tions, do the work of an evangelist, make full | a word behind thee, saying, this is the way, proof of thy ministry. walk ye in it. Tit. i. 9. By sound doctrine convince gainsayers. ii. 1. Speak the things that become sound doctrine. Ver. 7, 8. In doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned.-Ver. 15. These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Heb. x. 11. Every priest standeth daily ministering. xiii. 17. Ministers watch for souls, as they that must give account. 1 Pet. v. 2. Feed the flock of God; taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. iv. 11. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; 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. 2 Pet. i. 12. I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.-Ver. 13. I think it my duty to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. (Ch. iii. 1.) Ver. 15. I will endeavour, that after my decease, ye may have these things always in remembrance. Phil. iii. 1. 1 John i. 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. Jer. iii. 15. I will give you pastors according to my heart, that shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. xxiii. 4. I will set up shepherds over them, which shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord. Isa. Ixii. 6. CXXII. A faithful ministry. Promises 8. Let thy Urim and thy Thummim be with to them, and prayers for them. Deut. xxxiii. thy holy one. Ver. 11. Of Levi-Bless, Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him. Ps. cxv. 12. The Lord hath been mindful will bless the house of Aaron. Ps. cxxxv. 19. of us; he will bless the house of Israel, he I will clothe her priests with salvation, &c. cxxxii. 13. 16. The Lord hath chosen Zion. Isa. xlix. 4. I said, I have laboured in vain, vain; yet surely my judgment is with the I have spent my strength for naught, and in Lord, and my work with my God. take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them. Jer. xv. 19. Thus saith the Lord, If thou xxxi. 14. I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord. xxxiii. 20, 21. If ye can break my cove Jude 3. It was needful that I should writenant of the day and of the night, then may to you and exhort you. CXX. The good effects of preaching. Matt. xii. 41. The men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonas. Jonah iii. 2. 5. Acts ii. 41. At Peter's sermon there were added to the church about three thousand souls. xxi. 19, 20. Paul declared what things God had wrought by his ministry among the Gentiles. And the brethren glorified the Lord. 1 Cor. i. 21. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. iii. 5. Who is Paul, or who is Apollos hut ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? CXXI. A good ministry promised. 1 Sam. ii. 35. I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart, and in my mind. Isa. xxx. 20, 21. Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers. And thine ears shall hear also my covenant be broken with the Levites, the priests, my ministers. Ezek. xliv. 15. The priests that kept my charge when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come unto me, and minis ter unto me. Dan. xii. 3. They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Prov. xi. 30. James v. 20. Matt. v. 19. Whosoever shall do and teach these commandments, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Luke xii. 42, 43. Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. xxii. 29. Jesus said, I appoint unto you a kingdom. Matt. xix. 28. John iv. 36. He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal. See 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. Rev. ii. 10. CXXIII. Holy and unblameable in life Ver. 8. Likewise must the deacons be grave, &c. See to ver. 14. and conversation. Lev. xxi. 6. The priests Matt. v. 13. Ye are the salt of the earth.-ance to reading, &c. x. 16. Be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Acts xx. 28. Take heed unto yourselves. Rom. ii. 21. Thou that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? 1 Cor. ix. 27. Paul said, I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away. Matt. vii. 22. 2 Cor. vi. 3. Giving no offence, that the ministry be not blamed. Ver. 4. In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, &c.Ver. 6, 7. By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left. viii. 20. Avoiding this, that no man should blame us. v. 22. Keep thyself pure. vi. 11. Thou, O man of God, follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.-Ver. 12. Fight the good fight of faith.-Ver. 14. Keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable.-Ver. 20. Keep that which is committed to thy trust. 2 Tim. i. 14. 2 Tim. i. 13. Hold fast the form of sound words, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ii. 22. Flee youthful lusts; but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Ver. 24, 25. 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. iii. 10. Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience.-Ver. 14. Continue in the xi. 12. I cut off occasion from them that things which thou hast learned, and hast been seek occasion. Phil. iii. 17. Ye have us for an example. iv. 9. Those things which thou hast heard and seen in me, do, &c. 1 Thess. ii. 10. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you. 2 Thess. iii. 7. We behaved not ourselves disorderly among you.-Ver. 9. To make ourselves an ensample to you to follow us. 1 Tim. iii. 1-6. If a man desire the office of a bishop he desireth a good work. A bishop must be blameless, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous: one that ruleth well his own house. Not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.—Ver. 7. He must have a good report of them that are without, lest he fall into reproach. Tit. i. 7, 8, 9. A bishop must be blameless as the steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convince gainsayers. assured of. Tit. ii. 7. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works. 1 Pet. v. 3. Being ensamples to the flock. See Instances: Acts vi. 3. The seven deacons.-Ch. xvi. 2. Timotheus.-Ch. xxii. 12. Ananias.-Heb. xi. 2. The elders.-3 John 12. Demetrius. CXXIV. Their humility, self-denial, and condescension for the good of mankind, in their office. Rom. i. 11. I long for you, that I may impart some spiritual gift unto you. xi. 13. I magnify my office. 1 Cor. ix. 12. We suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel. Ver. 19. I made myself servant of all, that I might gain the more.- -Ver. 22, 23. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. This I do for the gospel's sake. x. 23. I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. 2 Cor. i. 24 We are helpers of your joy. Acts xvi. 40. ii. 4. The love I have for you all. v. 20. We pray you, be ye reconciled to God. vi. 1. We beseech you, that ye receive faith. For now we live, if ye stand fast in the not the grace of God in vain.-Ver. 13. I Lord. speak as to my children. vii. 4. Great is my glorying of you; I am comforted. (Acts xi. 23.) Ver. 13. We were comforted in your comfort. xi. 2, 3. I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. I fear lest your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (See ver. 23 to 29.) Ver. 11. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. xii. 15. I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more I love you, the less I be loved.-Ver. 19. We do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.-ch. xi. 29. Who is weak and I am not weak? who is offended and I burn not? Gal. iv. 11. I am afraid lest I have bestowed labour on you in vain.-Ver. 19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth till Christ be formed in you. Phil. i. 8. God is my record, how greatly I long after you in the bowels of Jesus Christ. ii. 17. If I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all. Ver. 20. Timotheus will naturally care for your state. iv. 1. Dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown; stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. Col. i. 24. I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his body's sake which is the church. ii. 1, 2. I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them of Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, &c.-Ver. 5. Though I be absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. iv. 8. I sent Timotheus to comfort your hearts. 1 Cor. iv. 17. 1 Thess. iii. 2. Ver. 9. What thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God?-Ver. 10, 11. 2 Tim. ii. 10. I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 3 John 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth. 2 John 4. CXXV. They seek not applause from men; they flatter not men in their vices and prejudices. Thess. ii. 4-6. We speak not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. Neither used we flattering words.Nor of men sought we glory. Gal. i. 10. If I yet pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ. CXXVI. They seek not riches of men; of filthy lucre. 1 Pet. v. 2. Feek the flock of God, taking Luke ix. 62. 2 Tim. ii. 4. See instances: the oversight, not for filthy lucre's sake. See Samuel, 1 Sam. xii. 1, 2, 3.-Paul, 1 Cor. ix. 2 Cor. vii. 2.-ix. 11.-xii. 13. 17, 1 Thess. ii. 5. Phil. iv. 11, 12. 14, 15. CXXVII. Their duty and encouragement to speak boldly the truths of religion without fear. Isa. I. 4. The Lord God hath given know how to speak a word in season to him me the tongue of the learned, that I should that is weary. I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I Jer. i. 7, 8. The Lord said to me, Say not, send thee, and whatsoever I shall command thee, that thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. (Ver. 5. 9.) Ver. 17. Be not afraid of their faces, lest I confound thee before them. Ch. vi. 27.-xv. 20, 21.—xx. 11. Ezek. ii. 6, 7. Ezek. iii. 8. I have made thy face strong against their faces. Ver. 9. Matt. x. 28. Fear not them which kill the 1 Thess. ii. 7, 8. We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. Being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the gos-body. pel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. Ver. 9. Labouring night and day, we preached the gospel unto you.-Ver. 11. We exhorted and comforted, and cherished every one of you, as a father doth his children.-Ver. 19. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ? iii. 7, 8. Brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress, by your Ver. 26. 31. Acts iv. 29. Lord, grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but xviii. 9, 10. Then spake the Lord to Paul speak and hold not thy peace. For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city. Ver. 11. concern the Lord Jesus, with all confidence. xxviii. 31. Paul taught those things that Eph. vi. 19, 20. Paul said, Pray for me, that utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel; that I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. Prov. xxix. 25. The fear of man bringeth a snare. Rev. xxi. 8. The fearful and unbelieving shall have their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. See Moses's excuse, and God's reply to him, Exod. iv. 10 to 13. CXXVIII. Instances of becoming boldness in reproving sinners, and declaring the truths of religion. 1 Sam. xiii. 13. Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly, thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God. 2 Chron. xvi. 7. 9. 2 Sam. xii. 7. Nathan said to David, Thou art the man [that hast done wickedly].-Ver. 9. Wherefore hast thou despised the Lord, to do evil in his sight? 1 Kings xxi. 20. Elijah said to Ahab, Thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord. See more instances: In a prophet, 2 Chron. xxv. 16.-Daniel, Dan. iv. 27.-v. 22, 23.-John Baptist, Matt. xiv. 4.-Peter and John, Acts iv. 13. 18, 19, 20.-Paul, Acts ix. 29. xix. 8. 2 Cor. x. 1, 2.-xi. 21. Rom. xv. 15. 1 Thess. ii. 2.-Barnabas and Paul, Acts xiii. 46.-xiv. 3.-Apollos, Acts xviii. 25, 26.-Many brethren, Phil. i. 14. CXXIX. The sufferings of the apostles, &c. for religion. Acts v. 41. The apostles departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ. ix. 16. The Lord said of Paul, I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. xx. 23, 24. Paul said, The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, That bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 1 Cor. ii. 3. I was with you in weakness and in fear, &c. iv. 9, 10. God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle unto the world, to angels and to men. We are fools, we are weak, we are despised. Ver. 11-13. We hunger and thirst, are naked, buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 2 Cor. i. 5. The sufferings of Christ abound in us. Ver. 8, 9. In Asia, we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life. We had the sentence of death within ourselves.-Ver. 10. God delivered us. vi. 4, 5. In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings.-Ver. 8-10. By hohour and dishonour; by evil report, and good and yet well known; as dying, and behold we as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things. report; xi. 23. In labours abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons frequent, in deaths oft. Ver. 25, 26. Ver. 27. In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Eph. vi. 20. For the gospel I am an ambassador in bonds. 1 Tim. iv. 10. We labour and suffer reproach. 2 Tim. ii. 3. Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Ch. iv. 5. iii. 11, 12. Thou hast known what persecutions I endured. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Acts xiv. 22. Heb. xi. 25. Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Ver. 26. Ch. xiii. 13. Ver. 36, 37. Others had trial of cruel mockings, and scourgings. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, &c. Ver. 38. Rev. xvi. 6. They shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are worthy. xi. 7. The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit, shall make war against the witnesses, and shall overcome them, and shall kill them. Ch. xvii. 6. I saw the woman [Babylon, the mother of harlots,] drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. xii. 6. The woman [the church] fled into the wilderness. Ver. 14. CXXX. Their temperance. Lev. x. 8, 9. The Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine, nor strong drink, thou nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die. Ezek. xliv. 21. Luke i. 15. ness. Luke xxi. 34. Jesus said unto his disciples, all patience and long-suffering with joyfulTake heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life. 1 Cor. ix. 27. Paul said, I keep my body under. Jer. xxxv. 6. 1 Tim. iii. 3. A bishop must not be given to wine. Tit. i. 7. See wine forbidden to Nazarites, Numb. vi. 3. Amos ii. 12. CXXXI. They pray for the people. Numb. vi. 23-26. On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, the Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Joel ii. 17. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thy heritage to reproach. Rom. i. 9. Without ceasing, I make mention of you always in my prayers. iv. 12. Labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 1 Thess. iii. 12, 13. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love, one toward another, and toward all men: To the end that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. v. 23. The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. i. 11, 12. 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; that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the x. 1. My heart's desire and prayer to God Lord Jesus Christ. for Israel is, that they might be saved. xv. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing; that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. i. 4. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. xiii. 7. I pray to God that ye do no evil. Eph. i. 16, 17. I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, &c. Ver. 18, 19. Phil. i. 3-6. I thank my God on every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine, for you all, making request, that he that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Christ. Ver. 9-11. This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more; in knowledge, and in all judgment; that ye may approve the things that are excellent; and that ye may be sincere and without offence until the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. ii. 16, 17. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God even our Father, which hath loved us, and given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work. James v. 14. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him. Ver. 15. See more instances of such prayers: Exod. xxxii. 11. Moses for the Israelites, when they offended in making the golden calf. Deut. ix. 20. Numb. xi. 2. For the people, when a fire from the Lord consumed many of them. xiv. 13-20. For the people, when they murmured. xxi. 6, 7, 8. For the people, when bitten with fiery serpents. 1 Sam. xii. 19. 23. Samuel for the people, offending by asking a king. Neh. ix. 6. The priests for the people, to ver. 37. Ch. x. 28 to 39. On which a refor mation ensues. Ch. xii. 43. Dan. ix. 4 to 20. Daniel for the people. For Hab. iii. 2 to 17. Habakkuk for the people. Col. i. 9-11. We cease not to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk CXXXII. The supports of Christians in worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being general, and of the Lord's ministers in partifruitful in every good work, increasing in the cular under sufferings for religion. Isa. lxvi. knowledge of God; strengthened with all 5. Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremmight, according to his glorious power, unto | ble at his word, Your brethren that hated you, |