Imatges de pàgina
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some eunuchs which have made themselves, &c. He that is able to receive it, let him.-Matt. xix. 10-12. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned.-Luke vi. 37.

Jesus said, I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now: howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you.-John xvi. 12, 13.

Why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples? which, &c.-Acts xv. 10. Gal. v. 12, 13.

Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations (or not to judge his doubtful thoughts): for one believeth that he may eat all things; another who is weak eateth herbs: let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth: for God hath received him, &c. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike: let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind; he that regardeth a day, regardeth it to the Lord, &c. Why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? 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. I know, &c. that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably, &c. Let us therefore now follow after the things which make for peace, &c. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence; it is good neither to eat flesh, &c. whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak, &c. He that doubteth is damned if he eat, &c. for whatsoever is not of faith, is sin.-Rom. xiv. 1-3. 5, 6. 10. 13-15. 19-21. 23.

We then that are strong, ought to

bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves: let every one of us please his neighbour, for his good to edification.-Rom. xv.1, 2.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able to bear it.-1 Cor. iii. 2.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient (or profitable): all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.-1 Cor. vi. 12. x. 23.

I would that all men were even as I myself; but every man hath his proper gift of God; one after this manner, &c. Is any man called, being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised; and is any called in uncircumcision? let him not become circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, &c.-1 Cor. vii. 7. 18, 19.

We know that an idol is nothing in the world, &c. howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some, with conscience of the idol unto this hour, eat it as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak, is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God, &c. Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak: for if any man see thee, who hast knowledge, sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols: and through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? but when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ: wherefore if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.-1 Cor. viii. 4. 7-13.

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself a servant unto all, that I might gain the more and unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews, &c. To the weak became I as weak, &c. I am

made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some, &c. 1 Cor. ix. 19-22.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient, &c. all things edify not; let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake, for the earth is the Lord's, &c. If any of them that believe not, bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; what-' soever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols; eat not, for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake, &c. Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other, &c. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God; even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. 1 Cor. x. 23-29. 31-33. xi. 1. Charity seeketh not her own. 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5.

Let all your things be done with charity.-1 Cor. xvi. 14.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others: let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. -Phil. ii. 4, 5.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Phil. iii. 15, 16.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink (or in eating, or in drinking), or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days, which are a shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ.-Col. ii. 16, 17.

We exhort you, brethren, &c. comfort the feebleminded, support the

weak, be patient toward all men.— 1 Thess. v. 14.

Neither give heed to fables, &c. which minister questions, rather than godly edifying, which is in faith: now the end of the commandment is charity, &c.-1 Tim. i. 4, 5.

Some shall depart from the faith, &c. forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God had created to be received, &c.— 1 Tim. iv. 1. 3.

Unto the pure all things are pure. -Titus i. 15.

When Paul was writing many things concerning Christ, he said, Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing, &c. ye are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat, &c. strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age.-Heb. v. 11, 12. 14.

It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.Heb. xiii. 9.

Charity shall cover the multitude of sins.- Pet. iv. 8.

I will put upon you none other burden; but that which ye have already, hold fast, till I come.—Rev. ii. 24, 25.

SECT. X. To distribute, and commu

nicate to one another's Necessities: give to the Poor.

Ir thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer; neither shalt thou lay upon him usury, &c.— Exod. xxii. 25.

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then thou shalt relieve him, &c. that shall be made fat: and he that waterhe may live.-Levit. xxiv. 35. eth shall be watered also himself.Prov. xi. 24, 25.

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates, &c. thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother; but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought (or word) in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought, and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee: thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, &c. for the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, &c.-Deut. xv. 7-11. If I have withheld the poor from their desire, &c. or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof, &c. If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering: if his loins have not blessed me, &c. The stranger did not lodge in the street; but I opened my doors to the tra

veller. Job xxxi, 16-20. 32.

The righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth, &c. He is ever merciful, and lendeth.-Ps. xxxvii. 21. 26.

Blessed is he that considereth the poor (or weak): the Lord will deliver him.-Ps. xli. 1.

A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth, &c. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor, &c.-Ps. cxii.

5. 9.

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of thine increase, &c. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.-Prov. iii. 9. 28.

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth, &c. The liberal soul

He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he, &c. He that oppresseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him, hath mercy on the poor. - Prov. xiv. 21. 31.

He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord: and that which he hath given, will he pay him again.-Prov. xix. 17.

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.Prov. xxi. 13.

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed: for he giveth of his bread to the poor.-Prov. xxii. 9.

He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack.-Prov. xxviii. 27.

Cast thy bread upon the waters : for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight, &c.-Eccles. xi. 1, 2.

Is not this the fast that I have chosen ? &c. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, &c. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise in obscurity, &c.Isa. lviii. 6-8. 10.

I desired mercy, and not sacrifice. -Hosea vi. 6.

Give to him that asketh thee; and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away.-Matt. v. 42.

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them, &c. when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, &c. that they may have glory of men, &c. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.— Matt. vi. 1-3.

Ask, and it shall be given you.Matt. vii. 7.

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give, than to receive.

Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no-Acts xx. 35. wise lose his reward.-Matt. x. 42. Mark ix. 41.

Christ shall say, I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me, &c. When saw we thee an hungered? &c. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me, &c.-Matt. xxv. 35, &c.

The poor widow threw in two mites, &c. Jesus said, This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they, &c. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had.Mark xii. 42-44. Luke xxi. 1-4. He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none, &c. so of meat.-Luke iii. 11.

When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed, for they cannot recompense thee: thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.-Luke xiv. 13, 14.

Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. Luke xviii. 22.

The multitude of them that believed were of one heart, &c. neither said any of them, that aught of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common.— Acts iv. 32.

Cornelius, a devout man, &c. which gave much alms to the people, &c. Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.Acts x. 1, 2. 4.

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea.-Acts xi. 29.

He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity (or liberality): he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness, &c. distributing to the necessity of the saints: given to hospitality, &c.Rom. xii. 8. 13. xvi. 1, 2.

It hath pleased them of Macedonia, &c. to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.-Rom. xv. 26.

Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.— 1 Cor. xvi. 2.

As ye abound in every thing, &c. see that ye abound in this grace also: I speak, &c. to prove the sincerity of your love for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich, &c. As there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also, out of that which you have: for if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.-2 Cor. viii. 7—9. 11, 12.

He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.-2 Cor. ix. 6-9.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men; especially unto them who are of the household of faith.--Gal. vi. 10. 3 John 5, 6.

Rather let him labour, working

with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.-Eph. iv. 28.

Paul commends the Philippians for their sending to his relief and said, Not because I desire a gift; but I desire fruit that may abound to your account, &c. My God shall supply all your needs, &c.-Phil. iv. 1417. 19.

This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat, &c: We command, &c. that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.-2 Thess. iii. 10-12. If any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety (or kindness) at home, and to requite their parents; for that is good and acceptable before God. And if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house (or kindred), he hath denied the

be naked, &c. and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, &c. and ye give them not, &c. what doth it profit?-James ii. 5. 15, 16.

Use hospitality one to another, without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, so let him minister the same one to another, as good stewards, &c. If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified, through Jesus Christ.-1 Pet. iv. 9-11.

Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him; how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.—1 John iii. 17, 18.

CHAP. XVI.

faith, and is worse than an infidel, THE DUTIES OF BELIEVERS, TOWARDS &c. If any man or woman that believeth, have widows, let them relieve them; and let not the church be charged.- Tim. v. 4. 8. 16.

Charge them that are rich in this world, &c. that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store a good foundation. -1 Tim. vi. 17-19.

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, &c. and in how many things he ministered to me at Ephesus, &c.-2 Tim. i. 16. 18. Philem. 7.

God is not unrighteous, to forget your work, &c. which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Heb. vi. 10.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares, &c. To do good, and to communicate, forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.-Heb. xiii. 2. 16.

Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom? If a brother or sister

EACH OTHER, AS THEY STAND RE-
LATED ONE TO ANOTHER IN THE
FLESH.

SECT. 1. Husbands to Wives, and Wives to Husbands. Of Marriage, &c. Of Women.

AND the Lord said, It is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him an help meet for him, &c. Adam said, This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh.— Gen. ii. 18. 23, 24.

God commanded Abraham to hearken to his wife in the case of Ishmael and Isaac.-Gen. xxi. 12.

Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, &c. and when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.Gen. xxix. 30, 31.

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said unto Jacob, Give

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