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in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Ro. 14. 17, 18.

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 a hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in. 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, 40.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. He. 11. 31; Jos. 2.

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

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nation.

Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Mat. 23. 8.-Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 1 Pe. 5. 3.

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Lu. 12. 48.-When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 1 Co. 11. 32.

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

There is no man that sinneth not. 1 Ki. 8. 46.-Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Pr. 20. 9. There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Ec. 7. 20.-If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 Jno. 1. 8.

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Ps. 34. 13.-If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Ja. 1.26.-By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Mat. 12. 37.

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Pr. 18. 21.The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. Ps. 12. 3.

6 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.

An ungodly man diggeth up evil; and in his lips there is as a burning fire. Pr. 16. 27.

Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart

proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. Mat. 15. 18, 19. Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? Ac. 5. 3.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: adders' poison is under their lips. Ps. 140. 3.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Ge. 1. 26.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Il Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves. 2 Ti. 2. 23-25.

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Ja. 1. 17.

Ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 1 Co. 3. 3.-The works of the flesh are manifest. Of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Ga. 5 19, 21.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

We gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Ga. 2. 5. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Ga. 5. 22, 23.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. He. 12. 14.

CHAPTER IV.

ROM whence come wars and fightings

FROM

among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Ro. 6. 12, 13.I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Ro. 7. 23.-For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Ga. 5. 17.

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Mat. 7. 7.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Ps. 66. 18; Pr. 1. 28_30.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity

with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

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. Jno. 15. 19.-Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Co. 6. 14, 17, 18.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 Jno. 2. 15.-If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Ga. 1. 10.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. Ps. 138. 6.-He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. Lu. 1.52.-Be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 1 Pe. 5. 5.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

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 afflic tions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1 Pe. 5. 8, 9.-Neither give place to the devil. Eph. 4. 27.- Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Éph. 6. 11.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him

while he is near: 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. Is. 55. 6, 7.-Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord. Ho. 6. 1, 3.

O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Ho. 14. 1, 2.

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil. Is. 1. 16.-Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Eze. 18. 30, 31.-Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth him. self, even as he is pure. 1 Jno. 3. 3.

No man can serve two masters. Mat. 6. 24.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for your selves, and for your children. Lu. 23. 28.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 1 Pe. 5. 6.

11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judg. eth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. Eph. 4. 31. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Lu. 6. 37.-Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Let us not therefore

judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Ro. 14. 4, 13.

Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Co. 4. 5.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Ez. 20. 16.

13 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:

Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Pr. 27. 1; Lu. 12. 18-20.

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle. ... my life is wind. Job 7. 6, 7.-As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. Ps. 103. 15, 16.

The time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they

rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 1 Co. 7. 29_31.

The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 Jno. 2. 17.

15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

This will we do, if God permit. He. 6. 3.

16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

That servant, which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. Lu. 12. 47; Ro. 2. 17, 18; Mat. 25. 24-30.

G

CHAPTER V.

O to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Lu. 6. 24.-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. 1 Ti. 6. 9.-He that trusteth in his riches shall fall. Pr. 11. 28.

Jesus... departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them,... There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Mat. 24. 1, 2, 21.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Mat. 6. 20.

After thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Ro. 2. 5.

4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth,

The wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. Le. 19. 13.-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; lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee. De. 24. 15.-Woe unto him that... useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work. Je. 22. 13; Mal. 3. 5.

5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Job 21. 13.-There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Lu. 16. 19, 25.

6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

The Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers. Ac. 7. 52.-I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. Ac. 9. 5.-The Jews both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. 1 Th. 2. 14-16.

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 scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? Mat. 26. 53, 54.

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Mat. 24. 2, 30.-Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Re. 22. 12.-Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Phi. 4. 5.

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. Joel 2. 23.

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Ps. 73. 3, 19, 24.

When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Mat. 24. 33.

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. He. 11. 35_38.

11 Behold, we count them happy which 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 mercy.

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law. Ps. 94. 12.-Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Mat. 5. 10.-Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake; but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Mat. 10. 22.-To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. Ro. 2.7.

Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1. 21.--What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? Job 2. 10.

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Job 13. 15.-He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 28. 10.-The Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42. 10.

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Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain ; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Ex. 20. 7.-Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, Swear not at all. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Mat. 5. 33, 34, 37.

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Ps. 50. 15.-In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Ps. 18. 6.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Ps. 116. 3_6.-I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. Ps. 142. 4_6, 2.

At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God. Ac. 16. 25; Mat. 26. 38, 39.-Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Eph. 5. 19.

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

They cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. Mar. 6. 13.—If ye have faith, and doubt not,... if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Mat. 21. 21, 22.-These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mar. 16. 17, 18. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles. 1 Co. 12.8_10.

Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. Mat. 9. 2, 6, 7.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. Mat. 18. 15.

The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what

we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Ro. 8.26.

By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Ro. 5. 19.

Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants. Ge. 20. 17.- When Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched. Nu. 11. 2.

Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy. And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word. Nu. 14. 19, 20.-I fell down before the Lord, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the Lord was wroth against you to destroy you. But the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also. And the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have de stroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time. De. 9.18_20.

Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. 1 Sa. 12. 18.-[Jeroboam] said unto the man of God, Entreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king's hand was restored him again. 1 Ki. 13. 6.

When Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. ... And the child opened his eyes. 2 Ki. 4. 32, 33, 35.

Isaiah... sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. 2 Ki. 19. 20.-Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, ... I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee. 2 Ki.

20. 5.

Peter... was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod. And... he came to the house of Mary... where many were gathered together praying. Ac. 12. 5, 11, 12.

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

1 Ki. 17. 1, etc.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Elijah went up to the top of Carmel: and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees. And it came to pass, in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. 1 Ki. 18. 42, 45.

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Beloved,... beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 2 Pe. 3. 17.— Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Ga. 6. 1.

Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Ja. 1. 15.

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity. Ps. 32. 1, 2.-I even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Is. 43. 25.-The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 Jno. 1. 7.

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. Pr. 10. 12.-Have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 Pe. 4. 8.

THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL

OF

PETER.

PE

CHAPTER I.

ETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

The names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter. Mat. 10. 2.-Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Jno. 21. 15, 16.

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

A chosen generation. 1 Pe. 2. 9.-He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Eph. 1. 4; Ro. 8. 29, 30.God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. 2 Th. 2. 13. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Ro. 8. 9.

Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words. Ex. 24. 8; Le. 16. 14-16.-Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. He. 9. 22.

If the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; 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? He. 9. 13, 14.

The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 Jno. 1. 7.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. He. 10. 22.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Jno. 1. 12, 13.-Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Jno, 3. 3, 5.

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God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved:) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2. 4-6.-Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth. Ja. 1. 18.-By the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Tit. 3. 5.

Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. 1 Co. 15. 20.-God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. 2 Th. 2. 16.-Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us

entered, even Jesus. He. 6. 19, 20.

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Col. 1. 12. We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Pe. 3. 13; Re. 21. 1, 2.

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Ti. 4. 8.-The hope which is laid up for you in heaven. Col. 1. 5.

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ. Jude 1.-I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. Jno. 10. 28, 29.Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Th. 5. 24. Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Co. 1. 8.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Ps. 121. 7, 8.— The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Ps. 18. 2.

After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. Eph. 1. 13, 14.

By faith ye stand. 2 Co. 1. 24.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Col. 3. 4.-When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe in that day. 2 Th. 1. 10.-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. Mat. 25. 34.

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