: And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him; and he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, &c. and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.-Gen. xii. 7, 8. Afterwards, Abram came again to the place on the east of Bethel, unto the place of the altar which he had made there at the first and there Abram called on the name of the Lord, &c. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. Gen. xiii. 3, 4. 10. Abraham planted a grove (or a tree) in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.-Gen. xxi. 33. : Isaac said, Behold the fire and wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering? &c. Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood, &c. Then Abraham took the ram and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son.-Gen. xxii. 7-9. 13. The Lord appeared unto Isaac at Beersheba; and he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there. -Gen. xxvi. 23-25. Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, when Laban came to him. Gen. xxxi. 54. And Jacob came to Shalem, and pitched his tent before the city and he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel (that is, God, the God of Israel).-Gen. xxxiii. 18-20. And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and unto all that were with him, &c. Let us arise, and go unto Bethel, and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, &c. And he built there an altar, and called the place El-Bethel, &c. (the God of Bethel).-Gen. xxxv. 1—3. 7. And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.-Gen. xlvi. 1. Moses directed of God to say unto Pharaoh, Let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.-Exod. iii. 18. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi (that is, the Lord my Banner): for he said, Because the Lord hath sworn, that the Lord will have war with Amalek, &c.-Exod. xvii. 15, 16. And Jethro, Moses's father-inlaw, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God.-Exod. xviii. 12. God, when he had given the law upon Mount Sinai, commanded the building of an altar, and the offering of sacrifices.-Exod. xx. 24—26. CHAP. XLIV. THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY, AND THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING A CHRISTIAN INDEED. Ir thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, &c. if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, &c.-Matt. v. 29, 30. Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me for whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it.-Matt. xvi. 24, 25. Luke ix. 23. xiv. 26, 27. 33. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.-Matt. vii. 14. Luke xiii. 24. : If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, &c. He went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter, &c.—Matt. xix. 21, &c. xiii. 45, 46. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, &c.-Matt. xxvi. 41. The last shall be first, and the first last; for many be called, but few chosen.-Matt. xx. 16. xxii 14. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.-John vi. 27. There is a law in my members warring against the law of my mind, &c.-Rom. vii. 23. Gal. v. 17. Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.-Rom. xii. 11. Be ye stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.1 Cor. xv. 58. Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him.-2 Cor. v. 9. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God; and bringing into captivity every thought, to the obedience of Christ.-2 Cor. x. 4, 5. The flesh lusteth against the spirit, &c. So that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Gal. v. 17. Rom. vii. 21. 23. That ye may know, &c. what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe; according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.-Eph. i. 18-20. See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise: redeeming the time, &c.-Eph. v. 15, 16. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood; but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (or against wicked spirits). Therefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day; and having done (or overcome) all, to stand.Eph. vi. 11-13. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.-Phil. ii. 12. I reach forth, &c. I press toward the mark.-Phil. iii. 13, 14. We pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.-2 Thess. i. 11. Fight the good fight of faith: lay hold of eternal life.-1 Tim. vi. 12. 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ : no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, &c.2 Tim. ii. 3, 4. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.-Heb. iv. 11. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.-Heb. vi. 12. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, &c. Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin, &c.-Heb. xii. 1.3, 4. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.-James iv. 7. An inheritance, &c. reserved in heaven for you (or us) who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.-1 Pet. i. 4, 5. If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?-1 Pet. iv. 18. 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, &c.-1 Pet. v. 8, 9. Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, &c. Give diligence to Give diligence to make your calling and election sure. -2 Pet. i. 5. 10. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.-2 Pet. iii. 14. Blessed are the dead, &c. they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.-Rev. xiv. 13. CHAP. XLV. TIME OR OPPORTUNITY FOR SPIRITUAL ED, BUT DILIGENTLY MADE USE OF: AND the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh; yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.-Gen. vi. 3. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found (or in a time of finding.)-Ps. xxxii. 6. I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart, &c. quicken thou me in thy way, &c. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.-Ps. cxix. 32. 37. 60. When God speaks, and men will not hearken, then though they cry to him, he will not hear.-Prov. i. 22, &c. Zech. vii. 13. Boast not thyself of to morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.-Prov. xxvii. 1. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die, &c. He hath made every thing beautiful in its time.-Eccles. iii. 1, &c. A wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment: because to every purpose there is time and judgment. Eccles. viii. 5, 6. Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest.-Eccles. ix. 10. John ix. 4. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, &c.-Eccles. xii. 1. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near.-Isa. Iv. 6. Break up the fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come, &c.-Hosea x. 12. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.-Matt. v. 25, 26. Luke xii. 57, 58. The foolish virgins neglected getting oil, till the door was shut against them: and he that had received one talent did not use it.-Matt. xxv. 5-29. He cometh and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldst not thou watch one hour? watch ye, and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.-Mark xiv. 37, 38. The days will come when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. Luke xvii. 22. He beheld the city and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace; but now they are hid from thine eyes: for the days come upon thee, that the enemies shall cast a trench about thee, &c.-Luke xix. 41-43. Matt. xxiii. 37, 38. I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work. John ix. 4. Rom. xiii. 11, 12. A little while is the light with you: walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.-John xii. 35. God, &c. hath made of one blood all nations of men, &c. and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation: that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, &c. The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.-Acts xvii. 24-30. And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep for now, : &c. the night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, &c.-Rom. xiii. 11, 12. This I say, brethren, the time is short; it remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none, &c.-1 Cor. vii. 29. So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery, is temperate in all things: now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.1 Cor. ix. 24, 25. Behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation. -2 Cor. vi. 2. Isa. lix. 8. When it pleased God, &c. to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, neither went I up, &c.-Gal. i. 15-17. In due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them, &c.-Gal. vi. 9, 10. Awake, thou that sleepest, &c. redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.-Eph. v. 14. 16, 17. Col. iv. 5. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.-Phil. ii. 12. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead: not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend, &c. this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark, &c. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.Phil. iii. 11—16. Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the day of provocation, &c. wherefore I was grieved, &c. so I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.-Heb. iii. 7—11. Ps. lxxviii. 4. Heb. iv. 7. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end; that you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.Heb. vi. 11, 12. 1 Cor. xv. 58. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us; and let us run with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus, &c.-Heb. xii. 1—3. 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: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow: for what is your life? It is even a vapour, &c. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that.- -James iv. 13—15. If ye call on the Father, &c. pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.-1 Pet. i. 17. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God: for the time past of our life may suf fice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles.-1 Pet. iv. 2, 3. Giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue,&c. wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fail. 2 Pet. i. 5-7. 10. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, &c. -2 Pet. iii. 14. I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not, Behold, I will cast her into a bed, &c.-Rev. ii. 21, 22. And the angel, &c. sware, &c. that there should be time no longer. Rev. x. 5, 6. The devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time.-Rev. xii. 12. CHAP. XLVI. signs of the lasT TIMES; OR, END OF THE WORLD. MANY shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many: and ye shall hear of wars, &c. because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. The gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness, &c. As the days of Noah were, so shall the coming of the Son of man be, &c. They were eating, &c.-Matt. xxiv. 5-7. 12. 14. 37, 38. That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.-2 Thess. ii. 3, &c. : In the last days perilous times shall come for men shall be lovers of their ownselves, &c.-2 Tim. iii. 1—4. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? &c.-2 Pet. iii. 3, &c. CHAP. XLVII. ENCOURAGEMENTS TO HOPE IN, and CRY TO GOD, WHEN OUR CASE SEEMS MOSES said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.-Exod. xxxii. 30. The Lord shall repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, &c.-Deut. xxxii. 36. Ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.1 Sam. vi. 5. And Jonathan said, &c. Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us for there is no restraint to the Lord, to save by many or by few.-1 Sam. xiv. 6. While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?— 2 Sam. xii. 22. Let him alone, and let him curse, &c. it may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.-2 Sam. xvi. 11, 12. Why sit we here until we die? If we say we will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now, therefore, come and let us fall into the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.—2 Kings vii. 3, &c. This is a day of trouble, &c. it may be the Lord thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, &c. and will reprove the words which the Lord thy God hath heard. Wherefore, lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left.-2 Kings xix. 3, 4. We have trespassed against our |