Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

upon the children of disobedience. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt - be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 1 Cor. 15. 33. Eph. 4. 29. and 5. 4, 6. Mat. 12. 36, 37. || Col. 3. 8. and 4. 6. 2 Tim. 2. 14, 16. Jam. 1. 26. Prov. 21. 23.

How much vain conversation stands chargeable even upon christians? Do you mourn over it?

172. Are there woes denounced against the covetous?

Wo to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.Wo to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil.- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.- For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.- For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Mic. 2. 1, 2. Hab. 2. 9. Ex. 20. 17. Is. 57. 17. Eph. 5. 5. || Jer. 6. 12, 13. Ps. 10. 3. 1 Cor. 5. 11. and 6. 10.

Ought you not to search your hearts prayerfully, that you' may detect and eradicate every vestige of this Achan within? What but this sin prevents more abundant labours for the spread of the Gospel?

173. Is the love of this world, of its riches, honours, and pleasures, both criminal and dangerous?

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. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of GOD! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of Gon! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the king

dom of God. 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 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.- Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 1 John 2. 15, 16. Mark 10. 23-25. 1 Tim. 6. 9, 10. Col. 3. 5, 2. || Rom. 12. 1-3. 1 Tim. 6. 17-19.

How can you love the world so much when Christ loved it so little? Will you not pray for the spirit of Christ?

174. As increasing wealth tends to take off the heart and thoughts from God and Eternal Things, are we not warned against "the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches ?"

When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten, and art full, and has built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 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 that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.- Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Deut. 8. 10-13, 17, 18. Ps. 62. 10. Prov. 23. 5. || and 30. 8, 9. Luke 8. 14. Deut. 32. 9, 13-15. Jer. 9. 23, 24. Mat. 19. 21, 26.

Are you saying from day to day "who will show me any worldly good?" Have you watched and prayed not only against supreme love for this world, but against inordinate love of it?

175. What is the portion of rich UNGODLY men ?

This is the portion of a wicked man with Gon, and the beritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty. 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,, and

1

the innocent shall divide the silver. The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not. For GoD shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand. Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.- Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: From men which are thy hand, O Lord from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. Job 27. 13, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23. Ps. 17. 13, 14. || Jam. 5. 1—5. Ps. 73. 3-7, 12, 18, 19. Luke 12, 16-21.

Are you willing to have your portion in this life? Be persuaded then not to set your affections on things seen and temporal?

176. Since the fashion of this world is passing away, is it not our DUTY and our WISDOM to make spiritual riches, or the interests of the soul, the principal objects of our desires and our pursuits?

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GOD. And the peace of Gon, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.- Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Col. 3. 1, 2. Phil. 4. 6, 7. Mat. 6. 19-21, 33, 34. || Prov. 15. 16. Jer. 45. 5. John 6. 27. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Luke 10. 41, 42.

you.

Are your affections daily soaring to heavenly things? Do you find substantial happiness in any earthly object or pursuit? When will you cease to pursue shadows which flee at your approach, or vanish when you attempt to grasp them?

177. What directions and promises respect diligence and industry in the lawful concerns of life?

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you,

that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 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.- Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase、 2 Thes. 3. 10-12. 1 Thes. 4. 11, 12. Eccl. 5. 12. Prov. 13. 11. Gen. 3. 19. Ex. 20. 9. Prov. 12. 11, 24, 27. and 22. 29. Eph. 4. 28.

Are you diligent and economical from obedience to the commands of GOD? Does it quicken you in these duties that you may do good with your gains?

178. What are some of the consequences of idleness ?

The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.- The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.- I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. Prov. 20. 4. and 21. 25. and 24. 30-34. Ez. 16. 49. Prov. 22. 13. and 18. 9. Eccl. 10. 18. Prov. 6. 6-11.

If idleness is so shameful and ruinous in temporal concerns, how much more pernicious in spiritual concerns? Have you renounced sinful ease and indolence?

179. What is the conduct, language, and condemnation of the proud?

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after GoD: GOD is not in all his thoughts.- Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. And they say, How doth God know? and is their knowledge in the Most High? And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seat in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to

be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.- For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of GOD.- Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand he shall not be unpunished. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low. Ps. 10. 4. and 73. 6, 9, 11. Mat. 23. 6, 7. Rom. 10. 3. Prov. 16. 5. Is. 2. 11, 12. || 1 Sam. 2. 3. Prov. 11. 2. and 16. 18, 19. and 21. 4. and 29. 23. Jer. 13, 15, 16. Luke 14. 11.

Of what have you to be proud but ignorance, pollution, and weakness? Dare you longer cherish pride?

180. Are not mankind prone to be unmindful of their CREATOR who is ever mindful of his creatures for good?

Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the Lord their Gon.The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget Gon. Now consider this, ye that forget Gon, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Jer. 2. 12, 13, 32, and 3. 21. Ps. 9. 17. and 50. 22. || Is. 1. 2, 3. Ps. 44. 20, 21. Deut. 8. 11, 19. Hos. 13. 6.

Had GoD been as unmindful of you as you have' of him, what would have become of you? How base, how criminal, how dangerous, is forgetfulness of God?

181. What is the sum of man's duty?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy GOD with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: for this is the WHOLE duty of man. For Gop shall bring every work into

« ПредишнаНапред »