Imatges de pàgina
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upon this city'? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel' by profaning the Sabbath. Ezek. xx. 15, 16, 17, Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk' and honey', which is the glory of all lands'; Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes', but polluted my Sabbaths: for their heart` went after their idols. 17, Nevertheless mine eye spared them' from destroying them', neither did I make an end of them' in the wilderness`.

5. Proofs that the Sabbath-day was changed from the seventh day to the first day of the week.-Acts xx. 7, And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread', Paul preach. ed unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech' until midnight. 1 Cor. xvi. 2, Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him', that there be no gatherings when I come. Rev. i. 10, 11, I was in the Spirit' on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying', I am Alpha and Omega', the first' and the last`.

XV. OUR DUTY TO OURSELVES IN REFERENCE TO GOD.

1. Consideration and Meditation.-Deut. viii. 2, 5, And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee' these forty years in the wil

derness, to humble thee, and to prove thee', to know what was in thine heart', whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no`. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that as a man chasteneth his son', so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee`. Deut. ix. 7, Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath' in the wilderness`; from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place', ye have been rebellious against the Lord'. Deut. xxxii. 29, Oh that they were wise', that they understood this', that they would consider their latter end'. Josh. i. 8, This book of the law' shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night', that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous', and then thou shalt have good success. Isa. i. 3, The ox knoweth his owner', and the ass his master's crib': but Israel doth not know', my people doth not consider. Jer. v. 24, Neither say they in their heart', Let us now fear the Lord our God', that giveth rain`, both the former and the latter' in his season: he reserveth unto us' the appointed weeks of the harvest`. Ezek. xviii. 28, Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed', he shall surely live, he shall not die'. Hos. vii. 2, And they consider not in their hearts', that I remember all their wickedness': now their own doings' have beset them about`; they are before my face`. Hag. i. 7, Thus saith the Lord of hosts', Consider

your ways. Heb. xii. 3, Consider him (Christ) that endureth such contradiction of sinners against himself', lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

2. Watchfulness.-Deut. iv. 9, Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently', lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart' all the days of thy life`; but teach them diligently, thy sons', and thy sons' sons'. Prov. iv. 23, Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it' are the issues of life'. Matt. xxv. 13, Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day' nor the hour' wherein the Son of man cometh'. Matt. xxvi. 41, Watch and pray', that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing', but the flesh is weak. Mark xiii. 37, And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch. Luke xxi. 36, Watch ye therefore, and pray always', that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass', and to stand before the Son of man'. Heb. iii. 12, 13, Take heed brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief' in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily', while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened' through the deceitfulness of sin`. 1 Pet. v. 8, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil', as a roaring lion', walketh about seeking whom he may devour'. Rev. iii. 2, Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain', that are ready to die': for I have not found thy works perfect' before God. Rev. xvi. 15, Behold, I come as

a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth', and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked`, and they see his shame'.

3. Diligence.-Prov. x. 4, He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand': but the hand of the diligent' maketh rich. Eccles. ix. 10, Whatsoever thy 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`. Rom. xii. 11, Not slothful' in business`; fervent in spirit'; serving the Lord'. 1 Cor. ix. 24, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize'? So run' that ye may obtain`. Phil. iii. 12—14, Not as though I had already attained', either were already perfect`; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus`. Brethren', I count not myself to have apprehended`: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind`, and reaching forth unto those things which are be fore, I press toward the mark`, for the prize of the high calling of God' in Christ Jesus'. 1 Thes. iv. 1, Furthermore, then, we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus', that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God', so ye would abound more and more`. vi. 12, Be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience' inherit the promises`. Heb. xii. 1, 2, Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses', let

Heb.

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, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 2 Pet. i. 5-7, And besides this', giving all diligence', add to your faith', virtue'; and to virtue', knowledge; and to knowledge', temperance; and to temperance,' patience; and to patience, godliness'; and to godliness', brotherly. kindness; and to brotherly-kindness', charity`, 2 Pet. iii. 14, Wherefore, beloved', seeing that ye look for such things', be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot', and blameless`. 18, But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ'. glory both now' and for ever.

Amen'.

To him be

4. Temperance. (1.) In meat and drink.-Deut. xxi. 20, 21, And they (his father and mother) shall say unto the elders of his city', This our son is stubborn' and rebellious`, he will not obey' our voice`; he is a glutton' and a drunkard`. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones', that he die': so shalt thou put evil' away from among you`; and all Israel shall hear, and fear'. Deut. xxix. 19, 20, And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse', that he bless himself in his heart, saying', I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart', to add drunkenness to thirst'.

The

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