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 cast away. Matt. vii. 22. 2 Cor. vi. 3. Giving none 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. By pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by the Holy Ghost, by love un of unfeigned. Ver. 7. By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour righteousness on the right hand, and on the left. viii. 20. Avoiding this, that no man should blame us. xi. 12. I cut off occasion from them that seek occasion. Phil. iii. 17. Ye have us for an example. iv. 9. These things which thou hast heard and seen in me do, &c. 1 Thess. ii. 10. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holy and just ly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you. 2 Thess. iii. 7. We behaved not ourselves disorderly among you. Ver. 9. We make ourselves an ensample to you to follow us. 1 Tim. iii. 1. If a man desire the office of a bishop he desireth a good work. Ver. 2. A bishop must be blameless, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality. Ver. 3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; Ver. 4. One that ruleth well his own house. Ver. 6. 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. Ver. 8. Likewise must the deacons be grave, &c. See to ver. 14. 1 Tim. iv. 12. Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Tit. ii. 15. Ver. 13. Give attendance to reading, &c. Ver. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee. Ver. 15. Meditate on these things, give thyself wholly to them. Ver. 16. Take heed unto thyself and to thy doctrine, continue in them, for in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 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, 2 Tim. 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. The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. Ver. 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves. 2 Tim. iii. 10. Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, patience. Ver. 14. Continue in the things which thou hast learned and hast been 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 ver. 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 mine 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. I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some. Ver. 23. This I do for the gospel's sake. x. 33. I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they might 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 not the grace of God in vain. Ver. 13. I speak as to my children. vii. 4. Great is my glorying in you, I am comforted. Acts xi. 23. Ver. 13. We were comforted in your comfort. xi. 2. I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. Ver. 3. 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. 2 Cor. 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. Ver. 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 travel 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, I fill up that which behind of the affliction of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church. Col. ii. 1. 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 : Ver. 2. That their hearts might be knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, &c. ii. 5. Though I be absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. iv. 8. I sent Timotheus to comfort your hearts. 1 Cor. iv, 7. 1 Thess. iii. 2. 1 Thess. ii. 7. We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. Ver. 8. Being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the gospel 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. Brethren, we were comforted over you in all our afflictions and distress by your faith. Ver. 8. For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 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 elects sake, that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 3 John ver. 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth. 2 John ver. 4. CXXV. They seek not applause from men, they flatter not men in their vices and prejudices. 1 Thess. ii. 4. We speak not as pleasing men, but God which trieth our heaats. Ver. 5. Neither used we flattering words. Ver. 6. Neither 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, are not covetous. 2 Cor. xii. 14. Paul said I seek not yours but you. 1 Tim. iii. 3. A bishop must not be greedy of filthy lucre. Ver. 8. Tit. i. 7. 1 Pet. v. 2. Feed the flock of God, taking the oversight, not for filchy lucre's sake. See Luke ix. 62. 2 Tim. ii. 4. See instances, Samuel. I Sam. xii. 1, 2, 3. Paul. 1 Cor. ix. 14. 2 Cor. vii. 2. ix. 11.-xii. 13, 17, 18. 1 Thess. ii. 5. Phil. iv. 11, 12. CXXVII. Their duty and encouragement to speak boldly the truths of religion without fear. Isa. 1. 4. The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary. Jer. i. 7. The Lord said to me, say not I am a child, for thou shalt Fff go to all that I send thee, and whatsoever I shall command thee, that thou shalt speak. Jer. i. 8. 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 body. Ver. 26, 31. Acts iv. 29. Lord grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. xviii. 9. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace. Ver. 10. 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. xxviii. 31. Paul taught those things that concern the Lord Jesus with all confidence. Eph. vi. 19. 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. Eph. vi. 20. That I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. 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 thy life 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 xiv. 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. Apolos. 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 counsel 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. Paul said, the Holy Ghost witnesseth iu every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me. Ver. 24. 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. 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. Ver. 10. We are fools, we are weak, we are dishonourable, we are despised. Ch. xxvii. 28. Ver. 11. We hunger and thirst, are naked, buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place. Ver. 12. Being reviled we bless, being persecuted we suffer it. Ver. 13. Being defamed we intreat, we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day. 2 Cor. i. 5. The sufferings of Christ abound in us. Ver. 8. In Asia, we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life. Ver. 9. We had the sentence of death within ourselves. vi. 4. In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distress. Ver. 5. In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings. Ver. 8. By honour and dishonour, by evil report, and good report, as deceivers, and yet true. Ver. 9. As unknown, and yet well known, as dying, and behold we live, as chastened and not killed. Ver. 10. As sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things. 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. Thou hast known what persecutions I endured. Ver. 12. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions. 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. Others had trial of cruel mockings, and scourgings. Ver. 37. 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. xvii. 6. I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. xii. 6. The woman fled into the wilderness. Ver. 14. CXXX. Their temperance. Lev. x. 8. The Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, |