joice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. Instances of good counsel received. By Moses, Exod. xviii. 19.-By Bathsheba, 1 Kings i. 12.-By the king of Israel, 2 Kings vi. 9, 10.-By the king of Judah, 2 Chron. xxx. 2. 23.-By the princes of Judah, Ezek. x. 3. 8. L. Rejecting evil counsel; the duty and safety thereof. Ps. i. 1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. Job xxi. 16.-xxii. 18. Prov. i. 10. If sinners entice thee consent thou not. xix. 27. Cease to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. Followers of evil counsel punished. Instances thereof. Those who followed the counsel of Balaam, Numb. xxxi. 16. -Rehoboam for following the counsel of the young men, 1 Kings xii. 8. 14.Ahaziah for following the evil counsel of his mother, 2 Chron. xxii. 3, 4, 5. LI. Mutual obligatious to giving and receiving instruction from one another. Prov. iv. 13. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her, for she is thy life. Ch. i. 2, 3.-v. 1.—vi. 28. viii. 10. Receive my instructions, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.-Ver. 33. Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not. ix. 9. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. x. 17. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction; but he that refuseth reproof erreth. of knowledge.-Ver. 23. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. Job iv. 3. Thou hast instructed many, and hast strengthened the weak hands. Dan. xi. 33. They that understand among the people shall instruct many. See Prov. i. 2, 3. LII. Of refusing instruction. Prov. i. 7. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Ch. xv. 5. v. 23. The wicked shall die without instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. Ver. 12, 13. xiii. 18. Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction, but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. xvi. 22. Understanding is a wellspring of life to him that hath it, but the instruction of fools is folly. See Heb. v. 12. LIII. To edify one another. Rom. xiv. 19. Let us follow after the things which make for peace, and the things wherewith one may edify another. xv. 2. Let every one please his neighbour for his good to edification. 1 Cor. viii. 1. Charity edifieth. xiv. 26. Let all things be done to edifying. Eph. iv. 29. Let no corrupt communications proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. 1 Thess. v. 11. Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another. See Eph. iv. 16. 1 Cor. x. 23-—xiv. 3, 12. LIV. To exhort one another. Heb. iii. 13. Exhort one another daily, while xii. 1. Whoso loveth instruction lov-it is called To-day, lest any of you be eth knowledge; but he that hateth re-hardened through the deceitfulness of proof is brutish. xv. 32. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul; but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. xix. 20. Hear counsel and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. Ver. 27. Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. xxi. 11. When a scorner is punished the simple is made wise, but when the wise is instructed he receiveth knowledge. xxiii. 12. Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words sin. x. 24. Let us consider one another, to provoke one another to love and to good works.-Ver. 25. Exhorting one another. LV. To warn one another. 1 Thess. V. 11. Warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. LVI. To admonish one another. Eccl. v. 13. Better is a poor and wise child, than an old and foolish king, that will no more be admonished. xii. 11, 12. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fixed by the mas ters of assemblies. By these, my son, be thou admonished. Rom. xv. 14. I myself am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Col. iii. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another. 2 Thess. iii. 14, 15. If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. LVII. To rebuke one another, and to hearken to rebuke. Lev. xix. 17. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Prov. xxviii. 23. He that rebuketh a man, afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. Ch. xxvii. 5. xxiv. 25. To them that rebuke the wicked shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. Matt. viii. 33. Jesus rebuked Peter. Luke xxiii. 40. One of the malefactors rebuked the other. 1 Tim. v. 20. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others may fear. LVIII. Of not giving and receiving rebuke. Prov. ix. 7, 8. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame, and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth to himself a blot. Reprove not a scornlest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. er, xiii. 1. A scorner heareth not rebuke. Amos v. 10. The wicked hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. Matt. vii. 6. Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine; lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 1 Tim. v. 1. Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father. LIX. To reprove one another. Ps. cxli. 5. Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head. Prov. xxvii. 6. Prov. vi. 23. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life. xiii. 18. He that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. xxv. 10. As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover on an obedient ear. the unfruitful works of darkness, but Eph. v. 11. Have no fellowship with things that are reproved, are made manirather reprove them.-Ver. 13. All fest by the light. LX. Of not hearkening to reproof. Prov. x. 17. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction, but he that refuseth reproof erreth. xii. 1. Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge, but he that hateth reproof is brutish. xviii. 10. Correction is grievious to him that forsaketh the way, and he that hateth reproof shall die.-Ver. 12. A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him, neither will he go unto the wise. xxix. 1. He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Isa. xxix. 20, 21. The terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all them that watch for iniquity are cut off: that make a man an offender for a word, and that lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and that turn aside the just for a thing of nought. Hos. iv. 4. Let no man strive, nor reprove another; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Luke iii. 19. Herod being reproved by John, for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evil he had done, shut up John in prison. evil hateth the light; neither cometh John iii. 20. Every one that doeth to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. LXI. Gentleness, Gal. v. 22. The fruit of the Spirit is gentleness, kindness. James iii. 17. The wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, &c. Examples. Isa. xl. 11. Christ will gently lead those that are with young. 2 Cor. x. 1. I beseech you by the gentleness of Christ. 1 Thess. ii. 7. We [the apostles] were gentle among you. 2 Tim. ii. 24. The servant of the Lord must be gentle. Tit. iii. 2. KINDNESS. LXII. To show kindness commanded. Rom. xii. 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another. 1 Cor. xiii. 4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind. 2 Cor. vi. 4. Approving ourselves as the ministers of God.-Ver. 6. By pureness, by kindness, &c. Eph. iv. 32. Be ye kind one to another, tender hearted. Col. iii. 12. Put on as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, &c. xxvii. 9. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend, by hearty counsel. Ver. 10. Thine own friend and thy father's friend forsake not, neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near, than a brother far off. Ver. 17. Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. John xv. 13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 1 John iii. 16. Acts xv. 26. LXV. Unfaithfulness in friendship. should be shewed from his friend; but Job vi. 14. To him that is afflicted, pity he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. -Ver. 27. Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend. Ch. xvi. 2.-xxi. 34. 'xvi. 20. My friends scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. xvii. 5. He that speaketh flattery to 2 Pet. i. 7. Add to godliness brotherly his friends, even the eyes of his children kindness. LXIII. To give comfort. Job xxix. 25. Job said, I sat as one that comforteth the mourners. shall fail. xix. 14. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. -Ver. 19. All my friends abhorred Isa. xl. 1. Comfort ye, comfort ye me, and they whom I loved are turned my people, saith your God. 2 Cor. i. 4. God comforteth us, that we may be able to comfort them that are in trouble. ii. 7. Ye ought to forgive and comfort him, [the offender,] lest perhaps such an one should be swallowed up of too much sorrow. LXIV. Friendship, and faithfulness therein. Job xix. 21. Have pity upon me, O ye my friends, for the hand of God hath touched me. Ch. vi. 14. Prov. vi. 3. Make sure thy friend. xvii. 17. A friend loveth at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. xviii. 24. A man that hath friends, must shew himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. xx. 6. Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find. against me. Ps. xxxviii. 11. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore, and my kinsmen stand afar off. xli. 2. Mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. lv. 12-14. If it was an enemy that reBut it was thou, a man, mine equal, my proached me, then I could have borne it. guide and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company. Ixix. 20. I looked for comforters, but I found none. lxxxviii. 18. Lover and friend thou hast put far from me. Prov. xiv. 20. The poor is hated even of his own neighbour, but the rich hath many friends. xix. 4. Wealth maketh many friends, but the poor is separated from his neighbour. Ver. 6, 7. xxii. 24. Make no friendship with an angry man. XXV. 19. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint. xxvi. 14. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. Lam. i. 2. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her. Mic. vii. 5. Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide. Zech. xiii. 6. I was wounded in the house of my friends. Of bearing with one another's weaknesses in matters of religion. Rom. xiv. 1. Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. xv. 1. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 1 Cor. xiii. 7. Charity beareth all things, endureth all things. Gal. vi. 1, 2. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. FORBEARANCE. LXVI. Forbearance. Forbearing to judge one another on account of differences. Isa. lxv. 2. 5. A rebellious people which walketh in a way not good, after their own thoughts; which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou: these are a smoke in my nose. Isa. lxvi. 5. Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word. Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. Compare Matt. i. 11. Luke vi. 22, 23. Matt. vii. 1, 2. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. (Luke vi. 37.) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to again. you Ver. 3-5. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. John viii. 7. Jesus said, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone. Rom. ii. 1-3. Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest, for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thyself, for thou that judgest doest the same things. We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth, against them that commit such things. Thinkest thou, O man, which judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? xiv. 2-4. 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 which eateth not, judge him that eateth. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Ver. 5. One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike: let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Ver. 10. Why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.-Ver. 12, 13. Every one of us shall give an account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more. Gal. vi. 5. Every man shall bear his own burden. 1 Cor. iv. 5. Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come. James iv. 11, 12. He that judgeth his brother judgeth the law; but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; who art thou that judgest another? See 1 Cor. v. 10. 13. See those that despised Christ, Luke xvi. 15. See also the proud Pharisee. Ch. xviii. 11. GOOD EXAMPLE. LXVII. Setting good example. Matt. v. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Col. iv, 5. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without. 1 Thess. iv. 12. Neh. v. 9. 1 Tim. iv. 12. Be thou an example of believers. OF ENTICING OTHERS. LXVIII. Of enticing others, and being enticed to sin. Jer. xx. 10, 11. My familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him. But the Lord is with me; therefore they shall not prevail. Prov. i. 10. If sinners entice thee, consent thou not. (Ver. 11 to 14.) Ver. 15. Walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path. xxviii. 10. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit. Hab. ii. 15. Wo to him that giveth his neighbour drink, and maketh him drunken, &c. Rom. xiv. 13. Let no man put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Ver. 21. 1 Cor. viii. 9. 12, 13. 2 Cor. xi. 29. 1 Tim. v. 22. Be not partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. Rev. ii. 14. I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. Numb. xxv. 1. See False teachers deceive the people: Commandment Fifth. Instance, Neh. vi. 13. OF GRATITUDE. LXIX. Of gratitude, or returns of friendship. Instances thereof. Exod. ii. 20. Reuel to Moses. 1 Sam. xv. 6. Saul to the Kenites. 2 Sam. x. 2. David to Hanun. ix. 17. David to Jonathan's family xix. 32 to 38. David to Barzillai. 1 Kings ii. 7. OF INGRATITUDE. LXX. Ingratitude. Instances. Gen. xl. 23. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. Judg. viii. 35. The children of Israel Idid not shew kindness to the house of Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel. Ps. xxxv. 12. They rewarded me evil for good, to the spoiling of my soul. (Ps. xxxviii. 20.-cii. 5.) Ver. 13. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. Ver. 14, 15. I humbled my soul with fasting, I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. But in my adversity they rejoiced. Ps. cix. 4, 5. Prov. xvii. 13. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. See 1 Sam. xxiii. 5. 12. -xxv. 21. Jer. xviii. 20, 21. Eccl. ix. 14, 15. CHAPTER XVII. DUTIES TOWARD OURSELVES. TEMPERANCE. I. THE temperate use of meat and drink allowed. Eccl. ii. 24. There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. Ch. iii. 13.-v. 18, 19, 20. 1 Tim. iv. 3-5. Meats God hath created to be received with thanksgiving, of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. For it |