HOLINESS OF THE LORD'S PEOPLE IS NECESSARY.

PREPARA

TION FOR THE FULL ENJOYMENT OF GOD IN HEAVEN.

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.-2 Kings ii. II.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.-Psalm li. 10, 11.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.-Matthew v. 8.

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.Romans vi. 22.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.-Romans xii. 1, 2.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.-1 Cor. vi. 19, 20.

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.-2 Thessalonians ii. 13.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.-Hebrews xii. 14, 15.

But as he which 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. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.-1 Peter i. 15, 16, 22, 23.

HOLY GHOST, OR SPIRIT, IS GOD, IS ONE OF THE DIVINE PERSONS OF THE ETERNAL GODHEAD.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.-Genesis i. 1, 2.

By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.—Job xxvi. 13.

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.—Job xxxiii. 4.

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. And 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.-Matthew xii. 28, 32.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.-Matthew xxviii. 19.

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.-Acts v. 3, 4.

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.-Acts xiii. 4.

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.-1 Corinthians ii. II,

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.—2 Cor. xiii. 14.

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness).—Hebrews iii. 7, 8.

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?--Hebrews ix. 14.

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.--1 John v. 7.

HOLY GHOST IS LARGELY PROMISED HIS OPERATIONS OF Grace are Numerous, and Necessary to our SALVATION.

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: and they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water-courses.-Isaiah xliv. 3, 4.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 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.-Ezekiel xxxvi. 26, 27.

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.-Joel ii. 28, 29.

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.-Zec. xii. 10.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John iii. 5.

But the Comforter, which is 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 unto you.— John xiv. 26.

Howbeit when he, 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 glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.-John xvi. 13, 14.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.-2 Corinthians iii. 18.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.-Titus iii. 5, 6.

HONESTY, TRUTH, UPRIGHTNESS, REQUIRED OF ALL
CHRISTIANS.

Thou shalt not steal.-Exodus xx. 15.

Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.—Leviticus xix. II, 12.

Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.-Deut. XXV. 13-15.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?-Micah vi. 8.

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost and great fear came on all them that heard these things.-Acts v. 3-5.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.-Acts vi. 3.

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 that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.-Romans xiii. 7, 8.

Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.-2 Corinthians viii. 21.

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.-Titus ii. 9, 10.

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Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. -1 Peter ii. 12.

HONOUR, RESPECT, DUE TO PARENTS, SUPERIORS, AND OTHERS, ACCORDING TO CIRCUMSTANCES.

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.-Exodus xx. 12. Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. -Exodus xxii. 28.

Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.—Leviticus xix. 32.

Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.—1 Kings ii. 19.

And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's 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 thy people. -Acts xxiii. 4, 5.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.-Romans xii. 10.

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.-Romans xiii. 7.

Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honour widows that are widows indeed. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.-1 Timothy V. 1-3, 17.

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.—Titus iii. 1.

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.—1 Peter ii. 17, 18.

Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, 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 hindered.-1 Peter iii. 6, 7.