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Apostolical Precepts.

SECTION XXXV.

CHILDREN, obey your parents, for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, (which is the first commandment with promise,) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.*

* Ephes. vi. 1-4.

Apostolical Precepts.

SECTION XXXVI.

SERVANTS, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; knowing that whatever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening; knowing that your Master also is in heaven: neither is there respect of persons with him.*

* Ephes. vi. 5, 6, 8, 9.

Apostolical Precepts.

SECTION XXXVII.

WHATSOEVER things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; think on these things. 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.* Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Put on bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any : even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.†

*Phil. iv. 8, 9.

+ Col. iii. 2, 8, 12—14.

Apostolical Precepts.

SECTION XXXVIII.

Now the end of the commandment is charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.* If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. But they that 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

1 Tim. i. 5.

Apostolical Precepts.

money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.*

* 1 Tim. vi. 3-10.

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