kneeled upon his knees , &c. and prayed , and gave thanks before his God , Daniel 6. 10. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men , him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven : but whosoever shall deny me before men , him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven , Mat. 10 32 , 33. Luke 12. 8 , 9. A damsel came unto Peter , saying , Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee ; but he denyed before them all , saying , I know not what thou sayest , &c. and again he denyed with an oath , faying , I do not know the man , &c. then began he to curse and to swear , saying , I know not the man , Mat. 26. 69 , 70 , 72. 74. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me , and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation , of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy Angels , Mark 8. 38. The parenrs of the blind man durst not confess Christ , but answered , He is of age , ask him : these words spake his parents , because they feared the Jews ; for the Jews had agreed already , that if any man did confess that he was Christ , that he should be put out of the Synagogue ; therefore said his parents , he is of age , ask him , &c. but the son confessed him , John 9. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 30 , 31 , 32 , &c. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also , many believed on him ; but because of the Pharisees , they did not confess him , lest they should he put out of the Synagogue : for they loved the praise of men , more than the praise of God , John 12. 42 , 43. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly , that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified , both Lord and Christ , Acts 2. 36. The God of our fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus , whom ye delivered up , &c. but ye denyed the holy and just one , &c. and killed the Prince of life , &c. Acts 3. 13 , 14 , 15. Be it known unto all , &c. that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom ye crucified , &c. even by him doth this man stand here before you whole : This is the stone which was set at nought by you builders , &c. We cannot but speak , &c. Acts 4. 10 , 11 , 20. Did not we straightly charge you that you should not teach in this name , & c ? Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said , We ought to obey God rather than men : The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew , &c. him hath God exalted with his right hand , &c. Acts 5. 28 , 29 , 30. Be it known to you therefore , men and brethren , that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins , Acts 13. 38. This I confess unto thee , that after the way which they call heresie , so worship I the God of my fathers , Acts 24. 14. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus , &c. for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness ; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation , Rom. 10. 9 , 10. As often as ye eat this bread , and drink this cup , shew ye ( or , ye do shew ) the Lords death till he come , 1 Cor. 11. 26. And many of the brethren of the Lord waxing confident by my bonds , are much more bold to speak the word without fear , Phil. 1. 14. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him , &c. that at the name of Jesus , &c. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus is the Lord , to the glory of God the Father , Phil. 2. 11. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord , nor of me his prisoner , &c. I am not ashamed , for I know whom I believe , 2 Tim. 1. 8 , 12. If we fuffer , we shall also reign with him : If we deny him , he also will deny us , 2 Tim. 2. 12. They profess they know God , but in works they deny him : being abominable , and disobedient , &c. Titus 1. 16. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God , God dwelleth in him , and he in God , 1 John 4. 15. I know thy works , and where thou dwellest ; where Satans seat is , and thou holdest fast my name , and hast not denyed my faith , Rev. 2. 13. See more of owning Christ in times of persecution , Chap 22. See more , perseverance , Chap. 16. To wait for Christs second coming . Watch therefore , for you know not what hour your Lord will come , &c. Therefore be ye also ready : for in such an hour as you think not , the Son of man cometh , Mat. 24. 42 , 44. The wise and foolish virgins slumbered and slept , while the bridegroom tarried , Mat. 25. 5. Let your loins be girded about , and your lights burning , and ye your selves like unto men who wait for their Lord , &c. Luke 12. 35 , 36. I will come again and receive you unto my self , John 14. 3. See that ye come behind in no gift , waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ , 1 Cor. 1. 7. For our conversation is in heaven , from whence also we look for the Saviour , the Lord Jesus Christ , who shall change our vile body , &c. Phil. 3. 20 , 21. When Christ who is our life shall appear , then shall ye also appear with him in glory , Col. 3. 4. Ye turned to God , &c. and to wait for his Son from heaven , 1 Thes. 1. 10. To you who are troubled , rest with us , when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels , 2 Thes. 1. 6 , 7. The Lord direct your hearts in the love of God , and into the patient waiting for Christ , 2 Thes. 3. 5. A crown of righteonsness , which the Lord , &c. shall give me at that day , &c. ●…ut unto them also who love his appearing , 2 Tim. 4. 8. Looking for that blessed hope , and the glorious appearing of the great God , and our Saviour Jesus Christ , Titus 2. 13. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many : and u●…●…hem who look for him , shall he appear the second time withou sin , unto salvation , Heb. 9. 28. Ye have need of patience , that after ye have done the will of God , ye might receive the promise : for yet a little while , and he who shall come will come , and will not tarry , &c. Heb. 10. 36 , 37. Be patient therefore , brethren , unto the coming of the Lord : Behold , the husband-man waiteth for the precious fruits : be ye also patient , stablish your hearts , for the coming of the Lord draweth near , James 5. 7 , 8. Wherefore girt up the loins of your mind , be sober and hope to the end , for the grace which is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ , 1 Pet. 1. 13. There shall come in the last day scoffers , &c. saying , Where is the promise of his coming ? for since the fathers fell asleep , all things continue as they were , &c. The Lord is not flack concerning his promise , &c. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night , &c. What manner of persons ought ye to be , &c. Looking for , and hastening unto the day of God , &c. 2 Peter 3. 3 , 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Abide in him , that when he shall appear , we may have confidence , and not be ashamed , &c. at his coming , 1 John 20. 28. We know that when he appears , we shall be like him , for we shall see him as he is , 1 John 3. 2. Keep your selves in the love of God , looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life , Jude verse 21. See his coming to judg the world , Chap. 35. To walk with God heartily , uprighty , sincerely , and to follow him fully and zealously : The reasons thereof . Enoch walked with God , Gen. 5. 22 , 24. Noah was a just man and perfect ( or , upright ) in his generation : Noah walked with God , &c. according unto all which God commanded him , so did he , Gen. 6. 9 , 22. The Lord said unto Abram , Get thee out of thy country , &c. so Abram departed as the Lord had spoken unto him , Gen. 12. 1 , 4. The Lord appeared unto Abram , and said unto him , I am the Almighty God , walk before me and be thou perfect ( or , upright ) , Gen. 17. 1 , 2. God said unto Abraham , Take thy son , &c. and offer him , &c. And Abraham rose up early in the morning to go about it , &c. Gen. 22. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , &c. The Lord said to Moses , Go , I will be with thy mouth , &c. and he said , O my Lord , Send I pray thee by the hand of him whom thou wilt send : and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses , Exod. 4. 12 , 13 , 14. My servant Moses who is faithful in all mine house : with him will I speak mouth to mouth , Num. 12. 7 , 8. Heb. 3. 2 , 5. But my servant Caleb , because he had another spirit with him , and hath followed me fully , him will I bring into the land , Num. 14. 24. Chap. 32. 12. Josh. 14. 8 , 14. Take heed to thy self , and keep thy soul diligently , lest thou forget , &c. lest they depart from thine heart , &c. thou shalt find him , if thou seek him with all thine heart and with all thy soul , Deut. 4. 9 , 29. The Lord said , They have well said all that they have spoken : O that there were such an heart in them , that they would fear , &c. Deut. 5. 28 , 29. What doth the Lord thy God require of thee , but , &c. to serve the Lord thy God with all thine heart , and with all thy soul ? Deut. 10. 12. 1 Sam. 12. 20. Thou shalt be perfect ( or , upright , or sincere ) with the Lord thy God , Deut. 18. 13. The Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments : thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all all thine heart , and with all thy soul , Deut. 26. 16. Cleave unto the Lord your God , as ye have done unto this day , Josh. 23. 8. Now therefore fear the Lord , and serve him in sincerity and in truth , Josh. 24. 14. Because Israel did not destroy all the inhabitants of the land , according to command , God said , I will not drive them out from before you , but they shall be in your sides , and their gods shall be a snare unto you , Judges 2. 2 , 3. Jephthah concerning his vow , said , I have opened my mouth unto the Lord , and I cannot go back , &c. Judges 11. 31 , 35 , 39. The Lord is a God of knowledg , and by him all actions are weighed , 1 Sam. 2. 3. God had said to Saul , Go and smite Amalek , and utterly destroy all which they have , &c. But Saul and the people spared Agag , and the best of the sheep , &c. Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel , saying , It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king : for he is turned back from following me , and hath not performed my commandment , 1 Sam. 15. 3 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. The Lord seeth not as man seeth : for man looketh on the outward appearance , but the Lord looketh on the heart , 1 Sam. 16. 7. I was also upright before him , &c. With the upright thou wilt shew thy self upright , 2 Sam. 22. 24 , 26. Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercies , according as he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness , and in uprightness of heart with thee , 1 Kings 3. 6. Thou , thou only , knowest the hearts of all the children of men , &c. Let your hearts therefore be perfect with the Lord your God , 1 Kings 8. 39 , 61. Psal. 44. 21. If thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked , in integrity of heart , and in uprightness , to do according to all , &c. Then I will establish , &c. 1 Kings 9. 4 , 5. It came to pass that when Solomon was old , &c. his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God , as the heart of David , &c. 1 Kings 11. 4. Asa did that which was right , &c. but the high places were not removed : nevertheless Asa his heart was perfect with the Lord all his days , 1 Kings 15. 11 , 14. How long halt ye between two opinions ? If the Lord be God , follow him , 1 Kings 18. 21. Thy servant will not offer , &c. to any other gods but the Lord : In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant : When my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship , &c. and I bow my self , &c. 2 Kings 5. 11 , 18. Many kings of Israel did that which was right , &c. but yet did not take away the high places , 2 Kings 14. Chap. 15. Josiah turned to the Lord with all his heart , and with all his might , according to all the law of Moses , &c. 2 Kings 23. 35. Chap. 18. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. Know thou the God of thy fathers , and serve him with a perfect heart , and a willing mind ; for the Lord searcheth all hearts , and understandeth , &c. 1 Chron. 28. 9. I know also my God , that thou tryest the heart , and hast pleasure in uprightness : As for me , in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things , 1 Chron. 29. 17. Prov. 17. 3. Rom. 8. 27. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth , to shew himself strong in the behalf of ( or , strongly to hold with ) them , whose heart is perfect towards him , 2 Chron. 16. 9. Amaziah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord : but not with a perfect heart , 2 Chron. 25. 2. Hezekiah , &c. wrought that which was good and right , &c. he did it with all his heart : and prospered , 2 Chron. 31. 20 , 21. Job was a perfect and upright man , and one who feared God , &c. Job 1. 1 , 8. Still he holdeth his integrity , although thou movest me against him , &c. Job 2. 3. Behold , God will not cast away a perfect man , Job 8. 20. My foot hath held his steps ; his way have I kept , and not declined , &c. Job 23. 11. My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live , Job 27. 6. Doth not he see all my ways , and count all my steps ? Job 31. 4. God , who saveth the upright in heart , Psal. 7. 10. The Lords throne is in heaven : his eyes behold , his eye-lids try the children of men , Psal. 11. 4 , 5. Lord , who shall abide in thy tabernacle , & c ? he who walketh uprightly , Psal. 15. 1 , 2. I have set the Lord always before me , Psal. 16. 8. The Lord preserveth the faithful , Psal. 31. 23. Mark the perfect man , and behold the upright : for the end of that man is peace , Isa. 37. 37. Forget also thine own people , and thy fathers house : so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty , Psal. 45. 10 , 11. Like sheep they are laid in the grave , &c. and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning , Psal. 49. 14. Behold , thou desirest truth in the inner parts , Psal. 51. 8. My soul followeth hard after thee : thy right hand , &c. Psal. 63. 1. All the upright in heart shall glory , Psal. 64. 10. Psal. 97. 11. I will pay my vows which my mouth hath uttered , &c. when I was in trouble , Psal. 66. 13. 14. Psal. 116. 14. 18. The Lord God , &c. will give grace and glory : no good thing will he withhold from them who walk uprightly , Psal. 84. 11. They say , the Lord shall not see , &c. He who planteth the ear , shall he not hear ? He who formed the eye , shall he not see , & c ? The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man , Psal. 49. 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 15. Light is sown for the righteous , and gladness for the upright in heart , Psal. 97. 11. I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way , &c. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart , Psal. 101. 2. Unto the upright there shall arise a light in the darkness , Psal. 112. 4. Then shall I not be ashamed , when I have respect unto all thy commandments : I will praise thee with uprightness of heart , &c. My zeal hath consumed me , &c. Psal. 119. 6 , 7 , 139. Do good , O Lord , unto , &c. them who are upright in their hearts : as for such who turn aside to their crooked ways , the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity , Psal. 125. 4 , 5. O Lord , thou hast searched me and known me : thou knowest my down-sitting and up-rising : thou understandest my thoughts afar off : thou compassest my path , and my lying down , and art acquainted with all my ways : for there is not a word in my tongue , but lo , O Lord , thou knowest it altogether , Psal. 139. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Ezek. 11. 5. The upright shall dwell in thy presence , Psal. 140. 13. The Lord is a buckler to them who walk uprightly , Prov. 2. 7. My son , &c. let thine heart keep my commandments , Prov 3. 1. chap. 23. 26. Keep thy heart with all diligence : for out of it are the issues of life , Prov. 4. 23. For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord , and he pondereth all his goings , Prov. 5. 21. He who walketh uprightly , walketh surely , &c. Prov. 10. 9. The integrity of the upright shall guide them , &c. the righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way , &c. The rigteousness of the upright shall deliver him , &c. Such as are upright in the way , are his delight , Prov. 11. 3 , 5 , 6 , 20. He who walketh in his uprightness , feareth the Lord , Prov. 14. 2. The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good , &c. the prayers of the upright is his delight , &c. A man of understanding walketh uprightly , Prov. 15. 3 , 8 , 21. All the ways of man are clean in his own eyes : but the Lord weigheth the spirits , Prov. 16. 2. The just man walketh in his integrity , Prov. 20. 7. Every way of man is right in his own eyes : but the Lord pondereth the hearts , Prov. 21. 2. My son , give me thine heart , Prov. 23. 26. If thou sayest , Behold , we know it not : doth not he who pondereth the heart consider ? Prov. 24. 12. A faithful man shall abound with blessings : Prov. 28. 20. The way of the just is uprightness : thou most upright , dost weigh the path of the just , Isa. 26. 7. Hezekiah , &c. Remember now , O Lord , I beseech thee , how I have walked before thee in truth , and with a perfect heart , &c. Isa. 38. 2. Hearken unto me , &c. the people in whose heart is my Law : fear ye not , Isa. 51. 7. Is it such a fast I have chosen , & c ? to bow down his head as a bull-rush , &c. Is not this the fast that I have chosen , to loose the bands of wickedness ? Isa. 58. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. From the Prophet to the Priest , every one dealeth falsly : for they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people lightly , saying , Peace , &c. Jer. 8. 20 , 11. O Lord of Hosts who judgest righteously ; who tryest the reins , and the heart , Jer. 11. 20. The heart is deceitful above all things , and desparately wicked , who can know it ? I the Lord search the heart , and try the reins , even to give every man according to his ways : according to the fruit of his doings , Jer. 17. 9 , 10. chap. 32. 19. Rom. 8. 27. 〈◊〉 God at hand , &c. not a God afar off : Can any hide himself in secret pla●…●…hat I shall not see him , saith the Lord ? Do not I fill heaven and earth ? Jer. 23. 23 , 24. Heb. 4. 12. 13. Cursed be he who doth the work of the Lord deceitfully ( or , negligently ) Jer. 48. 10. I know the things which come to your mind every one , Ezek. 11. 5. Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the Kings meat , &c. Dan. 1. 8. Beh●…ld , his soul which is lifted up , is not upright in him , Habbak . 2. 4. Ye brought that which was torn : and the lame and the sick , &c. sacrificed to the Lord a corrupt thing , &c. Mal. 1. 13. 14. Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her , hath committed adultery with her already in his heart , Matth. 5. 28. When thou dost alms , let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth , &c. No man can serve two masters : for either he will hate the one , and love the other ; or else he will hold to the one , and despise the other : ye cannot serve God and Mammon , Matth. 6. 3 , 24. Strait is the gate , and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life , &c. Not every one who saith , Lord , Lord , shall enter into the kingdom , &c. Matth. 7. 13 , 14 , 21. Because they had not root , they withered away , Matth. 13. 5. 6. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man , but that which cometh out , &c. those things which proceedeth out of the mouth , cometh from the heart : and they defile the man , Matth. 15. 11. 18. Jesus said , If any man will come after me , let him deny himself , and take up his cross and follow me , Matth. 16. 24 , 25. The Lord said unto him who had impro●… 〈◊〉 ●…ts : Well done thou good and faithful servant : thou hast been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a few things , I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou ●…to the joy , &c. Matth. 25. 20. 21. Watch , &c. the spirit indeed is willing , but the flesh is weak , Matth. 26. 41. Teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you , Matth. 28. 20. When Jesus had called the blind man , he cast away his garment , rose and came unto Jesus , Mark 10. 50. Zacharias and Elizabeth walked in all the Ordinances and Commandments of the Lord , blameless , Luke 1. 5 , 6. Mary , &c. kept all these sayings in her heart , Luke 2. 51. Simon , James and John , they forsook all , and followed Christ , &c. Levi left all , rose up , and followed Christ when he had called him , Luke 5. 10 , 11 , 27 , 28. Jesus said unto another , Follow me ; but he said , Lord , suffer me first to go and bury my father , &c. Another said , Lord , I will follow thee ; but let me first go and bid them farewel , &c. Jesus said unto him , No man having put his hand to the Plow and looking back , is fit for the kingdom of God , Luke 9. 59 , 61 , 62. chap. 8. 14. If any man come to me and hate not his father , and mother , and wife , and children , and brethren and sisters , yea , and his own life also , he cannot be my disciple ; and whosoever doth not bear his cross , and come after me , cannot be my disciple , &c. Whosoever he be among you who forsaketh not all he hath , cannot be my disciple , Luke 14. 26 , 27 , 33. No man can serve two masters : for either he will hate the one , &c. you cannot serve God and Mammon . Ye are they who justifie your selves before men , but God knoweth your hearts : for that which is highly esteemed amongst men , is abomination in the sight of God , Luke 16. 13. 15. Jesus saw Nathaniel , &c. and said of him , Behold , an Israelite indeed , in whom is no guile , John 1. 47. God is a Spirit : and they who worship him , must worship him in spirit and in truth , John 4. 24. Amongst the chief Rulers also many believed on him : but because of the Pharisees , they did not confess him , lest they should be put out of the Synagogue : for they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God , John 12. 42 , 43. The Eunuch said , Here is water , what hinders me to be baptized ? And Philip said , If thou believest with all thine heart , thou mayest , Acts 8. 36 , 37. Barnabas exhorteth them all , that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord , Acts 11. 23. None of these things move me : neither count I my life dear unto my self , so that I might finish my course with joy , and the Ministry , &c. Acts 20. 24. I was not disobedient unto the heavenly Vision : but shewed , &c. Act. 26. 17 , 18 , 19. He is not a Jew , who is one outwardly , neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the flesh : but he is a Jew which is one inwardly , and Circumcision is that of the heart , in the spirit , and not in the letter : whose praise is not of men , but of God , Rom. 2. 28 , 29. Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine whereto ye were delivered , Rom. 6. 17. Let love be without dissimulation : abhor that which is evil , cleave to that which is good , &c. Not slothful in business , fervent in spirit , serving the Lord , Rom. 12. 9 , 11. For the kingdom of God is not in word , but in power , 1 Cor. 4. 20. Let us keep the feast , &c. with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth , 1 Cor. 5. 8. Ye are bought with a price : be ye not the servants of men , &c. let every man wherein he is called , therein abide with God , 1 Cor. 7. 33 , 34. So run , that ye may obtain , 1 Cor. 9. 24. Be ye followers of me , even as I also am of Christ , 1 Cor. 11. 1. Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor , &c. and have not charity , it profiteth me nothing , 1 Cor. 13. 1 , 2 , 3. Our rejoycing is this , the testimony of our conscience , that in simplicity and godly sincerity , &c. we have had our conversation in the world , 2 Cor. 1. 12. We are not as many who corrupt the word of God ; but as of sincerity , but as of God , in the sight of God speak we , &c. 2 Cor. 2. 17. We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty , not walking in crastiness , nor handling the word of God deceitfully , 2 Cor. 4. 2. Let us cleanse our selves , &c. perfecting holiness in the fear of God , 2 Cor. 7. 1. If there be first a willing mind , it is accepted according to that a man hath , and not , &c. 2 Cor. 8. 12. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart , &c. God loveth a chearful giver , 2 Cor. 9. 7. Be perfect , &c. 2 Cor. 13. 11. When it pleased God , &c. to reveal his Son in me , &c. immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood , &c. but I went , &c. Gal. 1. 15 , 16 , 17. Peter , &c. was to be blamed : for before that certain came from James , he did eat with the Gentiles : but when they were come , he withdrew , and separated himself , fearing them of the Circumcision : and the other Jews dissembled likewise with him ; insomuch , that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation . But when I saw they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel , I said unto Peter , &c. Gal. 2. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good matter , and not only when I am present with you , Gal. 4. 18. Speaking the truth ( or , being sincere ) in love , may grow up in him , Ephes. 4. 15. Be ye therefore followers of God , as dear children , &c. We are members of his body , &c. for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother , and shall be joyned unto his wife , and they two shall be one flesh : this is a great mystery , but I speak concerning Christ and his Church , Ephes. 5. 1 , 30 , 31. 32. Servants , be obedient , &c. in singleness of your heart as unto Christ ; not with eye-service as men-pleasers : but as the servants of Christ , doing the will of God from the heart with good will , doing service as to the Lord , not unto men , Ephes. 6. 5 , 6 , 7. Col. 3. 22 , 23. This I pray , &c. that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ , Phil. 1. 9 , 10. Do all things without murmuring or disputing , &c. that ye may be blameless , and harmless ( or , sincere ) and without rebuke , &c. All seek their own things , few the things of Christ , Phil. 2. 14 , 15 , 21. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead ; not as though I had already attained , either were already perfect , but I follow after , if that I may apprehend , &c. This one thing I do , forgetting those things which are behind , and reaching forth to those things which are before : I press towards the mark , &c. Phil. 3. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Epaphras , &c. always labouring ( or , striving ) fervently for you in prayers , that ye may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God : for I bear him record that he hath a great zeal for you , Coloss. 4. 12. 13. They received not the love of the truth , that they might be saved , 2 Thes. 2. 10. I charge you before God , &c. that you observe these things without prejudice ( or , preferring one before another , doing nothing by partiality ) , 1 Tim. 5. 21. No man who warreth , entangleth himself with the affairs of life , that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a Souldier , 2 Tim. 2. 4. In all things shewing thy self , &c. in doctrine , uncorruptness , gravity , sincerity , &c. who gave himself for us , that he might , &c. purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works , Titus 2. 7 , 14. All things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do , Heb. 4. 2. Let us go on unto perfection , not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works , &c. We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end : that ye be not slothsul , but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises , Heb. 6. 1 , 11 , 12. The wisdom which is from above is pure , &c. without partiality , and without hypocrisie , &c. James 3. 17. Know ye not , that the friendship of the world is enmity with God : whosoever therefore will be a friend unto the world , is the enemy of God , &c. Draw nigh to God , and he will draw nigh to you , &c. Purifie your hearts ye double-minded , James 4. 4 , 8. Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying , &c. unto unfeigned love of the brethren : See that ye love one another with a pure heart , fervently , 1 Pet. 1. 22. Wherefore laying aside , &c. all guile and hypocrisie , &c. Neither was guile found in Christs mouth , 1 Pet. 2. 1 , 22. Whose adorning , let it not be that outward , &c. but the hidden man of the heart , 1 Pet. 3. 3 , 4. Give all diligence to add to your faith virtue , &c. wherefore the rather brethren , give diligence to make your calling and election sure : for if ye do these things , ye shall never fall , &c. 2 Pet. 1. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Seeing that ye look for such things , &c. be diligent , that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blemish , &c. but grow in grace , and in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus , &c. 2 Pet. 3. 14 , 18. If we say we have fellowship with him , and walk in darkness , we lye , and do not the truth , 1 John 1. 6. Let us not love in word , &c. but in deed and in truth , &c. If our hearts condemn us , God is greater , &c. 1 John 3. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. I rejoyce greatly that I have found of thy children walking in truth , 2 John verse 4. I have no greater joy , than to hear that my children walk in truth : Beloved , thou dost faithfully whatsoever thou dost to the brethren and to strangers , 3 John verse 4 , 5. But , ye beloved , building up your selves in your most holy faith , &c. Jude , verse 20. Be thou faithful unto death , and I will give thee a crown of life , Revel . 2. 10. Thou hast a name that thou livest , and art dead ; be watchful , and strengthen the things which remain : I have not found thy work perfect before God , &c. Thou hast a few names in Sardis , who have not defiled their garments , &c. I know thy work , that thou art neither hot nor cold : I would thou wert cold or hot ; so then , because thou art lukewarm , and neither cold nor hot , I will spew thee out of my mouth ; Because thou sayest I am rich , &c. and knowest not that thou art wretched , &c. As many as I love , I rebuke , &c. be zealous therefore , &c. Rev. 3. 1 , 2 , 4 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 19. These are they who were not defiled with Women , for they are Virgins : these are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth , Revel . 14. 4. Let every man prove his own work , &c. for every man shall bear his own burthen , &c. Be not deceived , God is not mocked ; for whatsoever a man soweth , that shall he also reap , &c. Gal. 6. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. See the spirits and practises of Hypocrites ; and the danger of Hypocrites , Chap. 28. To stick fast to God , and not to depart from him : abide in the faith and practice of what we know of his Will , and persevere to the end . The reasons . That the Saints shall be kept . To persevere and abide with God in the faith and practise , &c. That thou keep this Commandment without spot unrebukable , until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ , 1 Tim. 6. 14. Enoch walked with God , and he was not ; for God took him , Gen. 5. 23 , 24. Jesurun waxed fat , and kicked : then he forsook God who made him , and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation , &c. of the Rock which begat thee ; thou art unmindful and hath forgotten God who formed thee : and when the Lord saw it , he abhorred them , Deut. 32. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. Cleave unto the Lord your God , as ye have done unto this day , Josh. 23. 8. Chuse you whom ye will serve , &c. But as for me and my house , we will serve the Lord , Josh. 24. 15. Seek the Lord and his strength ; seek his face continually , 1 Chron. 16. 11. Thou Solomon , &c. know thou the God of thy fathers , &c. If thou seek him , he will be found of thee ; but if thou forsake him , he will cast thee off for ever , 1 Chron. 28. 9. Hear ye me , Asa , and all Judah , &c. the Lord is with you , while ye be with him : and if ye seek him , he will be found of you ; but if ye forsake him , he will forsake you , 2 Chron. 15. 2. The righteous also shall hold on his way , Job 17. 9. I have kept the ways of the Lord : I have not wickedly departed from my God , &c. I did not put away his Statutes from me , Psalm 18. 21. 22. Wait on the Lord and keep his way , and he shall exalt thee , Psalm 37. 34. All this is come upon us , yet have we not forgotten thee , &c. Our heart is not turned back , neither have our steps declined from thy way : though thou hast sore broken us , &c. If we have forgotten the name of our God , or stretched out our hands to strange gods : shall not God search this out ? Psal. 44. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. He will speak peace to his people ; but let them not turn again to folly , Psal. 85. 8. Then believed they his words : they sang his praise : they soon forgat his works : they waited not for his counsel , &c. they forgat God their Saviour , who had done great things , Psal. 106. 12 , 13 , 21. As for such who turn aside unto their crooked ways , the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity , Psal. 125. 5. My son , forget not my law , Prov. 3. 1. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways , Prov. 14. 14. My son , give me thine heart , and let thine eyes observe my ways , Prov. 23. 26. I have nourished and brought up children , &c. they have forsaken the Lord●… they have provoked the holy one of Israel unto anger , they are gone away backward : why should ye ●…e stricken any more ? ye will revolt more and more , &c. they who forsake the Lord shall be consumed , Isa. 1. 2 , 4 , 5 , 28. There shall be desolation , because thou hast forgotten the God of thy Salvation , and hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength , &c. Isa. 17. 10. They who wait upon the Lord shall renew strength , they shall mount up , &c. they shall run and not be weary , they shall walk and not faint , Isa. 40. 31. This people have I formed for my self , &c. but thou hast not called upon me , O Jacob ; but thou hast been weary of me , O Israel ; thou hast not , &c. Isa. 43. 21 , 22 , 23 , He feedeth upon ashes , and a deceived heart hath tu●…ned him aside , that he cannot deliver his Soul , nor say , Is there not a lye in my right hand ? Isa. 44. 20. Thus saith the Lord , What iniquity have your fathers found in me , that they are gone far from me , and have walked after vanity , and are become vain , & c ? pass over the Isles , &c. Hath a nation changed their gods , & c ? but my people have changed their glory , &c. Be astonished , O ye heavens , &c. for my people have committed two evils ; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters : hewed them out Cisterns , broken Cisterns , which can hold no water , &c. Thy backsliding shall reprove thee : know therefore and see , that it is an evil and a bitter thing , that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God , &c. I had planted thee a noble vine , &c. How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine , unto me , & c ? They have turned their back unto me , and not their face , &c. Have I been a barren wilderness unto Israel , a land of darkness ? Wherefore say my people , we are lords ? We will come no more unto thee ? Can a maid forget her ornaments ? or a bride her attire ? yet my people have forgotten me days withour number , Jer. 2. 5 , 6 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 19 , 21 , 27 , 31 , 32. How shall I pardon thee for this ? thy children hath forsaken me , &c. This people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart : they are revolted and gone , Jer. 5. 7 , 23. O Lord , the hope of Israel all who forsake thee , shall ●…e ashamed , and they who depart from me shall be written in the earth ; because they have forsaken the Lord the fountain of living waters , Jer. 17. 13. Daniel purposed in his heart , that he would not defile himself with the kings meat , Dan. 1. 8. Israel slideth back as a back-sliding Heyfer , &c. Ephraim is joyned to Idols , let him alone , Hos. 4. 16 , 17. Wo unto them , for they have fled from me , Hos. 7. 1●… I will stretch out my hand upon Judah , &c. and them who are turned back from the Lord , and those who have not sought the Lord , nor enquired for him , Zeph. 1. 4 , 6. I am the Lord , I change not , Mal. 3. 6. He who endureth unto the end shall be saved , &c. Whomsoever shall deny me before men , him will I also deny before my father , &c. Mat. 10. 22 , 33. ch . 24. 13. Whosoever will save his life , shall lose it : and whosoever will lose his life for my sake , shall find it , Mat. 16. 25. Luk. 17. 32 , 33. Jesus said , &c. No man having put his hand to the Plow , and looking back , is fit for the kingdom of God , Luk. 9. 62. Thou art made whole , sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee , Joh. 5. 14. ch . 8. 11. From that time many of his disciples went back , and walked no more with him , Joh. 6. 66. If ye continue in my word , then are ye my disciples indeed , Joh. 8. 31. Abide in me , &c. If any man abide not in me , he is cast forth as a branch , and is withered , &c. If ye abide in me , and my words abide in you , ye shall ask what ye will , and it shall be done unto you , &c. continue ye in my love , Joh. 15. 4 , 6 , 7 , 9. Whether is it right in the sight of God , to hearken unto you more than unto God ; judg ye , for we cannot but speak , &c. Act. 4. 18 , 19. Barnabas exhorted them all , that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord , Act. 11. 22 , 23. Many of the Jews followed Paul and Barnabas , who speaking unto them , perswaded them to continue in the grace of God , Act. 13. 43. They exhorted them to continue in the faith , Act. 14. 22. Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledg , God gave them over to a reprobate mind ( or to a mind void of judgment ) , Rom. 1. 28. To them who by patient continuing in well doing , seek for glory , &c. eternal life , Rom. 2. 6 , 7. Behold then the goodness and severity of God ; on them which fell , severity ; but towards thee , goodness , if thou continue in his goodness , otherwise thou also shalt be cut off , Rom. 11. 22. Let every man wherein he is called , therein abide with God , 1 Cor. 7. 24. I praise you , &c. that you keep the ordinances as I delivered them unto you , 1 Cor. 11. 2. Be ye stedfast , unmoveable , alway abounding in the work of the Lord , forasmuch , as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord , 1 Cor. 15. 58. Stand fast in the faith : quit you like men ; and be strong , 1 Cor. 16. 13. Having therefore these promises , &c. let us cleanse our selves , &c. perfecting holiness in the fear of God , 2 Cor. 7. 1. I am jealous over you , &c. lest by any means , as the Serpent beguiled Eve , &c. so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ , 2 Cor. 11. 2 , 3. I marvel that you are so soon removed from him who called you , &c. But though we or , &c. Gal. 1. 6 , 7 , 8. Paul blames the Galatians for turning back to circumcision , and beggerly rudiments , and exhorts them to stick to the faith , and stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free , Gal. 3. ch . 4. ch . 5. Let us not be weary in well doing : for in due season we shall reap if we faint not , Gal. 6. 9. That ye henceforth be no more children tossed to and sro , &c. Let him who stole , steal no more , Eph. 4. 14 , 28. Put on the whole armour of God , that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil : For we wrestle not with flesh , &c. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God , that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day , and having done all , to stand , &c. Praying , and watching with all perseverance , Eph. 6. 11 , 12 , 13 , 18. Nevertheless , whereunto we have already attained , let us walk by the same rule , let us mind the same thing , Phil. 3. 16. Stand fast in the Lord , my dearly beloved , Phil. 4. 1. If ye continue in the faith grounded and setled , and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which ye have heard , &c. Col. 1. 23. I am with you in the spirit , joying and beholding your order , and the sted-fastness of your faith in Christ. As ye therefore received Christ the Lord , walk ye in him : Rooted and built up in him , and stablished in the faith as ye have been taught , Col. 2. 5 , 6 , 7. For we live , if ye stand fast in the Lord , &c. 1 Thess. 3. 8. We exhort you , &c. that as you have received of us , how ye ought to walk , and to please God , so ye would abound more and more , 1 Thess. 4. 1. 〈◊〉 things : hold fast that which is good , 1 Thess. 5. 21. Therefore brethren stand fast , and hold the traditions which ye have been taught , whether by word or our Epistle , &c. Now our Lord Jesus himself , and God , even our father , &c. stablish you in every good word and work , 2 Thess. 2. 15 , 17. Brethren , be not weary ( or , faint not ) in well doing , 2 Thess. 3. 13. Holding faith and a good conscience , which some having put away , concerning faith hath made shipwrack , of whom is Hymeneus , &c. 1 Tim. 1. 19 , 20. They shall be saved in Child bearing , if they continue in faith , and charity , and holiness , with sobriety , 1 Tim. 2. 15. In the latter times some shall depart from the faith , &c. Some are already turned aside after Satan , 1 Tim. 4. 1. ch . 5. 15. If we deny him , he also will deny us , 2 Tim. 2. 12. But continue thou in the things thou hast learned , and hast been assured of , &c. 2 Tim. 3. 14 , 15 , 16. I have fought a good fight , I have finished my course , I have kept the faith : Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown , &c. 2 Tim. 4. 7 , 8. A Bishop must be blameless , &c. holding fast the faithful word , &c. Tit. 1. 9. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard , lest at any time we should let them slip , &c. Heb. 2. 1 , 2 , 3. Whose house are we , if we hold fast the confidence , and the rejoicing of the hope firmly unto the end , &c. We are made partakers of Christ , if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end , Heb. 3. 6 , 14. Seeing that we have a great High-priest , &c. Let us hold fast our profession : For we have not an High-priest who cannot be touched with , &c. Heb. 4. 14 , 15. For it is impossible for those who are once enlightened , &c if they shall fall away , to renew them again unto repentance , &c. We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence , to the full assurance of hope unto the end : That ye be not slothful , but followers of them , who through faith and patience inherit the promises , Heb. 6. 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 , 12. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering : for he is faithful who promised , &c. For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledg of the truth , there remains no more sacrifice for sins ; but a certain fearful looking for of judgment , &c. Cast not away therefore your confidence , which hath great recompence of reward : for ye have need of patience , &c. If any man draw back , my soul shall have no pleasure in him : we are not of them who draw back unto perdition , Heb. 10. 23 , 26 , 27 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39. Let us run with patience the race set before us , looking unto Jesus , &c. lest ye be weary and faint in your minds , &c. Heb. 12. 1 , 2 , 3 , 15. Jesus Christ the same , &c. Be not carryed about , &c. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace , Heb. 13. 8 , 9. Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty , &c. and continueth , &c. 〈◊〉 To him who knoweth to do good , and doth it not , to him it is s●… , James 4. 17. Gird up the loins of your mind , be sober , and hope to the end , 1 Pet. 1. 13. The devil , &c. whom resist , stedfast in the faith , 1 Pet. 5. 8 , 9. If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world , &c. they are again entangled therein , and overcome ; the latter end is worse with them than the beginning : For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness , than after they have known it , to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them , 2. Pet. 2. 20 , 21. They went out from us ; but they were not of us : for if they had been of us , no doubt they , &c. Let that therefore abide in you , which ye have heard from the beginning : if that , &c. remain in you , ye also shall continue in the son , &c. And now little children , abide in him , that when he shall appear , &c. 1 Joh. 2. 19 , 24 , 28. Look to your selves , that ye lose not these things which we have wrought : but that we , &c. 2 Joh. ver . 8 , 9. I have no greater joy , than to hear that my children walk in truth , 3 Joh. ver . 4. Earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints , &c. The Angels who kept not their first state , &c. he hath reserved in chains , &c. Build up your selves in your most holy faith , &c. keep your selves in the love of God , &c. Jude ver . 3 , 6 , 20 , 21. I know thy works , &c. thou hast laboured and hast not fainted , &c. To him who overcometh , will I give to eat of the tree of life , &c. he shall not be hurt by the second death , &c. I will give to eat of the hidden Manna , and will give him a white stone , &c. Hold fast till I come : and he who overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end , to him will I give power over the nations , Rev. 2. 3 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 17 , 25 , 26. He who overcometh , shall be clothed with white raiment , &c. I will confess his name , &c. Hold that fast which thou hast , that no man take thy crown , &c. I will make him a pillar , &c. I will grant him to sit in my Throne , &c. Rev. 3. 5 , 11 , 12 , 21. He shall inherit all things , and I will be his God , and he shall be my son , Rev. 21. 7. He who is righteous , let him be righteous still : and he who is holy , let him be holy still , Rev. 22. 11. See holding ●…st to God in time of affliction , &c. Chap. 22. That the saints , believers , shall be kept : Have power given them to persevere and abide in the faith , &c. Christ will uphold them . The steps of a good man are ordered ( or , established ) by the Lord , &c. Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down : for the Lord upholdeth with his hand , &c. Psal. 37. 23 , 24. I will bring the blind by a way they know not , I will lead them in paths they have not known : I will make darkness light before them , and crooked things straight : these things will I do unto them , and not forsake them , Isa. 42. 16. I have loved thee with an everlasting love : therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee , Jer. 31. 3. I will make an everlasting covenant with them , that I will not turn away from them to do them good : but I will put my fear into their hearts , that they shall not depart from me , Jer. 32. 40. The Son of man is come to save that which was lost ; how think ye , if a man have an hundred sheep , and one of them be gon astray , doth he not leave the 99 and go , &c. and seek that which was lost , & c ? Even so , it is not the will of your father which is in heaven , that one of these little ones should perish , Mat. 18. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. There shall arise false Christs , &c. insomuch , that ( if it were possible ) they shall deceive the very Elect , Mat. 24. 24. Satan hath desired to winnow you , &c. But I have prayed for thee , that thy faith fail not , Luk. 22. 31 , 32. All which the father hath given unto me : shall come to me : and he who cometh , I will in no wise cast out , &c. This is the fathers will , &c. that of all he hath given me , I should lose nothing , but raise it up at the last day , Joh. 6. 37 , 38 , 39. My sheep , &c. they shall never perish , neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand , &c. No man is able to pluck them out of my fathers hand . I and my father are one , Joh. 10. 27 , 28 , 29 , 30. Holy father , keep them through thy name , &c. While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy name : those whom thou gavest me I have kept , none of them is lost but the son of perdition , that the scripture , &c. Joh. 17. 11 , 12. O wretched man that I am , who shall deliver me from the body of death ! I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord , Rom. 7. 24 , 25. Whom he did predestinate , them he called , &c. them he justified , &c. he glorified , &c. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ , & c ? I am perswaded that neither death , &c. nor any other creature shall be able to separate us , Rom. 8. 29 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 37 , 38 , 39. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance , Rom. 11. 29. Who art thou who judgeth another mans servant ? to his own master he standeth or falleth ; yea , he shall be holden up : for God is able to make him stand , Rom. 14. 4. The God of peace shall bruise ( or , tread ) Satan under your feet shortly , &c. Rom. 16. 20. Jesus Christ , &c. Who shall also confirm you to the end , that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ ; God is faithful , by whom ye , &c. 1 Cor. 1. 7 , 8 , 9. God is faithful , who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able ; but will with the tentation also make a way to escape , that ye may be able to bear it , 1 Cor. 10. 13. Now he who establisheth us with you in Christ , and hath anointed us , is God , 2 Cor. 1. 21. Being confident of this very thing , that he who hath begun a good work in you , will perform it ( or , finish it ) until the day of Jesus Christ , Phil. 1. 6. And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly , and your whole soul , body and spirit be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ; faithful is he who calleth you , who also will do it , 1 Thess. 5. 23 , 24. But the Lord is faithful : who shall establish you and keep you from evil ( or , the evil one ) , 2 Thess. 3. 3. Who concerning the truth have erred , &c. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure , having this seal , the Lord knoweth them who are his , 2 Tim. 2. 18 , 19. The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work , and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom , 2 Tim. 4. 18. To an inheritance , &c. reserved in heaven , for us who are kept by the power of God through saith unto salvation , 1 Pet. 1. 4 , 5. They went out from us , but they were not of us : for if they had been of us , they would no doubt have continued with us : but they went out that they might be made manifest , that they were not all of us , &c. the anointing which ye have received , &c. Ye shall abide in him , 1 Joh. 2. 18 , 19 , 26 , 27. He that is born of God doth not commit sin : for his seed remaineth in him , and he cannot , &c. 1 Joh. 3. 9. Ye are of God , &c. and have overcome them , because greater is he who is in you , than he who is in the world , 1 Joh. 4. 3 , 4. Whosoever is born of God , overcometh the world , 1 Joh. 5. 4 , 18. The truth which dwelleth in us , and shall be in us for ever , 2 Joh. v. 2. Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling , and to preserve you faultless before the presence of his glory , &c. to the only wise God , &c. Jude v. 24 , 25. Those whose names were not written in the book of life , they worshipped and wondered at the beast , Rev. 13. 8. ch . 17. 8. See more of Gods upholding his in time of trouble and persecution . Chap. 22. To take heed to observe , and watch diligently over our selves , with a holy jealousie and fear , lest we should apostatize and depart from God , his truth and wayes , into any error or sin . The reaso●…s : our danger . Take heed to thy self , lest thou make a Covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest , lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee : but ye shall destroy their altar●… , &c. lest , &c. they go a whoring after their gods , and do sacrifice , &c. Exod. 34. 12 , 13 , 15 , 16. What nation so great , who hath God so nigh unto them , & c ? Only take heed to thy self , and keep thy soul diligently , lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen , and lest they depart from thine heart all the days of thy life , &c. Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves , &c. lest ye corrupt your selves , and make you a graven image , &c. Deut. 4. 7 , 8 , 9 , 15. When the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land , &c. when thou shalt have eaten and be full , beware lest thou forget the Lord , &c. Deut. 6. 10 , 11 , 12. ch . 8. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. I will give rain , &c. that thou maist eat and be full : take heed to your selves that your hearts be not deceived , and ye turn aside and serve other gods , Deut. 11. 14 , 15 , 16. If thy brother , &c. intice thee secretly , saying , Come let us go and serve other gods , &c. thou shalt not consent to him , nor hearken unto him , &c. Deut. 13. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. There was a day , when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan ( or , the adversary ) among ( or , in the midst of ) them , Job 1. 6 , 7. chap. 2. 1 , 2. I said , I will take heed to my ways , that I sin not with my tongue , &c. Psal. 39. 1. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his ways ? by taking heed thereto according to thy word , Psal. 119. 9. Set a watch , O Lord , before my mouth , keep the dore of my lips , Psal. 141. 3. Keep thy heart with all diligence : for out of it , the issues of life , Prov. 4. 23. A prudent man foreseeth the evil , and hideth himself , &c. Prov. 27. 12. Happy is the man who feareth always : but he who hardeneth his heart , shall fall into mischief , Prov. 28. 14. The heart is deceitful above all things , and desperately wicked , who can know it ? Jer. 17. 9. And my people are bent to backsliding from me , Hosea 11. 7. Jesus said , Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees , and of , &c. Matt. 16. 6. Jesus said , Take heed that no man deceive you : for many shall come in my name , saying , I am Christ : and shall deceive many , Matt. 24. 4 , 5. Watch and pray , that ye enter not into tentations , Matt. 26. 41. Take ye heed : Behold , I have foretold you all things , &c. the day and hour knoweth no man , &c. take ye heed , watch and pray : for ye know not , &c. Mark 13. 23 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 37. Take heed and beware of covetousness , &c. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh , shall find watching , Luk. 12. 15 , 36 , 37 , 38. Take heed to your selves , lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting , and drunkenness , and cares of this life , &c. watch ye therefore , Luk. 21. 34 , 36. Take heed , lest by any means this liberty of yours , become a stumbling-block to them who are weak : for if any man see thee , &c. 1 Cor. 8. 8 , 9 , 10. These things happened unto them for ensamples : and they were written for our admonition , &c. wherefore , let him who thinketh he standeth , tak●… he●…d lest he fall , 1 Cor. 10. 11 , 12. Watch ye , stand ye fast , &c. 1 Cor. 16. 13. See that ye walk circumspectly , not as fools , but as wise , Ephes. 5. 15. Beware of dogs , beware of evil workers : beware of the concision , Phil. 3. 2. Beware , lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit , after the tradition of men , &c. not after Christ , Col. 2. 8. Continue in praying , and watch in the same , Col. 4. 2. We are not of the night , nor of darkness ; therefore let us not sleep as others : but let us watch and be sober , for they who sleep , sleep in the night , &c. 1 Thes. 5. 5 , 6 , 7. Some shall depart from the faith , &c. some are already turned aside , &c. have erred concerning the faith , 1 Tim. 4. 1. ch . 5. 15. ch . 6. 10 , 21. Take heed brethren , lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief , in departing from the living God , &c. lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin , Heb. 3. 12 , 13. Let us therefore fear , lest a promise being left us of entring into rest , any of you should seem to come short of it , &c. lest any man fall , &c. Heb. 4. 1 , 11. The end of all things is at hand : be ye therefore sober , and watch unto prayer , 1 Pet. 4. 7. Be sober , be vigilant , because your adversary the Devil , like a roaring Lyon , walketh about , seeking whom he may devour , 1 Pet. 5. 8 , 9. Seeing ye know before , beware left ye also being led away with the error of the wicked : fall from your own stedfastness , 2 Pet. 3. 17. Look to your selves , that we lose not those things which we have gained , 2 John v. 8. Be watchful , and strengthen the things which remain , &c. If thou shalt not watch , &c. Rev. 3. 2 , 3. Behold , I come as a thief : blessed is he who watcheth , and keepeth his garments , lest he walketh naked , and they see his shame , Rev. 16. 15. See the Saints aptness to fall into sin , Chap. 13. See the Devil , and Deceivers ways to draw aside , Chap. 30. CHAP. XVII . Of the Duties of Saints , Believers , Brethren in the Lord , each to other , as such , and as standing in that relation one to another . 1st . To love one another ; the kinds of it . THou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self : I am the Lord , Levit. 19. 18. My goodness extends not unto thee : but to the saints who are in the earth , and to the excellent in whom is all my delight , Psal. 16. 2 , 3. I am a companion of all them who fear thee , &c. Psal. 119. 63. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is , then a stalled ox , where hatred is , Prov. 15. 17. Love is as strong as death , &c many waters cannot quench love , Cant. 8. 6 , 7. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self : on these two commandments hang all the law and the Prophets , Matt. 22. 39 , 40. The love of many shall wax cold , Matt. 24. 12. A new commandment I give unto you , That ye love one another , as I have loved you , that ye also love one another : by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples , if ye love one another , John 13. 34 , 35. This is my commandment , that ye love one another , as I have loved you , Joh. 15. 12 , 13 , 17. We being many are one body in Christ , and every one members one of another , &c. let love be without dissimulation , &c. be kindly affectioned one to another , with brotherly love ( or , in the love of the brethren ) Rom. 12. 5 , 9 , 10. 1 Cor. 12. 13 , 25 , 27. Owe no man any thing , but to love one another : for he who loveth another , hath fulfilled the law , &c. it is briefly comprehended in this saying , namely , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self . Love worketh no ill to his neighbour , Rom. 13. 8 , 9 , 10. Gal. 5. 13 , 14. Though I speak with the tongue of men or angels , &c. have the gift of prophesie , &c. have all faith , &c. bestow all my goods to feed the poor , and though I give my body to be burned , and have not charity , it profiteth me nothing : charity suffereth long , &c. charity never faileth , &c. 1 Cor. 13. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 13. Follow after charity , 1 Cor. 14. 1. Let all your things be done with charity , 1 Cor. 16. 14. There is neither Jew nor Greek , &c. for ye are all one in Christ Jesus , Gal. 3. 28. The sruit of the spirit is love , &c. Gal. 5. 22. Walk in love , as Christ also hath loved us , &c. Ephes. 5. 2. I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledg , &c. Phil. 1. 9. Having the same love , &c. look not every man on his own things , but every man also on the things of others . Phil. 2. 2 , 4. We give thanks , &c. since we heard , &c. of the love which ye have unto all saints , Col. 1. 3 , 4. Ephes. 1. 15. That their hearts might be comforted , being knit together in love , Col. 2. 1 , 2. Above all these things , put on charity , which is the bond of perfectness , Col. 3. 14. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another , 1 Thes. 3. 12. As touching brotherly love , ye need not that I write unto you : for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another , &c. that ye increase more , 1 Thes. 4. 9 , 10. We are bound to thank God , &c. because that your faith groweth exceedingly , and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth , 2 Thes. 1. 3. Now the end of the commandment is , love out of a pure heart , 1 Tim. 1. 5. Follow , &c. love , 2 Tim. 2. 22. I thank my God , &c. hearing of thy love , &c. toward all saints , Philem. v. 4 , 5. God is not unrighteous to forget your work , and labour of love which ye have shewed towards his name , in that ye have ministred to the saints , and do , Heb. 6. 10. Let brotherly love continue , Heb 13. 1. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture , thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self , ye do well , James 2. 8. If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts , glory not , &c. this wisdom descendeth not from above , &c. James 3. 14 , 15 , 16. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit , unto unseigned love of the brethren , see that ye love one another with a pure heart servently , 1 Pet. 1. 22. Love the brotherhood , 1 Pet. 2. 17. Finally , &c. love as brethren , ( or , loving to brethren ) , 1 Pet. 3. 8. And above all things , have fervent charity among your selves , 1 Pet. 4. 8. Add , &c. to brotherly kindness , and to brotherly kindness , charity , 2 Pet. 1. 7. He who saith , he is in the light , and hateth his brother , is in darkness even until now : he who loveth his brother , abideth in the light , 1 John 2. 9 , 10 , 11. Is not of God , neither he who loveth not his brother : for this is the message that ye heard from the beginning , that we should love one another , &c. We know that we are passed from death to life , because we love the brethren , &c. we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren ; let us not love in word , neither in tongue , but in deed and in truth , 1 John 3. 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 , 19. Let us love one another : for love is of God , and every one who loveth , is born of God , and knoweth God : he who loveth not , knoweth not God , for God is love , &c. if God so loved us , we ought also to love one another , &c. if any man say he loveth God , and hateth his brother , he is a lyar , &c. this commandment have we from him , that he who loveth God , love his brother also , 1 John 4. 7 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 20 , 21. 2 Epist. Joh. v. 5. 2dly , From love , to sympathize with each other in pity and compassion , help and comfort one another , and bear one anothers burthen : have mutual care . The children of Israel ( when they had in battel cut off the Benjamites , they bemoan them ) lift up their voices and wept sore : and said , O Lord God of Israel , Why is this come to pass in Israel , that their should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel , & c ? and it repented them for Benjamin their brother : and said , There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day : How shall we do for wives for them , & c ? Judges 21. 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. With the merciful thou wilt shew thy self merciful , 2 Sam. 22. 26. Psal. 18. 25. Thus saith the Lord of Host , &c. shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother , and oppress not the widow , Zech. 7. 9 , 10. Blessed are the merciful , for they shall obtain mercy , Mat. 5. 7. Come ye blessed , &c. I was hungry , and ye gave me meat ; I was thirsty , and ye gave me drink ; I was a stranger , and ye took me in ; naked , and ye clothed me ; I was sick , and ye visited me ; I was in prison , and ye came unto me , &c. Verily I say unto you , Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren , ye have done it unto me , Mat. 25. 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40. In the parable of the man who fell among the thieves : one looked upon the wounded man , and another did so : but a certain Samaritan saw him , had compassion on him , bound up his wounds , &c. He who shewed mercy was his neighbour : Go and do thou likewise , Luke 10. 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37. I have prayed for thee , that thy faith fail not : and when thou art converted , strengthen thy brethren , Luke 22. 32. Rejoyce with them who do rejoyce , and weep with them who weep : Be of the same mind one towards another , Rom. 12. 15 , 16. We then who are strong , ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak , and not to please our selves : Let every one of us please his neighbour , for his good to edification , Rom. 15. 1 , 2. 1 Cor. 8. 1. To the weak , became I as weak , that I might gain the weak , &c. 1 Cor. 9. 22. Let no man seek his own , but every man anothers wealth , &c. As I please all men , 1 Cor. 10. 24 , 33. By one spirit are we all baptized into one body , &c. that the members should have the same care one of another : and whether one member suffer , all the members suffer with it : or one member be honoured , all the members rejoyce with it . Now are ye the body of Christ , and members in particular , 1 Cor. 12. 12 , 13 , 18 , 25 , 26 , 27. Charity , &c. seeketh not her own , 1 Cor. 13. 4 , 5. Blessed be God , &c. the Father of mercies , and the God of all comfort , who comforteth us , &c. that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble , by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God , 2 Cor. 1. 3 , 4. Who is weak , and I am not weak ? who is offended , and I burn not ? 2 Cor. 11. 29. Bear ye one anothers burthens , and so fulfil the law of Christ , Gal. 6. 1 , 2. We are members one of another , &c. Be ye kind one to another , tender-hearted , Eph. 4. 25 , 32. Put on therefore ( as the elect of God , holy and beloved ) bowels of mercy , kindness , &c. Col. 3. 12. Comfort the feeble minded , support the weak , 1 Thes. 5. 14. Ye endured a great fight of afflictions , &c. by reproaches and afflictions , and partly whilest ye became companions of them who were so used : for ye had compassion on me in my bonds , Heb. 10. 32 , 33 , 34. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers , for thereby some have entertained Angels , &c. Remember them who are in bonds , as bound with them , and them who suffer adversity , as being your selves also in the body , Heb. 13. 2 , 3. Pure religion , &c. is this , to visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions , James 1. 27. The Lord is very pitiful , and of tender mercy , James 5. 11. Be ye all of one mind , having compassion one of another , &c. Be pitiful , &c. 1 Pet. 3. 8. Whoso hath this worlds goods , and seeth his brother hath need , and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him , how dwelleth the love of God in him ? 1 John 3. 17. He shall have judgment without mercy who hath shewed no mercy : and mercy rejoyceth against judgment , James 2. 13. See this duty in time of affliction , or persecution , Chap. 22. 3dly , To honour and respect each other : and be kind and affectionate . Lord , who shall abide in thy tabernacle , & c ? he in whose eyes a vile person is contemned : But he honoureth them who fear the Lord , Psal. 15. 1 , 4. My goodness extendeth not unto thee , but to the Saints who are in the earth , and to the excellent in whom is all my delight , Psal. 16. 2 , 3. When Christ had washed his Disciples feet ; he said , If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet , ye also ought to wash one anothers feet , Joh. 13. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. Be kindly affectionate one to another , with brotherly love : in honour preferring one another , Rom. 12. 10. Eph. 4. 32. 2 Pet. 1. 7. Charity suffereth long , and is kind , 1 Cor. 13. 4. As we have opportunity let us do good unto all men : especially to them who are of the houshold of faith , Gal. 6. 10. Submitting your selves one to another in the fear of God , Eph. 5. 21. Salute every Saint in Christ Jesus , &c. all the Saints salute you , Phil. 4. 21 , 22. Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus , &c. with respect of persons : For , &c. James 2. 1. Use hospitality one to another without grudgings , 1 Pet. 4. 9. We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren , 1 John 3. 16. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory : but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves , Phil. 2. 3. 4dly , Not rashly , easily and unadvisedly take up a prejudice against any ; believe reports , take offence or be angry ; but tenderly to forgive , cover faults , restore such as have offended , in meekness , love and privacy . Noah was uncovered : Ham saw his fathers nakedness , and told his two brethren without , and Shem and Japhet took a garment and laid it upon their shoulders , and went backward , and covered the nakedness of their father , &c. and they saw not their fathers nakedness , &c. Gen. 9. 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25. When Joseph had told his dream , his brethren envied him : but his father observed the saying , Gen. 37. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Thou shalt not raise ( or , receive ) a false report , Exod. 23. 1. When the children of Reuben , the children of Gad , and the half tribe of Manasseh had built an Altar to a good end ; the rest of their brethren heard of it , and presently concludes it to be a turning away from the Lord ; and they resolve rashly to go to war against them , Joshua 22. 10 , 11 , 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 , &c. When Absolom designed his rebellion , there went two hundred men out of Jerusalem with him , and they went in their simplicity , and they knew not any thing , 2 Sam. 15. 10 , 11. Lord , who shall abide in thy tabernacle , & c ? he who backbiteth not , &c. nor taketh up ( or , receiveth , or endureth ) a reproach against his neighbour , Psal. 15. 1 , 3. The Lord is merciful , &c. slow to anger , Psal. 103. 8. Hatred stirreth up strife : but love covereth all sins , &c. He who uttereth a slander is a fool , Prov. 10. 12 , 18. The simple believeth every word : but the prudent man looketh well to his goings , &c. He who is soon angry , dealeth foolishly , Prov. 14. 15 , 17. He who covereth a transgression , seeketh love ( or , procureth love ) , Prov. 17. 9. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger : and it is his glory to pass over a transgression , Prov. 19. 11. All who watch for iniquity are cut off : Who make a man an offender for a word , Isa. 29. 21 , 22. Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause , shall be in danger of the judgment , Mat. 5. 22. If ye forgive men their trespasses , your heavenly Father will also forgive you : But if ye forgive not men their trespasses , &c. Mat. 6. 14 , 15. Judg not , that ye be not judged , &c. Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye , but considerest not the beam which is in thine own eye ? or how w●…t thou say to thy brother , let me pull out , & c ? Mat. 7. 1 , 3 , 4. If thy brother shall trespass against thee , go and tell him his fault between him and thee al●…ne : if he shall hear thee , thou hast gained thy brother , &c. Peter said , L●…rd , h●…w ost shall my brother sin against me , and I forgive him ? till s●…ven times ? Jesus said , unto him , I say not unto thee , until seven times , but ●…ntil seventy times-seven , &c. I forgave thee all that debt , &c. Shouldest thou not also have had compassion on thy f●…llow-servant , even as I had pity on thee , &c. and his Lord was wrath , &c. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you , if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their tr●…spasses , Mat. 18. 15 , 21 , 22 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35. If thy brother trespass against thee , rebuke him ; and if he repent , forgive him : If he trespass against thee seven times a day , &c. thou shalt forgive him , Luke 17. 3 , 4. Judg not according to the appearance , but judg righteous judgment , Joh. 7. 24. The believers of the circumcision rashly judged of Peter , and contended with him for eating with the Gentiles : But when Peter gave them an account of the cause , they held their peace , &c. Acts 11. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 18. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour , Rom. 13. 10. But with me it is a very small thing that I should he judged of you , or of mans judgment ( or , day ) , &c. Judg nothing before the time , until the Lord come ; who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness , &c. 1 Cor. 4. 3 , 4 , 5. Charity suffereth long , &c. seeketh not her own , is not easily provoked , thinketh no evil , &c. beareth all things , believeth all things , hopeth all things , endureth all things , 1 Cor. 13. 4 , 5 , 7. In malice be ye children , 1 Cor. 14. 20. The fruit of the spirit is , &c. long-suffering , gentleness , &c. meekness , Gal. 5. 22 , 23. Brethren , if ( or , although ) a man be overtaken in a fault , ye who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness : considering thy self , lest thou also be tempted : Bear ye one anothers burdens , and so fulfil the law of Christ , Gal. 6. 1 , 2. Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called , with all lowliness and meekness , with long-fuffering , forbearing one another in love , &c. Be tender-hearted , forgiving one another , even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you , Eph. 4. 1 , 2 , 32. But now you also put off all these , anger , wrath , malice , &c. Put on therefore , as the elect of God , &c. bowels of mercies , &c. meekness , long-suffering , forbearing one another , and forgiving one another . If any man have a complaint ( or , quarrel ) against any , even as Christ forgave you , so also do ye , Col. 3. 8 , 12 , 13. Let every man be , &c. slow to wrath : for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God , James 1. 19 , 20. Speak not evil one of another , brethren , for he who speaketh evil of his brother speaketh evil of the Law , &c. Who art thou who judgest another ? James 4. 11 , 12. Above all things have fervent charity among your selves : for Charity shall ( or , will ) cover the multitude of sins , 1 Pet. 4. 8. 5lthy , To live peaceably among themselves : avoid whispering , tale-bearing , and whatsoever tends to provoke , divide , or disturb the peace among them . Abram said unto Lot , Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee , &c. for we be brethren , &c. If thou wilt take the left hand , then I will go to the right ; or if thou to the right hand , then will I go to the left , Gen. 13. 8 , 9. Thou shalt not raise ( or , receive ) a false Prophet , Exod. 23. 1. Lord , who shall abide in thy tabernacle , & c ? he who backbiteth not with his tongue , &c. nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour , Psal. 15. 1 , 3. Seek peace and pursue it , Psal. 34. 14. It was not an enemy who reproached me , then could I have born it ; but thou , a man , mine equal , &c. We walked unto the house of God in company , Psal. 55. 12 , 13 , 14. Whosoever privily slandereth his neighbour , him will I cut off , Psal. 101. 5. I am for peace , &c. they for war , Psal. 120. 7. These things doth the Lord hate , &c. him who soweth discord among brethren , Prov. 6. 16 , 19. A tale-bearer revealeth secrets : but he who is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter , Prov. 11. 13. Only by pride comes contention , Prov. 13. 10. A whisperer separateth chief friends , Prov. 16. 28. He who repeateth the matter , separateth friends , &c. the beginning of strife , is as when one letteth out water : therefore leave off contention before it be medled with , Prov. 17. 9 , 14. The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds , Prov. 18. 8. It is an honour for a man to cease from strife , &c. He who goeth about as a tale-bearer , revealeth secrets : therefore meddle not with him who flattereth , Prov. 20. 3 , 19. Where there is no tale-bearer , the strife ceaseth , Prov. 26. 20. Can two walk together , except they be agreed ? Amos 3. 3. Blessed are the peace-makers , for they shall be called the children of God , Matth. 5. 9. Every kingdom divided against it self , is brought to desolation , Matth. 12. 25. If thy brother shall trespass , &c. go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone , Matth. 18. 15. One is your Master , Christ , and all ye are brethren , Matth. 23. 8. Have peace one with another , Mark 9. 50. If it be possible , as much as lyeth in you , live peaceably with all men , Rom. 12. 18. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace , and things wherewith one may edifie another , Rom. 14. 19. Ye are yet carnal : for whereas there is among you envyings , and strifes , and divisions ( or , factions ) , are ye not carnal , and walk as men ? for while one saith , I am of Paul , &c. are ye not carnal ? 1 Cor. 3. 3 , 4. Is it so , that there is not a wise man among you ? no , not one who shall be able to judg between his brethren ? but brother goeth to law with brother , &c. now therefore there is utterly a fault among you , because ye go to law , &c. 1 Cor. 6. 5 , 6 , 7. Charity envieth not , 1 Cor. 13. 4. For I fear , &c. lest there be debates , envyings , wraths , strifes , backbitings , whisperings , &c. 2 Cor. 12. 20. Brethren , &c. live in peace , and the God of love and peace shall be with you , 2 Cor. 13. 11. If ye bite and devour one another , take heed ye be not consumed one of another , &c. The fruit of the Spirit is , &c. peace , long-suffering , gentleness , &c. Let us not be desirous of vain-glory , provoking one another , envying one another , Gal. 5. 15 , 22 , 26. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace : one body , &c. Let all bitterness , and wrath , and anger , and clamour , &c. be put away from you , Ephes. 4. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 31. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory , &c. Phil. 2. 3. That ye study to be quiet , and do your own business , &c. 1 Thes. 4. 11. Be at peace among your selves , 1 Thes. 5. 13. They learn to be idle , wandring about from house to house ; and not only idle , but talkers also , and busie-bodies : speaking things which they ought not , 〈◊〉 Tim. 5. 13. Doting about questions and strifes of words : whereof cometh envy , strife , railing , &c. 1 Tim. 6. 4 , 20. Follow peace with them who call on the Lord , &c. but foolish and unlearned questions avoid , knowing that they do gender strifes , 2 Tim. 2. 22 , 23. The aged women , &c. that they be not false-accusers ( or , make-bates ) , Titus 2. 3. Avoid foolish questions , &c. and contentions , and strivings about the Law : for they , &c. Titus 3. 9. Follow peace with all men , Heb. 12. 14. If ye have bitter envyings and strife in your hearts : glory not , &c. This wisdom is not from above , &c. for where envying and strife is , there is confusion and every evil work : But the wisdom which is from above , is , &c. peaceable , gentle , and easie to be entreated , &c. And the fruits of righteousness is sown in peace of them who make peace , James 3. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. Whence comes wars and fightings among you ? come they not hence , even of your lusts , & c ? speak not evil one of another , brethren , James 4. 1 , 11. Wherefore laying aside all malice , &c. and envyings , and evil speakings , 1 Pet. 2. 1. Whose adoning , let it not be that outward , &c. but the hidden man , &c. of a meek and quiet spirit , which is in the sight of God of great price , &c. not rendring evil for evil , or railings : He who will love life , and see good days , &c. let him seek peace and ensue it , 1 Pet. 3. 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11. 6thly , To rebuke , reprove , exhort , admonish , and warn each other for , and about sin , and their duty . And to take such rebukes , &c. well and kindly from each other . 1st To rebuke , &c. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart : Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour , and not suffer sin upon him ( or , that thou bear not sin for him ) , Lev. 19. 17. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour , and discover not a secret to another , &c. As an ear-ring of gold , &c. so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear , Prov. 25. 9 , 12. Open rebuke is better than secret love , Prov. 27. 5. He who rebuketh a man , afterwards shall find more favour than he who flattereth with the tongue , Prov. 28. 23. If thy brother shall trespass against thee , go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone , &c. If he will not hear thee , then take one or two more , &c. Matth. 18. 15 , 16 , 17. Luke 17. 3 , 4. Ye also are full of goodness , filled with all knowledg : able to admonish one another , Rom. 15. 4. Paul rebuked Peter for not walking uprightly , Gal. 2 : 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly , &c. teaching and admonishing one another , Col. 3. 16. Comfort ( or , exhort ) your selves together , and edifie one another , even as also ye do , &c. Warn them who are unruly ( or disorderly ) , comfort the feeble-minded , 1 Thes. 5. 11 , 14. If any man obey not , &c. have no company with him , &c. but admonish him as a brother , 2 Thes. 3. 14 , 15. Rebuke not an Elder , but intreat him as a father , and the younger men as brethren : the elder women as mothers , the younger as sisters , &c. Them that sin rebuke before all , that others also may fear , 1 Tim. 5. 1 , 2 , 20. Exhort one another daily , &c. lest any of you be hardned through the decitsulness of sin , Heb. 3. 12 , 13. Let us consider one another , to provoke unto love and good works : not forsaking the assemblings of your selves , &c. but exhorting one another , Heb. 10. 24 , 25. Brethren , if any one of you do err from the truth , and one convert him , let him know that he , &c. shall save a soul from death , and shall hide , &c. James 5. 19 , 20. Of some have compassion , making a difference ; and others save with fear , pulling them out of the fire : hating even the garment spotted by the flesh , Jude , verse 20. 22 , 23. See Discipline . Chap. 27. To take rebuke , admonition , &c. well from each other . When David had rashly resolved to cut off all Nabals family : and Abigail had met him , and humbly and wisely admonished him : David accepts of the advice , and saith , Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who sent thee this day to meet me : and blessed be thy advice , and blessed be thou who hast kept me this day from shedding of blood , &c. I have hearkned to thy voice , 1 Sam. 25. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , to the 35. When Nathan had told David his sin in the matter of Uriah : David said , I have sinned against the Lord , 2 Sam. 12. 7 , 13. When Joab had told the King of his errour in mourning so for Absalom , as to discourage his subjects who had fought for him ; David hearkned and arose , and sate in the gate , as Joab advised , 2 Sam. 19. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Let the righteous smite me , it shall be a kindness ; and let him reprove me , it shall be as excellent oyl , which shall not break my head , Psal. 141. 5. A wise man will hear , and will increase learning , Prov. 1. 5. Reprove not a scorner , lest he hate thee ; rebuke a wise man , and he will love thee : give instruction to a wise man , and he will be yet wiser , &c. Prov. 9. 8 , 9. He is in the way of life who keepeth instruction : but he who refuseth reproof , erreth ( or , causeth to err ) , Prov. 10. 17. Whosoever loveth instruction , loveth knowledg : but he who hateth reproof , is brutish , &c. he who hearkneth unto counsel , is wise , Prov. 12. 1 , 15. A wise son heareth his fathers instruction : but a scorner heareth not rebuke , &c. Poverty and shame to him who refuseth instruction : but he who regardeth reproof shall be honoured , Prov. 13. 1 , 18. A fool despiseth his fathers instruction : but he who regardeth reproof is prudent , &c. He who hateth reproof shall die , &c. A scorner loveth not one who reproveth , &c. The ear which heareth reproof of life , abideth among the wise : He who refuseth instruction , despiseth his own soul , &c. Prov. 15. 5 , 10 , 12 , 31 , 32. A reproof entreth more into a wise man , than an hundred stripes into a fool , Prov. 17. 10. As an ear-ring of gold , &c. so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear , Prov. 25. 12. He who being often reproved , hardneth his neck , shall suddenly be destroyed , and that without remedy , &c. The rod and reproof gives wisdom , Prov. 29. 1 , 15. Am I therefore become your enemy , because I tell you the truth ? Gal. 4. 16. Submit your selves one to another in the fear of God , Ephes. 5. 21. Ye younger submit your selves unto the elder ; yea , all of you be subject one to another : and be clothed with humility , 1 Pet. 5. 5. 7thly , To confess sin to , and pray each for other . When a man or woman shall commit any sin , that men commit , to do a trespass against the Lord , &c. then they shall confess their sin which they have done : and he shall recompence his trespass , &c. and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed , Numb . 5. 6 , 7. And many who believed , came and confessed , and shewed their deeds , &c. Acts 19. 18 , 19. Paul confesseth , that beyond measure he persecuted the Church of God , and wasted it , &c. Gal. 1. 13. 1 Tim. 1. 12 , 13. Confess your fault one to another , and pray one for another , that ye may be healed , Jam. 5. 16. If a man see his brother sin a sin not unto death ; he shall ask , and he shall give him life for them who sin not unto death , 1 John 5. 16. 8thly , To be of one mind . Behold , how good , and how pleasant is it for brethren to dwell together in Unity ! like the precious ointment upon the head , &c. Psal. 133. 1 , 2. Christ prays that they may be kept , that they may be one as we are , &c. Joh. 19. 11 , 12. And the multitude of them who believed were of one heart , and of one soul , &c. Acts 4. 32. We being many , are one body in Christ ; and every one members one of another , &c. Be of the same mind one towards another , Rom. 12. 5 , 16. Now the God , &c. grant you to be like-minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus , that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God , even the father , Rom. 15. 5 , 6. I beseech you brethren , &c. that ye all speak the same things : and that there be no division , but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind , and in the same judgment , 1 Cor. 1. 10 , 12. Whereas there is among you , &c. divisions : Are ye not carnal , & c ? One faith , I am of Paul , &c. 1 Cor. 3. 3 , 4. When ye come together in the Church , I hear there be divisions among you , &c. 1 Cor. 11. 18 , 23. Finally brethren , &c. be of one mind , 2 Cor. 13. 11. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace , &c. one body , and one spirit , Ephes. 4. 3 , 4 , 5. That ye stand fast in one spirit , with one mind , striving together for the faith , Phil. 1. 27. If therefore there be any consolation in Christ , &c. fulfill ye my joy , that ye be like-minded , &c. being of one accord , of one mind : let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory , &c. Phil. 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Whereto we have already attained , let us walk by the same rule , let us mind the same thing , Phil. 3. 16. I beseech Euodias , &c. that they be of the same mind in the Lord , Phil. 4. 2. Finally , be all of one mind , 1 Pet. 3. 8. 9thly , To walk wisely and charitably one towards another : and in things indifferent to have respect to the meek ; to avoid offenoes . The Pharisees would have accused the disciples for plucking corn , and Christ for healing a withered hand on the Sabbath day , till he said unto them , Which of you having one sheep , &c. fall into a pit on the Sabbath day , will he not lay hold on it , and lift it out , & c ? it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day , Matth. 12. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 10 , 11 , 12. Luke 6. 1 , 2 , &c. Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me , it were better that a milstone were hanged about his neck , and that he were drowned in the midst of the sea . Wo unto the world because of offences : for it must needs be that offences come , but wo to that man by whom the offence cometh , Mat. 18 , 6 , 7. Luk. 17. 1 , 2. His disciples say unto him , If the case of the man be so with his wife , it is not good to marry : But he said unto them , All men cannot receive this saying , save they to whom it is given : for there are fome Eunuchs which were so born , &c. and there are some Eunuchs who have made themselves , &c. He who is able to receive it , let him , Matth. 19. 10 , 11 , 12. Jesus said , I have yet many things to say unto you , but ye cannot bear them now : howbeit when he , the spirit of truth is come , he will guide , John 16. 12 , 13. Him who is weak receive , but not with doubtful disputations ( or , not to judg his doubtful thoughts ) : for one believeth that he may eat all things ; another who is weak eateth herbs : let not him who eateth , despise him who eateth not ; and let not him who eateth not , judg him who eateth ; for God hath received him , &c. One man esteemeth one day above another : another esteemeth every day alike ; let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind ; he who observeth a day , observeth it to the Lord , &c. Why dost thou judg thy brother ? why dost thou set at nought thy brother , & c ? Let us not therefore judg one another any more , but judg this rather , that no man put a stumbling-block , or an occasion to fall , in his brothers way . I know , &c. that there is nothing unclean of it self ; but to him who esteemeth any thing to be unclean , to him it is unclean . And if thy brother be grieved with thy meat , now walkest thou not charitably , &c. Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace , &c. All things indeed are pure , but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence ; it is good neither to eat flesh , &c. whereby thy brother stumbleth , or is offended , or made weak , &c. he who doubteth is damned if he eat , &c. for whatsoever is not of faith , is sin , Rom. 14. 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 10 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 23. We then who are strong , ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak , and not to please our selves : let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification , Rom. 15. 1 , 2 , 3. I have fed you with milk , and not with meat : for hitherto ye were not able to ●…ear it , neither yet now are ye able to bear it , 1 Cor. 3. 1 , 2. All things are lawful unto me , but all things are not expedient ( or , profitable ) : all things are lawful for me , but I will not be brought under the power of any , &c. 1 Cor. 6. 12. chap. 10. 23. I would that all men were even as I my self : but every man hath his proper gift of God ; one after this manner , &c. Is any man called being circumcised ? let him not become uncircumcised ; and is any called in uncircumcision ? let him not be circumcised ; Circumcision is nothing , &c. 1 Cor. 7. 7 , 18 , 19. We know that an Idol is nothing in the world , &c. howbeit , there is not in every man that knowledg : for some with conscience of the Idol unto this hour , eat it as a thing offered to Idols , and their conscience being weak , is defiled . But meat commendeth us not to God , &c. Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to them who are weak : for if any man see thee who hast knowledg sit at meat in the Idols temple , shall not the conscience of him which is weak , be emboldned to eat those things which are offered to Idols , and through thy knowledg shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ died ? but when ye sin so against the weak brethren , and wound their weak conscience , ye sin against Christ ; wherefore , if meat make my brother to offend , I will eat no flesh while the world standeth , lest I make my brother to offend , 1 Cor. 8. 4 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. For though I be free from all men , yet have I made my self a servant unto all , that I might gain the more : and unto the Jews I became as a Jew , that I might gain the Jew , &c. To the weak became I as weak , &c. I am made all things unto all men , that I might by all means save some , &c. 1 Cor. 9. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. All things are lawful for me , but all things are not expedient , &c. all things edifie not : let no man seek his own , but every man anothers wealth : whatsoever is sold in the shambles , that eat , asking no question for conscience sake , for the earth is the Lords , &c. If any of them who believe not , bid you , and ye be disposed to go , whatsoever is set before you , eat , asking no question for conscience sake . But if any man say unto thee , this is offered in sacrifice unto Idols : eat not for his sake who shewed it , and for conscience sake , &c. conscience , I say ; not thine own , but of the others , &c. Give none offence , neither to the Jews , nor to the Gentiles , nor to the Church of God ; even as I please all men in all things , not seeking mine own profit , but the profit of many that they may be saved , 1 Cor. 10. 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 33. chap. 11. 1. Charity seeketh not her own , 1 Cor. 13. 4 , 5. Let all your things be done with charity , 1 Cor. 16. 14. Look not every man on his own things , but every man also on the things of others : let this mind be in you , which was also in Christ Jesus , Phil. 2. 4 , 5. Let us therefore as many as be perfect , be thus minded : and if in any thing ye be otherwise-minded , God shall reveal even this unto you . Nevertheless , whereunto we have already attained , let us walk by the same rule , let us mind the same thing , Phil. 3. 15 , 16. Let no man therefore judg you , in meat or in drink ( or , in eating or in drinking ) or in respect of an holy day , or of the new moon , or of the Sabbath , which are a shadow of things to come : but the body is of Christ , Col. 2. 16 , 17. We exhort you brethren , &c. comfort the feeble minded , support the weak , be patient towards all men , 1 Thes. 5. 14. Neither give heed to fables , &c. which minister questions rather than godly edifying , which is in faith : now the end of the commandment is charity , &c. 1 Tim. 1. 4 , 5. Some shall depart from the faith , &c. forbidding to marry , and commanding to abstain from meats , which God hath created to be received , &c. 1 Tim. 4. 3 , 4 , 5. Unto the pure all things are pure , Tit. 1. 15. When Paul was writing many things concerning Christ , he said , Of whom we have many things to say , and hard to be uttered , seeing ye are dull of hearing , &c. ye are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat , &c. strong meat belongs unto them who are of full age , Heb. 5. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace , not with meats which have not profited them who have been occupied therein , Heb. 13. 9. I will put upon you no other burden ; but that which ye have already , hold fast till I come , Rev. 2. 24 , 25. 10thly , To distribute , and communicate to one anothers necessities : give to the poor . If thou lend money to any of my people who is poor by thee , thou shalt not be unto them as an usurer ; neither shalt thou lay upon him usury , &c. Exod. 22. 25 , 26. When ye reap the harvest of your land , thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy fields , neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest . And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard , &c. Thou shalt leave them for the poor and the stranger . I am the Lord your God , Lev. 19. 9 , 10. If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethen , within any of thy gates , &c. thou shalt not harden thine heart , nor shut thine hand against thy poor brother : but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him , and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need , in that which he wanteth . Beware that there be not a thought ( or , word ) in thy wicked heart , saying , The seventh year , the year of release , is at hand , and thine eye be evil against thy brother , and thou givest him nought , and he cry unto the Lord against thee , and it be sin unto thee : thou shalt surely give him , and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him : because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy work , &c. for the poor shall never cease out of the land : therefore I command thee , &c. Deut. 15. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. If I have withheld from the poor their desire , &c. or have eaten my morsel alone , and the fatherless have not eaten thereof , &c. If I have seen any perish for want of clothing , or any poor without covering : If his loins have not blessed me , &c. Job 31. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. The righteous sheweth mercy , and giveth , &c. He is ever merciful and lendeth , Psal. ●…7 . 21 , 26. Blessed is he who considereth the poor ( or , weak ) : the Lord will deliver him , Psal. 41. 1. A good man sheweth favour , and lendeth , &c. He hath dispersed , he hath given unto the poor , &c. Psal. 112. 5 , 9. Say not unto thy neighbour , Go , and come again , and tomorrow I will give , when thou hast it by thee , Prov. 3. 28. There is who scattereth , and yet increaseth , &c. The liberal soul shall be made fat : and he who watereth shall be watered also himself , Prov. 11. 24 , 25. He who hath mercy on the poor , happy is he , &c. He who oppresseth the poor , reproacheth his Maker : but he who honoureth him , hath mercy on the poor , Prov. 14. 21 , 31. He who hath pity on the poor , lendeth unto the Lord : and that which he hath given , will he pay him again , Prov. 19. 17. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor , he also shall cry himself , but shall not be heard , Prov. 21. 13. He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed : for he giveth of his bread to the poor , Prov. 22. 9. He who giveth unto the poor shall not lack , Prov. 28. 27. Cast thy bread upon the waters : for thou shalt find it after many days . Give a portion to seven , and also to eight , &c. Eccles. 11. 1 , 2 , 3. Is not this the fast that I have chosen , & c ? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry , and that thou bring the poor which are cast out , to thy house ? when thou seest the naked , that thou cover him , and that thou hide not thy self from thine own flesh ? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning , &c. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry , and satisfie the afflicted soul : then shall thy light rise in obscurity , &c. Isa. 58. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. I have desired mercy , and not sacrifice , Hosea 6. 6. Give to him who asketh thee ; and from him who would borrow of thee , turn not away , Mat. 5. 42. Take heed that ye do not your alms before men , to be seen of them , &c. when thou doest thine alms , do not sound a trumpet before thee , as the hypocrites do , &c. that they may have glory of men , &c. But when thou doest thine alms , let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth , Mat. 6. 1 , 2 , 3. Ask , and it shall be given you , Mat. 7. 7. Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones , a cup of cold water only , in the name of a disciple , verily I say unto you , He shall in no wise lose his reward , Mat. 10. 42. Mark 9. 41. Christ shall say , I was an hungry , and ye gave me meat : I was thirsty , and ye gave me drink : I was a stranger , and ye took me in : Naked , and ye clothed me , &c. when saw we thee an hungry , & c ? Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren , ye have done it unto me , &c. Mat. 25. 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , &c. The poor widow threw in two mites , &c. Jesus said , This poor widow hath cast more in than all they , &c. For all they did cast in of their abundance ; but she of her want did cast in all she had , Mark 12. 42 , 43 , 44. Luke 21. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. When thou makest a feast , call the poor , the maimed , the lame , the blind : And thou shalt be blessed , for they cannot recompence thee : for thou shalt be recompenced at the resurrection of the just , Luke 14. 13 , 14. Sell all that thou hast , and distribute to the poor , and thou shalt have treasure in heaven , Luke 18. 22. The multitude of them who believed , were of one heart , &c. neither said any of them , that ought of the things which he possessed , was his own , but they had all things common , &c. Acts 4. 32 , 34. Cornelius a devout man , &c. who gave much alms to the people , &c. thy prayer and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God , Acts 10. 1 , 2 , 4. Then the Disciples every man according to his ability , determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea , Acts 11. 29. I have shewed you all things , how that so labouring , ye ought to support the weak , and to remember the words of our Lord Jesus , how he said , It is more blessed to give , than to receive , Acts 20. 35. He who giveth , let him do it with simplicity ( or , liberality ) : he who sheweth mercy , with cheerfulness , &c. distributing to the necessity of the saints : given to hospitality , &c. Rom. 12. 8 , 13. ch . 16. 1 , 2. It hath pleased them of Macedonia , &c. to make a certain contribution for the poor Saints , which are at Jerusalem , Rom. 15. 26. Upon the first day of the week , let every one of you lay by him in store , as God hath prospered him , 1 Cor. 16. 2. As ye abound in all things , &c. see that ye abound in this grace also : I speak , &c. to prove the sincerity of your love : for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ , that though he was rich , yet for your sakes he became poor , that ye through his poverty might be rich , &c. As there was a readiness to will , so there may be a performance also , out of that which you have : for if there be first a willing mind , it is accepted according to that a man hath , and not according to that he hath not , 2 Cor. 8. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. He who soweth sparingly , shall reap sparingly : and he who soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully . Every man according as he purposeth in his heart , so let him give , not grudgingly , or of necessity : for God loveth a cheerful giver . And God is able to make all grace abound towards you , that ye always having all sufficiency in all things , may abound to every good work , 2 Cor. 9. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. As we have therefore opportunity , let us do good unto all men , especially unto them who are of the houshold of faith , Gal. 6. 10. Rather let him labour , working with his hands the thing which is good ' that ye may have to give to him who needeth , Eph. 4. 29. Paul commends the Philippians for their sending to his relief : and said , Not because I desire a gift : but I desire fruit that may abound to your account , &c. My God shall supply all your needs , &c. Phil. 4. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 12. This we commanded you , that if any would not work , neither should he eat , &c. We command , &c. that with quietness they work , and eat their own bread , 2 Thess. 3. 10 , 11 , 12. If any widow have children , or nephews , let them learn first to shew pity ( or , kindness ) at home , to requite their Parents ; for that is good and acceptable before God , &c. And if any provide not for his own , and especially for those of his own house ( or , kindred ) he hath denyed the faith , and is worse than an infidel , &c. If any man or woman who believeth , have widows , let them relieve them ; and let not the Church be charged , 1 Tim. 5. 4 , 8 , 16. Charge them who are rich in this world , &c. that they do good , that they be rich in good works , ready to distribute , willing to communicate ; laying up in store a good foundation , 1 Tim. 6. 17 , 18 , 19. The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus , for he oft refreshed me , &c. and in how many things he ministred unto me at Ephesus , &c. 2 Tim. 1. 16 , 17 , 18. God is not unrighteous , to forget your works , &c. which ye have shewed towards his name , in that ye have ministred unto the Saints , and do minister Heb. 6. 10. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers : for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares , &c. To do good , and to communicate , forget not : for with such sacrifices God is well pleased , Heb. 13. 2 , 16. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world , rich in faith , and heirs of the kingdom , & c ? If a brother or sister be naked , &c. and one of you say to them , depart in peace , &c. and ye give them not , &c. what doth it profit ? James 2. 5 , 15 , 16. Use hospitality one to another , without grudging . As every man hath received the gift , so let him minister the same one to another , as good stewards , &c. If any man minister , let him do it as of the ability which God giveth , that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus , &c. 1 Pet. 4. 9 , 10 , 11. Whosoever hath this worlds goods , and seeth his brother hath need , and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him ; how dwelleth the love of God in him ? My little children , let us not love in word , or in tongue , but in deed and in truth , 1 Joh. 3. 17. 18. See more of the relief of the poor of the Churches , &c. Chap. 27. See more of giving to enemies , Chap. 22. See shewing mercy to all men , Chap. 19. CHAP. XVIII . The Duties of Saints , Believers , each towards other , as they stand related one to another in the flesh . 1st . Husbands to Wives , and Wives to Husbands . Of Marriage , &c. AND the Lord said , It is not good that the man should be alone : I will make him a help meet for him , &c. Adam said , This is now bone of my bone , and flesh of my flesh : she shall be called Woman , because she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother , and shall cleave unto his wife : and they shall be one flesh , Gen. 2. 18 , 23 , 24. Jacob loved Rachel more then Leah , &c. and when the Lord saw that Leah was hated , he opened her womb : but Rachel was barren , Gen. 29. 30 , 31. And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children , Rachel envied her sister and said unto Jacob , Give me children or else I die . And Jacobs anger was kindled against Rachel , and he said , Am I in Gods stead : who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb ? Gen. 30. 1 , 2. Moses sanctified the people , &c. and he said unto them , Be ready against the third day : come not at your wives , &c. Exod. 19. 14 , 15. None of you shall approach unto any who is near of kin unto him ( or , remainder of his flesh ) to uncover nakedness . I am the Lord , the nakedness of thy father or thy mother , &c. Lev. 18. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , to the 19. The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth to a man : neither shall a man put on a womans garment : for all who do so , are an abomination unto the Lord thy God , Deut. 22. 5. Hannah wept and did not eat . Then said Elkanah her husband to her , Hannah , why weepest thou ? and why eatest thou not ? and why is thy heart grieved ? am not I better unto thee than ten sons ? so Hannah rose , &c. 1 Sam. 1. 8. Saul sent messengers to Davids house , to watch him , and slay him , &c. And Michal Davids wife told him , &c. And let him down through a window : and he went and fled , and escaped , 1 Sam. 19. 11 , 12 , 13 , &c. Jobs wife said unto him , Dost thou still retain thine integrity ? curse God and die . But he said unto her , Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh . What , shall we receive good , & c ? Job . 2. 9 , 10. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband ; but she who maketh ashamed , is as rottenness in his bones , Prov. 12. 4. The contentions of a wife are a continual dropping , &c. A prudent wife is from the Lord , Prov. 19. 13 , 14. It is better to dwell in the wilderness , than with a contentious and an angry woman , Prov. 21. 19. Who can find a virtuous woman ? for her price is far above rubies . The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her , so that he shall have no need of spoil . She will do him good , and not evil , all the days of her life . She seeketh wool and flax , and worketh willingly with her hands , Prov. 31. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , &c. Whosoever shall put away his wife , saving for the cause of fornication , causeth her to commit adultery ; and whosoever shall marry her who is divorced , committeth adultery , Mat. 5. 31 , 32. ch . 19. 9. The Pharisees said , Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause ? And he answered and said unto them , Have ye not read , that he who made them at the beginning , made them male and female , &c. Wherefore they are no more twain , but one flesh . What therefore God hath joined together , let no man put asunder , &c. Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered , &c. But it was not so from the beginning , Mat. 19. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. The woman who hath an husband , is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth : but if the husband be dead , she is free from the law of the husband . So then , if while her husband liveth , she be married to another man , she shall be called an adultress : but if her husband be dead , &c. Rom. 7. 2 , 3. It is good for a man not to touch a woman : nevertheless to avoid fornication , let every man have his own wife , and let every woman have her own husband . Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence : and likewise also the wife unto the husband . The wife hath not power over her own body , but the husband : and likewise also the husband hath not power of his , but the wife . Defraud you not one the other , except with consent for a time ; that you may give your selves to fasting and to prayer , and come together again , that Satan tempt you not , for your incontinency , & c.. I say to the unmarried and widows , it is good for them , if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain , let them marry : for it is better to marry than to burn . And unto the married , I command , not I , but the Lord ; Let not the wife depart from the husband : but if she depart , let her remain unmarried , &c. Let not the husband depart from his wife , &c. And if any brother hath a wife who believeth not , and she be pleased to dwell with him , let him not put her away , &c. for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife , &c. else were your children unclean , but now they are holy , &c. For what knowest thou , O wife , whether thou shalt save thy husband , & c ? The time is short ; it remains , that they who have wives be as though they had none , &c. An unmarried life commended , 1 Cor. 7. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 29 , 32 , 33 , to the end . Have we not power to lead about a sister , a wife , as well as other Apostles , and the brethren of the Lord , and Cephas ? 1 Cor. 9. 5. The head of the woman is the man , &c. The man is not of the woman , but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman : but the woman for the man , &c. Nevertheless , neither is the man without the woman , neither is the woman without the man , in the Lord : for as the woman is of the man , even so is the man also by the woman , &c. 1 Cor. 11. 3 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 12. Let your women keep silence in the Churches : for it is not permitted to them to speak , but to be under obedience , as also saith the law . And if they will learn any thing , let them ask their husbands at home : for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the Church , 1 Cor. 14. 34 , 35. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers : for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? 2 Cor. 6. 14. Wives , submit your selves unto your own husbands , as unto the Lord : For the husband is the head of the wife , &c. therefore as the Church is subject to Christ , so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing . Husbands , love your wives , even as Christ also Ioved the Church , &c. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies : he who loveth his wife , loveth himself : for no man ever yet hated his own flesh , &c. Let every one of you in particular so love his wife , even as himself : and the wife see that she reverence her husband , Eph. 5. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 28 , 33. Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands , as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands love your wives , and be not bitter against them , Col. 3. 18 , 19. In like manner also , that women adorn themselves in modest apparel , &c. Let the women learn in silence with all subjection : But I suffer not a woman to teach , or usurp authority over the man , but to be in silence . For Adam was first formed , then Eve : and Adam was not deceived , &c. 1 Tim , 2. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. I will therefore that the younger women marry , bear children , guide the house , give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully , 1 Tim. 5. 14. The aged women likewise , that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness , &c. that they may teach the young women to be sober , to love their husbands , &c. discreet , chast , keepers at home , good , obedient to their own husbands , that the word of God be not blasphemed , Tit. 2. 3 , 4 , 5. Marriage is honourable in all , and the bed undefiled : but whoremongers , &c. Heb. 13. 4. Wives , be in subjection to your own husbands , that if any obey not the word , &c. Holy women , &c. being in subjection to their own husbands , even as Sarah obeyed Abram , calling him lord , &c. Likewise ye husbands , dwell with them according to knowledg , giving honour unto the wife , as unto the weaker vessel , and as being heirs together of the grace of life , that your prayers be not hindred , 1 Pet. 3. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. 2dly , Parents to their Children , and Children to their Parents . Noah being uncovered within his tent , Ham saw it , and told his brethren without : who took a garment and laid it on their shoulders , and went backwards , and covered the nakedness of their father ; who afterwards blessed them , and cursed their brother who told them , Gen. 9. 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27. Abram shall surely become a great and mighty nation , &c. For I know him , that he will command his children and his houshold after him , that they shall keep the way of the Lord , to do justice , and judgment , Gen. 18. 19. Thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites amongst whom I dwell : but thou shalt go unto my country and my kinred , and take a wife to my son Isaac , &c. Gen. 24. 3 Isaac when he was old , called his son Esau , that he might bless him before he died , Gen. 27. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. When Esau saw the women and the children with Jacob , he asked him , Whose are these with thee ? and he said , The children which God hath graciously given thy servant , Gen. 33. 4 , 5. Israel loved Joseph more than all his children , because he was the son of his old age , &c. therefore his brethren hated him , and could not speak peaceably to him , &c. When Jacob supposed him to be dead , he rent his cloaths , and put sackcloth upon him , &c. refused to be comforted ; and he said , For I will go down into the grave with my son mourning : thus his father wept for him , Gen. 37. 3 , 33 , 34 , 35. When Jacob was told that Joseph is yet alive , his heart fainted , for he believed them not , &c. after he revived , and said , I will go see him before I die , Gen. 45. 26 , 27 , 28. Joseph met his father and fell on his neck , and wept on his neck a good while ; and Israel said unto Joseph , Now let me die , since I have seen thy face , Gen. 46. 29 , 30. When Joseph brought his sons unto his father Israel , Joseph bowed himself to the earth , Gen. 48. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. The sons of Israel did unto him according as he commanded them : for , &c. Gen. 50. 12 , 13. That thou mayst tell in the ears of thy son , and of thy sons son , what things I have wrought in Egypt , and my signs , &c. that ye may know that I am the Lord , Exod. 10. 1 , 2. When thy son shall ask , What means the offering of the first born , & c ? thou shalt say unto him , By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt , &c. and slew all the first-born , Exod. 13. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. chap. 12. 25. 26 , 27. Moses went out to meet his father-in-law , and did obeisance , and kissed-him ; and they asked each other of their welfare , Exod. 18. 5 , 6 , 7. Honour thy father and thy mother , that thy days may be long in the land , &c. Exod. 20. 12. He who smiteth his father or mother , shall be surely put to death , &c. He who curseth ( or , revileth ) his father or his mother , shall surely be put to death , Exod. 21. 15 , 17. Levit. 20. 9. I will make them to hear my word , &c. and that they may teach their children , &c. Deut. 4. 10. These words which I command thee this day , shall be in thine heart : and thou shalt teach them diligently ( or , whet or sharpen ) unto thy children : and shall talk of them , &c. Deut. 6. 6 , 7. chap. 11. 18 , 19. If any man have a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father , or the voice of his mother , and that when they have chastned him , will not hearken unto them : then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him , &c. and all the men of his City shall stone him , &c. Deut. 21. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. Gather , &c. men , women and children , &c. that they may hear , &c. that they may learn and fear the Lord , &c. Deut. 31. 11. 12 , 13. Set your hearts unto all the words , &c. which ye shall command your children to observe , to do all the words of this law , Deut. 32. 46. When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come , saying , What mean these stones ? then ye shall let your children know , saying , Israel came over Jordan on dry land ; for the Lord your God dryed up , &c. Josh. 4. 20 , 21 , 22 , 23. Ruths great love to her mother-in-law , recorded , Ruth 1. 15 , 16 , 17. Eli was old , and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel : and how they lay with the women , &c. and he said unto them , Why do you such things ? for I hear of your evil dealings , &c. nay , my sons , for it is no good report that I hear , &c. If a man sin against the Lord , who shall intreat for him ? 1 Sam. 2. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25. I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken , &c. for the iniquity which he knoweth : because his sons made themselves vile , and he restrained them not ( or , frowned not upon them ) , 1 Sam. 3. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Bathsheba , king Solomons mother , came to him : he rose up to meet her , and bowed himself to her , &c. caused a seat to be set for her on his right-hand , 1 Kings 2. 19. Job offered burnt offerings for his sons continually : for Job said , It may be that my sons have sinned , &c. Job 1. 4 , 5. I will utter dark sayings of old which we have heard and known , and our fathers have told us : we will not hide them from their children , shewing the generations to come the praises of the Lord , &c. that the generation to come might know , the children which should be born , who should arise and declare them to their children , that they might set their hope in God , and not forget the works of God , &c. Psal. 7. 8 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Lo , children are an heritage of the Lord : the fruit of the womb a reward : happy is the man who hath his quiver full of them , Psal. 127. 3 ; 4 , 5. Psal. 128. 3. My son , hear the instruction of thy father , and forsake not the law of thy mother , Prov. 1. 8. A wise son maketh a glad father : but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother , Prov. 10. 1. A good man leaveth an inheritance to his childrens children , &c. He who spareth his rod hateth his son ; but he who loveth him , chasteneth him betimes , Prov. 13. 22 , 24. Chasten thy son while there is hope , and let not thy soul spare for his crying , Prov. 19. 18. Whoso curseth his father or mother , his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness , Prov. 20. 20. Train up a child in the way he should go , and when he is old he will not depart from it , &c. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child : the rod of correction shall drive it , Prov. 22. 6 , 15. Withhold not correction from the child : for if thou beat him with the rod he shall not die ; thou shalt beat him with a rod , and shalt deliver his soul from hell , Prov. 23. 13 , 14. Whoso robbeth his father or his mother , and saith its no transgression , the same is a companion of a destroyer , Prov. 28. 24. The rod and reproof give wisdom : but a child left bringeth his mother to shame . Correct thy son , and he shall give thee rest , &c. Prov. 29. 15 , 17. The eye which mocketh at his father , and despiseth to obey his mother : the Ravens of the valley shall pick it out , and the young Eagles shall eat it , Prov. 30. 17. The sons of Jonadab commended by God himself , for their obedience to their fathers commands , and rewarded , Jer. 35. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 16 , 19. In thee , they have set light by father and mother , Ezek. 22. 7. A son honoureth his father , Mal. 1. 6. He shall turn the heart of the father to the children , and the heart of the children to their fathers , Mal. 4. 6. I am come to set a man at variance against his father , &c. He who loveth father or mother more than me , is not worthy of me , and he who loveth son or daughter more than me , is not worthy of me , Mat. 10. 35 , 37. God commanded , saying , Honour thy father and thy mother : and he who curseth father or mother , let him dye the death . But ye say , &c. Mat. 15. 4 , 5 , 6. Jesus went down with his parents , &c. and was subject unto them , Luke 2. 51. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents : but the parents for the children , 2 Cor. 12. 14. Children obey your parents in the Lord , for this is right : honour thy father , &c. And ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath ; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord , Eph. 6. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Children , obey your parents in all things , for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers provoke not your children , lest they be discouraged , Col. 3. 20 , 21. One who ruleth well in his own house , having his children in subjection with all gravity , 1 Tim. 3. 4. If a widow have children , &c. let them learn to shew kindness at home , and to requite their parents : for that is good and acceptable before God , &c. If any provide not for his own house , &c. If any man or woman believeth not , have widows , let them relieve them , &c. 1 Tim. 5. 4 , 8 , 16. Perilous times shall come , &c. Men shall be disobedient to parents , &c. without natural affection , 2 Tim. 3. 1 , 2 , 3. Teach the young women , &c. to love their children , Tit. 2. 4. 3dly , Masters to their servants , and servants to their masters . Hagar despised her mistress . Sarah dealt hardly with her , she fled from her face , &c. And the Angel of the Lord said unto her , Return to thy mistress , and submit thy self under her hands , Gen. 16. 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. See the faithfulness and industry of Abrahams servant , in the business of fetching a wife for his masters son , Gen. 24. Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant poor and needy , of thy brethren , or of thy strangers , &c. At his day thou shalt give him his hire , neither shall the sun go down upon it : for he is poor , and setteth his heart upon it , Deut. 24. 14 , 15. Lev. 19. 13. If I did despise the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant , when they contended with me : what then shall I do , when God riseth up ? and when he visiteth , what shall I answer him ? Did not he who made me in the womb , make him ? and did not one fashion us in the womb ? Job 31. 13 , 14 , 15. As the eyes of servants unto the hand of their masters , as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress : so our eyes upon the Lord , Psal. 123. 2. The kings favour is towards a wise servant , &c. Prov. 14. 35. A wise servant shall have rule over a son who causeth shame , &c. Prov. 17. 2. Accuse not a servant to his master , lest he curse thee , &c. Prov. 30. 10. Wo unto him , &c. who useth his neighbours service without wages , and giveth him not for his work , Jer. 22. 13. A servant honoureth his master , &c. If I am master , where is my fear ? Mat. 1. 6. The disciple is not above his master , nor the servant above his Lord , Mat. 10. 24. Which of you having a servant plowing , or feeding cattel , will say unto him by and by , when he is come out of the field , Go and sit down to meat : and will not rather say unto him , Make ready , wherewith I may sup , and gird thy self , and serve me , & c ? and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink . Doth he thank that servant , & c ? I trow not , Luk. 17. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Art thou called being a servant ? care not for it : but if thou mayest be made free , use it rather . For he who is called in the Lord , being a servant , is the Lords free-man , &c. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called , 1 Cor. 7. 21 , 22 , 24. Servants be obedient to them who are your masters according to the flesh , with fear and trembling , in singleness of your heart , as unto Christ. Not with , eye-service as men-pleasers , but as the servants of Christ , &c. from the hearte with good will , doing service as to the Lord , and not to men , &c. And y : masters do the same things unto them , forbearing ( or , moderating ) threatning knowing that your master also is in heaven : neither is there respect of persons with him , Eph. 6. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Col. 3. 22 , 23 , 24. Masters , give unto your servants that which is just and equal : knowing that ye also have a master in heaven , Col. 4. 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke , count their own masters worthy of all honour , that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed . And they who have believing-masters , let them not despise them , because they are brethren : but rather do service , because they are faithful ( or , believing ) and beloved , partakers of the benefit : These things teach and exhort . If any man teach otherwise , and consent not to wholsome words , &c. he is proud , knowing nothing , &c. 1 Tim. 6. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters , and to please them well in all things , not answering again , ( or , gainsaying ) : Not purloining , but shewing all good fidelity , that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things , Tit. 2. 9 , 10. Go to now , ye rich men , weep and howl , for your misery , &c. Behold , the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields , which is of you kept back by fraud , cryeth : and the cries of them who have reaped , are entred into the ears of the Lord , James 5. 1 , 4. Servants , be subject to your own masters with all fear , not only to the good and gentle , but also to the froward . For this is thank-worthy , if a man for conscience sake towards God endure grief , suffering wrongfully . For what glory is it , if when ye be buffeted for your faults , ye shall take it patiently ? but if when ye do well and suffer for it , ye take it patiently , this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called , 1 Pet. 2. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. 4thly , Magistrates to subjects , and subjects to magistrates : See magistrates and magistracy at large , Chap. 24. CHAP. XIX . Saints , Believers Duties towards all men , those who are without , Unbelievers , Enemies . 1st . In general . THou shalt neither vex a stranger nor oppress him : for ye were strangers in the land . Ye shall not afflict any widow or fatherless , &c. Exod. 22. 21 , 22. He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow , and loveth the stranger , &c. love ye therefore the stranger , for ye were strangers , Deut. 10. 18 , 19. Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts , saying , Execute true judgment , and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother , and oppress not the widow nor the fatherless , the stranger nor the poor : and let none of you imagin evil against his brother in your heart , Zech. 7. 9 , 10. ch . 8. 16 , 17. Give not that which is holy unto dogs : neither cast you your pearls before swine , lest they trample them under their feet , and turn again and rent you , &c. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you , do ye even so unto them : for this is the law and the prophets , Mat. 7. 6 , 12. Luk. 6. 31. Behold , I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves : be ye therefore wise as serpents , and harmless as doves , Mat. 10. 16. And herein do I exercise my self , to have always a conscience void of offence towards God , and towards men , Act. 24. 16. Recompence to no man evil , &c. provide things honest in the sight of all men , Rom. 12. 17. Render therefore to all their dues , tribute to whom tribute is due , custom to whom custom , fear to whom fear , honour to whom honour . Owe no man any thing , but to love one another : for he who loveth another , hath fulfilled the law , &c. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour , Rom. 13. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Give none offence , neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles , &c. even as I please all men in all things , not seeking mine own profit , 1 Cor. 10. 32 , 33. Charity thinketh no evil , 1 Cor. 13. 5. Providing for honest things , not only in the sight of the Lord , but in the sight of men , 2. Cor. 8. 21. Look not every man on his own things , but every man also on the things of others , &c. Do all things without murmuring or disputings : that ye may be blameless and harmless , ( or , sincere ) , the sons of God without rebuke , in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation , among whom ye shine , ( or , shine ye ) as lights in the world , Phil. 2. 4 , 14 , 15. Let your moderation be known unto all men : the Lord is at hand , Phil. 4. 5. Walk in wisdom towards them who are without , &c. Let your speech be always with grace , &c. that ye may know how to answer every man , Col. 4. 5 , 6. That ye study to be quiet , and to do your own business , and to work with your own hands , &c. That we may walk honestly towards them who are without , and that ye may have lack of nothing ( or , of no man ) , 1 Thess. 4. 11 , 12. We exhort you brethren , &c. be patient towards all men . See that none render evil for evil unto any man : but ever follow that which is good , both among your selves , and to all men , 1 Thess. 5. 14 , 15. In all things shew thy self a pattern of good works , &c. sound speech that cannot be condemned , that he who is of the contrary part may be ashamed , having no evil thing to say of you , Titus 2. 7 , 8. Put them in mind , &c. to be ready to every good work , &c. To be no brawler , but gentle , shewing all meekness unto all men : for we , &c. Titus 3. 1 , 2 , 3. Wherefore laying aside all malice , and all guile , and envies , and evil speakings , &c. abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul : having your conversation honest amongst the Gentiles , that whereas they ( or , wherein they ) speak against you as evil doers , they may by your good works which they shall behold , glorifie God in the day of visitation , &c. for so is the will of God , that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men , &c. Honour ( or , esteem ) all men , 1 Pet. 2. 1 , 11 , 12 , 15 , 17. Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts , and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason of the hope which is in you , with meekness and fear , having a good conscience : that whereas they speak evil of you , as of evil-doers , they may be ashamed who falsly accuse your good conversation in Christ , &c. 1 Pet. 3 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. 2dly , In particular , not to judg them , or speak evil of them . Thou givest thy mouth to evil , &c. thou sittest and speakest against thy brother , &c. thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thy self , &c. Psal. 50. 19 , 20 , 21. Judg not , that ye be not judged : for with what judgment ye judg , ye shall be judged , Matth. 7. 1 , 2. Judg nothing before the time , until the Lord come , 1 Cor. 4. 5. Charity , &c. thinketh no evil , 1 Cor. 13. 5. Put them in mind to speak evil of no man , &c. for we our selves were sometimes foolish , disobedient , Titus 3. 1 , 2 , 3. 3dly , Be just , righteous , true and faithful to , and with them , in all things of trust , and dealing . Ye shall not , &c. deal falsly , neither lye one to another , &c. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour , nor rob him , &c. Ye shall do no unrighteousness injudgment , in meteyard , in weight , or in measure : just ballances , just weights , a just Ephah , and a just Hin shall ye have : I the Lord your God , Levit. 19. 11 , 13 , 34 , 35 , 36. If thou sell ought unto thy neighbour , or buyest ought of thy neighbours hand ; ye shall not oppress one another , Levit. 25. 14. The righteous Lord loveth righteousness , Psal. 11. 7. A false balance is an abomination to the Lord : but a just weight is his delight , Prov. 11. 1. ch . 16. 11. Divers weights ( or , a stone and a stone ) : and divers measures ( or an Ephah and an Ephah ) , are both alike abomination to the Lord , Prov. 20. 10. To do justice and judgment , is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice , &c. it is the joy of the just to do judgment , Prov. 21. 3 , 15. Remove not the ancient land-marks ( or , bound ) which thy father have set , Prov. 22. 28. chap. 23. 10. As a mad-man , &c. so is he who deceiveth his neighbour , and saith , Am I not in sport ? Prov. 26. 18 , 19. God complained against Israel : None calleth for justice , nor any pleadeth for truth , Isa. 59. 4. Wo to him who buildeth his house by unrighteousness , and his chamber by wrong , Jer. 22. 13. In thee they deal by oppression with the stranger , Ezek. 22. 7 , 29. Daniel was faithful in his trust : neither was there any errour or fault found in him , Dan. 6. 4 , 5. What doth the Lord require of thee , but to do justly ? &c. Micah 6. 8. The just Lord , in the midst thereof : he will not do iniquity , Zeph. 3. 5. Have we not all one father ? hath not one God created us ? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother ? Malachi 2. 10. Jesus said unto the Publicans , Exact no more than that which is appointed you , &c. And to the Soldiers he said , Do no violence to any man , &c. be content with your wages , &c. Luke 3. 13 , 14. Render therefore to all their dues , tribute to whom tribute , &c. owe no man any thing , but to love , &c. Rom. 13. 7 , 8. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter , because the Lord is the avenger of such , 1 Thess. 4. 6. 4thly , Live at peace with them , every one doing their own work : not intermedling with others , nor idle , or trifling . Seek peace , and pursue it , Psal. 34. 14. Accuse not a servane to his master , lest he curse thee , &c. Prov. 30. 10. Blessed are the peace-makers , for they shall be called the children of God , &c. Whosoever shall finite thee on the right cheek , turn to him the other , &c. Matth. 5. 9 , 38 , 39 , 40. If it be possible , as much as lieth in you , live peaceably with all men : Dearly beloved , avenge not your selves , Rom. 12. 18 , 19. If the unbelieving depart , let him depart , &c. but God hath called us to peace , 1 Cor. 7. 15. That ye study to be quiet , and to do your own business , and to work , &c. 1 Thess. 4. 11. We hear that there are some among you who walk disorderly , working not at at all , but are busie-bodies : now them who are such , we command and exhort , &c. that with quietness they work , &c. 2 Thess. 3. 11 , 12. Withal they learn to be idle , wandring about from house to house : and not only idle , but tatlers also , and busie-bodies ; I will ; &c. that they give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully , 1 Tim. 5. 13 , 14 , 15. That they which have believed in God , should be careful to maintain good works : these things are good and profitable●… unto men , &c. and let ours also learn to maintain good works ( or , profess honest trades ) for necessary uses , &c. Titus 3. 8 , 14. Follow peace with all men , Heb. 12. 14. The wisdom that is from above , is , &c. peaceable , gentle , and easie to be intreated , &c. And the fruit of peace is sown in peace of them who make peace , James 3. 17 , 18. From whence comes wars and fighting amongst you ? come they not hence , even of your lusts , & c ? James 4. 1. Let none of you suffer , &c. as a busie-body in other mens matters , &c. 1 Pet. 4. 15. He will love life , &c. let him seek peace and ensue it , 1 Pet. 3. 11. 5thly , Not to be discontented , angry , or revengeful against them : But to behave themselves meekly , gently and patiently towards them , bearing wrong . David resolved in haste to destroy Nabals house because of Nabals unkindness ; but Abigail having interposed , he blessed God for her counsel , and forbore his revenge , 1 Sam. 25. 32 , 33 , 34. Fret not thy self because of evil-doers , neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity : for they shall soon be cut down , Psal. 37. 1 , 2. Prov. 24. 19. Let not thine heart envy finners : but be in the fear of the Lord all the day , Prov. 23. 17. If ye forgive men their trespasses , your heavenly father will also forgive you : but if ye forgive not men their trespasses , neither will your father forgive , &c. Matth. 6. 14 , 15. Learn of me , for I am meek and lowly in heart , Matth. 11. 29. One of them which were with Jesus , stretched out his hand and drew his sword , and stroke a servant of the high-Priest , &c. Then said Jesus unto him , Put up again thy sword into his place : for all they who take the sword shall perish by the sword , Matth. 26. 51 , 52. The Samaritans did not receive Christ ; and when his disciples , James and John saw this , they said , Lord , wilt thou that we command fire from heaven and consume them , as Elias did ? and he turned and rebuked them , and said , Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of : for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives , &c. Luke 9. 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56. Charity suffereth long , and is kind ; charity envieth not , &c. is not easily provoked ; thinketh no evil , 1 Cor. 13. 4 , 5. In malice be ye children : but in understanding be ye men , 1 Cor. 14. 20. The fruit of the spirit , is , &c. long-suffering , gentleness , &c. meekness , temperance , Gal. 5. 22 , 23. Let all bitterness , and wrath , and anger , and clamour , &c. be put away from you , Eph. 4. 31. Col. 3. 8. Let your moderation be known unto all men , Phil. 4. 5. Be patient towards all men : see that none render evil for evil unto any man , 1 Thess. 5. 14 , 15. The servant of the Lord must not strive , but be gentle unto all men , &c. patient , in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves : if God peradventure , &c. 2 Tim. 2. 24 , 25. Speak evil of no man , to be no brawlers : gentle , shewing all meekness to all men , Titus 3. 2. Let every man be slow to wrath : for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God , James 1. 19 , 20. The wisdom which is above , is , &c. gentle , and easie to be intreated , &c. James 3. 17. Be ready always to give an answer unto every man , &c. with meekness , 1 Pet. 3. 15. See the Duty of moderation , meekness , patience , &c. in general . Chap. 16. 6thly , To pity them , shew them mercy , pray for them , and requite them good for evil : love for hatred . If thou meet thine enemies ox or asse going astray , thou shalt surely bring him back again to him . If thou see the asse of him who hateth thee , under his burden , and wouldst forbear to help him ; thou shalt surely help with him ( or , wouldst cease to leave thy business for him , thou shalt surely leave it to join with him ) , Exod. 23. 4 , 5. Deut. 22. 4. David rewarded Saul good for evil , which Saul acknowledgeth , 1 Sam. 24. 17 , 18 , 19. With the merciful , thou wilt shew thy self merciful , Psal. 18. 25. The righteous is ever merciful , Psal. 37. 25 , 26. The merciful man doth good unto his own soul : but he who is cruel , &c. Prov. 11. 17. A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast : but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel , Prov. 12. 10. If thine enemy be hungry , give him bread to eat : and if he be thirsty , give him water to drink : for thou shalt heap up coles , &c. and the Lord shall reward thee , Prov. 25. 21 , 22. Seek the peace of the city , whither I have caused you to be carried away captive , and pray unto the Lord for it : for in the peace thereof , ye shall have peace , Jer. 29. 7. Blessed are the merciful , &c. love your enemies , bless them who curse you , do good to them who hate you , and pray for them who despitefully use you , &c. that you may be the children of your heavenly father : for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil , and on the good , &c. for if ye love them who love you , what reward have ye ? do not even the Publicans the same ? Matt. 5. 7 , 44 , 45 , 46. Luk. 6. 32 , 33 , 35 , 36. Christ had compassions on the multitude , and did them good , Matt. 9. 36. chap. 14. 14. ch . 15. 32. Recompence to no man evil for evil , &c. avenge not your selves , &c. if thine enemy hunger , feed him , &c. be not overcome of evil , but overcome evil with good , Rom. 12. 17 , 19 , 20 , 21. As we have therefore opportunity , let us do good unto all men , Gal. 6. 10. Put on bowels of mercy , kindness , &c. Col. 3. 12. The Lord make you to increase in love , &c. towards all men , 1 Thes. 3. 12. See that none render evil for evil unto any man , but ever follow that which is good , both among your selves , and unto all men , 1 Thes. 5. 15. Exhort , &c. that supplications and prayers , &c. be made for all men , 1 Tim. 2. 1. Not rendering evil for evil , or railing for railing : but contrarywise blessing , 1 Pet. 3. 9. See this Duty towards Persecutors , Chap. 22. See giving to the Poor at large , Chap. 17. 7thly , To behave themselves humbly , and courteously towards all , giving them due respect . The children of Heth said to Abraham , Hear us my Lord , thou art a mighty prince amongst us : in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead , &c. And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land , &c. Gen. 23. 5 , 6 , 7 , 11 , 12. Jacob bowed himself seven times to the ground , until he came near his brother Esau , &c. let my Lord I pray thee pass over before his servant , &c. let me find grace in the sight of my Lord , Gen. 33. 3 , 14 , 15. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head , and honour the face of the old man , and fear thy God , I am the Lord , Levit. 19. 32. Rom. 13. 7. If thou meet any man , salute him not ; and if any salute thee , answer him not again , 2 Kings 4. 29. God threatned it as an evil , that the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient , and the base against the honourable , Isa. 3. 5. If ye salute your brethren only , what do you more than others ? do not even the Publicans the same ? Be ye therefore perfect , as your father which is in heaven is perfect . Matt. 5. 47 , 48. When ye come into an house , salute it , Matt. 10. 12. When thou art bidden , &c. sit not down in the highest room , le●…t a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him ; and he who bade thee and him , come and say to thee , Give this man place , and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room , &c. sit in the lowest room , &c. then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them who sate at meat with thee , Luk. 14. 8 , 9 , 10. I am not mad , most noble Festus ( said Paul ) , but speak forth the word , &c. Act. 26. 24 , 25. Honour ( or , esteem ) all men , 1 Pet. 2. 17. Finally , &c. be courteous , 1 Pet. 3. 8. The Elder unto the elect Lady , &c. and now I beseech thee , Lady , 2 Joh. v. 1 , 5. 8thly , To avoid all unnecessary Society and fellowship with wicked men . They shall not dwell in the land , lest they make thee sin against me , Exod. 23. 31. 33. When Jehoshaphat had helped the wicked king of Israel ; Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him , and said to king Jehoshaphat , shouldest thou help the ungodly , and love them who hate the Lord ? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord , 2 Chron. 19. 1 , 2. Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly , nor standeth in the way of sinners , nor sitteth in the seat of scorners , Psal. 1. 1. Who shall abide in thy tabernacle , & c ? he , in whose eyes a vile person is contemned , Psal. 15. 1 , 4. I have not sate with vain persons , neither will I go in with dissemblers : I have hated the congregation of evil doers , I will not set with the wicked , Psal. 26. 4 , 5. I will not know a wicked person , &c. he who worketh deceit , shall not dwell in my house : he who telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight , Psal. 101. 4 , 6 , 7. Do not I hate them who hate thee , O Lord ? am not I grieved with those who rise up against thee ? I hate them with a perfect hatred , Psal. 139. 21 , 22. My son , if sinners intice thee , consent not , &c. walk not thou in the way with them : refrain thy foot from their path , Prov. 1. 10 , 15. He who walketh with wise men , shall be wise : but a companion of fools shall be destroyed , Prov. 13. 20. Go from the presence of a foolish man , when thou perceivest not the lips of knowledg , Prov. 14. 7. Make no friendship with an angry man , and with a furious man thou shalt not go , lest thou learn his ways , and get a snare to thy ●…oul , Prov. 22. 24 , 25. Be not thou envious against evil men , neither desire to be with them , Prov. 24. 1. I wrote to you in an Epistle , not to keep company with fornicators ; yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world , &c. for then must ye needs go out of this world , 1 Cor. 5. 9 , 10. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers , &c. What communion hath light with darkness ? and what concord hath Christ with Belial ? or what part hath he who believeth , with an infidel ? 2 Cor. 6. 14 , 15. Believers Duties in times of afflictions and persecutions , towards God , towards such as are afflicted and persecuted , and towards Persecutors . See Affliction and Persecution at large , Chap. 22. Believers Duties in Common Calamities . See Common Calamities , Chap. 23. See Believers Duties towards the spirit , Chap. 21. See Believers Duties in Church affairs , Chap. 27. Believers Duties to Magistrates , See Magistrates , Chap. 24. See Believers Duties in case of Temptations by Satan , and false teachers , to errour , &c. Chap. 30. See Believers Duties in relation to the things of this World , Chap. 38. CHAP. XX. How men come truly and spiritually to know the only true God , and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent , and the Mysteries of Salvation by him , and expressed in the Word . To believe it , bring forth fruit , and persevere therein , through difficulties , to Eternal Life . First , Man of himself , can do neither of these . EXcept the Lord build the house , they labour in vain who build it : except the Lord keep the city , the watchman waketh but in vain , Psal. 127. 1. Mans goings are of the Lord : how can a man then understand his own way ? Prov. 20. 24. O Lord , I know that the way of man is not in himself : it is not in man that walketh , to direct his steps , Jer. 10. 23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin , & c ? may ye also do good , who are accustomed to do evil ? Jer. 13. 23. No man knoweth the son but the father : neither knoweth any man the father but the son , and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him , Matt. 11. 27. A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven , &c. It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle , than for a rich man to enter , &c. with men this is impossible , but with God all things are possible , Matt. 19. 23 , 24 , 25 , 26. A man can receive nothing , except it be given him from heaven , John 3. 27. No man can come unto me , except the father , who hath sent me , draw him , &c. except it were given unto him of my father , John 6. 44 , 65. As the branch cannot bear fruit of it self , except it abide in the vine : no more can ye , except you abide in me , &c. for without ( or , severed from ) me , ye can do nothing , John 15. 4 , 5. The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God , for they are foolishness unto him : neither can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned , 1 Cor. 2. 14. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing , as of our selves , but our sufficiency is of God , 2 Cor. 3. 5. By grace are ye saved , through faith , and that not of your selves , it is the gift of God , Ephes. 2. 8. 2dly , God in Christ doth all freely , and hath promised so to do . Who am I , and what is my people , that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort , & c ? of thine own have we given thee , 1 Chron. 29. 14. 1st , In General . And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart , and the heart of thy seed , to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart , and with all thy soul , that thou mayest live , Deut. 30. 6. The hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment , &c. by the word , 2 Cron. 30. 12. Create in me a clean heart , O God , and renew a right ( or constant ) spirit in me , &c. restore to me the joy of thy Salvation , uphold me by thy free spirit , Psal. 51. 10 , 12. The God of Israel is he who giveth strength and power unto his people , Psal. 68. 35. Turn us again , O God , &c. quicken us , and we will call upon thy name , &c. Psal. 80. 3 , 18 , 19. I am the Lord thy God , &c. open thy mouth wide , and I will fill it , Psal. 81. 10. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee , &c. the Lord will give grace and glory , and no good thing will he withhold , &c. Psal. 84. 5 , 11. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound : they shall walk , O Lord , in the light of thy countenance : in thy name shall they rejoyce all the day long , &c. for thou art the glory of their strength , Psal. 89. 15 , 16 , 17. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart ; and l●…an not to thine own understanding : in all thy ways acknowledg him , and he shall direct thy paths , Prov. 3. 5 , 6. The preparations ( or , disposings ) of the heart in man , and the answer of the tongue , are from the Lord , Prov. 16. 1. Mans goings are of the Lord , Prov. 20. 24. Draw me , we will run after thee , Cant. 1. 4. Jer. 31. 3. Hos. 11. 3 , 4. He who is left in Zion , &c. shall be called holy , &c. when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughter of Zion , &c. by the spirit of judgment , and by the spirit of burning , Isa. 4. 3 , 4. Thou also hast wrought all our works in us ( or ; for us ) : by thee only will we make mention , Isa. 26. 12 , 13. Behold , your God will come : then the eyes of the blind shall be opened , and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped : then shall the lame man leap as an hart , and the tongue of the dumb sing : for in the wilderness shall waters break out , and streams in the desert , &c. the parched ground shall become a pool , and the thirsty land springs , &c. and a high way shall be there , &c. the way-faring men , though fools , shall not err , Isa. 35. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. I , the Lord , have called thee in righteousness , &c. will give thee , &c. a light to the Gentiles to open the blind eyes , to bring out the prisoners from the prison , and them who sit in darkness out of the prison-house , Isa. 42. 6 , 7. Look unto me , and be ye saved , all ye ends of the earth : for I am God , &c. in the Lord have I righteousness and strength , Isa. 45. 22 , 24. That thou maist say to the prisoners , go forth : to them who are in darkness shew your selves : they shall feed in the ways , &c. for he who hath mercy on them , shall lead them , even by the springs of water shall he guide them , Isa. 49. 9 , 10 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me , because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings , &c. he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted , to proclaim liberty to the captives , and the opening of the prison to them who are bound , Isa. 61. 1 , 2. Return , &c. and I will heal your backslidings ; behold we come unto thee , Jer. 3. 22. I will be their God : for they shall return unto me with their whole heart , Jer. 24. 7. With loving-kindness have I drawn thee , &c. turn thou me , and I shall be turned : for thou art the Lord my God! surely after that I was turned , I repented : and after that I was instructed , I smote upon the thigh , &c. Behold , the day cometh , saith the Lord , that I will make a new covenant , &c. I will put my law in their inward parts , and write it in their hearts , &c. and they shall teach no more every man , &c. Jer. 31. 3 , 18 , 19 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34. Heb. 8. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. ch . 10. 15 , 16 , 17. I will give them one heart , and one way , that they may fear me for ever , &c. I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me , Jer. 32. 39 , 40. Turn thou us unto thee , O Lord , and we shall be turned , Lam. 5. 21. I will give them one heart , and I will put a new spirit within you : and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh , and I will give them an heart of flesh , that they may walk in my statutes , and keep my ordinances , and do them , Ezek. 11. 19 , 20. ch . 20. 43. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you , and ye shall be clean , &c. a new heart also will I give you , and a new spirit will I put within you : I will take away the stony heart , &c. and I will put my spirit within you , and cause you to walk in my statutes , and ye shall keep my judgments and do them , &c. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses , &c. then shall ye remember your own evil ways , and your doings which were not good , and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities , Ezek. 36. 25 , 26 , 27 , 31. ch . 16. 61 , 63. I taught Ephraim to go , &c. I drew them with the cords of a man , &c. Hos. 11. 3 , 4. I will pour upon the house of David , &c. a spirit of grace and of supplication , and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced , and they shall mourn , Zech. 12. 10. The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come , &c. and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver , and he shall purifie the sons of Levi , and purge them as gold and silver , that they may offer unto the Lord , &c. Mal. 3. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Jesus did but bid the fisher-men follow him , and they immediately leave all and follow him , Matt. 4. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness : for they shall be filled , Matt. 5. 6. The whole need not a Physician , but they who are sick , &c. for I am not come to call the righteous , but sinners to repentance , Matt. 9. 11 , 12. — The kingdom of God is come unto you . Or else how can one enter , &c. except he bind the strong man , and then spoil his goods ? Matt. 12. 28 , 29. The son of man is come to save that which was lost , &c. how think ye , if a man have one hundred sheep , and one of them be gon astray , doth he not , &c. and seeketh that which is gon astray ? even so , it is not the will of your father , &c. that one of these little ones should perish , Matt. 18. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Luk. 19. 10. Which are born not of blood , &c. but of God , &c. John 1. 13 , 16. And of his fulness have all we received , and grace for grace , Col. 1. 19. Except a man be born again ( or , from above ) he cannot see the kingdom of God , &c. the wind bloweth where it listeth , and thou hearest the sound thereof , but canst not tell whence it cometh , and whither it goeth : so is every one who is born of the spirit , John 3. 3 , 5 , 7 , 8. For as the father raiseth up the dead , and quickeneth them ; even so the son quickeneth whom he will , &c. the hour is coming , and now is , when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God , and they who hear shall live , John 5. 21 , 25. All which the father hath given me , shall come to me ; and him who cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out , &c. no man can come to me , except the father who hath sent me draw him , &c. every man therefore who hath heard and learned of the father , cometh unto me , &c. It is the spirit who quickeneth : the flesh , profiteth nothing , John 6. 37 , 44 , 45 , 63. God sent Jesus to bless you , in turning away every one of you from his iniquities , Act. 3. 26. Jesus , &c. him hath God exalted with his right hand , a prince and a Saviour , for to give repentance to Israel , &c. Acts 5. 30 , 31. God gave them the like gifts as he did unto us , &c. they glorified God , saying , Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life : Now they who were scattered , &c. spake unto the Gentiles , &c. and the hand of the Lord was with them : and a great number believed , and turned unto the Lord , Act. 11. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. Paul having made complaint of himself , saith , O wretched man that I am , who shall deliver me , & c ? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord , Rom. 7. 15 , 18 , 19 , 21 , 24 , 25. I was found of them who sought me not : I was made manifest unto them who asked not after me , Rom. 10. 20. That no flesh should glory , &c. but of him are ye in Christ Jesus , 1 Cor. 1. 29 , 30. I have planted , and Apollo watered ; but God gave the increase , 1 Cor. 3. 6 , 7. There are diversities of operations , but it is the same God who worketh all in all , 1 Cor. 12. 6. But by the grace of God , I am that I am ; 1 Cor. 15. 10. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal , but mighty through God , to the pulling down of strong holds , casting down imaginations , &c. 2. Cor. 10. 4 , 5. I live : yet not I , but Christ liveth in me , and the life which I now live , &c. I live by faith , Gal. 2. 20. We are his workmanship , created in Christ Jesus unto good works , which God hath , &c. Ephes. 2. 10. But unto every one of us is given grace , according to the measure of the gift of Christ , Ephes. 4. 7. Work out your own salvation , &c. for it is God who worketh in you , both to will and to do of his good pleasure , Phil. 2. 12 , 13. In meekness instruct , &c. if God peradventure will give them repentance to the , &c. 2 Tim. 2. 25 , 26. Now the God of peace , &c. make you perfect in every good work , to do his will , working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight , through Jesus , Heb. 13. 20 , 21. Every good and perfect gift is from above , and cometh down from the father of lights , with whom there is no variableness , &c. James 1. 17. Giving thanks unto the father , who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light ; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness , and translated us into the kingdom of his dear son , Col. 1. 12 , 13. 2dly , In particular ; To give knowledg of himself , and of Jesus Christ , and of the Mystery of Salvation by him , in the Gospel , and of our Duty . Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive , and eyes to see , and ears to hear , unto this day , Deut. 29. 2 , 3 , 4. There is a spirit in man : and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding : great men are not wise , neither do the aged understand judgment , Job 32. 8 , 9. Good and upright is the Lord , therefore will he teach sinners in the way : the meek will he guide in judgment , and the meek will he teach his way , &c. what man is he who feareth the Lord ? him shall he teach in the way that he shall chuse , &c. the secret of the Lord is with them who fear him , and he will shew them his covenant , Psal. 25. 8 , 9 , 12 , 14. I will instruct thee , and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go , I will guide thee with mine eye , Psal. 32. 8. O send out thy light , and thy truth : let them lead me , let them bring me unto , &c. Psal. 43. 3 , 4. Teach me , O Lord , the way of thy statutes , and I shall keep it to the end , give me understanding and I shall keep thy law , Psal. 119. 33 , 34. He sheweth his word unto Jacob , his statutes and his judgments unto Israel , Psal. 147. 19. Wisdom cryeth , &c. how long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity , & c ? and fools hate knowledg ? turn you at my reproof : behold I will pour out my spirit upon you , I will make known my words unto you , Prov. 1. 20 , 22 , 23. If thou cryest after knowledg , &c. then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord , and find the knowledg of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom : out of his mouth cometh knowledg and understanding , Prov. 2. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. In all thy ways acknowledg him , and he shall direct thy paths , Prov. 3. 6. I have taught them the way of wisdom : I have led thee in the right paths , Prov. 4. 11. The earth shall be full of the knowledg of the Lord , as the waters cover the sea , Isa. 11. 9. Heb. 2. 14. And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book , and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity , and out of darkness , &c. They also who erred in the spirit , shall come to understanding , &c. They shall learn doctrine , Isa. 29. 18 , 24. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee , saying , This is the way , walk ye in it , when ye turn to the right hand , and when ye turn to the left , Isa. 30. 21. And the eyes of them who see , shall not be dim , &c. the heart also of the rash , shall understand knowledg , and the tongue of the stammerers be ready to speak plainly ( Or , elegantly ) , Isa. 32. 3 , 4. Your God will come , &c. then the eyes of the blind shall be opened , and the ears of the deaf unstopped , Isa. 35. 4 , 5. I the Lord have called thee , &c. for a light to the gentiles : to open the blind eyes , &c. And I will bring the blind by a way they knew not : I will lead them in paths they have not known : I will make darkness light before them , and crooked things straight , Isa. 42. 6 , 7 , 16. I will give them an heart to know me , that I am the Lord , &c. Jer. 24. 7. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour , and every man his brother , saying , Know the Lord , for they shall all know me from the least of them , unto the greatest of them , Jer. 31. 34. Heb. 8 , 11. Jesus said , I thank thee , O father , &c. because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent , and hast revealed them unto babes . Neither knoweth any man the father but the son , and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him , Matth. 11. 25 , 27. It is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven , but to them it is not given , Matth. 13. 11 , 13. Mark 4. 11 , 12. Peter said , Thou art that Christ , &c. And Jesus answered , and said unto him , Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona : for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee , but my father who is in heaven , Matth. 16. 15 , 16 , 17. The day-spring from on high hath visited us : to give light to them who sit in darkness , and in the shadow of death : to guide our feet into the way of peace , Luke 1. 78 , 79. I will give you a mouth and wisdom , which all your adversaries shall not be able to gain-say nor resist , Luke 21. 15. These are the words which I spake unto you , while I was yet with you , &c. Then opened he their understanding , that they might understand the Scriptures , Luke 24. 44 , 45. That was the true light , which lighteth every man who cometh into the world , John 1. 9. As it is written in the prophets , And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore who hath heard , and hath learned of the father , cometh unto me , John 6. 45. Isa. 54. 13. If any man will do his will , he shall know of the doctrine , whether it be of God , or whether I speak of my self , John 7. 17. Then spake Jesus again unto them , saying , I am the light of the world : he who followeth me , shall not walk in darkness , but shall have the light of life , &c. If ye continue in my word , then are ye my disciples indeed , and ye shall know the truth , John 8. 12 , 32. Jesus said , For Judgment I am come into the world , that they who see not , might see : and that they who see , might be made blind , John 9. 39. I am come a light , &c. that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness , John 12. 46. I have called you friends : for all things which I have heard of my father , I have made known unto you , John 15. 15. This is life eternal , that they may know thee the only true God , and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent , &c. I have manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world , John 17. 2 , 3 , 6. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness , hath shined in our hearts , the light of the knowledg of the glory of God , in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels , that the excellency of the power may be of God , and not of us , 2 Cor. 4. 6 , 7. But when it pleased God , &c. to reveal his son in me , &c. Gal. 1. 15 , 16. Having made known the mystery of his will unto us , according unto his good pleasure , &c. making mention of you in my prayers , That the God of our Lord Jesus , &c. may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him , the eyes of your understanding being enlightened , that ye may know what is the hope of his calling , &c. Eph. 1. 9 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. ch . 3. 18 , 19. If in any thing ye be otherwise minded , God shall reveal even this unto you , Phil. 3. 15. The mystery which hath been hid , &c. but now is made manifest to his Saints , to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles , which is Christ , Col. 1. 26 , 27. Consider what I say , and the Lord give thee understanding in all things , 2 Tim. 2. 7. If any of you lack wisdom , let him ask it of God , who giveth liberally unto all men , and upbraideth not , and it shall be given , James 1. 5. We know that the Son of God is come , and hath given us an understanding that we may know him who is true , 1 John 5. 20. See more in Knowledg and Understanding , Chap. 37. To give Faith , or enable to believe . Lord , I believe , help thou mine unbelief , Mark 9. 24. 25. Them who believe , &c. who were born not of blood , nor of the will of the flesh , &c. but of God , John 1. 12 , 13. All which the father giveth me , shall come to me , &c. No man can come to me , except the father who hath sent me , draw him , &c. John 6. 37 , 44 , 65. Other sheep I have , &c. them also I must bring , and they shall hear my voice , John 10. 16. Christ condescended to help Thomas his faith , by shewing himself to him , John 20. 25 , 27. Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life , &c. They who were scattered abroad preached the Gospel , and the hand of the Lord was with them : and a great number believed , and were turned unto the Lord , Acts 11. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. When Paul preached , &c. a certain woman named Lydia , heard : whose heart the Lord opened , that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul : and when she was baptized , &c. Acts 16. 13 , 14 , 15. Every man , &c. not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think : but to think soberly , according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith , &c. Let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith , Rom. 12. 3 , 6. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing , that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost , &c. I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me , to make the Gentiles obedient by word , &c. Rom. 15. 13 , 18. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus , 1 Cor. 1. 30. My preaching was not with inticing words of mans wisdom , &c. that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men , but in the power of God , 1 Cor. 2. 4 , 5. I have planted , &c. but God gave the increase , &c. But God who giveth the increase , 1 Cor. 3. 6 , 7. That ye may know , &c. what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward , who believe , according to the working of his mighty power , which he wrought in Christ , when he raised him from the dead , Ephes. 1. 18 , 19 , 20. Ye are saved through faith : and that not of your selves , it is the gift of God , Ephes. 2. 8. Unto you it is given on the behalf of Christ , not only to believe on him , &c. Phil. 1. 29. Through the faith of the operation of God , &c. Col. 2. 12. We pray , &c. that our God would , &c. fulfil the work of faith with power , 2 Thess. 1. 11. Looking unto Jesus the author ( or , beginner ) and finisher of our faith , Heb. 12. 2. Every good gift , &c. cometh down from the father of lights , &c. Of his own will begat he us , with the word of truth , James 1. 17 , 18. To them who have obtained like precious faith with us , 2 Pet. 1. 1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ , is born of God , &c. Whosoever is born of God overcometh the world : and this is our victory which overcometh the world , even our faith , 1 John 5. 1 , 4. To make them fruitful , or enable them to subdue sin , profit in grace and activity for God. Then rose up the chief of the fathers , &c. whose spirit God had raised , to go up to build the house of the Lord , which is in Jerusalem , Ezra 1. 5. Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly , &c. he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water , which bringeth forth fruit in his his season : his leaf also shall not wither , &c. Psal. 1. 1 , 2 , 3. Thou wilt prepare their heart , and thou wilt cause thine ear to hear , Psal. 10. 17. Wait on the Lord , &c. and he shall strengthen thine heart , Psal. 27. 14. I will go in the strength of the Lord God , Psal. 71. 16. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee , &c. The Lord will give grace , Psal. 84. 5 , 11. The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree , he shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon . Those who are planted in the house of the Lord , shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age : they shall be fat ( or , green ) and flourishing , Psal. 92. 12 , 13 , 14. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power , Psal. 110. 3. I will run the ways of thy commandments , when thou shalt enlarge my heart , &c. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments , &c. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies , Psal. 119. 32 , 35 , 36. The preparation of the heart , and answer of the tongue , is from the Lord , Prov. 16. 1. Mans goings are of the Lord , Prov. 20. 24. Draw me , we will run after thee , Cant. 1. 4. Awake , O north-wind , and come thou south : blow upon my garden , that the spices thereof may flow out , &c. Cant. 4. 16. See the effect of Christs voice and drawings with the Spouse , Cant. 5. Lord , &c. thou also hast wrought all our works in us ( or , for us ) , &c. by thee only will we make mention of thy name , Isa. 26. 12 , 13. A vineyard of red-wine , &c. I the Lord will water it every moment , Isa. 27. 2 , 3. Your God will come , &c. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart , and the tongue of the dumb sing , Isa. 35. 4 , 6. The everlasting God , the Lord , &c. He giveth power to the faint , and to them who have no might he increaseth strength , &c. but they who wait upon the Lord shall renew strength : they shall mount up with wings as Eagles : they shall run , and not be weary ; they shall walk , and not be faint , Isa. 40. 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. I will pour water upon him who is thirsty , &c. I will pour out my spirit , &c. and they shall spring up among the grass , as willows by the water-courses , Isa. 44. 3 , 4. I am the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit : who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go , Isa. 48. 17. Blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord , and whose hope the Lord is ; for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters , and which spreadeth out her roots by the river , and shall not see when heat cometh : but her leaf shall be green , and shall not be careful in the year of drought ( or , restraint ) , neither shall cease from yielding fruit , Jer. 17. 7 , 8. I will be as the dew to Israel ; he shall grow ( or , blossom ) as a Lilly , and cast forth his roots as Lebanon , &c. I am like a green fir-tree , and from me is thy fruit found , Hos. 14. 5 , 6 , 8. Who is a God like unto thee , & c ! He will subdue your iniquities , Micah 7. 8 , 19. The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel , &c. and the spirit of all the remnant of the people : and they came and did work in the house of the Lord , Hagg. 1. 14. I will pour out upon the house of David , &c. the spirit of prayer , &c. Zech. 12. 10. But unto you who fear my name , shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings : and ye shall go forth , and grow up as calves in the stall , Mal. 4. 2. Jesus said unto her , If thou knewest , &c. who it is that said unto thee , Give me to drink , thou wouldst have asked of him , and he would have given thee living-water , &c. shall be in him a well of water , springing up into eternal life , John 4. 10 , 14. He who believeth on me ( as the Scripture saith ) , out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters , John 7. 38. I am come that they might have life , and that they might have it more abundantly , John 10. 10. I am the true vine , and my father is the husbandman , &c. Abide in me , and I in you : as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine : no more can ye except ye abide in me . I am the vine , ye are the branches : he who abideth in me , and I in him , the same bringeth forth much fruit : for without ( or , severed from ) me , ye can do nothing . John 15. 1 , 2 , 4 , 5. Sin shall not have dominion over you : for we are not under the law , but under grace , Rom. 6. 14. Having then gifts differing , according to the grace which is given to us , Rom. 12. 6. I have planted , Apollo watered , but God gave the increase : so then , neither is he that planteth any thing , neither he who watereth , but God who giveth the increase , &c. we are labourers together with God : ye are Gods husbandry , ye are Gods building , 1 Cor. 3. 5 , 6 , 7 , 9. Not that we are sufficient of our selves , &c. but our sufficiency is of God , 2 Cor. 3. 5. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal , but mighty through God , to the pulling down of strong-holds : casting down imaginations , and every high thing which exalts it self against the knowledg of God ; and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ , 2 Cor. 10. 4 , 5. I live ; yet not I , but Christ liveth in me ; and the life which I now live in the flesh , I live by the faith of the Son of God , Gal. 2. 20. For this cause I bow my knees to the father , &c. that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory , to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner-man , that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith , &c. Now unto him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think according to the power that worketh in us , Ephes. 3. 14 , 16 , 17 , 20. But , &c. may grow up into him in all thing who is the head , Christ : from whom the whole body fitly joined together , &c. according to the effectual working in the measure of every part , maketh increase of the body , &c. Ephes. 4. 15 , 16. Brethren , be strong in the Lord , and in the power of his might , Ephes. 6. 10. I know how to be abased , &c. I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me , Phil. 4. 12 , 13. We , &c. do not cease to pray for you , &c. that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing , being fruitful in every good work , &c. strengthned with all might , according to his glorious power , &c. And he is the head of the body , the Church , &c. for it pleased the father that in him should all fulness dwell , Col. 1. 9 , 10 , 11 , 18 , 19. Ye received it as the word of God , which effectually worketh also in you who believe : for ye , brethren , became followers of the Churches , 1 Thess. 2. 13. 14. Now our Lord Jesus Christ , &c. establish you in every good word and work , 2 Thess. 2. 17. Now the God of peace , &c. make you perfect in every good work to do his will , working ( or , doing ) in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight , Heb. 13. 20 , 21. To give power and ability to persevere in faith and obedience , through straits and tentations , to eternal life . The Lord thy God he will go over before thee , &c. Be strong , and be of good courage : fear not , nor be afraid of them : for the Lord thy God , he it is who doth go with thee ; he will not fail thee , nor forsake thee , Deut. 31. 3 , 6 , 8. Wait on the Lord : be of good courage , and he shall strengthen thy heart , Psalm 27. 14. The steps of a good man are ordered ( or , established ) by the Lord , &c. Though he fall , he shall not be utterly cast down , for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand , Psal. 37. 23 , 24. Renew a constant ( or , right ) spirit in me , &c. uphold me with thy free spirit , Psal. 51. 10 , 12. Cast thy burden upon the Lord , and he shall sustain thee ; he shall never suffer the righteous to be removed , Psal. 55. 22. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord , shall flourish in the courts of our God : they shall still bring forth fruit in old age : they shall be fat , &c. Psal. 92. 13 , 14. The Lord upholdeth all that fall , and raifeth up all that are cast down , Psal. 145. 14. Be not afraid , &c. for the Lord shall be thy confidence , and shall keep thy foot from being taken , Prov. 3. 25 , 26. When thou goest , thy steps shall not be straitned : and when thou runnest , thou shalt not stumble , Prov. 4. 12. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace , whose mind is staid on thee , Isa. 26. 3. A vineyard of red-wine , I the Lord do keep it : I will water it every moment , I will keep it night and day , Isa. 27. 2 , 3. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee , saying , This is the way , walk●… ye in it : when ye turn to the right-hand , and when ye turn to the left , Isa. 30. 21. The everlasting God , &c. fainteth not , neither is weary , &c. He giveth power to the faint , and to them who have no might he encreaseth strength : even th●… youths shall faint , &c. but they who wait on the Lord , shall renew ( or , change ) their strength ; they shall mount up with wings as Eagles : they shall run , and not be weary : and walk , and not faint , Isa. 40. 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. I will bring the blind by a way they know not , &c. These things will I do unto them , and not forsake them , Isa. 42. 16. Fear not , for I have redeemed thee , &c. When thou passest through the waters , I will be with thee : and through the rivers , they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through the fire , thou shalt not be burned , &c. for I am the Lord thy God , Isa. 43. 1 , 2 , 3. The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned , that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary , Isa. 50. 4. Thus saith the high and lofty one , &c. I dwell in the high and holy place : with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit , to revive the spirit of the humble , and to revive the heart of the contrite ones : for I will not contend for ever , neither will I be always wrath ; for the spirit should fail before me , and the soul I have made , Isa. 57. 15 , 16. I will make an everlasting covenant with them , and I will not turn away from them to do them good : but I will put my fear in their hearts , that they shall not depart from me , Jer. 32. 40. Rejoyce not against me , O mine enemy : when I fall , I shall arise ; when I sit in darkness , the Lord shall be a light unto me , Micah 7. 8. Ye shall be brought before governours , and before kings for my sake , &c. take no thought how , or what ye shall speak : for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak , Matth. 10. 18 , 19 , 20. Luke 21. 15. Simon , Simon , Behold , Satan hath desired to have you , that he may sift you as wheat : but I have prayed for thee , that thy faith fail not , Luke 22. 31 , 32. Whosoever shall drink of the waters which I shall give them , shall never thirst : but the water which I shall give him , shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life , John 4. 14. My sheep hear my voice , and I know them , and they follow me , and I give them eternal life ; and they shall never perish , neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand : my father who gave them me is greater than I , and no man is able to pluck them out of my fathers hands : I and my father one , John 10. 27 , 28 , 29 , 30. Holy father , keep through thine own name those thou hast given me , &c. while I was with them in the world , I kept them in thy name , &c. I pray , &c. that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one , John 17. 11 , 12 , 15. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? tribulation , or distress , & c ? nay , in all these things we are more than conquerours through him who loved us : for I am perswaded , that neither death , nor life , &c. shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord , Rom. 8. 25 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39. Who art thou who judgest another mans servant ? yea , he shall be holden up : for God is able to make him stand , Rom. 14. 4. The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly , &c. Now to him who is of power to establish you , according to my Gospel , &c. To God only wise , &c. Rom. 16. 20 , 25 , 27. Jesus Christ , who shall also confirm you unto the end , that ye may be also blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ ; God is faithful , &c. 1 Cor. 1. 7 , 8 , 9. There hath no tentation taken you but what is common ( or , moderate ) unto man : but God is faithful , who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able , but will with the temptation also make a way to escape , that ye may be able to bear it , 1 Cor. 10. 13. Now he who establisheth us with you in Christ , and hath anointed us , is God ; who hath also sealed us , &c. 2 Cor. 1. 21 , 22. I sought the Lord , &c. and he said unto me , My grace is sufficient for thee , for my strength is made perfect in weakness : most gladly therefore will I glory in mine infirmities , that the power of Christ may rest upon me ; for when I am weak , then am I strong , 2 Cor. 12 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Be strong in the Lord , and in the power of his might : Put on the whole armour of God , that ye may be able to stand , &c. Ephes. 6. 10 , 11 , 13. Being confident of this very thing , that he who hath begun a good work in you , will perfect ( or , finish ) it , until the day of Christ , Phil. 1. 6. Every where , and in all things I am instructed , both to be full , and to be hungry , &c. I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me , Phil. 4. 12 , 13. And I pray God , your whole spirit , soul and body , be preserved blameless , until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ; faithful is he who called you , who also will do it , 1 Thess. 5. 23 , 24. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself , &c. stablish you in every good word and work , 2 Thess. 2. 17. The Lord is faithful who shall stablish you , and keep you from evil , 2 Thess. 3. 3. I know whom I have believed ; and am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day , 2 Tim. 1. 12. No man stood with me , &c. notwithstanding the Lord stood with me , and strengthened me , &c. and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work , and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom , 2 Tim. 4. 16 , 17 , 18. To an inheritance , &c. reserved for you ( or , for us ) who are kept by the power of God , through faith to salvation , 1 Pet. 1. 4 , 5. But the God of all grace who hath called us , &c. after that you have suffered a while , make you perfect : stablish , strengthen , settle you , 1 Pet. 5. 10. Whosoever is born of God , doth not commit sin , for his seed remaineth in him : and he cannot sin , because he is born of God , 1 John 3. 9. chap. 5. 18. Ye are of God , little children , and have overcome them : because , greater is he who is in you , than he who is in the world , 1 John 4. 4. Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling , and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory , &c. to the only wise God , &c. Jude , verse 24. 25. God in Christ doth command , invite , and encourage , by promises , to come to him for teachings , spiritual life and strength ; to bring forth fruit , ond persevere , and to east our care upon him for all . The Lord , he it is who doth go before thee ; he will be with thee , he will not fail thee , neither forsake thee ; fear not , neither be dismayed , Deut. 31. 8. Wait on the Lord , be of good courage , and he shall strengthen thine heart ; Wait , I say , on the Lord , Psal. 27. 14. Cast thy burthen upon the Lord , and he shall sustain thee , Psal. 55. 22. Wisdom cryeth without , she uttereth her voice in the streets , &c. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity ? turn ye at my reproof ? Behold , I will pour out my spirit unto you , I will make known my words unto you , Prov. 1. 20 , 21 , 22 , 23. chap. 8. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , to the 11. Happy is the man who findeth wisdom , and the man who getteth understanding , &c. She is more precious than rubies , and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her , &c. Then shalt thou walk in the way safely , and thy foot shall not stumble , Prov. 3. 13 , 14 , 15 , 23. I wisdom , &c. counsel is mine , and sound wisdom . I am understanding ; I am strength ; By me kings reign , &c. I love them who love me , and those who seek me early , shall find me . Riches and honour are with me ; yea , durable riches and righteousness . My fruit is better than gold , yea , fine gold : and my revenue than choice silver : I lead in the ways of righteousness , in the midst of the paths of judgment , that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance : and I will fill their treasures , &c. Now therefore hearken unto me , O ye children , for blessed are they who keep my ways : Hear instruction and be wise , and refuse it not ; Blessed is the man who heareth me , watching daily at my gates , waiting at the posts of my dores : for whoso findeth me , findeth life , Prov. 8. 1 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35. When the poor and needy seek water , and there is none , and their tongue faileth for thirst ; I the Lord will hear them , I the God of Israel will not forsake them ; I will open rivers in high-places , and fountains in the midst of the valleys : I will make the wilderness a pool of water , and the dry land springs of water , Isa. 41. 17 , 18. I said not to the seed of Jacob , Seek ye my face in vain , &c. Look unto me , and be ye saved , all ye ends of the earth , for I am God , Isa. 45. 19 , 22. Who is among you who feareth the Lord , &c. who walketh in darkness , and hath no light ? let him trust in the name of the Lord , and stay upon his God , Isa. 50. 10. Ho , every one who thirsteth , come ye to the waters : and ye who have no money , come ye , buy and eat ; yea , come , buy wine and milk without money and without price ; wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread ? and your labour for that which satisfieth not ? Hearken diligently to me , and eat ye that which is good , and let your souls delight it self in fatness ; incline your ear and come unto me : hear , and your souls shall live : and I will make an everlasting covenant with you , &c. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found , call upon him while he is near : Let the wicked forsake his ways , &c. and let him return unto the Lord , Isa. 55. 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7. I have seen thy adulteries , &c. Wilt thou not be made clean ? when shall it once be , Jer. 13. 27 , As I live , saith the Lord God , I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked , &c. Turn ye , turn ye from your evil ways : Why will ye die , O ye house of Israel ? Ezek. 33. 11. O Israel , thou hast destroyed thy self : but in me is thine help , Hosea 13. 9. Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness : for they shall be filled , Matth. 5. 6. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness , and all these things shall be added to you , Matth. 6. 33. The whole need not a Physician , but they who are sick , &c. for I am not come to call the righteous , but sinners to repentance , Matth. 9. 12 , 13. Come unto me all ye who labour and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest ; take my yoke upon you , and learn of me , &c. and ye shall find rest unto your souls : for my yoke is easie , and my burthen is light , Matth. 11. 28 , 29 , 30. O Jerusalem , &c. How often would I have gathered thy children together , even as a hen her chickens , & c ? and ye would not , &c. Matth. 23. 37. Jesus said unto the woman of Samaria , If thou knewest the gift of God , and who it is which saith to thee , give me to drink ; thou wouldst have asked of him , and he would have given thee living water , &c. When he was converting her , he said , My meat is to do the will of him who sent me , and to finish his work , John 4. 10 , 32 , 34. Ye will not come to me that ye may have life , John 5. 34 , 40. Jesus said , Labour not for the meat which perisheth , but for that meat which endureth to everlasting-life , which the Son of man shall give unto you , &c. My father giveth you the true bread from heaven ; for the bread of God is he who cometh down from heaven , and giveth life to the world , &c. And Jesus said unto them , I am the bread of life ; he who cometh to me shall never hunger ; and he who believeth on me , shall never thirst , &c. Him who cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out ; for I came down from heaven , not to do mine own will , but the will of him who sent me ; and this is the fathers will who hath sent me , that of all which he hath given me , I should lose nothing , &c. John 6. 27 , 32 , 33 , 35. In the last day , that great day of the feast , Jesus stood up and cryed , saying , If any man thirst , let him come unto me and drink , &c. John 7. 37 , 38. Let not your hearts be troubled : ye believe in God , believe also in me , John 14. 1. Abide in me , and I in you : as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self , &c. no more can ye except ye abide in me , &c. He who abideth in me , and I in him , the same bringeth forth much fruit , &c. If ye abide in me , &c. ye shall ask what ye will , and it shall be done unto you , John 15. 4 , 5 , 7. He who spared not his own son , but delivered him up for us all : how shall he with him also freely give us all things ? Rom. 8. 32. Be careful for nothing : but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanks-giving : let your request be made known unto God : and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts , &c. Phil. 4. 6 , 7. God our Saviour , who will have all men to be saved , and to come to the knowledg of the truth , 1 Tim. 2. 3 , 4. Let us run with patience the race which is set before us , looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith , Heb. 12. 1 , 2. If any of you lack wisdom , let him ask it of God , who giveth unto all men liberally , and upbraideth not , and it shall be given him , James 1. 5 , 6. Wherefore let them who suffer according to the will of God , commit the keeping of their souls unto him in well-doing , as unto a faithful Creator , 1 Pet. 4. 19. Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God , &c. casting all your care upon him ; for he careth for you , 1 Pet. 5. 6 , 7. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire , that thou mayst be rich ; and white rayment , that thou mayst be clothed , &c. and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve , that thou mayst see , &c. Behold , I stand at the dore and knock : If any man hear my voice , and open the dore , I will come in to him , and will sup with him , and he with me , Rev. 3. 18 , 20. I will give unto him who is a-thirst of the fountain of living-water freely , Rev. 21. 6. Let him that is a-thirst , come : And whosoever will , let him take of the water of life freely , Rev. 22. 17. CHAP. XXI . How doth God work and effect these things in the hearts and spirits of his Elect ? By his Spirit whom he promised to them . JEsus , &c. having received of the father the promise of the Holy Ghost , he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear , Acts 2. 33. Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them , Nehem. 9. 20. Renew a right ( or , constant ) spirit within me , &c. take not thy holy spirit from me , &c. uphold me with thy free spirit , Psal. 51. 10 , 11 , 12. He who is least in Zion , and he who remaineth in Jesusalem , shall be called holy , &c. when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughter of Zion , &c. by the spitit of judgment , and by the spirit of burning , Isa. 4. 3 , 4. I will pour my spirit upon thy seed , &c. and they shall spring up among the grass , as willows by the water-side , Isa. 44. 3 , 4. I will put a new spirit in you , &c. that they may walk in my statutes , &c. Ezek. 11. 19 , 20. I will put my spirit within you , and cause you to walk in my statutes , &c. Ezek. 36. 27. And ye shall know that I am the Lord , when I have opened your graves , &c. and shall put my spirit in you , Ezek. 37. 13 , 14. Neither will I hide my face any more from them : for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel , saith the Lord , Ezek. 39. 29. I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh : and your sons and your daughters shall prophesie , &c. and also upon the servants , and upon the hand-maids in those days will I pour out my spirit , Joel 2. 28 , 29. Acts 2. 16 , 17. I will pour upon the house of David , &c. the spirit of grace , and of supplication : and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced , &c. Zeeh. 12. 10. When they deliver you up ; take no thought how , or what ye shall speak , &c. for it is not ye who speak , but the spirit of your father who speaketh in you , Matth. 10. 19 , 20. Luke 12. 12. If I cast out devils by the spirit of God , then the kingdom is come unto you , Matth. 12. 28. Except a man be born again of water and of the spirit , he cannot enter into the kingdom of God ; that which is born of the flesh , is flesh : and that which is born of the spirit , is spirit , John 3. 5 , 6. It is the spirit who quickeneth , the flesh profiteth nothing , &c. Joh. 6. 36. 2 Cor. 3. 6. He who believeth on me , out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water : but this spake he of the spirit , which they who believed on him should receive , Joh. 7. 38 , 39. I will pray the father , and he shall give you another comforter , that he may abide with you for ever , even the spirit of truth , whom the world cannot receive , &c. He dwelleth with you , and shall be in you . I will not leave you comfortless , I will come to you , &c. The comforter , the holy Ghost , whom the father will send in my name , he shall teach you all things , and bring all things to your remembrance , whatsoever I have said , Joh. 14. 16 , 17 , 18 , 25 , 26. But when the comforter is come , whom I will send unto you from the father , the spirit of truth , &c. Joh. 15. 26. It is expedient for you that I go away : for if I go not away , the comforter will not come unto you : but if I depart , I will send him unto you : and when he is come , he will convince the world of sin , and of righteousness , and of judgment , &c. I have yet many things to say to you , but you cannot bear them now : Howbeit , when he the spirit of truth is come , he will guide you into all truth , &c. He shall receive of mine , and shew it unto you , Joh. 16. 7 , 8 , 12 , 13 , 14. They were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which Stephen spake , Act. 6. 9 , 10. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost , &c. Rom. 5. 5. If the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead , dwell in you : he who raised up the dead , shall also quicken your mortal bodies , by his spirit which dwelleth in you , &c. If ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body , ye shall live . For as many as are led by the spirit of God , are the sons of God , &c. Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities : for we know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the spirit himself maketh intercession for us , &c. Rom. 8. 11 , 13 , 14 , 26 , 27. Eph. 2. 18. Eph. 6. 18. Jude v. 20. That ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost , &c. That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable , being sanctified by the holy Ghost , &c. To make the Gentiles obedient , &c. by the power of the spirit of God , Rom. 15. 13 , 16 , 18 , 19. Eye hath not seen , &c. but God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit : for the spirit searcheth all things , &c. The things of God knoweth no man , but the spirit of God. Now we have received , &c. the spirit of God , that we might know the things which are freely given unto us of God , 1 Cor. 2. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Such were some of you : but ye are washed , but ye are sanctified , &c. and by the spirit of our God , 1 Cor. 6. 11. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord , but by the holy Ghost . Now there are diversity of gifts , but the same spirit , &c. The manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withall . For to one is given by the spirit , the word of wisdom , &c. But all these worketh that one and the self-same spirit , dividing to every man severally , as they will , &c. By one spirit we are all baptized into one body , 1 Cor. 12. 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13. We , &c. beholding , &c. the glory of the Lord , are changed into the same image , &c. by the Spirit of the Lord , 2 Cor. 3. 17 , 18. We through the spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith , Gal. 5. 5 , 22. The mystery of Christ , which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men , as now it is revealed , &c. by the spirit , &c. I bow my knees unto the father , &c. that he would grant you , &c. to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man , Eph. 3. 4 , 5 , 14 , 16. Who declared unto us your love in the spirit , Col. 1. 8. Our Gospel came not unto you in word only , but also in power , and in the Holy-Ghost , &c. And ye became followers of us , and of the Lord , 1 Thess. 1. 5 , 6. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit , and belief of the truth , 2 Thess. 12. 13. That good thing which was committed unto thee , keep by the holy Ghost , who dwelleth in us , 2 Tim. 1 , 14. He saved us by the washing of regeneration , and renewing of the Holy Ghost , which is shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ , Tit. 3. 5 , 6. Elect , &c. through sanctification of the spirit , unto obedience , &c. Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit , unto unfeigned love of the brethren , 1 Pet. 1. 2 , 22. But ye have an unction from the holy one , and ye know all things , &c. But the anointing which ye have received of him , abideth in you , and ye need not that any man teach you ; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things , &c. 1 Joh. 2. 20 , 27. Of the spirit of God further , his being given to , and dwelling in the Saints , and working in them and others : The nature , appearance , and fruit of the spirit : and the Saints duty towards the spirit , in following him , and not sinning against him : grieving him , or quenching him . 1st . Of the spirit given to , and in the Saints , and others : and what he did , and doth . These be they who separated themselves , sensual , having not the spirit , Jude 8. 19. And Pharaoh said unto his servants , Can we find such a one as this is , a man in whom the spirit of God is ? Gen. 41. 38. I have called by name Basaleel , &c. and I have filled him with the spirit of God , in wisdom and understanding , and in knowledg , and in all manner of workmanship , to devise cunning work , to work in gold , and silver , and in brass , &c. Exod. 31. 2 , 3 , 4. Gather unto me seventy of the Elders of Israel , &c. And I will take of the Spirit which is upon thee , and will put it upon them , and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee , &c. And the Lord came down , &c. and took of the spirit that was upon him , and gave it unto the seventy Elders . And it came to pass , that when the spirit rested on them , they prophesied , and did not cease , &c. Would all the Lords people were prophets , and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them , Numb . 11. 16 , 17 , 25 , 26 , 29. My servant Caleb , because he had another spirit with him , and followed me fully , him will I bring into the land , Numb . 14. 24. And Balaam lift up his eyes , &c. and the spirit of God came upon him , and he blessed Israel instead of cursing them , Numb . 24. 1 , 2 , 3 , 10. Take thee Joshua the son of Nun , a man in whom is the spirit , and lay thine hand upon him , Numb . 27. 18. The spirit of the Lord upon Jepthah , &c. Judg. 11. 29. — Sampson ; and the child grew , and the Lord blessed him , and the spirit of the Lord began to move him at times , in the camp of Dan , Judg. 13. 24 , 25. And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him , and he rent the Lyon as he would have rent a kid , &c. and the spirit of the Lord came upon him , and he , &c. slew thirty of them , &c. Judg. 14. 6 , 19. The spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him , and the cords which were upon his arms became as flax , Jug . 15. 14. And the spirit of the Lord will come upon thee , and thou shalt prophesie with them , and shall be turned into another man , &c. And the spirit of God came upon him , and he prophesied , 1 Sam. 10. 6 , 9 , 10. Samuel anointed David : and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward , &c. But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul , and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him , 1 Sam. 16. 13 , 14. Yet many years didst thou forbear them , and testified against them by thy spirit in thy prophets , Neh. 9. 30. Zech. 7. 12. Truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord , and of Judgment , and of might ; to declare unto Jacob his transgression , and to Israel his sin , Micah 3. 8. I indeed baptize you with water , &c. but he , &c. shall baptize you with the holy Ghost , and with fire , &c. Mat. 3. 11. Mark 1. 8. For it is not ye that speak ; but the spirit of your father who speaketh in you , Mat. 10. 20. It is said of John , he shall be filled with the holy Ghost , even from his mothers womb , &c. The Angel said unto Mary , The holy Ghost shall come upon thee , and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee , &c. Elizabeth was filled with the holy Ghost , and she spake , &c. Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost , and prophesied , saying , &c. Luk. 1. 13 , 15 , 35 , 41 , 47. The holy Ghost was upon Simeon . And it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost , that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord , Luk. 2. 25 , 26. If ye then being evil , know how to give good things to your children : how much more shall your heavenly father give his holy spirit to them who asketh him ? Luk. 11. 13. The kingdom of God cometh not with observation , &c. Behold the kingdom of God is among you , ( or , within you ) , Luk. 17. 20 , 21. The comforter , &c. he will reprove the world of sin , of righteousness and of judgment , &c. when the spirit of truth is come , he will guide you into all truth . For he shall not speak of himself : but whatsoever he shall hear , that shall he speak , and he will shew you things to come . He shall glorifie me , for he shall receive of mine , and shew it unto you , John 16. 7 , 8 , 13 , 14. He breathed on them , and saith unto them , Receive ye the Holy-Ghost , Joh. 20. 22. Wait for the promise of the father , which ye have heard of me : for John truly baptized with water : but ye shall be baptized with the Holy-Ghost , not many days hence , &c. ye shall receive power after the Holy-Ghost is come upon you , ( or , the power of the holy Ghost cometh upon you ) , Act. 1. 4 , 5 , 8. This was fulfilled . And they were all filled with the Holy-Ghost , and began to speak with other tongues , as the spirit gave them utterance , &c. Jesus , &c. having received of the father the promise of the Holy-Ghost , he hath shed forth this , which ye now see and hear , Act. 2. 2 , 3 , 4 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 32 , 33. Then Peter filled with the Holy-Ghost , said , &c. the place was shaken , &c. And they were all filled with the Holy-Ghost , and they spake the word , &c. Act. 4. 8 , 31. The Holy-Ghost , whom God hath given unto them who obey him , Act. 5. 32. Stephen , a man full of the Holy-Ghost , &c. and they were not able to resist the spirit and wisdom by which he spake , Act. 6. 5 , 10. ch . 7. 55. Peter and John , &c. prayed for them , that they might receive the Holy-Ghost : for as yet he was fallen upon none of them , &c. and they received the Holy-Ghost , Act. 8. 15 , 16 , 17. The Lord , &c. hath sent me , that thou mightest , &c. be filled with the Holy-Ghost , Act. 9. 17. While Peter yet spake these words , the Holy-Ghost fell on all them who heard the word , &c. they heard them speak with tongues , &c. Acts 10. 44 , 46. Barnabas was a good man , and full of the Holy-Ghost , &c. Act. 11. 24. Act. 13. 9 , 52. God who knoweth the hearts , bear them witness , giving them the holy Ghost , as he did unto us , Act. 15. 8. They were forbidden by the holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia , &c. then they assayed to go into Bithinia , but the spirit suffered them not , Act. 16. 6 , 7. Paul came to Ephesus , and finding certain Disciples , he said unto them , Have ye received the holy Ghost since ye believed ? and they said unto him , We have not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost , &c. and when Paul laid his hands upon them , the holy Ghost came on them , and they spake with tongues , and prophesied , Act. 19. 1 , 2 , 6. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost , who is given unto us , Rom. 5. 5. That ye abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost , Rom. 15. 13. Ye are not in the flesh , but in the spirit , if so be that the spirit of God dwelleth in you : now if any man have not the spirit of Christ , he is none of his , Rom. 8. 9. Fervent in the spirit , &c. Rom. 12. 11. Ye are the temple of God : and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you , 1 Cor. 3. 16. ch . 6. 19. He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit , 1 Cor. 6. 17. I think I have the spirit of God , 1 Cor. 7. 40. Who hath also sealed us , and given us the earnest of his spirit into our hearts , 2 Cor. 1. 22. ch . 5. 5. Ye are the Epistle of Christ , &c. written not with Ink , but with the spirit of the living God , &c. 2 Cor. 3. 3. We have the same spirit of faith , according as it is written , &c. 2 Cor. 4. 13. Christ hath redeemed us ; &c. that ye might receive the promise of the spirit through faith , Gal. 3. 14. And because ye are sons , God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts , crying , Abba father , Gal. 4. 6. In whom also after that ye believed , ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise , which is the earnest of our inheritance , &c. Eph. 1. 13 , 14. In whom you also are built together , for an habitation for God through the spirit , Eph. 2. 22. This shall turn to my salvation through your prayers , and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ , Phil. 1. 19. If any fellowship of the spirit , &c. Fulfil ye my joy , that ye be like-minded , Phil. 2. 1 , 2. God , who hath also given unto us his holy spirit , 1 Thess. 4. 8. Then shall that wicked one be revealed , whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth , and destroy with the brightness of his coming , 2 Thess. 2. 8. According to his mercy he saved us , by the washing of regeneration , and renewing of the holy Ghost , which he hath shed on us abundantly ( or , richly ) through Jesus Christ our Saviour , Tit. 3. 5 , 6. God also bearing them witness , both with , &c. and gifts of the holy Ghost , according to his own will , Heb. 2. 4. The prophets have enquired , &c. what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them , did signifie when he spake before-hand , &c. unto whom it was revealed , &c. by them who have preached the Gospel unto you , with the holy Ghost sent down from heaven , 1 Pet. 1. 10 , 11 , 12. Christ , &c. being put to death in the flesh , but quickened by the spirit , 1 Pet. 3. 18. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ , happy are ye : for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you , &c. 1 Pet. 4. 14. Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost , 2 Pet. 1. 21 , Ye , have an unction from the holy one , and ye know all things , &c. but the anointing which ye have received , abideth in you , 1 John 2. 20 , 27. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin , for his seed remaineth in him : and hereby we know that he abideth in us , by the spirit which he hath given us , 1 Joh. 3. ●…9 , 24. We know that we dwell in him , and he in us , because he hath given us of his spirit , 1 Joh. 4. 13. It is the spirit who beareth witness , because the spirit is truth , &c. Three who beareth record in heaven , the father , the word , and the holy Ghost , and these three are one , &c. 1 Joh. 5. 6 , 7 , 8. These are they , &c. not having the spirit , Jude v. 19. Grace unto you , &c. and from the seven spirits which are before his throne , Rev. 1. 4. ch . 3. 1. ch . 4. 5. I beheld , and lo , &c. a lamb having , &c. seven eyes , which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth , Rev. 5. 6. And the spirit and bride say , come , Rev. 22. 17. 2dly , The nature , workings and fruits of the spirit . And the Lord said , My spirit shall not always strive with man , Gen. 6. 3. Balaam , who came with a purpose to curse Israel , when the spirit of God came upon him , he blessed them , Numb . 24. 1 , 2 , to the 14. Is the spirit of the Lord straitned ( or , shortned ) ? are these his doings ? Micah 2. 7. Handle me , and see me , for a spirit hath not flesh and bones , as ye see me to have , Luk. 24. 39. I saw the spirit descending from heaven like a dove , and it abode upon him , Joh. 1. 32. He would have given thee living water , &c. water springing up into eternal life , Joh. 4. 10 , 14. He who believeth , &c. out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters , &c. This spake he of the spirit , &c. Joh. 7. 38 , 39. They were not able to resist , &c. and the spirit by which he spake , Act. 6. 10. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost , Rom. 5. 5. The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirits , that we are the children of God , Rom. 8. 16. Fervent in the spirit , serving the Lord , Rom. 12. 11. No man speaking by the spirit of God , calleth Jesus accursed , &c. that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord , but by the holy Ghost , &c. There are diversity of gifts , but the same spirit , &c. to one is given , &c. But all these worketh that one and the self-same spirit , dividing , &c. 1 Cor. 12. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , &c. Who hath also sealed us , and given us the earnest of his spirit , 2 Cor. 1. 22. chap. 5. 5. Ye are our Epistle , &c. ye are manifestly declared the Epistle of Christ , &c. written not with ink , but with the spirit of the living God ; not in tables of stone , but in fleshie tables of the heart , &c. The letter killeth , but the spirit giveth life , &c. If the ministration of death , &c. were glorious , &c. How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious , & c ? Now the Lord is that spirit : and where the spirit of the Lord is , there is liberty , 2 Cor. 3. 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 17. God haeh sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts , crying , Abba father , Gal. 4. 6. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit , and the spirit against the flesh : and these are contrary the one to the other , &c. The fruit of the spirit is love , joy , peace , long-suffering , gentleness , goodness , faith , meekness , temperance , Gal. 5. 17 , 22 , 23. Ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise , which is the earnest of our inheritance , until the purchased possession , Eph. 1. 13 , 14. The holy spirit of God , whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption , Eph. 4. 30. For the fruit of the spirit is in all , goodness , and righteousness , and truth , Eph. 5. 9. God hath not given us the spirit of fear , but of power , of love , and of a sound mind , 2 Tim. 1. 7. Having received the word in much affliction , with joy of the holy Ghost , 1 Thess. 1. 6. Christ , who through the eternal spirit offered himself , &c. Heb. 9. 14. Try the spirits , whether they are of God , &c. Hereby know ye the spirit of God : evey spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ to have been come in the flesh , is of God. And every spirit which confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh , is not of God , &c. Greater is he that is in you , than he who is in the world , 1 Joh. 4. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. It is the spirit who beareth witness , because the spirit is truth , &c. The father , the word , and the holy Ghost , and these three are one , 1 John 5. 6 , 7 , 8. The Spirit and the Bride say , Come , Revel . 22. 17. 2dly , Saints Duty towards the Spirit . 1st , In following after him , and making use of him . The manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withal , 1 Cor. 12. 7. The same anointing teacheth you of all things , 1 John 2. 27. And the Lord said , My spirit shall not always strive with man , Gen. 6. 3. The true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth : for the father seeketh such to worship him : God is a spirit , and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth , John 4. 14 , 15. Fervent in spirit , serving the Lord , Rom. 12. 11. I will pray with the spirit , &c. I will sing with the spirit , &c. 1 Cor. 12. 18. Walk we not in the same spirit ? 2 Cor. 12. 18. Are ye so foolish , having begun in the spirit , are ye now made perfect by the flesh ? Gal. 3. 3. Walk in the spirit , and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh , &c. If ye be led by the spirit , ye are not under the law , &c. If we live in the spirit , let us also walk in the spirit , Gal. 5. 16 , 17 , 18 , 25. He who soweth to the spirit , shall of the spirit reap life everlasting , Gal. 6. 8. Be not drunk , &c. but be ye filled with the spirit , Ephes. 5. 18. The sword of the spirit , which is the word of God , &c. praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit , Ephes. 6. 17 , 18. We are the circumcision , who worship God in the spirit , Phil. 3. 3. Build up your selves , &c. praying in the holy Ghost , Jude , verse 20. 2dly , Not to sin against , grieve , or quench the Spirit . But the blasphemy against the holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men , &c. Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man , it shall be forgiven him : but whosoever speaketh against the holy Ghost , it shall not be forgiven him , neither in this world , neither in the world to come , Matth. 12. 31 , 32. Mark 3. 29 , 30. Annanias , Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lye to the holy Ghost , & c ? thou hast not lyed unto men , but unto God , &c. How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the spirit of the Lord ? &c. she fell down and died , &c. Acts 5. 2 , 3 , 5 , 8 , 9 , 10. Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears : ye do always resist the holy Ghost : as your fathers did , so do ye , &c. Have not your fathers persecuted ? &c. Act. 7. 51 , 52. Simon offered money , for power to confer the holy Ghost , Act. 8. 18 , 19. The Sadduces say , that there is no resurrection , neither Angel nor spirit , Act. 23. 8. Keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace , &c. and grieve not the holy spirit of God , whereby ye are sealed , Eph. 4. 3 , 30. Quench not the spirit , 1 Thess. 5. 19. He who despised Moses law , died without mercy , &c. Of how much sorer punishment , suppose ye , shall he be thought worthy , who have trodden under foot the son of God , &c. and hath done despite unto the spirit of Grace ? Heb. 10. 28 , 29. The spirit of God , and of glory , resteth upon you : on their parts he is evil spoken of , &c. 1 Pet. 4. 14. CHAP. XXII . Of Afflictions , Troubles , and Persecutions . To whom they belong , or who may expect them . 1st , Common to all . MAN is born unto trouble , as the sparks flie upward , Job 5. 7. Man who is born of a woman , is of few days , and full of trouble , Job 14. 1. 2dly , More especially , the Saints , Believers , such as are born of the Spirit . First , The Holy Ghost affirms this . I will be his father , and he shall be my son : If he commit iniquity , I will chasten him with the rod of men , and with the stripes of the children of men : but my mercy shall not depart away from him , &c. 2 Sam. 7. 14 , 15. For whom the Lord loveth , he correcteth ; even as the father the son in whom he delighteth , Prov. 3. 12. Behold , I and the children whom the Lord hath given me , are for signs and wonders in Israel , Isa. 8. 18. He who departeth from evil , maketh himself a prey , Isa. 59. 15. You only have I known of all the families of the earth : therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities , Amos 3. 2. Beware of men , for they will deliver you up to the councels : and they will scourge you in their Synagogues : and ye shall be brought before governours and kings for my sake , &c. and the brother shall deliver up brother to death , and the father the child , &c. and ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake , &c. The desciple is not above his master , &c. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master , and the servant as his Lord : if they have called the master of the house Belzebub , how much more shall they call them of his houshold , & c ? Think not that I am come to send peace on earth , &c. A mans enemies shall be they of his own houshold , Matth. 10. 17 , 18 , 21 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 34 , 35 , 36. chap. 24. 9 , 10. Then said Jesus unto his disciples , If any man will come after me , let him deny himself , and take up his cross and follow me , Matth. 16. 24. Wo to you who laugh now , for ye shall mourn and weep ; wo unto you when all men shall speak well of you ; for so did their fathers to the false prophets , Luke 6. 25 , 26. Jesus said unto him , Foxes have holes , and birds of the air have nests , but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head , Luke 9. 58. If the world hate you , ye know that it hated me before it hated you . If ye were of the world , the world would love its own ; but because ye are not of the world , but I have chosen you out of the world , therefore the world hateth you . Remember the word I said unto you , The servant is not greater than his Lord : if they have persecuted me , they will also persecute you , &c. These things they will do unto you for my names sake , because they know not him who sent me , John 15. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. 1 John 3. 13. These things have I spoken unto you , that ye should not be offended : But they shall put you out of their Synagogues ; yea , the time cometh , that whosoever killeth you , will think that he doth God service ; and these things will they do unto you , because they have not known the father , nor me , &c. Ye shall weep and lament , but the world shall rejoyce ; ye shall be sorrowful , &c. In the world ye shall have tribulation , John 16. 1 , 2 , 3 , 20 , 22 , 33. Of a truth , against the holy child Jesus , &c. both Herod , &c. were gathered together , to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done , Acts 4. 27 , 28. The Lord said of Paul , I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my Name , Acts 9. 15 , 16. Exhorting them to continue in the faith : and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God , Acts 14. 22. The holy Ghost witnesseth in evety city , saying , That bonds and afflictions abide me , Acts 20. 23. But as then , he who was born after the flesh , persecuted him who was born after the spirit , so it is now , Gal. 4. 29. Unto you it is given , &c. not only to believe on him , but also to suffer for his sake , Phil. 1. 29. That no man be moved by these afflictions : for your selves know that we are appointed thereunto , 1 Thess. 3. 3. All who will live godly in Christ Jesus , shall suffer persecution , 2 Tim. 3. 12. Whom the Lord loveth , he chasteneth , &c. for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not ? but if ye be without chastisements , whereof all are partakers , then are ye bastards , and not sons , Heb. 12. 6 , 7 , 8. Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial , &c. as though some strange thing happened to you : but rejoyce , in as much as ye are made partakers of Christs sufferings : judgment must begin at the house of God , 1 Pet. 4. 12 , 13 , 17. The devil , &c. whom resist , &c. that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren , 1 Pet. 5. 8 , 9. Behold , the devil shall cast some of you in prison , that ye may be tried : and ye shall have tribulation ten days , Rev. 2. 10. As many as I love , I rebuke and chasten : Be zealous therefore , &c. Revel . 3. 19. Secondly , That the Saints have been so exercised with afflictions , in soul and body , from God : and in their bodies and outward concerns , from men , by persecutions . 1st , From God more immediately . Job greatly afflicted in his out-things : and his body , Job 1. 13 , to the end . Job 2. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. O that my grief were thorowly weighed , &c. for now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea : therefore my words are swallowed up ( or , I want words to express my grief ) ; for the arrows of the Almighty are within me , the poyson whereof drinketh up my spirit : the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me , Job 6. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. My soul is sore vexed , O Lord , how long , & c ? I am weary with my groaning : all the night ( or , every night ) make I my bed to swim ; I water my couch with tears : mine eye is consumed , because of grief , &c. Psal 6. 3 , 7. I am desolate and afflicted : the troubles of mine heart are enlarged , &c. Psal. 25. 16 , 17. Make me to hear joy and gladness : that the bones thou hast broken may rejoyce : hide thy face from my sin , Psal. 51. 8 , 9. Save me , O God , for the waters are come in unto my soul : I sink in deep mire , where is no standing ; I am come into deep waters ( or , depth of waters ) where the floods over-flow me : I am weary of my crying : my throat is dry : mine eyes fail , while I wait for my God , Psal. 69. 1 , 2 , 3. In the day of my trouble , I sought the Lord ; my sore ran in the night , and ceased not ! my soul refused to be comforted : I remember'd God , and was troubled ; I complained , and my spirit was overwhelmed , Selah . Thou holdest mine eyes waking : I am so troubled that I cannot speak , &c. Will the Lord cast off for ever ? will he be favourable no more ? Is his mercy clean gone for ever ? doth his promise fail ? Psal. 77. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8. My soul is full of troubles , &c. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit , in darkness , in the depths : thy wrath lyeth hard on me , thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves , &c. I am afflicted and ready to die : I suffer thy terrors : I am distracted : thy fierce wrath goeth over me : thy terrors have cut me off , Psal. 88. 3 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. Out of the depths have I cryed unto thee , O Lord , Psal. 130. 1. Jonah cast into the sea , and in the belly of the fish , Jonah 1. 15. chap. 2. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you , &c. We are chastened of the Lord , &c. 1 Cor. 11. 30 , 31 , 32. We are troubled on every side : without were fightings , within were fears , 2 Cor. 7. 5. Secondly , From men , by persecutions of various kinds : Gal. 4. 20. 1st , From men openly wicked : Heathens , Infidels . Joseph , because he refused to sin with Potiphars wife , was by her means imprisoned in Egypt , Gen. 39. 7 , 8 , 9 , to the 21. When Israel began to increase in Egypt , the king said , Come , let us deal wisely with them , lest they multiply : and it come to pass , when there fall out any war , &c. Therefore did they set over them task-masters , to afflict them with their burthens , &c. They made them serve with rigour : and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage , &c. ordered the Midwives to kill the male-children , Exod. 1. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Afterwards they laid the burthen heavier , allowing them no straw , and yet required the tale of brick , Exod. 5. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11. Pharaoh pursued after Israel , with a great army unto the red-sea , Exod. 14. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. The adversaries of Israel and Judah troubled them in their building , and hired counsellors against them to frustrate their purpose , &c. Afterwards Rehum the Chancellor wrote to the king , &c. The Jews are building the rebellious and bad City , &c. If this City be builded , and the walls set up again , then will not they pay toll , tribute , &c. and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings : now because we have maintenance from the kings palace , it was not meet for us to see the kings dishonour , &c. This City is a rebellious City , and hurtful unto kings , &c. and that they have moved sedition within the same of old , &c. If this City be built ; &c. by this means thou shalt have no portions on this side the river , &c. So they hasted to Jerusalem , and by force stayed the work , Ezra 4. 1 , 4 , 5 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 23 , 24. When Sanballat and others heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up , &c. they were very wroth , and conspired all of them together to come to fight against Jerusalem , and to hinder it , &c. Nehem. 4. 2 , 3 , 7 , 8. When Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not , nor did him reverence : then was Haman full of wrath , &c. wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews , &c. said unto the king , There is a certain people , &c. and their laws are divers from all people , neither keep they the kings laws : therefore it is not for the kings profit to suffer them . Let it please the king that it may be written , that they may be destroyed : and I will pay , &c. The king grants his desire , &c. Esther 3. 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Many say of my soul , There is no help for him in his God. Selah . Psal. 3. 12. The wicked in pride doth persecute the poor , Psal. 10. 2. All they who see me , laugh me to scorn : they shoot out the lip , they shake the head , saying , He trusted in the Lord that he would deliver him ; let him deliver him , seeing ( or , if ) he delights in him , Psal. 22. 7 , 8. They devise deceitful matters against them who are quiet in the land , &c. They have said , Aha , aha , our eye hath seen , &c. so would we have it , Psal. 35. 20 , 21 , 25. The wicked plotteth ( or , practiseth ) against the just , and gnasheth upon him with his teeth , &c. The wicked have drawn out their sword , &c. to cast down the poor and needy , to slay such as be of upright conversation , Psal. 37. 12 , 14. They also who seek after my life , lay snares : and they who seek my hurt speak mischievous things , and imagine deceits all the day long , &c. when my foot slippeth , they magnifie themselves against me , &c. They also who render evil for good , are my adversaries , because I follow that which is good , Psal. 38. 12 , 16 , 19 , 20. For thy sake are we killed all the day long : we are counted as sheep for the slaughter , Psal. 44. 22. Have the workers of iniquity no knowledg , who eat up my people as they eat bread ? Psal. 53. 4. Man would swallow me up : he fighting daily oppresseth me : my enemies would daily swallow me up , for they be many who fight against me , &c. every day they wrest my words : all their thoughts are against me for evil , Psal. 56. 1 , 2 , 5. The mighty are gathered against me , not for my transgression , nor my sin : O Lord , they run and prepare themselves without my fault , &c. Psal. 59. 3 , 4 , 7. The workers of iniquity , who whet their tongues like a sword , &c. bitter words : that they may shoot in secret at the perfect , &c. Psal. 64. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. They who hate me without a cause , are more than the hairs of mine head , Psal. 69. 4. They who hate thee , have lifted up the head : they have taken crafty counsel against thy people , and consulted against thy hidden ones : They have said , Come , and let us cut them off , &c. Psal. 38. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. How long shall the wicked triumph ? shall they utter and speak hard things , &c. they break in pieces thy people , O Lord , and afflict thine heritage , & c ? Who frame mischief by a law : they gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous , and condemn the innocent blood , Psal. 94. 3 , 4 , 5 , 20 , 21. We are exceedingly filled with contempt : our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those who are at ease , with the contempt of the proud , Psal. 123. 3 , 4. All that pass by the way , clap their hands at thee : they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem , saying , Is this the City , & c ? we have swallowed up : certainly this is the day we looked for : We have found , &c. Lam. 2. 15 , 16. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the provinces , &c. These men , O King , have not regarded thee ; they serve not thy gods , nor worship golden-images , &c. and they cast them into the fiery-furnace , Dan. 3. 9 , 12 , 20 , 21. The Princes and the Presidents sought to find occasion against Daniel , concerning the kingdom ; but they could find none , &c. Then said these men , We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel , except we find it against him in the law of his God , &c. They procure a law , that none should ask of any god or man , but the king , &c. watch Daniel , accuse him , and cast him into the lions den , Dan. 6. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , to the 17. Herod had laid hold on John , and bound him , and put him in prison for Herodias sake , &c. for John said to him , It is not lawful for thee to have her , &c. and he sent and beheaded John in the Prison , Matth. 14. 3 , 4 , 9 , 10. Because you are not of the world , &c. therefore the world hateth you , John 15. 19. They disputed with Stephen : and they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake : then they stirred up the people , &c. and came upon him , and caught him , and brought him to the Council , and set up false witnesses , Acts 6. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. Herod the king stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the Church , and he killed James the brother of John with the sword : and because he saw it pleased the Jews , he proceeded to take Peter , and imprison him , &c. Acts 12. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. They caught Paul and Silas , and drew them into the market-place unto the rulers , and brought them to the Magistrates , saying , These men being Jews , do exceedingly trouble our City , and teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive , neither to observe , being Romans , &c. they beat them , put them into prison , Acts 16. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24. ch . 19. 9. The Philosophers , &c. say unto Paul , What will this babler ( or , base fellow ) say ? Acts 17. 18. There arose no small stir about that way : for a certain man , &c. who made silver shrines for Diana , &c. complained against Paul , made a great uproar , laid hold of Pauls companions , Acts 19. 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29. We would not have you ignorant of our trouble , which came to us in Asia , 2 Cor. 1. 8 , 9. I suffer trouble unto bonds , 2 Tim. 2. 9. Ye endured a great fight of afflictions : partly whiles ye were made a gazing-stock , both by reproaches , and afflictions , &c. Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods , &c. Heb. 10. 32 , 33 , 34. Others were tortured , &c. Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings : yea , moreover of bonds and imprisonments , &c. of whom the world was not worthy , Heb. 11. 35 , 36 , 37 , 38. Ye have condemned and killed the just : and he doth not resist you , James 5. 6. They speak evil of you , as of evil doers , &c. 1 Pet. 3. 16. chap. 4. 4. Marvel not my brethren , if the world hate you , 1 John 3. 13. 〈◊〉 John , &c. was in the Isle that is called Patmos , for the word of God , and for the Testimony of Christ Jesus , Rev. 1. 9. 2dly , From hypocritical professors of the true God , Jews , men zealous of the law and traditions . The Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering . But unto Cain and his offering he had no respect , &c. Cain rose up against Abel his brother , and slew him , Gen. 4. 4 , 5 , 8. 1 Joh. 3. 12. Josephs brethren hate him , and could not speak peaceably unto him , &c. they conspired against him to slay him , &c. they cast him into a pit , &c. they sell him to the Ishmaelites , &c. Gen. 37. 4 , 11 , 11 , 18 , 20 , 24 , 27 , 28. Saul eyed David that day and forward , &c. He said , I will smite David , &c. he became his enemy continually , often attempted to take away his life from him , 1 Sam. 18. 8 , 9 , 11 , 17 , 29. ch . 19. 1 , 9 , 10 , 11. Absalom conspired against his father David , 2 Sam. 15. Shimei cursed David when he fled from Absalom , 2 Sam. 16. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 13. Ahab pursued Elijah in every nation , &c. he said to Elijah , when he saw him , Art thou he who troubleth Israel ? 1 Kings 18. 10 , 17. Jeremy saith , O Lord , &c. revenge me of my persecutors , &c. for thy sake I have suffered rebuke , Jer. 15. 15. Matth. 5. 12. They hate him who rebuketh in the gate : and they abhor him who speaketh uprightly , &c. they afflict the just , Amos 5. 10 , 12. John came neither eating nor drinking , and they say he hath a devil : the Son of man came eating and drinking , and they say , behold a man gluttonous , &c. Math. 11. 18 , 19. Behold , I send unto you Prophets , and wise men , and Scribes , and some of them ye shall kill and crucifie , and some of them shall ye scourge in your Synagogues , and persecute them from City to City , Math. 23. 34. Some said Christ was a good man : others said no , but he deceiveth the people ; howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews , Joh. 7. 12 , 13. The Jews had agreed already , that if any man did confess that he was Christ , he should be put out of the Synagogue , &c. They reviled the man who owned Christ to them : they say , Thou wast altogether born in sins , and dost thou teach us ? and they cast him out ( or , excommunicated him ) . John 9. 22 , 28 , 33 , 34. The chief Priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death , because that by reason of him , many of the Jews went away , and believed on Jesus , Joh. 12. 10 , 11. When Peter had spake unto the people , the Priests and the rulers of the temple came upon them , being grieved that they taught the people , and preached , &c. the resurrection , &c. And they laid hands on them , and put them in hold , &c. that it spread no further among the people , let us straitly threaten them , &c. So when they had further threatned them , &c. Act. 4. 1 , 2 , 3 , 17 , 21. The high Priest rose up , and all who were with him , &c. and were filled with indignation ( or , envy ) and laid their hands on the Apostles , and put them into the common Prison , &c. when the Apostles had spoke to them , they were cut to the heart , and they took counsel to slay them , Acts 5. 16 , 17 , 18 , 33. They suborn witnesses against Stephen , and said , We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses , and against God , &c. That Jesus shall destroy this place , and change the customs which Moses delivered us , Act. 6. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. They run upon Stephen with one accord , and cast him out of the City , and stoned him , Act. 7. 57 , 58. There was a great persecution against the Church at Jerusalem , and they were all scattered abroad , &c. Saul made havock of the Church , entering into every house , and haling men and women , committing them to prison , Act. 8. 1 , 3 ch . 26. 10 , 11. Saul breathed out threatning and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord : Went unto the high Priest , and desired of him letters , &c. that if he found any of this way , whether they were men or women , he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem , &c. When he was converted , the Jews took counsel to kill him , &c. and they watched the gates day and night to kill him , Act. 9. 1 , 2 , 22 , 23 , 24. Gal. 1. 13 , 14. 1 Tim. 1. 13. Herod having killed James , and because he saw it pleased the Jews , be proceeded , Act. 12. 2 , 3. When the Jews saw the multitude , they were filled with envy , and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul , contradicting and blaspheming , &c. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women , and the chief men of the City , and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas , and expelled them out of their coasts , Act. 13. 45 , 50. In Iconium , they went both together into the Synagogue to speak , &c. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles , and made their minds evil affected against the brethren , &c. and they fled unto Lystra , &c. And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch , &c. who perswaded the people , and having stoned Paul , drew him out of the city , supposing he had been dead , Act. 14. 1 , 2 , 6 , 19. When Paul had reasoned with them of Thessalonica , that Christ had suffered , &c. the Jews who believed not , moved with envy , took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort , and gathered a company , and set all the city in an uproar , and assaulted the house of Jason , &c. they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city , crying , These who have turned the world upside down , are come hither also , whom Jason hath received : and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cesar , saying , That there is another King , one Jesus , &c. When the Jews , &c. had knowledg that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea , they came thither also , and stirred up the people , Act. 17. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 13. After Paul had preached at Corinth , &c. the Jews made an insurrection with one accord against Paul , and brought him to the Judgment-seat , saying , This fellow perswadeth men to worship God contrary to the law , Act. 18. 11 , 12 , 13. The Jews when they saw Paul in the Temple , stirred up all the people , and laid hands on him , crying out , Men of Israel help , this is the man who teacheth all men every where , against the people , and the law , and this place , &c. and hath polluted this holy place , &c. They took him , and drew him out of the temple , &c. went about to kill him , Act. 21. 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. They cryed out against Paul , and said , Away with such a fellow from the earth : for it is not fit he should live , &c. After they bind themselves under a curse , to kill him , Act. 22. 22 , 23. ch . 23. 12. The high Priest and elders , by Tertullus the orator , said of Paul before the Governour , We have found this man a pestilent fellow , a mover of fedition among all the Jews throughout the world , and a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarens : who also have gone about to profane the temple , &c. Paul said , Neither can they prove the things whereof they accuse me , &c. I confess , after the way they call heresie , so worship I , &c. Act. 24. 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 13 , 14. The high priest and chief of the Jews informed Festus against Paul , and besought him , &c. that he would send him to Jerusalen , laying wait in the way to kill him , &c. They laid many and grievous complaints against him , which they could not prove , Act. 25. 2 , 3 , 7. As concerning this sect , we know that it is every where spoken against , Act. 28. 22. Ye also have suffered like things of your own country-men , even as they have of the Jews , who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets , and have persecuted us , &c. forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles , 1 Thess. 2. 14 , 15 , 16. Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil , &c. of whom be thou also aware : for he hath greatly withstood our words , 2 Tim. 4. 14 , 15. Secondly , For what ends doth God chastise his children , and suffer them to be persecuted . 1st , To exercise and try their faith and obedience . The Lord thy God led thee these forty years , to humble thee , and to prove thee , to know what was in thine heart , whether thou wouldst keep his commandments or no , Deut. 8. 2 , 16. I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them , of the nations which Joshua left when he died : that through them . I may prove Israel , whether they will keep the way of the Lord , &c. or not , Judg. 2. 21 , 22 , 23. ch . 3. 4. And the Lord said unto Satan , Hast thou considered my servant Job , & c ? still he holdeth fast his integrity , although thou movest me against him to destroy him without cause , Job 2. 3. What is man , &c. that thou shouldst visit him every morning , and try him every moment ? Job 7. 17 , 18. Thou , O Lord , hast proved us : thou hast tried us as silver is tried : thou broughtest us into the net : thou laidst afflictions upon our loins , Psal. 66. 10 , 11 , 12. Some of them of understanding shall fall to try them , &c. Daniel 11. 35. I will bring the third part through the fire , and will refine them as silver is refined , and will try them as gold is tried , Zech. 13. 9. Others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings , &c. Heb. 11. 36 , 37. Count it all joy when ye fall into divers tentations : knowing that the trying of you faith worketh patience , &c. Blessed is the man who endureth temptations : for when he is tryed , he shall receive , &c. James 1. 2 , 3 , 12. Though now for a season , if need be , ye are in heaviness : that the trial of your faith being much more precious , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 6 , 7. Beloved , think it not strange concerning the fiery trial , which is to try you , as though some strange thing happened unto you . But rejoyce , in as much as ye are partakers of Christs suffering , &c. 1 Pet. 4. 12 , 13. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer : behold , the devil shall cast some of you into prison , that ye may be tried , Rev. 2. 10. I will keep thee from the hour of tentation , which shall come upon all the world , to try them who dwell upon the earth , Rev. 3. 20. 2dly , To humble and purge them . The Lord thy God led thee forty years in the wilderness to humble thee , &c. Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna , &c. that he might humble thee , &c. Deut. 8. 2 , 16. So Manasseh made Judah , &c. to err , to do worse than the heathen : Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captain of the host of the king of Assyria , who took Manasseh , &c. bound him with fetters , and carried him to Babylon . And when he was afflicted , he besought the Lord his God , and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers , &c. And God brought him again into his kingdom , &c. He then took away the strange gods , &c. 2 Chron. 33. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 16. Job complains of his afflictions : then saith , What is man that thou shouldst magnifie him , & c ? I have sinned , what shall I do unto thee , O thou preserver of men ? Job 7. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro ? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble ? for thou writest bitter things against me , Job 13. 25. If they be , &c. holden in cords of afflictions : then he sheweth them their work , and their transgressions that they have exceeded , Job 36. 8 , 9. Behold , I am vile ; What shall I answer thee ? I will lay my hand upon my mouth : once have I spoken : but , &c. but I will proceed no farther , Job 40. 4 , 5. I have heard of thee , &c. but now mine eyes see thee : wherefore I abhor my self , &c. Job 42. 5 , 6. Hath he smitten bim , & c ? By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged : and this is all the fruit , to take away his sin , Isa. 27. 7 , 8 , 9. My fury and mine anger was poured out , &c. They are not humbled unto this day : neither have they feared , nor walked in my law , Jer. 44. 6 , 10. I will cause you to pass under the rod , &c. and you shall remember your wayes , &c. and ye shall loath your selves in your own sight , Ezek. 40. 37 , 38 , 43. Some of them of understanding shall fall , &c. to purge and to make them white , Dan. 11. 35. I will bring the third part through the fire , and will refine them as silver , Zech. 13. 9. Lest I should be exalted above measure , &c. there was given to me a thorn in the flesh , a messenger of Satan to buffet me , 2 Cor. 12. 7. 3dly , To make them to remember God , and things above : look to , own them , and close with them . Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed : and Jacob said , O God of my father Abraham , &c. the Lord , who saidst unto me , Return , &c. Gen. 32. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. He suffered thee to hunger , &c. that thou mayst know that man lives not by bread alone , but , &c. Deut. 8. 3. When Manasseh was in affliction , he besought the Lord his God , &c. then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God , 2 Chron. 33. 12 , 13. God hath overthrown me , and hath encompassed me with his net , &c. for I know my redeemer liveth , and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth , &c. in my flesh shall I see God , Job 19. 6 , 25 , 26 , 27. When my heart is overwhelmed , lead me to the rock that is higher than I : for thou hast been a shelter , Psal. 61. 2 , 3. When he slew them , then they sought him , and they returned and enquired early after God : and they remembred that God was their rock , &c. Psal. 78. 34 , 35. It is good for me that I have been afflicted , that I might learn thy statutes : the law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold , &c. Psal. 119. 71 , 72. Such as escape of the house of Jacob , shall no more again stay upon him who smote them ; but shall stay upon the Lord , the holy one of Israel in truth , Isa. 10. 20 , 21. In that day it shall come to pass , that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin , &c. At that day shall a man look to his maker , and his eyes shall have respect to the holy One of Israel ; and he shall not look to the altars , &c. Isa. 17. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Wherefore doth a living man complain , & c ? let us search and try our ways : and turn again unto the Lord , Lam. 3. 39 , 40. I will cause you to pass under the rod , &c. and ye shall know that I am the Lord , Ezek. 20. 37 , 38. Behold , I will hedg up thy way , &c. Then shall she say , I will go and return to my first husband , for then was it better with me than now , &c. Hos. 2. 6 , 7 , 8. chap. 5. 15. We had the sentence of death in our selves , that we should not trust in our selves , but in God who raiseth the dead : who delivered us , &c. 2 Cor. 1. 8 , 9 , 10. Our light affliction , &c. worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory : while we look not at the things which are seen , but at the things which are not seen , &c. 2 Cor. 4. 17 , 18. 4thly , For Gods own glory , and the furtherance of the Gospel . I will harden Pharoahs heart , that he shall follow after them : and I will be honoured upon Pharoah and upon all his host , that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord , &c. And the Egyptians pursued after them , &c. and the children of Israel were sore afraid , &c. Exod. 14. 4 , 9 , 10 , 17 , 18. He fed thee with Manna , &c. that he might make thee know , that man doth not live by bread alone , but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord , doth man live , Deut. 8. 3. Howbeit , because by this deed thou hast given great cause to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme , the child also that is born unto thee , shall surely die , 2 Sam. 12. 14. Hast thou considered my servant Job , & c ? and still he holdeth fast his integrity , although thou movest me against him to destroy him without cause , Job 2. 3. Surely , the wrath of man shall praise thee : the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain , Psal. 76. 10. The three childrens sufferings made persecutors acknowledg and give honour to God , Dan. 3. 27 , 28 , 29. So Daniels sufferings made Darius the king ( who had caused him to be cast into the lions den ) to acknowledg and honour God , Dan. 6. 20 , 26 , 27. Master , Who did sin , this man or his parents , that he was born blind ? Jesus answered , Neither hath this man sinned , nor his parents , but that the work of God might be made manifest in him , John 9. 1 , 2 , 3. Jesus said , This sickness is not unto death , but for the glory of God , that the Son of God might be glorified thereby , John 11. 3 , 4. This spake he , signifying by what death he should glorifie God , John 21. 18 , 19. We are troubled on every side , &c. that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body : for we who live , are always delivered unto death , that the life of Jesus might be manifest in our mortal flesh , 2 Cor. 4. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. When Paul was buffeted , &c. he besought the Lord thrice that it might depart : and it was said , My grace is sufficient for thee , for my strength is made perfect in weakness ; most gladly will I therefore rather glory in my infirmities , that the power of Christ may rest upon me , &c. 2 Cor. 12. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. I would have you understand , &c. that the things which have happened to me have fallen out to the furtherance of the Gospel , &c. and many of the brethren of the Lord waxing confident by my bonds , are much more bold to speak the word without fear , Phil. 1. 12 , 13 , 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ , &c. the spirit , &c. on your part he is glorified , 1 Pet. 4. 14. 5thly , For the effecting of great good and advantage to those who are exercised with trouble , &c. Josephs afflictions and sufferings , his being sold by his brethren , and after being imprisoned , happened , through God , to his great honour and advantage . He advanced to be next the king ; his brethren who sold him , made to bow to him , and honour him , and are nourished by him . His fathers sorrow also recompensed , in that Joseph provided for him in the famine , Gen. 37. 28 , 34 , 35. chap. 29. 5 , 20. chap. 41. 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44. chap. 45. 5 , 7 , 8. chap. 47. 11 , 12. But as for you , ye thought evil against me : but God meant it unto good , to bring to pass as at this day , to save much people alive , Gen. 50. 20 , 21. The more they afflicted them , the more they multiplied and growed , Exod. 1. 11 , 12. Ezra 5. chap. 6. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians : and the people feared the Lord , and believed the Lord and his servant Moses , Exod. 14. 31. Who fed thee with Manna , &c. that he might humble thee , &c. to do thee good in the latter end , Deut. 8. 16. When Manasseh was afflicted , he sought the Lord , the Lord his God , and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers , and prayed unto him , &c. then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God , &c. He took away the strange gods , &c. 2 Chron. 33. 11 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 16. Tatuai the governour opposing the Jews , wrought for their advantage in the end , Ezra 5. chap. 6. If they be bound in fetters , &c. then he sheweth them their work , and their transgressions that they have exceeded : He openeth also their ear to discipline , Job 36 , 8 , 9 , 10. Before I was afflicted , I went astray : but now have I kept thy word , &c. It is good for me that I have been afflicted , that I might learn thy statutes , &c. thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me , Psal. 119. 67 , 71 , 75. They who sow in tears , will reap in joy : he who goeth forth and weepeth , bearing precious seed , shall doubtless come again with rejoycing , &c. Psal. 126. 5 , 6. When the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Ziòn , and on Jerusalem , I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria , &c. such as are escaped of the house of Jacob , shall no more again stáy upon him who smote them , but shall stay upon the Lord , &c. Isa. 10. 12 , 20 , 21. So will I acknowledg them who are carried away captive of Judah , whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Caldeans , for their good : for I will set mine eyes upon them for good , Jer. 24. 5 , 6. They shall bear the punishment of their iniquity , &c. that the house of Israel may go no more astray from me , neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions : but that they may be my people , and I , &c. Ezek. 14. 10 , 11. I will cause you to pass under the rod : and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant , Ezek. 20. 37. I will hedg up thy ways with thorns , &c. Then shall she say , I will go and return to my first husband : for then was it better with me , &c. I will allure her , and bring her into the wilderness : and speak comfortably ( or , friendly ) unto her , Hosea 2. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 14. He who loseth his life for my sake , shall find it : for what is a man profited , if he should gain the whole world , and lose his own soul ? Matth. 10. 39. Mark 8. 34 , 35. And every one who hath forsaken houses , or brethren , &c. or lands for my names sake , shall receive a hundred-fold : and shall inherit everlasting life , Mat. 19. 27 , 29. Tribulation worketh patience : and patience experience , &c. Rom. 5. 3 , 4 , 5. And we know that all things work together for good unto them who love God , Rom. 8. 28. When we are judged , we are chastened of the Lord , that we should not be condemned with the world , 1 Cor. 11. 32. Our light afflictions which are but for a moment , worketh for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory : while we look not at things which are seen , 2 Cor. 4. 17 , 18. In nothing terrified by your adversaries , which is to them an evident token of perdition : but to you of salvation , and that of God , Phil. 1. 28. Tribulations , which ye endure , &c. that ye may be accounted worthy of the kingdom of God , 2 Thess. 1. 5. It is a faithful saying , &c. If we suffer , we shall also reign , 2 Tim. 2. 11 , 12. We have fathers of our flesh who correct us , and we give them reverence : shall we not much rather be in subjection to the father of spirits , and live ? for they , &c. chastened us after their own pleasure ; but he for our profit , &c. No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous , &c. nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them who are exercised thereby , Heb. 12. 9 , 10 , 11. Ye are in heaviness , &c. that the trial of your faith , &c. might be found unto praise , and honour , and glory , at the appearing of Jesus Christ , 1 Pet. 1. 6 , 7. Thirdly , The considerations which should stay , bear up , and comfort the spirits of Saints in their afflictions , and under persecutions . Cons. First , That it is their portion , which God appointed them in this life , as a priviledg , and that too , for such-ends : See them last before . 2dly , That such who are so exercised , are blessed , and happy , and so pronounced in Scripture : a seal of their sonship , and Gods choice love to them , and of their salvation . Behold , happy is the man whom God correcteth ; &c. for he maketh sore , and bindeth up , &c. Job 5. 17 , 18. Blessed is the man whom thou chasteneth , O Lord , and teachest , &c. Psal. 94. 12. Whom the Lord loveth , he correcteth : even as a father the son , in whom he delighteth , Prov. 3. 12. He who spareth his rod , hateth his son : but he who loveth him , chasteneth him , Prov. 13. 24. Blessed are they who mourn , for they , &c. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake , &c. blessed are ye when men shall revile you , and persecute , and say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake : rejoyce , and be exceeding glad , Matth. 5. 4 , 10 , 11 , 12. Blessed are ye who hunger now , &c. who weep now , &c. But wo unto them who are rich , &c. who are full , &c. who laugh now , &c. when all men speak well of you , Luke 6. 21 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 26. In nothing terrified by your adversaries , which is to them an evident token of perdition : but to you of salvation , and that of God ; for unto you it is given , &c. not only to believe on him ; but also to suffer for his sake , Phil. 1. 28 , 29. If ye be without chastisements , &c. then are ye bastards , and not sons , Heb. 12. 8. Blessed is the man who endureth tentations : for when he is tryed , &c. James 1. 12. We count them happy who endure , &c. Ye have heard of the patience of Job , James 5. 10 , 11. If ye suffer for righteousness sake , happy are ye : and be not afraid , 1 Pet. 3. 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ , happy are ye : for the , &c. 1 Pet. 4. 14. As many as I love , I rebuke and chasten , Rev. 3. 19. Blessed are the dead , who dye in the Lord ( or , for the Lords sake ) , Rev. 14. 13. 3dly , That God well knows the design and ways of Satan , and all the adversaries of believers : and that they can do no more , or proceed further against the Saints , than what God permits : he turns about their purposes . Laban pursued Jacob , &c. and God came unto Laban the Syrian in a dream in the night , and said unto him , Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob from good to bad ( or , either good or bad ) , &c. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt : but the God of your father spake unto me yester-night ; saying , Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob , Gen. 31. 8 , 23 , 24 , 29. When Esau was coming against Jacob with four hundred men , and Jacob was afraid ; yet God changed Esau his heart ; so that when he met Jacob , he embraced him , &c. which made Jacob say to Esau , I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God , and thou wast pleased with me , Gen. 32. 6 , 7 , 8. ch . 33. 3 , 4 , 10. And the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them , and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob , Gen. 35. 5. Josephs brethren when they saw him , &c. conspired against him to slay him . And they said one to another , behold this dreamer cometh , Come now therefore and let us slay him , &c. and we shall see what will become of his dreams , &c. All which God prevented , and purposed better things , Gen. 37. 18 , 19 , 20 , &c. ch . 39. ch . 50. 19 , 20. The King of Egypt designed the weakening of Israel , and preventing their increase . But the more they afflicted them , the more they multiplied , Exod. 1. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 20. And the Lord said , I have surely seen the afflictions of my people , &c. for I know their sorrows , Exod. 3. 7. Act. 7. 34. Pharaohs design in pursuing Israel , God knew , atd prevented Pharaoh , and overthrew him , Exod. 14. The enemy said , I will pursue , I will overtake , I will divide the spoil : my lust shall be satisfied upon them : I will draw my sword , mine hand shall destroy ( or , re possess them ) . Thou didst blow with thy wind , the sea did cover them , they sank as lead , &c. who is like unto thee , O Lord ! Exod. 15. 9 , 10 , 11. Balak his design was to have Balaam to curse Israel ; yet God over-ruled him , so that he could not but bless Israel , Numb . 22. ch . 24. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. ch . 23. Saul designed to kill David , made many attempts , and pursued him , yet could never effect it : God prevented him , 1 Sam. 18. ch . 19. ch . 23. ch . 24. ch . 26. Ahitophel gave counsel against David , but God brought it to nought , and suffered not his enemies to bring their design to pass , 2 Sam. 17. The king of Assyria came against Samaria , and said , The gods do so unto me , and more also , if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me . But God prevented him , 1 Kings 20. 1 , 2 , to the 21. The enemies of Israel set themselves to hinder the building of the Temple , asked who commanded them to do it , wrote to the king against it : but God prevented their purpose , and brought forth the contrary effect : Ezra 5. ch . 6. When Israel were building , the adversaries conspired together to come to fight against Jerusalem , to hinder it , &c. And when our enemies heard that it was made known unto us , and God had brought their counsel to nought , we returned , &c. Neb. 4. 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 15. Hamans great design was to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews , and it went on far ; but God then turned it quite about : Esther 5. chap. 6. chap. 7. chap. 8. Job could not be touched by Satan any farther , or otherwise than so far as God gave him leave , Job 1. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. ch . 2. 4 , 5 , 6. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty , so that their hands cannot perform their enterpise . He taketh the wise in their own craftiness , &c. They meet with darkness in the day , and grope in the noon , Job 5. 12 , 13 , 14. Why do the heathen rage , and the people imagine a vain thing ? the kings of the earth set themselves , and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord , & c ? yet have I set my king upon my holy hill , &c. Psal. 2. 1 , 2 , 4 , 6. He hath ordained his arrows against the persecutors . Behold , he travelleth with iniquity , hath conceived mischief , and brought forth falshood ; he made a pit , and digged it , and is fallen into the ditch he made : his mischief shall return upon his own head , and his violent dealing come down upon his own pate , Psal. 7. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Psal. 9. 16. They intended evil against thee , they imagined a mischievous device , which they are not able to perform , Psal. 21. 11. Thou preparest a table for me in the fight of mine enemies , Psal. 23. 5. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought : he maketh the devices of the people of none effect . The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever , the thoughts of his heart to all generations , Psal. 33. 10 , 11. By this I know that thou favourest me , because mine enemy doth not triumph over me , Psal. 41. 11. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee : the remainder of wrath thou shalt restrain , Psal. 76. 10. When Israel were but few in number , &c. when they went from one nation to another , &c. he suffered no man to do them wrong ; yea , he reproved kings for their sake , &c. Psal. 105. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side , when men rose up against us : then they had swallowed us up quick , Psal. 124. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. There are many devices in the heart of man : nevertheless the counsel of the Lord , that shall stand , Prov. 19. 21. There is no wisdom , nor understanding , nor counsel against the Lord , Prov. 21. 30. Be quiet , fear not , &c. because Syria , &c. have taken evil counsel against thee , saying , Let us go up against Judah , and vex it , &c. Thus saith the Lord God , It shall not stand , nor shall it come to pass , Isa. 7. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. Micah 4. 11 , 12 , 13. Associate your selves , O ye people , and ye shall be broken in pieces , &c. Gird your selves , and ye shall be broken in pieces , &c. take counsel together , and it shall come to nought : speak the word , and it shall not stand , for God is with us , Isa. 8. 9 , 10. O Assyrian , the rod of mine anger , &c. I will send him against an hypocritical nation , &c. howbeit he meaneth not so , &c. It is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations , not a few , &c. wherefore it shall come to pass , when the Lord hath performed his work , &c. I will punish the fruit , &c. Isa. 10 5 , 6 , 7 , 12. Wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord , and their works are in the dark , and they say , Who seeth us , & c ? Surely your turning of things up-side down shall be esteemed as the potters Clay , Isa. 29. 15 , 16. Senacherib comes against Jerusalem , and by Rabshakeh proclaims his proud design : but God wonderfully disappointed him , Isa. 36. ch . 37. Behold , they shall surely gather together , but not by me : whosoever shall gather together against thee , shall fall for thy sake , &c. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper , Isa. 54. 15 , 17. When the enemy shall come in like a floud , the spirit of the Lord shall set up a standard against him ( or , put him to flight ) , Isa. 59. 19. I am with thee , &c. they shall fight against thee : but they shall not prevail against thee : for I am with thee , faith the Lord , to deliver thee , Jer. 1. 17 , 18 , 19. ch . 15. 20. Although I have scattered them among the countreys , yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countreys where they shall come , &c. I will even gather you from the people , &c. Ezek. 11. 16. All that the envious presidents and princes could do and devise : against Daniel , could not out him : but he prospered in the reign of Darius , and of Cyrus , and so the three Children , Dan. 6. Dan. 3. They know not the thoughts of the Lord : for he shall gather them as the sheaves in the floor , Micah 4. 11 , 12 , 13. Herod designs the killing of the Child Jesus , he sends to enquire after him , gives order for the slaying of all the children of that age ; yet God suffered him not to effect his design , Matth. 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , to the 16. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing , and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father . But the very hairs of your head are all numbred : fear ye not therefore , ye are of more value than many sparrows , Mat. 10. 29 , 30 , 31. There came certain of the Pharisees , saying unto him , Get thee out , and depart hence , for Herod will kill thee . And he said unto them , Go ye , tell that fox , Behold , I cast out devils , and I do cures to day , to morrow , and the third day I shall be perfected . Nevertheless , I must walk to day , and to morrow , and the day following , &c. Luke 13. 31 , 32 , 33. You shall be hated of all men for my names sake , but there shall not a hair of your head perish : In your patience possess ye your souls , Luke 21. 17 , 18 , 19. Then said Pilate , &c. Knowest thou not that I have power to crucifie thee , and have power to release thee ? Jesus answered , Thou couldest have no power at all against me , except it were given thee from above , Joh. 19. 10 , 11 , Against thy holy Child Jesus , &c. to do what thy hand and counsel determined before to be done , Act. 4. 27 , 28. They took counsel to slay the Apostles : but Gamaliel said , Refrain from these men , and let them alone : for if this counsel or this work be of men , it will come to nought ; but if it be of God , ye cannot overthrow it , lest haply ye be found fighting against God , Acts 5. 33 , 34 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 40. When Saul was going in his fury to persecute , God meets with him , and stays the persecution , Acts 9. 1 , 2 , 3 , &c. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world , Act. 15. 18. Speak , hold not thy peace : for I am with thee , and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee : for I have much people in this city , Act. 18. 9 , 10. Many had conspired and bound themselves with an oath to kill Paul ere they did eat : yet God disappointed them , Act. 23. 12 , 13 , thence to the end . God is faithful , who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able , 1 Cor. 10. 13. 4thly , That God orders and determines of the measure , manner , time , and continuance of afflictions and persecutions , and that according to our need God said unto Abraham , Know assuredly , that thy feed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs , and shall serve them , and they shall afflict them four hundred years , &c. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again , Gen. 15. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. And it came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years , the self-same day it came to pass , that all the host of the Lord went out of the land of Egypt , Exod. 12. 40 , 41 , 51. God led Israel through the wilderness , that they should not see war and be discouraged , Exod. 13. 17. Their heart was not right with him , &c. but he being full of compassion , forgave their iniquity , and destroyed them not ; yea , many a time turned he his anger away , and did not stir up all his wrath . For he remembred that they were but flesh ; a wind which passeth away , and cometh not again , Psal. 78. 37 , 38 , 39. I know , O Lord , that thy judgments are right , and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me , Psal. 119. 75. It shall come to pass , when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Sion , and upon Jerusalem ; I will punish the fruit of the stout-heart , &c. O my people , be not afraid of the Assyrian , he shall smite thee with a rod , &c. For yet a very little while , and the indignation shall cease , &c. Isa. 10. 12 , 24 , 25. In measure , when it shooteth forth , thou wilt debate with it : he stayeth his rough wind in the day of his east wind , Isa. 27. 7 , 8. Thus saith the Lord , That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon , I will visit you , and perform my good toward you , in causing you to return , &c. Jer. 29. 10. Ezra 1. 1 , 2 , 3. I will not make a full end of thee ; but I will correct thee in measure , and will not , &c. Jer. 30. 11. ch . 46. 28. He doth not afflict willingly ( or , from his heart ) nor grieve the children of men , Lam. 3. 33. Against thy holy Child Jesus , &c. To do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done , Act. 4. 27 , 28. God is faithful , who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able ; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape , that ye may be able to bear , 1 Cor. 10. 13. He was sick , nigh unto death : but God had mercy on him , &c. but on me also , left I should have sorrow upon sorrow , Phil. 2. 27. Ye greatly rejoyce , though now for a season ( if need be ) ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations , 1 Pet. 1. 6. The God of all grace , &c. after that ye have suffered a while , make you perfect , 1 Pet. 5. 10. Behold , the Devil shall cast some of you into prison , &c. and ye shall have tribulation ten days . Be thou faithful unto death , and I will give , &c. Rev. 2. 10. 5thly , That God doth sometimes make enemies , and the persecutors themselves , to acknowledg the Saints innocency when they suffer . And will surely avenge them upon their adversaries . He will revenge the blood of his servants , and will render vengeance to to his adversaries : and will be merciful to his land , &c. Deut. 32. 43. When David had spared Saul , being in his hands , Saul said to David , Is this thy voice , my son David , & c ? Thou art more righteous than I : for thou hast rewarded me good , whereas I have rewarded thee evil ; and thou hast shewed this day how thou hast done well with me , forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hands , thou killedst me not , &c. 1 Sam. 24. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. Again , in the like case , Saul said , I have sinned , &c. Behold , I have played the fool , and have erred exceedingly , 1 Sam. 26. 21. Haman , Mordecai's great enemy , forced to honour Mordecai , &c. Esther 6. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Haman is hanged upon the same gallows he erected for Mordecai , Esther 7. 9 , 10. He ordained his arrows against the persecutors , Psal. 7. 13. They have digged a pit for me , into the midst of which they are fallen , Psal. 57. 6. The righteous shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance , &c. so that a man shall say , &c. Verily he is a God who judgeth in the earth , Psal. 58. 10 , 11. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all who are oppressed , Psal. 103. 6. Be not afraid , &c. for yet a very little while , and the indignation shall cease , and mine anger in their destruction , Isa. 10. 24 , 25. When thine hand is lifted up , they will not see : but they shall see and be ashamed for envy at thy people ( or , towards thy people ) , &c. Isaiah 26. 11. All who watch for iniquity , are cut off : who make a man an offender for a word , Isa. 29. 20 , 21. I was wrath with my people , &c. thou didst shew them no mercy , &c. therefore these two things shall come upon thee in a moment , &c. Isa. 47. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Fear ye not the reproach of men , &c. for the moth shall eat them up like a garment : and the worm shall eat them like wood , &c. Thus saith the Lord , &c. who pleadeth the cause of his people : Behold , I have taken out of thy hand the cup of trembling , the dregs of the cup of my fury , &c. but I will put it into the hands of them who afflict thee : who have said to thy soul , Bow down , &c. Isa. 51. 7 , 8 , 21 , 22 , 23. Your brethren who hated you , &c. he shall appear to your joy , and they shall be ashamed , Isa. 66. 5. God threatens several nations for their insolent insulting over his people the Jews , and for their cruel usages of them : and declares the vengeance he would take against them , Ezek. 25. chap. 26. chap. 35. chap. 36. Nebuchadnezzar , who had caused Shadrach , Meshech and Abednego to be cast into the fiery-furnace , now said unto them , Ye servants of the most high God , come forth , &c. and the king promoted them , Dan. 3. 26 , 30. So did Darius , when Daniel by the prosecution of the Presidents and Princes was cast into the lions den : came and said , O Daniel , servant of the living God , &c. And the king commanded , and they brought those men who had accused Daniel , and they cast them into the den of lions , them , their children , and their wives , &c. Dan. 6. 20 , 24. I have heard the rep●…ch of Moab , and the revilings of the children of Ammon , whereby they have reproached my people , &c. therefore as I live , saith the Lord of hosts , the God of Israel , Surely Moab shall be as Sodom , Zephan . 2. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Whoso shall offend one of these little ones , who believe in me , it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck , and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea : Wo unto the world because of offences , Matth. 18. 6 , 7 , 10. Luke 17. 1 , 2. I send unto you Prophets , &c. some of them you shall kill , &c. that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel , &c. All these things shall come upon this generation , Matth. 23. 34 , 35 , 36. Shall not God avenge his own elect , who cry day and night unto him ? though he bear long with them , I tell you , that he will avenge them speedily , Luke 18. 7 , 8. Pilate himself said of Christ , I find no fault in him , &c. Luke 23. 14. King Agrippa and Festus both said of Paul , This man doth nothing worthy of death , or of bonds , Acts 26. 30 , 31. In nothing terrified by your adversaries , which is to them an evident token of perdition , &c. and that of God , Phil. 1. 28. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them who trouble you , &c. 2 Thess. 1. 6. He who leadeth into captivity , shall go into captivity : he who killeth with the sword , must be killed , &c. Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints , Rev. 13. 10. Babylon is fallen : here is the patience of the Saints , Revel . 14 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Thou art righteous , O Lord , &c. because thou hast judged thus : for they have shed the blood of Saints and Prophets , and thou hast given them blood to drink ; for they are worthy , Rev. 16. 5 , 6. 6thly , That God will comfort , uphold , and preserve his in all their troubles : and not lay more on them than they can bear . In that he himself hath suffered , being tempted , he is able to succour them who are tempted , Heb. 2. 18. chap. 4. 15. chap. 5. 2. And it came to pass , when Pharaoh had let the people go , that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistins , although that was near : for God said , Lest peradventure the people repent when they fee war , and they return to Egypt , &c. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them the way : and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light to go by day and night , Exod. 13. 17 , 21. Thou shalt not be afraid , &c. for the Lord thy God is among you , a mighty God and terrible : and the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little , Deut. 7. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. The eternal God is thy refuge , and underneath are the everlasting arms : and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee , Deut. 33. 27. David was greatly distressed , &c. but David encouraged himself in the Lord , 1 Sam. 30. 6. Will he plead against me with his great power ? no , but he would put strength into me , Joh 23. 6. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed , a refuge in time of trouble : thou wilt save the afflicted people , Psal. 9. 9. Psal. 18. 27. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death , I will fear no evil : for thou art with me : thy rod and thy staff , they comfort me : thou preparest a table for me in the sight of mine enemies , &c. Psal. 23. 4 , 5. In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion , in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me : he shall set me upon a rock , &c. when my father and my mother forsake me , then the Lord will take me up , &c. Wait on the Lord , &c. he shall strengthen thine heart , Psal. 27. 5 , 10 , 14. Behold , the eye of the Lord is upon them who fear him , &c. to deliver their soul from death , and to keep them alive in famine , Psal. 33. 18 , 19. The wicked watcheth the righteous , and seeketh to slay him ; the Lord will not leave him in his hand , &c. the Lord , he is their strength in time of trouble : and the Lord shall help them , and deliver them , &c. Psal. 37. 32 , 33 , 39 , 40. Therefore will we not fear , though the earth be moved , &c. There is a river , the streams whereof shall make glad the City of God , &c. God is in the midst of her , she shall not be moved : God shall help her right early , Psal. 46. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Cast thy burden upon the Lord , and he shall sustain thee : he shall never suffer the righteous to be removed , Psal. 55. 22. Bless our God , &c. who holdeth our soul in life , and suffereth not our feet to be moved : for thou , O Lord , hast proved us , thou hast tryed us as silver is tryed ; thou broughtest us into the net , thou laidst afflictions upon our loins : thou hast caused men to ride over our heads , &c. Psal. 66. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. But he , full of compassion , forgave their iniquity , and destroyed them not : yea , many a time turned he his anger away , and did not stir up all his wrath : for he remembred they were but flesh , a wind which passeth away , and cometh not again , Psal. 78. 38 , 39. He preserveth the soul of his Saints : he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked , Psal. 97. 10. Like as a father pitieth his children , so the Lord pitieth them who fear him : for he knoweth our frame , he remembreth we are but dust , Psal. 103. 13 , 14. If it had not been the Lord , who was on our side , now may Israel say , &c. when men rose up against us , then they had swallowed us up quick , &c. then the waters had overwhelmed us , the stream had gone over our soul : then the proud waters had gone over our soul , Psal. 114. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 8. Though I walk in the midst of trouble , thou wilt revive me : thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies , Psal. 138. 7. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish , Prov. 10. 3. Thou hast been a strength to the poor , a strength to the needy in his distress : a refuge from the storm , a shadow from the heat ; when the blast of the terrible one is as a storm against the wall , Isa. 25. 4. He stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind , Isa. 27. 8. A king shall reign , &c. and a man shall be a hiding-place from the wind , and a covert from the tempest : as rivers of water in a dry place ; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land , Isa. 32. 1 , 2. When the poor and needy seek water and there is none , and their tongue faileth for thirst : I the Lord will hear them , I the God of Israel will not forsake them : I will open rivers in high places , &c. I will make the wilderness a pool of water , and the dry land springs of water , Isa. 41. 17 , 18 , 19. When thou passest through the waters , I will be with thee , and thorow the rivers they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned , neither shall the flame kindle upon thee : for I am the Lord thy God , Isa. 43. 2 , 3. The Lord hath comforted his people , and will have mercy on his afflicted , Isa. 49. 13. Thus saith the high and lofty one , &c. I dwell , &c. with him also who is of a contrite spirit , to revive the spirit of the humble , and to revive the heart of the contrite ones : for I will not contend for ever , neither will I be always wrath : for the spirit should fail before me , and the Souls I have made , Isa. 57. 15 , 16. When the enemy shall come in like a flood , the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him , Isa. 59. 19. Your brethren who hate you , that cast you out for my names sake , said , Let the Lord be glorified : but he shall appear unto your joy , &c. Isa. 66. 5. Although I have cast them off among the heathen , &c. yet will I be unto them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come , Ezek. 11. 16. God preserved his in the fiery furnace , and Daniel in the Lyons den , Dan. 3. 25. Dan. 6. 22. How shall I give thee up ? Ephraim , & c ! mine heart is turned within me , my repentings are kindled together : I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger : for I am God , and not man , &c. Hosea 11. 8 , 9. Rejoyce not against me , O mine enemy : when I fall , I shall arise : when I sit in darkness , the Lord shall be a light to me , Micah . 7. 8. The Lord is good , a strong hold in the day of trouble , and he knoweth them , &c. Nahum 1. 7. When they deliver you up , take no thought how or what ye shall speak : for it shall be given you in that same hour , what ye shall speak , Matth. 10. 19. God is faithful , who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able : but will with the temptations also make a way to escape , that ye may be able to bear it , 1 Cor. 10. 13. Blessed be God , &c. the God of all comfort , who comforteth us in all our tribulations , &c. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us , so our consolations also aboundeth by Christ , 2 Cor. 1. 3 , 4 , 5. We are troubled on every side , &c. persecuted , but not forsaken , &c. always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus ; that the life also of Jesus might be manifest in our body , &c. the inward man is renewed , &c. 2 Cor. 4. 8 , 9 , 10 , 16. We had trouble on every side , &c. Nevertheless God who comforteth them who are cast down , comforted us , &c. 2 Cor. 7. 5 , 6. I besought the Lord thrice , &c. and he said unto me , My grace is sufficient for thee : for my strength is made perfect in weakness , 2 Cor. 12. 8 , 9 , 10. At my first answer no man stood with me , &c. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me , and strengthened me , &c. And the Lord shall deliver me , &c. 2 Tim. 4. 16 , 17 , 18. Every where , and in all things I am instructed , both to be full and to be hungry , &c. I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me , Phil. 4. 11 , 12 , 13. See the Saints priviledges in common calamities , Chap. 23. 7thly , That the Saints are near and dear to God in Christ , so that he takes special notice of their afflictions and troubles , and is said to be persecuted and afflicted in their persecutions and afflictions . And the Lord said , Surely I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt , and have heard their cry , by reason of their task masters : for I know their sorrows , and I am come down to deliver them , &c. Exod. 3. 7 , 8 , 9. The Lords portion is his people , Jacob is the lot of his inheritance : he found him in a desert land , &c. He led him about ( or , encompassed him about ) : he kept , he instructed him as the apple of his eye , &c. Deut. 32. 9 , 10. For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel that it was very bitter , 2 Kings 14. 26. Thou hast considered my trouble , thou hast known my soul in adversity , Psal. 31. 7. Thou hast known my reproach , and my shame , and my dishonour : mine adversaries are all before thee , Psal. 69. 19. The Lord will not cast off his people : neither will he forsake his inheritance , Psal. 94. 14. He reproved kings for their sakes , saying , Touch not mine anointed , and do my prophets no harm , Psal. 105. 14 , 15. They provoked him , &c. nevertheless he regarded their afflictions when he heard their cry : and he remembred for them his covenant : and repented according to the multitude of his mercies , Psal. 106. 43 , 44 , 45 , 46. I was wroth with my people , &c. and given them into thine hand : thou didst shew them no mercy : upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid the yoke , Isa. 47. 6. Zion said , The Lord hath forsaken me , and my Lord hath forgotten me . Can a woman forget her sucking-child , that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb ? Yea , they may forget , yet will I not forget thee : Behold , I have graven thee upon the palms of my hand : thy walls are continually before me , Isa. 49. 14 , 15 , 16. Fear not , for thou shalt not be ashamed , &c. for thy maker is thine husband , the Lord of hosts is his name : and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel , Isa. 54. 4 , 5. For he said , Surely they are my people , children who will not lye : so he was their Saviour : in all their afflictions he was afflicted , and the Angel of his presence saved them : and in his love , and in his pity , he redeemed them , &c. Isa. 63. 8 , 9. Is Ephraim my dear son ? is he a pleasant child ? for since I spake against him , I do earnestly remember him still : therefore my bowels are troubled for him : I will surely have mercy on him , saith the Lord , Jer. 31. 20. I see four men walking in the fire , and they have no hurt : and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God , Dan. 3. 25. How shall I give thee up , Ephraim ? how shall I deliver thee , Israel , & c ? mine heart is turned within me , my repentings are kindled , Hosea 11. 8. The Lord is good , a strong hold ( or , strength ) in the day of trouble , and he knoweth them who trusteth in him , Nahum 1. 7. I am sore displeased , &c. for I was but a little displeased , and they helped forward the affliction , Zech. 1. 15. He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you : for he who toucheth you , toucheth the apple of his eye . For behold , I will shake mine hand upon them , and they shall be a spoil , &c. Zech. 2. 8. The very hairs of your head are all numbred , &c. He who receiveth you , receiveth me , &c. Matth. 10. 30 , 40 , 42. Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand , &c. I was an hungry , and ye gave me meat , &c. Then shall the righteous answer him , saying , When saw we thee an hungred , & c ? and the king shall answer and say unto them , Verily , I say unto you , Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren , ye have done it unto me . Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand , depart from me ye cursed , &c. For I was an hungry , and ye gave me no meat : I was thirsty , and ye gave me no drink : I was a stranger , and ye took me not in : naked , and ye clothed me not : sick , and in prison , and ye visited me not . Then shall they answer him , saying , Lord , when saw we thee an hungry ? then shall he answer them , saying , Verily I say unto you , inasmuch , as ye did it not to one of the least of these , ye did it not to me , Matt. 25. 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45. And Saul yet breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord , &c. he heard a voice , saying unto him , Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou me ? and he said , Who art thou Lord ? and the Lord said , I am Jesus whom thou persecutest , it is hard for thee to kick , &c. Act. 9. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. ch . 16. 14 , 15. We are members of his body , of his flesh , and of his bones , Ephes. 5. 30. We have not an High Priest , who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities : but was in all points tempted like as we are : yet without sin , Heb. 4. 15. ch . 2. 18. ch . 5. 2. See Union and Relation between Christ and his Church , Chap. 15. 8thly , That the greater the afflictions and distresses of the Saints have been , the more wonderful have their deliverances been : and then hath Salvation been nearest , when Extremity was highest , and Danger greatest . When Lot was taken Prisoner and carried away , and all his goods , God by Abraham wonderfully recovered all , and brought him back again , Gen. 14. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Hagar is in such distress for her child , for want of water , that she lays it down and leaves it , that she might not see it dye , and sets far off weeping ; then God speaks to her by the Angel : and God opened her eyes , and she saw a well of water , &c. Gen. 21. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. When the Egyptians oppressed most , and made Israels burthens heaviest , insomuch that they despaired , then God came and made known himself , and said to Moses , Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharoah : for with a strong hand shall he let them go , &c. I have also heard the groanings of the children of Israel , &c. I will bring ye out from under the burden of the Egyptians , and I will rid you out of their bondage ; and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm , and with great judgment , &c. Exod. 5. chap. 6. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. And God did so deliver them , after he had shewed many wonders upon the Egyptians , and smote their first-born , Exod. 12. 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , &c. And the Lord went before them by day , in a pillar of a cloud , to lead them the way , and in a pillar of fire by night , to give them light , &c. Exod. 13. 21. When Pharoah and his host pursued Israel , so that they reckoned themselves lost , and were in great distress , then the Angel of God which went before the Camp , removed and went behind them , &c. between the Camp of the Egyptians and them : and the Lord divided the sea , while Israel passed through , and there drowned all the Egyptians , Exod. 14. 10 , 11 , 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 , &c. The Lord shall judge his people , and repent himself for his servants , when he seeth that their power is gone , and there is none shut up or left , Deut. 32. 36. When David was great in distress , because Ziklag was burned , his wives , and the wives of his followers taken away , and all their substance , by the Amalekites , and his men spake of killing him ; then God directs him to pursue the Amalekites , and he recovered all again by a wonderful hand , 1 Sam. 30. 1 , 2 , 3 , to the 20. When king David was in great danger at hand , by the counsel of Ahitophel in the time of Absoloms rebellion ; God overthrew the counsel , by the counsel of Hushai , and so marvellously preserved David , 2 Sam. 17. 1 , 2 , 3 , &c. When Elijah fled from Ahab in a time of famine , God commanded the Ravens to feed him , &c. and the Ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morn , &c. when the brook dried up , God sent him to a widow to nourish him ; when her meal was out , God caused the barrel of meal not to waste , the cruse of oyl not to fail until the Lord sent rain , 1 King. 17. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , to the 17. So again , when he fled from Jezebel , and had requested of God that he might dye , the angel comes to him , and gives him bread and water twice , and then enabled him to go in the strength thereof many days , 1 Kings 19. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. When the wife of one of the sons of the Prophets was in distress , because of poverty , and danger of creditors , God by Elisha makes her pot of oyl to increase , to the filling of many vessels , to pay her debts with , 2 Kings 4. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. When Samaria was besieged , and in great distress by reason of the sad famine in it , God on a sudden makes the Assyrians fly and leave plenty behind them in their camp , and so relieved his people , 2 Kings 6. chap. 7. When Judah was environed , the battel before and behind them , then God delivered them , and overcame their enemies , slew five hundred thousand of them , 2 Chron. 13. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. When the Jews were by Hamans procurement appointed to slaughter , and the decree just ready to be executed , and they greatly distressed and helpless : Then God appeared , and delivered in a marvellous manner , Esther 3. chap. 6. chap. 7. Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress , Psal. 4. 1. When the Psalmist had reckoned up the sad state Gods people had been reduced to , he saith , Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep , like a mighty man , &c. and he smote his enemies in the hinder part : he put them to a perpetual reproach , Psal. 78. 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66. Thou turnest man to destruction : and saist , Return ye children of men , Ps. 90. 1. God slew the Assyrians , and saved Judah when they were low , Isa. 36. ch . 37. I will heal thee , &c. because they call thee an out-cast , saying , This is Zion whom no man looks after : Thus saith the Lord , behold , I will bring again the captivity of Jacobs tents , Jer. 30. 17 , 18. God appeared for his , when in the fire , and in the lyons den , and delivered them , Dan. 3. chap. 6. When Peter through unbelief was sinking in the sea , Christ stretched out his hand , and caught him , and saved him , Matt. 14. 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. When the Apostles were put into the prison , the Angel of the Lord brought them out , Act. 5. 18 , 19. Peter being imprisoned , in order to his being brought out to the people , and being fettered , and lying between two souldiers ; the angel of the Lord came , said , Arise : the chains fell off , the gates open of their own accord , he is delivered , Act. 12. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , to the 12. When Paul and Silas was thrust into the inner prison , and their feet fast in the stocks , God made the foundation of the prison to shake , and doors fly open , and delivered Paul and Silas , Act. 16. 23 , 24 , 26 , 29 , 30 , 39. Paul , when the Jews went about to kill him , was delivered by the captain , &c. Act. 21. 30 , 31 , 32. Paul and his company strangely saved in their voyage by sea , and shipwrack , Act. 27. 9thly , That Afflictions and Persecutions , shall be for the great good of Saints . It is better to go to the house of mourning , than to go unto the house of feasting : for that is the end of all men , and the living will lay it to his heart . Sorrow is better than laughter : for by the sadness of the countenance , the heart is made better , Eccles. 7. 2 , 3. By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged : and this is all the fruit , to take away his sin , Isa. 27. 9. I will bring the third part through the fire , &c. they shall call on my name , and I will hear them . I will say , it is my people , and they shall say , the Lord is my God , Zech. 13. 9. Blessed are ye , when men shall revile you and persecute you , &c. rejoyce and be exceeding glad , for great is your reward in heaven , Matt. 5. 11 , 12. Whosoever will lose his life for my sake , shall find it , Matt. 16. 25. Joh. 12. 25. Every one who hath forsaken houses , &c. for my name sake , shall receive an hundred fold , and shall inherit everlasting life , Matt. 19. 29. Luke 18. 29 , 30. Blessed are ye who hunger now , for ye shall be filled : blessed are ye who weep now , for ye shall laugh , Luk. 6. 21. In nothing terrified , &c. which is to them an evident token of , &c. but to you of salvation , and that of God , Phil. 1. 28. It is a righteous thing with God , to recompence tribulation unto them who trouble you : and to you who are troubled , rest with us , when the Lord , &c. 2 Thes. 1. 5 , 6 , 7. Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods , knowing in your selves , that ye have in heaven a better and an , &c. Heb. 10. 34. Moses , &c. choosing rather affliction with the people of God , &c. esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches , &c. for he had respect unto the recompence of reward , Heb. 11. 24 , 25 , 26. Now no chastening for the present , &c. nevertheless , afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness , Heb. 12. 11. The tryal of your faith worketh patience , &c. blessed is the man who endureth temptations , for when he is tryed , he shall receive the crown of life , James 1. 3 , 12. We have heard of the patience of Job , and have seen the end of the Lord , James 5. 11. Rejoyce , inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings , that when his glory shall be revealed , ye may be glad also with exceeding joy , 1 Pet. 4. 13. These are they who came out of great tribulations , &c. therefore are they before the throne of God , and serve him day and night in his temple : and he who sitteth on the throne , shall dwell among them , &c. shall feed them , &c. and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes , Rev. 7. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. See some of the ends of Gods afflicting his , Chap. 22. 10thly , That God will not always chide , nor suffer his to be under afflictions and persecutions ; they shall have an end , he will bring deliverance , and restore joy . After Israel had been long and sorely oppressed , and afflicted by the Egyptians , the Lord sent Moses for their deliverance : and said , I have surely seen the afflictions of my people which are in Egypt , and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters , &c. and I am come-down to deliver them out of their hand , &c. and to bring them up out of that land , unto a good land , Exod. 3. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. chap. 6. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Yet for all that , when they be in the land of their enemies , I will not cast them away , neither will I abhor them to destroy them utterly , &c. but I will for their sakes remember the covenant , &c. I am the Lord , Levit. 26. 43 , 44 , 45. For the Lord will judge his people , and repent him for his servants , when he sees that their power is gone , &c. he will be merciful to his land , &c. Deut. 32. 36 , 43. He maketh sore , and bindeth up : he woundeth , and his hands make whole , Job 5. 18. And the Lord turned the captivity of Job , &c. also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before , Job 42. 10. The needy shall not always be forgotten : the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever , Psal. 9. 18. Lord , thou hast heard the desire of the humble , &c. to judg the fatherless and the oppressed , that the man of the earth may no more oppress ( or , terrifie ) , Psal. 10. 17 , 18. For the oppression of the poor , for the sighing of the needy , now will I arise , saith the Lord , I will set him in safety from him who would ensnare him , ( or , puffeth at them ) , Psal. 12. 5. Sing unto the Lord , O ye Saints of his , &c. for his anger endureth but a moment , &c. weeping may endure for a night , but joy cometh in the morning , Psal. 30. 4 , 5. The righteous cry , and the Lord heareth , and delivereth them out of all their troubles , &c. many are the afflictions of the righteous , but the Lord delivereth him out of them all , Psal. 34. 17 , 19. I waited patiently for the Lord , &c. he brought me up also out of an horrible pit , out of the miry clay , and set my feet upon a rock , &c. Psal. 40. 1 , 2. Call upon me in the time of trouble , I will deliver thee , and thou , &c. Psal. 50. 15. Thou who hast shewed me great and sore troubles , shalt quicken me again , and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth : thou shalt increase my greatness , and comfort me on every side , Psal. 71. 20 , 21. I will hear what God the Lord will speak : for he will speak peace to his people : but let them not turn again to folly , Psal. 85. 8. The Lord is merciful and gracious , &c. he will not always chide , neither will he keep his anger for ever , Psal. 103. 8 , 9 , 13 , 14. The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous , lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity , Psal. 125. 2 , 3. They who sow in tears , shall reap in joy : he who goeth forth and weepeth , &c. shall doubtless come again with rejoycing , &c. Psal. 126. 5 , 6. The Lord will judg his people , and he will repent himself concerning his servant , Psal. 135. 14. For yet a very little while , and the indignation shall cease , and mine anger in their destruction , Isa. 10. 25. Though thou wast angry with me , thine anger is turned away , and thou comfortedst me , Isa. 12. 1. The Lord will have mercy on Jacob , and will yet chuse Israel , and set them in their own land , &c. and they shall rule over their oppressors , &c. the Lord will give thee rest from thy sorrow , and from thy fear , and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve , Isa. 14. 1 , 2 , 3. God hath comforted his people , and will have mercy upon his afflicted , Isa. 49. 13. The redeemed of the Lord shall return , and come with singing unto Zion , &c. they shall obtain gladness and joy . Sorrow and mourning shall flee away , I , I am he who comforteth you , &c. hear now this thou afflicted , &c. I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling , &c. thou shalt no more drink it again , Isa. 51. 11 , 12 , 21 , 22. For a small moment have I forsaken thee , but with great mercy will I gather thee : in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment , but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee , &c. Isa. 54. 7 , 8. I will not contend for ever , neither will I be always wroth : for the spirit should fail before me , and the fouls I have made . For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth , and smote him : I hid me , &c. and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart . I have seen his ways , I will heal him : I will lead him also , and restore comforts unto him , and , &c. Isa. 57. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. In my wroth I smote thee , but in my favour have I had mercy on thee , Isa. 60. 10. The spirit of the Lord God is upon me , &c. to bind up the broken hearted , &c. to comfort all who mourn ; to appoint unto them who mourn in Zion , to give unto them beauty for ashes , and the oyl of joy for mourning , &c. Isa. 61. 1 , 2 , 3. I know the thoughts that I think towards you , saith the Lord , thoughts of peace , and not of evil , to give you an expected end , Jer. 29. 10 , 11. I will heal thee of thy wounds , saith the Lord , because they called thee an outcast , saying , This is Zion whom no man seeketh after , Jerem. 30. 17. He who scattereth Israel , will gather him , &c. I will turn their mourning into joy , and will comfort them , and make them rejoyce from their sorrow , &c. Is Ephraim my dear son , & c ? I will surely have mercy on him , saith the Lord , &c. As I have watched over them to pluck up , and to break down , &c. so will I watch over them to build , and to plant , saith the Lord , Jer. 31. 10 , 13 , 20 , 28. For the Lord will not cast off for ever : but though he cause grief , yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies : for he doth not afflict willingly , Lam. 3. 31 , 32. Therefore thus saith the Lord God , Now will I bring again the Captivity of Jacob , and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel , and will be jealous for mine holy name , after that they have born their shame , &c. Ezek. 39. 25 , 26. Come let us return unto the Lord : for he hath torn , and he will heal us : he hath smitten , and he will bind us up , &c. Hos. 6. 1. Rejoyce not against me , O mine enemy : though I fall , I shall arise , &c. I will bear the indignation of the Lord , because I have sinned against him , until he plead my cause , &c. he will bring me forth to the light , and I shall behold his righteousness , &c. Who is a God like unto thee , who pardoneth iniquity , & c ? he retaineth not his anger for ever : because he delighteth in mercy , he will turn again , he will have compassion upon us , Mic. 7. 8 , 9 , 18 , 19. Blessed are they who mourn , for they shall be comforted , Mat. 5. 4. Verily , verily , I say unto you , that ye shall weep and lament , &c. but your sorrow shall be turned into joy , &c. ye now therefore have sorrow , but I will see you again , and your heart shall rejoyce , Joh. 16. 20 , 22. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly , Rom. 16. 20. God is faithful , &c. but will with the temptation also make a way to escape , 1 Cor. 10. 13. God , who delivered us from so great a death , and doth deliver , 2 Cor. 1. 10. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them who trouble you : and to you who are troubled , rest with us , when the Lord Jeus , &c. 2 Thes. 1. 6 , 7. What persecutions I endured , but out of them all the Lord delivered me , 2 Tim. 3. 11. The Lord stood with me , &c. and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion , 2 Tim. 4. 17. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations , 2 Pet. 2. 9. 11thly , That afflictions and persecutions have been the lot of Christ himself , and of the Saints in all ages . The Disciple is not above his Lord , nor the servant above his master : it is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master , &c. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub , how much more shall they call them of his houshold ? Fear them not therefore , Mat. 10. 24 , 25 , 26. If the world hate you , you know that it hated me before it hated you , &c. remember the word that I said unto you , The servant is not greater than the Lord : if they have persecuted me , they will also persecute you , Joh. 15. 18 , 20. We are made a spectacle unto the world , and to angels , and to men , &c. even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst , and are naked , and are buffetted , and have no certain dwelling-place , &c. being reviled , &c. persecuted , &c. we are made as the filth of the world , and the off-scouring of all things unto this day , 1 Cor. 4. 9 , 11 , 12 , 13. There hath no temptation taken you , but what is common to man , 1 Cor. 10. 13. For we who live , are always delivered to death for Jesus sake , 2 Corinth . 4. 11. But as then , he who was born after the flesh , persecuted him who was after the spirit : even so it is now , Gal. 4. 29. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of Witnesses , &c. let us run with patience the race which is set before us , looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith , who for the joy which was set before him , endured the Cross , &c. for consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself , lest you be wearied and faint in your minds , Heb. 12. 1 , 2 , 3. Take , my Brethren , the Prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord , for an example of suffering affliction and of patience , Jam. 5. 10. Hereunto also are ye called : because Christ also suffered for us , leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps , 1 Pet. 2. 21. Your adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion , &c. whom resist stedfast in the faith ; knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world , 1 Pet. 5. 8 , 9. How long , O Lord , &c. dost thou not judg and avenge our blood on them who dwell on the earth ! and it was said unto them , That they should rest yet for a little season , until their fellow-servants also , and their brethren which should be killed as they were , should be fulfilled , Rev. 6. 10 , 11. Fourthly , What are the Duties of the Saints , and how they ought to behave themselves under their afflictions and sufferings , both towards God and men . 1st , Towards God. 1st , To eye God in them , afflictions being sent of him . Joseph said to his Brethren , it was not you who sent me hither , but God , Gen. 45. 5 , 8. I will harden Pharoahs heart , that he shall follow after them , &c. Exod. 14. 4. When Israel wanted water in the desert , they did not eye God in it , but chide with Moses , Numb . 20. 2 , 3. But Sihon King of Heshbon would not let us pass by him : for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit , and made his heart obstinate , Deut. 2. 30. See now that I , even I , am he , &c. I kill , and I make alive : I wound , and I heal : neither is there any who can deliver out of my hand , Deut. 32. 39. When Samuel had told Eli what the Lord would do against his house , he said , It is the Lord , 1 Sam. 3. 18. Shimei cursed David , &c. David said , So let him curse , because the Lord hath said unto him , Curse David ; who then shall say wherefore ? 2 Sam. 16. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Satan said , Put forth thine hand , &c. Job said , The Lord gave , and the Lord hath taken , Job 1. 11 , 21. Chap. 2. 5. Afflictions cometh not forth of the dust , neither doth trouble come out of the ground : &c. the chastening of the Lord : for he maketh sore , and bindeth up : he woundeth , &c. Job 5. 6 , 17 , 18. chap. 9. 12. I will say unto God , &c. wherefore contendest thou with me ? Job 10. 2. chap. 30. 11. God hath overthrown me , &c. he hath fenced up my way , that I cannot pass , &c. Job 19. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. When he giveth quietness , who then can make trouble ? and when he hideth his face , who then can behold him ? Job 34. 29. I opened not my mouth , because thou didst it , &c. when thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity , thou makest his beauty to consume away , &c. Psal. 39. 9 , 11. Thou who hast shewed me great and sore troubles , shalt quicken me , Psal. 71. 20. Thou turnest man to destruction , Psal. 90. 3. Their enemies , he turned their heart to hate his people , and to deal subtilly with his servants , Psal. 105. 25. I make peace , I create evil : I the Lord do all these things , Isa. 45. 7. I was wrath with my people : I have , &c. given them into thine hand , Isa. 47. 6. The Lords voice crieth unto the city , &c. Hear ye the rod , and who hath appointed it , Micah 6. 9. When we are judged , we are chastened of the Lord , 1 Cor. 11. 32. Moses endured , as seeing him who is invisible , Heb. 17. 29. Whom the Lord loves , he chasteneth , and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth , Heb. 12. 6 , 7. See more of common calamities , Chap. 23. 2dly , To submit to God , with an humble , quiet , and silent spirit , under troubles . When God had slain Nadab and Abihu Aarons son , and Moses had told Aaron that God would be sanctified in all those who came near him , &c. Aaron held his peace , Levit. 10. 1 , 2 , 3. If their uncircumcised hearts be humbled , and they then except of the punishment of their iniquity : then will I remember my covenant , Levit. 26. 41 , 42. Ye shall eat until it come out at your nostrils , and it be loathsome unto you : because that ye have despised the Lord who is among you , and have wept before him , saying , Why came we forth out of Egypt ? Numb . 11. 19 , 20. Do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee : deliver us only , we pray thee , this day , Judg. 10. 15. When Samuel had told Eli all which God had threatned against Eli's house ; Eli said , It is the Lord , let him do what seemeth him good , 1 Sam. 3. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. David said , Carry back the Ark of God into the city : if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord , he will bring me again , &c. But if he thus say , I have no delight in thee : behold , here am I , let him do to me as seemeth good to him , 2 Sam. 15. 25 , 26. Behold , the day cometh , that all which is in thine house , and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day , shall be carried unto Babylon : nothing shall be left , saith the Lord , &c. Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah , Good is the word of the Lord , which thou hast spoken , &c. 2 Kings 20. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. When Job had received all the sad messages of his losses , he worshipped , And said , Naked came I out of my mothers womb , and naked shall I return thither : the Lord gave , and the Lord hath taken away , blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not , Job 1. 19 , 20 , 21. Then said his wife to him , &c. Curse God , and die . But he said unto her , &c. what ? shall we receive good at the hand of God , and shall we not receive evil ? in all this did not Job sin , Job 2. 9 , 10. How much less shall I answer him , and chuse out my words to reason with him ; whom , though I were righteous , would I not answer , & c ? Job 9. 13. 14 , 15. Shall any teach God knowledg , seeing he judgeth those who are high ? one dieth in his full strength ( or , in the strength of his perfection ) , &c. and another dieth in the bitterness of his soul , and never eateth with pleasure , Job 21. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25. God is greater than man : why dost thou strive against him ? for he giveth not account of any of his matters : for God speeketh once , yea twice , man perceiveth it not , &c. Job 33. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. For he will not lay upon man more than is right , that he should enter into judgment with God , &c. Surely it is meet to be said unto God , I have born chastisement , I will not offend : that which I see not , teach thou me . If I have done iniquity , I will do no more , Job 34. 23 , 31 , 32. The Lord answered Job , and said , Shall he who contendeth with the Almighty , instruct him ? he who reproveth God , let him answer it . Then Job answered , and said , Behold , I am vile , what shall I answer thee ? I will lay my hand upon my mouth ; once have I spoken , but I will not answer , &c. Job 40. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. I was dumb , I opened not my mouth , because thou didst it , Psal. 39. 9. My son , despise not the chastenings of the Lord , neither be weary of his correction : for whom the Lord loveth , he correcteth , Prov. 3. 11 , 12. Heb. 12. 5 , 6. Wo unto him who striveth with his maker : let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth : shall the clay say to him who fashioneth it , what ? &c. Isa. 45. 9. Cannot I do with you as this potter , saith the Lord ? Behold , as the clay is in the potters hand , so are ye in my hand , O house of Israel , Jer. 18. 4 , 5 , 6. Thou hast chastened me , &c. after that I was instructed , I smote upon my thigh , I was ashamed , &c. Jer. 31. 18 , 19. God tells his people in Babylon , that if they would abide there , he would build them , and not pull them down ; but if they submitted not to their condition , but said , They would go down to Egypt where they might see no war , &c. Then judgments should follow them thither , and there they should die , Jer. 42. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth ; he sitteth alone , and keepeth silence , because , &c. he putteth his mouth in the dust : if so be , there may be hope , &c. Wherefore doth the living man complain , &c. for the punishment of sins ? Lam. 3. 27 , 28 , 29 , 39. I will bear the indignation of the Lord , because I have sinned against him , Micah 7. 9. None of these things move me , neither is my life dear unto me , so that , &c. Act. 20. 24. Tribulation worketh patience , and patience experience , &c. Rom. 5. 4 , 5. Patient in tribulations , Rom. 12. 12. Neither murmur ye as some of them murmured , and were destroyed , 1 Cor. 10. 10 , 11. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities , in reproaches , in necessities , in persecutions , in distresses for Christs sake : for when I am weak , then am I strong , 2 Cor. 12. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 3. I have learned , in whatsoever state I am , therewith to be content , Phil. 4. 11 , 12. We our selves glory in you , &c. for your faith and patience in all your persecutions , 2 Thess. 1. 4. Fathers of our flesh , who correct us , &c. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the father of spirits , and live ? for they , &c. chasten us after their pleasure ; but he for our profit , Heb. 12. 9 , 10. James 1. 12. Submit your selves therefore to God : resist the Devil , James 4. 7. The husbandman waiteth , &c. Be ye also patient , stablish your hearts : for the coming of the Lord , &c. James 5. 7 , 8 , 11. If ye do well , and suffer for it , and take it patiently , this is acceptable to God , 1 Pet. 2. 20. Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God , that he may exalt you in due time , 1 Pet. 5. 6. 3dly , To confess their sins , and justifie God. If they shall confess their iniquity , and the iniquity of their fathers , with their trespasses , &c. then will I remember my covenant , &c. Levit. 26. 40 , 41 , 42. Thou art just in all that is brought upon us , for thou hast done right , but we have done wickedly , &c. Neh. 9. 33 , 34 , &c. I have sinned , what shall I do unto thee , O thou preserver of men ? Job 7. 20. How should man be just with God ? if he will contend with him , he cannot answer him one of a thousand , &c. If I justifie my self , mine own mouth shall condemn me , Job 9. 2 , 3 , 20. He looketh unto men : and if any say , I have sinned , &c. he will deliver his soul from going into the pit , &c. Job 33. 27 , 28. He will not lay upon man more than is right , &c. Job 34. 23. Behold , I am vile , what shall I answer thee , & c ? Job 40. 3 , 4. I uttered that I understood not : things too wonderful for me , which I knew not , &c. I abhor my self , and repent in dust and ashes , Job 42. 3 , 5 , 6. He hath not dealt with us after our sins : nor rewarded us according to our iniquities , Psal. 103. 10. The church in her affliction confesseth her sin , Isaiah 59. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. Thou sayest , Because I am innocent , surely his anger shall turn from me : behold , I will plead with thee , because thou sayest , I have not sinned , Jer. 2. 35. Only acknowledg thine iniquity , &c. Jer. 3. 12 , 13. Daniel confesseth to God at large , in the time of the captivity , Dan. 9. 5 , to the 16. Zion spreadeth forth her hands , &c. The Lord is righteous , for I have rebelled , Lam. 1 , 18 , 20. It is the Lords mercy we are not consumed , &c. wherefore doth the living man complain , & c ? Let us search , and try our ways , and turn again , Lam. 3. 22 , 39 , 40. The crown is fallen from our head : wo to us that we have sinned , Lam. 5. 16. I will go and return to my place , till they acknowledg their offence , and seek my face : in their afflictions they will seek me early , Hosea 5. 15. I will bear the indignation of the Lord , because I have sinned against him , Micah 7. 9. Dost thou not fear God , seeing thou art in the same condemnation ? and we indeed justly , for we receive the due reward of our deeds , &c. Luk , 23. 40 , 41. See more of confession at large , Chap. 16. See more of confession of sins , in time of common calamities , Chap. 23. One to another , Chap. 17. See prayer , Chap. 16. 4thly , To hold fast to God , own the Lord Jesus , his people , and ways , in the midst of trouble , afflictions , and persecutions . Job his wife said unto him in his great affliction , Dost thou still retain thy integrity ? Curse God , and die . But he said unto her , Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh : what ? &c. In all this did not Job sin with his lips , Job 2. 9 , 10. All this is come upon us , yet have we not forgotten thee , neither have we dealt falsly in thy covenant . Our heart is not turned back : neither have our steps declined from thy way . Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons , and covered us with the shadow of death : If we have forgotten the name of our God , &c. Psal. 44. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. The proud have had me greatly in derision : yet have I not declined from thy law , &c. Many are my persecutors and mine enemies : yet do I not decline from thy testimonies , &c. Princes have persecuted me without a cause : yet doth my heart stand in awe of thy word , Psal. 119. 51 , 157 , 161. The Lord spake unto me , &c. and instructed me , that I should not walk in the way of this people , saying , Say ye not a confederacy to all them to whom this people shall say a confederacy : neither fear ye their fear , nor be afraid : Sanctifie the Lord of host himself , and let him be your fear and your dread , and he shall be for a sanctuary , Isa. 28. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. When Jeremy had prophesied to Judah , then spake the priest and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people , saying , This man is worthy to dye : for he hath prophesied against this city , &c. Then spake Jeremy unto all the princes , and to all the people , saying , The Lord sent me to prophesie against this house , &c. therefore now amend your ways , &c. But as for me , behold , I am in your hand , do with me as seemeth good , &c. Jer. 26. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. Daniel ( when a captive in Babylon ) he purposed in his heart , that he would not defile himself with the portion of the kings meat , nor with the wine which he drank : and therefore he requested , &c. that he might not defile himself , &c. desired pulse to eat , and water to drink , Dan. 1. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. When a strict law had been made by the king , that every one should fall down , and worship the golden Image he had set up , under pain of being cast into the fiery furnace : Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego refuse to do it , and in the presence of the king , said , We are not careful to answer thee in this matter , &c. our God whom we serve , is able to deliver us , &c. and he will , &c. But if not , be it known unto thee , O king , that we will not serve thy gods , nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up , Dan. 3. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. When a decree was passed , that whosoever should ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days , save of the king , he should be cast into the Lions den . And Daniel knew that the writing was signed : He went into his house , and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem , he kneeled upon his knees three times a day , and prayed , and gave thanks , as he did aforetime , Dan. 6. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake : but he who endureth unto the end , shall be saved , &c. He who loveth father or mother more than me , is not worthy of me , &c. And he who taketh not his cross and followeth after me , is not worthy of me , &c. He who loseth his life for my sake , shall find it , Mat. 10. 22 , 37 , 38 , 39. ch . 16. 24 , 25 , 26. He heareth the word , and anon with joy receiveth it : yet hath he not root in himself , but dureth for a while : for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word , by and by he is offended , Mat. 13. 20 , 21. When Christ was taken , his disciples fled . Peter denied him : but afterwards wept bitterly for his so doing , Mat. 26. 56 , 70 , 72 , 74 , 75. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation , of him also shall the son of man be ashamed , when he cometh in the glory of his father , &c. Mark. 8. 36. These things have I spoken unto you , that ye should not be offended , Joh. 16. 1. Gal. 5. 11. ch . 6. 12. When the Apostles had been commanded not to speak at all , &c. in the name of Jesus , they say , Whether it be right in the sight of God , to hearken unto you more than unto God , judg ye . For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard , Act. 4. 19 , 20. Again , when they were charged with preaching contrary to their command , the Apostle said , We ought to obey God rather than men . And they preached Christ before the council , who caused them to be beaten , and gave them a new charge not to preach ; yet they daily in the temple , and in every house , ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ , Act. 5. 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 40 , 41 , 42. None of these things move me , &c. so that I may finish my course with joy , and the ministry , &c. Act. 20. 23 , 24. I am ready , not only to be bound , but also to die , &c. for the name of the Lord Jesus , Act. 21. 13. Paul before Felix said , After the way they call heresie , so worship I the God of my fathers , Act. 24. 14. Many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds , are much more bold to speak the word without fear , &c. that ye stand fast , &c. striving together for the faith of the Gospel , and in nothing terrified by your adversaries , Phil. 1. 14 , 27 , 28. Be thou not therefore ashamed of the testimony of the Lord , nor of me his prisoner : but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel , &c. I suffer these things ; nevertheless I am not ashamed , 2 Tim. 1. 8 , 12. If we suffer , &c. if we deny him , he also will deny us , 2 Tim. 2. 12. — Nor faint when thou are rebuked of him , Heb. 12. 5. If any man suffer as a Christian , let him not be ashamed , but glorifie God , 1 Pet. 4. 16. Thou shalt suffer , &c. be thou faithful unto the death , and I will give thee a crown of life , Rev. 2. 10. See more of perseverance , Chap. 16. 5thly , To be chearful under affliction , and rejoyce to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ. Although the fig-tree shall not blossom , neither shall fruit be in the vine , &c. yet I will rejoyce in the Lord , I will joy in the God of my salvation , Hab. 3. 17 , 18. When they shall revile you , and persecute you , and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake , rejoyce and be exceeding glad , Math. 5. 11 , 12. In the world ye shall have tribulation : but be of good chear , I have overcome the world , Joh. 16. 33. When the Apostles had been put into the common prison , brought before the council , and been beaten there ; they departed from the presence of the council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name , Act. 5. 18 , 27 , 40 , 41. Paul and Silas being thrust into the inner prison , and their feet made fast in the Stocks , sang praises unto God , and the prisoners heard , Act. 6. 24 , 25. Bonds and afflictions abide me , but none of these things move me , Act. 20. 23 , 24. What mean we to weep , &c. I am ready , not to be bound only , but also to die , Act. 21. 13. And not only so , but we glory in tribulation also , Rom. 5. 3. As sorrowful , yet always rejoycing , 2 Cor. 6. 10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities , in reproaches , in necessities , in persecutions , in distresses for Christs sake , 2 Cor. 12. 9 , 10. I Paul am made a minister , who now rejoyce in my sufferings for you , Col. 1. 23 , 24. Thou therefore endure hardship , as a good soldier of ●●rist . 2 Tim. 2. 3. For ye , &c. took joyfully the spoyling of your goods , knowing in your selves , &c. Heb. 10. 34. Moses chusing rather to suffer , &c. esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt , Heb. 11. 25 , 26. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down , and the feeble knees , Heb. 12. 12. My brethren , count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations : knowing this , that the trying of your faith worketh patience , &c. Blessed is the man who endureth temptation : for when he is tryed , he shall receive the crown , James 1. 1 , 2 , 12. Beloved , think it not strange concerning the fiery tryal , which is to try you , &c. but rejoyce , inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings : that when his glory shall be revealed , ye may be glad also . If any suffer as a Christian , let him not be ashamed , but let him glorifie God in this behalf : for the time is come , when judgment , &c. 1. Peter . 4. 12. 13. 16. Let us go forth therefore unto him , without the camp , bearing his reproach , Heb. 13. 13. 6thly , To cry to the Lord for help , support , and salvation . Jacob in his distress , when Esau pursued him , prayed earnestly , Gen. 32. 8 , 9 , 24. Jacob in his great distress , when Joseph had kept Simeon , and required Benjamin also , said , God almighty give you mercy before the man , that he may send away your other brother , and Benjamin : If I be bereaved , &c. Gen. 43. 14. The children of Israel lifted up their eyes , and behold , the Egyptians marched after them , and they were sore afraid : and the children , of Israel cryed out unto the Lord , Exod. 14. 10. When all the waters were bitter , that the people could not drink , Moses cryed unto the Lord , Exod. 15. 23 , 24 , 25. Moses cryed unto the Lord , saying , What shall I do unto this people , they be almost ready to stone me ? &c. So when Amalek fought with Israel , Moses held up his hand , and then Israel prevailed , &c. Exod. 17. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 11 , 12. The Lord shall scatter you among the nations , &c. But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God , thou shalt find him , if thou seek him with all thine heart , and with all thy soul , Deut. 4. 27 , 29. When Israel were delivered into the hand of their enemies , they cryed unto the Lord , and the Lord raised up a deliverer , Judg. 3. 8 , 9. Hannah was in bitterness of soul , and prayed unto the Lord , and wept sore , 1 Sam. 1. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. David in his distress , prayed the Lord to turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishn●… 2 Sam. 15. 31. ch . 12. 22. In my distress I called upon the Lord , and cryed to my God , and he did hear my voice out of his temple , 2 Sam. 22. 7. When Jerusalem was in distress , by reason of the Assyrians , and Rabshakehs railing and threatning : Hezekiah spread the letter before the Lord , and prayed before the Lord , and said , O Lord God , &c. 2 Kings 19. 14 , 15 , 16 , &c. Hezekiah was sick unto death , &c. he turned his face to the wall , and prayed unto the Lord , saying , I beseech thee , O Lord , &c. he wept , 2 Kings 20. 1 , 2 , 3. When there came an host of One thousand thousand against Judah , Asa cryed unto the Lord his God , and said , Lord , it is nothing unto thee to help , &c. 2 Chron. 14. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. There came a great multitude against Jehosaphat , &c. he feared , and set himself to seek the Lord , and proclaimed a fast , &c. And Jehosaphat stood in the congregation , and said , O Lord God of our fathers , art not thou God , & c ? 2 Chron. 20. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , &c. When Manasseh was in affliction , he besought the Lord his God , &c. and prayed unto him , and he was intreated of him , 2 Chron. 33. 11 , 12 , 13. He heareth the cry of the afflicted , Job 34. 23. O Lord save me from all them who persecute me : and deliver me , Psal. 7. 1. Our fathers , &c. they cryed to thee , and were delivered , &c. He hath not despised nor abhorred the afflictions of the afflicted : neither hath he hid his face from him : but when he cryed unto him , he heard , Psal. 22. 4 , 5 , 24. Psal. 107. 6 , 13. I sought the Lord , and he heard me , and delivered me from all my fears . This poor man cryed , and the Lord heard , and saved him out of all his troubles , Psal. 34. 4 , 6 , 17. Psal. 35. The Psalmist prays for help and salvation in such a time , Psal. 38. 20 , 21 , 22. Psal. 39. 10 , 13. For thy sake are we killed all the day long , &c. Awake , why sleepest thou , O Lord , arise , &c. Wherefore hidest thou thy face , forgettest our affliction , & c ? Psal. 44. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26. Call upon me in the day of trouble , and I will deliver thee , and thou shalt glorifie me , Psal. 50. 15. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord : my sore ran in the night , Psal. 77. 2. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee : for thou wilt answer me , Psal. 86. 7. I called upon the Lord in distress : the Lord answered me , and set me in a large place , Psal. 118. 5. Psal. 130. 1. The Church in her low condition prays earnestly , Look down , &c. Isa. 63. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. I called upon thy name , O Lord , out of the low dungeon , &c. Lam. 3. 55 , 59 , &c. I will go and return unto my place , till they acknowledg their offence , and seek my face : in their affliction they will seek me early , Hosea 5. 15. When the mariners were in the tempest , they called upon their gods , and roused up Jonah to call upon his God , if so be , God will think upon us , that we perish not , Jonah 1. 4 , 5 , 6. Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fishes belly , and said , I try , &c. Jonah 2. 1 , 2 , &c. The Ninevites prayed , &c. who can tell if God will turn , & c ? Jonah 3. 8 , 9. 2 Sam. 12. 22. When Peter saw the wind boisterous , he was afraid : and beginning to sink , he cryed , saying , Lord save me . And immediately Jesus , &c. caught him , Mat. 14. 30 , 31. When the Apostles had been imprisoned , and convened before council , they lift up their voice to God , with one accord , and said , Lord , thou art God , &c. Behold their threatnings , and grant unto thy servants , &c. Act. 4. 24 , 29 , 30. Peter therefore was kept in prison : but prayers was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him , Act. 12. 5 , 12. Paul when he was under the buffeting of Satan , saith , For this thing I besought the Lord thrice , that it might depart from me , 2 Cor. 12. 7 , 8. Is any among you afflicted ? let him pray , &c. Is any sick among you ? let him call for the elders of the Church , and let them pray over him , &c. And the prayer of the faithul shall save the sick , James 5. 13 , 14 , 15. See more of prayer , Chap. 16. See more of duties in common calamities . 7thly , Not to fear , but believing , commit their case to God , and quietly wait for his salvation . He hath said , I will never leave thee nor forsake thee . So that we may boldly say , The Lord is my helper , I will not fear what man can do unto me , Heb. 13. 5 , 6. Israels impatiency in waiting for God made them quarrel with Moses , and Moses with God , although God was in his way of delivering , Exod. 5. 21 , 22 , 23. The children of Israel said unto Moses , Because there were no graves in Egypt , hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness , &c. And Moses said unto the people , Fear ye not , stand still , and see the salvation of the Lord , which he shall shew to you this day , &c. The Lord shall fight for you , Exod. 14. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Because of Israels unbelief , and impatiency in waiting for God , they were not suffered to enter Canaan , only their children , of whom they had said , They should be a prey , they did possess the land , Deut. 1. 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39. As an incouragement , we should remember what God hath done formerly , Deut. 7. 17 , 18 , 19. And David was greatly distressed , &c. but David incouraged himself in the Lord his God , 1 Sam. 30. 6. It may be the Lord will look on my affliction , and that the Lord will requite good for his cursing this day , 2 Sam. 16. 12. Elisha said , when the city was invironed with enemies , Fear not , for they who be with us , are more than they who be with them , &c. But when there was a famine in Samaria , the king ( because deliverance hastened not ) said , Behold , this evil is from the Lord : what should I wait for the Lord any longer ? 2 Kings 6. 14 , 15 , 16 , 33. 2 Chron. 32. 7 , 8. In the great famine of Samaria , the great lord who would not believe the plenty the prophet had foretold , was told by the prophet that he should see it , but not eat thereof : and so it fell out unto him , &c. 2 Kings 7. 1 , 2 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Though Judah was beset by Israel , yet Judah prevailed , because they relied upon the Lord God , &c. 2 Chron. 13. 14 , 18. Be not afraid , nor dismayed : for the battel is not yours , but Gods , &c. Stand ye , and see the salvation of the Lord with you , 2 Chron. 20. 15 , 16 , 17. To God I would commit my cause , Job 5. 8. I waited patiently for the Lord , and he inclined to me , &c. He brought me out of an horrible pit , Psal. 40. 1 , 2. Why art thou cast down , O my soul ? why art thou disquieted in me ? hope thou in God : for I shall yet praise him , Psal. 42. 5 , 11. Cast thy burden upon the Lord , and he shall sustain thee , Psal. 55. 22. Our bones are scattered at the graves mouth , &c. But mine eyes are unto thee , O Lord , Psal. 141. 7 , 8. If thou faint in the day of adversity , thy strength is small , Prov. 24. 10. The fear of man bringeth a snare ; but whoso trusteth in the Lord , shall be safe , Prov. 29. 25. Take heed , and be quiet : fear not , neither be faint-hearted , &c. because Syria , Ephraim , &c. have taken evil counsel against thee , &c. I shall not stand , Isa. 7. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. And I will wait upon the Lord , who hideth his face from the house of Jacob , and I will look for him , Isa. 8. 17. It shall be said in that day , Lo , this is our God , we have waited for him , and he will save us , Isa. 25. 9. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace , whose mind is staid on thee , Isa. 26. 3. The Egyptians shall help in vain , &c. therefore have I cryed , &c. their strength is to sit still , &c. Thus saith the Lord , In returning and rest you shall be saved , in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength , &c. Isa. 30. 7 , 15. Fear not , for I am with thee : be not dismayed , for I am thy God , &c. Isa. 41. 10 , 13 , 14. Who is among you who feareth the Lord , who obeyeth the voice of his servant , who walketh in darkness , and hath no light ? let him trust in the name of the Lord , and stay upon his God. Behold all ye who kindle a fire , &c. Isa. 50. 10 , 11. Fear ye not the reproach of men , neither be ye afraid of their revilings , &c. I , even I am he who comforteth you . Who art thou , that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die , &c. and forgettest the Lord thy maker ? Isa. 51. 7 , 12 , 13. It is the Lords mercies that we are not consumed , because his compassions fail not , &c. It s good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord , Lam. 3. 22 , 25 , 26. When my Soul fainted within me , I remembered the Lord , Jonah 2. 7. The Son dishonoured the father , &c. Therefore will I look unto the Lord , I will wait for the God of my salvation , Micah 7. 6 , 7. The Lord is good , a strong hold in the day of trouble , and he knoweth them who trust in him , Nahum 1. 7. Come unto me all ye who labour and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest , Mat. 11. 28. God is faithful , who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able ; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape , 1 Cor. 10. 13. We should not trust in our selves , but in God , &c. who delivered us from so great a death , and doth deliver : in whom we trust , that he will yet deliver , 2 Cor. 1. 9 , 10. In nothing terrified by your adversaries , Phil. 1. 28. Be careful for nothing , but in every thing , &c. let your request be made known unto God , Phil. 4. 6. We our selves glory in you , &c. for your patience and faith in all your persecutions , 2 Thess. 1. 4. Christ also suffered for us , leaving us an example , &c. when he suffered he threatned not , but committed his cause to him who judgeth righteously , 1 Pet. 2. 21 , 23. If ye suffer , &c. be not afraid of their terror , &c. But sanctifie the Lord , &c. 1 Pet. 3. 14 , 15. Wherefore let them who suffer according to the will of God , commit the keeping of their soul to him in well-doing , as unto a faithful Creator , 1 Pet. 4. 19. See more of trust in God , Chap. 16. See of waiting for God. Secondly , The duties of saints , and how they ought to behave themselves towards enemies and persecutors , in a time of persecution and suffering from them . 1st , To be patient , quiet , and sober towards them : not revenge , or return evil for evil , or reviling for reviling , but forgive them . Joseph instead of revenging upon his brethren , for their injuring of him , speaks kindly to his brethren , and said , Be not grieved , nor angry with your selves , that ye sold me hither : for God did send me before you to preserve life , &c. So now it was not you who sent me hither , but God , Gen. 45. 6 , 7 , 8 , Though Saul hunted for Davids life , yet would not David avenge himself upon him , 1 Sam. 24 ch . 26. When Shimei cursed David , he bore it quietly , and would not avenge himself , 2 Sam. 16. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. And afterward Abishai said to David , Shall not Shimei be put to death for this , because he cursed the Lords anointed , &c. David said to Shimei , Thou shalt not die , 2 Sam. 19. 21 , 22 , 23. O God , to whom vengeance belong , &c. shew thy self , Psal. 94. 1. Envy thou not the oppressor , ( or the man of violence ) , Prov. 3. 31. Say not thou , I will recompence evil : wait on the Lord , and he shall save , Prov. 20. 22. Say not , I will do so to him as he hath done to me : I will render to the man , &c. Prov. 24. 29. He was oppressed , &c. yet he opened not his mouth , &c. as a sheep , &c. so he opened not his mouth , Isa. 53. 7. Jeremy said , As for me , behold , I am in your hand , do with me as seemeth good , &c. Jer. 26. 11 , 14. Resist not : but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek , turn to him the other , Matth. 5. 38 , 39. If ye forgive men their trespasses , your heavenly father will also forgive you , Matth. 6. 14 , 15. When one of Christs disciples drew his sword , &c. he bid him put it up , &c. Matth. 26. 51 , 52. James and John said , Lord , Wilt thou that we command fire down from heaven , and consume them , & c ? but he turned and rebuked them : and said , Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of : for the Son of man is not come to desttoy mens lives , &c. Luke 9. 53 , 54 , 55 , 56. Paul said to Festus ( when he had said , He was besides himself ) ; I am not mad , most noble Festus , &c. Acts 26. 24 , 25. Recompence to no man evil for evil , &c. Avenge not your selves , but rather give place to wrath : for it is written , Vengeance is mine , I will repay , saith the Lord , Rom. 12. 17 , 19. Being reviled , we bless , &c. being defamed , we intreat , 1 Cor. 4. 12 , 13. See that none render evil for evil unto any man , 1 Thess. 5. 15. Ye have condemned and killed the just , and he doth not resist you , James 5. 6. So is the will of God , that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men , &c. Christ suffered , &c. leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps , &c. who when he was reviled , reviled not again : when he suffered , he threatned not , 1 Pet. 2. 15 , 21 , 23. Not rendring evil for evil , or railing , &c. 1 Pet. 3. 9. 2dly , Not to desire , or rejoyce in the hurt of enemies and persecutors . David mourned and wept when Saul was slain , although he had been his deadly enemy ; hated and pursued him several years , 2 Sam. 1. 4 , 5 , to the end . Abner his great enemy , who set up Ishbosheth in opposition to him , being slain , David said , I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever , &c. He commands all to mourn for him : and himself mourned , followed him to his funeral , 2 Sam. 3. 27 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 32. So David , instead of rejoycing that Ishbosheth was slain , commandeth his young men to kill those who slew him , 2 Sam. 4. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. When Israel had conquered Judah : the Prophet commanded them to let the captives go , feed them , and clothe them , and not insult over them , 2 Chron. 28. 9 , 10 , 11 , &c. If I rejoyce at the destruction of him who hated me , or lift up my self when evil found him : neither have I suffered my mouth to sin , by wishing a curse to his soul , Job 31. 28 , 29 , 30. He who is glad at calamities , shall not go unpunished , Prov. 17. 5. Rejoyce not when thine enemy falleth , and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth : lest the Lord see it , and it displease him , and he turn away his wrath from him , Prov. 24. 17 , 18. 3dly , To pray for , and do good to Persecutors and Enemies . If thou seest the asse or ox of thine enemy going astray , thou shall , &c. bring it back , &c. Exod. 23. 4 , 5. Miriam had spoken against Moses ; yet he prays for her , against her leprosie , Numb . 12. 1 , 10 , 13. Saul said to David , Thou hast rewarded me good , whereas I have rewarded thee evil , 1 Sam. 24. 17. Israel came and fought against Judah : and being overcome , Judah shews them kindness , 2 Chron. 28. If thine enemy hunger , give him bread to eat : and if he be thirsty , give them water to drink , &c. Prov. 25. 21. Rom. 12. 20. Seek the peace of the City , whither I have caused you to be carried captives : and pray unto the Lord for it , Jer. 29. 7. I say unto you , Love your enemies : bless them who curse you : do good to them who hate you , and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you , that you may be the children of your father , &c. for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil , &c. If you love them who love you , &c. do not even the Publicans the same ? Matth. 5. 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48. Christ said ( when upon the cross ) Father , forgive them , for they know not what they do , Luke 23. 34. They stoned Stephen ; and he , &c. cryed with a loud voyce , Lord , lay not this sin to their charge , Acts 7. 59 , 60. Paul prayed for Agrippa , that he were not only almost , but altogether as he , except his bonds , Acts 26. 28 , 29. Bless them who persecute you , &c. Wherefore if thine enemy hunger , feed him , &c. be not overcome of evil , but overcome evil with good , Rom. 12. 14 , 20 , 21. Being reviled , we bless , 1 Cor. 4. 12. 4thly , To use lawful , and honest means for avoiding and easing of , and delivering themselves from afflictions and persecutions . When Jacob heard of his brother Esau his coming against him , he was greatly afraid and distressed : and he divided the people that was with him , and the flocks , &c. and said , If Esau come to the one company and smite it , then the other company which is left shall escape , &c. And he took of that which came to his hand , a present for his brother Esau , &c. for he said , I will appease him with the present which goeth before me , &c. Gen. 32. 6 , 7 , 8 , 13 , 20. chap. 33. 8 , 13 , 14. Saul sought to smite David , &c. but he slipt away out of Sauls presence , &c. and escaped that night . Saul also sent messengers unto Davids house to watch him , and to slay him , &c. His wife let him down through a window , and he went and fled , and escaped , 1 Sam. 19. 10 , 11 , 12. David consulted with Jonathan about his safety from Saul , 1 Sam. 20. Elijah being threatned by Jezebel , arose , and went for his life , &c. 1 Kings 19. 2 , 3. Sanballat , &c. conspired all of them together to come to fight against Jerusalem , and to hinder the work : nevertheless , we made our prayer unto our God , and set a watch against them day and night , because of them , Nehem. 4. 7 , 8. Sanballat sent often to Nehemiah to come unto him , but he refused : because he knew they thought to do him some mischief , Nehem. 6. 2 , 3 , 4. Esther and Mordecai , did many things to procure the Jews escape , Esther 8. chap. 9. Jeremy intreated the king that he might not return to the prison , lest he should die there , Jer. 37. 18 , 20. When Herod sought Christ to kill him , the Angel said to Joseph , &c. Arise , and take the young child , &c. flee into Egypt , and be thou there , &c. for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him , Matth. 2. 13 , 14 , 15. Behold , I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves : be ye therefore wise as serpents , and harmless as doves : &c. but when they persecute you in this City , flee ye into another , Matth. 10. 16 , 23. The Pharisees , &c. held a council against him , how they might destroy him : but when Jesus knew it , he withdrew himself from thence , &c. he charged the multitude not to make him known , Matth. 12. 14 , 15 , 16. When Jesus heard that John was beheaded , he departed thence into a desert-place apart , Matth. 14. 12 , 13. Though Christ was free , and ought not to be charged with tribute-money : yet he said to Peter , Notwithstanding , lest we should offend them , go , &c. take , and give unto them for thee and me , Matth. 17. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27. When Christ had raised the Rulers daughter from the dead , he commanded that something should be given her to eat , Mark 5. 41 , 42 , 43. Jesus walked in Galilee : for he would not walk in Jury , because the Jews sought to kill him , John 7. 1. They took up stones to cast at him : but Jesus hid himself , and went out , &c. and so passed by , John 8. 59. From that day forth , they took counsel together to put him to death : Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews ; but went thence into a country near the wilderness , John 11. 53 , 54. The doors were shut where the disciples were assembled , for fear of the Jews , John 20. 19. When Saul persecuted the Church at Jerusalem , the brethren were scattered abroad , Acts 8. 1 , 3 , 4. chap. 11. 19. The Jews laid wait to kill Paul : but their laying wait was known unto Saul , and they watched the gates day and night to kill him : then the disciples took him by night , and let him down by the wall in a basket , &c. The Grecians went about to slay him ; which when the brethren knew , they brought him down to Cesaria , and sent him forth to Tarsus , Acts 9. 23 , 24 , 25 , 29 , 30. ch . 19. 30 , 31. ch . 17. 10 , 14 , 15. 2 Cor. 11. 32 , 33. Paul and Barnabas being at Iconium , the Jews and Gentiles made an assault to use them despitefully , and to stone them : they were aware of it , and fled into Listra and Derbe , &c. Acts 14. 1 , 5 , 6. When Paul was in danger , the brethren often sent him and others away from the place , Acts 17. 5 , 10 , 13. The Captain commanded that Paul should be examined by scourging , &c. Paul said , Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman , and uncondemned ? which prevented his being scourged , Acts 22. 24 , 25 , 26 , 29. chap. 16. 37 , 38. Paul said to Ananias , Sittest thou to judg me after the law , and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law , & c ? But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadduces , and the other Pharisees , he cryed out in the Council , Men and brethren , I am a Pharisee , the son of a Pharisee , of the hope and resurrection of the dead , I am called in question ( whereupon the Council divided , and broke to pieces ) . When Paul understood that there was a conspiracy to kill him , he gave notice thereof to the Captain , who conveyed him away from them , Acts 23. 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , &c. Paul pleaded in his defence before Felix ; and after appealed to Cesar , Acts 24. 10 , 11 , &c. ch . 25. 8 , 9. ch . 26. 1 , 2 , 3 , &c. Paul perswaded those in the ship to eat meat : when they were in danger , he said , This is for your health , &c. Acts 27. 33 , 34 , 35. I beseech you , &c. that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me , that I may be delivered from them who do not believe , in Judea , Rom. 15. 30 , 31. Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil , &c. of whom be thou ware also , for he hath greatly withstood our words , 2 Tim. 4. 14 , 15. 5thly , To look to the cause of our sufferings , that it be for well-doing , for Christ , and a good conscience : and not as busie-bodies in things unnecessary . They also who render me evil for good , are mine adversaries : because I follow the thing which is good , Psal. 38. 20. Do not ye serve my gods , nor worship the golden image , & c ? But if ye worship not , ye shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace , Dan. 3. 14 , 15 , 18. Daniel cast into the lions den for praying to God , contrary to the kings decrees , Dan. 6. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , &c. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you , &c. falsly for my sake , & e. for righteousness fake , Matth. 50. 10 , 11. When they charged the Apostles not to preach in Christ , name , they said , Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God , judg ye ? for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard , Acts 4. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. The high Priest asked them , saying , Did not we straitly command you , that you should not teach in this name , & c ? Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said , We ought to obey God rather than men , Acts 5. 27 , 28 , 29. But in all things approving our selves , &c. as deceivers , and yet true , 2 Cor. 6. 4 , 8. If I do preach Circumcision , Why do I yet suffer persecution ? then is the offence of the cross ceafed , Gal. 5. 11. ch . 6. 12. Having your conversation honest , &c. that whereas they speak against you as evil doers , &c. It is the will of God that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men , &c. this is thank-worthy , if a man for conscience towards God endure grief , suffering wrongfully , 1 Pet. 2. 12 , 15 , 19. If ye suffer for righteousness sake , happy are ye : be not afraid , &c. It is better , if the will of God be so , that ye suffer for well-doing , than for evil-doing , 1 Pet. 3. 13. 14 , 17. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ , happy are ye , &c. but let none of you suffer as a murderer , or as a thief , or as an evil-doer , or as a busie-body in other mens matters : yet if any suffer as a Christian , let him not be ashamed , 1 Pet. 4. 14 , 15 , 16. Amos 5. 13. The Duties of others : and how they ought to behave themselves towards such who are afflicted and persecuted . To sympathize with them , visit , help , comfort , and pray for them : take heed they add not to their trouble . When Abram heard that his brother Lot was taken captive , he armed ( or , led forth ) his trained ( or , instructed ) servants , &c. and pursued those who took Lot : and he smote them , &c. and he brought back all the goods : and also brought again his brother Lot , and his goods , and the women also , Gen. 14. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. When Nehemiah had heard that the Jews were in great affliction and reproach ( though he were then a servant to the king ) : he sat down , and wept , and mourned certain days , and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven , &c. Nehem. 1. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , &c. Thou shalt not vex a stranger , &c. Ye shall not afflict any widow , or fatherless-child , Exod. 22. 21 , 22. When Jobs three friends heard of the evil which was come upon him , they came every one from his own place , &c. for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him , and to comfort him , &c. They wept , Job 2. 11 , 12 , 13. Thou hast strengthned the weak hands : thy words have upholden him who was falling , and thou hast strengthned the feeble knees : But , &c. Job 4. 3 , 4. To him who is afflicted , pity should be shewed from his friend , Job 6. 14. Job said to his friends , Ye are forgers of lyes , ye are all Physicians of no value : O , that you would altogether hold your peace , &c. Will you speak wickedly for God , & c ? Job 13. 4 , 5 , 7. Job answered and said , I have heard many such things : miserable comforters are ye all ( or , trouble some comforters are ye all ) ? shall vain words have an end , & c ? I also could speak as ye do , if your souls were in my souls stead ; I could heap up words against you , and shake mine head at you : but I would strengthen you with my mouth , and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief , Job 16. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. He hath put my brethren far from me , and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me : my kinsfolk have failed , and my familiar friends have forgotten me : they who dwell in my house , and my maidens , count me for a stranger ; I am an alien in their sight , Job 19. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Because he hath loosed my cord , and afflicted me : they have also let loose the bridle before me , &c. Did not I weep for him who is in trouble ? was not my soul grieved for the poor ? Job 30. 11 , 25. God is said to be afflicted in the afflictions of his people , Isa. 63. 9. Wo to them who are at ease in Zion , &c. Ye that put far away the evil day , &c. that lie upon beds of ivory , &c. but they are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph , Amos 6. 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease : for I was but a litte displeased , and they helped forward the affliction , Zechar. 1. 15. When Jesus saw the multitude , he had compassion on them , because they fainted ( or , were tyred , and lay down ) , &c. Matth. 9. 36. I was an hungry , and ye gave me meat : I was thirsty , and ye gave me drink : I was a stranger , and ye took me in : naked , and ye cloathed me : I was in prison , and ye came unto me : I was sick , and ye visited me , &c. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren , ye have done it unto me , Matth. 25. 35 , 36 , 37 , 40. When Jesus had put forth the parable of a man falling among thieves , and was wounded , and the Priest and Levite passing by , and looking on : but the Samaritan had compassion on him , and went to him , and bound up his wounds , and took care of him ; he said , Go , and do thou likewise , Luke 10. 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37. Simon , Simon , Satan hath desired to have you , that he might sift you as wheat : but I have prayed for thee , that thy faith fail not ; and when thou art converted , strengthen thy brethren , Luke 22. 31 , 32. Peter therefore was kept in prison : but prayer was made without ceasing ( or , earnest and instant prayer was made ) of the Church unto God for him , Acts 12. 5 , 12. Rejoyce with them who do rejoyce , and weep with them who do weep : be of the same mind one towards another , Rom. 12. 15 , 16. The members should have the same care one of another : and whether one member suffer , all the members suffer with it : or one member be honoured , all the members rejoyce with it : now ye are the body of Christ , and members in particular , 1 Cor. 12. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27. Blessed be God , &c. who comforteth us in all our tribulations , that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble , by the comfort wherewith we our ●…lves are comforted of God , 2 Cor. 1. 3 , 4. Bear ye one anothers burthens , and so fulfil the law of Christ , Gal. 6. 2. Be kind one to another , tender-hearted , Eph. 4. 32. Ye have done well that ye did communicate with mine afflictions , &c. Ye sent once and again to my necessity , Phil. 4. 14 , 15 , 16. Put on therefore ( as the elect of God , holy and beloved ) bowels of mercy , Col. 3. 12. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord , nor of me his prisoner : but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel , &c. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus , for he often refreshed me , and was not ashamed of my chain : But when he was in Rome , he sought me out very diligently , and found me : the Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day , &c. how many things he ministred unto me at Ephesus , thou knowest , 2 Tim. 1. 8 , 16 , 17 , 18. At my first answer no man stood with me , but all men forsook me : I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge , 2 Tim. 4. 16. Ye endured a great fight of affliction : partly , whiles ye were made a gazing-stock , both by reproaches and afflictions : and partly , whilst ye became companions of them who were so used ; for ye had compassion on me in my bonds , &c. Heb. 10. 32 , 33 , 34. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers : for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares . Remember them who are in bonds , as bound with them : them who suffer adversity , as being your selves also in the body , Heb. 13. 2 , 3. Pure religion , &c. is to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction , James 1. 27. See Duties in common Calamities , Chap. 23. See Duty of Christians one to another , Chap. 17. CHAP. XXIII . Of Publick or common Calamities and Judgments . First , That they are of Gods ordering , and none can keep them off . GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth , &c. And the Lord said , I will destroy man whom I have created , &c. And behold , I , even I do bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh , &c. Accordingly he brings the flood , Gen. 6. 5 , 7 , 17. chap. 7. 4. The Lord rained upon Sodom , and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven ; and he overthrew those Cities , Gen. 19. 24 , 25. See now that I am He , and there is no God with me : I kill , I make alive : I wound , I heal ; neither is there any who can deliver out of my hand , Deut. 32 , 39. If ye turn away and forsake my statutes , &c. then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land , &c. 2 Chron. 7. 19 , 20. The Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirits of the Philistines , and of the Arabians , &c. and they came up into Judah , and brake into it , &c 2 Chron. 21. 16 , 17. They mocked the messengers , &c. till the wrath of the Lord arose against his people , and there was no remedy : therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees , who slew their young men , &c. 2 Chron. 36. 15 , 16 , 17. He turned their heart to hate his people , and to deal subtilly with his servants , Psal. 105. 25. He gave them into the hand of the heathen : and they who hated them , ruled over them , Psal. 106. 41 , 42. O Assyrian , &c. I will send him against an hypocritical nation , &c. to tread them down , &c. Isa. 10. 5 , 6. Behold , the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth , Isa. 26. 21. I have heard from the Lord of Hosts , a consumption determined upon the whole earth , Isa. 28. 22. Who gave Jacob for a spoil , and Israel to the robbers ? did not the Lord against whom , & c ? Isa. 42. 24. I make peace , and create evil : I the Lord do all these things , Isa. 45. 7. I was wrath with my people : I have , &c. given them into thine hand , &c. therefore shall evil come upon thee , &c. thou shalt not be able to put it off , &c. Isa. 47. 6 , 11. I have forsaken mine house : I have left mine heritage : I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies , Jer. 12. 7. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation , and concerning a kingdom , to pluck up , and to pull down , and to destroy : If that nation ; &c. Jer. 18. 7 , 8. Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow , wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of the Lords anger ? Lam. 1. 12 , 13 , 14 , &c. Shall there be evil in a city , and the Lord hath not done it ? Amos 3. 6. Therefore thus will I do unto thee , O Israel , &c. prepare to meet thy God , &c. Amos 4. 12. See more in afflictions , Chap. 22. 2dly , The priviledges of the Saints and servants of God , in such a time . When God destroyed the whole world by the flood , Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord , and he and his family were saved in the Ark , Gen. 6. 8 , 17 , 18. ch . 7. 1 , &c. God would have spared Sodom for the sake of ten righteous persons , Gen. 18. 32. In the destruction of Sodom , Lot was preserved , and all his , and sent out by the Angel from the overthrow , and escaped , Gen. 19. 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17. Jacob , and his family nourished by Joseph , in the great famine , Gen. 47. 12 , 13. I have seen the affliction of my people , &c. and I am come down to deliver them , &c. Exod. 3. 7 , 8. Act. 7. 34. God smote the Egyptians universally , in the destruction of their first-born . But he said , Against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue , against man or beast , &c. The plague shall not be upon you , Exod 11. 5 , 6 , 7. ch . 12. 11 , 12 , 13. Elijah and the widow fed in the time of the famine , 1 Kings 17. God said to good Josiah , Thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace , and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place , 2 Kings 22. 16 , 17 , 18 , 20. In famine he shall redeem thee from death : in war from the power of the sword : at destruction and famine thou shalt laugh , Psal. 5. 20 , 22. Psal. 33. 18 , 19. Thou shalt not be afraid , &c. nor for the pestilence , &c. for the destruction , &c. Psal. 91. 5 , 6 , 7. Psal. 37. 18 , 19. Though the earth be moved , &c. There is a river , the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God , &c. God is in the midst of her , &c. Psal. 46. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. Come my people , enter thou into thy chambers , and shut thy dores about thee : hide thy self , &c. until the indignation be over-past : for behold , the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth , &c. Isa. 26. 20 , 21. The whole land shall be desolate , yet will I not make a full end , Jer. 4. 27. ch . 5. 18. Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem , &c. if ye can find a man , if there be any who executeth judgment , who seeketh truth , and I will pardon it , Jer. 5. 1. When Jeremy was taken with the rest of the Jews , God took care of him , Jer. 39. 11 , 12 , 14. I will make a full end of all nations , where I have driven thee : but I will not make a full end of thee , Jer. 46. 28. Set a mark upon the foreheads of them who sigh and cry for all the abominations , &c. Slay utterly , old and young , &c. but come not near any man upon whom is the mark , Ezek. 9. 4 , 5 , 6. Though Noah , Daniel , and Job were in thee , they should deliver but their own souls only , Ezek. 14. 14 , 18 , 20. All ye meek of the earth , who have wrought his judgment , &c. it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords Anger , Zeph. 2. 3. Hurt not the earth , &c. till we have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads , Rev. 7. 2 , 3. And it was commanded that they should not hurt , &c. but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads , Rev. 9. 4. See more of the priviledges , Chap. 14. 3dly , The duties of Saints in such a time . If they shall confess their iniquity , &c. if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled , and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity : then I will remember my covenant with Jacob , &c. Lev. 26. 40 , 41 , 42. When Israel fled before the men of Ai , Joshua prayed , and God commands him to arise , and search out the sin , and remove the cause , Joshua 7. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , to the 16. If I shut up heaven , that there be no rain , &c. or if I send pestilence , &c. If my people , &c. shall humble themselves , and pray , and seek my face , and turn from their evil ways , then will I hear from heaven , forgive their sins , and heal their land , 2 Chron. 7. 13 , 14 , When Jerusalem was in distress , the princes , the king , humbled themselves , &c. And God said , They have humbled themselves , I will not destroy them , &c. 2 Chron. 12. 6 , 7. ch . 32. 26. When Judah was beset by Israel , they cryed unto the Lord , 2 Chron. 13. 14. Jehosaphat proclaimed a fast throughout all Judea , in such a case , 2 Chron. 20. Ezra 8. 21 , 22 , 23. Nehemiah mourned , and wept , and fasted , when he had heard of the sad calamity of the Jews , and he prayed , &c. So did Jeremy , Neh. 1. 3 , 4 , 5. ch . 2. 2 , 3. Lam. 3. 48 , 49. When the Jews were near destruction by Hamans means , &c. Mordecai , and the Jews greatly mourned , fasted , wept , lay in sack-cloth , Esther 4. 1 , 2 , 3 , 16. The psalmist makes complaint , and prays to God earnestly for the church in a great calamity , Psal. 74. Psal. 79. By the rivers of Babylon , there we sate down , we wept , when we remembred Zion , &c. If I forget thee , O Jerusalem , &c. Psalm 137. 1 , 4 , 5 , 6. The people turned not to him who smote them , neither do they seek the Lord of hosts , Isa. 9. 13 , 14. And in that day did the Lord of hosts call to weeping , and to mourning , and to baldness , &c. and behold joy , and gladness , slaying of oxen , &c. This iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die , saith the Lord , Isa. 22. 12 , 13 , 14. In the way of thy judgments , O Lord , we have waited for thee , &c. Come my people , enter into your chambers , &c. until the indignation be over-past , Isa. 26. 8 , 12 , 20 , 21. Hezekiah spread Rabshakehs letter before the Lord , and prayed unto the Lord , &c. Isa. 37. 14 , 15 , &c. Thou hast stricken them , but they have not grieved ; thou hast consumed them , but they have refused to receive correction , &c. They refused to return , Jer. 5. 3. ch . 2. 30. Oh that my head were water , and mine eyes a fountain of tears , that I might weep day and night , for the slain of the daughter of my people , &c. Jer. 9. 1. Mine eyes shall weep in secret places for your pride : and mine eye shall weep sore , and run down with tears , because the Lords flock is carried away captive , Jer. 13. 17. In the great famine , Jeremy confesseth sin , and prays to , and pleads with God for Israel at large , Jer. 14. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation , and concerning a kingdom , to pluck up , and to pull down , and to destroy : If that nation , &c. turn from their evil , I will repent of the evil which I thought . Behold , I frame evil against you , &c. return ye now , every one from , &c. Jer. 18. 7 , 8 , 11. The Lord blamed Baruch for seeking great things for himself , in such a day , Jer. 45. Let us search , and try our ways , and turn again to the Lord : let us lift up our heart with our hand unto God in the heavens , Lam. 3. 39 , 40 , 41 , 42. Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof , Ezek. 9. 4. I sought for a man among them , who should make up the hedg , and stand in the gap before me , for the land , that I should not destroy it : but I found none , Ezek. 22. 30 , Daniel in the captivity confesseth , and prayeth , Dan. 9. 3 , 4 , &c. God calls upon Israel , to sanctifie a fast , and to cry unto the Lord , Joel 1. 13 , 14. Zeph. 2. 1 , 2 , 3. Turn to me with all your heart , and with fasting , and with weeping , and with mourning : and rent your heart , and not your garments , and turn unto the Lord , &c. Who knoweth if he will return and repent , and leave a blessing behind him , & c ? Blow the trumpet in Zion , sanctifie a fast , Joel 2. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. Because I will do this , prepare to meet thy God , O Israel , Amos 4. 11 , 12. The prudent shall keep silent in that time : for it is an evil time , Amos 5. 13 , &c. Wo to them who are at ease in Zion , &c. but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph , Amos 6. 1 , 3 , 6. The people of Nineveh upon a threatning , fast , pray , and return from their evil , Jonah 3. 5 , 6 , &c. Though there be no ox in the stall , &c. yet I will rejoyce in the Lord , I will joy in the God , &c. Hab. 3. 17 , 18 , 19. Is this a time for you to dwell in your cieled houses , and this house lie waste ? Haggai 1. 4 , 5. When ye fasted and mourned , did ye at all fast unto me , & c ? Execute true judgment , &c. Zech. 7. 5 , 9 , 10. Jesus said unto them , Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans , because they suffered such things ? I tell you , nay : but except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish . Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloe fell , and slew them ; think ye that they were sinners above all men who dwelt in Jerusalem ? I tell you , nay : but except ye repent , &c. Luk. 13. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. CHAP. XXIV . Of Magistrates and Magistracy . First , That Magistracy is an Ordinance of God : That by him are Magistrates advanced to Offices , &c. The Titles given them . THE kingdom is the Lords , and he is the governour among the nations , Psal. 22. 28. Dan. 4. 17. Against all the gods ( or , Princes ) of Egypt , I will execute judgment , &c. Exod. 12. 12. And the Lord said to Moses , Gather unto me seventy of the Elders of Israel , &c. and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee , and will put it upon them : and they shall bear the burthen of the people with thee , &c. Numb . 11. 16 , 17 , 25. Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates , which the Lord thy God giveth thee throughout all thy tribes : and they shall judg the people , Deut. 16. 18. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust : lifteth the beggar from the dunghil , to sit among Princes , and to make them inherit the throne of glory , 1 Sam. 2. 8. When the people asked a king , the Lord said to Samuel , &c. For they have not rejected thee , but they have rejected me , that I should not reign over them , 1 Sam. 8. 5 , 6 , 7. The Kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins : also they have dominion over our bodies , &c. our cattel , &c. Nehem. 9. 37. Promotion cometh neither from the east , nor from the west , &c. but God is the judg : he putteth down one , and setteth up another , Psal. 75. 5 , 6 , 7. God , &c. judgeth among the gods , &c. I have said , Ye are gods , &c. Psal. 82. 1 , 6. By me kings reign , and princes decree justice : by me princes rule , and nobles , even all the judges of the earth , Prov. 8. 15 , 16. For the transgression of a land , many are the Princes thereof , Prov. 28. 2. And that day shall the Lord of Hosts be , &c. for a spirit of judgment unto him who sitteth in judgment , Isa. 28. 5 , 6. I have made the earth , &c. and have given it unto whom it seemeth meet unto me . And now have I given , &c. to Nebuchadnezzar , Jer. 27. 5 , 6 , 7. Blessed be the name of God , &c. he changeth the times and seasons : he removeth kings , and setteth up kings , &c. he is a God of gods , and Lord of kings , Dan. 2. 20 , 21 , 47. To the intent that the living may know , that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men , and giveth it to whomsoever he will : and setteth up over it the basest of men , &c. And they shall drive thee from men , &c. until thou know , that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men , and giveth it to whom he will , Dan. 4. 17 , 32. O thou king , the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom , and majesty , and glory , and honour , and for the majesty he gave him , all , &c. trembled , &c. Dan. 5. 18 , 19. There is no power but of God , the powers which be , are ordained ( or , ordered ) of God : whosoever therefore resisteth the power , resisteth the ordinance of God. Rulers are not a terror , &c. for he is the minister of God to thee for good , Rom. 13. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. 2dly , What they are in the sight of God , and considered as men . Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment : I am the Lord , Exod. 12. 12. He leadeth away counsellors spoiled , and maketh the Judges fools : he looseth the bonds of kings , and girdeth their loins with a girdle : he leadeth Princes away spoiled , and overthroweth the mighty , &c. he poureth contempt upon Princes , and weakneth the strength , &c. Job 12. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. Accepteth not the person of Princes , nor regardeth the rich , &c. for they all are the work of his hands : in a moment shall they dye , Job 34. 18 , 19 , 20. Be wise now therefore , O ye kings : be instructed ye Judges of the eath : serve the Lord with fear , and rejoyce with trembling : kiss the son lest he be angry , and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled , Psal. 2. 2 , 10 , 11 , 12. I have said , Ye are gods , &c. but ye shall dye like men , and fall like one of the Princes , Psal. 82. 6 , 7. The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord : as the rivers of water , he turneth it whither he will , Prov. 21. 1. If thou seest the oppression of the poor , and violent perverting of judgment and justice , &c. he who is higher than the highest , regardeth ; and there is a higher than they , Eccles. 5. 8. Ye scornful men , who rule this people , &c. because ye have said , We have made a covenant with death , &c. thus saith the Lord , &c. Your covenant with death shall be disanulled , &c. when the overflowing scourge shall pass thorow , then ye shall be trodden down by it , Isa. 28. 14 , 15 , 16 , 18. He who sitteth upon the circle of the earth , &c. who bringeth the Princes of the earth to nothing : he maketh the Judges of the earth as vanity , Isa. 40. 22 , 3. Say to the Prince of Tyrus , Thus saith the Lord God ; because thine heart is lifted up , and thou hast said , I am a god , I sit in the seat of God , &c. yet thou art a man , and not God : though thou set thine heart as the heart of God , &c. therefore , thus saith the Lord God , &c. I will bring strangers upon thee , &c. and they shall bring thee down to the pit , and thou shalt die the death of them , &c. but thou shalt be a man , and no God , in the hand of him who slayeth thee , Ezek. 28. 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Nebuchadnezzar the king in the height of his pride , driven out among the beasts , Dan. 4. 30 , 31 , 32 , 33. There is no respect of persons with God , Rom. 2. 11. 3dly , What are the Duties of Magistrates : and what they should be , negatively and affirmatively . Thou shalt provide out of all the people able men , such as fear God : men of truth , hating covetousness , and place over them to be rulers , Exod. 18. 16 , 20 , 21. Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of the poor in his cause , &c. and thou shalt take no gift : for gifts blindeth the wise , &c. Exod. 23. 6 , 8. Deut. 16. 19. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment : thou shalt not respect the person of the poor , nor honour the person of the mighty : in righteousness thou shalt judg thy neghbour , Levit. 19. 15. Moses , when the people had sinned , prayed earnestly for them , &c. Numb . 14. 13 , &c. Deut. 9. 25 , 26 , &c. Joshua 7. 7 , 8 , &c. Take ye wise men and understanding , and known among your tribes , and I will make them rulers over you , &c. And I charged your Judges at that time , saying , Hear between your brethren , and judg righteously between every man and his brother , and the stranger with him : ye shall not respect persons in judgment : you shall hear the small as well as the great : you shall not be afraid of the face of a man , for the judgment is Gods : and the cause which is too hard for you , bring it unto me , &c. Deut. 1. 13 , 15 , 16 , 17. The Lord your God is a God of gods , &c. who regardeth not persons , nor taketh reward : he doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow , Deut. 10. 17 , 18. Judges and officers , &c. and they shall judg the people with just judgment : thou shalt not wrest judgment : thou shalt not respect persons , neither take a gift : for a gift doth blind , &c. that which is altogether just shalt thou follow , Deut. 16. 18 , 19 , 20. Thou shalt in any wise set a king over thee whom the Lord thy God shall chuse : one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee : thou maist not set a stranger over thee who is not thy brother : but he shall not multiply horses to himself , &c. And it shall be , that when he shall sit upon the throne of the kingdom , that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book , &c. and it shall be with him , and he shall read therein all the days of his life , that he may learn to fear the Lord his God , to keep all the words of this law , &c. that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren : and that he turn not aside from the Commandment , Deut. 17. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. If there be a controversie between men , and they shall come unto judgment , that the Judges may judg them : then they shall justifie the righteous , and condemn the wicked , Deut. 25. 1. Samuel , his sons walked not in his ways : but turned aside after lucre , and took bribes , and perverted judgment , 1 Sam. 8. 1 , 3. And David executed judgment and justice unto all his people , 2 Sam. 8. 15. He who ruleth over men , must be ( or , be thou ruler over men ) just , ruling in the fear of God , 2 Sam. 23. 3. When the plague was upon Israel for Davids sins , he said , Lo , I have sinned and done wickedly : but these sheep , what have they done ? Let thine hand be against me , and against my fathers house , &c. 2 Sam. 24. 17. Solomon said , Give therefore thy servant an understanding-heart to judg thy people , that I may discern between good and bad , &c. And the speech pleased the Lord , 1 Kings 3. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Rehoboam took the counsel of the young men , and rejected the old mens advice : and answered the people roughly , and said , He would add to their burdens , and not ease them : whereupon many of the tribes revolt , and chuse them a King , 2 Chron. 10. He was going to fight against Israel , but God forbid him , 2 Chron. 11. 1 , 4. Jehoshaphat , &c. sent to his Princes , to Benhail , and to Obadiah , &c. to teach in the Cities of Judah : and with them Levites , even Shemajah , &c. and they taught in Judah , and had the book of the law of the Lord with them : and went about throughout all the Cities of Judah , and taught the people , 2 Chron. 17. 7 , 8 , 9. Jehoshaphat said to the Judges , Take heed what you do : for ye judg not for man , but for the Lord , who is with you in the judgment : wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you : take heed and do it : for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God , nor respect of persons , nor taking of gifts , 2 Chron. 19. 6 , 7. Jehoshaphat in a time of danger , stood in the congregation in the house of the Lord , and prayed himself with them , and for them there , 2 Chron. 20. 2 , 3 , to the 13. Nehemiah saith , From the time that I was appointed to be their governour , &c. I and my brethren have eaten the bread of the governour : but the former governours , &c. were chargeable unto the people , &c. yea , even their servants bear rule over the people : but so did not I , because of the fear of God , &c. Nehem. 5. 14 , 15 , 16 , 18. I gave my brother Hanani and Hanania , &c. charge over Jerusalem : for he was a faithful man , and feared God above many , Nehem. 7. 2. I was a father to the poor : and the cause which I knew not , I searched out : and I brake the jaws of the wicked , and pluckt the spoil out of his teeth , Job 29. 16 , 17. Be wise now therefore , O ye kings , be instructed ye Judges of the earth : serve the Lord with fear , and rejoyce with trembling , Psal. 2. 10 , 11. The wicked walk on every side , when the vilest men ( or , the vilest of the sons of men ) are exalted , Psal. 12. 10. Man in honour , and understandeth not , is like the beast who perisheth , Psal. 49. 20. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty , he judgeth among the gods : How long will ye judg unjustly , and accept the persons of the wicked ? Selah . Defend the poor and fatherless : do justice to the afflicted and needy ; deliver the poor and needy : rid them out of the hands of the wicked , Psal. 82. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. David said , I will not know a wicked person : whoso privily slandereth his neighbour , him will I cut off : him who hath a high look and a proud heart , him will I not suffer : mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me : he who walketh in a perfect way , shall serve me , &c. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land , &c. Psal. 101. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness : for the throne is established by righteousness : righteous lips are the delight of kings , and they love him who speaketh right , Prov. 16. 12 , 13. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked , to overthrow the righteous in judgment , Prov. 18. 5. A king who sitteth in the throne of judgment , scattereth away all evil with his eyes , &c. A wise king scattereth the wicked , and bringeth the wheel over them , &c. Mercy and truth preserve the king , and his throne is upholden by mercy , Prov. 20. 8 , 26 , 28. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord , than sacrifice , Prov. 21. 3. Take away the wicked from before the king , and his throne shall be established in righteousness , Prov. 25. 5. As a roaring lion , &c. so is a wicked ruler over the poor people : a Prince who wanteth understanding , &c. Prov. 28. 15 , 16. When the righteous are in authority , the people rejoyce : but when the wicked beareth rule , the people mourn , &c. The king by judgment stablisheth the land : but he who receiveth gifts , overthroweth it , &c. The king who faithfully judgeth the poor , his throne shall be established for ever , &c. Many seek the rulers favour , but every mans judgment is from the Lord , Prov. 29. 2 , 3 , 14 , 26. It is not for kings to drink wine : nor for Princes strong drink , lest they drink , and forget the law , and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted , Prov. 31. 4 , 5. Better is a poor and wise child , than an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished , Eccles. 4. 13. If thou seest the oppression of the poor , and violent perverting of judgment and justice , &c. he who is higher than the highest regardeth , Eccles. 5. 8. Wo to thee , O land , when thy king is a child , and thy Princes eat in a morning ; blessed thou , O land , when thy king is the son of Nobles , and thy Princes eat in due season , for strength , and not for drunkenness , Eccles. 10. 16 , 17. The Princes are rebellious , and companions of thieves : every one loveth gifts , and followeth after rewards : they judg not the fatherless , neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them , &c. Ah , I will ease me , &c. Isa. 1. 22 , 24. I will give children to be their Princes , and babes shall rule over them : and the people shall be oppressed every one by another , Isa. 3. 4. Wo unto them who decree unrighteous decrees , &c. to turn aside the needy from judgment , &c. what will ye do in the day of visitation , & c ? Isa. 10. 1 , 2 , 3. In that day shall the Lord of Hosts , &c. for a spirit of judgment to him who sits in judgment , Isa. 28. 5 , 6. He who despiseth the gain of oppressions , who shaketh his hands from holding of bribes , &c. he shall dwell on high , Isa. 33. 15 , 16. Is not this the fast that I have chosen , To loose the bands of wickedness , to undo the heavy burdens , and to let the oppressed go free , and that ye break every yoke ? Isa. 58. 6. Judgment is turned away backward , and justice standeth afar off : for truth it is fallen in the street , and equity cannot enter , Isa. 59. 14. Hear the word of the Lord , O king of Judah , &c. Thus saith the Lord , Execute ye judgment , and righteousness , and deliver ye the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor : do no wrong , do no violence to the stranger , &c. neither shed innocent blood in this place , &c. Shalt thou reign , because thou closest thy self in Cedar ? Did not thy father eat , and drink , and do judgment and justice , and it was well with him ? he judged the cause of the poor , then it was well with him , &c. but thine eyes , and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness , and for to shed innocent blood , and for oppression , and for violence , &c. Jer. 22. 1 , 2 , 3 , 15 , 16 , 17. Ezek. 22. 27. O Princes of Israel , remove violence and spoil , and execuue judgment and justice : Take away your exactions from my people , saith the Lord God , Ezek. 45. 9. King Nebuchadnezzar for his great pride , was driven from men to eat grass as an ox , Dan. 4. 30 , 31 , 32 , 33. I hate , I despise your feasts , &c. let judgment run down as waters , &c. Amos 5. 21 , 24. Hear this , ye Princes , &c. who abhor judgment , &c. the heads thereof judg for reward , Micah 3. 9 , 11. chap. 7. 3. Judg not according to the appearance , but judg righteous judgment , John 7. 24. Refrain your selves from these men , &c. for if this counsel , or this work be of men , it will come to nought : but if it be of God , ye cannot overthrow it , Acts 5. 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39. Ye ought to , &c. do nothing rashly , &c. the law is open , let them implead one another , Acts 19. 36 , 38. It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any to die , before he who is accused , have the accusers face to face , and have licence to answer for himself , &c. It seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner , and withal not to signifie the crime laid against him , Act. 25. 16 , 27. Rulers are not a terror to good works , but to the evil , &c. for he is the minister of God to thee for good , &c. a revenger , to execute wrath upon him who doth evil , &c. Theyare Gods ministers attending continually upon this very thing , Rom. 13. 3 , 4 , 16. Governours , &c. for the punishment of evil doers , and for the praise of them who do well , 1 Pet. 2. 14. The duties of subjects to their magistrates , in respect both to their persons and decrees . 1st , What they may not do : when and wherein they may not obey them . Render to Cesar the things which are Cesars , and to God the things which are Gods , Mat. 22. 21. The king of Egypt commanded the midwives to kill the men-children of the Hebrews . But they feared God , and obeyed not the king : And God took it well of them , Exod. 1. 15 , 16 , 17 , 20 , 21. Saul said , Jonathan should surely die , &c. And the people said , &c. As the Lord liveth , there shall not one hair of his head fall , &c. So the people rescued Jonathan that he died not , 1 Sam. 14. 43 , 44 , 45. Hezekiah , the Lord was with him , &c. and he rebelled against the king of Assyria , 2 Kings 18. 7. When king Nebuchadnezzar had commanded the worshiping of an Image , Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego refused to obey , &c. and said , Be it known unto thee , O King , that we will not serve thy gods , nor worship the Image , &c. Dan. 3. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. When Darius had established a decree , that none should ask any petition of any God or man , for thirty days : Daniel went into his house , after his wonted manner , and prayed three times a day , Dan. 6. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. When the Apostles were forbid to preach in the name of Christ , they answered , &c. Whether it be right in the sight of God , to hearken unto you more than unto God , judg you , Act. 41. 18 , 19 , 20. Then the council charged them with preaching contrary to their commands , &c. Peter , &c. said , We ought to obey God rather than men , Act. 5. 27 , 28 , 29. Moses was hid by his parents , &c. and they feared not the kings edict , &c. He feared not the wrath of the king , Heb. 11. 23 , 27. 2dly , What they ought to do , or wherein they should acknowledg and obey them . Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses , and God smote Miriam with a leprosie , Numb . 12. 1 , 9 , 10 , 11. The Lord destroyed Korah and his company , for their rebellion against Moses , &c. Numb . 16. 1 , &c. God threatned the Jews , for revolting from the king of Babylon , and breaking their oath and covenant with him , Ezek. 17 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Though there was no tribute due from Christ , yet he said to Peter , Lest we should offend them , go thou , &c. give unto them for me and thee , Mat. 17. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27. Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesars , Mat. 22. 21. Let every soul be subject to the higher power , &c. Whosoever therefore resisteth the powers , resisteth the ordinance of God , &c. shall receive to themselves damnation , &c. wilt thou then not be afraid of the powers ? do that which is good , &c. Ye must needs be subject , not only for wrath , but also for conscience sake , &c. For this cause pay you tribute , &c. render therefore to all their dues , tribute to whom tribute is due , custom to whom custom , fear to whom fear , honour to whom honour , Rom. 13. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers , to obey magistrates , &c. Tit. 3. 1. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake , whether it be to the king , as supream , or unto governours , as unto them who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers , &c. For so is the will of God , that with well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men , 1 Pet. 2. 13 , 14 , 15. 3dly , Give them due honour and respect : not contemn their persons , or speak evil of them . Thou shalt not revile the Gods ( or , Judges ) , nor curse the ruler of thy people , Exod. 22. 28. David said to Saul , My Lord the King : and when Saul looked behind him , David stooped with his face to the earth , and bowed himself , &c. He said , I will not put forth my hand against the Lords anointed , 1 Sam. 24. 8 , 10. Nathan the prophet , when he was come in before the king , he bowed himself before the king , with his face to the ground , &c. and said , My Lord , O king , &c. 1 Kings 1. 23 , 24. Is it fit to say to a king , Thou art wicked ? to princes , Ye are ungodly ? Job 34. 18. The kings wroth is as the roaring of a Lion , &c. Prov. 19. 12. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a Lion : whoso provoketh him to anger , sinneth against his own soul , Prov. 20. 2. Put not forth thy self in the presence of a king , &c. Prov. 25. 6 , 7. Where the word of a king is , there is power : and who may say unto him , What doest thou ? Eccles. 8. 4. Curse not the king , no not in thy thoughts , Eccles. 10. 20. Daniel said to Darius the king , O king , live for ever , Dan. 6. 21. When the Apostle had spoken sharply unto the High-priest , and some who stood by had said , Revilest thou Gods High-priest ? Then said Paul , I wist not , brethren , that he was the High-priest : for it is written , Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of my people , Act. 23. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Paul said , I think my self happy , king Agrippa , because I shall answer for my self this day before thee , &c. Festus said , &c. Paul , thou art beside thy self , much learning doth make thee mad . But he said , I am not mad , most noble Festus , but speak forth the words of truth and soberness , &c. Act. 26. 1 , 2 , 3 , 24 , 25. ch . 24. 10. Render therefore to all their dues , &c. fear to whom fear , honour to whom honour , Rom. 13. 7. Honour the king , 1 Pet. 2. 17. But chiefly them who walk in the lust of uncleanness , and despise government , &c. or dominion , &c. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities : whereas Angels , who are greater in power and might , bring not railing accusation against them , before the Lord , 2 Pet. 2. 10 , 11. Jude vers . 8 , 9. 4thly , To pray for them . Exhort therefore , that first of all supplications , prayers , intercessions , and giving of thanks be made for all men : for kings , and for all who are in authority ( or , eminent place ) , that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life , in all godliness and honesty . For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour , 1 Tim. 2. 1 , 2 , 3. 5thly , To endeavour to get good Magistrates . When Adonijah exalted himself , saying , I will be king , and preparation was made for it : Then Bathsheba the Queen , and Nathan the prophet , made application to David , to set up Solomon to be king ; and accordingly prevailed , 1 Kings 1. 6thly , To be content with such Magistrates which God hath set over us , although they be not such as they should be . When Samuel was old , he made his sons Judges over Israel , &c. and his sons walked not in his ways , but turned aside after lucre , and took bribes , and perverted judgment . Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together , and came to Samuel , &c. and said unto him , Behold , thou art old , and thy sons walk not in thy ways . Now make us a king to judg us , like all the nations , &c. This greatly displeased God , and he said to Samuel , They have not rejected thee , but they have rejected me , that I should not reign over them , &c. The people said , Nay , but there shall be a king over us , 1 Sam. 8. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 19 , 20. Samuel afterwards tells them , their wickedness was great in the sight of the Lord , in asking a king . Which sin the people acknowledged , when God had sent thunder and rain in harvest , 1 Sam. 12. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. They have set up kings , but not by me : they have made princes , and I knew it not , Hosea 8. 3 , 4. And thy judges of whom thou saidst , Give me a king , and princes ? I gave thee a king in mine anger , and took him away in my wrath , Hosea 13. 10 , 11. See the kings of Israel , &c. Chap. 44. CHAP. XXV . Of an Oath for Testimony , Confirmation , and ending of Controversies , and other occasions . ABraham said unto the king of Sodom , I have lift my hand unto the Lord , the most high God , that I would not take , &c. any thing , lest thou shouldst say , &c. Gen. 14. 22 , 23. Abimelech , &c. spake unto Abraham , saying , God is with thee , &c. Now therefore swear unto me here , by God , that thou wilt not deal falsly with me , nor with my son , &c. And Abram said , I will swear , &c. They swore both of them , Gen. 21. 22 , 23 , 24 , 31. Abram said unto his servant , Put , I pray thee , thy hand under my thigh , and I will make thee swear by the Lord , the God of heaven , and the God of the earth , that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites , &c. and the servant did swear , Gen. 24. 3 , 4 , 9. Abimelech and Isaac swear each to other , not to hurt one the other , Gen. 26. 28 , 29. 31. Jacob and Laban made a covenant , and swore to it . Jacob did swear by the fear of his father Isaac , Gen. 31. 44 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53. Israel called Joseph his son to him , and desired him to swear unto him , that he would bury him not in Egypt , but in his fathers burying-place . Joseph did swear unto him , Gen. 47. 29 , 30 , 31. Joseph had straitly sworn the children of Israel , saying , &c. ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you , Exod. 13. 19. Gen. 50. 25. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour , Exod. 20. 16. If a man deliver to his neighbour an ass , &c , and it die , or is hurt , &c. no man seeing it : then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both , that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbours goods , and the owner of it shall accept thereof , Exod. 22. 10 , 11. If a soul sin , and hear a voice of swearing , and is a witness whether he hath seen or known it , if he do not utter it , then he shall bear his iniquity , Levit. 5. 1. And ye shall not swear by my name falsly : neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God , Levit. 19. 12. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God , &c. and shalt swear by his name , Deut. 6. 13. ch . 10. 20. At the mouth of two witnesses , or three witnesses , shall he who is worthy of death be put to death : at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death . The hands of the witness shall be first upon him , Deut. 17. 6 , 7. One witness shall not rise up against a man , for any iniquity , or for any sin . At the mouth of two witnesses , or at the mouth of three witnesses shall the matter be established . If a false witness rise up , &c. the judges shall make diligent enquiry : and if the witness be a false witness , &c. then shall he do unto him , &c. Deut. 19. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. Joshua made peace with the Gibeonites , &c. and the princes of the congregation sware unto them , &c. The princes said , We have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel , therefore we may not touch them , Joshua 9. 15 , 19. ch . 2. 12 , 14 , ch . 6. 22. The men of Israel had sworn , &c. saying , There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife , &c. How shall we do , &c. seeing we have sworn by the Lord , & c ? Judges 21. 1 , 7 , 18. Jonathan said unto David , Go in peace , forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord , saying , The Lord be between me and thee , and between my seed and thy seed for ever , 1 Sam. 20. 13 , 17 , 42. Saul said unto David , Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord , that thou wilt not cut off my seed , &c. and David sware unto Saul , 1 Sam. 24. 21 , 22. The king sware to Shimei that he shoul not die , 2 Sam. 19. 23. God brought a famine upon Israel for the sin of Saul , in slaying the Gibeonites , with whom Israel had made a covenant , to which the princes swore , 2 Sam. 21. 1 , 2 , 3. David had sworn unto Bathsheba his Queen , by the Lord his God , that Solomon his son should reign after him , &c. And the king sware , and said , As the Lord liveth , &c. even as I swear unto thee by the Lord , &c. even so will I do , 1 Kings 1. 17 , 29 , 30. Jehojadah sent , &c. the rulers and captains , &c. and made a covenant with them , and took an oath of them in the house of the Lord , and shewed them the kings son , &c. 2 Kings 11. 4 , 5 , 6 , &c. Asa with Judah made a solemn covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart , &c. That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death , &c. And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice , &c. And all Israel rejoyced at the oath : for they had sworn with all their hearts , 2 Chron. 15. 8 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. Ezra made a covenant , &c. he made the chief priests , the Levites , and all Israel to swear , that they should do according to this word : and they sware , Ezra 10. 3 , 5. Nehemiah called the priests , and took an oath of them , that they should do according to this promise , Neh. 5. 11 , 12. The king shall rejoyce in God , every one who sweareth by him shall glory , Psal. 63. 11. A false witness shall not be unpunished , &c. Prov. 19. 5 , 9. He who sweareth in the earth , shall swear by the God of truth , Isa. 65. 16. Jer. 12. 16. And thou shalt swear , the Lord liveth in truth , in judgment , and in righteousness , Jer. 4. 2. How shall I pardon thee for this ? thy children have forsaken me , and sworn by them who are no gods , Jer. 5. 7. The king sware secretly unto Jeremiah , saying , As the Lord liveth who made us this soul , I will not put thee to death , Jer. 38. 16. God threatned the Jews king , for breaking his covenant , and despising his oath he made to , and with the king of Babylon , and saith , Surely mine oath which he hath despised , and my covenant which he hath broken , even it will I recompence upon his own head , &c. I will bring him to Babylon , Ezek. 17. 15 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 20. I heard the man cloathed in linnen , &c. when he lift up his right hand , and his left hand unto heaven , and sware by him who liveth for ever , that it shall be for a time , &c. Dan. 12. 7. God threatens to cut off them who swear by the Lord , and that swear by Malchum , Zeph. 1. 5. Every one who sweareth , shall be cut off , &c. I will bring it forth , saith the Lord of hosts , and it shall enter into the house of , &c. and into the house of him who sweareth falsly by my name , &c. Zech. 5. 3 , 4. Love no false oath : for all these are things which I hate , saith the Lord , Zech. 8. 17. Swear not at all , neither by heaven : for it is Gods throne : nor by earth , for it is his foot-stool , &c. But let your communication be , yea , yea , nay , nay : for whatsoever is more than these , cometh of evil , Mat. 5. 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37. James 5. 12. They sought false witnesses against Christ , and two came , Mat. 26. 60. Men verily swear by the greater : and an oath for confirmation , is to them an end of all strife : wherein God , willing more abundantly , &c. confirmed it by an oath , Heb. 6. 13 , 16 , 17 , 18. And the Angel , &c. lifted up his hand to heaven , and sware by him who liveth for ever , &c. that there should be time no longer , Rev. 10. 5 , 6. CHAP. XXVI . Of Preachers in general : Gospel-Ministers , of what spirits they should be , their Duty and Recompence . AND though the Lord give you the bread of adversity , and the water of affliction , yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more : but thine eyes shall see thy teachers , Isa. 30. 20. The Lord said unto Jeremy , Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee : and whatsoever I shall command thee , thou shalt speak . Be not afraid , &c. Jer. 1. 7 , 8. If thou take forth the precious from the vile , thou shalt be as my mouth , Jer. 15. 19. The word of the Lord was made a reproach , &c. and a derision daily : then said I , I will not make mention of him , nor speak any more in his name : but his word was in mine heart , as a burning-fire shut up in my bones : and I was weary with forbearing , and I could not stay , &c. Jer. 20. 8 , 9. Freely ye have received , and freely give : provide neither gold nor silver , nor brass in your purses , &c. for the workman is worthy of his meat , &c. I send you forth as sheep , &c. be ye therefore as wise as serpents , and harmless as doves , Mat. 10. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 16. Joh. 20. 21. Go ye therefore , teach all nations , baptizing them in the name of the Father , and of the Son , and of the holy Ghost : teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you : and lo I am with you , &c. Mat. 28. 19 , 20. He who speaketh of himself , seeketh his own glory : but he who seeketh his glory who sent him , the same is true , &c. Joh. 7. 18. The Apostles were very desirous to do good to the souls of others , and therefore took all occasions possible to preach the Gospel every where , Acts 2. 13 , 14 , &c. ch . 3. 12 , 13 , &c. ch . 4. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. ch . 5. 29 , 30 , 31 , 42 , ch . 7. 1 , 2 , 3 , &c. When the Apostles were forbid to preach Christ , they answer , Whether it be right in the sight of God , to hearken unto you more than unto God , judg ye : for we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard , Acts 4. 19 , 20. We will give our selves to prayer continually , and preaching of the word , Act. 6. 4. These are the servants of the most high God , who shew unto us the way of salvation , Act. 16. 17. Paul being a tent-maker , abode with Aquilla , being of the same craft , and wrought with him , &c. He reasoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath , &c. He testified to the Jews , that Jesus was Christ , &c. Apollos shewing by the Scriptures , that Jesus was the Christ , Acts 18. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 28. Paul preached three months , disputing and perswading about the kingdom of God ; but when divers were hardned , &c. he separated the disciples , &c. Acts 19. 8 , 9. Paul said , I kept back nothing which was profitable unto you : but have shewed you , and have taught you publickly , and from house to house , &c. testifying , &c. repentance towards God , and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ , &c. neither count I my life dear , so that I might finish , &c. the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus , to testifie the Gospel , &c. I am pure from the blood of all men : for I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole connsel of God , &c. I have coveted no mans silver , or gold , &c. ye your selves know that these hands have ministred to my necessity , and to them who were with me , Acts 20. 20 , 21 , 24 , 26 , 27 , 33 , 34 , 35. The Gentiles to whom I now send thee , to open their eyes , and to turn them from darkness to light , Acts 26. 17 , 18. Paul dwelt two years in his own hired house , and received all who came in unto him : preaching the kingdom of God , and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ , Acts 28. 30 , 31. I thank my God , &c. that your faith is spoken of , &c. without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers , &c. I Iong to see you , that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift , to the end you may be established , &c. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ ; for it is the power of God unto salvation , Rom. 1. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 16. Col. 1. 9. Ephes. 1. 15 , 16. I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me , to make the Gentiles obedient , &c. I beseech you brethren , for the Lord Jesus Christs sake , &c. that ye strive together with me in your prayer to God for me , that I may be delivered from them who do not believe , &c. Rom. 15. 18 , 30. When I came to you , I came not in the excellency of speech , or of wisdom , declaring unto you the testimony of God : for I determined not to know any thing among you , save Jesus Christ and him crucified , &c. and my speech and my preaching was not with inticing ( or , perswasible ) words of mans wisdom , but in demonstration of the spirit , &c. which things also we speak , not in the words mans wisdom teacheth , but which the holy Ghost teacheth : comparing spiritual things with spiritual , 1 Cor. 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 13. And I , brethren , could not speak unto you as spiritual , &c. I have fed you with milk , and not with meat : for hitherto ye were not able , &c. I have planted , &c. but God gave the increase : so then , neither is he who planteth any thing , &c. 1 Cor. 3. 1 , 2 , 6 , 7. Account of us as , &c. stewards of the mystery of God ; moreover , it is required in stewards , that a man be found faithful , &c. Even to this present hour we hunger , &c. and labour , working with our own hands , 1 Cor. 4. 2 , 11 , 12. Have we not power to eat and to drink , & c ? Who goeth to warfare at any time upon his own charge , & c ? so the Lord hath ordained , that they who preach the Gospel , should live of the Gospel , &c. but I have used none of these things , &c. wo is unto me if I preach not the Gospel , &c. though I be free from all men , yet have I made my self servant unto all , that I might gain the more : and unto the Jews , I became as a Jew , &c. I am made all things to all men , that I might by all means save some , 1 Cor. 9. 4 , 7 , 14 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23. I speak as to wise-men , judg ye what I say ; the cup of blessing , &c. Even as I please all men in all things , not seeking mine own profit , but the profit of many , that they may be saved , 1 Cor. 10. 15 , 33. In the Church , I had rather speak five words with my understanding , that I might teach others also , than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue , 1 Cor. 14. 18 , 19. By the grace of God , I am that I am , &c. I laboured , &c. yet not I , but the grace of God which was with me , 1 Cor. 15. 10. You also helping together by prayer for us , &c. not for that we have dominion over your faith , but are helpers of your joy , 2 Cor. 1. 11 , 24. If I make you sorry , who is he then who maketh me glad , but the same who is made sorry by me , & c ? out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears : not that ye should be grieved , but that , &c. we are not as many who corrupt the word of God : but as of sincerity , but as of God , in the sight of God speak we in Christ , 2 Cor. 2. 2 , 4 , 17. chap. 4. 1 , 2. Not that we are sufficient of our selves , to think any thing as of our selves , but our sufficiency is of God : who also hath made us able ministers , &c. 2 Cor. 3. 5 , 6. Commending our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God , &c. we preach not our selves , but Christ Jesus the Lord , and our selves your servants for Jesus sake , &c. We have the same spirit of faith , &c. we believe , and therefore speak , 2 Cor. 4. 2 , 5 , 13. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord , we perswade men , &c. the love of Christ constrains us , &c. God hath given unto us the ministry of reconciliation , &c. We are embassadors for Christ , as though God , &c. 2 Cor. 5. 11 , 14 , 18 , 19 , 20. Giving no offence in any thing , that the ministry be not blamed ; but in all things approving our selves as the ministers of God , in much patience in afflictions , in necessities , in distresses , &c. by pureness , by knowledg , &c. 2 Cor. 6. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. 10. We have wronged no man : we have corrupted no man , we have defrauded no man , &c. though I made you sorry , I do not repent , &c. I do rejoyce , not that you were made sorry , but that ye sorrowed to repentance , &c. that ye might receive damage by us in nothing , 2 Cor. 7. 2 , 8 , 9 , 10. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal , but mighty through God , &c. 2 Cor. 10. 4 , 5. Paul ( being forced to it for the Gospels sake , justifies and commends himself , 2 Cor. 11. ch . 12. I will not be burdensome to you : I seek not yours , but you : for the children , &c. and I will very gladly spend , and be spent for you ; though , &c. we do all things for your edisying , dearly beloved : for I fear , &c. lest when I come again , my God will humble me among you , and that I shall bewail many who have sinned , and have not repented , 2 Cor. 12. 14 , 15 , 17 , 19 , 20 , 21. We can do nothing against the truth , but for the truth , &c. I should use sharpness according to the power which the Lord hath given me to your edification , &c. 2 Cor. 13. 8 , 9 10. — Do seek to please men ; for if I yet pleased men , I should not be the servant of Christ , Gal. 1. 10. Paul blamed Peter for dissembling , openly , Gal. 2. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Paul had a holy jealousie of the Galatians : and after he had written largely to them about their turning back to the law , he saith , Ye observe days , and months , and years : I am afraid of you , lest I have bestowed labour in vain , Gal. 3. ch . 4. 10 , 11. When he ascended up on high , &c. he gave gifts unto men , &c. and he gave some Apostles , and some Prophets , and some Evangelists , and some Pastours and Teachers , for the perfecting of the saints , for the work of the ministry , &c. Ephes. 4. 8 , 11 , 12 , 13. Praying , &c. for me , that utterance may be given unto me , that I may open my mouth boldly , Ephes. 6. 18 , 19. 2 Thes. 3. 1 , 2. Col. 4. 3 , 4. God is my record how greatly I long after you all , in the bowels of Jesus , &c. some preach Christ out of envy , &c. what then ? notwithstanding every way , whether in pretence or in truth , Christ is preached , and I therein rejoyce , yea , and will rejoyce , Phil. 1. 8 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith , I joy , &c. I have no man like-minded , all seek their own things , not the things which are Jesus Christs , Phil. 2. 17 , 19 , 20 , 21. Not that I desire a gift : but I desire fruit that may abound to your account , Phil. 4. 16 , 17. Christ whom we preach , warning every man , and teaching every man in all wisdom , that we might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus ; whereunto I also labour , striving according to his working , who , &c. Col. 1. 27 , 28 , 29. I would that you knew what great conflict I have for you , and for they at Laodicea , &c. that their hearts might be comforted , Col. 2. 1. Our exhortation was not of deceit , &c. but as we were allowed of God , &c. even so we spake : not as pleasing men , but God , who tryeth our hearts ; for neither at any time used we flattering words , as ye know , nor a cloke of covetousness , God is witness ; nor of men sought we glory , &c. but we were gentle among you , even as a Nurse cherisheth her children ; so being affectionately desirous of you , we were willing to have imparted unto you , &c. labouring night and day , because we would not be chargeable to any of you , we preached unto you ; ye are witnesses , and God , how holily , and justly , and unblameably we behaved our selves , &c. what is our hope , or joy , or crown of rejoycing ? are not even ye , in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ? 1 Thes. 2. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 19. I could no longer forbear : I sent to know your faith , lest by some means the tempter , &c. for now we live , if ye stand fast in the Lord , 1 Thes. 3. 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Brethren , pray for us , 1 Thes. 5. 25. We behaved not our selves disorderly among you : neither did we eat any mans bread for nought , but wrought with labour and travel night and day , that we might not be chargeable to any of you ; not because we have not power ; but to make our selves an ensample unto you to follow us , &c. 2 Thes. 3. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Resuse profane and old wives fables , and exercise thy self unto godliness : These things command and teach , &c. be thou an example of the believers in word , in conversation , in charity , in spirit , in faith , in purity , &c. give attendance to reading , to exhortation , to doctrine , neglect not the gift which is in thee , &c. meditate upon these things ; give thy self wholly unto them , that thy profiting may appear to all ( or , in all things ) : take heed to thy self , and to the doctrine , &c. 1 Tim. 4. 7 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Stir up the gift of God which is in thee , &c. hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me , in faith and love , &c. 2 Tim. 1. 6 , 13. The things thou hast heard of me among many witnesses , the same commit thou to faithful men , who shall be able to teach others also ; thou therefore endure hardness , as a good souldier of Christ Jesus : no man who warreth , entangleth himself with the affairs of this life , that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a souldier , &c. I endure all things for the elects sake , &c. study to shew thy self a work-man that needeth not to be ashamed , rightly dividing , &c. foolish and unlearned questions avoid , knowing that they do gender strifes : But the servant of the Lord must not strive ; but be gentle unto all men , apt to teach , patient ( or , forbearing ) , in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves , if God peradventure will give them repentance , &c. &c. 2 Tim. 2. 2 , 3 , 4 , 10 , 15 , 16 , 23 , 24 , 25. Preach the word : be instant in season , out of season : reprove , rebuke , exhort with all long-suffering , and doctrine , &c. but watch thou in all things , endure afflictions , do the work of an Evangelist , make full proof of ( or , fulfil ) thy ministry , 2 Tim. 4. 2 , 5. There are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers , &c. whose mouths must be stopped , &c. wherefore rebuke them sharply , that they may be sound in the faith ; not giving heed to Jewish fables , and commandments of men , &c. Titus 1. 10 , 11 , 13 , 14. Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine : in all things shew thy self a pattern of good works , in doctrine , uncorruptness , gravity , sincerity , sound speech which cannot be condemned : that he who is of the contrary part , may be ashamed , having no evil thing to say of you , Titus 2. 1 , 7 , 8. Avoid foolish questions , and genealogies , and contentions , and strivings about the law ; for they are unprofitable and vain , Titus 3. 9. If any man speak , let him speak as the oracles of God , &c. that God , &c. 1 Pet. 4. 10 , 11. I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things , though ye know them , and be established in the present truth : yea , and I think it meet , as long as I am in this present tabernacle , to stir you up , by puting you in remembrance : knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle , &c. moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease , to have these things always in remembrance : for we have not followed cunningly devised fables , when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lords , &c. 2 Pet. 1. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. That which we have seen and heard , declare we unto you , &c. 1 Joh. 1. 3. I rejoyce greatly , that I found of thy children walking in truth , 2 Joh. ver . 4. 3 Joh. ver . 3 , 4. See more of the officers of Churches , Chap. 27. CHAP. XXVII . Of the Church of Christ under the several notions thereof , and the things belonging to the same in the general ; and also as considered in the several Congregations , and particular Churches thereof . The several acceptations of the Church mentioned in Scripture . 1st . General , or Universal . UPon this rock I will build my church , and the gates of hell shall not , &c. Matt. 16. 18. Christ is the head of the church : and he is the saviour of the body , &c. Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it , &c. that he might present it to himself a glorious church , Ephes. 5. 23 , 25 , 27. To the general assembly and church of the first born , who are enrolled in heaven , Heb. 12. 23. 2dly , Universal , Visible . The Lord added to the church dayly such as should be saved , Act. 2. 47. That now , &c. might be known by the church , the manifold wisdom of God , &c. unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus , throughout all ages , &c. Ephes. 3. 10 , 21. I Paul , &c. rejoyce in my sufferings , &c. for his bodyes sake which is the church , Col. 1. 24. 3dly , Particular visible Churches of believers , who are joyned together as one body , and usually meet together in one place , for the participation of the same Ordinances , and exercising Duties as a Church , and one to another as members thereof . Can two walk together except they be agreed ? Amos 3. 3. They all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication , &c. the number of the names together , were about a hundred and twenty , Act. 1. 13 , 14 , 15. And the same day there was added about three thousand souls : and they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship , and in breaking of bread , and in prayer , &c. and all who believed were together , &c. and they continuing dayly with one accord in the temple , &c. Act. 2. 41 , 42 , 44 , 46. Then had the Churches rest thorowout all Judea and Galilee , and Samaria , Act. 9. 31. Then tidings , &c. came unto the ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem , and they sent forth Barnabas , &c. At Antioch they assembled themselves a whole year with ( or , in ) the Church , and taught much people , Act. 11. 22 , 26. And when they had ordained them Elders in every Church , &c. they went to Antioch , &c. when they had there gathered the Church together , &c. Act. 14. 23 , 27. Paul and Barnabas came to Jerusalem : they were received of the Church , and of the Apostles and Elders , &c. then pleased it the Apostles , and Elders , with the whole Church , to send , &c. being assembled with one accord , they gathered the multitude together , delivered the Epistle , &c. Paul went , &c. confirming the Churches , Act. 15. 2 , 3 , 4 , 22 , 25 , 30 , 41. ch . 21. 17 , 18. When he had landed at Cesaria , and gon up and saluted the Church , &c. Act. 18. 22. Paul sent to Ephesus , and called the Elders of the Church , Act. 20. 17. Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth , 1 Cor. 1. 2. As I teach every where , in every Church , 1 Cor. 4. 17. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ , when ye are gathered together , &c. 1 Cor. 5. 4. When ye come together in the Church , &c. when ye come together therefore into one place , &c. despise ye the Church of God , &c. wherefore my brethren , when ye come together to eat , tarry one for another , 1 Cor. 11. 16 , 18 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 33 , 34. If therefore the whole Church be come together in one place , &c. let him keep silence in the Church , &c. as in all the Churches of the saints , &c. let women keep silence in the Churches , &c. it s a shame for a woman to speak in the Church , 1 Cor. 14. 23 , 28 , 33 , 34 , 35. As I have given order to the Churches of Galatia ; so do , &c. The Churches of Asia , 1 Cor. 16. 1 , 19. The Churches of Macedonia , &c. thorowout all the Churches , &c. chosen of the Churches , &c. brethren , the messengers of the Churches , &c. shew , &c. before the Churches , 2 Cor. 8. 1 , 18 , 19 , 23 , 24. Paul , &c. unto the Churches of Galatia , &c. unknown by face unto the Churches , Gal. 1. 1 , 2 , 22. Ye Philippians , &c. no Church , &c. but ye only , Phil. 4. 15. When this Epistle is read among you , cause it that be read also in the Church of Laodicea , Col. 4. 15 , 16. To the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God , 1 Thes. 1. 1. The Churches of God which in Judea are in Christ , &c. 1 Thes. 2. 14. The Church at Babylon , &c. salute you , 1 Pet. 5. 13. — Born witness of thy charity before the Church , &c. I wrote unto the Church , but Diotrephes , &c. casteth them out of the Church , 3 Joh. vers . 6. 9 , 10. The seven Churches of Asia , &c. Ephesus , Smirna , Pergamus , &c. Rev. 1. 4 , 11. The Dignity , Priviledges , and Blessings , belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ in general , as such . I will set my tabernacle among you : and my soul shall not abhor you : and I will walk among you , and will be your God , and ye shall be my people , Levit. 26. 11 , 12. Ezek. 37. 26 , 27 , 28. The cloud filled the house of the Lord ; so that the Priests could not stand to minister , because of the cloud , for the glory of the Lord had filled the house , 1 Kings 8. 10 , 11. chap. 9. 3. There is a river , the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God , the holy place of the tabernacles of the most high : God in the midst of her , she shall not be moved : God shall help her , &c. the Lord of hosts is with us : the God , &c. Psal. 46. 4 , 5 , 7. Out of Sion , the perfection of beauty , God hath shined , Psal. 50. 2. The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan , an high hill ; why leap ye , ye high hills ? this is the hill God desireth to dwell in , the Lord will dwell in it for ever , Psal. 68. 15 , 16. In Judah is God known , his name is great in Israel ; in Salem also is his tabernacle , and his dwelling-place in Sion , Psal. 76. 1 , 2. He delivered his strength into captivity , and his glory into the enemies hand : he gave his people over also unto the sword , and was wroth with his inheritance , Psal. 78. 61 , 62. How amiable are thy Tabernacles , O Lord of hosts , & c ! blessed are they who dwell in thy house , they will be still praising of thee , &c. they go from strength to strength , every one of them in Zion , appearing before God , Psal. 84. 1 , 4 , 7. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion , more then all the dwellings of Jacob : glorious things are spoken of thee , O city of God , &c. of Zion it shall be said , This and that man was born in her , and the highest himself shall establish her , Psal. 87. 2 , 3 , 5. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord , shall flourish , &c. still bring forth fruit , Psal. 92. 13 , 14. Holiness becomes thine house for ever , O Lord , Psal. 93. 5. The Lord is great in Zion , and he is high above all people , Psal. 99. 2. The Lord hath chosen Zion , he hath desired it for his habitation : this is my rest for ever , here will I dwell , for I have desired it : I will abundantly bless her provision , I will satisfie her poor with bread , &c. Psal. 132. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. The Lord shall reign for ever : thy God , O Zion , unto all generations , Psal. 146. 10. He sheweth his word unto Jacob : his statutes and his judgments unto Israel : he hath not dealt so with any nation , &c. Psal. 147. 19 , 20. The mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains , and shall be exalted above the hills , &c. out of Zion shall go forth the law , Isa. 2. 2 , 3. Micah 4. 1. The Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion , and upon her assembly , a cloud and smoak by day , and the shining of a flaming fire by night : for upon all the glory shall be a defence , &c. Isa. 4. 5 , 6. The Lord of hosts , who dwelleth in mount Zion , Isa. 8. 18. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb , &c. they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain , Isa. 11. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Cry out , and shout , thou inhabitant of Zion : for great is the holy one of Israel in the midst of thee , Isa. 12. 6. The Lord hath founded Zion , and the poor of his people shall trust in it , Isa. 14. 32. The moon shall be confounded , &c. when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion , Isa. 24. 23. In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things , a feast of wines on the lees , &c. and I will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people , &c. Isa. 25. 6 , 7. A vineyard of red wine , I the Lord do keep it ; I will water it every moment , left any hurt it : I will keep it night and day , Isa. 27. 2 , 3. As when an hungry man dreameth , and behold he eateth , and he awaketh and his soul is empty , &c. so shall the multitude &c. be who fight against Zion , Isa. 29. 8. The Lord whose fire is in Zion , and his furnace in Jerusalem , Isa. 31. 9. Look upon Zion the city of our solemnities ; thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation , a tabernacle which shall not be taken down , &c. but there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams , &c. the Lord is our judg , our law-giver : the Lord our King , &c. the inhabitants shall not say I am sick : the people , &c. shall be forgiven , Isa. 33. 20 , 21 , 22 , 24. God threatens nations , as recompences for the controversy of Zion , Isa. 34. 1 , 2 , 8. The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come unto Zion , &c. and they shall obtain gladness ; and sorrow and sighing shall fly away , Isa. 35. 10. ch . 51. 11 , 12. I will place salvation in Zion , for Israel my glory , Isa. 46. 13. Zion said , the Lord hath forsaken me , &c. can a woman forget her sucking child , & c ? yea , they may : yet will I not forget thee : Behold , I have graven thee upon the palms of mine hands : thy walls are continually , &c. Isa. 49. 14 , 15 , 16. The Lord shall comfort Zion , he will comfort all her waste places , Isa. 51. 3. Zion , thy God reigneth , Isa. 52. 7. I will bring them to my holy mountain , and make them joyful in my house , Isa. 56. 6 , 7. Say to the daughter of Zion , Behold , thy salvation cometh , &c. and they shall call them the holy people , the redeemed of the Lord : and thou shalt be called , Sought out , a city not forsaken , Isa. 62. 11 , 12. I will take you one of a city , &c. and bring you unto Zion , and will give You pastours according to mine heart , Jer. 3. 14 , 15. Do not abhor us , for thy names sake : do not disgrace the throne of thy glory , Jer. 14. 21. The place of my throne , and the place of the soles of my feet , where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever , Ezek. 43. 7. And ye shall know that I am the Lord in the midst of Israel , &c. for in mount Zion , and in Jerusalem , shall be deliverance , as the Lord hath said , Joel 2. 27 , 32. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion , and utter his voice from Jerusalem , and heaven and earth shall shake : but the Lord is the hope of his people , &c. I am the Lord your God , dwelling in Zion , my holy mountain , &c. and a fountain shall come out of the house of the Lord , and shall water the valley , &c. Judah shall dwell for ever , &c. for the Lord dwelleth in Zion , Joel 3. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. For I , faith the Lord , will be unto her a wall of fire round about , and will be the glory in the midst of her , &c. many nations shall be joyned to the Lord in that day , and shall be my people , and I will dwell in the midst of thee , &c. and the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion , &c. Zech. 2. 5 , 10 , 11 , 12. Upon this rock will I build my Church , and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her , Matt. 16. 18. For where two or three are gathered together in my name , there am I in the midst of them , Matt. 18. 20. Feed the Church of God , which he hath purchased with his own blood , Act. 20. 28. The Churches , the glory of Christ , 2 Cor. 8. 23. To the intent , that unto principalities , and powers in heavenly places , might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God , &c. unto him be glory in the Church , by Christ Jesus thorowout all ages , &c. Ephes. 3. 10 , 11 , 21. That he might present to himself a glorious Church without spot , Ephes. 5. 27. The house of God , which is the Church of the living God , the pillar , &c. 1 Tim. 3. 15. See Union and Relation between Christ and his Church , Chap. 15. Of the Qualification of the Members of the Churches , what they should be . And the Lord spake to Aaron , saying , Do not drink wine nor strong drink , thou nor thy sons with thee , when ye go into the tabernacle , &c. That ye may put difference between holy and unholy , and between unclean and clean , &c. Levit. 10. 9 , 10. Holiness becometh thine house , O Lord , for ever , Psal. 93. 5. They shall call them the holy people : the redeemed of the Lord , Isa. 62. 12. Her Priests have violated my law , &c. have put no differenee between the holy and profane : neither have they shewed , &c. between the unclean , and the clean , Ezek. 22. 26. Ephraim , he hath mixed himself among the people : is a cake not turned , Hosea 7. 8. Can two walk together , except they be agreed ? Amos 3. 3. To all that be in Rome , beloved of God , called Saints , Rom. 1. 7. — Grant you to be like-minded one towards another , &c. that ye may with one mind , and one mouth , glorifie God , &c. I my self am perswaded of you brethren , that ye also are full of goodness , filled with all knowledg , &c. Rom. 15. 5 , 6 , 14. Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth , to them who are sanctified in Christ Jesus , called Saints , &c. I beseech you , &c. that ye all speak the same thing , &c. that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind , and in the same judgment , 1 Cor. 1. 2 , 10. By one spirit we are all baptized into one body , &c. 1 Cor. 12. 13. Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers : for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? what communion hath light with darkness , & c ? Ye are the temple of the living God , as God hath said , I will dwell in them , and walk in them , and , &c. wherefore come out from among them , and be ye separate , saith the Lord , &c. I will receive you , 2 Cor. 6. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. First they gave their own selves to the Lord , and unto us by the will of God , 2 Cor. 8. 5. Ye are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets , Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone : in whom all the building fitly framed together , groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord : in whom you also are built together for an habitation of God through the spirit , Ephes. 2. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. To the Saints and faithful brethren in Christ , who are at Colosse , Col. 1. 2. Ye are the children of the light , and of the day : we are not of the night , nor of darkness , &c. that this Epistle be read unto all the holy brethren , 1 Thess. 5. 5 , 17. Be ready always to give an answer unto every man who asketh you a reason of the hope which is in you , with meekness and fear , 1 Pet. 3. 15. See more of Discipline , &c. Chap. 27. Of the propriety that particular Churches had in their members , and of others joyning themselves to them . And great fear came upon all the Church , &c. and they were all with one accord in Solomons Porch ; and of the rest durst no man joyn himself to them , but the people magnified them , Acts 5. 11 , 12 , 13. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem , he assayed to joyn himself to the disciples , and they were all afraid of him , and believed not that he was a disciple : but Barnabas took him , and brought him unto the Apostles , and declared unto them , how he had seen the Lord , &c. and he was with them , coming , &c. at Jerusalem , Acts 9. 26 , 27 , 28. It pleased the Apostles , &c. with the whole Church , to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch , &c. Judas and Silas , chief men among the brethren , Acts 15. 22. Phebe our sister , who is a servant of the Church which is at Cenchrea , Rom. 16. 1. Because of false brethren unawares brought in , who came in privily to spy , &c. Gal. 4. 2. Epaphroditus my brother , &c. but your messenger , &c. I send him therefore the more carefully , that when ye see him again , ye may rejoyce , &c he was nigh unto death , &c. Phil. 2. 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. Onesimus , &c. who is one of you , &c. Epaphras , who is one of you , &c. salute you , Col. 4. 9 , 12. Our friends salute thee ; greet the friends by name , 3 John ver . 14. Of Letters commendatory : or the Churches receiving of such who were recommended them from others , by word , or Letter . Barnabas took Paul and brought him to the Apostles , and declared unto them , how he had seen the Lord , &c. and he was with them , &c. Acts 9. 26 , 27 , 28. When Apollos was disposed to pass into Achaia , the brethren wrote , exhorting the Disciples to receive him : who when he was come , helps them much , Acts 18. 27. I commend unto you Phebe our sister , &c. that ye receive her in the Lord , &c. Rom. 16. 1 , 2. If Timotheus come , see that he may be with you without fear : for he worketh , &c. 1 Cor. 16. 10 , 11. Need we ( as some ) Epistles of commendation to you , or of commendation from you ? 2 Cor. 3. 1 , 2 , 3. He remembreth the obedience of you all , how with fear , &c. ye received him , 2 Cor. 7. 14 , 15. Whether any do enquire of Titus , he is my partner , &c. or our brethren , they are the messengers of the Churches : wherefore shew ye to them , &c. 2 Cor. 8. 22 , 23 , 24. Marcus , &c. touching whom ye received commandment : if he come unto you , receive him , Col. 4. 10. The brethren , &c. whom if thou bring forward , &c. we therefore ought to receive such , &c. I wrote to the Church , but Diotrephes , &c. received us not , &c. and forbiddeth them who would , &c. 3 John 3. 6 , 8 , 9 , 10. Of the Order of the Churches , in their Assemblies and Meeting : what they did there , as their Duty ; and how they should order it , in their constant Worship . Christ said , The Scribes and Pharisees , &c. love the chief seats in the Synagogues , &c. but he who is greatest among you , shall be your servant , &c. Matth. 23. 6 , 11 , 12 , 17. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication , &c. Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples , &c. about one hundred and twenty , &c. Acts 1. 13 , 14 , 15. They were all with one accord in one place , &c. and they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine , and fellowship , and in breaking of bread , and in prayers , &c. And all who believed were together , &c. and they continued daily with one accord in the temple , &c. Acts 2. 1 , 42 , 44 , 46. The Apostles being let go , they went to their own company , &c. and they lift up their voyce with one accord , and said , Lord , &c. Acts 4. 23 , 24 , &c. The Church , &c. and they were all with one accord in Solomons porch , Acts 5. 11 , 12. Barnabas and Saul a whole year assembled themselves with the Church : and taught much people , Acts 11. 25 , 26. Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him , &c. many were met together , praying , Acts 12. 5 , 12. When ye come together into one place , this is not to eat the Lords Supper , &c. wherefore my brethren , when ye come together to eat , tarry , &c. 1 Cor. 11. 20 , 33. If therefore the whole Church be come together into one place , &c. If all prophesie , &c. How is it then brethren ? When ye come together , every one hath a Psalm , hath a Doctrine , &c. let all things be done unto edifying , &c. for God is not the author of confusion , but of peace , as in all the Churches of the Saints , 1 Cor. 14. 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 31 , 33. I am with you in the spirit , joying , and beholding your order , Col. 2. 5. Comfort your selves together , and edifie one another : even as also ye do , 1 Thess. 5. 11. Let us consider one another , to provoke one another to love and good works : not forsaking the assembling of our selves together , as the manner of some is : but exhorting one another , Heb. 10. 24 , 25. My brethren , have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Lord of glory , with respect of persons : for if there come into your assembly ( or , Synagogue ) a man with a gold ring , in goodly apparel ; and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment , and ye have respect unto him who weareth the gay cloathing , and say unto him , sit thou here in a good place : and say unto the poor , stand thou there ; or , sit here under my footstool ; are you not then partial , & c ? hath not God chosen the poor of this world , rich in faith , and heirs of the kingdom , & c ? If ye fulfil the royal law , &c. thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self , ye do well : but if ye respect persons , ye commit sin , James 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Of the gifts which the members of Churches received : Of Prayer , Prophecying , Psalms , Tongues , &c. and how they did use them in the Church-assemblies , and elswhere , for the edification and good one of another , and of others : the order how they should be used , directed : such gifts to be desired for this end . Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp : and there ran a young man , and told Moses and Joshua , &c. said , My Lord Moses , forbid them : and Moses said unto him , Enviest thou for my sake ? would God that all the Lords people were Prophets , and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them , Numb . 11. 26 , 27 , 28 , 29. Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the Congregation , and spread forth his hand toward heaven , and said , Lord God of Israel , &c. 1 Kings 8. 22 , 23 , &c. Jehoshaphat stood in the Congregation , &c. in the house of the Lord , &c. and said , O Lord God of our fathers , art not thou God in heaven , & c ? 2 Chron. 20. 4 , 5. 6 , 7 , &c. Then they who feared the Lord , spake often one to another : and the Lord hearkned , &c. They shall be mine , saith the Lord of Hosts , Malachi 3. 16 , 17. John said , Master , We saw one casting out devils in thy name , and he followed not us , and we forbad him : but Jesus said , Forbid him not , for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name , that can lightly speak evil of me : for he who is not against us , is on our part , Mark 9. 38 , 39 , 40. The Jews used to have such speak in their Synagogue , who were not either Priests , or other officers , as appears in these instances , Luke 4. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. Acts 13. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. chap. 17. 1 , 2 , 3. There was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem : and they were all scattered abroad , &c. except the Apostles , &c. therefore they who were scattered abroad , went every-where preaching the word , Acts 8. 1 , 4. Now they who were scattered , &c. when they were come to Antioch , spake unto the Grecians , preaching the Lord Jesus , and the hand of the Lord was with them : and a great number believed , and turned unto the Lord , Acts 11. 19 , 20 , 21. Apollos , an eloquent man , and mighty in the Scriptures , &c. he taught diligently the things of the Lord , knowing only the baptism of John , &c. who when Aquilla and Priscilla had taught the way of God more perfectly , did mightily convince the Jews , and that publickly , shewing by the Scriptures , that Jesus was Christ , Acts 18. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. Think soberly , according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith . For as we have many members in one body , and all members have not the same office : So we being many , &c. Having then gifts differing , according to the grace which is given to us , whether prophecy let us prophesie , according to the proportion of faith , &c. Or he that teacheth , on teaching : or he who exhorteth , on exhortation , &c. he who ruleth , with diligence , Rom. 12. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. I my self am also perswaded of you , my brethren , that ye also are full of goodness , filled with knowledg , able also to admonish one another , Rom. 15. 14. I thank my God , &c. that in every thing ye are inriched by him , in all utterance , and in all knowledg , 1 Cor. 1. 4 , 5. Now there are diversity of gifts , but the same spirit , &c. But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withal . For to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom , to another the word of knowledg , &c. To another faith , &c. to another prophecy , &c. But all these worketh that one and the self-same spirit , dividing to every man severally , as he will , &c. If the foot shall say , Because I am not the hand , I am not of the body , &c. God hath set the members every one of them in the body , as it hath pleased him , &c. Are all Apostles , & c ? Have all the gift of healing ? do all speak with tongues , & c ? But covet earnestly the best gifts , 1 Cor. 12. 4 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 15 , 18 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. Desire spiritual gifts , but rather that ye may prophesie , &c. He who prophesieth , speaketh unto men to edification , and exhortation , and comfort , &c. He edifieth the Church , &c. Forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts , seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church , &c. If all prophesie , and there come in one that believeth not , &c. he is convinced of all , &c. will report that God is in you of a truth . How is it , brethren , that when ye come together , every one of you hath a psalm , &c. let all things be done to edifying , &c. Let the prophets speak two or three , and let the other judg . If any thing be revealed to another who sitteth by , let the first hold his peace . For ye may all prophesie one by one , that all may learn , and all may be comforted . And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets . For God , &c. Let your women keep silence in the Churches , &c. Wherefore brethren , covet to prophesie , &c. Let all things be done decently , and in order , 1 Cor. 14. 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 39 , 40. We also believe , therefore speak , 2 Cor. 4. 13. As ye abound in every thing , in faith , and utterance , and knowledg , 2 Cor. 8. 7. Many of the brethren of the Lord waxing confident by my bonds , are much more bold to speak the word , &c. Some preach Christ out of envy , &c. What then , & c ? Christ is preached , and I therein do rejoyce , &c. Phil. 1. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly , in all wisdom , teaching and admonishing one another , Col. 3. 16. Comfort ( or , exhort ) one another , with these words , 1 Thess. 4. 18. Wherefore comfort your selves together , and edifie one another , even as also ye do , 1 Thess. 5. 11. Take heed , brethren , lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief , &c. But exhort one another daily , &c. lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin , Heb. 3. 12 , 13. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers , ye have need that one teach you again , which be the first principles of the oracles of God , Heb. 5. 12. Let us consider one another , &c. not forsaking the assembling of our selves together , as-the manner of some is , but exhorting one another ; and so much the , &c. Heb. 10. 24 , 25. As every man hath received the gift , even so minister the same one to another , as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak , let him speak as the oracles of God : if any man minister , let him do it as of the ability which God giveth , that God in all things may be glorified , 1 Pet. 4. 10 , 11. Of other acts done in and by these particular Churches , in sending out messengers to other churches ; and upon occasions , determining of controversies in religious matters ; writing and sending Epistles , and ordering other affairs . Of their meeting together , in order hereto , and receiving , and hearing such Epistles : the Epistles directed to the whole body , and they concerned in it . When tidings of the gentiles receiving the Gospel , came unto the ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem : they sent forth Barnabas , that he should go as far as Antioch , &c. When the dearth was prophesied of , the Disciples , every man according to his ability , determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea . Which also they did , and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul , Acts 11. 20 , 21 , 22 , 28 , 29 , 30. Paul and Barnabas coming to Antioch , gathered the church together , and rehearsed all that God had done with them , and how , &c. Acts 14. 26 , 27. When the matter of circumcision was in dispute in the Church at Antioch , they determined that Paul and Barnabas , and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and the Elders , about this question . And being brought on their way by the Church , &c. when they were come to Jerusalem , they were received by the Church , and of the Apostles , &c. All the multitude kept silence , and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul , &c. Then James spake , &c. Then pleased it the Apostles and elders , with the whole Church , to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch , &c. and wrote letters by them after this manner : The Apostles , Elders , and Brethren , send greeting unto the brethren which are , &c. It seems good to us , being assembled with one accord , to send chosen men unto you , &c. it seems good to the holy Ghost , and to us , &c. They came to Antioch , and when they had gathered the multitude together , they delivered the Epistle , Act. 15. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 12 , 13 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 30. If then ye have judgment of things pertaining to this life , set them to judg who are least esteemed in the Church , 1 Cor. 6. 4. When I come , whomsoever you shall aprrove by letters , them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem , 1 Cor. 16. 3. We have sent with him the brother , &c. who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us , with this grace ( or , gift ) , &c. Whether any do enquire , &c. of our brethren , they are the messengers of the Churches , 2 Cor. 8. 18 , 19 , 23. I suppose it necessary to send unto you Epaphroditus , &c. your messenger , and he who ministred to my wants , Phil. 2. 25. When this epistle is read among you , cause that it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans : and that ye likewise read the estpile from Laodicea . And say to Archippus , take heed to the ministry which thou hast received of the Lord , that thou fulfil it , Col. 4. 16 , 17. I charge you by the Lord , that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren , 1 Thess. 5. 27. Salute all them who have the rule over you , and all the Saints , Heb. 13. 24. Peter having written at large to the Saints , speaks distinctly to the elders , thus : To the elders which are among you : I exhort , &c. to feed the flock of God , &c. 1 Pet. 5. 1 , 2 , 3. I wrote to the Church , but Diotrephes who loved to have the pre-eminence among them , received us not : wherefore if I come , I will remember his deeds , &c. Not content herewith , neither doth he himself receive the brethren , and forbiddeth them that would , and casteth them out of the Church . Beloved , follow not that which is evil , 3 Joh. vers . 9 , 10 , 11. John wrote to the seven Churches in Asia distinctly , though they were in one countrey , and charges each Church with its own guilt , and commends each Church by it self : takes no notice of any power any had over other . He directs his epistles to the Angel of the Church : but the matter he speaks to the whole Church : and concludes , Hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches , Rev. 1. 4. ch . 2 , ch . 3. See more of Church-Acts , in Discipline . Of the ending of controversies arising between the members of the Churches , to avoid going to law before others . Dare any of you , having a matter against another , go to law before the unjust , and not before the Saints ? do ye not know , that the Saints shall judg the world ? and if the world shall be judged by you , are ye unworthy to judg the smallest matters ? know ye not , that we shall judg Angels ? how much more , things which pertain to this life , & c ? Set them to judg who are least esteemed in the Church . I speak to your shame , Is it so that there is not a wise man among you ? no , not one who shall be able to judg between his brethren ; but brother goeth to law with brother , and that before the unbelievers ? Now therefore , there is utterly a fault among you , because ye go to law one with another : why do ye not rather take wrong ? &c. 1 Cor. 6. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Of the relief of the poor of the Churches , and their contributions to the necessity of other Churches , and the order of it . And the multitude of them who believed , were of one heart , &c. Neither said any of them , that ought of the things which he possessed , was his own : but they had all things common , &c. Neither was there any among them that lacked : for as many as were possessors of lands , or houses , sold them , and brought the prises , &c. and laid them down at the Apostles feet : and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need , Act. 4. 32 , 34 , 35. — The price of thy land ? While it remained , was it not thine own ? and after it was sold , was it not in thine own power ? why hast thou , & c ? Act. 5. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. When the number of the disciples were multiplied , there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews , by the Grecians , because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration . Whereupon the Church chose Deacons to look to this matter , Act. 6. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. The Disciples , every one according to his ability , determined to send relief unto the brethren , &c. Act. 11. 28 , 29 , 30. These hands have administred to my necessities , and to them who were with me . I have shewed you all things , how that ye so labouring , ought to support the weak , and to remember the words of our Lord Jesus , how he said , It is more blessed to give , than to receive , Act. 20. 34 , 35. It hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia , to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem , Rom. 15. 25 , 26. Now concerning the collection for the Saints , as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia , so do ye ; upon the first day of the week , let every one of you lay by him in store , as God hath prospered him , that there be no gathering when , &c. 1 Cor. 16. 1 , 2. — By the occasion of the forwardness of others , and to prove the sincerity of your love : for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ , that though he was rich , &c. Not that other men be eased , and you burdened : but by an equality , &c. 2 Cor. 8. 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 13 , 14. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart , so let him give , not grudingly , or of necessity : for God loveth a cheerful giver , &c. The administration of this Service , not only supplieth the want of the Saints , but it is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God , &c. They glorifie God for your professed subjection to Jesus Christ , 2 Cor. 9. 7 , 12 , 13. If any would not work , neither should he eat , &c. But ye , brethren , be not weary in well-doing , &c. 2 Thess. 3. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. If any widow have children or nephews , let them learn first to shew pity at home , and to requite their parents , &c. If any provide not for his own , &c. If any man or woman who believeth , have widows , let them relieve them : and let not the Church be charged , that it may relieve them who are widows indeed , 1 Tim. 5. 4 , 8 , 16. See the Duty of distributing to the Saints necessity at large , Chap. 17. Of the Officers of particular Churches , their Power , Duty , and Recompence : how they should be qualified for the Office ; and of the Churches duty to them as such . First , Of Officers Power , Duties , &c. I will give you Pastors according to mine heart , who shall feed you with knowledg and understanding , Jer. 3. 15. chap. 23. 4. Thou shalt speak my word unto them , whether they will hear , or whether they will forbear , Ezek. 2. 7. I have made thee a watchman , &c. give them warning from me , when I say , &c. and thou givest him not warning , &c. his blood will I require at thine hand : yet if thou warn , &c. Ezek. 3. 17 , 18 , 19. They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane , and cause men to discern between the unclean , and the clean , &c. and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies , &c. Ezek. 44. 23 , 24. Jer. 15. 19. Their widows were neglected in the daily ministration . Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them , and said , It is not reason that we should leave the word of God , and serve tables , &c. look ye out among you seven men of honest report , full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom , &c. we will give our selves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word , Acts 6. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Paul sent to Ephesus , and called the Elders of the Church , &c. he said unto them , &c. Take heed therefore to your selves , and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers , to feed the Church of God , &c. I know this , that after my departure , grievous wolves shall enter , &c. therefore watch , &c. and I have shewed you all things , how that so labouring , ye ought to support the weak : and remember the words of our Lord Jesus , how he said , It is more blessed to give , than to receive , Acts 20. 17 , 18 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 35. Let us wait on our ministring ; or he who teacheth , on teaching : or he who exhorteth , on exhortation , &c. he who ruleth , with diligence , &c. Rom. 12. 7 , 8. It is required in stewards , that a man be found faithful , 1 Cor. 4. 2. God hath set some in the Church : first Apostles , secondarily Prophets , thirdly Teachers , &c. helps , governments , 1 Cor. 12. 28. He gave some Apostles , some Prophets , some Evangelists , and some Pastors and Teachers , for the perfecting of the Saints , for the work of the ministry , for the edifying of the body of Christ ; till we all come into the unity of the faith , &c. Ephes. 4. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. To all the Saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi , with the Bishops and Deacons , Phil. 1. 1. Say to Archippus , Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord , that thou fulfil it , Col. 4. 17. If a man desire the office of a Bishop , he desireth a good work : a Bishop then must be blameless , the husband of one wife : vigilant , sober , of good behaviour ( or , modest ) ; given to hospitality , apt to teach ; not given to wine , no striker , nor greedy of filthy lucre , but patient : not a brawler , not covetous : one who ruleth well his own house , having his children in subjection with all gravity : for if a man know not how to rule his own house , how shall he take care of the Church of God ? not a novice , ( or , one newly come to the faith ) , lest being lifted up with pride , he fall into the condemnation of the Devil . Likewise must the Deacons be grave , not double-tongued , not given to much wine , not greedy of filthy lucre , holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience ; let these also first be proved , then let them use the office , &c. husband of one wife , ruling their children well , and their own house , 1 Tim. 3. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. If thou put the brethren in mind of these things , thou shalt be a good minister , &c. but refuse profane and old , &c. Be thou an example to believers in word , in conversation , in charity , &c. give attendance unto reading , to exhortation , to doctrine , &c. meditate on these things : give thy self wholly unto them , &c. take heed to thy self and thy doctrine , 1 Tim. 4. 6 , 7 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 16. Let the Elders who rule well , &c. especially they who labour in the word and doctrine , 1 Tim. 5. 17. O Timothy , keep that which is committed to thy trust , avoiding profane and vain babling , 1 Tim. 6. 20. The things thou hast heard of me , among many witnesses , the same commit thou to faithful men , who shall be able to teach others also , &c. shun profane and vain bablings , &c. The servant of the Lord must not strive , but be gentle unto all men : apt to teach , patient , ( or , forbearing ) in meekness instructing them who oppose themselves , if God peradventure , &c. 2 Tim. 2. 2 , 16 , 23 , 24 , 25. Ordain Elders in every City , &c. If any be blameless , &c. not accused of riot , or unruly ; for a Bishop must be blameless , as the steward of God : not self-will●…d , not soon angry , not given to wine ; no striker , not given to filthy lucre , but a lover of hospitality , a lover of good men , sober , just , holy , temperate ; holding fast the faithful word , as he hath been taught : that he may be able by found doctrine both to exhort , and to convince the gain-sayers , Titus 1. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Shewing thy self a pattern , &c. in doctrine , uncorruptness , gravity , sincerity , &c. these things speak , and exhort , and rebuke with all authority , Titus 2. 7 , 15. Them who have the rule , &c. watch for your souls , as they who must give account , Heb. 13. 17. Is any sick , &c. call for the Elders of the Church , and let them pray over them , &c. James 5. 14. The Elders who are among you , I exhort , &c. feed the flock of God , which is among you ; ( or , as much as in you is ) taking the oversight thereof , not by constraint , but willingly : not for filthy lucre , but of a ready mind ; neither as being lords ( or , over-ruling ) over Gods heritage , but being examples of the flock , 1 Pet. 5. 4 , 2 , 3 , 4. Diotrephes , who loveth to have the preheminence , received us not , &c. 3 John ver . 9 , 10. See more in Gospel-Preachers in general , Chap. 16. Complaints of , and threatnings against evil Officers , or Ministers of the Church . His watchmen are blind , they are all ignorant , they are all dumb dogs : they cannot bark , sleeping , ly●…ng down , loving to slumber : yea , they are greedy dogs who can never have enough , and they are shepherds who cannot understand : they all look to their own way , every one for his gain from his quarter : come ye , say they , I will fetch wine , and we will fill our selves with strong drink , and to morrow shall be as to day , Isa. 56. 10 , 11 , 12. The Priests said not , Where is the Lord ? and they who handled the law , knew me not : the Pastors also transgressed against me , &c. Wherefore I will yet plead , &c. Jer. 2. 8 , 9. The Prophets prophesie falsly , and the Priests bear rule by their means , and my people love to have it so : and what will ye do in the end thereof ? Jer. 5. 30 , 31. From the Prophet unto the Priest , every one dealeth falsly : they have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly , saying , peace , &c. when , &c. Jer. 6. 13 , 14. chap. 8. 10 , 11. The Pastors are become brutish , and have not sought the Lord : therefore they shall not prosper , and all their flocks shall be scattered , Jer. 10. 21. Many Pastors have destroyed my vinyard , they have trodden my portion , &c. Jer. 12. 10 , 11. Wo unto the Pastors who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture , saith the Lord : therefore thus saith the Lord , &c. against the Pastors who feed my people , Ye have scattered my flock , and driven them away , and have not visited them : Behold , I will visit upon you the evil of your doings , Jer. 23. 1 , 2. Her Priests have violated my law , and have profaned mine holy things : they have put no difference between the holy and profane , neither have they shewed difference between the unclean , and the clean , Ezek. 22. 26. Wo to the shepherds of Israel who do feed themselves : should not the shepherds feed the flock ? ye eat the fat , and ye clothe your selves with the wool , &c. ye feed not the flock : the diseased have ye not strengthned , neither have ye healed that which was sick , &c. but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled , Ezek. 34. 2 , 3 , 4 , 10. The Priests thereof teach for hire , and the Prophets thereof divine for money , yet will they lean upon the Lord , &c. therefore shall Zion , &c. be plowed , Micah 3. 11. Her Priests have done violence to the law , polluted the Sanctuary , Zephan . 3. 4. Wo to the Idol-shepherd who leaveth the flock : the sword shall be upon his , &c. Zechar. 11. 17. — O Priests , who despise my name , &c. ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar , &c. if ye offer the blind and the lame , ( ye say ) , It is not evil , &c. Malachi 1. 6 , 7 , 8. The Priests lips should keep knowledg , &c. but ye are departed out of the way : ye have caused many to stumble at the law , ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi , &c. therefore have I also made you contemptible , &c. before the people , Malachi 2. 7 , 8 , 9. He who is an hireling , &c. seeth the wolf coming , and leaveth the sheep and fleeth : and the wolf catcheth them , and scattereth the sheep , &c. John 10. 12 , 13. 3dly , The Churches duty towards their Officers , and such other who labour among them . Provide neither gold nor silver , &c. for the workman is worthy of his meat , Matth. 10. 9 , 10. They all weptfore , &c. sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake , that they should see his face no more , Acts 20. 37 , 38. If the Gentiles are made partakers of their spiritual things , their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things , Rom. 15. 27. Have we not power to eat and drink , &c. to sorbear working , & c ? who goeth to warfare at any time at his own charges , & c ? Say I these things as a man ? or saith not the law the same also ? Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox which treadeth out the corn , &c. Doth God take care for oxen ? or saith he it not altogether for our sakes ? for our sakes , no doubt , &c. If we have sown unto you in spiritual things , is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things , & c ? Nevertheless , we have not used this power , &c. lest we should hinder the Gospel . Do ye not know , that they who minister about holy things , live ( or , feed ) of the things of the temple , & c ? even so hath the Lord ordained , that they who preach the Gospel , should live of the Gospel , 1 Cor. 9. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. — Know the house of Stephanus , &c. that you submit your selves unto such , and to every one who helpeth with us , and laboureth , 1 Cor 16. 15 , 16. Ye received me as an Angel , &c. am I therefore become your enemy , because I tell you the truth ? Gal. 4. 14 , 15 , 16. Let him that is taught in the word , communicate unto him who teacheth , in all good things , Gal. 6. 6. Praying always , &c. and for me , that utterance may be given unto me , &c. Ephes. 6. 18 , 19. 1 Thess. 5. 26. I suppose it necessary to send unto you Epaphroditus my brother , and companion in labour , &c. but your messenger , &c. receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness , and hold such in reputation , ( or , honour such ) , because for the work of Christ , &c. Phil. 2. 25 , 28 , 29 , 30. Ye sent once and again unto my necessity , not because I desire a gift ; but I desire fruit that may abound to your account , &c. I received the things sent from you , an odour of a sweet-smelling sacrifice , acceptable and pleasing to God , Phil. 4. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. We beseech you , brethren , to know them who labour among you , and are over you in the Lord , and admonish you : and esteem them very highly in love for their work-sake , 1 Thess. 5. 12 , 13. Let the Elders who rule well , be counted worthy of double-honour , especially they who labour in the word and doctrine : for the Scripture saith , Thou shalt not muzzle the oxe , &c. the labourer is worthy of his hire : against an Elder receive not an accusation , but before two or three witnesses , 1 Tim. 5. 17 , 18 , 19. Obey them who have the rule over you ( or , guide ) you , and submit your selves : for they watch for your souls , &c. pray for such , &c. salute all them who have the rule over you , Heb. 13. 7 , 17 , 18 , 24. Is any sick among you ? let him call for the Elders of the Church , and let them pray over them , James 5. 14 , 15. Likewise ye younger , submit your selves to the elder , 1 Pet. 5. 5. Of the Election and ordination of Officers in Churches . And the Lord spake to Moses , saying , Take Aaron and his sons with him , &c. and gather thou all the congregation together , &c. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him , &c. and said unto the congregation : This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done . And Moses brought Aaron and his sons , and washed them , &c. Levit. 8. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , &c. Thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation , and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together : and thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord , and the children of Israel shall put their hands , &c. Numb . 8. 9 , 11. Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples , and said , ( the number about 120 , ) &c. Wherefore , of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us , &c. must one be ordained to be a witness with us , &c. And they appointed two , &c. and they prayed , and said , Lord , who knowest the hearts of all men , shew whether of these two thou hast chosen , &c. And they gave forth their lots , and the lot fell upon Matthias , and he was numbred with the eleven , Acts 1. 15 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26. Then the Twelve called the multitude , &c. and said , &c. Brethren , look ye out among you seven men of honest report , &c. whom we may appoint over this business , &c. and the saying pleased the multitude : and they chose Stephen , &c. Acts 6. 2 , 3 , 5 , 6. And when they had ordained them Elders by suffrage in every Church , and had prayed , with fasting , they commended them to the Lord , Acts 14. 22 , 23. For this cause left I thee in Crete , &c. and ordain Elders in every City , as I had appointed , Titus 1. 5. Of laying on of hands upon the several occasions , and to the several ends in Scripture mentioned . Bring forth him who hath cursed , &c. let all who heard him , lay their hands on his head , Levit. 24. 14. Thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord , and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites , Numb . 8. 9 , 10. Moses set Joshua before the congregation , and he laid his hands upon him , and , &c. Numb . 17. 18 , 19 , 22 , 23. Joshua , &c. was full of the spirit of wisdom : for Moses had laid his hands upon him , Deut. 34. 9. They chose Stephen , &c. whom they set before the Apostles : and when they had prayed , they laid their hands upon them , Acts 6. 5 , 6. Peter and John prayed , and laid their hands on disciples : and they received the holy Ghost , Acts 8. 17. The Prophets and teachers at Antioch by the command of the holy Ghost , to separate Paul and Barnabas , &c. did pray , and fast , and lay their hands upon them , Acts 13. 1 , 2 , 3. Paul finding disciples , &c. and when Paul had laid his hands on them , the holy Ghost , &c. Acts 19. 1 , 6. Paul prayed , and laid hands on Publius his father , and healed him , being sick , Acts 28. 8. Neglect not the gift , &c. given thee , &c. with laying on of the hands of the Presbytery , 1 Tim. 4. 14. Lay hands suddenly on no man : neither be partaker of other mens sins , 1 Tim. 5. 22. Stir up the gift of God which is in thee , by the putting on of my hands , 2 Tim. 1. 6. Not laying again the foundation of repentance , &c. of laying on of hands , Heb. 6. 1 , 2. Of the several Ordinances of Christ , to be observed in and by the Churches of Christ , and elswhere . The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof , because they have transgressed the laws , changed the ordinances , &c. Isa. 24. 5. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship , and in breaking of bread , and in prayers , &c. and they continuing daily with one accord in the temple , Acts 2. 41 , 42 , 46. And now I praise you brethren , that you , &c. keep the Ordinances as they were delivered unto you , 1 Cor. 11. 2. First , Prayers . These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women , &c. Acts 1. 14. And they continued , &c. and in prayers , Acts 2. 42. See Praising at large , Chap. 16. Secondly , Reading , teaching , and preaching of the word of God , Prophesying . Thou shalt set a King over thee , &c. he shall write him a copy of this law in a book , &c. he shall read therein all the days of his life , that he may learn to fear the Lord , Deut. 17. 15 , 18 , 19 , 20. 2 Kings 22. 11. When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God , in the place which he shall chuse , thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing : gather the people together , men , and women and children , and thy stranger that is within thy gates ; that they may hear , and that they may learn and fear the Lord your God , and observe to do all the words of this law : and their children who have not known , may hear , and learn to fear the Lord , &c. Deut. 31. 11 , 12 , 13. Joshua read all the words of the law , the blessings and curses according unto all which is written in the book of the law : there was not a word of all which Moses commanded , which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel , with the women , and the little ones , and the strangers who were conversant among them , Joshua 8. 34 , 35. Jehoshaphat sent to his Princes , to Benhail , &c. to teach in the cities of Judah , and with them Elishama , &c. Priests , and they taught in Judah , and had the book of the law of the Lord with them : and went about throughout all the cities of Judah , and taught the people , 2 Chron. 17. 7 , 8 , 9. And Ezra the Priest brought the law before the Congregation , &c. and he read therein , &c. from the morning until the mid-day , &c. Allo Joshua and Bani , &c. and the Levites , caused the people to understand the law , and the people stood in their place : so they read in the book of the law of God distinctly , and gave the sense , and caused them to understand the reading , Nehem. 8. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. ch . 13. 1. He established a testimony in Jacob , and appointed a law in Israel , which he commanded our fathers that they should make them known to their children , &c. that they might set their hope in God , &c. Psal. 78. 5 , 6 , 7. Blessed is the man who heareth me , watching daily at my gates , waiting at the posts of my doors : for whoso findeth me , findeth life , Prov. 8. 34 , 35. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who bringeth good tydings , who publisheth peace , &c. and publisheth salvation , & c ! Isa. 52. 7. Nahum . 1. 15. The Prophet who hath a dream , let him tell a dream : and he who hath my word , let him speak my word faithfully ; what is the chaff to the wheat , saith the Lord ? Jer. 23. 28 , 29. They shall wander from sea to sea , &c. to seek the word of the Lord , and shall not find it , Amos 8. 12. Go ye therefore , and teach all nations , &c. teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you , Matth. 28. 19 , 20. Whosoever shall not receive you , nor hear you , when ye depart thence , shake off the dust from under your feet for a testimony against them , Mark 6. 11. Luke 10. 16. Jesus , &c. as his custom was , he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath-day , and stood up to read : and there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaias ; and when he had opened the book , he found the place where it was written , The spirit of the Lord is upon me , &c. and he closed the book , and gave it again to the minister , and sate down , &c. and he began to say unto them , This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears , &c. and all , &c. wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth , &c. Luke 4. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 31 , 32. Jesus said , &c. Ought not Christ to have suffered , & c ? And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets , he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself , &c. then opened he their understandings , &c. Luke 24. 26 , 27 , 45. I pray , &c. for them also who shall believe in me through their word , John 17. 20. When the Apostles were commanded not to preach Christ , they said , whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you , more than unto God , judg ye , Acts 4. 18 , 19. ch . 5. 28. And daily in the temple , and in every house , they ceased not to teach , and to preach Jesus Christ , Acts 5. 42. The Eunuch reading the Prophet Isaias , Philip came to him , &c. and opened his mouth , and began at the same Scripture , and preached unto him Jesus ; he believed , &c. Acts 8. 27 , 28 , to the 38. We are here all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God : while Peter was preaching Christ , the holy Ghost fell on all them who heard , Acts 10. 33 , 44. Call for Simon , &c. who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved , Acts 11. 13 , 14. When Paul and his company came to Antioch , he went into the Synagogue , &c. and after the reading of the law and the prophets , the rulers of the Synagogue sent unto them , saying , Ye men and brethren , if ye have any word of exhortation for the people , say on : Then Paul stood up , and preached , &c. Acts 13. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , &c. Then spake the Lord to Paul , &c. speak , and hold not thy peace , for I have much people in this City : and he continued there , &c. teaching the word of God among them , Acts 18. 9 , 10 , 11. Paul went into the Synagogue , and spake boldly for the space of three months , disputing and perswading the things concerning the kingdom of God : but when divers were hardned , and believed not , &c. he separated the disciples , disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus , and this continued by the space of two years : so that all they who dwelt in Asia , heard the word of the Lord , Acts 19. 8 , 9 , 10. Now brethren , I commend you to God , and the word of his grace , which is able , &c. Acts 20. 32. I have appeared unto thee , &c. to make thee a minister , &c. the Gentiles to whom I now send thee , to open their eyes , and to turn them from darkness to light , and from the power of Satan unto God , Acts 26. 16 , 17 , 18. And Paul dwelt two years in his own hired house , and received all who came in unto him : preaching the kingdom of God , and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ , Acts 28. 30 , 31. I am ready to preach the Gospel , &c. for I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ , for it is the power of God to salvation , &c. Rom. 1. 15 , 16. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? and how shall they preach except they be sent , & c ? so then , faith cometh by hearing , and hearing by the word of God , Rom. 10. 14 , 15 , 17. Christ sent me not to baptize , but to preach the Gospel , &c. for the preaching of the cross is to them who perish , foolishness : but unto us who are saved , it is the power of God , &c. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them who believe , &c. 1 Cor. 1. 17 , 18 , 21 , 23 , 24. My preaching was not with the inticing words of mans wisdom , &c. but that which the holy Ghost , &c. 1 Cor. 2. 4 , 5 , 13. In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel , 1 Cor. 4. 15. Every man praying or prophecying having his head covered , dishonoureth his head , 1 Cor. 11. 4. He who prophecyeth , speaketh unto men to edification , exhortation , and comfort , &c. he edifieth the Church , &c. 1 Cor. 14. 3 , 4. Who hath made us able ministers of the new Testament , &c. if the ministration of death written and engraven in stones , was glorious ; so , &c. how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious , & c ? 2 Cor. 3. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. — The ministry of reconciliation : to wit , that God was in Christ , &c. we are Embassadours for Christ , as though God did beseech you by us : we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled unto God , 2 Cor. 5. 18 , 19 , 20. And he gave some Apostles , &c. for the perfecting of the Saints , for the work of the ministry , for the edifying of the body , until , &c. Ephes. 4. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. The Apostle rejoyced that Christ was preached , although some did it not uprightly , Phil. 1. 15 , 16 , 18. Ye received the word of God which ye heard of us : ye received it not as the word of men , but ( as it is in truth ) the word of God , &c. 1 Thess. 2. 13 , 16. Despise not prophecyings , 1 Thess. 5. 20. Give attendance to reading , to exhortation , to doctrine , 1 Tim. 4. 13. I charge thee , &c. preach the word : be instant in season , and out of season : reprove , &c. 2 Tim. 4. 1 , 2 , 3. If the word spoken by Angels was stedfast , &c. how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation , which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord , and was confirmed unto us by them who heard , & c ? Heb. 2. 2 , 3. For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them : but the word preached did not profit them , not being mixed with faith in them who heard ( or , because they were not united by faith to ) it , Heb. 4. 2. I beseech you brethren , suffer the word of exhortation : for I have written , &c. Heb. 13. 22. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth , &c. wherefore my beloved brethren , let every man be swift to hear , &c. receive with meekness the ingraffed word , which is able to save your souls : but be ye doers of the word , and not hearers only , &c. James 1. 18 , 19 , 21 , 22 , 23. Being born again , not of corruptible seed , but of incorruptible , by the word of God , &c. and this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you , 1 Pet. 1. 23 , 25. As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word , that ye may grow thereby , 1 Pet. 2. 2. If any man speak , let him speak as the Oracles of God , 1 Pet. 4. 11. I will not be negligent to put you in remembrance always of these things , though ye know them , and be established in the present truth : yea , I think it meet , as long as I am in this tabernacle , to stir you up , by putting you in remembrance , 2 Pet. 1. 12 , 13. chap. 3. 1 , 2. That which we have seen and heard , declare we unto you , that ye also may have fellowship with us : and truly , our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ , 1 John 1. 3. Blessed is he who readeth , and they who hear the words of this prophecy , and keep those things which are written therein , Revel . 1. 3. See Ministers of the Gospel in general , Chap. 26. See gifts of the members of Churches before . See of the word of God , chap. 1. 3dly , Baptisms . God said unto Abram , Thou shalt keep my covenant , &c. Every man-child among you shall be circumcised , &c. and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you , &c. Abram took Ishmael his son , and all who were born in his house , &c. and circumcised the flesh , &c. And Abraham was ninety and nine years old when he was circumcised , &c. and Ishmael his son , thirteen years old when he was circumcised , Gen. 17. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 23 , 24 , 25. Suffer little children , and forbid them not to come unto me , for of such is the kingdom of heaven : and he laid his hands on them , Matth. 19. 13 , 14 , 15. Go ye therefore and teach all nations , baptizing them in the name of the Father , and of the Son , and of the holy Ghost , Matth. 28. 19. John said , I indeed baptize you with water : but one mightier than I , cometh , &c. he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire , Luke 3. 16. Acts 11. 15 , 16. Jesus himself baptized not , but his disciples , John 4. 1 , 2. Repent and be baptized every one of you , in the name of Jesus Christ , for the remission of sins : for the promise is unto you , and to your children , &c. then they who gladly received the word , were baptized , Acts 2. 38 , 39 , 41. But when they believed , &c. they were baptized both men and women , &c. Simon was baptized , &c. The Eunuch said , Here is water , what hinders me to be baptized ? and Philip said , If thou believest with all thine heart , thou maist , &c. they went down into the water , and he baptized him , Acts 8. 12 , 13 , 36 , 37 , 38. Saul arose , and was baptized , Acts 9. 18. Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized , who have received the holy Ghost as well as we ? and he commanded them to be baptized in the name , &c. Acts 10. 47 , 48. Who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved , Acts 11. 14. Lydia , &c. whose heart the Lord opened , that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul : and when she was baptized and her houshold , &c. believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved , thou and thine house , &c. and he took them the same hour , &c. and was baptized , he , and all his straightway , Acts 16. 14 , 15 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34. Know ye not , that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ , were baptized into his death , buried , & c ? Rom. 6. 3 , 4. I baptized also the house of Stephanus : besides , I know not whether I , &c. 1 Cor. 1. 16. The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife : and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband , otherwise were your children unclean : but now they are holy , 1 Cor. 7. 14. Leaving the principles , &c. of the doctrine of Baptisms , Heb. 6. 1 , 2. The ark wherein few , &c. were saved by water : the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us : not the putting away of the filth of the flesh , but the answer of a good conscience towards God , by the resurrection of Jesus Christ , 1 Pet. 3. 20 , 21. 4thly , Breaking of bread , or the Lords Supper . The Passover instituted : and all the directions about it , Exod. 12. The people not prepared , yet did eat : Hezekiah prayed for them , 2 Chr. 30. 18 , 19. As they were eating , Jesus took bread and blessed it , and brake it , and gave it to his disciples , and said , Take , eat , this is my body : and he took the cup and gave thanks , and gave it to them , saying , Drink ye all of it , for this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins : but he said unto them , I will not drink it henceforth , &c. and when they had sung , &c. Matth. 26. 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30. They all drank of the cup , Mark 14. 23. He sate down , and the twelve Apostles with him , &c. He took the cup and gave thanks , and said , Take this , and divide it among your selves , &c. And he took bread and gave thanks , and brake it , and gave unto them , saying , This is my body which is given for you , this do in remembrance of me . Likewise also the cup after supper , saying , This cup is the new Testament in my blood , which is shed for you , Luke 22. 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. When Judas had received the sop at supper , he went immediately out , John 13. 26 , 30. And they continued stedfastly , &c. in breaking of bread , Acts 2. 42. Upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread , &c. Paul preached to them , &c. in the upper chamber where they were gathered together , &c. When he therefore was come up again , and had broken bread , &c. Acts 20. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Purge out therefore the old leaven , that ye may be a new lump , &c. let us keep the feast , not with old leaven , &c. but with the unleavened bread of sincerity , 1 Cor. 5. 7 , 8. The cup of blessing which we bless , is it not the comunion of the blood of Christ ? the bread which we break , is it not the communion of the body of Christ ? for we being many , are one bread and one body : for we are all partakers of that one bread , &c. ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils : ye cannot , &c. 1 Cor. 10. 16 , 17 , 21 , 22. When ye come together therefore into one place , this is not to eat the Lords supper ( or , ye cannot eat ) : for in eating , every one taketh before other his own supper ; and one is hungry , and another is drunken : what , have ye not houses to eat and to drink in ? or despise you the Church of God , and shame them that have not ( or , are poor ) ? for I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you , that the the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed , took bread , and when he had given thanks , he brake it , and said , Take , eat , this is my body , which is broken for you : this do in ( or , for a ) remembrance of me . After the same manner also he took the cup , when he had supped , saying , This cup is thenew Testament in my blood , this do ye , as often as ye drink it , in remembrance of me : for as often as ye eat this bread , and drink this cup , ye do shew ( or , shew ye ) the Lords death till he come : wherefore , whosoever shall eat this bread , and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily , shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord , &c. he who eateth , &c. unworthily , eateth and drinketh damnation to himself , not discerning the Lords body , &c. When ye come together to eat , tarry one for another : and if any man hunger , let him eat at home , 1 Cor. 11. 17 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 33 , 34. 5thly , Discipline , Church-censures , or removing of Scandals . If a soul fin , and hear the voice of swearing , and is a witness whether he hath seen or known of it : if he do not utter it , then shall he bear his iniquity , Levit. 5. 1. If there were a leper in the camp of Israel , he was to be pronounced unclean , and his habitation without the camp alone , Levit. 13. 44 , 46. When he was to be brought into the camp again , he was first to be pronounced clean by the Priest , after he had viewed him and offered sacrifices for him , and performed other things : so for other uncleannesses , they were to be separated from the congregation , &c. and so brought in again , Levit. 14. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , &c. chap. 15. Matth. 8. 4. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart : thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour , and not suffer sin upon him ( or , that thou bear not sin for him ) , Levit. 19. 17. If the people of the land do any way hide their eyes from the man when he giveth of his seed unto Molech , and kill him not : then I will set my face against that man , and against his family , Levit. 20. 3 , 4 , 5. The Priests or people who were unclean , &c. by any uncleanness , were not to eat or touch the holy things , that they might not profane the holy name of the Lord ; if they did before they were cleansed , they were to be cut off from the presence of God : no stranger was to eat of the holy thing , Levit. 22. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 14 , 15. Put out of the camp every leper , and every one who hath an issue , &c. both male and female shall ye put out , &c. that they defile not their camp in the midst whereof I dwell : and the children of Israel did so , &c. Numb . 5. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Deut. 23. 14. Uzziah the king was a leper ; and being in the temple , the Priests thrust him out from thence , &c. he dwelt in a several house , being a leper : for he was cut off from the house of the Lord , 2 Chron. 26. 19 , 20 , 21. The people of Israel , the Priests and the Levites , have not separated themselves from the people of the land , &c. for they have taken of their daughters , &c. so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people , &c. yea , the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass , &c. Ezra 9. 1 , 2. They read in the book of Moses , &c. that the Ammonite , &c. should not come into the congregation of God for ever , &c. Now it came to pass , when they had heard the law , that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude , Nehem. 13. 1 , 3. He who spareth his rod , hateth his son : but he who loveth him , &c. Prov. 13. 24. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself : and discover not a secret to another ( or , the secret of another ) , Prov. 25. 9. Open rebuke is better than secret love , Prov. 27. 5. If thou take forth the precious from the vile : thou shalt be as my mouth , Jer. 15. 19. Her priests have violated my law , and have prophaned mine holy things : they have put no difference between the holy and profane : neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean , Ezek. 22. 26. They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane , and cause men to discern between the unclean and the clean , Ezek. 44. 23. Ephraim hath mixed himself among the people , &c. a cake not turned , Hosea 7. 8. Jesus said unto Peter , &c. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven : and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth , shall be bound in heaven : whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth , shall be loosed in heaven , Matth. 16. 18 , 19. If thy brother shall trespass against thee , go and tell him his fault between him and thee : if he will hear thee , thou shalt gain thy brother : but if he will not hear thee , then take with thee one or two more , that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established : and if he shall neglect to hear them , tell it to the Church : but if he neglect to hear the Church , let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican ; verily , I say unto you , Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth , shall be bound in heaven , and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth , &c. Matth. 18. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. John 20. 21 , 22 , 23. If thy brother trespass , &c. rebuke him : and if he repent , forgive him , &c. if seven times a day , Luke 17. 3 , 4. I beseech you brethren , mark them who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye bave learned , and avoid them : for they are such who serve not our Lord Jesus , but their own bellies , &c. Rom. 16. 17 , 18. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you , and such , &c. and ye are puffed up , and have not rather mourned , that he who hath done this deed , might have been taken away from among you , &c. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ , when ye are gathered together , and my spirit , with the power of our Lord Jesus , to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh , that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus , &c. know ye not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump , & c ? I wrote to you in an Epistle , not to keep company with fornicators , yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world , &c. But if any man that is called a brother , be a fornicator , or covetous , or an idolator , &c. with such a one , no not to eat : for what have I to do with them who are without ? do not ye judg them who are within , & c ? therefore put away from among your selves that wicked person , 1 Cor. 5. Sufficient to such a man was this punishment ( or , censure ) which was inflicted of many : so that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him , and comfort him , &c. wherefore I beseech you , that you would confirm your love to him , &c. to whom ye forgive any thing , I also forgive , 2 Cor. 2. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers , &c. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness , & c ? Are ye not the temple of the living God , & c ? come out from among them , and touch no unclean thing , &c. 2 Cor. 6. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. When Paul had written to the Galatians about some who troubled them , and would pervert the Gospel of Christ , &c. had preached the circumcision , &c. he said to them , Ye did run well , who did hinder you that that ye should not obey the truth ? this perswasion cometh not from him who calleth you : a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump : I have confidence in you through the Lord , that you will be none otherwise minded : but he who troubleth you shall bear his judgment , whosoever he be , &c. I would they were even cut off who trouble you : for brethren , ye have been called to liberty , Gal. 1. 6 , 7 , 8. Gal. 5. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. If any man be overtaken in a fault , ye who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness : considering thy self , lest thou also be tempted , Gal. 6. 1. Have no fellwoship with unfruitful works of darkness , but rather reprove them : for it is a shame even to speak of such things , &c. Ephes. 5. 11 , 12. Now we exhort ( or beseech ) you brethren , warn them who are unruly , 1 Thess. 5. 14. Now we command you , brethren , in the name of our Lord Jesus , that ye withdraw your selves from every brother who walketh disorderly , and not after the traditions which he received of us : for your selves know how ye ought to follow us , &c. If any man obey not our word by this Epistle , note ( or , signifie ) that man , and have no company with him , that he may be ashamed ; yet count him not as an enemy , but admonish him as a brother , 2 Thess. 3. 6 , 7 , 14 , 15. Holding faith and a good conscience , which some having put away , concerning faith have made shipwrack ; of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander , whom I have delivered unto Satan , that they learn not to blaspheme , 1 Tim. 1. 19 , 20. Rebuke not an Elder , but intreat him as a father , and the younger men as brethren : the elder women as mothers , the younger as sisters , with all purity , &c. Against an Elder receive not an accusation , but before ( or , under ) two or three witnesses : them who sin , rebuke before all , that others also may fear , 1 Tim. 5. 1 , 2 , 19 , 20. Men of corrupt minds , &c. from such withdraw thy self , 1 Tim. 6. 5. 2 Tim. 3. 5. A man who is an heretick , after the first and second admonition reject , knowing , that he who is such , is subverted and sinneth , being condemned of himself , Tit. 3. 10 , 11. Follow peace with all men , and holiness , &c. looking diligently , lest any man fail ( or , fall from ) the grace of God : lest any root of bitterness springing up , trouble you , and thereby many be defiled : lest there be any fornicator or profane person , as Esau , who for one morsel , &c. Heb. 12. 14 , 15 , 16. I know thy works , &c. and how thou canst not bear them who are evil : and thou hast tryed them who say they are Apostles , and are not , and thou hast found them lyars , &c. The Church in Pergamus , &c. I have a few things against thee , because thou hast there them who hold the doctrine of Balaam , &c. So also hast thou them who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans , which thing I hate , &c. The Church of Thyatira , &c. I have a few things against thee , because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel , who calleth her self a prophetess , to teach and to seduce my servants , to commit fornication , and to eat things sacrificed to idols , &c. All the Churches shall know that I am he who searcheth the heart , &c. Revel . 2. 2 , 14 , 15 , 20 , 23. See Rebuke and Reproof , Chap. 17. CHAP. XXVIII . Of Hypocrites and Hypocrisie : The spirits and practises of such who are very formal and earnest in the external part of worship and profession , and in a shew for God , yet high in their opposition of Christ , the truth of the Gospel , and power of Godliness in others . THE hour cometh , and now is , when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth : for the father seeketh such to worship him . God is a spirit , and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth , John 4. 23 , 24. They are not all Israel who are of Israel : neither because they are the seed of Abraham , are all children , &c. Rom. 9. 6 , 7. Abel offered unto God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain : Cain was therefore angry , and slew his brother , Gen. 4. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Heb. 11. 4. Absolom pretended to justice , and to pay a vow which he had vowed to the Lord in Hebron : but he purposed to steal away the hearts of the people , and to rebel against the king , and advance himself into the throne , 2 Sam. 15. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Ahaziah the king , when rebuked by Elijah for departing from God , and sending to an idol , gives order to his soldiers to fetch Elijah ; and though one company and another were consumed with fire , yet he sent again , 2 Kings 1. 3 , 4 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. Jehu met Jehonadab , and said unto him , Is thine heart right as my heart , & c ? and he said , Come with me , and see my zeal for the Lord , &c. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart : he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam , &c. 2 Kings 10. 15 , 16 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 31. What is the hope of the hypocrite , & c ? will he delight himself in the Almighty ? will he always call upon God ? Job 27. 8 , 10. The hypocrites in heart , &c. they cry not when he bindeth them , Job 36. 13. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour : with flattering lips , and with a double heart do they speak , Psal. 12. 2. When he slew them , then they sought him early : and they returned and enquired early after God , and they remembred that God was their rock , and the high God their redeemer ; nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth , and they lyed unto him with their tongue : for their heart was not right with him , neither were they stedfast in his covenant , Psal. 78 , . 34 , 35 , 36 , 37. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes , Prov. 12. 15. There is a generation who are pure in their own eyes , and yet is not washed from their filthiness , Prov. 30. 12. This people draw near to me with their mouth , and with their lips they honour me , but have removed their heart far from me : and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men , Isa. 29. 13. chap. 48. 1 , 2. Shew my people their transgression , and the house of Jacob their sins : yet they seek me daly , and delight to know my ways : as a nation who did righteousness , and forsook not the ordinances of their God ; they ask of me the ordinances of justice ; they take delight in approaching to God : Wherefore have we fasted , say they , and thou seest it not ? have we afflicted our soul , and thou takest no knowledg ? Behold , in the day of your fast you find pleasures , and exact all your labours , &c. ye fast for strife , &c. Isa. 58. 1. 2 , 3 , 4. I have spread out my hands all the day long to a rebellious people , &c. who provoke me to anger continually , &c. who say , Stand by thy self , come not near to me , for I am holier than thou : these are a smoke in my nose , Isa. 65. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart , but feignedly , Jer. 3. 10. Thus saith the Lord , &c. Amend your ways , &c. trust ye not in lying words , saying , The temple of the Lord , the temple of the Lord , &c. Behold , ye trust in lying words which cannot profit : Will ye steal , murder , &c. and come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name , & c ? Jer. 7. 3 , 4 , 8 , 9 , 10. Thou art near in their mouth , and far from their reins , Jer. 12. 2. Judah said , Pray for us to the Lord , &c. that the Lord thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk , and the thing that we may do , &c. We will obey the voice of the Lord , &c. But Jeremy afterwards said , O ye remnant of Judah , &c. Ye dissembled in your hearts ( or , have used deceit against your souls ) , when ye sent me unto the Lord your God , saying , Pray for us , &c. We will do , &c. ye have not obeyed the voice of God , nor any thing , &c. Jer. 41. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 19 , 20 , 21. And they come unto thee as the people cometh , and they sit before thee as my people : and they hear thy words , but they will not do them : for with their mouth they shew much love , but their heart goeth after their covetousness , &c. thou art unto them as a very lovely song , &c. for they hear thy words , but they do them not , Ezek. 33. 31 , 32. O Ephraim , what shall I do unto thee ? O Judah , what shall I do unto thee ? for your goodness is as a morning cloud , and as an early dew it goeth away , Hosea 6. 4. The heads judg for reward , and the priests thereof teach for hire , &c. yes will they lean upon the Lord ; and say , Is not the Lord among us , & c ? Mic. 3. 11. Herod sent to seek Christ under pretence of worshipping him : but he designed to kill him , Matth. 2. 3 , 5 , 8 , 16. When thou dost thine alms , do not sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do in the Synagogues , and in the streets , that they may have glory of men , &c. And when thou prayest , thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are : for they love to pray standing in the Synagogues , and in the corners of the streets , that they may be seen of men , &c. Moreover , when ye fast , be not as the hypocrites , of a sad countenance : for they disfigure their faces , that they may appear unto men to fast , Matth. 6. 2 , 5 , 16. Why beholdest thou the mote which is in thy brothers eye , but considereth not the beam that is in thine own eye ? or , how wilt thou say to thy brother , Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye , and behold a beam in thine own eye ? thou hypocrite , first cast out the beam out of thine own eye , &c. Not every one who saith unto me , Lord , Lord , shall enter into the kingdom of heaven , &c. Many will say unto me in that day , Lord , Lord , have we not prophesied in thy name , & c ? then I will profess , I never knew you , Matth. 7. 3 , 4 , 5 , 21 , 22 , 23. Luke 13 , 26 , 27. John came neither eating nor drinking , and they say , he hath a devil ; the Son of man came eating and drinking , and they say , behold a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber , and a friend of Publicans and sinners , Matth. 11. 18 , 19. When the Pharisees saw the disciples plucking corn on the Sabbath-day , they said , Behold , thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath-day . Jesus said , Have ye not read , &c. how that on the Sabbath-days , the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath , and are blameless , & c ? They asked him , saying , Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day ? that they mighe accuse him , &c. then he cured the man , &c. Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against him , that they might destroy him , &c. They said , This fellow doth not cast out devils , but by Beelzebub the prince of Devils , Matth. 12. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 24. They said of Christ , Is not this the Carpenters son , & c ? whence then hath this man all these things ? and they were offended in him , Matth. 13. 54 , 55 , 56 , 57. Then there came to Jesus Scribes and Pharisecs , &c. saying , Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the Elders , for they wash not their hands when they eat bread ? But he answered and said unto them , Why do you also transgress the commandment by your traditions ? for God commanded , saying , Honour thy father , &c. but ye say , &c. thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition : ye hypocrites , well did Isaias prophesie of you , saying , This people draw nigh to me with their mouth , &c. but their heart is far from me , Matth. 15. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. The young rich man had observed much of the law ; yet when Christ had said unto him , If thou wilt be perfect , go and sell that thou hast , and give to the poor : he went away sorrowful , for he had great possessions , Matth. 19. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. Those who agreed for wages , murmur , because those who did not agree , nor do so much work as they , had alike wages freely given them , Matth. 20. 1 , 2 , to the 15. When the chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderful things that he did , and the children crying in the temple , and saying , Hosanna to the son of David ; they were sore displeased , &c. And when he was come into the temple , the chief Priests and the Elders , &c. came unto him as he was teaching , and said , By what authority dost thou these things ? and who gave thee this authority ? When Christ had put forth the parable of the vinyard , and the chief Priests had heard this parable , they perceived that he spake of them : but when they sought to lay hands on him , &c. Matth. 21. 15 , 23 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 45 , 46. Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might intangle him in his talk , &c. asked him , Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar , or not , & c ? Jesus said , Why tempt ye me , ye hypocrites ? &c. Matth. 22. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. The Scribes and Pharisees , &c. they say , and do not : for they bind heavy burdens , and grievous to be born , and lay them on mens shoulders , but will not move them with one of their fingers : but all their works they do for to be seen of men : they make broad their phylacteries , and inlarge the borders of their garments , and love the uppermost rooms at feasts , and the chief seats in the Synagogues , and greetings in the markets , and to be called of men Rabbi , Rabbi , &c. But wo unto you Scribes , and Pharisees , hypocrites : ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men : for ye neither go in your selves , neither suffer ye them who are entring , to go in , &c. Ye devour widows houses , and for a pretence make long prayers , &c. Ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte , and when he is made , ye make him two-fold more the child of hell , &c. Blind guides ! who say , Whosoever shall swear by the temple , it is nothing : but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple , he is a debtor , &c. Ye pay tythe of mint and anise and cummin , and have omitted the weightier matters of the law , judgment , mercy , and faith , &c. strain at a gnat , and swallow a camel , &c. Ye make clean the outside of the cup , &c. but within they are full of extortion and excess : ye outwardly appear righteous unto men , but within ye are full of hypocrisie , Matth. 23. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30. The chief Priest , and the Scribes , &c. consulted that they might take Jesus and kill him , &c. Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss , &c. The chief priests , &c. sought false witnesses against Jesus , to put him to death , Matth. 26. 3 , 4 , 49 , 59. Judas said to the high Priests , &c. I have sinned in betraying innocent blood : and they said , What is that to us ? look thou to that , &c. they perswade the multitude to ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus ( when the governour would have released Jesus ) ; they said , Let his blood be upon us and our children , &c. They mocked him , and said , He trusted in God , let him deliver him now , &c. and notwithstanding all the wonders at his death , which made the Centurion say , Truly , this was the Son of God ; yet the chief priests , &c. came to Pilate , and said , &c. That deceiver said , &c. desired , and set a watch upon the sepulchre , Matth. 27. 3 , 4 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 24 , 25 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 53 , 54 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 66. When they were convinced that Christ was risen , they gave large money to the soldiers to hide it with a lye , and promised the soldiers to secure them , Matth. 28. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. But the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the counsel of God against ( or , within ) themselves , being not baptized of him , Luke 7. 30. Then shall ye begin to say , We have eaten and drank in thy presence , and thou hast taught in our streets : But he shall say , &c. Depart from me ye workers of iniquity , Luke 13. 26 , 27. And he spake this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves , that they were ( or , as being ) righteous , and despised others . Two went up into the temple to pray , the one a pharisee . and the other a publican : the pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself ; God , I thank thee that I am not as other men are , extortioners , &c. I fast twice in the week : I give tythes , &c. Luke 18. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. When Jesus went unto Zacheus house , the Jews murmured , saying , That he was gone to be guest with a man who is a sinner , Luke 19. 6 , 7. The chief Priests and Scribes would kill Jesus , &c. Judas offered to betray him ; they were glad , and covenanted with him , &c. Luke 22. 2 , 4 , 5. They accuse Christ before Pilate , saying , We have found this fellow perverting the nation , and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar , saying , That he himself is Christ a king , Luke 23. 1 , 2. How can ye believe who receive honour one of another , and seek not the honour which cometh from God only ? John 5. 43 , 44. Ye seek me not because of the miracles , but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled , &c. Jesus said , &c. No man can come to me except it were given him of my father . From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him , John 6. 26 , 65 , 66. Some said of Christ , he deceiveth the people : howbeit , no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews , &c. The chief priests and pharisees said unto the officers , Why have ye not brought him ? the officers answered , Never man spake like this man ; then answered them the pharisees , Are ye also deceived ? have any of the rulers or pharisees believed on him ? but this people who knoweth not the law , are accursed . Nicodemus said , &c. Doth our law judg any man before it hear him , and know what he doth ? And they said unto him , Art thou also of Galilee ? John 7. 12 , 13 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 50 , 51 , 52. We be Abrahams seed , and were never in bondage to any man , &c. Jesus said , &c. Whosoever committeth sin , is the servant of sin , &c. Ye seek to kill me , a man who have told you the truth , &c. this did not Abraham ; ye do the deeds of your father , &c. The Jews say , Say we not well , thou art a Samaritan , and hast a devil , John 8. 33 , 34 , 40 , 41 , 48. The Pharisees said , This man is not of God , because he keepeth not the Sabbath-day , &c. The Jews had agreed already , that if any man did confess that he was Christ , he should be put out of the Synagogue , &c. They say of Christ , he is a sinner , we are Moses disciples : as for this fellow we know not whence he is , &c. When they were convinced by the man who had been blind , that Christ must be of God ; they say to him , Thou wast altogether born in sin , and dost thou teach us ? and they excommunicated him , &c. Christ said to the Pharisees , Ye say , you see , &c. John 9. 16 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 40 , 41. When Lazarus was raised from the dead , the chief priests and the pharisees gathered a council : and said , What do we ? for this man doth many miracles : if we let him thus alone , all men will believe on him , and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation , &c. from that day forth they took counsel together to put him to death , John 11. 44 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 53 , 57. Judas said , Why was not this oyntment sold , &c. and given to the poor ? this he said , not that he cared for the poor , but because he was a thief and had the bag , &c. The chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death , because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus , &c. The pharisees therefore said among themselves , Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing ? behold , the world is gone after him , &c. Among the chief rulers also many believed on him : but because of the pharisees they did not confess him , lest they should be put out of the Synagogue : for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God , John 12. 5 , 6 , 10 , 11 , 19 , 42 , 43. The time cometh , that whosoever killeth you , will think that he doth God good service , &c. These things they will do , &c. because they have not known the father , John 16. 2 , 3. Pilate sought to release Jesus ; but the Jews cryed out , saying , If thou let this man go , thou art not Cesars friend : whosoever maketh himself a King , speaketh against Cesar , &c. Pilate said , Shall I crucifie your king ? the chief priests answered , We have no king but Cesar , John 19. 12 , 15. As the Apostles spake unto the people , the priests and the Captain of the temple , and the Sadduces came upon them , being grieved that they taught the people , &c. and they laid hands on them , &c. said , By what power , or by what name do ye this , & c ? They said , What shall we do with these men ? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them , is manifest to all , &c. and we cannot deny it : but that it spread no further among the people , let us straitly threaten them , that they speak henceforth to no man in this name ; and they called them , and commanded them not to speak at all , &c. Acts 4. 1 , 2 , 3 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. Ananias and Saphira brought part of the price , and would have deceived the holy Ghost , &c. multitudes were added to the Lord : then the high priests , &c. were filled with indignation , and laid theirhands on them , and put them in the common prison , &c. they doubted whither these things would grow , &c. said to the Apostles , Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine , and intend to bring this mans blood upon us , &c. When the Apostles had said , That God had exalted that Jesus whom they slew , they were cut to the heart , and took counsel to slay them , Acts 5. 1 , 2 , 3 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 24 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 33. chap. 7. 54 , 55. When they could not resist the spirit and wisdom by which Stephen spake , then they suborned men , who said , We have heard , &c. and they stirred up the people , &c. and they came upon him and caught him , &c. And they set up false witnesses , Acts 6. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. Simon when he saw the Apostles through laying on of hands , conferred the holy Ghost ; he offered them money for the like power , &c. was in the gall of bitterness , Acts 8. 18 , 19 , 23. The next Sabbath-day came almost the whole City together to hear the word of God : but when the Jews saw the multitude , they were filled with envy , and spake against the things which were spoken by Paul , contradicting and blaspheming , &c. but the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women , and the chief men of the City , and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas , and expelled them , &c. Acts 13. 44 , 45 , 49 , 50. The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles , and made their minds evilly affected against the brethren , &c. perswaded the people to stone them , Acts 14. 2 , 19. When Paul had preached , and many believed ; the Jews who believed not , moved with envy , took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort , and gathered a company , and set all the City in an uproar , &c. they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the City , crying , These have turned the world upside down , &c. these do all contrary to the decrees of Cesar , saying , That there is another King , one Jesus ; the Jews came also to Berea , and stirred up the people , Acts 17. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 13. The Jews made an insurrection with one accord against Paul , and brought him to the judgment-seat , saying , This fellow perswaded men to worship God contrary to the law , Acts 18. 12 , 13. Paul said , I was zealous towards God , as ye all are at this day : and I persecuted this way unto the death , &c. Acts 22. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. Certain Jews bound themselves under a curse to kill Paul , &c. the chief Priests and Elders agree to help it forward , Acts 23. 12 , 13 , 14. chap. 25. 2 , 3. They get an Orator to accuse Paul , thus : We found this man a pestilent fellow , and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world , and a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarens : who also hath gone about to profane the temple , &c. When Paul reasoned of righteousness , &c. Felix trembled , and answered , Go thy way for this time : when I have a convenient time I will call for thee , &c. Acts 24. 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 15. Paul said , I verily thought with my self , that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus , &c. which thing I also did , &c. exceeding mad , Acts 26. 9 , 10 , 11. The Jews told Paul , that concerning this sect , it was every where spoken against , Acts 28. 21. Behold , thou art called a Jew and restest in the law , and makest thy boast of God , and knowest his will , &c. and art confident that thou thy self art a guide to the blind , &c. Thou therefore who teachest another , teachest thou not thy self ? Thou who preachest a man shall not steal , dost thou steal , & c ? He is not a Jew who is one outwardly : neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh , &c. Rom. 2. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 28. Israel who followed after the law of rigteousness , hath not attained to the law of righteousness : wherefore , because they sought it not by faith , but as it were by the works of the law : for they stumble at that stumbling-stone , Rom. 9. 31 , 32. They have a zeal of God , but not according to knowledg : for they being ignorant of Gods righteousness , and going about to establish their own righteousness , have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God , Rom. 10. 1 , 2 , 3. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh , they constrain you to be circumcised , only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ : for neither they themselves who are circumcised , keep the law : but desire to have you circumcised , that they may glory in your flesh , Galat. 6. 12 , 13. The Jews , who both killed the Lord Jesus , and their own prophets , and have persecuted us ( or , chased us out ) they please not God , and are contrary unto all men : forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved , to fill up their sins alway , 1 Thess. 2. 14 , 15 , 16. Having a form of godliness , but denying the power thereof , &c. These also resist the truth , &c. 2 Tim. 3. 5 , 8. They profess they know God , but in works they deny him : being abominable and disobedient , and unto every good work reprobate ( or , void of judgment ) . Titus 1. 16. They went out from us , but they were not of us , &c. they went out that they might be manifest , &c. 1 John 2. 19. Thou hast a name that thou livest , and art dead , &c. I have not found thy work perfect before God , &c. The Church of the Laodiceans , &c. I know thy works , that thou art neither hot nor cold , &c. Thou sayest , I am rich , and increased with goods , and have need of nothing : and knowest not that thou art wretched , and poor , and blind , and naked , &c. Rev. 3. 1 , 2 , 14 , 15 , 17. See persecution from Professors , Chap. 22. See Sincerity , Chap. 16. See Characters of Saints , Chap. 12. The great danger of Hypocrisie and formality , and end of Hypocrites . The hypocrites hope shall perish , whose hope shall be cut off , and whose trust shall be a spiders web : he shall lean upon his house , but it shall not stand : he shall hold it fast , but it shall not endure , Job 8. 13 , 14 , 15. He also is my salvation : for an hypocrite shall not come before him , Job 13. 16. The congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate , &c. Job 15. 34. He who speaketh flattery to his friend , the eyes of his children shall fail , Job 17. 5. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment : though his excellency mount up unto the heavens , and his head reach unto the clouds , he shall perish for ever like his own dung : they who have seen him , shall say . Where is he ? and he shall flee away as a dream , and shall not be found : the eye also which saw him , shall see him no more , &c. Job 20. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , &c. What is the hope of the hypocrite when he hath gained , when God taketh away his soul ? will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him ? Job 27. 8 , 9. The hypocrites in heart heap up wrath , Job 36. 13. O Assyrian , the rod of mine anger , &c. I will send him against an hypocritical nation , and against the people of my wrath , &c. Isa. 10. 5 , 6. Wo unto them who seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord , and their works are in the dark ; and they say , Who seeth us ? and who knoweth ? Isa. 29. 15 , 16. The sinners in Zion are afraid , fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites , &c. who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire , & c ? Isa. 33. 14. Behold all ye who kindle a fire , who compass your selves about with sparks ; walk in the light of your fire , and in your sparks which ye have kindled : this shall ye have of my hand , ye shall lye down in sorrow , Isa. 50. 11. I will declare thy righteousness and thy works , for they shall not profit thee , Isa. 57. 12. Trust ye not in lying words , saying , The temple of the Lord , &c. Behold , ye trust in lying words which cannot profit , &c. therefore will I do to this house , &c. wherein ye trust , &c. as I have done to Shiloh , and I will cast you out of my sight , Jer. 7. 4 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. I will punish all them who are circumcised , with the uncircumcised . Egypt , &c. all these nations are uncircumcised : and all the house of Israel uncircumcised in the heart , Jer. 9. 25 , 26. Ye dissembled in your hearts , when ye sent me unto the Lord your God , &c. Now therefore know certainly , that ye shall die by the sword , by the famine , &c. Jer. 42. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. Cursed be the deceiver who hath in his flock a male , &c. and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing , Mal. 1. 14. Ye are the salt of the earth : but if the salt have lost his savour , wherewith shall it be salted ? it is henceforth good for nothing but to be cast out , and to be trodden under foot of men , &c. I say unto you , That except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees , ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of h●…ven , Matth. 5. 13 , 20. Many will say unto me in that day , Lord , Lord , Have we not prophesied in thy name , & c ? and then will I profess unto them , I never knew you : depart from me ye who work iniquity , Matth. 7. 22 , 23. Every plant which my heavenly father hath not planted , shall be rooted up : let them alone , &c. If the blind lead the blind , both shall fall , &c. Matth. 15. 13 , 14. When Christ found nothing but leaves on the fig-tree , he said , Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever : and presently it withered away , &c. Jesus said to the Priests , &c. Publicans and Harlots go into the kingdom of God before you , Matth. 21. 19 , 23 , 29 , 30. 31. When the king came , &c. he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment : and he sad unto him , Friend , how camest thou hither , & c ? and he was speechless ; then said the king to his servants , bind him , &c. and cast him into outer darkness , there shall be weeping , &c. Matth. 22. 11 , 12 , 13. Wo unto the Scribes and Pharisees , hypocrites , often pronounced , Matth. 23. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 23 , 25 , 27 , 29. Whosoever hath not , from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have ( or , thinketh he hath ) , Luke 8. 18. Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees , which is hypocrisie , &c. he who knoweth his masters will , and doth not according , shall be beaten with many stripes , Luke 12. 1 , 47. James 4. 17. They shall begin to say , We have eat and drank in thy presence , &c. but he shall say , I know you not whence you are : depart from me all ye workers , &c. Ye shall see Abraham , &c. in the kingdom of God , and you thrust out , Luk. 13. 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. Ye are they who justifie your selves , but God knows your hearts : for that which is highly esteemed amongst men , is abomination in the sight of God , Luke 16. ●…5 . Every branch which beareth not fruit in me , he taketh away , John 15. 2. Ananias and Saphira , both smote with death for their hypocrisie , Acts 5. 5 , 10. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against , &c. men who hold the truth in unrighteousness , Rom. 1. 18. A double minded-man is unstable in all his ways , James 1. 8. The Jews , &c. forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved , to fill up their sins always : for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost , 1 Thess. 2. 16. CHAP. XXIX . Of the Conscience . AND it came to pass afterwards , that Davids heart smote him , because he had cut off Sauls skirt : and he said unto his men , The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master the Lords anointed , to stretch forth my hand against him , &c. 1 Sam. 24. 5 , 6. And Davids heart smote him after that he had numbred the people : and David said unto the Lord , I have sinned greatly in that I have done , 2 Sam. 24. 10. chap. 12. 13. When Josiah had heard the words of the book of the law , that he rent his cloaths , &c. and he commanded , &c. Go and enquire of the Lord for me , and for the people , &c. for great is the wrath of the Lord , &c. Tell the man that sent you to me , &c. I will bring evil upon this place , &c. But to the king , &c. because thine heart was tender , and thou hast humbled thy self , &c. thine eyes shall not see all the evil , &c. 2 Kings 22. 11 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 20. I will not remove mine integrity , &c. my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live , Job 27. 5 , 6. Now when they heard this , they were pricked in their heart , and said , &c. what shall we do ? Acts 2. 37. Paul said , &c. I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day , Acts 23. 1. And herein do I exercise my self , to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man , Acts 24. 16. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts : their conscience also bearing them witness ( or , the conscience witnessing with them ) : and their thoughts the mean while ( or , between themselves ) accusing or else excusing one another , Rom. 2. 15 , 16. I say the truth in Christ , I lye not , my conscience also bearing me witness in the holy Ghost , Rom. 9. 1. Wherefore ye must needs be subject , not only for wrath , but for conscience sake , Rom. 13. 5. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles , eat , asking no question for conscience-sake : for the earth is the Lords , &c. If any of them who believe not , bid you , &c. whatsoever is before you , eat , asking no queston for conscience-sake ; but if any man say unto thee , this is offered to idols ; eat not for his sake , &c. and for conscience-sake , &c. Conscience , I say , not thine own , but of the others : for why is my liberty judged of another mans conscience , & c ? Give none offence , neither to the Jews , nor to the Gentiles , nor to the Church of God , 1 Cor. 10. 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 32. chap. 8. 7. Our rejoycing is this , the testimony of our conscience , that in simplicity and godly sincerity , not with fleshly wisdom , &c. 2 Cor. 1. 12. By manifestation of the truth , commended our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God , 2 Cor. 4. 2. We are made manifest unto God ; and I trust also , are made manifest in your consciences , 2 Cor. 5. 11. Now the end of the commandment is charity , out of a pure heart , and of a good conscience , &c. holding faith and a good conscience : which some having put away , concerning faith have made shipwrack , 1 Tim. 1. 5. 19. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience , 1 Tim. 3. 9. The Spirit speaketh expresly , that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith , &c. speaking lyes in hypocrisie : having their conscience feared with a hot iron , forbidding to marry , &c. 1 Tim. 4. 1 , 2 , 3. I thank God , whom I serve , &c. with pure conscience , 2 Tim. 1 , 3. Unto them who are defiled and unbelieving , is nothing pure : but even their mind and conscience is defiled , Titus 1. 15. In which were offered both gifts and sacrifices , which could not make him who did the service , perfect as pertaining to the conscience , &c. If the blood of bulls and goats , sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh : how much more shall the blood of Christ , &c. purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God ? Heb. 9. 9 , 13 , 14. The law having a shadow of good things , &c. can never with those sacrifices they offered year by year continually , make the comers thereunto perfect : then would they not have ceased to be offered , because that the worshippers once purged , should have had no more conscience of sins ; but in those sacrifices there is a remembrance , &c. Let us draw-near , &c. having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience , &c. Heb. 10. 1 , 2 , 3 , 22. We trust we have a good conscience in all things , willing to live honestly , Heb. 13. 18. This is thank-worthy , if a man for conscience towards God , endure grief , suffering wrongfully , 1 Pet. 2. 19. Having a good conscience , that whereas they speak evil of you , &c. Baptism doth also now save us : not the putting away of the filth of the flesh , but the answer of a good conscience towards God , by the resurrection of Jesus , 1 Pet. 3. 16 , 21. Let us not love in word , &c. Hereby we know , &c. for if our heart condemn us , God is greater than our heart , and knoweth all things : beloved , if our heart condemn us not , then have we confidence towards God , 1 John 3. 13 , 19 , 20 , 21. CHAP. XXX . Of the Devil , of his subtilty , wiles and ways , by himself , and in and by his instruments , wicked men , false-teachers , deceivers and seducers . The description of them , and what concerns the Saints therein . First , Of Satan , the Devil himself . NOW the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field , which the Lord God had made : and he said unto the woman , yea , because ( or , hath ) God said , Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden ? the woman said , &c. We may eat , &c. but of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden , God hath said , Ye shall not eat of it , neither shall ye touch it , left ye die . And the serpent said unto the woman , Ye shall not surely die ; for God doth know , that in the day ye eat thereof , then your eyes shall be open , and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil : and the woman saw that the tree was good , Gen. 3. 1. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. And Satan stood up against Israel , and provoked David to number Israel , 1 Chron. 21. 1. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord : and Satan ( or , the adversary ) came also among ( or , in the midst ) of them , &c. The Lord said to Satan , From whence comest thou ? then said he , &c. from going to and fro in the earth , and from walking up and down in it , &c. He said , Doth Job serve God for nought ? hast thou not made a hedg about him , & c ? put forth thine hand , and touch that which he hath , and he will curse thee to thy face , &c. then Satan having leave given him , destroyed all he had , Job . 1. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , to the end . chap. 2. 1 , 2 , 3. Hast thou considered my servant Job , & c ? still he holdeth fast his integrity , although thou movedst me against him to destroy him without a cause . And Satan answered the Lord , and said , Skin for skin , yea , and all that a man hath , will he give for his life : but put forth thine hand now , and touch his bone and his flesh , and he will curse thee to thy face ; and the Lord said , He is in thine hand , but ( or , only ) save his life . So went Satan , &c. and smote Job , Job 2. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. And he shewed me Joshua the High-priest standing before the Angel of the Lord , and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him . And the Lord said unto Satan , The Lord rebuke thee , O Satan : even the Lord who hath chosen , &c. Zechar. 3. 1 , 2. Jesus , &c. in the wilderness to be tempted of the devil : when he had fasted , &c. the tempter came to him ; he said , If thou be the son of God , command that these stones be made bread ? But he answered and said , It is written , &c. Then the devil taketh him , &c. and setteth him on a pinacle of the temple , and saith unto him , If thou be the son of God , cast thy self down ; for it is written , He shall give his Angels charge , &c. Jesus said , It is written again , &c. The devil , &c. shews him all the kingdoms of the world , and the glory of them , and saith unto him , All these things will I give thee , if thou wilt fall down and worship me , &c. Get thee hence , Satan , for it is written , Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God , and him only shalt thou serve , Matth. 4. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. When Jesus was come on the other side , &c. there met him two possessed w●…h devils , &c. they cryed out , saying , What have we to do with thee , Jesus , thou son of God ? art thou come hither to torment us before our time , & c ? so the devils besought him , saying , If thou cast us out , suffer us 〈◊〉 go away into the herd of swine : and he said unto them , Go , &c. The whole City came out and besought him , that he would depart out of their coasts , Matth. 8. 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34. Matth. 5. 2 , 3 , 4. 5 , &c. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man , he walketh through dry places , seeking rest and finding none : then he saith , I will return to my house from whence I came out : and when he is come , he findeth it empty , swept and garnished : then goeth he and taketh with him seven other spirits , more wicked than himself , and they enter in and dwell there : and the last state of that man is worse , &c. Matth. 12. 43 , 44 , 45. The tares are the children of the wicked one : the Enemy who sowed them , is the devil , Matth. 13. 38 , 39. Jesus rebuked the devil , and he departed out of him , and the child was cured , &c. howbeit , this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting , Matth. 17. 18 , 21. Lord , Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name ; and he said unto them , I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven , Luke 10. 17 , 18. And he was casting out a devil , &c. Some of them said , He casteth out devils by Beelzebub the chief of the devils , &c. If Satan also be divided against himself , how shall his kingdom stand , & c ? If I by Beelzebub cast out devils , by whom do your children cast them out ? Luke 11. 14 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Simon , Simon , behold , Satan hath desired you , that he may sift you as wheat : but I have prayed for thee , that ●…hy faith fail not , Luke 22. 31 , 32. Ye are of your father the devil , and the lusts of your father ye will do : he was a Murderer from the beginning , and abode not in the truth , because there is no truth in him : when he speaketh of a lye , he speaketh of his own : for he is a lyar , and the father of it , John 8. 44. After Jesus had given the sop to Judas , Satan entred into him , John 13. 2 , 26 , 27. Luke 22. 12. The Prince of this world cometh , and hath nothing in me , John 14. 30. When the Spirit is come , &c. he will reprove ( or , convince ) the world of , &c. of judgment , because the prince of this world is judged , John 16. 8 , 9 , 11. I pray , &c. that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one , John 17. 15. Peter said , Ananias , Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lye to the holy Ghost ? Acts 5. 3. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly , Rom. 16. 20. Confirm your love towards him , &c. lest Satan should get an advantage of us : for we are not ignorant of his devices , 2 Cor. 2. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. If our Gospel be hid , it is hid to them who are lost : in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not , lest the light of the glorious Gospel , &c. 2 Cor. 4. 3 , 4. But I fear lest by any means , as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty , so your mind should be corrupted , &c. No marvel , for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light , 2 Cor. 11. 3 , 14. There was given me a thorn in the flesh , the messenger of Satan , to buffet me , 2 Cor. 12. 7. Ye walked , &c. according to the Prince of the power of the air , the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience , Ephes. 2. 2. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath , neither give place to the Devil , Ephes. 4. 26 , 27. Put on the whole armour of God , that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil : for we wrestle not against flesh and blood , but against principalities and powers , against the rulers of the darkness of this world , against spiritual wickednesses ( or , wicked spirits ) in high places : wherefore take unto you the whole armour , &c. above all things , the shield of faith , whereby ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one , Ephes. 6. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 16. We would have come unto you ( even I Paul ) once , and again : but Satan hindered us , 1 Thess. 2. 18. I sent to know your faith , lest by some means the tempter have tempted you , 1 Thess. 5. 3. — That wicked , &c. whose coming is after the working of Satan , with all power , and signs , and lying wonders , 2 Thess. 2. 8 , 9. In meekness instruct , &c. that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil , who are taken captive ( or , alive ) by him at his will , 2 Tim. 2. 25 , 26. Through death he might destroy death , and him who had the power of death , even the devil , Heb. 2. 14. Resist the devil , and he will flee from you , James 4. 7. Be sober , be vigilant : because your adversary the devil , as a roaring Lion , walketh about , seeking whom he may devour : whom resist stedfast in the faith , knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished , &c. 1 Pet. 5. 8 , 9. I write unto you young men , because ye have overcome the wicked one , 1 John 2. 13 , 14. chap. 5. 18. He who committeth sin , is of the Devil : for the devil sinneth from the beginning : for this purpose the Son of God was manifest , that he might destroy the works of the devil : not as Cain , who was of that wicked one , and slew his brother , 1 John 3. 8 , 12. The Archangel , when contending with the devil about the body of Moses , durst not bring against him a railing accusation ; but said , The Lord rebuke thee , Jude , verse 9. The devil shall cast some of you into prison , &c. Thou dwellest where Satans seat is , Rev. 2. 10 , 13. — Them of the Synagogue of Satan , &c. Rev. 3. 9. There was war in heaven , Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon , &c. and the great Dragon was cast out , that old serpent called the Devil and Satan , who deceiveth the whole world : he was cast out into the earth , and his Angels , &c. with him , &c. The accuser of the brethren is cast down , who accused them before our God day and night , &c. Wo unto the inhabiters of the earth , &c. for the devil is come down unto you , having , &c. Rev. 12. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Satan laid hold on , bound , cast into the pit , and sealed up from deceiving , &c. let loose again , Rev. 20. 2dly , The instruments of Satan , Seducers , Deceivers , &c. Saints Duty . The Prophets prophesie lyes in my name , I sent them not , neither have I commanded them , neither spake unto them : they prophesie unto you a false vision and divination , and a thing of nought , and the deceit of their heart , Jer. 14. 14 , 15. Beware of false prophets , who come to you in sheeps cloathing , but inwardly they are ravening wolves ; ye shall know them by their fruits , &c. Matth. 7. 15 , 16. Take heed that no man deceive you : for many shall come in my name , and say , I am Christ , and shall deceive many , &c. many false prophets shall arise and deceive many , &c. Then if any shall say unto you , Lo here is Christ , or there is Christ , believe it not : for there shall arise false Christs , and false Prophets , and shall shew great signs and wonders , insomuch that ( if it were possible ) they shall deceive the very elect . Behold , I have told you before : wherefore if they shall say unto you , behold , He is in the desert , &c. go not forth , &c. for as the lightning cometh out of the east , &c. so shall also the coming of the Son of man , &c. Matth. 24. 4 , 5 , 11 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27. — Ye receive me not : if another shall come in his own name , him ye will receive , John 5. 43. Elymas , &c. seeking to turn away the Deputy from the faith , &c. Paul , &c. said , O full of subtilty and all mischief ! thou child of the Devil , thou enemy of all righteousness : wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord , & c ? Acts 13. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. After my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you , not sparing the flock : also of your own selves shall men arise , speaking perverse ' things to draw away disciples after them ; therefore watch , Acts 20. 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. Mark them who cause divisions , &c. contrary to the doctrine , &c. and avoid them : for they who are such , serve not our Lord Jesus Christ , but their own belly : and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple , Rom. 16. 17 , 18. There must be also heresies among you , that they who are approved might be made , &c. 1 Cor. 11. 19. How say some among you , That there is no resurrection from the dead ? 1 Cor. 15. 12. Them who desire occasion , &c. for such are false Apostles , deceitful workers : transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ , &c. Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light : therefore it is no great thing if his ministers be transformed into the ministers of righteousness , whose ends shall be according to their works , &c. Ye suffer fools gladly , &c. Ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage : if a man devour , if a man take , if a man exalt himself , &c. smite you on the face , 2 Cor. 11. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 19 , 20. There be some who trouble you , and would pervert the Gospel of Christ : though we , or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you , than that we have preached unto you , let him be accursed : as we have before , so say I now again , If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received , let him be accursed , Gal. 1. 7 , 8 , 9. False brethren , who came in privily to spy out our liberty , &c. that they might bring us into bondage : to whom we gave place by subjection , no not for an hour , that the truth of the Gospel may continue with you : but of these who seem to be , &c. Gal. 2. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. They zealously affect you , but not well : yea , they would exclude you , that you might affect them , Gal. 4. 17. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh , they constrain you to be circumcised , only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ ; for neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law , but desire to have you circumcised , that they may glory in your flesh , Gal. 6. 12 , 13. Be no more children tossed , &c. with every wind of doctrine , by the sleight of men , and cunning craftiness , whereby they lie in wait to deceive , Ephes. 4. 14. This I say , lest any should beguile you with inticing words , &c. Beware , lest any one spoil you through philosophy and vain deceits , after the traditions of men , after the rudiments of this world , and not after Christ , &c. Let no man judg you in meat , &c ( or , for eating ) , &c. intruding into those things which he hath not seen , &c. and not holding the head , &c. Why are ye subject to ordinances , & c ? touch not , &c. Col. 2. 4 , 8 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23. Let no man deceive you by any means , &c. that man of sin , &c. who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God , or that is worshipped : so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God , shewing himself that he is God , &c. then shall that wicked be revealed , whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth , and destroy with the brightness of his coming ; whose coming is after the working of Satan , with all power , and signs , and lying wonders , and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them who perish : because they received not the love of the truth , &c. for this cause God shall send them strong delusions , that they should believe a lye , that they all might be damned , &c. 2 Thess. 2. 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Charge some , that they teach no other doctrine , neither give heed to Jewish fables , &c. some have swerved , having turned aside to vain janglings , desiring to be teachers of the law , understanding neither what they say , nor whereof they affirm , 1 Tim. 1. 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly , that in the latter days some shall depart from the faith , giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils : speaking lyes in hypocrisie ; having their consciences feared with a hot iron : forbidding to marry , and commanding to abstain from meats , &c. 1 Tim. 4. 1 , 2 , 3. If any man teach otherwise , &c. he is proud , knowing nothing : but doting ( or , sick ) about questions and strifes of words , whereof cometh envy , &c. perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds , and destitute of the truth : supposing that gain is godliness : from such withdraw thy self : Some , &c. have erred , 1 Tim. 6. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 20 , 21. Strive not about words to no profit , to the subverting of the hearers , &c. shun profane and vain babling , for they will increase to more ungodliness , and their word will eat as doth a canker ( or , gangrene ) : of whom is Hymeneus , &c. who concerning the truth have erred , saying , That the resurrection is past already , and overthrow the faith of some : nevertheless , the foundation of God standeth sure , &c. 2 Tim. 2. 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. Perillous times shall come : for men shall be lovers of their own selves : covetous , boasters , proud , blasphemers , disobedient to parents , unthankful , unholy , without natural affection , truce-breakers , false accusers , incontinent , fierce , despisers of those who are good : traitours , heady , high-minded , lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God : having a form of godliness , but denying the power thereof : from such turn away : for of this sort are they who creep into houses , and lead captive silly women , laden with sins , led away with divers lusts , ever learning , and never come to the knowledg of the truth . Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses , so do these also resist the truth : men of corrupt minds , reprobate ( or , of no judgment ) concerning the faith , &c. but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse , deceiving , and being deceived : but continue thou in the things , &c. 2 Tim. 3. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 13 , 14. The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine , but after their own lusts shall they heap up to themselves teachers , having itching ears : and they shall turn away their ears from truth , and shall be turned unto fables : but watch thou , &c. 2 Tim. 4. 3 , 4 , 5. A Bishop must be blameless , &c. holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught ( or , in teaching ) that he may be able by sound doctrine , both to exhort and convince the gainsayers : for there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers , specially they of the circumcision : whose mouths must be stopped , who subvert whole houses , teaching things which they ought not , for filthy lucres sake , &c. Rebuke them sharply , &c. not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men , who turn from the truth , &c. They profess that they know God , but in works they deny him , being , &c. Titus 1. 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 16. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines : for it is a good thing that the heart , &c. Heb. 13. 9. But there were false prophets also among the people , even as there shall be false teachers among you , who privily shall bring in damnable heresies , even denying the Lord who bought them , and bring upon themselves swift destruction : and many shall follow their pernicious ways , by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of : and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you , whose judgment now of a long time lingreth not , &c. chiefly them who walk after the flesh , &c. and despise government ( or , dominions ) , presumptuous , self-willed : they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities , &c. these as natural bruit beasts , &c. speak evil of the things they understand not , &c. sporting themselves with their own deceivings , while they feast with you ; having eyes full of adultery , who cannot cease from sin : beguiling unstable souls : an heart which is exercised with covetous practises , &c. who have forsaken the right way , and are gone astray , &c. These are wells without water , clouds which are carried with a tempest , to whom the midst of darkness is reserved for ever : for when they speak great swelling words of vanity , they allure through the lusts of the flesh , &c. those who were clean escaped from them , who live in error , while they promise them , &c. 2 Pet. 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 19. There shall come in the last days scoffers , walking after their own lusts , and saying , Where is the promise of his coming ? for since the fathers fell asleep , all things continue as they were from the beginning , &c. Some things are hard to be understood , which they who are unlearned and unstable , wrest , as they do also the other Scriptures , unto their own destruction : ye therefore , beloved , seeing ye know before , beware , lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked , fall from your own stedfastness , 2 Pet. 3. 3 , 4 , 15 , 16 , 17. Little children , it is the last time : and as ye have heard Antichrist shall come , even now are there many Antichrists , whereby we know that it is the last time : they went out from us , but they were not of us , &c. Who is a lyar , but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ ? he is Antichrist who denieth the father and the Son , &c. These things have I written unto you concerning them who deceive you , 1 John 2. 18 , 19 , 22 , 26. Believe not every spirit , but try the spirits whether they are of God , because many false prophets are gone out into the world : hereby know ye the spirit of God ; every spirit who confesseth Jesus Christ to have been come in the flesh , is of God ; and every spirit who confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh , is not of God : and this is that spirit of Antichrist , whereof you have heard that it should come , and even now already it is in the world , &c. they are of the world , therefore speak they of the world , and the world heareth them , &c. He who is of God heareth us : he who is not of God heareth not us : hereby know we the spirit of truth , and the spirit of error , &c. 1 John 4. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. Many deceivers are entred into the world , who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh : this is a deceiver and an Antichrist : look to your selves that we lose not those things which we have wrought , &c. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ , hath not God , &c. If there come any to you , and bring not this doctrine , receive him not into your house , neither bid him God-speed : for he who bids him God-speed , is partaker of his evil deeds , 2 John , verse 7. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints : for there are certain men crept in unawares , who were before of old ordained to this condemnation , ungodly men , turning the grace of God into lasciviousness , and denying the only Lord God , and our Lord Jesus Christ , &c. These filthy dreamers defile the flesh , despise dominions , and speak evil of dignities : yet Michael , &c. contending with the devil , &c. durst not bring against him a railing accusation , &c. These speak evil of those things which they know not , &c. Clouds they are without water , &c. These are murmurers , complainers , walking after their own lusts , and their mouth speaketh great swelling-words , having mens persons in admiration because of advantage , &c. These be they who separate themselves , sensual , having not the spirit , Jude , ver . 3. 4 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 16 , 18 , 19. I know the blasphemy of them who say they are Jews , and are not , but are the Synagogue of Satan , &c. hold the doctrine of Balaam , &c. so the doctrine of the Nicolaitans , &c. Rev. 2. 9 , 14 , 15. chap. 3. 9. That the image of the beast should both speak : and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast , should be killed : and causeth all both small and great , rich and poor , free and bond , to receive a mark in their right hand , or in their foreheads : and that no man might buy or sell , save he who had the mark , or the name of the beast , or the number of his name , Rev. 13. 15 , 16 , 17. I heard another voice from heaven , saying , Come out of her my people , that ye be not partaker of her sins , and that ye receive not of her plagues : for her sins have reached unto heaven , Rev. 18. 4. CHAP. XXXI . Of Consideration , Meditation , pondering upon , and serious weighing of the things of God , his Word and Works , our selves , &c. ISaac went out to meditate ( or , pray ) in the field at the even-tide , Gen. 24. 63. Know therefore this day , and consider it in thine heart , that the Lord he is God , Deut. 4. 39. If thou shalt say in thine heart , these Nations are more than I , how can I dispossess them ? Thou , &c. shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharoah , and unto all Egypt , &c. Deut. 7. 17 , 18. Therefore shall ye lay up all these my words in your heart , and in your soul , &c. ye shall teach them your children : speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house , and when thou walkest by the way : when thou lyest down , and when thou risest , &c. Deut. 11. 18 , 19. O that they were wise , &c. that they would consider their latter end , Deut. 32. 29. This book of the law shall not depart , &c. but thou shalt meditate therein day and night , Josh. 1. 8. Fear the Lord , and serve him in truth with all your heart : for consider how great things he hath done for you , 1 Sam. 12. 24. David hastily resolved to cut off Nabals house : but when by Abigails words , he considered the matter , he was staid , and blessed the counsel , &c. 1 Sam. 25. If they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive , and repent , &c. 1 Kings 8. 47. Therefore am I troubled at his presence : when I consider , I am afraid of him , Job 23. 15. He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others : because they turned back from him , and would not consider any of his ways , Job 34. 26 , 27. O Job , stand still and consider the wondrous works of God , Job 37. 14. Blessed is the man , &c. whose delight is in the law of the Lord , and in his law doth he meditate both day and night , Psal. 1. 1 , 2. When I consider the heavens , the works of thy fingers , the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained : what is man that thou art mindful of him , & c ! Psal. 8. 3 , 4. My heart was hot within me ; while I was musing , the fire burned : then spake l , &c. Psal. 39. 3. Now consider this ye who forget God , lest I tear you in pieces , and there be none to deliver , Psal. 50. 22. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness : and my mouth shall praise , &c. when I remember thee upon my bed , and meditate on thee in the night , Psal. 63. 5 , 6. All men shall fear , and declare the work of God ; for they shall wisely consider of his doing , Psal. 64. 9. I will remember the years of the right-hand of the most High : I will remember the works of the Lord : surely I will remember thy wonders of old : I will meditate also of all thy works , and talk of thy doings , Psal. 77. 10 , 11 , 12. I will sing praise to my God , &c. my meditation of him shall be sweet , Psal. 104. 33 , 34. Who is wise and will observe these things , even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord , Psal. 107. 43. The works of the Lord are great , sought out of all them who have pleasure therein : his works are honourable , &c. he hath made his wonderful works to be remembred , Psal. 111. 2 , 3 , 4. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way ? by taking heed according to thy word , &c. I will meditate in thy precepts , &c. Princes did sit and speak against me , but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes , &c. I thought on my ways , and turned my feet unto thy testimonies , &c. I remembred thy judgments of old , O Lord , and have comforted my self , &c. I have remembred thy name , O Lord , in the night , &c. I will consider thy testimonies , &c. Thy commandment is exceeding broad , &c. Thy law is my meditation all the day , &c. they are ever with me : I have more understanding than all my teachers , for thy testimonies are my meditation , &c. Mine eyes prevent the night-watches , that I may meditate in thy word , Psal. 119. 9 , 15 , 23 , 52 , 55 , 59 , 78 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 148. I remember the days of old , I meditate on all thy works : I muse on the work of thine hand , &c. my soul thirsteth after thee , &c. Psal. 143. 5 , 6. Ponder the path of thy feet , and let all thy ways be established ( or , all thy ways shall be ordered aright ) , Prov. 4. 26. Go to the Ant , thou sluggard , consider her ways , and be wise , Prov. 6. 6. The simple believeth every word , but the prudent man looketh well to his going , Prov. 14. 15. The heart of the righteous studieth to answer : but the mouth of the wicked poureth , &c. Prov. 15. 28. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth ( or , maketh wise his mouth ) , Prov. 16. 23. A wicked man hardneth his face : but as for the upright , he directeth ( or , considereth ) his way , Prov. 21. 29. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God : and be more ready to hear , than to give the sacrifice of fools : for they consider not that they do evil : be not rash with thy mouth , and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God : for God is in heaven , Eccles. 5. 1 , 2. Consider the work of God : for who can make that straight which he hath made crooked , & c ? in the day of adversity consider , Eccles. 7. 13 , 14. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth , Eccles. 12. 1. The ox knoweth his owner , and the asse his masters crib : but Israel doth not know , my people doth not consider : Ah sinful nation ! Isa. 1. 3 , 4. They regard not the work of the Lord , neither consider the operation of his hand : therefore my people are gone into captivity , because they have no knowledg , Isa. 5. 11 , 12 , 13. Psal. 28. 5. That they may see , and know , and consider , and understand together , that the hand of the Lord hath done this , and the holy one of Israel hath created it ? Isa. 41. 20. Remember ye not the former things , neither consider the things of old , Isa. 43. 18. God complaining of the sottishness of the makers and worshippers of idols , saith , None considereth in his heart , neither is there knowledg or undrstanding to say , I have burned part of it in the fire , &c. and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination ? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree ? Isa. 44. 17 , 18 , 19. The righteous perisheth , and no man layeth it to heart : and merciful men are taken away : and none considereth ; that the righteous are taken from the evil to come , Isa. 57. 1. They shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carryed captive , Ezek. 6. 9. Son of man , prepare thy stuff for removing , and remove by day in their sight , &c. it may be they will consider , though they be a rebellious house , Ezek. 12. 3. And lo , if he beget a son who seeth all his fathers sins , and considereth and doth not such like , &c. he shall not dye for the iniquity of his fathers , Ezek. 18. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 28. When I would have healed Israel , then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered , &c. and they consider not in their hearts , that I remember all their wickedness : now their own doings have beset them about , &c. Hosea 7. 1 , 2 , Thus saith the Lord of Hosts , Consider ( or , set your heart upon ) your ways , Haggai 1. 5 , 7. Take no thought for your life , what you shall eat , &c. Behold the fowls of the air , for they sow not , &c. And why take ye thought for rayment ? consider the Lillies of the field how they grow , they toyl not , &c. yet Solomon , &c. Matth. 6. 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30. Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye , but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye ? Matth. 7. 3. The disciples ( for want of consideration ) said , For what purpose is this waste ? for this oyntment might have been sold , &c. Jesus said , Why trouble ye the woman ? for she hath wrought a good work upon me , Matth. 26. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. The wind ceased , and they were sore amazed , &c. for they considered not the miracle of the loaves , for their heart was hardned , Mark. 6. 51 , 52. All they who heard , wondred , &c. but Mary kept all these things , and pondered them in her heart , Luke 2. 17 , 18 , 19. Which of you intending to build a Tower , sitteth not down first , and counteth the cost , whether he have sufficient to finish it , & c ? Luke 14. 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. Settle it therefore in your hearts , not to meditate before what you shall answer : for I will give you a mouth , &c. Luke 21. 14. Peter rashly said to Jesus , Thou shalt never wash my feet : but when Jesus had said , If I wash thee not , thou hast no part with me : Peter said , &c. Not my feet only , but also my hands and my head , John 13. 8 , 9. They of the Circumcision contended with Peter for going to the Gentiles , till they had considered the grounds which Peter rehearsed to them , Acts 11. 1 , 2 , 3 , &c. Brethren , if a man be overtaken in a fault , ye who are spiritual , restore such a one in the spirit of meekness , considering thy self , lest thou also be tempted , Gal. 6. 1. Meditate on these things : give thy self wholly to them , &c. Consider what I say , and the Lord give thee understanding in all things , 1 Tim. 4. 15. 2 Tim. 2. 7. Wherefore holy brethren , &c. consider the Apostle and High-priest of our profession , Jesus Christ , who was faithful , &c. Heb. 3. 1 , 2. Now consider how great this man was , unto whom the Patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoil , Heb. 7. 4. And let us consider one another , to provoke unto love and to good works , Heb. 10. 24. Let us run with patience , &c. looking unto Jesus , &c. for consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself , lest ye be wearied , and faint in your mind , Heb. 12. 1 , 2 , 3. Remember them who have the rule over you , who have spoken unto you the word of God : whose faith sollow , considering the end of their conversation , Heb. 13. 7. Remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus , Jude , verse 17. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen , and repent , and do thy first works , &c. Rev. 2. 5. Remember therefore how thou hast received , and heard , and hold fast , and repent , Rev. 3. 3. CHAP. XXXII . Of the Thoughts , Mind , and Affections . AND God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth , and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually , Gen. 6. 5. chap. 8. 21. The Lord , &c. understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts , &c. 1 Chron. 28. 9. I have made a covenant with my eyes , why then should I think of a maid , Job 31. 1. The wicked , &c. will not seek God : God is not in all his thoughts ( or , all his thoughts are , there is no God ) , Psal. 10. 4. Their inward thought is , that their house shall continue for ever , and their dwellings , &c. Psal. 49. 11. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow , &c. when I remember thee , Psal. 63. 5 , 6. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man , that they are vanity , &c. in the multitude of my thoughts within me , thy comforts delight my soul , Psal. 94. 11 , 19. I thought on my ways , and turned my feet unto thy testimonies , &c. I hate vain thoughts , &c. Psal. 119. 59 , 113. Thou knowest my down-sitting , &c. thou understandest my thoughts afar off , &c. Search me , O God , and know my heart ; try me , and know my thoughts , Psal. 139. 2 , 23. The thoughts of the righteous are right : but the counsels of the wicked , &c. Prov. 12. 5. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord , Prov. 15. 26. Commit thy works unto the Lord , and thy thoughts shall be established , Prov. 16. 3. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness : but of every one who is hasty , only to want , Prov. 21. 5. Eat thou not the bread of him who hath an evil eye : for as he thinketh in his heart , so is he : Eat , &c. saith he , but his heart is not with thee , Prov. 23. 6 , 7. The thought of foolishness is sin , Prov. 24. 9. If thou hast thought evil , lay thine hand upon thy mouth , Prov. 30. 32. O Assyrian , &c. I will send him against an hypocritical nation , &c. howbeit he meaneth not so , neither doth his heart think so , but it is in his heart to destroy , and cut off nations not a few , Isa. 10. 5 , 6 , 7. Let the wicked man forsake his ways , and the unrighteous man his thoughts : let him return unto the Lord , Isa. 55. 7. Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity , Isa. 59. 7. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people , who walketh in a way which is not good , after their own thoughts , Isa. 65. 2. O Jerusalem , wash thine heart from wickedness , &c. how long shall thy vain thoughts lodg within thee ? Jer. 4. 14. Behold , I will bring evil upon this people , the fruit of their thoughts , Jer. 6. 19. Thus saith the Lord , &c. I know the things which come into your mind every one , Ezek. 11. 5. Then the kings countenance was changed , and his thoughts troubled him , so that the joynts of his loins were loosed , Dan. 5. 6. A book of remembrance was written before him , for them who feared the Lord , and that thought upon his name , Mal. 3. 16. Take no thought for your life , &c. which of you by taking thought can add , & c ? And why take ye thought for raiment ? &c. Take therefore no thought for the morrow , &c. sufficient to the day , is the evil of it , Matt. 6. 25 , 27 , 28 , 31 , 34. Jesus knowing their thoughts , said , Wherefore think you evil in your heart ? Matt. 9. 4. Mark 2. 8. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things : an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth , &c. Matt. 12. 35. For out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts , murders , &c. Matt. 15 , 19. When Mary saw the Angel , she was troubled at his sayings , and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be , &c. he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts , &c. Luk. 1. 29 , 51. This child is set for the fall and rising of many , &c. that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed , &c. Luk. 2. 35. All men mused ( or reasoned , or debated ) in their hearts , of John , whether he were the Christ or not , Luk. 3. 15. The Scribes and Pharisees watched him , &c. but he knew their thoughts , Luk. 6. 7 , 8. Martha , thou art careful and troubled about many things : but one thing is needful , Luk. 10. 41 , 42. Why are ye troubled ? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? behold my hands , Luk. 24. 38 , 39. Thy money perish with thee ; because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money , &c. pray God , if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven , Act. 8. 20 , 22. They became vain in their imaginations , and their foolish hearts was darkened , Rom. 1. 21. They who are after the flesh , do mind the things of the flesh , &c. to be carnally minded is death , &c. because the carnal mind is enmity against God , Rom. 8. 5 , 6 , 7. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise , that they are vain , 1 Cor. 3. 20. Let him who thinketh he standeth , take heed lest he fall , 1 Cor. 10. 12. Charity , &c. thinketh no evil , 1 Cor. 13. 5. Casteth down imaginations ( or , reasonings ) &c. and bringeth into captivity every thought , 2 Cor. 10. 5. If a man think himself to be something , when he is nothing , he deceiveth himself , Gal. 6. 3. Many walk , &c. whose end is destruction , whose God is their belly , &c. who mind earthly things , Phil. 3. 18 , 19. Whatsoever things are true , &c. if there be any praise , think on these things , Phil. 4. 8. Set your affections ( or , mind ) on things above , and not on things of the earth , Col. 3. 2. The word of God is quick , &c. a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart , &c. all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him , with whom we , &c. Heb. 4. 12 , 13. CHAP. XXXIII . Of Repentance in general ; wherein God cannot repent ; and wherein , or how , he is said to repent . Repentance in Man , and his turning to God from Sin , and in such who have back-slidden from following God : and otherwise . First , Wherein God cannot repent : and wherein , or how he is said to repent . AND God saw that the wickedness of man was great , &c. and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth , and it grieved him at his heart , Gen. 6. 5 , 6. Moses prayed and said , &c. turn from thy fierce wroth , and repent of this evil against thy people , &c. and the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do , Exod. 32. 11 , 12 , 14. God is not a man that he should lye , neither the son of man that he should repent : hath he said , and shall not he do it ? or hath he spoken , and shall not make it good ? Num. 23. 19. 1 Sam. 15. 29. The Lord shall , &c. repent himself for his servants , when he seeth that power is gone , and there , &c. Deut. 32. 36. It repented the Lord , because of their groanings , by reason of them who oppressed them , Judges 2. 18. It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king , for he is turned back , &c. the Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee , &c. and also the strength ( or , eternity ) of Israel will not lye , nor repent : for he is not a man that he should repent , 1 Sam. 15. 11 , 28 , 29 , 35. When the Angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it , the Lord repented him of the evil , and said to the Angel , &c. It is enough : stay , &c. 2 Sam. 24. 16. They have humbled themselves , I will not destroy them , but will grant them some deliverance , 2 Chron. 12. 7. Return , O Lord , how long ! and let it repent thee concerning thy servants , Psal. 95. 13. He remembred , &c. and repented according to the multitude of his mercies , Psal. 106. 45. The Lord will judg his people , and repent himself concerning his servants , Psal. 135. 14. For this shall the earth mourn , &c. because I have spoken , I have purposed , and will not repent , neither will I turn back from it , &c. Jer. 4. 28. I will , &c. destroy thee : I am weary with repentings , Jer. 15. 6. Amend your ways , &c. and the Lord will repent him of the evil which he hath pronounced against you , &c. And the Lord repented him of the evil which , &c. Jer. 26. 13 , 19. I will plant you , &c. for I repent me of the evil I have done unto you , Jer. 42. 10. chap. 18. 8 , 10. How shall I give thee up , Ephraim ? &c. my heart is turned within me , my repentings are kindled together . I will not execute the fierceness , &c. Hos. 11. 8 , 9. O Grave , &c. repentance shall be hid from mine eyes , Hos. 13. 14. By whom shall Jacob arise , &c. the Lord repented for this : It shall not be , saith the Lord , Amos 7. 2 , 3 , 5 , 6. Who can tell if God will turn and repent , and turn away from his fierce anger , and we perish not , &c. And God saw their works , that they turned from their evil way , and God repented of the evil that he had said that he would do unto them , and he did it not , Jonah 3. 9 , 10. Joel 2. 14. Secondly , Repentance in Man in general , and his turning , &c. God led the people not thorow the way of the land of the Philistines , &c. for God said , Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war , and they return , Exod. 13. 17. And the Children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their Brother , Judges 21. 6 , 15. Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel , saying , If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts , put away the strange gods , &c. from among you , and prepare your hearts unto the Lord , &c. then they did put away Balaam , &c. and served the Lord only , 1 Sam. 7. 3 , 4. If they bethink themselves , &c. and repent , &c. and so return unto thee with all their heart , &c. 1 Kings 8. 47 , 48. For a long season Israel was without the true God , &c. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel , and sought him , he was found , 2 Chron. 15. 4. Turn again unto the Lord God of Abraham , &c. and he will return to the remnant of you , &c. and be not like your fathers , &c. If ye turn again unto the Lord , your brethren , &c. shall find compassion : for the Lord your God is gracious , &c. 2 Chron. 30. 6 , 7 , 9. I thought on my ways , and turned my feet unto thy testimonies , Psal. 119. 59. Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted ; for in that day every man shall cast away his Idols , &c. Isa. 31. 6 , 7. I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions , &c. return unto me , &c. Isa. 44. 22. Let the wicked forsake his way , and the unrighteous man his thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord , and he will have mercy upon him ; and to our God , for he will abundantly pardon : for my thoughts are not your thoughts , &c. Isa. 55. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers : yet return again to me , saith the Lord , &c. but she turned not , &c. return thou backsliding Israel , saith the Lord , &c. and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you ; for I am merciful , &c. only acknowledg thine iniquity , &c. return , &c. I will heal your backslidings : Behold , we come unto thee , for thou art the Lord our God , Jer. 3. 1 , 6 , 7 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 22. If thou wilt return , O Israel , saith the Lord , return unto me : and if thou wilt put away thy abomination out of my sight , then , &c. Jer. 4. 1. Amend your ways and your doings , &c. trust not in lying words , saying , the Temple of the Lord , &c. for if ye thorowly amend your ways , and your doings , &c. Jer. 7. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. No man repented of his wickedness , saying , What have I done ? every one turning to his course , as the horse rusheth into the battel , Jer. 8. 6. Return ye now every one from his evil way , and make your ways and your doings good : And they said , There is no hope , but we will walk after , &c. Jer. 18. 11 , 12. I will give them an heart to know me , &c. for they shall return unto me with their whole heart , Jer. 24. 7. Surely I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself ; thou hast chastized me , and I was chastized ; as a Bullock unaccustomed to the yoke : turn thou me , and I shall be turned , for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned , I repented ; and after that I was instructed , I smote upon my thigh , I was ashamed , yea , even confounded , because I did bear the reproach of my youth , Jer. 31. 18 , 19 , 20. Take the Roll , &c. it may be that the house of Judah will hear , &c. that they may return every man from his evil way , that I may forgive their iniquity , &c. Jer. 36. 2 , 3 , 6 , 7. Let us search and try our ways , and turn again to the Lord , Lam. 3. 40. Turn thou us unto thee , O Lord , and we shall be turned , Lam. 5. 21. They who escape of you , shall remember me among the nations , &c. and they shall loath themselves for the evils which they have committed , Ezek. 6. 9. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel , Repent and turn your selves from your Idols , and turn away your faces from all your abominations , &c. Ezek. 14. 6. If the wicked will turn from all his sins which he hath committed , and keep all my statutes , &c. he shall surely live , &c. have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should dye , saith the Lord , not that he should return from his ways and live , & c ? repent and turn you from all your transgressions : so iniquity shall not be your ruine , &c. make you a new heart , and a new spirit ; for why will you dye ? &c. Ezek. 18. 21 , 23 , 30 , 31 , 32. ch . 33. 11. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways , and your doings which were not good , and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquity , Ezek. 36. 31. chap. 6. 9. I will hedg up her way , &c. then shall she say , I will go and return to my first husband , &c. Hosea . 2. 6 , 7. Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God , &c. and shall fear the Lord , Hos. 3. 5. They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God , Hos. 5. 4. Come let us return unto the Lord : for he hath torn , and he will heal us , Hos. 6. 1 Zech. 1. 3 , 4. The pride of Israel testifieth to his face , and they do not return to the Lord their God , nor seek him for all this , &c. they return not to the most high , Hos. 7. 10 , 14 , 16. Break up your fallow ground , for it is time to seek the Lord , Hos. 10. 12. O Israel , return unto the Lord , &c. take unto you words and return to the Lord , Hos. 14. 1 , 2. Turn ye even to me withal your hearts , and with fasting , and with weeping , and with mourning : and rent your hearts and not your garments , &c. he is graciòus , Joel 2. 12 , 13. God sent judgment after judgment , yet Israel repented not , Joel 4. 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. The people of Niniveh believed God , and proclaimed a fast , &c. God saw their works , that they turned from their evil way , Jonah 3. 5 , 8 , 9 , 10. They shall look upon him whom they have pierced , and they shall mourn , Zech. 12. 10. Return unto me , and I will return unto you , saith the Lord of hosts , Mal. 3. 7. John Baptist preached , &c. saying , Repent ye : for the kingdom of heaven is , &c. Matt. 3. 1 , 2 , 6. From that time Jesus began to preach , and to say , Repent , for the kingdom , &c. Matt. 4. 17. I am not come to call the righteous , but sinners to repentance , Matt. 9. 13. Mark 1. 15. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done , because they repented not , &c. if the mighty works which have been done in thee , had been done in Tyre , &c. they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes , Matt. 11. 20 , 21 , 22. The men of Niniveh , &c. because they repented at the preaching of Jonas , Matt. 12. 41. Son go work , &c. but he said , I will not , but afterwards he repented and went , &c. ye , when ye had seen , repented not afterward , that ye might believe him , Matt. 21. 28 , 29 , 32. Judas repented himself , and brought again the thirty pieces , &c. I have sinned , Matt. 27. 3 , 4. Except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish , Luk. 13. 2 , 3 , 5. Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner who repenteth , more than over ninety nine just persons who need no repentance , &c. there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner who repenteth , &c. the prodigal returned , Luk. 15. 7 , 10 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. If one went from the dead to them , they would repent , &c. If they hear not Moses and the Prophets , neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead , Luk. 16. 30 , 31. If he trespass against thee seven times , &c. and he turn again to thee , saying , I repent , Luk. 17. 3 , 4. It behoveth Christ to suffer , &c. that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations , Luk. 24. 46 , 47. When they heard this , they were pricked in their hearts , and said , &c. men and brethren what shall we do ? Peter said unto them , Repent and be baptized , Act. 2. 37 , 38. Repent ye therefore , and be converted , that your sins may be blotted out , Act. 3. 19. Him hath God exalted , &c. for to give repentance to Israel , and forgiveness , Act. 5. 31. Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life , &c. a great number believed , and were turned unto the Lord , Act. 11. 18 , 21. And the times of this ignorance , God winked at ; but now commandeth all men every where to repent , Act. 17. 30. I kept back nothing , &c. testifying both to the Jews , and also to the Greeks , repentance towards God , and faith towards our Lord Jesus , Act. 20. 20. 21. But shewed , &c. that they should repent , and turn to God , and do works meet for repentance , &c. Act. 26. 20. Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance , Rom. 2. 4. Though I made you sorry , &c. I do not repent , &c. ye sorrowed to repentance : for ye were made sorry after a godly manner , &c. for godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation , not to be repented of , 2 Cor. 7. 8 , 9 , 10. I shall bewail many who have sinned already , and have not repented of the uncleanness , &c. which they have committed , 2 Cor. 12. 21. How ye turned to God from Idols , to serve the living and true God , and to wait for his son from heaven , &c. 1 Thes. 1. 9 , 10. In meekness instructing them who oppose themselves , if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth ; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil , 2 Tim. 2. 25 , 26. Let us go on to perfection , not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works , &c. for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened , &c. if they shall fall away , to renew them again unto repentance : seeing they crucify to themselves , &c. Heb. 6. 1 , 4 , 5 , 6. Draw nigh to God , and he will draw nigh to you : cleanse your hands , ye sinners , &c. James 4. 8. Brethren , if any of you do err from the truth , and one convert him , let him know , that he who converteth a sinner from the errour of his way , shall save a soul from death , &c. James 5. 19 , 20. The Lord is not slack , &c. but is long-suffering to us-ward : not willing that any should perish , but that all should come to repentance , 2 Pet. 3. 9. Thou hast left thy first love : remember therefore from whence thou art fallen , and repent , and do the first works : or else I will come unto thee quickly , &c. thou hast there them who hold the doctrine of Balaam , &c. Repent , or else I will come , &c. I gave her space to repent of her fornication , and she repented not : behold , I will cast her into a bed , &c. Rev. 2. 4 , 5 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 20 , 21 , 22. I have not found thy works perfect before God : remember therefore how thou hast received , and heard , and hold fast and repent , &c. As many as I love , I rebuke and chasten , be zealous therefore and repent , Rev. 3. 2 , 3 , 19. And the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues , yet repented not of the works of their hands , that they should not worship Devils and idols of gold , &c. neither repented they of their murders , &c. Rev. 9. 20 , 21. And men were scorched ( or , burned ) with great heat , and blasphemed the name of God , &c. and they repented not to give him glory , &c. and repented not of their deeds , Rev. 16. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. CHAP. XXXIV . Of Death ; the laying down of these Tabernacles . AND the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground ( or , dust of the ground ) , Gen. 2. 7. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground : for out of it wast thou taken : for dust thou art , and unto dust shalt thou return , Gen. 3. 19. God said unto Abraham , Thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace : thou shalt be buried in a good old age , Gen. 15. 15. chap. 25. 8. I have undertaken to speak unto the Lord , who am but dust and ashes , Gen. 18. 27. Sarah dyed , &c. and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah , and to weep for her , Gen. 23. 2. Abraham dyed , &c. and was gathered to his people , &c. Ishmael , &c. gave up the ghost and dyed , and was gathered unto his people , Gen. 25. 8 , 17. Isaac , &c. said , Behold , now I am old , I know not the day of my death , Gen. 27. 1 , 2. Jacob said , &c. The days of the years of my pilgrimage are 130 years : few and evil have the days of the years of my life been , Gen. 47. 9. He mourned for Joseph , refused to be comforted : but said , I will go down unto my grave mourning , Gen. 37. 34 , 35. Joseph wept for his father Israel when he dyed , and there was great mourning and lamentation for him , Gen. 50. 1 , 3 , 10 , 17. Aaron dyed in the mount , &c. all the house of Israel mourned for him thirty days , Numb . 20. 28 , 29. Deut. 34. 8. Balaam said , Let me dye the death of the righteous , and let my last end be like his , Numb . 23. 10. And the Lord said unto Moses , &c. When thou hast seen it , thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people , as Aaron thy brother was gathered : for ye rebelled , &c. Numb . 27. 12 , 13 , 14. Deut. 34. 5. O that they were wise , &c. that they would consider their latter end , Deut. 32. 29. Joshua said , Behold , this day I am going the way of all the earth , &c. Josh. 23. 14. 1 Kings 2. 2. Now Samuel was dead , and all Israel lamented him , &c. and Samuel said unto Saul , Why hast thou disquieted me , to bring me up ? 1 Sam. 28. 3 , 15. David and the men with him mourned and wept , and fasted until even , for Saul , and for Jonathan , &c. 2 Sam. 1. 11 , 12. When Davids child was sick , he fasted and prayed : but when it was dead , he rose up and did eat , and said , I shall go to him , he shall not return to me , 2 Sam. 12. 16 , 17. 20 , 22 , 23. David wept for Absolom his son , and cryed , O my son Absolom , my son , &c. 2 Sam. 18. 33. chap. 19. 4. Elijah stretched himself upon the dead child , &c. and said , O Lord , my God , I pray thee , let this childs soul come into him again ( or , into his inward parts ) , 1 Kings 17. 21 , 22. Acts 20. 10. We are all strangers , &c. our days on the earth are as a shadow , and there is none abiding , 1 Chron. 29. 15. Job said , Why dyed I not in the womb , & c ? for now should I have lien still and been quiet , I should have slept ; then had I been at rest with Kings , &c. there the wicked cease troubling , the weary are at rest , &c. they hear not the voice , &c. Job 3. 11 , 13 , 14 , 17 , 18 , 19. chap. 6. 8 , 9. Naked came I out of my mothers womb , &c. the Lord gave , and the Lord hath taken , blessed , &c. Job 1. 21. Is there not an appointed time to man on earth ? are not his days also like the days of an hireling ? Job 7. 1 , 2. We are of yesterday , and know nothing , because our days upon earth are a shadow , Job 8. 9. Man who is born of a woman is of few days , and full of trouble : he cometh forth like a flower , and is cut down : he fleeth also as a shadow , and continueth not , &c. seeing his days are determined , the number of his months are with thee : thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass , &c. man dyeth and wasteth away : yea , man giveth up the ghost , and where is he , & c ? Man lyeth down , and riseth not till the heavens be no more , &c. If a man dye , shall he live again ? all the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come , Job 41. 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 , 10 , 14. Acts 17. 26. The grave is mine house , &c. I have said to corruption , thou art my father : to the worm , thou art my mother and my sister , Job 17. 13 , 14. Shall any teach God knowledg , & c ? one dyeth in his full strength ( or , very perfection ) being wholly at ease and quiet : his breast full of milk , &c. And another dyeth in the bitterness of his soul , and never eateth with pleasure : they shall lye down alike in the dust , Job 21. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26. I know that thou wilt bring me to death , and to the house appointed for all living , Job 30. 23. If he set his heart upon man , if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath : all flesh shall perish together , and man shall turn again unto dust , Job 34. 14 , 15. In death there is no remembrance of thee : in the grave who shall give thee thanks ? Psal. 6. 5. Isa. 38. 18. Psal. 88. 10 , 11 , 12. Psal. 115. 17. Lord , make me to know mine end , and the measure of my days what it is , that I may know how frail I am : behold , thou hast made my days an hand-breadth , and mine age as nothing before thee , &c. Spare me , &c. before I go hence , and be no more , Psal. 39. 4 , 5 , 11 , 13. They who trust in their wealth , &c. none can by any means redeem his brother , nor give to God a ransom for him , &c. that he should also live for ever , and not see corruption : for he seeth wise men dye , likewise the fool , &c. when he dyeth , he shall carry nothing away , Psal. 49. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 14 , 16 , 17. The terrors of death are fallen upon me , &c. bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days , Psal. 55. 4 , 23. Psal. 116. 3. And unto God the Lord belong the issues from death , Psal. 68. 20. I have said , Ye are gods , &c. but ye shall dye like men , Psal. 82. 6 , 7. What man is he who liveth , and shall not see death , & c ? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave ? Selah . Psal. 89. 48. Thou turnest man to destruction , &c. they are like grass which groweth up : in the morning it flourisheth , &c. in the evening it is cut down and withereth , &c. the days of our years are threescore years and ten : and if by reason of strength they be fourscore , &c. it is soon cut off , &c. so teach us to number our days , &c. Psal. 90. 3 , 5 , 6 , 10 , 12. He remembreth that we are dust●… as for man , his days are as grass : as the flower of the field , so he flourisheth : for the wind passeth over it , and it is gone , &c. Psal. 103. 14 , 15 , 16. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints , Psal. 116. 15. Man is like to vanity : his days are as a shadow which passeth away , Psal. 144. 4. Put not your trust in Princes , &c. his breath goeth forth , he returneth to his earth : in that very day his thoughts perish , Psal. 146. 3 , 4. When a wicked man dyeth , his expectation shall perish , Prov. 11. 7. The righteous hath hope in his death , Prov. 14. 32. Boast not thy self of tomorrow , for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth , Prov. 27. 1. How dyeth the wise man ? as the fool . Eccles. 2. 16. A time to be born , and a time to dye , &c. all go to one place , all are of the dust , and all turn to dust again : who knoweth the spirit of a man which goeth upward , and the spirit of the beast which goeth downward to the earth ? Eccl. 3. 1 , 2 , 20 , 21. As he came forth of his mothers womb , naked shall he return , to go as he came , and take nothing , &c. Eccles. 5. 15. Job 1. 21. The day of death is better than the day of ones birth : it is better to go to the house , &c. Eccles. 7. 1 , 2. A living dog is better than a dead Lion , &c. there is no work , &c. in the grave whither thou goest , Eccles. 9. 3 , 4 , 5 , 10. Then shall the dust return unto the earth as it was : and the spiri●… shall return unto God who gave it , Eccles. 12. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. He will swallow up death in victory , and the Lord God will wipe away tears , &c. Isa. 25. 8. Set thine house in order , for thou must die , &c. I said in the cutting off of my days , I shall go to the gates of the grave , &c. The grave cannot praise thee , &c. the living , the living , he shall praise thee , as I do this day , Isa. 38. 1 , 2 , 10 , 11 , 18 , 19. All flesh is grass , and the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field : the grass withereth , the flower fadeth , because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it , Isa. 40. 6 , 7 , 8. James 1. 10 , 11. 1 Pet. 1. 24. — That thou shouldst be afraid of man who shall dye , &c. and be made as grafs , Isa. 51. 12. The righteous perish , and no man layeth it to heart : and merciful men are taken away : none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come , Isa. 57. 1 , 2. Lamentation and bitter weeping : Rachel weeping for her children , refused to be comforted for her children , because they were not , Jer. 31. 15. Matth. 2. 16 , 17 , 18. Son of man , I will take away from thee the desire of thine eyes at a stroke : yet neither shall thou mourn nor weep , neither shall thy tears run down , &c. My wife dyed , &c. this was for a sign , Ezek. 24. 16 , 17 , 18 , 24. Go thou thy way till the end : for thou shalt rest , and stand in the lot at the end , Dan. 12. 13. I will ransom them from the power of the grave , I will redeem them from death : O death , I will be thy plagues , &c. Hos. 13. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 55. Jesus said unto the man on the cross , Verily , &c. to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise , Luke 23. 42 , 43. Simeon said , Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace , for mine eyes have seen thy salvation , Luke 2. 26 , 29. I must work , &c. while it is day : the night cometh wherein no man can work , John 9. 4. And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary , to comfort them concerning their brother , &c. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping , and the Jews also weeping , &c. he groaned in his spirit , and was troubled , &c. Jesus wept , John 11. 19 , 33 , 35. Ananias and Saphira , both fell down , and yeelded up the ghost , Acts 5. 5 , 10. And they stoned Stephen , calling and saying , Lord Jesus receive my spirit , Act. 7. 59. And devout men carried Stephen , and made great lamentation over him , Acts 8. 2. He hath made of one blood all nations of men , &c. and hath determined the times before appointed , and the bounds of their habitation , Acts 17. 26. Whether we live , we live unto the Lord : and whether we dye , we dye unto the Lord : whether we live therefore , ●…r dye , we are the Lords : for to this end Christ both dyed and rose again , and revived , that he might be Lord both of the dead and living , Rom. 14. 7 , 8 , 9. The sting of death is sin , and the strength of sin is the Law ; but thanks , &c. 1 Cor. 15. 56 , 57. We have this treasure in earthen vessels , 2 Cor. 4. 7. If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissoved , we have a building of God , &c. We groan , being burdened , &c. Whilst we are at home in the body , we are absent from the Lord : we are , &c. willing to be absent from the body , and to be present with the Lord , 2 Cor. 5. 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 , 8. To dye is gain , &c. having a desire to depart and to be with Christ , which is far better , Phil. 1. 21 , 23. Indeed he was , &c. nigh unto death : but God had mercy on him , and not on him only , but on me also , lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow , Phil. 2. 27. Who shall change our vile body , &c. Phil. 3. 21. I would not have you ignorant , brethren , concerning them who are asleep , that ye sorrow not , even as others who have no hope , 1 Thess. 4. 13. Christ who dyed for us : that whether we wake or sleep , we should live together with him , 1 Thess. 5. 10. We brought nothing into the world : and it is certain we can carry nothing out , 1 Tim. 6. 7. Job 1. 21. I am now ready to be offered : and the time of my departure is at hand : I have fought , &c. 2 Tim. 4. 6 , 7. He took part of the same , that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death , that is the devil : and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage , Heb. 2. 14 , 15. It is appointed unto men once to dye : but after this the judgment , Heb. 9. 27. We have no continuing City here , but we seek one to come , Heb. 13. 14. Go to now , ye who say to day , &c. we will go into such a City , &c. whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow : for , what is your life ? it is even a vapour which appeareth for a little time , and then vanisheth away : for that ye ought to say , If the Lord will , we shall live , and do this or that , James 4. 13 , 14 , 15. chap. 1. 10. Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear , 1 Pet. 1. 17. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims , abstain , &c. 1 Pet. 2. 11. Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle , even as our Lord , &c. 2 Pet. 1. 14. Blessed are the dead who dye in the Lord , from henceforth : yea , saith the Spirit , that they may rest from their labour , and their works do follow them , Rev. 14. 13. The beggar dyed , and was carried by the Angels into Abrams bosom , Luke 16. 22. Blessed are those servants , whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching , Luke 12. 37 , 38. CHAP. XXXV . Of the Resurrection of the Dead . SO man lyeth down , and riseth not : till the heavens be no more , they shall not awake , Job 14. 12. I know my redeemer liveth , &c. and though after my skin worms destroy this body , yet in my flesh shall I see God , whom I shall see for my self : and mine eyes shall behold , and not another , &c. Job 19. 25 , 26 , 27. Psal. 49. 15. I shall be satisfied when I awake , with thy likeness , Psal. 17. 15. Thy dead men shall live , together with my dead body shall they arise : awake and sing ye who dwell in dust : for thy dew is as the dew of herbs , and the earth shall cast out the dead , Isa. 26. 19. And many who sleep in the dust of the earth , shall awake : some to everlasting life , &c. Thou shalt rest and stand in the lot at the end of the days , Dan. 12. 2 , 13. I will ransom them from the power of the grave : I will redeem them from death ; O death , I will be thy plagues : O grave , I will be thy destruction , Hosea 13. 14. But as touching the resurrection from the dead , &c. I am the God of Abraham , &c. God is not the God of the dead , but the God of the living , Matth. 22. 31 , 32. Luke 20. 35 , 37 , 38. Thou shalt be recompenced at the resurrection of the just , Luke 14. 14. The hour is coming , in which all who are in the grave shall hear his voyce , and shall come forth : they who have done good , unto the resurrection of life , &c. John 5. 28 , 29. — I should lose nothing , but raise it up again at the last day , &c. and I will raise him up at the last day , John 6. 39 , 40 , 44 , 54. I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day ; Jesus said unto her , I am the resurrection , and the life : he who believeth , &c. John 11. 24 , 25 , 26. Because I live , ye shall live also , John 14. 19. They taught the people , and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead , Acts 4. 2. And when they heard of the resurrection from the dead , some mocked , Acts 17. 32. Of the hope and resurrection of the dead , am I called in question , &c. The Sadduces say , There is no resurrection , &c. The Pharisees confess it , Acts 23. 6 , 8. chap. 24. 21. They themselves also allow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead , both of the just , and unjust , Acts 24. 15. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you , that God should raise the dead ? Acts 26. 8. The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God , &c. We our selves groan within our selves , waiting for the adoption : to wit , the redemption of our body , Rom. 8. 19 , 21 , 22 , 23. And God hath both raised up the Lord , and will also raise up us by his own power , 1 Cor. 6. 14. The resurrection of the dead proved at large : and with what bodies , and the manner of the resurrection , 1 Cor. 15. 12 , 13 , to the 56. That we should not trust in our selves , but in God who raiseth the dead , 2 Cor. 1. 9. He who raised up the Lord Jesus , shall raise up us also by Jesus ; and shall , &c. 2 Cor. 4. 14. The holy spirit of God , whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption , Ephes. 4. 30. We look for the Saviour , the Lord Jesus Christ , who shall change our vile body , that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body , according unto the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself , Phil. 3. 20 , 21. He is the head , &c. the beginning , the first-born from the dead , &c. Col. 1. 18. I would not have you ignorant , brethren , concerning them who are asleep , that ye sorrow not , even as others who have no-hope : for if we believe that Jesus dyed and rose again , even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him : for this we say unto you by the word of the Lord , That we who are alive , and remain unto the coming of the Lord , shall not prevent them who are asleep : for the Lord himself shall descend , &c. and the dead in Christ shall arise first : then we who are alive and remain , shall be caught up together with them , &c. 1 Thess. 4. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. Hymeneus , &c. who concerning the truth have erred , saying , That the resurrection is past already , and overthrow the faith of some , 2 Tim. 2. 18. Not laying again the foundation , &c. of the resurrection of the dead , Heb. 6. 1 , 2. Others were tortured , not accepting deliverance , that they might obtain a better resurrection , Heb. 11. 35. Thy wrath is come , and the time of the dead , that they should be judged , Rev. 11. 18. I saw the souls of them who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus , &c. and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years : but the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished . This is the first resurrection : blessed and holy is he who hath part in the first resurrection , on such the second death hath no power , &c. And I saw the dead , small and great , stand before God , &c. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it , and death and Hell ( or , the grave ) , delivered up the dead which were in them , Rev. 20. 4 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13. CHAP. XXXVI . Of Christs second coming to the Judgment , and rendring unto every man according to his deeds done in the body , whether good or bad . SHall not the Judg of all the earth do right ? Gen. 18. 25. The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction : they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath , Job 21. 30. I know my Redeemer liveth , and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth , Job 19. 25. The ungodly shall not stand in judgment , nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous , Psal. 1. 5. The wicked shall be turned into hell , and all the nations which forget God , Psal. 9. 17. God is Judg himself , Psal. 50. 6. He cometh to judg the earth : and he shall judg the world with righteousness , and the people with his truth , Psal. 96. 13. Psal. 98. 9. Rejoyce , O young man in thy youth , &c. and walk in the ways of thine heart , and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou , that for all these things , God will bring thee into judgment , Eccles. 11. 9. For God shall bring every work into judgment , with every secret thing : whether it be good , or whether it be evil , Eccles. 12. 14. Thine eyes are upon all the ways of the sons of men , to give every one according to his ways , and according to the fruit of his doings , Jer. 32. 19. Agree with thine adversary , &c. lest at any time thine adversary deliver thee to the Judg , &c. Matth. 5. 25 , 26. Many will say to me in that day , Lord , Lord , Have we not prophesied in thy name , & c ? then will I profess unto them , I never knew you : depart from me ye who work iniquity , Matth. 7. 21 , 22 , 23. Luke 13. 25 , 26 , 27. Whosoever shall not receive you , &c. it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment , than for that City , Matth. 10. 14 , 15. chap. 11. 21 , 22 , 23 , 24. But I say unto you , That every idle word which men shall speak , they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment , Matth. 12. 36. So shall it be at the end of the world : the Son of man shall send sorth his Angels , and they shall gather , &c. them which do iniquity : and shall cast them into a furnace of fire , there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth : then shall the righteous shine , &c. Matth. 13. 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 49 , 50. The Son of man shall come in the glory of his father , with his Angels : and then he shall reward every man according unto his works , Matth. 16. 27. There was a man who had not on a wedding-garment ; and the king said unto him , Friend , how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment ? and he was speechless . Then said the king to his servants , Bind him hand and foot , and take him away , and cast him into outer darkness , there shall be weeping , &c. Matth. 22. 11 , 12 , 13. chap. 25. 30. As the lightning cometh out of the East , and shineth to the West : so shall also the coming of the Son of man be , &c. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven , and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn : and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory ; and he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet , and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds , &c. But of the day and hour knoweth no man , no , not the Angels in heaven , but my father only : but as the days of Noah were , so shall also the coming of the Son of man be , &c. they were eating and drinking , &c. Watch therefore , &c. be ye therefore ready also : for in such an hour as ye think not , the Son of man cometh , &c. Matth. 24. 27 , 30 , 31 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 42 , 43 , 44 , &c. Luke 12 , 35 , 36. chap. 17. 24. When the Son of man shall come in his glory , and all his holy Angels with him , then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory : and before him shall be gathered all nations : and he shall separate them one from another , as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats : and he shall set the sheep on the right hand , but the goats on the left hand . Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand : Come ye blessed of my father , inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world ; for I was an hungred , &c. Then shall he say unto them on the left hand , Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire , prepared for the Devil and his angels : for I was an hungred , &c. and these shall go away into everlasting punishment : but the righteous into everlasting life , Matth. 25. 31 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 41 , 42 , 46. Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right-hand of power , and coming in the clouds of heaven , Matth. 26. 64. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me , &c. in this adulterous and sinful generation , of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his father with his holy Angels , Mark 8. 38. The father judgeth no man , but hath committed all judgment to the Son , that all men should honour the Son , &c. and hath given him authority to execute judgment also , because he is the Son of man , &c. As I hear , I judg , and my judgment is just , because I seek not mine own will , &c. John 5. 22 , 23 , 27 , 30. He who rejecteth me , &c. hath one who judgeth him : the word I have spoken , the same shall judg him in the last day , John 12. 48. I will come again and receive you , John 14. 3. Ye now therefore have sorrow : but I will see you again , and your heart shall rejoyce , &c. John 16. 22. This same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven , shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven , Acts 1. 11. He commanded us to preach unto the people , &c. That it is he who was ordained of God to be the Judg of quick and dead , Acts 10. 42. He hath appointed a day in the which he will judg the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained ; whereof he hath given an assurance unto all men , in that he hath raised him from the dead , Acts 17. 31. And as he reasoned of righteousness , temperance and judgment to come , Felix trembled , Acts 24. 25. After thy hardness , &c. treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath , and revelation of the righteous judgment of God , who will render to every man according to his deeds : to them who by patient continuing in well-doing , &c. eternal life : but unto them who are contentious , &c. indignation and wrath , &c. upon every soul of man who doth evil , &c. but glory , honour , and peace to every man who worketh good , &c. for there is no respect of persons with God , &c. in the day when God shall judg the secrets of men by Jesus Christ , according to my Gospel , Rom. 2. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 16. Is God unrighteous , & c ? God forbid : for then , how shall God judg the world ? Rom. 3. 5 , 6. Why dost thou judg thy brother , & c ? we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ : for it is written , As I live , saith the Lord , Every knee shall bow to me , and every tongue shall confess to God : so then , every one of us shall give an account of himself to God , Rom. 14. 10 , 11 , 12. Isa. 45. 23. If any man build on this foundation gold , silver , &c. every mans work shall be made manifest , for the day shall declare it : because it shall be revealed by fire , and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is , &c. 1 Cor. 3. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. He who judgeth me , is the Lord ; therefore judg nothing before the time , until the Lord come , who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness , &c. 1 Cor. 4. 4 , 5. Do ye not know that the Saints shall judg the world , & c ? that we shall judg Angels , 1 Cor. 6. 2 , 3. We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ , that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done , whether it be good or bad : knowing therefore the terror of the Lord , &c. 2 Cor. 5. 9 , 10 , 11. When Christ who is our life shall appear , then shall ye also appear with him , &c. Col. 3. 4. To the end he may establish your hearts , &c. before God , even our father , at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints , 1 Thess. 3. 13. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout , with the voice of the Archangel , and with the trump of God , 1 Thess. 4. 16 , 17. For your selves know perfectly , that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night : for when they shall say , peace and safety , then sudden destruction cometh upon them , as travel upon a woman with child : and they shall not escape , &c. I pray God your whole spirit , soul and body , may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord , 1 Thess. 5. 2 , 3 , 23. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them who trouble you : and to you who are troubled , rest with us , when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire , taking vengeance of them who know not God , and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord , and from the glory of his power , 2 Thess. 1. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. We beseech you by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ , that ye be not soon shaken in mind , &c. as that the day of Christ is at hand , &c. except there come first a falling away , and that man of sin be revealed , &c. 2 Thess. 2. 1 , 2 , 3. The Lord Jesus , who shall judg the quick and the dead at his appearing , and his kingdom , &c. a crown of righteousness , which the Lord the righteous Judg shall give me at that day , &c. unto them also who love his appearance , 2 Tim. 4. 1 , 8. Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God , and our Saviour Jesus Christ , Titus 2. 13. Not laying again the foundation , &c. of eternal judgment , Heb. 6. 1 , 2. It is appointed for all men once to dye , but after this the judgment : so Christ , &c. unto them who look for him , shall he appear the second time without sin , Heb. 9. 27 , 28. A certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation , which shall devour the adversary , &c. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God , Heb. 10. 27 , 31. Ye are come unto mount Zion , &c. and to God the Judg of all , &c. Heb. 12. 22 , 23. Be patient therefore , brethren , to the coming of the Lord , &c. for the coming of the Lord draweth near , &c. James 5. 7 , 8. That the tryal of our faith , &c. might be found unto praise , and honour , and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ , &c. the father , who without respect of persons , judgeth according unto every mans works , 1 Pet. 1. 7 , 17. Who shall give account unto him , who is ready to judg the quick and the dead , &c. the end of all things is at hand : be ye therefore sober , and watch unto prayer , &c. The time is come , that judgment must begin at the house of God , &c. What shall the end be of them who obey not the Gospel of God ? and if the righteous scarcely be saved , Where shall the ungodly and sinners appear ? 1 Pet. 4. 5 , 7 , 17 , 18. When the chief shepherd shall appear , ye shall receive a crown , &c. 1 Pet. 5. 4. The Lord knoweth how , &c. to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment , to be punished , 2 Pet. 2. 9. There shall come in the last days , scoffers , &c. and saying , Where is the promise of his coming ? for since the fathers fell asleep , all things continue as they were from the beginning , &c. the heavens and the earth , which now are , by the same word are kept in store , reserved unto fire against the day of judgment , and perdition of ungodly men , &c. One day is with the Lord as a thousand years : and a thousand years as one day , &c. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night , in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise , &c. Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved , what manner of persons ought ye to be , & c ? looking for and hasting unto the day of God , 2 Pet. 3. 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 12. Psal. 102. 25 , 26. Abide in him : that when he appears , we may have confidence at his coming , 1 John 2. 28. That we may have boldness in the day of judgment : because as he is , so are we , 1 John 4. 16 , 17. The Angels who kept not their first state , &c. hath he reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day , &c. Behold , the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints , to execute judgment upon all , &c. Jude , ver . 6 , 14 , 15. Behold , he cometh with clouds , and every eye shall see him : and they also who pierced him , &c. Rev. 1. 7. And the heavens departed as a scroul , &c. and the kings of the earth , and the great men , and the rich men , and the chief Captains , and the mighty men , &c. hid themselves in the dens , and in the rocks of the mountains , and said unto the mountains and rocks , Fall on us , and hide us from the face of him who sitteth upon the throne , and from the wrath of the Lamb ; for the great day of his wrath is come , and who shall be able to stand ? Rev. 6. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. The nations were angry , and thy wrath is come , and the time of the dead that they should be judged : and thou shouldst give unto thy servants a reward , &c. Rev. 11. 18. I saw a great white throne , and him who sat on it : from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away , &c. and I saw the dead , small and great , stand before God : and the books were opened , &c. and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books , according to their works , Rev. 20. 11 , 12 , 15. Behold , I come quickly , and my reward is with me : to give every man according as his works shall be , &c. And the Spirit and the Bride say , Come , &c. He who testified these things , saith , Surely , I come quickly : Amen . Even so , Come Lord Jesus , Rev. 22. 12 , 17 , 20. We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth , against them who do such things , Rom. 2. 2. Be not deceived , &c. for whatsoever a man soweth , that shall he also reap : for he who soweth to the flesh , shall of the flesh reap , &c. Gal. 6. 7 , 8. CHAP. XXXVII . Of the glory prepared for the Saints , and reserved to be given to them at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. IF in this life only we have hope in Christ , we are of all men most miserable , 1 Cor. 15. 19. After I awake , &c. yet in my flesh ( or , out of my flesh ) shall I see God : whom I shall see for my self , and mine eyes shall behold , and not another , Job 19. 26 , 27. Death shall feed on them : and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning , Psal. 49. 14. Many of them who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake : some to everlasting life , &c. and they who be wise ( or , teachers ) shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and they who turn many to righteousness , as the stars for ever and ever , Dan. 12. 2 , 3. Blessed are the pure in heart , for they shall see God , Matth. 5. 8. Lay up for your selves treasure in heaven : where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt , and where thieves do not break through and steal , &c. Matth. 6. 20. Many shall come , &c. and shall sit down with Abraham , &c. in the kingdom of heaven , Matth. 8. 11. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of the father , Matth. 13. 43. Jesus was transfigured , &c. his face did shine as the sun : and his raiment white , Matth. 17. 2 , 3. In the resurrection , they shall neither marry , &c. but are as the Angels of God in heaven , Matth. 22. 30. Then shall the king say , &c. inherit the kingdom prepared for you , &c. The righteous into life eternal , Matth. 25. 34 , 46. Little flock , it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom , Luke 12. 32. — And the resurrection , &c. neither can they dye any more : for they are equal unto the Angels , and are the children of God , Luke 20. 36. Lift up your heads , for your redemption draweth nigh , Luke 21. 18. I appoint unto you a kingdom , &c. that ye may eat and drink at my table , and in my kingdom : and sit on thrones , judging the twelve tribes of Israel , Luke 22. 29 , 30. To day thou shalt be with me in Paradise , Luke 23. 43. I give to them eternal life : and they shall never perish , John 10. 28. Rom. 2. 7. Whither I go , thou canst not follow me now : but thou shalt follow me afterwards , John 13. 36. I will come again , and receive you unto my self : that where I am , there ye may be also , John 14. 3 , 19. I will see you , &c. and your hearts shall rejoyce : and your joy shall no man take from you , John 16. 22. The glory which thou gavest me , I have given them , &c. Father , I will that they also whom thou hast given me , be with me where I am , that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me , John 17. 22 , 24. Glory , honour , and peace , to every one who worketh good , Rom. 2 7 , 10. We stand and rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God , Rom. 5. 2. — The end everlasting life , &c. the gift of God is eternal life , through Jesus , &c. Rom. 6. 22 , 23 , 31. Gal. 6. 8. 2 Tim. 1. 10. — Heirs of God , joynt heirs with Christ : if so be that we suffer with him , that we may-be also glorified together , &c. The sufferings of this present time , are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us : for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God , &c. We our selves , &c. waiting for the adoption , the redemption of our body , Rom. 8. 17 , 18 , 19 , 23. They to obtain a corruptible crown : but we an incorruptible , 1. Cor. 9. 25. We know in part , &c. but when that which is perfect is come , then that which is in part shall be done away , &c. Now we see through a glass darkly , but then face to face : now I know in part , but then shall I know , even as also I am known , 1 Cor. 13. 10 , 12. As we have born the image of the earthly : we shall also bear the image of the heavenly , &c. The dead shall be raised incorruptible , &c. this corruptible must put on incorruption : and this mortal must put on immortality , &c. 1 Cor. 15. 19 , 49 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55. 2 Cor. 5. 4. Our light affliction , &c. worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory , &c. the things which are not seen , are eternal , 2 Cor. 4. 17 , 18. We have a building of God : an house not made with hands , eternal in the heavens , 2 Cor. 5. 1. Jesus Christ , who shall change our vile body : that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body , Phil. 3. 20 , 21. For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven , Col. 1. 5. When Christ who is our life shall appear , then shall ye also appear with him in glory , Col. 3. 4. Then we , &c. shall be caught up together with them in the clouds , to meet the Lord in the air ; and so shall we ever be with the Lord : wherefore comfort one , &c. 1 Thess. 4. 17 , 18. You who are troubled , rest with us , when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed , &c. when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints , and admired in all them who believe , 2 Thess. 1. 7 , 10 That they may obtain the salvation which is in Jesus Christ , with eternal glory , 2 Tim. 2. 10. There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness , which the Lord , &c. shall give me at that day : and not to me only , but unto them also who love his appearing , 2 Tim. 4. 8. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God , Heb. 4. 9. Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods : knowing in your selves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance : cast not away therefore your confidence , which hath great recompence of reward , Heb. 10. 34 , 35. Prov. 8. 21. Abram looked for a City which hath foundations : whose builder and maker is God , &c. they desire a better country , that is an heavenly : wherefore God , &c. for he hath prepared for them a City , &c. others are tortured : not accepting deliverance , that they might obtain a better resurrection , Heb. 11. 10 , 16 , 35. chap. 13. 14. Ye are come to mount Sion unto the city of the living God , the heavenly Jerusalem , and to an innumerable company of Angels : to the general assembly , &c. unto God the Judg of all : and to the spirits of just men made perfect , and to Jesus the mediatour , &c. Heb. 12. 22 , 23 , 24. Blessed be God , &c. who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope , &c. to an inheritance incorruptible , and undefiled , and which fadeth not away , reserved in heaven for you , &c. The sufferings of Christ , and the glory which should follow , &c. Hope to the end for the grace which is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ , 1 Pet. 1. 3 , 4 , 9 , 11 , 13. chap. 5. 10. Ye are thereunto called , that ye should inherit a blessing , 1 Pet. 3. 9. When the chief shepherd shall appear , ye shall receive a crown of glory which fadeth not away , &c. The God of all grace , who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Jesus Christ , &c. 1 Pet. 5. 1 , 4 , 10. We , &c. look for new heavens , and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness , 2 Pet. 3. 13. He who doth the will of God , abideth for ever , 1 John 2. 17. We know that when he shall appear , we shall be like him : for we shall see him as he is , 1 John 3. 2. They shall walk with me in white , &c. clothed in white , &c. will I make a pillar in the temple of my God : and he shall go no more out , &c. Will I grant to sit with me in my throne : even as I also overcame , and am set down , &c. Rev. 3. 4 , 5 , 11 , 12 , 21. chap. 2. 26 , 27 , 28. I beheld , and lo a great multitude , &c. stood before the Throne , &c. clothed with white robes , and palms in their hands , &c. These are they who came out of great tribulation , and have washed their robes , and made them white in the blood of the Lamb : therefore are they before the throne of God , and serve him day and night in his temple , and he who sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them : they shall hunger no more , nor thirst no more : neither shall the sun light on them , or any heat : for the Lamb , &c. shall feed them , &c. and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes , Rev. 7. 9 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. The new Jerusalems glory described at large , &c. Behold , the tabernacle of God is with men : and he will dwell with them , &c. and wipe away all tears from their eyes : and there shall be no more death , neither sorrow , nor crying : neither shall there be any more pain , for the former things are passed away , Rev. 21. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. chap. 22. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. See more of Eternal-life , Chap. 10. See the sad end of wicked men , Chap. 5. CHAP. XXXVIII . Of knowledg and understanding in and about Divine things , and of the want thereof : Ignorance about such things , and the evil thereof . WHen Abimelech had taken Sarah Abrams wife , though in the integrity of his heart , not knowing her to be Abrams wife , because he had said , She was his sister : yet God said unto him , Behold , thou art a dead man for the woman thou hast taken , for she is a mans Wife , Gen. 20. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord , when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt , and bring forth the children of Israel from among them , Exod. 7. 5. Ezek. 6. 7 , 10 , 13. — According to thy word : that thou mayst know that there is none like unto the Lord , Exod. 8. 10. I have hardned his heart , and the heart of his servants , that I might shew these my signs , &c. that ye may know how that I am the Lord , Exod. 10. 1 , 2. Deut. 4. 35. Jethro said ( when Moses had told him what God had done ) , Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods : for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly , he , &c. Exod. 18. 11. Under the law they were to offer sacrifices for sins of ignorance , whether of a person , or of the Congregation , Levit. 4. 2 , 3 , 4 , 13 , 14 , 15. chap. 5. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 17 , 18 , 19. Ye have seen all that the Lord did , &c. yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive , and eyes to see , and ears to hear , unto this day , Deut. 29. 2 , 4. They sacrificed , &c. not to God , to gods whom they knew not : to new gods , Deut. 32. 17. Sampson said to his father , Get her for me , &c. but his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord , that he sought an occasion against the Philistines , Judges 14. 3 , 4. The sons of Eli , wicked men , knew not the Lord , 1 Sam. 2. 12. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord : neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him , 1 Sam. 3. 7. Elijah prayed that God would ( by an extraordinary means ) let it be known , that thou art a God in Israel , &c. that this people may know that thou art the Lord God , 1 Kings 18. 36 , 37 , 38. Because the Syrians have said , The Lord is God of the hills , but he is not God of the valleys : therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thy hands : and ye shall know that I am the Lord , 1 Kings 20. 28. Solomon asked wisdom and knowledg , and God gave it : and riches also , 2 Chron. 1. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Nevertheless , they shall be his servants : that they may know my service , and the service of the kingdoms of the Countreys , 2 Chron. 12. 8. Canst thou by searching find out God ? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection , & c ? Job 11 , 7 , 8. Lo , these are parts of his ways : but how little a portion is heard of him ? Job 26. 14. There is a spirit in man , and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding ; great men are not always wise , neither do the aged understand judgment , Job 32. 8 , 9. I uttered that I understood not , things too wonderful for me which I knew not : I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear , but now mine eye seeth thee ; wherefore I abhor my self , &c. Job 42. 5 , 6. They who know thy name , will put their trust in thee , &c. The Lord is known by the judgments he executeth , Psal. 9. 10 , 16. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledg , who eat up my people , & c ? Psal. 14. 4. Psal. 53. 4. The heavens declare the glory of God , and the firmament shew his handy-work : day unto day uttereth speech : and night unto night teacheth knowledg , &c. The testimonies of the Lord are sure , making wise the simple , &c. The commandments of the Lord is pure , inlightning the eyes , Psal. 19. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8. Consume them , &c. and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob , unto the ends of the earth . Selah . Psal. 59. 13. When I thought to know this , it was too painful for me , until I went into the Sanctuary of God : then understood I their end , &c. so foolish and ignorant was I : I was as a beast before thee , Psal. 73. 16 , 17 , 22. Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen who have not known thee , Psal. 79. 6. They know not , neither will they understand : they walk on in darkness , Psal. 82. 5. Let them be confounded , &c. that they may know that thou whose name alone is Jehovah , art the most high over all the earth , Psal. 83. 18. Understand , O ye brutish among the people , and fools : when will ye be wise ? He who planted the ear , shall he not hear , & c ? Psal. 94. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. It is a people who do err in their hearts : and they have not known my ways , Psal. 95. 10. Whoso is wise and will observe these things : even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord , Psal. 107. 43. For I know that the Lord is great : and our Lord above all gods , Psal. 135. 5. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk , Psal. 143. 8. Psal. 146. 8. He shewed his word unto Jacob , &c. He hath not dealt so with any nation : and as for his judgments , they have not known them , Psal. 147. 19 , 20. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity , & c ? and fools , hate knowledg , & c ? they shall call upon me , but I will not answer , &c. for that they hated knowledg , and did not chuse the fear of the Lord , Prov. 1. 22 , 28 , 29. Apply thine heart to understanding : yea , if thou cryest after knowledg , &c. if thou seek her as silver , &c. then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord , &c. for the Lord giveth wisdom , &c. understanding shall keep thee , Prov. 2. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 10 , 11. Happy is the man who findeth wisdom , and the man who getteth understanding : for the merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of silver , Prov. 3. 13 , 14. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom : the knowledg of the Holy , understanding , Prov. 9. 10. Wise men lay up knowledg , Prov. 10. 14. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way , Prov. 14. 8. Evil men understand not judgment : but they who seek the Lord , understand all things , Prov. 28. 5. Tell me , O thou whom my soul loveth , where thou feedest , &c. if thou know not , O thou fairest , &c. go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock , Cant. 1. 7 , 8. The ox knoweth his owner , and the ass his masters crib : Israel doth not know , my people doth not consider , Isa. 1. 3. Therefore my people are gone into captivity , because they have no knowledg , Isa. 5. 13. Hear ye indeed , but understand not : and see ye indeed , but perceive not , &c. make their ears heavy , and shut their eyes : lest they see , &c. and understand , Isa. 6. 9 , 10. Matth. 13. 13 , 14. The earth shall be full of the knowledg of the Lord , as the waters cover the sea , Isa. 11. 9. Habbak . 2. 14. It is a people of no understanding : therefore he who made them , will not have mercy on them , Isa. 27. 11. The Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep : and hath closed your eyes , &c. and the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book sealed , &c. therefore , &c. The wisdom of their wise men shall perish : and the understanding of their prudent men , shall be hid , &c. In that day shall the eyes of the blind see out of obscurity , &c. They who erred in spirit , shall come to understanding , Isa. 29. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 18 , 24. Save us , &c. that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord , &c. Isa. 37. 20. Have ye not known , & c ? it is he who sitteth upon the circle of the earth , Isa. 40. 21 , 22. That they may know and consider , and understand together : that the hand of the Lord , &c. Isa. 41. 20. I will bring the blind by a way they knew not , &c. in paths they have not known , Isa. 42. 16. They have not known , nor understood : for he hath shut their eyes , and they cannot see ; and their hearts , and they cannot understand , &c. neither is there knowledg or understanding to say , I have burned part of it , &c. Isa. 44. 18 , 19. They who handle the law , knew me not , Jer. 2. 8. I will give you Pastors , &c. who shall feed you with knowledg and understanding , Jer. 3. 15. My people is foolish , they have not known me : they are sottish children , they have no understanding : they are wise to do evil , but to do good they have no knowledg , Jer. 4. 22. chap. 8. 7. chap. 9. 3 , 6. chap. 5. 21. Let him who glories , glory in this , that he understandeth and knoweth me , that I am the Lord , who exercise loving-kindness , judgment , and righteousness , Jer. 9. 24. I will give them an heart to know me , that I am the Lord , Jer. 24. 7. Hos. 2. 20. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour , and every man his brother , saying , Know the Lord ; for they shall all know me from the least , &c. Jer. 31. 34. I will set my glory among the heathen : so the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God , from that day , and forward , &c. And when I have brought them again , &c. then shall they know that I am the Lord their God , who caused them to be led into captivity , Ezek. 39. 21 , 22 , 23 , 27 , 28. To the intent that the living may know that the most high ruleth , &c. They shall make thee eat grass as oxen , &c. till thou know that the most High ruleth , &c. Dan. 4. 17 , 25 , 32. But the people who do know their God , shall be strong , and do , &c. and they who understand among the people , shall instruct many , &c. and some of understanding shall fall , Dan. 11. 32 , 33 , 35. And none of the wicked shall understand ; but the wise shall understand , Dan. 12. 10. The Lord hath a controversie , &c. because there is no truth nor mercy , nor knowledg of God in the land , &c. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledg : because thou hast rejected knowledg , I will also reject thee , that thou shalt be no Priest , Hos. 4. 1 , 2 , 6. Then shall we know , if we follow on to know the Lord , &c. For I desire , &c. the knowledg of God more than burnt-offerings , Hos. 6. 3 , 6. Who is wise ? and he shall understand these things : prudent ? and he shall know them , Hos. 14. 9. The Priests lips should preserve knowledg , Malachi 2. 7. The light of the body is the eye , &c. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness , how great is that darkness ? Matth. 6. 22 , 23. If ye had known what this meaneth , I will have mercy , &c. ye would not have condemned , &c. Matth. 12. 7. Because it is given to you to know the mystery of the kingdom of heaven : but to them it is not given , &c. therefore speak I to them in parables , &c. Matth. 13. 11 , 13 , 19. One heareth the word of the kingdom , and understandeth it not : then cometh the wicked , &c. Mark 4. 11 , 34. Ye do err , not knowing the Scriptures , nor the power of God , Matth. 22. 29. The Gadarenes ( through ignorance of Christ ) besought him to depart from them , Luke 8. 37. Peter said , &c. Let us build three tabernacles , one for thee , &c. not knowing what he said , Luke 9. 33. I thank thee , O father , &c. that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent , and hast revealed them unto babes , &c. for so it seemed good in thy sight , &c. No man knoweth who the son is , &c. but the son , and he to whom the son will reveal him , &c. blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see , &c. Luke 10. 21 , 22 , 23. Wo unto you Lawyers : for ye have taken away the key of knowledg ; ye entred not in your selves , and them , who were entring in , ye hindred ( or forbad ) , Luke 11. 52. That servant who knew his Lords will , and prepared not , neither did according , &c. shall be beaten with many stripes : but he who knew not , and did commit things worthy of stripes , shall be beaten with few stripes , Luke 12. 47 , 48. Jesus took unto him the twelve , and said unto them , &c. And they understood none of these things : and this saying was hid from them : neither knew they , &c. Luke 18. 31 , 32 , 33 , 34. John 12. 16. chap. 13. 7. chap. 20. 9. He beheld the City , and wept over it , saying , If thou hadst known , even thou , at least in this thy day , the things which belong unto thy peace : but now they are hid , &c. Luke 19. 41 , 42. Then opened he their understandings , that they might understand the Scriptures , Luke 24. 44 , 45. He was in the world , &c. and the world knew him not , John 1. 10. Ye must be born again , &c. Nicodemus answered and said unto him , How can these things be ? Jesus , &c. said , Art thou a master in Israel , and knowest not these things ? John 3. 4 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. If thou knewest the gift of God , and who it is that saith to thee , Give me to drink : thou wouldst have asked of him , and he would have given thee living water , &c. Ye worship ye know not what : we know what we worship , John 4. 10 , 22. The Jews therefore strove among themselves , saying , How can this man give us his flesh to eat ? John 6. 52. If any man will do his will , he shall know of the doctrine , whether it be of God , &c. John 7. 17. I am the light of the world : he who followeth me , shall not walk in darkness , but shall have the light of life , &c. If ye had known me , ye should have known my father also , &c. When ye have lift up the Son of man , then shall ye know that I am he , &c. If ye continue in my word , &c. ye shall know the truth , &c. Why do ye not understand my speech ? even because ye cannot hear my word , John 8. 12 , 19 , 28 , 32 , 43. chap. 14. 7 , 9. We know that God spake unto Moses : as for this fellow , we know not from whence he is , &c. Jesus said , For judgment came I , &c. that they who see not , might see : and that they who see , might be made blind , &c. If ye were blind , ye should have no sin , &c. John 9. 29 , 39 , 41. He who walketh in darkness , knoweth not whither he goeth ; John 12. 35. If ye know these things , happy are ye if ye do them , John 13. 17. All these things will they do unto you , &c. because they know not him who sent me , John 15. 21 , chap. 16. 2 , 3. And this is life eternal , that they may know thee the only true God , and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent , &c. They have known surely that I came out from thee , &c. The World hath not known thee , &c. these have known that thou hast sent me , John 17. 3 , 7 , 8 , 24. As yet they knew not the Scripture , that he must rise again from the dead , John 20. 9. Ye denyed the Holy one , &c. and killed the Prince of life ; and now brethren , I wot that through ignorance ye did it : as did also your rulers , Acts 3. 14 , 15 , 17. When they saw the boldness of Peter and John , and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men , &c. they had been with Jesus , Acts 4. 13. They who dwell at Jerusalem , and their rulers : because they knew him not , nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read , &c. they have fulfilled them in condemning him , Acts 13. 27. I found an altar with this inscription , To the unknown God : whom therefore ye ignorantly worship , I declare , &c. We ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold , &c. and the times of this ignorance God winked at : but now commandeth , &c. Acts 17. 23 , 29 , 30. I verily thought with my self , that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus , &c. Acts 26. 9. That which may be known of God , is manifest , &c. for the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen , being understood by the things which are made , even his eternal power and Godhead ; so that they are without excuse : because when they knew God , they did not glorifie him as God , &c. Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledg : God gave them up , &c. Rom. 1. 19 , 20 , 21 , 28. — Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness , & c ? not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance , &c. Thou art called a Jew , &c. and knowest his will , &c. Rom. 2. 4. 18 , 19. The way of peace they have not known , &c. By the law is the knowledg of sin , Rom. 3. 17 , 20. chap. 7. 7. We glory also in tribulation : knowing that tribulation worketh patience , &c. Rom. 5. 3 , 4. They have a zeal of God , but not according to knowledg : for they being ignorant of Gods righteousness , and going about to establish their own , &c. have not submitted , &c. Rom. 10. 2 , 3. I would not brethren , that ye should be ignorant in this mystery ( lest ye should be wise in your own conceits ) , that blindness in part is happened to Israel , &c. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! how unsearchable are his judgments , and his ways past finding out ? for who hath known the mind of the Lord ? or , who hath been his counsellor ? Rom. 11. 25 , 33 , 34. That ye may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God , Rom. 12. 2. I my self also am perswaded of you , my brethren , that ye also are full of goodness , and filled with all knowledg : able also to admonish one another , Rom. 15. 14. The mystery which was kept secret since the world began , but now is made manifest : and by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God , made known to all nations , Rom. 16. 25 , 26. In every thing ye are enriched , &c. and in all knowledg , &c. The world by wisdom knew not God , &c. 1 Cor. 1. 5 , 21. I determined not to know any thing among you , save Jesus Christ and him crucified , &c. We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery , &c. which none of the Princes of this world knew : for had they known it , they would not have crucified the Lord of glory , &c. God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit , &c. The things of God knoweth no man , but the spirit of God. Now we have received the Spirit which is of God , that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God , &c. the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God , &c. neither can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned , &c. Who hath known the mind of the Lord , & c ? but we have the mind of Christ , 1 Cor. 2. 2 , 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 , 16. If any , &c. seemeth to be wise in this world : let him become a fool , that he may be wise , 1 Cor. 3. 18. Do ye not know that the Saints shall judg the world , & c ? Know ye not , & c ? 1 Cor. 6. 2 , 3 , 15. We know that we all have knowledg : knowledg puffeth up , but charity edifieth : and if any man thinketh he knoweth any thing , he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know , &c. We know that an Idol is nothing , &c. howbeit , there is not in every man that knowledg , 1 Cor. 8. 1 , 2 , 4 , 7. I would not that ye should be ignorant , how that all our fathers were under the cloud , 1 Cor. 10. 1 , 2. To another the word of knowledg by the same spirit , 1 Cor. 12. 8. Though I , &c. understand all mysteries , and all knowledg , &c. and have no charity , I am nothing , &c. Whether there be knowledg , it shall vanish away : for we know in part , &c. now we see through a glass darkly , ( or in a riddle ) , but then face to face : now I know in part : but then shall I know , even as also I am known , 1 Cor. 13. 2 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 12. If a man be ignorant , let him be ignorant , 1 Cor. 14. 38. Some have not the knowledg of God : I speak this to your shame , 1 Cor. 15. 34. Lest Satan should get an advantage of us : for we are not ignorant of his devices , 2 Cor. 2. 11. But their minds were blinded : for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old Testament , &c. When Moses is read , the vail is upon their heart , 2 Cor. 3. 14 , 15. If our Gospel be hid , it is hid to them who are lost : in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not , lest the light of the glorious Gospel , &c. should shine into them , &c. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness , hath shined in our hearts the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the , &c. 2 Cor. 4. 3 , 4 , 6. We know that if our earthly house , &c. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord , we perswade men , &c. Henceforth know we no man after the flesh : yea , though we have known Christ after the flesh , yet now henceforth know we him no more , 2 Cor. 5. 1 , 11 , 16. Therefore as ye abound in every thing , &c. in knowledg , 2 Cor. 8. 7. Howbeit then when ye knew not God , ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods : but now after that ye have known God , or rather are known of God , &c. Gal. 4. 8 , 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will , &c. That God , &c. may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him : the eyes of your understanding being enlightned , that ye may know what is the hope , &c. Ephes. 1. 9 , 17 , 18 , 19. The mystery of Christ , which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men , as it is : that ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints , what is the breadth , &c. and to know the love of Christ , which passeth knowledg , Ephes. 3. 4 , 5 , 18 , 19. He gave some Apostles , &c. till we all come into the unity of the faith , and of the knowledg of the Son of God , &c. Walk not as other Gentiles , &c. having the understanding darkned , being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them : because of the blindness ( or , hardness ) of their hearts , Ephes. 4. 11 , 12 , 13 , 17 , 18. 1 Thess. 4. 5. Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord , &c. understanding what the will of the Lord is , Ephes. 5. 10 , 17. I count all things but loss , for the excellency of the knowledg of Jesus , &c. that I may know him , and the power of his resurrection , &c. Phil. 3. 8 , 10. Since , &c. ye knew the grace of God in truth : we desire that ye may be filled with the knowledg of his will in all wisdom and understanding , &c. increasing in the knowledg of God , &c. the Saints , to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles , which is Christ , &c. Col. 1. 6 , 9 , 10 , 26 , 27. — Unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding , to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God , and of the father , and of Christ : in whom ( or , wherein ) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledg , Col. 2. 2 , 3. The new man , which is renewed in knowledg , after the image of him who created , &c Col. 3. 10. Knowing , brethren , &c. your election of God : for our Gospel came not to you in word only , but also in power , &c. 1 Thess. 1. 4 , 5. I would not have you to be ignorant , brethren , concerning them who are asleep , 1 Thess. 4. 13. Taking vengeance upon them who know not God , 2 Thess. 1. 8. Desiring to be teachers of the law , understanding neither what they say , nor whereof they affirm : but we know that the law is good , if a man use it lawfully , &c. but I obtained mercy , because I did it ignorantly in unbelief , &c. 1 Tim. 1. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 13. Who will have all men to be saved , and to come unto the knowledg of the truth , 1 Tim. 2. 4. If any man teach otherwise , &c. he is proud , knowing nothing , but doting about questions , &c. 1 Tim. 6. 3 , 4. They profess that they know God , but in works they deny him , Titus 1. 16. They do err in their hearts , not having known my ways , Heb. 3. 10. Every high-priest taken from among men , &c. who can have compassion on the ignorant , Heb. 5. 1 , 2. If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledg of the truth , &c. Heb. 10. 26. 2 Pet. 2. 20 , 21. If any man lack wisdom , let him ask it of God , who giveth to all men liberally , &c. James 1. 5. Who is a wise man , and endued with knowledg among you ? let him shew out of a good , &c. James 3. 13. To him who knoweth to do good , and doth it not , to him it is sin , James 4. 17. Not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts , in your ignorance , &c. 1 Pet. 1. 14. With well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men , 1 Pet. 2. 15. Grace , &c. be multiplied unto you through the knowledg of God , and of Jesus our Lord , &c. Add , &c. to vertue knowledg , &c. If these things be in you , &c. ye shall neither be barren , nor unfruitful in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus , &c. but he who lacketh these , &c. is blind , &c. knowing this first , that no Scripture is of private interpretation , 2 Pet. 1. 2 , 3 ; 5 , 8 , 9 , 20. But these , &c. speak evil of things they understand not , &c. If after they have escaped the pollutions of the World , through the knowledg of the Lord , &c. it had been better , &c. not to have known , &c. 2 Pet. 2. 12 , 20 , 21. Jude , verse 1. This they are willingly ignorant of , &c. Paul in all his Epistles , &c. in which are some things hard to be understood : which they who are unlearned , wrest , &c. seeing ye know , &c. 2 Pet. 3. 5 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. Hereby we do know that we know him , if we keep his commandments : he that saith I know him , and , &c. I write to you fathers , because ye have known him , &c. ye know all things , &c. as the same anointing teacheth you all things , &c. 1 Joh. 2. 3 , 4 , 13 , 20 , 21 , 27. Therefore the world knew us not , because it knew him not , &c. we know that we have passed from death to life , &c. hereby we know that we are of the truth , &c. 1 Joh. 3. 1 , 14 , 19. ch . 5. 2. Hereby know ye the spirit of God , &c. he who knoweth God , heareth us , &c. hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour , &c. he that loveth God , knoweth God : he who loveth not , knoweth not God : we have known and believed the love that God hath to us , 1 John 4. 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 16. That ye may know that ye have eternal life , &c. we know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not , &c. we know that we are of God , &c. we know the son of God is come , &c. 1 Joh. 5. 13 , 18 , 19 , 20. These speak evil of those things which they know not , Jude vers . 10. See the Ignorance of natural men , Chap. 5. See the giver of knowledg , Chap. 20. CHAP. XXXIX . Of this present World , and the Riches , Honours , Pleasure , and other things in this World ; the use of them , the snares and tentations in them , and of the Saints duty in relation to them . AND Abraham was very rich in Cattel , in Silver and in Gold , &c. Lot also went with Abraham , &c. their substance was great , so that they could not dwell together , Gen. 13. 2. When Rachel said , Give me children , &c. Jacob said , Am I in Gods stead ? who withheld , & c ? Gen. 30. 1 , 2. chap. 33. 5. All the earth is mine , said the Lord to Moses , Exod. 19. 5. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house , &c. nor any thing that is thy neighbours , Exod. 20. 17. Israel wept again , and said , Who shall give us flesh to eat , & c ? and God was angry , Numb . 11. 4 , 10. 1 Cor. 10. 6 , 10. He fed thee with Manna , &c. that he might make thee know , that man doth not live by bread only , but , &c. thy raiment waxed not old , &c. The Lord thy God will bring thee into a good land , &c. wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness , &c. when thou hast eaten and art full , then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land , &c. beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God , &c. lest when thou hast eaten and art full , and hast built godly houses , &c. then thine heart be lifted up , and thou forget the Lord , &c. and thou say in thine heart , My power , and the might of my hand , hath gotten me this wealth : but thou shalt remember the Lord thy God : for it is he who giveth thee power to get wealth , Deut. 8. 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 17 , 18. Matt. 4. 4. Jesurun waxed fat , &c. then he forsook God which made him , and lightly esteemed , &c. Deut. 32. 14 , 15. Achans covetousness and worldliness , was Israels trouble and his own ruine , Joshua . 7. 1 , 20 , 21 , 25 , 26. The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich , he bringeth low and lifteth up , he raiseth up the poor out of the dust : lifteth up the beggar from the dunghil , to sit among princes , &c. 1 Sam. 2. 7 , 8. Saul said to Samuel , I have sinned ; yet honour me now , I pray thee , before the Elders of my people , and before Israel , and turn again with me , &c. 1 Sam. 15. 30. The women , &c. said , Saul hath slain his thousands , and David his ten thousands : and Saul was very wroth , and the saying displeased him ; and he said , they have ascribed unto David ten thousands , &c. and what can he have more but the kingdom ? and Saul eyed David from that day forward , 1 Sam. 18. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. God said unto Solomon , Because thou hast asked for thy self this thing , and hast not asked long life , neither hast asked riches , &c. I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked , both riches and honour , 1 Kings 3. 9. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. Ahabs covetous desire of Naboths vineyard , made him sick with discontent , 1 King. 21. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Gehazi , Elisha his servant , for his covetousness , punished with Leprosie , 2 Kings 5. 20 , 21 , 22 , to the 27. Thine , O Lord , is the greatness , &c. both riches and honour come of thee , &c. 1 Chron. 29. 11 , 12. Haman , then next the king , boasted of his riches , honour , and worldly advantages ; yet so ambitious , that because Mordicai did not bow to him , he saith , All the rest availeth me nothing , Hester 5. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. Job said ( when he was spoiled of all ) Naked came I out of my mothers womb , and naked shall . I return thither : the Lord gave , and the Lord taketh away ; blessed be the name of the Lord , Job 1. 21. The wicked , &c. he hath swallowed down riches , and he shall vomit them up again : God shall cast them out of his belly , &c. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits , Job 20. 15 , 22. What is the hope of the hypocrite , though he hath gained , when God taketh away his soul ? &c. though he heap up silver as the dust , and prepare raiment as the clay : he may prepare it , but the just shall put it on , Job 27. 8 , 16 , 17. If I have made gold my hope , or said to fine gold , thou art my confidence : If I have rejoyced because my wealth is great , and because my hand had gotten much , &c. Job 31. 24 , 25. Who accepteth not the persons of Princes ; nor regardeth the rich more than the poor : for they are all the works of his hands , Job 34. 19. Deliver my soul , &c. from men of the world , who have their portion in this life , whose bellies thou fillest , &c. they leave the rest of their substance to their babes , Psal. 17. 14. The earth is the Lords , and the fulness thereof , &c. Psal. 24. 1. A little that a righteous man hath , is better than the riches of many wicked , &c. I have been young , and now am old , yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken ; nor his seed begging bread , &c. I have seen the wicked in great power , and spreading himself like a green bay-tree ; yet he passed away , &c. Psal. 37. 16 , 25 , 35 , 36. Every man walketh in a vain shew : surely they are disquieted in vain : he heapeth up riches , and knoweth not who shall gather them , Psal. 39. 6. They who trust in their wealth , and boast themselves in their riches : none can by any means redeem his brother , nor give to God a ransome for him , &c. wise men dye , &c. likewise the fool , &c. and leave their wealth to others , &c. their inward thought is , that their houses shall continue for ever , &c. they call their lands by their own name , &c. man in honour and abideth not , is like the beast which perisheth , &c. be not afraid when one is made rich , when the glory of his house is increased ; when he dyeth , he shall carry nothing away , his glory shall not descend after him , Psal. 49. 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 16 , 17 , 20. Every beast of the forest is mine , and the Cattel upon a thousand hills , &c. If I were an hungry , I would not tell thee : for the world is mine and the fulness thereof , Psal. 50. 9 , 10 , 12. Lo , this is the man who made not God his strength , but trusted in the abundance of his riches , Psal. 52. 7 , 9. Men of low degree are vanity , and men of high degree are a lye , &c. If riches increase , set not your hearts upon them , Psal. 62. 9 , 10. Thou visiteth the earth , and watereth it : thou greatly enricheth it , &c. thou preparest them corn , &c. thou waterest the ridges , &c. Psal. 65. 9 , 10 , 11 , &c. Deut. 11. 14 , 15. These are the ungodly who prosper in the world : they increase riches , Psal. 73. 12. He causeth the grass to grow for the Cattel , and herb for the service of man , that he may bring sorth food out of the earth , and wine , &c. these all wait upon thee , that thou maist give them their meat in due season , &c. Psal. 104. 14 , 15 , 26 , 27 , 28. Psal. 145. 15. Psal. 147. 8 , 9. He turneth rivers into a wilderness , and the water-springs into dry ground , a fruitful land into barrenness , &c. he turneth the wilderness into a standing water , &c. he blesseth them also , so that they are multiplied greatly , &c. Psal. 107. 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust , &c. he maketh the barren women to keep house , to be a joyful mother of children , Psal. 113. 7 , 8 , 9. Psal. 128. 3. So are the ways of every one who is greedy of gain , which taketh away the life of the owners , Prov. 1. 19. Honour the Lord with thy substance , and with the first fruits of thine increase ; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty , Prov. 3. 9 , 10. Go to the Ant , thou sluggard , &c. yet a little sleep , &c. so shall thy poverty come , Prov. 6. 6 , 10 , 11. The rich mans wealth is his strong city : the destruction of the poor is his poverty : The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich , and he addeth no sorrow to it , Prov. 10. 15 , 22. ch . 18. 11. Riches profit not in the day of wrath , &c. there is who scatter , and yet increaseth , and there is who withholdeth more than is meet , but it tendeth to poverty : the liberal soul shall be made fat , &c. he who trusteth in his riches , shall fall , Prov. 11. 4 , 24 , 25 , 28. Ezek. 7. 19. There is that makes himself rich , yet hath nothing : there is who maketh himself poor , yet hath great riches , &c. wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished , &c. Prov. 13. 7 , 11. The poor is hated even by his own neighbour : but the rich hath many friends , Prov. 14. 20. chap. 19. 4. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord , than great treasure with trouble , &c. He who is greedy of gain , troubleth his own house , Prov. 15. 16 , 27. Better is a little with righteousness , than great revenues without right , Prov. 16. 8. An inheritance may be gotten hastily , &c. but the end thereof shall not be blessed , Prov. 20. 4 , 21. He who loveth pleasure , shall be a poor man : and he who loveth wine , &c. Prov. 21. 17. The rich and the poor meet together : the Lord is the maker of them all , Prov. 22. 2 , 7. Labour not to be rich , &c. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not ? for riches certainly make themselves wings , and flee away , Prov. 23. 4 , 5. Riches are not for ever : and doth the crown endure to every generation ? Prov. 27. 24. The rich man is wise in his own conceit , &c. a faithful man shall abound with blessings : but he who maketh hast to be rich , shall not be innocent , &c. he hath an evil eye , and considereth not the poverty which shall come upon him , Prov. 28. 11 , 20 , 22. Give me neither poverty nor riches : feed me with food convenient : lest I be full and deny thee , and say , Who is the Lord ? or lest I be poor , and steal , and take the name of my God in vain , Prov. 30. 8 , 9. Gen. 28. 20. Vanity of vanities , all is vanity , &c. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by Wisdom , concerning all things which are done under heaven , &c. and behold all is vanity and vexation of spirit , &c. I am come to great estate , and have gotten more wisdom than all they , &c. and I gave my heart to know Wisdom , and to know madness and folly : I perceive that this also is vexation of spirit ; for in much wisdom is much grief : and he who increaseth knowledg , increaseth sorrow , Eccles. 1. 2 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. I will prove thee with mirth , therefore enjoy pleasure : and behold this also is vanity . I said of laughter , It is mad : and of mirth , What doth it ? I sought , &c. to give my self to Wine , &c. I made me great works : I builded me houses : I planted me vinyards , &c. gardens and orchards , &c. I got me servants and maidens , &c. I had great possessions of great and small cattel , &c. also silver and gold , &c. I got me messengers and women-singers , and the delights of the sons of men , as musical instruments , and that of all sorts , &c. whatsoever mine eyes desired , I kept not from them : I withheld not mine heart from any joy , &c. Then I looked on all , &c. and behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit : and there is no profit under the sun , &c. I hated all my labour , &c. because I should leave it unto the man who shall come after me ; and who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man , or a fool ? yet shall he have rule over all my labour , &c. Nothing better for a man , than that he should eat and drink , &c. this also I saw , that it was from the hand of God , Eccles 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 18 , 19 , 24. I know that there is no good in them , but for a man to rejoyce and to do good in his life : and also that every man should eat and drink , and enjoy the good of his labour : it is the gift of God , Eccles. 3. 12 , 13. chap. 5. 19. There is one , and not a second : yea , he hath neither child nor brother ; yet there is no end of all his labour , neither is his eye satisfied with riches : neither faith he , For whom do I labour , and bereave my soul of good ? this also is vanity , Eccles. 4. 8. He who loveth silver , shall not be satisfied with silver : nor he who loveth abundance , with encrease : this also is vanity . When goods increase , they also are increased who eat them : and what good is there to the owners thereof , saving the beholding of them with their eyes : the sleep of a labouring man is sweet , whether he eat little or much : but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep , &c. Riches kept for the owners thereof , to their hurt , &c. What profit hath he who hath laboured for the wind ? Eccles. 5. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 16. A man to whom God hath given riches , wealth and honour , so that he wanteth nothing , &c. he desireth , yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof , &c. All the labour of man is for his mouth : and yet the appetite ( or , soul ) is not filled , Eccles. 6. 2 , 7. Wo unto them that joyn house to house , and lay field to field , till there is no place , &c. Wo unto them who rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink , &c. and the harp and the viol , &c. are in their feasts , &c. Isa. 5. 8 , 11 , 12. Doth the Plowman plow all day to sow , & c ? for his God doth instruct him to discretion , and doth teach him : for the fetches are not threshed , &c. this also cometh from the Lord of Hosts , Isa. 28. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29. All flesh is grass , and all the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field : the grass withereth , the flower fadeth , &c. Isa. 40. 6 , 7 , 8. Thou saidst , I shall be a Lady for ever , &c. Hear now this , thou who art given to pleasures , who dwellest carelesly : who sayest in thine heart , &c. I shall not sit a Widow , neither shall I know the loss of children : but these two things shall come to thee in a moment , in one day , the loss of children and Widowhood : and they shall come upon thee in their perfection , Isa. 47. 7 , 8 , 9. Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain , & c ? Art not thou he , O Lord , & c ? Jer. 14. 22. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom , neither let the mighty man glory in his might : let not the rich man glory in his riches , &c. Jer. 9. 23. He who getteth riches , and not by right , shall leave them in the midst of his days : and at his end shall be a fool , Jer. 17. 11. I have made the earth , the man , and the beast upon the ground , &c. I have given them to whom , &c. Jer. 27. 5 , 6. Their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord : they shall not satisfie their soul , nor fill their bowels , &c. Ezek. 7. 19. Zephan . 1. 17 , 18. Thou hast gotten thee riches , and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasury , &c. and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches ; therefore thus faith the Lord , &c. Ezek. 28. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. She said , I will go after my lovers who give me my bread and my water , my wool , and my flax , mine oyl and my drink , &c. She did not know that I gave her corn , wine and oyl , and multiplied her silver and gold : therefore I will return and take away my corn in the time thereof , &c. Hosea 2. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Although the fig-tree shall not blossom , neither shall fruit be in the vines : the labour of the Olive shall fail , &c. yet I will rejoyce in the Lord , &c. Habbak . 3. 17 , 18. Is it a time for you , O ye , to dwell in your ceiled houses , and this house lye waste , & c ? Consider your ways : ye have sown much , and bring in little : ye eat , but ye have not enough , &c. I did blow upon it : Why , faith the Lord of Hosts ? because of mine house that is waste ; and ye run every man unto his own house , Haggai 1. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Lay not up treasure on earth , where moth and rust corrupt , and thieves break in , &c. for where your treasure is , there will your hearts be , &c. No man can serve two masters , &c. ye cannot serve God and Mammon , &c. Take no thought for your life , what ye shall eat , &c. Is not your life more than meat , & c ? Behold the fowls , &c. are ye not much better than they ? Which of you by taking thought , can add a cubit unto his stature , & c ? your heavenly father knoweth you need these things , &c. but seek ye first the kingdom of God , &c. and these things shall be added unto you , Matth. 6. 19 , 20 , 21 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34. When Christ had suffered the evil spirit to go into the herd of swine , so that they were drowned : the whole City came out , and besought Jesus to depart , Matth. 8. 31 , 32 , 33 , 34. He who loveth father or mother , &c. or son or daughter , more than me , is not worthy of me ; and he who taketh not up his cross and followeth me , is not worthy of me , &c. he who loseth his life for my sake , shall find it , Matth. 10. 37 , 38 , ●…9 . Luke 14. 26. He who received seed among the thorns , is he who heareth the word , and the cares of this world , and the deceitfulness of riches choak the word , &c. Matth. 13. 22. Luke 8. 14. What is a man profited , if he shall gain the whole world , and lose his own soul ? Matth. 16. 26. Go and sell that thou hast , and give , &c. but when the young man heard that saying , he went away sorrowful , for he had great possessions : Then said Jesus , &c. That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven , Matth. 19. 21 , 22 , 23. Those who were invited to the feast , made light of it , and went their ways : one to their farm , another to their merchandize , &c. Matth. 22. 4 , 5. Luke 14. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Wo unto you who are rich , for ye have received your consolation : Wo unto you who are full , for ye shall be hungry : Wo unto you who laugh now , for you shall mourn and weep : Wo unto you when all men shall speak well of you , Luke 6. 24 , 25 , 26. Christ said to one , Follow me ; but he would bury his father first : another would go and bid them farewel who were at home , Luke 9. 59 , 60 , 61. — Martha , Martha , Thou art careful about many things : but one thing is needful , &c. Luke 10. 40 , 41. Jesus said , Take heed and beware of covetousness : for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth , &c. The rich man said to his soul , Soul , thou hast much goods laid up for many years : take thine ease , eat , drink , and be merry : but God said unto him , Thou fool , this night thy soul shall be required of thee , then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided ? so is he who layeth up treasure for himself , and is not rich towards God , Luke 12. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. The parable of the rich man , and poor Lazarus , Luke 16. 20 , &c. Take heed to your selves , lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness , and cares of this life : and so that day come , &c. Luke 21. 34. How can ye believe who receive honour one from another , and seek not the honour which cometh from God only ? John 5. 44. Labour not for the meat which perisheth , but for that which endureth , &c. John 6. 27. — He is of age , ask him , &c. These words spake his parents , because they feared the Jews : for the Jews had agreed already , That if any man did confess that he was Christ , he should be put out of the Synagogue : therefore said his parents , &c. John 9. 21 , 22 , 23. Among the chief rulers also many believed on him : but because of the Pharisees , they did not confess him , lest they should be put out of the Synagogue : for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God , John 12. 42 , 43. In the world ye shall have tribulation : but be of good chear , I have overcome the world , John 16. 33. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world , but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil , John 17. 15. Jesus answered , My kingdom is not of this world : if my kingdom were of this world , then would my servants fight , that I should not , &c. John 18. 36. Pilate sought to release Jesus ; but the Jews cryed out , saying , If thou let this man go , thou art not Cesars friend , &c. When Pilate therefore heard that saying , he brought Jesus forth , &c. John 19. 12 , 13 , 15 , 16. What house will ye build for me , saith the Lord , & c ? Hath not my hand made all these things , & c ? Acts 7. 48 , 49 , 50. chap. 14. 15 , 17. When Saul had cast out the evil spirit out of the damsel , and her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone , they caught Paul and Silas , &c. and said , That they did exceedingly trouble the City , &c. Acts 16. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. — God , who made the world , &c. he is Lord of heaven and earth , &c. He giveth to all life , &c. and all things , Acts 17. 24 , 25. So Demetrius a Silver-smith ( and others of the same trade ) , who made silver-shrines for Diana , &c. complained against Paul for pr●…aching the Gospel ; cryed up Diana , because they were like to lose their gain , if men esteemed not of Diana as a goddess , Acts 19. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27. Your selves know , that these hands of mine have ministred to my necessities , and them who were with me : I have shewed you all things , how that so labouring , ye ought to support the weak , and to remember the words of our Lord Jesus , how he said , It is more blessed to give , than to receive , Acts 20. 33 , 34 , 35. The carnal mind is enmity against God : it is not subject to the law of God , neither indeed can be , Rom. 8. 7. Make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof , Rom. 13. 14. Ye see your calling , brethren : how that not many wise men after the flesh , not many noble , are called : but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise , &c. that no flesh should glory , &c. 1 Cor. 1. 26 , 27 , 28 , 29. The time is short : it remaineth , that both they who have wives , be as though they had none : and they who weep , as though they wept not : and they who rejoyce , as if they rejoyced not : and they who buy , as though they possessed not : and they who use this world , as not abusing it : for the fashion of this world passeth away , &c. He who is marryed , careth for the things which are of this world , how he may please his wife , 1 Cor. 7. 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33. The Devil is called the god of this world , 2 Cor. 4. 4. The sorrow of the world worketh death , 2 Cor. 7. 10. You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ : that though he was rich , yet for your sakes he became poor , that ye through his poverty might be rich , 2 Cor. 8. 9. God is able to make all grace abound towards you , that ye always having all sufficiency , &c. 2 Cor. 9. 8. Jesus Christ , who gave himself for our sins , that he might deliver us from this present evil world , according to the will of God , &c. Gal. 1. 4. The flesh lusteth against the spirit , &c. so that ye cannot do the thing that ye would , Gal. 5. 17. God forbid that I should glory , save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ; by whom ( or , whereby ) the world is crucified to me , and I unto the world , Gal. 6. 14. Covetousness , let it not be once named among you , as becometh Saints , &c. for this ye know , that no whoremonger , &c. nor covetous man , who is an Idolater , hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ , and of God , Ephes. 5. 3 , 5. — Whose end is destruction , whose God is their belly , whose glory is in their shame , who mind earthly things , Phil. 3. 19. Be careful for nothing : but in every thing by prayer and supplication , &c. let your request be made known to God , &c. I have learned , that in whatsoever state I am , therewith to be content : I know how to be abased , and how to abound : every where , and in all things I am instructed both to be full , and to be hungry : both to abound , and suffer need , &c. but my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory , by Jesus Christ , Phil. 4. 6 , 12 , 19. Set your affections ( or , mind ) on things above , not on things on the earth , &c. Mortifie therefore your members , &c. inordinate affections , evil concupiscence , and covetousness , which is Idolatry , Col. 3. 2 , 5. — Meats which God hath created to be received , &c. for every creature of God is good , and nothing to , &c. 1 Tim. 4. 3 , 4. She who liveth in pleasure ( or , delicately ) is dead while she liveth , 1 Tim. 5. 6. Godliness with contentment is great gain : for we brought nothing into the world ; it is certain we can carry nothing out : and having food and raiment , let us be therewith content : but them who will be rich , fall into temptation and a snare , and into many foolish and hurtful lusts , which drown men in destruction and perdition : for the love of mony is the root of all evil , which while some coveted after , have erred from the faith , and pierced themselves thorow with many sorrows : but thou , O man , flee these things , &c. Charge them who be rich in this world , that they be not high-minded , nor trust in uncertain riches , but in the living God ; who giveth all things richly to enjoy ; that they do good , that they be rich in good works , ready to distribute , &c. laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come , 1 Tim. 6. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 17 , 18 , 19. Endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ : no man who warreth , entangleth himself with the affairs of life , that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier , 2 Tim. 2. 4. In the last times , &c. men shall be lovers of their own selves , &c. lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God , 2 Tim. 3. 4. Demas hath forsaken me , having loved this present world , &c. 2 Tim. 4. 10. The earth , &c. bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed : receiveth blessing from God , Heb. 6. 7. Ye , &c. took joyfully the spoiling of your goods : knowing in your selves that ye have in heaven a better and enduring substance , &c. Hebr. 10. 34. By faith , Moses when he came to years , refused to be called the son of Pharoahs daughter : chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God , than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season : esteeming the reproach of Christ , greater riches than the treasures of Egypt , Heb. 11. 24 , 25 , 26. Let your conversation be without covetousness : and be content with such things as ye have : for he hath said , I will never leave thee nor forsake thee : so that we may boldly say , The Lord is my helper , &c. Heb. 13. 5. 6. Let the brother of low degree rejoyce in that he is exalted : but the rich , in that he is made low : because as the flower of the grass shall he pass away : for the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat , but it withereth the grass , and the flower thereof falleth , and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth : so also shall the rich man perish in his ways , &c. James 1. 9 , 10 , 11. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith , & c ? but ye have despised the poor : Do not rich men oppress you , and draw you before the judgment-seat ? do not they blaspheme that worthy name , & c ? James 2. 5 , 6 , 7. Know ye not , that the friendship of this world is enmity with God ? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world , is the enemy of God , &c. Go to now ye that say , To day , or to morrow we will go into such a City , and continue there a year , and buy and sell , and get gain ; whereas ye know not what will be on the morrow : for , what is your life ? it is even a vapour , &c. for that ye ought to say , If the Lord will , we shall live , and do this or that : but now you rejoyce in your boastings : all such rejoycings are evil , James 4. 4 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. Acts 18. 21. Go to now , ye rich men : weep and howl , for your misery which shall come upon you : your riches are corrupted , your garments moth eaten , your gold and silver cankered , and the rust of them shall be a witness against you , and shall eat your flesh as it were fire ; ye have heaped treasures together for the last days : Behold , the hire of your labourers who reaped down your fields , which is of you kept back by fraud , cryeth , &c. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth , ye have been wanton : ye have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter , &c. ye have condemned the just , James 5. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. All flesh is as grass , and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass : the grass withereth , and the flower thereof falleth away , 1 Pet 1. 7 , 24. Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God , &c. casting all your care upon him , for he careth for you , 1 Pet. 5. 6 , 7. Love not the world , neither the things which are in the world : if any man love the world , the love of the father is not in him : for all that is in the world , the lust of the flesh , the lust of the eyes , and the pride of life , is not of the father , but is of the world : and the world passeth away , and the lust thereof , 1 John 2. 15 , 16 , 17. Greater is is he who is in you , than he who is in the world : they are of the world , therefore speak they of the world , and the world heareth them , 1 John 4. 4 , 5. Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the World : and this is the victory which overcometh the World , even our faith . Who is he who overcometh the World , but he who believeth that Jesus is the Son of God ? 1 John 5. 4 , 5. The kings of the earth , and the great men , and the rich men , and the chief Captains , and the mighty men , &c. hid themselves in the dens , and in the rocks of the mountains , and said to the mountains and rocks , Fall on us , and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne , &c. Revel . 6. 15 , 16 , 17. Heaven and earth shall pass away : all these things shall end , Psal. 102. 25 , 26. Isa. 51. 6. Matth. 24. 35. 2 Pet. 3. 7 , 10 , 11. 1 John 2. 17. CHAP. XL. Of Idolatry : setting up and worshipping of strange gods , graven Images . LAban said to Jacob , Wherefore hast thou stollen my gods ? Gen. 31. 30. Jacob said unto his houshold , Put away the strange gods that are among you , &c. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hands , and all their ear-rings which were in their ears : and Jacob hid them under the Oak , Gen. 35. 2 , 4. I am the Lord thy God , thou shalt have no other god before me : thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image , or any likeness that is in heaven above , or that is in the earth beneath , or that is in the water under the earth : thou shalt not bow down thy self to them , nor serve them : for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God , &c. Ye shall not make with me gods of silver , neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold , Exod. 20. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 23. Psal. 81. 9 , 10. He who sacrificeth unto any god , save unto the Lord only , he shall be utterly destroyed , Exod. 22. 20. Make no mention of the names of other gods : neither let it be heard out of thy mouth , &c. Thou shalt not bow down to their gods , nor serve them , &c. Thou shalt utterly overthrow them , and quite break down their Images , &c. Thou shalt make no covenant with them , nor with their gods , &c. if thou serve their gods , it will surely be a snare unto thee , Exod. 23. 13 , 24 , 32 , 33. The people gathered themselves together unto Aaron , and said unto him , Up , make us gods which shall go before us : for as for this Moses , &c. we wot not what is become of him . And Aaron said unto them , Break off the ear-rings , &c. and bring them unto me , &c. and he received them at their hands , and fashioned it with a graving-tool , after he had made it a molten calf : and they said , These be thy gods , O Israel , which brought thee up , &c. Aaron saw it : he built an altar before it , &c. and they rose up early in the morning , and offered burnt-offerings , &c. And the Lord said to Moses , &c. Let me alone , that my wrath may wax hot against them , &c. Exod 32. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 10. Psal. 106. 19 , 20. Ye shall destroy their Altars , break their Images , and cut down their groves , for thou shalt worship no other god : for the Lord whose name is Jealous , &c. lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land , and they go a whoring after their gods , and do sacrifice to their gods , &c. Thou shalt make thee no molten-gods , Exod. 34. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17. Numb . 33. 51 , 52. Turn you not to Idols , nor make your selves molten-gods : for I am the Lord your God , Levit. 19. 4. Ye shall make you no Idols , nor graven-Image : neither rear you up a standing Image ( or , Pillar ) , nor set you up any Image ( or , figure ) of stone in your land , to bow down to it : for I am the Lord , &c. Levit. 26. 1. They called the people unto the sacrifice of their gods : and the people did eat , and bowed down to their gods , and Israel joyned himself to Baal-peor : and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel , Numb . 25. 1 , 2 , 3. Psal. 106. 28. Upon their gods also the Lord executed judgments , &c. Numb . 33. 4. Ye shall not go after other gods : of the gods of the people which are round about you : for the Lord thy God , &c. Deut. 6. 14 , 15. Deut. 11. 16. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them , &c. for they will turn away thy son from following me , that they may serve other gods : so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you , &c. Ye shall destroy their altars , &c. Deut. 7. 3 , 4 , 5 , 16 , 25. Ye shall utterly destroy all the places wherein the nations which ye shall possess , served their gods , &c. you shall overthrow their altars , Deut. 12. 2 , 3. Such who should endeavour to draw others to Idolatry , were to be put to death , Deut. 13. Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy God , which thou shalt make thee ; neither shalt thou set up any Image ( or , statue ) which the Lord thy God hateth , Deut. 16. 21 , 22. If any hath gone and served other gods , and worshipped them , either the sun , or moon , or any of the host of heaven , which I have not commanded : he shall be stoned , &c. Deut. 17. 2 , 3 , 5. That they teach you not to do after all their abominations , which they have done unto their gods : so should you sin , &c. Deut. 20. 18. Ye have seen their abominations , and their Idol-gods ( or , dunghil-gods ) wood , stone , &c. Deut. 29. 17 , 18. They provoked him to jealousie with strange gods , &c. they sacrificed to devils , not to God , to gods whom they knew not , &c. Deut. 32. 17 , 21. Psal. 106 , 37. Neither make mention of the names of their gods , neither cause to swear by them : neither serve them , nor bow your selves to them , Josh. 23. 7 , 16. Josh. 24. 14 , 23. When Joshua and that generation were dead , and there arose a new generation who knew not the Lord , they forsook the Lord , and followed strange gods , Judges 2. 10 , 12 , 13 , 14. Gideon made an Ephod , and put it in his City , &c. and all Israel went thither a whoring after it : which thing became a snare to Gideon and his house . And when Gideon was dead , the children of Israel turned again and went a whoring after Baalim , and made Baal-berith their god , Judges 8. 26 , 27 , 33 , 34. chap. 10. 6 , 7. Micahs mother s●…id , I had wholly dedicated the silver to the Lord to make a graven-image , &c. And she made an Image , &c. Micah consecrated the Levite , &c. The Danites take away the Idol , and the Priest , &c. Then Micah cryed out , Ye have taken away my gods which I made , and the Priest , and y●… are gone away : and what have I more , & c ? and the children of Dan set up the graven Image , Judges 17. 3 , 4 , 5 , 12. chap. 18. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 24. Solomon in his old age was drawn away to commit idolatry , 1 Kings 11. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Jeroboam ( lest Israel by going up to Jerusalem to worship , should revolt to Rehoboam ) made two calves of gold , and set one in Dan , and the other in Bethel : said , Behold thy gods , O Israel : so Israel went and worshipped ; and he made a house of High-places , and made priests of the lowest of the people , &c. ordained a feast , &c. which he had devised , &c. 1 Kings 12. 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33. chap. 14. 9 , 10. They built them High-places , and Images , and groves on every high hill , and under every green tree , 1 Kings 14. 23. 2 Kings 17. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Asa king of Judah removed the Idols , &c. but the High-places were not removed , 1 Kings 15. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. All the kings of Israel after Jeroboam , did continue in thr same idolatry till Ahab : and he served Baal and worshipped him , 1 Kings 16. chap. 22. 51 , 52 , 53. Hezekiah destroyed Idolatry , removed the High-places , brake the Images , cut down the groves , and brake in pieces the brazen-serpent which Moses made : for in those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it , and called it Nehushtan , &c. so did Josiah the king , 2 Kings 18. 4. chap. 23. 4 , 5 , &c. King Ahaz his Idolatry , 2 Chron. 28. 23 , 25. If we have forgotten the name of our God , or stretched out our hands to a strange god , shall not God search this out ? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart , Psal. 44. 20 , 21. Confounded be all they who serve graven-images , who boast themselves of Idols : worship him all ye gods , Psal. 97. 7. Our God is in the heavens , he hath done whatsoever he pleased : their Idols are silver and gold , the works of mens hands : they have mouths , but they speak not : eyes have they , but they see not : they have ears , but they hear not : noses have they , but they smell not , &c. they who make them , are like unto them : so is every one who trusteth in them , Psal. 115. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Psal. 135. 15 , 16 , &c. Their land also is full of Idols : they worship the work of their own hands , that which their own fingers have made : and the mean man boweth down , and the great man humbleth himself , &c. The Idols shall utterly pass away , and they shall go into the holes of the rocks , &c. for fear of the Lord , &c. In that day , a man shall cast his Idols of silver , and his Idols of gold which they made each one for himself to worship , to the moles and to the bats , &c. Isa. 2. 8 , 9 , 18 , 19 , 20. chap. 31. 7. In that day shall a man look to his maker , &c. and he shall not look to the altars , the work of his hands : neither shall respect that which his fingers have made , either the groves , or the Images , Isa. 17. 7 , 8. The Carpenter encouraged the Gold-smith ( or , founder ) , &c. shew the things to come hereafter , that we may know that ye are gods : yea , do good , or do evil , &c. Behold , ye are nothing ( or , worse than nothing ) , and your works of nought : an abomination , &c. their molten-images are wind and confusions , Isa. 41. 7 , 23 , 24 , 29. I am the Lord , that is my name ; my glory will I not give to another , neither my praise to graven-images , &c. they shall be turned back : they shall be greatly ashamed who trust in graven-images : who say to the molten-images , Ye are our gods , Isa. 42. 8 , 17. They who make graven-images , are all of them vanity , &c. they see not , nor know , that they may be ashamed : Who hath formed a god , or molten a graven-image , which is profitable for nothing ? behold , all his fellows shall be ashamed , and the workmen , &c. they shall be ashamed together , &c. The Carpenter , &c. heweth down Cedars , &c. he will take thereof and warm himself : yea , he kindleth it , and baketh bread : yea , he maketh a god and worshippeth it : he maketh it a graven-image , and falleth down thereto : he burneth part thereof in fire , &c. and the residue thereof he maketh a god ; his graven-image , he falleth down and worshippeth it , and prayeth unto it , and saith , Deliver me , for thou art my God , &c. None considereth in his heart , neither is there knowledg or understanding to say , I have burnt part of it in the fire , &c. and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination ? shall I fall down to the stock of ( or , that which comes from ) a tree ? Isa. 44. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. They shall be ashamed , and also confounded all of them : they shall go to confusions together , who are makers of Idols , &c. they have no knowledg who set up the wood of their graven-image , and pray unto a god who cannot save , Isa. 45. 16 , 20. To whom will ye liken me , & c ? they lavish gold out of the bag , &c. hire a Goldsmith , and he maketh it a god : and they fall down , yea , they worship : they bear him upon the shoulder , they carry him and set him in his place : and he standeth , &c. yea , one shall cry to him , yet can he not answer , nor save him out of his trouble , Isa. 46. 5 , 6 , 7. I have even from the beginning declared , &c. lest thou shouldst say , Mine Idol hath done them : and my graven-image , and my molten-image hath commanded them , Isa. 48. 5. A people who provoke me to anger continually to my face : who sacrificeth in gardens , and burneth incense upon altars of brick , &c. Isa. 65. 3 , 4. Jer. 1. 16. Hath a nation changed their gods , which are yet no gods ? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit , &c. The house of Israel ashamed , &c. saying to a stock , Thou art my father ; and to a stone , thou hast brought me forth , &c. but where are thy gods which thou hast made thee ? let them arise , if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble : for according to the number of thy Cities , are thy gods , O Judah , Jer. 2. 10 , 11 , 26 , 27 , 28. chap. 11. 12 , 13. Israel is gone up upon every high mountain , and under every green tree : and there playeth the harlot , &c. her treacherous sister Judah feared not , but went and played the harlot also , &c. committed adultery with stones and with stocks , Jer. 3. 6 , 8 , 9. Seest thou what they do in the Cities of Judah , and in the streets of Jerusalem ? the children gather wood , and the fathers kindle a fire : and the women knead their dough to make cakes to the Queen of heaven , and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods , that they may provoke me to anger , Jer. 7. 17 , 18. They are altogether brutish and foolish : the stock is a doctrine of vanities : silver spread into plate , &c. but the Lord is the true God , &c. The gods who have not made the heavens and the earth , they shall perish from the earth , and from under these heavens , &c. every founder is confounded by the graven-image : for his molten-image is falshood , and there is no breath in them : they are vanity , and the work of errors , Jer. 10. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 15. Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain ? Jer. 14. 22. The Gentiles shall come , &c. and say , Surely our fathers have inherited lyes , vanity , and things wherein is no profit : shall a man make gods unto himself , and they are no gods ? Jer. 16. 19 , 20. Then all the men who knew that their wives had burnt incense unto other gods : and all the women who stood by , &c. answered Jeremy , saying , &c. We will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth , to burn incense unto the Queen of heaven , and to pour out drink-offerings unto her , as we have done , we and our fathers , our kings and our princes , in the Cities of Judah , and in the streets of Jerusalem : for then had we plenty , &c. so the Lord could no longer bear , &c. Jer. 44. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. I am broken with their whorish heart which have departed from me , and with their eyes which go a whoring after their Idols , &c. Ezek. 6. 9. These men have set up their Idols in their hearts , and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face : should I be enquired of at all by them , & c ? I the Lord will answer him according to the multitude of his Idols , &c. I the Lord will answer him by my self , Ezek. 14. 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. Hosea 2. 2 , 3 , 4. The unsatiable idolatry of Jerusalem , with all nations , Ezek. 16. 15 , 16 , &c. I will do these things unto thee , because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen : because thou art polluted with their Idols , Ezek. 23. 30. Such of the Levites who had offered before Idols , God refused afterwards , that they should offer any more unto him , Ezek. 44. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. The Image of Nebuchadnezzar set up , Dan. 3. My people ask counsel at their stock , and their staff declareth unto them : for the spirit of whoredoms have caused them to err , and they have gone a whoring from under their God ; they sacrifice upon the top of mountains , and burn incense upon the hills , under Oaks , &c. Ephraim is joyned to Idols , let him alone , Hosea 4. 12 , 13 , 17. Of their silver and their gold have they made them Idols , that they may be cut off : thy calf , O Samaria , hath cast thee off : mine anger is kindled , &c. The workman made it , therefore it is not God : but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces , for they have sown the wind , Hosea 8. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. According to the multitude of his fruit , he hath increased the altars : according unto the goodness of his land , they have made goodly Images : their heart is divided : now they shall be found faulty ; he shall break down their altars : he shall spoil their Images , Hosea 10. 1 , 2. And now they sin more and more , and have made them molten-images of their silver , and Idols according to their own understanding ; all of it the work of the crafts-men : they say of them , Let the men who sacrifice , kiss the calves : therefore they shall be as the morning-cloud , &c. Hosea 13. 2 , 3. For their Idols have spoken vanity , and the Diviners have seen a lye , and have told false dreams , &c. Zechar. 10. 2. Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord , which he loved ( or , ought to love ) and hath married the daughter of a strange god , Malachi 2. 11. The people said , &c. The gods are come down unto us in the likeness of men : and they called Barnabas , Jupiter ; and Paul , Mercurius ; because he was the chief speaker : Then the priest of Jupiter , &c. brought oxen and garlands unto the gates , and would have done sacrifice with the people : which when the Apostles , Barnabas and Paul heard of , they rent their cloaths , and ran in among the people , crying out , and saying , Sirs , What do ye in these things ? We are also men of like passions with you , and preach unto you , that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God who made heaven and earth , &c. Acts 14. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 18. We write unto them , that they stay from the pollutions of Idols , Acts 15. 20 , 29 Paul , &c. at Athens , his spirit was stirred within him , when he saw the City wholly given to Idolatry ( or , full of Idols ) : therefore disputed he in the Synagogue , &c. Ye men of Athens , I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious : for , as I past by and beheld your devotions ( or , gods whom ye worship ) , I found an altar with this inscription , To the unknown God : Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship , &c. Forasmuch then as we are the off-spring of God , we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold , or silver , or stone , graven by art , or mans device , Acts 17. 16 , 17 , 22 , 23 , 29. Demetrius said , This Paul hath perswaded and turned away much people , saying , That they be no gods which are made with hands : so that not only this our craft is in danger , &c. but also , that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised , and her magnificence should be destroyed , whom all Asia and the world worshippeth , &c. Great is Diana of the Ephesians , &c. the Image which fell down from Jupiter , Acts 19. 26 , 27 , 28 , 34 , 35. When they knew God , they glorified him not as God , &c. but became vain in their imaginations , &c. and changed the glory of the invisible God , into an image made like to corruptible man , and to birds , &c. who changed the truth of God into a lye , and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator , Rom. 1. 21 , 23 , 25. chap. 2. 22. Thou who abhorrest Idols , dost thou commit sacriledg ? Rom. 2. 22. We know that an Idol is nothing in the World , and that there is none other God but one : for though there be that are called gods ( whether in heaven or earth ) , as there be gods many , and lords many : but to us there is but one God , &c. 1 Cor. 8. 4 , 5 , 6. Neither be ye Idolaters , as were some of them : as it is written , The people sat down to eat and drink , and rose up to play , &c. My dearly beloved , flee from Idolatry , &c. What say I then , that the Idol is any thing ? or that which is offered in sacrifice , is any thing ? but I say , That the things which the Gentiles sacrifice , they sacrifice to devils , and not to God : and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils , 1 Cor. 10. 7 , 14 , 19 , 20. Ye know that ye were Gentiles , carryed away unto these dumb Idols , 1 Cor. 12. 2. How ye turned to God from Idols , to serve the living and true God , 1 Thess. 1. 9. Little children , keep your selves from Idols , 1 John 5. 21. And the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues , yet repented not of the works of their hands , that they should not worship devils , and Idols of gold , and silver , and brass , and stone , and wood , which neither can see , nor hear , nor walk , Rev. 9. 20. See worshipping of the true God , Chap. 16. CHAP. XLI . Of Angels appearing to men : What they are , and do . AND the Angel of the Lord found Hagar by a fountain of water , &c. And the Angel of the Lord said unto her , Return to thy mistress , &c. I will multiply thy seed exceedingly , &c. Gen. 16. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Three men appeared to Abraham : his discourse with them , and entertaining of them , Gen. 18. And there came two Angels to Sodom at even , &c. and Lot seeing them , rose up to meet them : and he bowed himself with his face towards the ground , &c. but the men put forth their hands , and pulled Lot into the house , &c. and they smote the men who were at the door , with blindness , &c. And the men said unto Lot , Hast thou here any beside ? son in law , & c ? for we will destroy this place , &c. The Angels hastned Lot , &c. and while he lingred , the men laid hold upon his hand , &c. When they had brought them out abroad , that he said , Escape for thy life , &c. And Lot said unto them , O not so , my Lord , &c. And he said unto him , See , I have accepted thee concerning this thing , &c. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom , and upon Gomorrah , &c. Gen. 19. 1 , 2 , 3 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 21 , 24. And the Angel of God called unto Hagar out of heaven , and said unto her , What aileth thee , Hagar ? Fear not , for God hath heard thy voice , Gen. 21. 17 And the Angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven , and said , Abraham , Abraham , &c. Lay not thine hand upon the lad , &c. And the Angel of the Lord called unto Abraham the second time , out of heaven , Gen. 22. 11 , 12 , 15. Abraham said unto his servant , The Lord God of heaven , &c. he shall send his Angel before thee , and thou shalt take a wife unto my son , &c. Gen. 24. 6 , 7. The Angel of God spake unto Jacob in a dream , &c. said , For I have seen all that Laban doth unto thee : I am the God of Bethel , &c. where thou vowedst a vow unto me , &c. Gen. 31. 11 , 12 , 13. And Jacob went on his way , and the Angels of God met him : and when Jacob saw them , he said , This is Gods Host , &c. And Jacob was left alone , ●…nd there wrestled a man with him , &c. And Jacob said , I have seen God 〈◊〉 to face , and my life is preserved , Gen. 32. 1 , 2 , 24 , 30. 〈◊〉 the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Moses in a flame of fire out of th●… 〈◊〉 of the bush , &c. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see , God called unto him out of the midst of the bush , &c. said , I am the God of thy father , &c. Exod. 3. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. And the Angel of the Lord who went before the Camp of Israel , removed , and went behind them : and the pillar of the cloud , &c. Gen. 14. 19 , 20. Behold , I send an Angel before thee to keep thee in the way , &c. for mine Angel shall go before thee , and bring thee in unto the Amorite , Exod. 23. 20 , 23. chap. 32. 34. chap. 33. 2. He heard our voice , and sent an Angel , and brought us forth out of Egypt , Numb . 20. 16. God was angry with Balaam , because he went : and the Angel of the Lord stood in the way , for an adversary against him , &c. And the ass ( upon which he rode ) saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way , and his sword drawn in his hand : and the ass turned aside , &c. But the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyard , &c. And when the ass saw the Angel of the Lord , she thrust her self unto the wall , &c. And the Angel of the Lord went farther , and stood in a narrow place , &c. and when the ass saw the Angel of the Lord , she fell down under Balaam , &c. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam , and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way , and his sword drawn in his hand : and he bowed down his head , and fell flat on his face , &c. And the Angel of the Lord said unto Balaam , &c. The word which I shall speak unto thee , that thou shalt speak , Numb . 22. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35. When Joshua was by Jericho , &c. behold , there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand : And Joshua went unto him , and said unto him , Art thou for us , or for our adversaries ? And he said , Nay , but as Captain ( or , Prince ) of the Host of the Lord , am I come . And Joshua fell on his face unto the earth , and did worship , and said unto him , What saith my Lord unto his servant , & c ? Joshua 5. 13 , 14 , 15. Curse ye Meroz ( said the Angel of the Lord , &c. ) because they came , &c. Judges 5. 23. And there came an Angel of the Lord , and sat under an Oak , &c. appeared unto Gideon , and said unto him , The Lord is with thee , &c. And Gideon said unto him , Oh my Lord , &c. The Lord said unto him , Surely , I will be with thee , &c. And the Angel of God said unto him , Take thee flesh , &c. and lay them upon this rock , &c. Then the Angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff , and touched the flesh , &c. And when Gideon perceived that he was an Angel of the Lord , Gideon said , Alas , O Lord God , for , because I have seen an Angel of the Lord face to face , &c. Thou shalt not die , &c. Judges 6. 11 , 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah his wife , &c. When Manoah knew that he was an Angel of the Lord , he said unto his wife , We shall surely die , because we have seen God , &c. Judges 13. 3 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 13 , 16 , 18 , 21 , 22. When the Angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it : the Lord repented him of the evil , 2 Sam. 24. 16. The Angel of the Lord came to Elijah , and gave him food , &c. 1 Kings 19. 5 , 6 , 7. The Angel of the Lord went out and smote the Camp of the Assyrians , one hundred fourscore and five thousand , 2 Kings 19. 35. Isa. 37. 36. His Angels he charged with folly , Job 4. 18. Let the Angel of the Lord chase them , &c. Persecute them , Psal. 35. 5 , 6. The Charets of God are twenty thousand : even thousands ( or , many thousands ) of Angels , Psal. 68. 17. Man did eat Angels food , &c. He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger , &c. by sending evil angels amongst them , Psal. 78. 25 , 49. For he shall give his Angels charge over thee , to keep thee in all thy ways : they shall bear thee up in their hands , lest thou dash thy foot against a stone , Psal. 91. 11 , 12. Matth. 4. 6. Bless the Lord ye his Angels , who excel in strength : who do his command , Psal. 103. 20 , 21. Who maketh his Angels spirits , and his ministers a flame of fire , Psal. 104. 4. Heb. 1. 7. Neither say thou before the Angel , that it was an error , Eccles. 5. 6. The Angel of his presence saved them , Isa. 63. 9. The Angel talked with Zechariah , Zech. 1. 8 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. chap. 2. 3. chap. 4. chap. 5. Joshua the High-priest , standing before the Angel of the Lord , &c. And the Lord said to Satan , The Lord rebuke thee , &c. And the Angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua , &c. Zechar. 3. 1 , 2 , 3 , 6. The Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream , saying , Joseph , Fear not , Matth. 1. 20. Again , the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream , saying , &c. Matth. 2. 13. The Devil leaving Christ , behold , Angels came and ministred unto him , &c. Matth. 4. 11. The reapers are the Angels , &c. The Son of man shall send forth his Angels , and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things which offend , &c. At the end of the World , the Angels shall come forth , and sever the wicked from among the just , Matth. 13. 39 , 41 , 49. Despise not one of these little ones : for I say unto you , In heaven their Angels do behold the face of my father which is in heaven , Matth. 18. 10. And he shall send his Angels , &c. and they shall gather together his elect , &c. but of that day and hour knoweth no man : no , not the Angels of heaven , Matth. 24. 31 , 36. He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of Angels , Matth. 26. 53. The Angel of the Lord descended from heaven , and came and rolled back the stone from the door , and sat upon it : his countenance was like lightning , and his rayment as white as snow : and for fear of him the keepers did shake , and became as dead men : And the Angel answered and said unto the women , Fear not ye , for I know that ye seek Jesus , &c. he is not here , for he is risen . Mary saw-two Angels in white , sitting one at the head , and the other at the feet , Matth. 28. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. Acts 6. 15. John 20. 12. There appeared unto Zacharias an Angel of the Lord , &c. who said unto him , Fear not , &c. I am Gabriel who stand in the presence of God , and am sent to speak unto thee , &c. The Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a City , &c. to a Virgin , &c. Luke 1. 11 , 12 , 13 , 19 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 35. There were shepherds abiding in the field , &c. and lo the Angel of the Lord came upon them , &c. And the Angel of the Lord said unto them , Fear not , for behold , I bring you good tidings , &c. and suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly Host , praising God , and saying , Glory to God in the Highest , Luke 2. 8 , 9 , 10 , 13 , 14. There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth , Luke 15. 10. Ye shall see heaven open , and the Angels of God afcending , and descending upon the Son of man , John 1. 51. The people , &c. said , That it thundered : Others said , An Angel spake to him , &c. John 12. 29. The Angel of the Lord by night opened the Prison-doors , and brought them forth , Acts 8. 19. Who hath received the law by the disposition of Angels , and have not , &c. Acts 7. 53. And the Angel of the Lord spake unto Philip , saying , Arise , and go towards , &c. Acts 3. 26 , 27. An Angel of God appeared to Cornelius , Acts 10. 3 , 7. The Angel of the Lord came upon Peter in prison , and led him out , &c. Then said they , It is his Angel , &c. The Angel of God smote Herod , Acts 12. 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 15 , 23. The Sadduces say there is no resurrection , Angel , nor spirit , Acts 23. 8 , 9. Know ye not , that we shall judg Angels ? 1 Cor. 6. 3. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head , because of the Angels , 1 Cor. 11. 10. When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels , 2 Thess. 1. 7. I charge thee before God , &c. and the elect Angels , 1 Tim. 5. 21. Of the Angels he saith , Who maketh his Angels spirits , &c. Are they not all ministring spirits , sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ? Heb. 1. 7 , 14. Ye are come unto mount Sion , &c. to an innumerable company of Angels , Heb. 12. 22. Which things the Angels desire to look into , 1 Pet. 1. 12. If God spared not the Angels who sinned , but cast them down to hell , and delivered them into chains of darkness , to be reserved unto judgment , &c. whereas Angels who are greater in power and might , bring not railing , &c. 2 Pet. 2. 4 , 11. The revelation of Jesus Christ , &c. He sent and signified by his Angel to his servant John , Rev. 1. 1. The Angels sealing of the servants of God. The Angel sounding , &c. Rev. 7. chap. 8. chap. 9. chap. 10. CHAP. XLII . Of the Parables and the Similitudes which Christ spake . CHrist likened those who did hear the word , and do it , to a man who built his house upon a rock , &c. and those who heard , and did not do , unto a man who built his house on the sands , &c. Matth. 7. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29. Luke 6. 47 , 48 , &c. The Parable of the sower , and the seed . Of the tares sowed amongst the good seed . Of the mustard-seed . Of the leaven hid in the meal . Of the hidden treasure . Of the precious pearl . Of the net cast into the sea , and gathering all kinds , Matth. 13. 18 , 24 , 31 , 33 , 44 , 45. Mark 4. Luke 8. 5. chap. 13. 18. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man who is an housholder , who sent labourers into his vineyard at several hours , and paid them all alike , Matth. 20. 1 , 2 , 3 , to the 17. A certain man had two sons : he said to one , Go work in my vineyard : and he said , I will not ; but afterwards repented , and went : and he came to the second , and said likewise : and he said , I go , Sir , and went not : Whether of these two did the will of his father ? The Parable of the man who planted a vineyard , and hedged it , &c. expect fruit , but the husbandmen beat the servants , and killed some : and at last , his son , &c. Matth. 21. 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40. Luke 20. 9. The Parable of the marriage of the kings son : those who were bidden , made light , went to their farms , &c. The king sent his servants into the high-ways , and bid . The man without a wedding-garment , Matth. 22. 1 , 2 , 3 , to the 14. Luke 14. 16 , 17 , &c. The Parable of the ten Virgins . Of the talents delivered unto the servants to be improved , Matth. 25. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , to the 30. Luke 19. 12. Can the children of the Bridechamber fast while the Bridegroom is with them , & c ? No man also seweth a new piece of cloth into an old garment , &c. No man putteth new wine into old bottles , Mark 2. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. Luke 5. 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39. Why beholdest thou the mote in thy brothers eye , & c ? A good tree bringeth forth good fruit , &c. Luke 6. 41 , 42 , 43 , 44. A certain Creditor had two debtors : the one ought 500 pence , the other 50 : and when they had nothing to pay , he freely forgave them both , &c. Which will love most , & c ? He to whom he forgave most , &c. Her sins which are many , are forgiven , for she loved much : but to whom little , &c. Luke 7. 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47. No man lighteth a candle to put it under a bushel , Luke 8. 16. The similitude of the man going to Jericho , fell among thieves , was wounded : the Priest and Levite pass by , helped not : the Samaritan had compassion , and took care of him : this was his neighbour , Luke 10. 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37. When the strong man armed keepeth his palace , his goods are in peace : but when a stronger than he shall come upon him , &c. Luke 11. 21 , 22. The rich man said , I have no room , &c. I will pull down my barns , and build greater , &c. Take thy ease , &c. This night thy soul shall be taken , &c. Luke 12. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. The Parable of the fig-tree planted in the vineyard , which brought no fruit , &c. Cut it down , &c. let it alone this year also , &c. Luke 13. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Who goeth about to build a Tower , and considereth not what it will cost ? or , What king goeth out to war , and considereth not , & c ? Luke 14. 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32. The Parable of the lost sheep . Of the lost piece of silver . Of the prodigal son , Luke 15. 3 , 8 , 11 , 12 , &c. The Parable of the unjust steward . Of the rich glutton , and poor Lazarus , Luke . 16. 1 , 2 , &c. 19 , 20 , &c. The Parable of the importunate Widow , with the unjust Judg. Of the Pharisee and the Publican going into the temple to pray , Luke 18. 1 , 2 , 9 , 10 , 11 , &c. CHAP. XLIII . Of the Miracles , and the wonderful things which were done by Christ and his Apostles . HE healed all diseases , and such as were possessed with devils , Matth. 4. 24. Christ cured the leprous man : healed the Centurions servant of the palsie . Peters mother-in-law of a fever . Stilleth the tempest on the sea . Driveth out the devils out of the two men possessed among the Gergezens , Matth. 8. 2 , 3 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 26 , 28 , &c. Mark 5. 2. Luke 4. 33 , 39. Luke 5. 12 , 13. chap. 8. 1 , 2. He cured the sick of the palsie , whom they brought on a bed to him . The woman who had the bloody-issue , cured by touching his garment . Raised from the dead Jairus daughter : giveth sight to two blind m●…n : healeth a dumb man possessed of a devil , Matth. 9. 2 , 6 , 7 , 20 , 25 , 28 , 32. Mark 2. 3 , 4. Luke 8. 44. Mark 9. 20. He cured the withered hand , Matth. 12. 10 , 13. The five loaves , and the two fishes , wherewith he fed 5000. He walked on the sea , Matth. 14. 15 , 16 , 25. Luke 9. 12. John 6. 5 , 6. He cured the daughter of the woman of Canaan , who was vexed with a devil : He cured multitudes : With seven loaves and a few little fishes he fed four thousand men , besides women and children , Matth. 15. 21 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 34. He cured the lunatick , Matth. 17. 15 , 16. He cureth two other blind men , Matth. 20. 30 , &c. He said unto the fig-tree , Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever : and presently the fig-tree withered away , Matth. 21. 19. He cast out the unclean spirit , Mark 1. 23. He cured the blind man with spittle , Mark 8. 22 , 23. The miraculous number of fish taken by Peter and his company when Christ had commanded them to take their net , and cast it into the sea , Luke 5. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. He healed the Centurions servant : raised the Widows only son from the dead , when they were carrying him to be buried , Luke 7. 2 , 3 , &c. 11 , 12 , 13 , &c. He made the woman straight , who had by reason of an infirmity been bowed , and could not stand up , Luke 13. 11 , 12 , 13. He cured a man of a dropsie , Luke 14. 2 , 3 , 4. Christ healed the ear with a touch , which the disciples had cut off , Luke 22. 51. Christ healed ten lepers , Luke 17. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. He restored sight to another blind man , Luke 81. 41 , 42 , 43. He turned water into wine , at the marriage-feast in Cana , John 2. 7 , 8 , 9. He healed the noble-mans son by his word , which the noble man believed : and found that his child mended the same hour Christ spake , John 4. 47 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53. He cured the man who had had an infirmity 36 years , and had waited long at the pool , and could not get in , John 5. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. He restored sight to the man who was born blind : he anointed his eyes with clay and spittle , and bid him wash , &c. John 9. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. He raised Lazarus from the dead , after he had been laid in his grave , John 11. 43 , 44. He caused Peter and other disciples to cast their net into the sea , and they took a miraculous number of fishes , John 21. 6 , 7 , 8. Many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles , Acts 2. 43. chap. 14. 3. Peter raised up the lame man , who had lain at the temple-gate , Acts 3. 2 , 6 , 7. Ananias and Saphira , both at the Apostles word fell down dead , &c. And by the hands of the Apostles , were many signs and wonders wrought , &c. they brought sick folks , and them who were vexed with unclean spirits : and they were healed every one , Acts 5. 9 , 10 , 12 , 15 , 16. Philip did many miracles : cast out unclean spirits , healed palsies and lame , Acts 8. 6 , 7. Peter healed Aeneas of the palsie , and raised Dorcas from the dead , Acts 9. 34 , 40 , 41. Paul cured the cripple at Lystra , who had been lame from his mothers womb , Acts 14. 8 , 9 , 10. Paul cast out the spirit of divination out of the maid , Acts 16. 16 , 17 , 18. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul , so that from his body were brought to the sick handkercheifs , &c. and the diseases departed from them , and the evil spirits went out of them , Acts 19. 11 , 12. Paul raised Eutichus from the dead , when he had fallen down from the window , Acts 20. 9 , 10. Paul healed the father of Publius of his fever and bloody-flix , and others , Acts 28. 8 , 9. CHAP. XLIV . Of the Kings of Israel and Judah : How they came to their Power and Office. GIdeon had judged Israel : he had seventy sons . Abimelech one of the sons of Gideon by his servant ( by subtilty with the men of Shechem , that it was better one should reign than all the seventy sons ) , procures money , hires vain and light persons , and kills all his brethren ( except Jotham the youngest , who hid himself ) . Abimelech by the men of Shechem and the house of Millo , made King. After a few years he was slain by a piece of milstone a woman threw down on him : after whom Judges governed a long time , till Samuel , Judges 9. Israel by the Elders came to Samuel , and said , Make us a King to judg us , like all the nations : and though God was displeased at it , and said , They had rejected not Samuel , but God himself , that he should not reign over them : yet he bids Samuel hearken unto them , and make them a King , 1 Sam. 8. Samuel , before Saul came , was told of God of his coming : and that he should be the man whom he should ano●…nt king . Samuel anoints him king accordingly , 1 Sam. 9. chap. 10. According to this afterwards , all the people went to Gilgal : and there they made Saul king before the Lord , 1 Sam. 11. 14 , 15. Samuel said to Saul , When thou wast little in thine own sight , wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel , and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel , & c ? Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord , he hath rejected thee from being king , 1 Sam. 15. 17 , 23. Samuel , by Gods special direction , anointed David the son of Jesse to be king ( although Saul was yet living ) : and the spirit left Saul , and came upon David , 1 Sam. 16. 1 , 12 , 13 , 14. And after Sauls death , the men of Judah came to Hebron , and there they anointed David king over Judah : but Abner made Ishbosheth the son of Saul king over all Israel , 2 Sam. 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 , 9. After the death of Ishbosheth ( being slain ) , came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron , &c. And all the Elders of Israel came , &c. and king David made a league with them : and they anointed David king over Israel , 2 Sam. 5. 1 , 2 , 3. Adonijah , David his son , being about to set up himself , David sets up Solomon , 1 Kings 1. 5 , 6 , &c. God s●…id to Solomon , Thou hast not kept my covenant , &c. I will surely rend the kingdom from thee , and will give it to thy servant , &c. Ahijah the Prophet told Jeroboam , That God would give ten tribes unto him , and take the kingdom out of the hands of Solomons son , and give ten tribes unto him : Solomon died , Rehoboam reigned in his stead , 1 Kings 11. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 43. All Israel came to Shechem to make Rehoboam king ; the people proposing ease , and Rehoboam refusing to grant it , ( the cause was from the Lord , that he might perform what he had said ) , ten tribes fell off from him . And when all Israel had heard that Jeroboam was come again , they sent and called him to the congregation , and made him king over all Israel . When Rehoboam intended by sorce to reduce them , God forbid it , and said , This thing is from me : only Judah subjected to Rehoboam , 1 Kings 12. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24. Go tell Jeroboam , thus saith the Lord God of Israel , Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people , and made thee Prince over my people Israel , and rent the kingdom away from the house of David , and gave it unto thee , &c. Jeroboam died , and Nadab his son reigned in his stead over Israel . Rehoboam died , and Abijam his son reigned in his stead over Judah , 1 Kings 14. 7 , 8 , 20 , 31. Abijam died , and Asa his son reigned over Judah . Asa died , and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead over Judah . Baasha conspired against Nadab king of Israel , and smote him , and reigned in his stead over Israel , 1 Kings 15. 8 , 24 , 26 , 27 , 28. The word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hananiah against Baasha , saying , Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust , and made thee Prince over my people Israel , and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam : Behold , I will take away the posterity of Baasha , &c. Baasha died , Elah his son reigned in his stead . Zimri , one of Elah his servants , conspired against him , and smote him , and killed him , and reigned in his stead over Israel . But when Israel being in the Camp , heard of it , they made Omri the Captain of the Host , king that day in the Camp of Israel . Zimri is burnt . Then half the people followed Tibni to make him king : and half followed Omri . Tibni died , and Omri prevailed and reigned : he died , and Ahab his son reigned in his stead , 1 Kings 16. 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 16 , 18 , 21 , 22 , 28. God appointed Elijah to anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel ( Ahab being then alive ) , 1 Kings 19. 16. Ahab the king of Israel was slain in the battel , and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead over Israel . Jehoshaphat king of Judah died , and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead over Judah , 1 Kings 22. 34 , 35 , 40 , 50. Ahaziah the king of Israel died , and Jehoram reigned in his stead over Israel , because he had no son , 2 Kings 1. 17. Joram ( otherwise Jehoram ) the king of Judah died , and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead over Judah , 2 Kings 8. 24 , 25. Elisha sent one of the children of the Prophets to Jehu the Captain of the host of Israel , to anoint him king over Israel ( Jehoram the king being yet living in Jezreel , and wounded ) : when the young man anointed him , he said , Thus saith the Lord God of Israel , I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord , even over Israel : and thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master , that I may avenge , &c. Then the army proclaimed him king : then Jehu killed Jehoram king of Israel , &c. and also Ahaziah the king of Judah was slain by Jehu , 2 Kings 9. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 13 , 14 , 24 , 27. And the Lord said unto Jehu , Because thou hast done well in executing that which was right in mine eyes : and hast done unto the house of Ahab according unto all which was in my heart , thy children of the fourth generaration shall sit on the throne of Israel . Jehu died , and Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead , over Israel , 2 Kings 10. 30 , 35. — Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw her son was dead , she killed the blood-royal ( except Joash who was hid ) and reigned over Judah . Jehojada caused Jehoash ( or , Joash ) to be made king , and sit upon the throne , and Athaliah to be slain , 2 Kings 11. Jehoash was slain by two of his servants who conspired against him ; and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead over Judah , 2 Kings 12. 20 , 21. Jehoahaz dyed , and Joash his son reigned in his stead over Israel . Joash dyed , and Jeroboam sat upon his throne over Israel , 2 Kings 13 9 , 13. chap. 14. 16. They made a conspiracy against Amaziah , and slew him . And the people of Judah took Azariah his son , and made him king over Judah . Jeroboam king of Israel dyed , and Zachariah his son reigned over Israel , 2 Kings 14. 19 , 20 , 21 , 29. Azariah king of Judah dyed , and Jotham his son reigned in his stead . Shallum conspired against Zachariah king of Israel , and slew him before the people , and reigned in his stead , 2 Kings 15. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Menahem smote Shallum king of Israel , and slew him , and reigned in his stead . Menahem dyed , and Pekaliah his son reigned in his stead over Israel . Pekah , one of his Captains conspired against him , smote him , killed him and others , and reigned in his room over Israel . Hoshea made a conspiracy against Pekah king of Israel , and smote him , and slew him , and reigned in his stead . Jotham the king of Judah dyed , and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead , 2 Kings 15. 13 , 14 , 22 , 25 , 30 , 38. Ahaz king of Judah dyed , Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead over Judah , 2 Kings 16. 20. And Hezekiah slept with his fathers , and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead over Judah , 2 Kings 20. 21. Manasseh the king of Judah dyed , and Amon his son reigned in his stead . The servants of Amon king of Judah conspired against him , and slew the king in his own house . The people of the land slew the Conspirators , and made Josiah the son of Amon king in his stead : he reigned over Judah , 2 Kings 21. 18 , 23 , 24 , 26. Josiah is slain by Pharaoh king of Egypt ; the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and anointed him , and made him king in his fathers stead . Pharoah puts Jehoahaz out , and set up Eliakim Jehoahaz his son in his stead , and called him Jehoiakim , 2 Kings 23. 29 , 30 , 33 , 34. Jehoiakim dyed , and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead over Judah . Jehoiachin is carryed away captive to Babylon : and the king of Babylon made Mattaniah king in his stead , and called him Zedekiah , 2 Kings 24. 6 , 15 , 17. Zedekiah the King , and all carryed captive , 2 Kings 25. See Magistrates . Chap. 24. CHAP. XLV . Of Sacrifices and Altars , and calling upon the name of the Lord , before the giving of the Law. CAin brought of the fruits of the ground an offering unto the Lord : and Abel he also brought of the firstlings of his flock , and of the fat thereof : and the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering , but unto Cain and his offering he had not respect , &c. Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord , Gen. 4. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 26. Noah builded an altar unto the Lord : and took of every clean beast , and of every clean fowl , and offered burnt-offerings on the altar : and the Lord smelled a sweet savour ( or , a savour of rest ) , Gen. 8. 20 , 21. And the Lord appeared unto Abram , and said , Unto thy seed will I give this land : and there builded he an altar unto the Lord , who appeared unto him , &c. and he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel , and pitched his tent , &c. and there builded an altar unto the Lord , and called upon the name of the Lord , Gen. 12. 7 , 8. Afterwards , when Abram came again to the place on the east of Bethel , unto the place of the altar which he had made there at first : and there Abram called upon the name of the Lord , &c. Then Abram removed his tent , and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre , &c. and builded there an altar to the Lord , Gen. 13. 3 , 4 , 18. Abram planted a grove ( or , a tree ) in Beersheba , and called there on the name of the Lord , the everlasting God , Gen. 21. 33. Isaac said , Here is the fire and the wood , but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering , & c ? Abram built an altar there , and laid the wood in order : and bound Isaac his son , and laid him on the altar on the wood , &c. Then Abram took the ram and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son , Gen. 22. 7 , 8 , 9 , 13. The Lord appeared unto Isaac at Beersheba , and he builded an altar there , and called upon the name of the Lord : and pitched his tent there , Gen. 26. 24 , 25. Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount when Laban came to him , Gen. 31. 54. And Jacob came to Shalem , and pitched his tent before the City : and he erected there an altar , and called it El-Elohe-Israel , ( that is , God , the God of Israel ) , Gen. 33. 18 , 19 , 20. And God said unto Jacob , Arise , go up to Bethel and dwell there , and make there an altar unto God , who appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother . Then Jacob said unto his houshold , and unto all who were with him , &c. Let us arise and go up unto Bethel , and I will make there an altar unto God , who answered me in the day of my distress , &c. And he built there an altar , and called the place El-Bethel , &c. ( the God of Bethel ) , Gen. 35 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7. And Israel took his journey with all that he had , and came to Beersheba , and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Jacob , Gen. 46. 1. Moses directed of God to say unto Pharoah , Let us go , we beseech thee , three days journey into the wilderness , that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God , Exod. 3. 18. And Moses built an altar , and called the name of it Jehovah-Nissi ( that is , the Lord my Banner ) : for he said , Because the Lord hath sworn , that the Lord will have war with Amalek , &c. Exod. 17. 14 , 15 , 16. And Jethro Moses father-in-law took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God , Exod. 18. 12. God , when he had given the law upon mount Sinai : he then did command the building of an altar , and the offering of sacrifices , Exod. 20. 24 , 25 , 26. FINIS .