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The hire of the labourers, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth, and the cries, &c. have entered, &c. -James v. 4.

SECT. IV. Live peaceably, not intermeddling with others; nor idle, nor trifling.

SEEK peace and pursue it.-Ps. xxxiv. 14. cxx. 7.

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.-Prov. xxv. 17.

Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, &c.-Prov. xxx. 10, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other.-Matt. v. 9. 39.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men; dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves.-Rom. xii. 18, 19.

If the unbelieving depart, let him depart, &c. but God hath called us to peace.-1 Cor. vii. 15.

That ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work, &c.-1 Thess. iv. 11.

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, &c. that with quietness they work, &c.-2 Thess. iii. 11, 12.

Withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house: and not only idle, but tatlers also, and busybodies; I will, &c. that they give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.-1 Tim. v. 13-15.

That they which have believed in

God, might be careful to maintain good works: these things are good and profitable unto men; and let ours also learn to maintain good works (or profess honest trades) for necessary uses, &c.-Titus iii. 8. 14. Follow peace with all men.-Heb. xii. 14.

But if ye have bitter envying and strife, &c. this wisdom descendeth not from above, but is, &c. The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, &c. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.-James Li. 14, 15. 17, 18.

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts?—James iv. 1.

Let none of you suffer, &c, as a busybody in other men's matters. 1 Pet. iv. 15.

He that will love life, &c. let him seek peace and ensue it.-1 Pet. iii. 10, 11.

SECT. V.

Not to be discontented, angry, or revengeful against them: but to behave themselves meekly, gently, and patiently toward them; bearing Wrong.

O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth.-Ps. xciv. 1.

I

Lot speaks to the wicked men thus, pray you brethren, do not so wickedly, &c.-Gen. xix. 5—7.

Simeon and Levi's cruelty in slaying the Shechemites greatly blamed.

Gen. xxxiv, 25, 26. 30. xlix. 5—7.

David resolved in haste to destroy Nabal's house, because of Nabal's unkindness; but Abigail having interposed, he blessed God for her counsel, and forbore his revenge.— 1 Sam. xxv. 32-34. Levit. xix. 18. Prov. xx. 22. xxiv. 29.

Israel's rage against Judah was rebuked by the prophet.-2 Chron. xxviii. 9, 10.

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity; for they

shall soon be cut down.-Ps. xxxvii. 1, 2. Prov. xxiv. 1. 19.

Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.-Prov. iii. 31.

Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.-Prov. xxiii. 17.

Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment.-Matt. v. 22. If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.-Matt. vi. 14, 15.

Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.-Matt. xi. 29.

One of them which were with Jesus, stretched out his hand and drew a sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, &c. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.-Matt. xxvi. 51, 52. v. 39.

The Samaritans did not receive Christ; and when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of: for the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives.-Luke ix. 52-56.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Rom. xii. 19.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not, &c. is not easily provoked; thinketh no evil.-1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5.

In malice be ye children. but in understanding be men.1 Cor. xiv. 20.

The fruit of the Spirit is, &c. longsuffering, gentleness, &c. meekness, temperance. Gal. v. 22, 23.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, &c. be put away from you.-Eph. iv. 31. Col. iii. 8.

Let your moderation be known unto all men.-Phil. iv. 5.

Put on bowels of mercies, &c. forbearing one another, and forgiving one another. If any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.-Col. iii. 12, 13.

Be patient toward all men: see that none render evil for evil unto any man.—1 Thess. v. 14, 15. 1 Pet. iii. 9.

The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, &c. patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves: if God peradventure, &c.-2 Tim. ii. 24, 25.

To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers: but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.-Titus iii. 2.

Let every man be slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.-James i 19, 20.

The wisdom that is from above, is, &c. gentle and easy to be intreated, &c.-James iii. 17.

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, &c. knowing that ye are, &c. Be ready always to give an answer unto every man, &c. with meekness.-1 Pet. iii. 9. 15.

SECT. VI. To pity them, shew them

Mercy, pray for them, and requite them Good for Evil: Love for Hatred.

Ir thou meet thine enemy's ox or ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him; thou shalt surely help with him (or wouldest cease to leave thy business for him: thou shalt surely leave it to join with him).Exod. xxiii. 4, 5. Deut. xxii. 1—4.

If thy brother be waxen poor, &c. thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger or a sojourner; that

he may live with thee.Levit. care of the wounded, in the parable, xxv. 35.

David rewarded Saul good for evil, which Saul acknowledgeth.-1 Sam. xxiv. 17-19.

Israel was charged to clothe, feed, and help the men of Judah, then their captives.-2 Chron. xxviii. 11. 15.

With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful.-Ps. xviii. 25. The righteous is ever merciful.Ps. xxxvii. 25, 26.

He that considereth the poor, or sick, the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing.-Ps. xli. 1-3.

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.-Prov. xi. 17.

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.--Prov. xii. 10.

He that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.-Prov. xvii. 5.

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat: and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.Prov. xxv. 21, 22. 2 Chron. xxviii. 11. 15. Prov. xxiv. 11, 12.

Seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it; for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.-Jer. xxix. 7.

Blessed are the merciful, &c. love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, &c. that ye may be the children of your heavenly Father; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, &c. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the Publicans the same?-Matt. v. 7. 4446. Luke vi. 32, 33. 35, 36.

Christ had compassion on the multitude, and did them good.-Matt. ix. 36. xiv. xv. 32.

The Samaritan's compassion and

commended.-Luke. x. 30, &c.

Recompense to no man evil for evil, &c. avenge not yourselves, &c. If thine enemy hunger, feed him, &c. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.-Rom. xii. 17. 19-21.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.-Gal.

vi. 10.

Put on bowels of mercies, kindness, &c.-Col. iii. 12. Micah vi. 8.

The Lord make you to increase in love, &c. toward all men.-1 Thess.

iii. 12.

See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.-1 Thess. v. 15.

I exhort, &c. that supplications and prayers, &c. be made for all men. —1 Tim. ii. 1.

He shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy.— James ii. 13.

The wisdom that is from above, is, &c. full of mercy and good fruits.— James iii. 17.

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing.-1 Pet. iii. 9.

SECT. VII.

To behave humbly and courteously toward all, giving them due Respect.

THE children of Heth said to Abraham, Hear us, my lord; Thou art a mighty prince among us; in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead, &c. And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, &c.-Gen. xxiii. 5—7. 11, 12.

Jacob bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near his brother Esau, &c. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant, &c. Let me find grace in the sight of my lord.-Gen. xxxiii. 3. 14, 15.

Thou shalt rise up before the hoary

head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God; I am the Lord.-Levit. xix. 32. Rom. xiii. 7. If thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again.--2 Kings iv. 29.

Let me not give flattering titles unto men, &c. my Maker would soon take me away.--Job xxxii. 21, 22.

God threatened it as an evil, that the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.-Isa. iii. 5.

If ye salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? do not even the Publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.-Matt. v. 47, 48.

When ye come into an house, salute it.-Matt. x. 12.

When thou art bidden, &c. sit not down in the highest room, lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; and he that bade thee and him, come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room, &c. Sit in the lowest room &c. then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.Luke xiv. 8-10.

I am not mad, most noble Festus, said Paul; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.-Acts xxvi. 25.

I, &c. communicated that gospel, &c. but privately to them that were of reputation.-Gal. ii. 2.

Honour (or esteem) all men.— 1 Pet. ii. 17.

Finally, &c. be courteous.-1 Pet. iii. 8.

The elder, unto the elect lady, &c. And now I beseech thee, lady.

2 John 1. 5.

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lest they make thee sin against me.Exod. xxiii. 32, 33.

When Jehoshaphat had helped the wicked king of Israel, Jehu, the son of Hanani the seer, went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them who hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.-2 Chron. xix. 1, 2.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Ps. i. 1.

Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? &c. He in whose eyes a vile person is contemned.-Ps. xv. 1. 4.

I have not sat with vain persons; neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evildoers; and will not sit with the wicked.-Ps. xxvi. 4, 5.

I will not know a wicked person, &c. He that worketh deceit, shall not dwell within my house. He that telleth lies, shall not tarry in my sight.-Ps. ci. 4. 7. cxix. 115.

Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, &c. with him that hateth peace. I am for peace, &c. they for war.— Ps. cxx. 5-7.

Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred.— Ps. cxxxix. 21, 22.

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not: walk not thou in the way with them: refrain thy foot from their path.-Prov. i. 10. 15.

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.—Prov. xiii. 20.

Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.-Prov. xiv. 7.

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.— Prov. xxii. 24, 25.

Be not thou envious against evil men: neither desire to be with them. —Prov. xxiv. 1, 2.

I wrote to you in an epistle, not to keep company with fornicators; yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, &c. for then must ye needs go out of the world.-1 Cor. v. 9, 10. Eph. v. 5-7.

Be ye not unequally yoked toge ther with unbelievers, &c. What communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?-2 Cor. vi. 14, 15.

CHAP. XVIII.

i

HOW MEN COME TRULY AND SPIRITUALLY TO KNOW THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM HE HATH SENT; AND THE MYSTERIES OF SALVATION BY HIM; TO BELIEVE IT,

the Father, save the Son, and he to ́ whomsover the Son will reveal him. -Matt. xi. 27.

How can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? &c.-Matt. xii. 29.

A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven, &c. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter, &c. With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.-Matt. xix. 23-26. Luke xviii. 24-27.

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God, &c.-John i. 13. iii. 3, &c.

A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.-John

iii. 27.

No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw

BRING FORTH FRUIT, AND PERSE- him, &c. Except it were given unto him of Father.-John vi. 44. 65. my

VERE THEREIN, THROUGH DIFFICULTIES, TO ETERNAL LIFE.-Mark iv. 26-28. Luke xvii. 20, 21. xix. 1, &c. Matt. xii. 28.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abide in me, &c. for without (or severed from) me, SECT. I. Man, of himself, not able to ye can do nothing.-John xv. 4, 5.

do these Things.

EXCEPT the Lord build the house, they labour in vain who build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. - Ps. cxxvii. 1.

Man's goings are of the Lord: how can a man then understand his own way?-Prov. xx. 24.

A deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul; nor say, Is there not a lie in? &c.Isa. xliv. 20.

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jer. x. 23. Prov. xvi. 9.

Can the Ethiopian change his skin? &c. then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil?-Jer. xiii. 23.

No man knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither knoweth any man

The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.-Rom. viii. 7.

The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.-1 Cor. ii. 14. John viii. 43.

By the grace of God, I am that I am, &c. Not I, but the grace of God which was with me.-1 Cor. xv. 10. Gal. ii. 20.

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. 2 Cor. iii. 5.

The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, &c. so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.—Gal. v. 17. Rom. vii. 15. 18.

By grace are ye saved, through

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