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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, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son.1 Thess. i. 3—6. 9, 10.

preached, and I therein do rejoice, God. For our gospel came not unto yea, and will rejoice.-Phil.i. 15-18. We are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, &c. What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ: yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the ex- The word of God, which effectually cellency of the knowledge of Christ worketh also in you that believe: for Jesus, my Lord, &c. that I may know ye, brethren, became followers of the him, and the power of his resurrec- churches of God, which in Judea are tion, being made conformable unto in Christ Jesus: for ye also have his death, if by any means I might suffered like things of your own counattain unto the resurrection of the trymen.-1 Thess. ii. 13, 14. dead: not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, &c. but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark, &c. Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded, &c. Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, &c.-Phil. iii. 3. 7,8. 10-15. 20.

I have learned in whatsoever estate I am, therewith to be content. I know both 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 suffer need: I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.-Phil. iv. 11—13.

And bringeth forth fruits, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth. -Col. i. 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 knowledge, after the image of him that created him.-Col. iii. 1, 2. 9, 10.

Ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief: ye are all the children of the light, &c.-1 Thess. v. 4, 5.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, &c. who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, &c. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief. —1 Tim. i. 12, 13. 15.

Let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity.— 2 Tim. ii. 19.

A peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus ii. 14. Eph. ii. 10.

He that is entered into his rest, hath ceased from his own works.Heb. iv. 10.

They who believe, desire a better country; that is, an heavenly, &c. Moses, &c. choosing 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. xi. 16. 24-26.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which, no man shall see the Lord.—Heb. xii. 14.

We trust we have a good conscience in all things, willing to live honestly. -Heb. xii. 18.

Remembering without ceasing your If any man among you seem to be work of faith and labour of love, &c. religious, and bridleth not his tongue, knowing, beloved, your election of but deceiveth his own heart, this

man's religion is vain. Pure religion, ful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus: but he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, &c.-2 Pet. i. 4-9.

and undefiled, before God and the Father, is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James i. 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.-James ii. 14. 17, 18. 26.

Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge 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 that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated; full of mercy, and good fruits, with out partiality, and without hypocrisy: and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, &c.-James iii. 13-18.

Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, ye love, &c. Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth, unto unfeigned love of the brethren.-1 Pet. i. 7, 8. 22. Cant. i. 3, 4.

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 praises (or virtues) of him who hath called you, &c.-1 Pet. ii. 2,3.9. Luke x. 39. 42. 2 Pet. iii. 18.

The time past 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. iv. 3,4.

Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, &c. for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruit

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 their unlawful deeds.-2 Pet. ii. 7,8. Ps. cxix. 53. 126. 136. 158.-Jer. ix. 1, 2. xiii. 17.

God is light, &c. If ye say, we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, &c. But if we walk in the light, &c. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.-1 John i. 5-8.

Hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He who saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him, &c. He that abideth in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked, &c. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now: he that loveth his brother, abideth in the light, &c. If any man love 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 that doth righteousness is born of God.-1 John ii. 3. 4. 6. 9— 11. 15. 29.

And

We shall see him as he is. every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even 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 he that loveth not his brother, &c. we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren, &c. Whoso

CHAP. XI.

CHILDREN OF GOD THEMSELVES MAY BE OVERTAKEN WITH FAULTS, AND ARE NOT FREE FROM SINFUL DISPOSITIONS AND INCLINATIONS IN THIS LIFE; AND THEREFORE MAY DESERVE TO BE CHASTISED OF GOD.

ever hateth his brother, is a murderer:
and ye know that no murderer hath
eternal life abiding in him, &c. Who-
so hath this world's good, and seeth THE
his brother have need, and shutteth
up his bowels of 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. For if our hearts
condemn us, he is greater, &c. And
hereby we know that he abideth in us,
by the spirit which he hath given us.
-1 John iii. 2, 3. 5, 6. 8--10. 14, 15.
17-19. 24. iv. 12, 13. v. 18.

Whoso knoweth God, heareth us: he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby we know the Spirit, &c. Love is of God: and every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God,&c. God is love: he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him, &c. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen; how can he love God, whom he hath not seen?-1 John iv. 6, 7. 16. 20. v. 1.

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God; and every one that loveth him, &c. Whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory that, &c. Whosoever is born of God, sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God, keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.-1 John v. 1. 4. 18.

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, hath both the Father, and the Son.-2 John 9.

He that doth good is of God; but he that doth evil, hath not seen God. -3 John 11.

Those whose names are written in the book of life, they will not worship Antichrist.-Rev. xiii. 8. xiv. 4. xvii. 8. xxi. 27.

SECT. I. In general it is affirmed. FOR there is no man that sinneth not. -1 Kings viii. 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 justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me. If I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.-Job ix. 1-3. 15. 20.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults: keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.-Ps. xix. 12, 13.

If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand ?-Ps. cxxx. 3.

The rod of the wicked shall not rest, &c. lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.--Ps.cxxv.3.

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?Prov. xx. 9.

A just man falleth seven times a day, and riseth up again.-Prov. xxiv. 16.

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.-Eccles. vii. 20.

The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, &c. so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.--Gal. v. 17. Rom. vii. 14, &c.

If any man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such, &c. considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.-Gal, vi. 1, 2.

I have no man like-minded, &c. for

all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.-Phil. ii. 20, 21.

Paul saith, I count not myself 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.iii.13-15. For in many things we offend all: if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man.-James iii. 2. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not 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 liar, and his word is not in us.-1 John i. 8-10.

in us.

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 he shall pray for it.-1 John v. 16.

SECT. II. Particular Instances of the
Failings of God's Children recorded.
NOAH was a just man, and perfect in
his generations. Noah walked with
God.-Gen. vi. 9. vii. 1.

Noah drank of the wine, and was drunken, and he was uncovered within his tent.-Gen. ix. 21.

Abraham believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness, &c. Abraham, my friend. He staggered not through unbelief.Gen. xv. 6. Isa. xli. 8. Rom. iv. 20.

then denied that she had laughed.— Gen. xviii. 12, 13. 15.

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. xxvi. 7.

Just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: for that righteous man, &c.-2 Pet. ii. 7, 8.

He lingered; the men laid hold upon his hand, &c. and said, Go, escape for thy life, &c. And Lot said unto them, O, not so, my Lord, &c. I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me and I die: behold this city is near to flee unto; is it not a little one, &c. He afterwards drank wine, and then lay with his two daughters.-Gen. xix. 16-20. 33-36.

Jacob, when he heard his brother Esau was coming with four hundred men against him, was greatly afraid and distressed, &c.-Gen.xxxii.6,&c.

He was sore distressed when one of his sons was kept by Joseph, and another sent for.-Gen. xlii. 36, &c.

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Moses spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren, &c. he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.-Exod. ii. 11, 12.

Moses was very meek, above all the men upon the face of the earth, &c. My servant Moses is faithful in all mine house. Moses my servant is dead. And Moses, verily, was faithful in all his house, as a servant.— Numb. xii. 3.7. Josh.i. 2.13. Heb. iii. 2. 5.

When God was sending Moses, he said, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, &c. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? &c. And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand thou wilt (or shouldest) send. And the anger of

They will kill me; but 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 the Lord was kindled against Moses, 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 Gerar, for fear of being slain.-Gen. xii. 12, 13. xv. 7, 8. xvii. 16-18. xx. 2. 11.

Sarah laughed at the promise, and

&c. Moses returned unto the Lord and said, Wherefore hast thou so evilly intreated this people? Why is it that thou hast sent me? &c. Moses was very wroth, &c. Now, ye rebels, Must we fetch ye water out of this rock? &c. I am not able to bear all

this people, &c. If thou deal thus He passed on in the rearward with the with me, kill me I pray thee out of Philistines against Israel, &c. He sent hand, &c. And Moses said, &c. Shall messengers to fetch Uriah's wife; the flocks and the herds be slain for and he lay with her and to cover it, them, to suffice them? &c. He be- made Uriah drunk; and then sent to lieved not God, to sanctify him. He Joab, to set Uriah in the hottest batspake unadvisedly with his lips, be- tle, and then retire from him, that he ing provoked in his spirit.-Exod. iv. might be smitten, and die, &c. O my 10-14. v. 22, 23. Numb. xi. 11, 12. son Absalom! my son! my son, Ab14, 15. 21-23. xvi. 15. xx. 10-12. salom! Would God I had died for thee! He caused the children of IsPs. cvi. 32, 33. Numb. xxvii. 14. rael to be numbered, &c. I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes, &c. I said in my haste, that all men are liars,&c.-1 Sam.xxv. 12-14. xxi. 12, 13. xxvii. 1. xxix. 2. 2 Sam. xi. 3, 4. 13-15. xviii. 33. xxiv. 1, &c. Ps. xxxi. 22. cxvi. 11. 1 Sam. xx. 6. 29.

Joshua also erred, and wished they had not come over Jordan.-Josh. vii. 7.

Aaron made a molten calf for Israel, &c. He built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To-morrow is a feast to the Lord, &c. And Moses saw that the people were naked, for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame, amongst their enemies.-Exod. xxxii. 1-6. 25. Numb. xii. 1. 5. 9.

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.-Judges vi. 16, 17. 36-40. Heb. xi. 32.

Eli is charged with iniquity, in not restraining his sons from violence. 1 Sam. iii. 13.

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 Kings xi. 32-34. 38. Acts xiii. 22. David hastily resolved to have avenged himself on Nabal, by cutting off him and all his males, &c. 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.

When God bid Samuel go, he said, How can I go? If Saul hear of it, he will kill me.-1 Sam. xvi. 1, 2.

And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father, &c. Asa's heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.1 Kings xv. 11. 14.

But he removed not the high places.-1 Kings xv. 14.

Asa took out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord, &c. made a league with the king of Syria and Hanani the seer came to him, and said, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, &c. Then Asa was wrath 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. xvi. 1-4. 7. 10. 12.

1

Solomon failed very greatly.-
Kings xi. 1, &c.

When Elijah the prophet was in trouble, he said, It is enough: now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers.-1 Kings xix. 4.

And Jehoshaphat walked, &c. doing that which was right in the eyes of

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