man, in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. Jer. ii. 37. The Lord hath rejected thy confidence in Egypt and Assyria. Ezek. xxix. 16. xlviii. 13. The house of Israel was ashamed of Beth-el their confidence. Kings xii. 29. 1 Prov. viii. 17. Those that seek me early shall find me. Isa. xlv. 19. I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. Lam. iii. 25. The Lord is good to them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. Hos. x. 12. Seek the Lord, till he Phil. iii. 3. Have no confidence in the come and rain righteousness upon you. flesh. CXXXIII. Assurance of the righteous. Isa. xxxii. 17. The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever. See 1 John iii. 19. CXXXV. God is to be sought with all the heart. Deut. iv. 29. Thou shalt find the Lord, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Jer. xxix. 13, 14. Ps. cxix. 2. Blessed are they that seek the Lord with their whole heart. 1 Chron. xxii. 19. Set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. Isa. xxvi. 9. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early. Ps. lxiii. 8. My soul followeth hard after thee. CXXXVI. Promises to them that seek God. See the first two texts in the last section. Ezra viii. 22. The hand of God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. Ps. ix. 10. Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. xxxiv. 10. They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Ixix. 32. Your heart shall live that seek the Lord. Amos v. 4. Thus saith the Lord to the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live.-Ver. 6. Seek the Lord, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el. Ver. 8. Seek him that maketh the seven stars, and Orion; that turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night, &c. Ver. 9. Zeph. ii. 3. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgments: seek righteousness, seek meekness, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. He that seeketh findeth. Matt. vii. 7, 8. Seek and ye shall find. 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. 2 Chron. xv. 2. Heb. xi. 6. God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. See Job viii. 5, 6 Ps. xxii. 25. CXXXVII. Prayers for them that seek God. 2 Chron. xxx. 18-20. Hezekiah prayed, saying, Good Lord, pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. Ps. lxix. 6. Let none of those that seek thee be confounded. lxx. 4. Let all those that seek thee, rejoice and be glad in thee; and let such as love thy salvation say continually, the Lord be magnified. cv. 3. Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. 1 Chron. xvi. 10. CXXXVIII. Examples of God's people seeking him. 2 Chron. xi. 16. Out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers, [and would not worship the calves set up by Jerooam.] xiv. 4. Asa commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandments. Ver. 7. 182 Not seeking God.-Drawing near to God. CHAP. XIV 2 Chron. xv. 12, 13. Israel entered intc a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul: And that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel, should be put to death. 2 Kings xxiii. 3. Neh. x. 29. 2 Chron. xxiv. 31. xvii. 3, 4. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat; because he sought the Lord God of his fathers, and walked in his commandments. Ch. xix. 3.—xx. 3.-xxii. 9. xxvi. 5. Uzziah sought God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. Ver. 7. xxxi. 21. In every work that Hezekiah began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. Ezra vi. 21. The children of Israel separated themselves from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel. vii. 10. Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. Job v. 8. I would seek_unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause. Ps. xxiv. 6. This is the generation of them that seek him. xxxiv. 4. I sought the Lord; he heard, and delivered me from all my fears. Ch. lxxvii. 2. Song iii. 2. I will seek him whom my soul loveth. Ch. vi. 1. Isa. xxvi. 9. With my spirit within me, will I seek thee early. Dan. ix. 3. I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fastings, and sackcloth and ashes. Mal. iii. 1. The Lord [Christ] whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple. Isa. 1. 4, 5. Hos. iii. 5. Zech. viii. 21, 22. NOT SEEKING GOD. CXXXIX. The wicked seek not God. 2 Chron. xvi. 2. Asa in his disease, sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians. Ps. x. 14. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. xiv. 2, 3. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. They are all gone aside. Ps. lii. 2. Rom. iii. 11. CXL. They seek not God aright. 2 Chron. xii. 14. Rehoboam prepared not his heart to seek the Lord. Isa. lviii. 2, 3. They seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinances of their God; they seek of me the ordinances of justice, they take delight in approaching unto God. In the day of your fast, ye exact all your labours; ye fast for strife. John vi. 26. Threats against the wicked, who seek not God aright. Ps. lxxxiii. 16. Fill their faces with shame, O Lord, that they may seek thy name. cxix 155. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they seek not thy statutes. Prov. i. 8. They shall seek me early, but shall not find me. Isa. ix. 13, 14. The people turned not to him that smiteth them; neither do they seek the Lord of hosts. Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel, head and tail, &c. Hos. vii. 10. 13, 14. 16. xxxi. 1. Woe to them that go down to Egypt, that stay on horses, that trust in chariots, but look not to the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord. Ch. xxii. 21. Jer. x. 21. The pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord; therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. Hos. v. 5, 6. The pride of Israel doth testify to his face, therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity. They shall go with their flocks and their herds, to seek the Lord, but they shall not find him: he hath withdrawn himself from them. Ver. 15. I will go and return to my place, saith the Lord, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Zeph. i. 6. John vii. 34. Jesus said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me. viii. 21. Ye shall seek me, and die in your sins. DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. CXLI. Drawing near to God. Lev. x. 3. The Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in all them that come nigh me, and before all the people will I be glorified. 1 Sam. xiv. 36. The priest said, Let us draw near to God. CHAP. XIV. Coming to God, &c.-Departing from God. Ps. lxv. 4. Blessed is the man whom thou causest to approach unto thee. lxxiii. 28. It is good for me that I draw near to God. Jer. xxx. 21, 22. I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me. And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. Heb. x. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. Ch. vii. 19. James iv. 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Isa. xxix. 13. The wicked draw nigh with their lips only. Matt. xv. 8. Ezek. xxxiii. 31. FOLLOWING GOD. CXLIII. Following God. 1 Sam. xii. 14. Continue following the Lord your God. Ver. 20, 21. 25. 1 Kings ix. 6, 7, 8. If ye will not, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you. 1 Kings xviii. 21. Elijah said, If the Lord be God, follow him. Deut. xiii. 4. Ps. lxiii. 8. My soul followeth hard after thee. Eph. v. 1. Be ye followers of God as dear children. A a 183 CXLIV. Following Christ. Matt. xvi. 24. Jesus said, If any man will come after me, let him take up his cross and follow me. John xii. 26. John viii. 12. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness. x. 27, 28. My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. FORSAKING GOD. Threats. 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. If thou forsake God he will cast thee off for ever. 2 Chron. xv. 21. The Lord is with you while ye be with him, and if ye seek him he will be found of you: if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever. xxiv. 20. Because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath forsaken you. Ezra viii. 2. God's power and wrath is against all that forsake him. Isa. i. 4. They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger.-Ver. 28. They that forsake the Lord shall be consumed. Jer. ii. 13. My people have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water. Ver. 19. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee; know therefore, and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God. See ver. 14-18. xvii. 13. O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed. See Deut. viii. 20.-xxxi. 16, 17.—xxxii. 15 to 32. 2 Chron. xii. 15. Isa. lxv. 11. DEPARTING FROM GOD. CXLVI. Departing from God. Jer. xvii. 5. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from God. Ver. 13. Ezek. xviii. 24.—xxxiii. 12. See this sin confessed, Dan. ix. 5. 11. Isa. lix. 12, 13. Not departing from God. Instances. 2 Sam. xxii. 22, 23. I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God: For all his judg ments were before me; and as for his statutes, I did not wickedly depart from them. See Ps. xviii. 21. Ps. cxix. 3. 8. 10, 11. 102. 184 Backsliding.-Going astray.-Worship. BACKSLIDING. CXLVII. Backsliding from God. Prov. xiv. 14. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways. Isa. i. 4. They are gone away back ward. Jer. vii. 24. Jer. ii. 19. Thy backslidings shall reprove thee. v. 6, 7. Their transgressions are many, their backslidings are increased. How shall I pardon thee? Ch. viii. 5. 13.xiv. 2 to 7. xv. 6. Thou hast forsaken me, and art gone away backward; therefore will I destroy thee. xlix. 4. O backsliding daughter, I will bring a fear upon thee. Hos. iv. 16. Israel slideth back, as a backsliding heifer. xi. 6, 7. The sword shall abide on his cities; for my people are bent to backsliding. Heb. x. 38, 39. If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Promise. Hos. xiv. 1. Return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.-Ver. 4. I will heal your backslidings. Jer. iii. 22. GOING ASTRAY. CXLVIII. The wicked go aside, go astray, err, wander, turn away from God. Ps. xiv. 3. They are all gone aside, &c. lviii. 3. The wicked are estranged from the very womb: they go astray as soon as born. lxxviii. 57. They are turned aside like a deceitful bow. Ver. 62. xcv. 10. It is a people that do err in heart. Prov. v. 23. The wicked shall die without instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. xiv. 22. Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. Isa. xliv. 20. A deceived heart hath turned him aside: he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? Jer. ii. 27. They have turned their back unto me, and not their face. viii. 6. Every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. CXLIX. Confession. Isa. liii. 6. All we like lost sheep have gone astray; CHAP. XIV. we have turned every one to his own way. CL. Threats. Ps. cxix. 21. Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, that do err from thy commandments.-Ver. 118. Thou hast trodden down all them that do err from thy statutes. Prov. xxviii. 10. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, shall fall himself into his own pit. James v. 20. He that converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. 2 Pet. iii. 17. Beware lest ye be led away with the error of the wicked. See Rom. i. 27. WORSHIP. CLI. Worship due to God only. See Command. 1st. 2 Kings xvii. 36. The Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice. Neh. ix. 6. Ps. xxii. 37. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before him. Ver. 29. Ps. lxxxvi. 9, 10. xcv. 6, 7. O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is God. xcvii. 7. Worship him all ye gods. xcix. 5. Worship at his footstool, for he is holy.-Ver. 9. Worship at his holy hill. Isa. lxvi. 23. All flesh shall come and worship before me, saith the Lord. Zeph. ii. 11. Men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen. Rev. iv. 10. In heaven the four and twenty elders fell down before him that sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. See Ch. v. 14.-vii. 11.-xi. 16.-xiv. 7.xix. 4. xv. 4. All nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made manifest. Heb. i. 6. Let all the angels of God to Christ, see Worship offered to him by worship Christ.- -For the worship due the church in heaven and on earth, Chap. upon the Dignity and Offices of Jesus Christ. Angels not to be worshipped. See Col. . 18. Rev. xix. 10, 11.-xxii. 8, 9. Against worshipping creatures for God, me, teaching for doctrines the commandsee Commandments I. and II. ments of men. See Acts xvii. 25. CLII. How God is to be worshipped. 1 Chron. xvi. 29. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. xxix. 9. With a perfect heart the people offered willingly to the Lord. Ps. li. 6. Thou desirest truth in the inward parts. Ver. 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. John iv. 23. The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Acts xxiv. 14. After the way which they (the Jews) call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers; believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets. Phil. iii. 3. We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. See Mal. i. 11. iii. 4. CLIII. Worship offered by the wicked unacceptable to God. Isa. i. 11, 12. To what purpose are the multitude of your sacrifices to me? saith the Lord. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hands, to tread my courts? Ps. 1. 16, 17. Unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes? or that thou shouldst take my covenant in thy mouth? seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee. Prov. vii. 14. The whorish woman said, I have peace-offerings with me; this day I have paid my vows.-Ver. 27. Her house is the way to hell, &c. Mal. i. 8. If ye offer the blind, the lame and the sick for sacrifice, is it not evil? offer it up to thy governor, will he be pleased with thee?-Ver. 10. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts; neither will I accept an offering at your hands. See Ver. 9. 13, 14. Matt. xv. 8, 9. This people draweth near me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship FASTING. CLIV. Fasting appointed by God. Lev. xxiii. 27, 28. The tenth day of the seventh month shall be a day of atonement, an holy convocation unto you; ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. Ye shall do no work in that same day. See to ver. 33. CLV. Fasts extraordinary and miraculous.-Kept by Moses, Exod. xxxiv. 28.-By Elijah, 1 Kings xix. 8.—By Jesus Christ, Matt. iv. 2. CLVI. Fasting acceptably. Isa. lviii. 6. Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke.-Ver. 7. To deal thy bread to the hungry, and to bring the poor that are cast out into thine house; when thou seest the naked that thou cover him, &c. Zech. viii. 19. Matt. vi. 16. When ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. Ver. 17, 18. When thou fastest anoint thine head and wash thy face: that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret. CLVII. Fasts of the wicked. Isa. lviii. 3, 4. In the days of your fast ye exact debate. Ver. 5. all your labours. Ye fast for strife and Jer. xiv. 12. When they fast I will not hear their cry. Zech. vii. 5. Matt. vi. 16. Hypocrites fast with a sad countenance, to appear unto men. Luke xviii. 12. The Pharisee said, I fast twice in the week; yet he was not justified. See an hypocritical fast appointed by Jezebel, 1 Kings xxi. 9. CLVIII. Occasions of fasts observed by God's people before war, or an expected attack from an enemy. 2 Chron. xx. 3. At the approach of enemies, king Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast.-Ver. 15. He and his people are delivered from their enemies. See 1 Sam. vii. 6. Esther iv.3. The Jews, when threatened with destruction in Babylon, fast. -Ver. 16. Are delivered. CLIX. After being defeated by enemies. See Josh. vii. 6. Judg. xx. 26. 1 Sam. xxxi. 13. 2 Sam. i. 12. At calamities from the hand of God, upon man or beast, or |