Of some have compassion, making a difference and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire: hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.-Jude 22, 23. II. To take Rebuke, Admonition, &c. well from each other. WHEN David had rashly resolved to cut off all Nabal's family; and Abigail had met him, and humbly and wisely admonished him; David accepts of the advice, and saith, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me and blessed be thy advice; and blessed be thou which hast kept me this day from shedding of blood, &c. I have hearkened to thy voice.-1 Sam. xxv. 22-33. When Nathan had told David his sin in the matter of Uriah; David said, I have sinned against the Lord. -2 Sam. xii. 7. 13. When Joab had told the king of his error, in mourning so for Absalom, as to discourage his subjects who had fought for him; David hearkened and arose, and sat in the gate, as Joab advised.-2 Sam. xix. 5-8. 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.-Ps. cxli. 5. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning.-Prov. i. 5. He that rebuketh a scorner, getteth to himself shame; and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee: give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser, &c.Prov. ix. 7-9; xix. 25. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof, erreth, (or causeth to err.)Prov. x. 17. A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke, &c. Poverty and shame to him that refuseth instruction; but he that regardeth reproof, shall be honoured.-Prov. xiii. 1. 18. A fool despiseth his father's instruction, but he that regardeth reproof is prudent, &c. He that hateth reproof shall die. A scorner loveth not one that reproveth, &c. The ear that heareth the reproof of life, abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction, despiseth his own soul, &c.-Prov. xv. 5. 10. 12. 31, 32. A reproof entereth more into a wise man, than an hundred stripes into a fool.-Prov. xvii. 10. As an earring of gold, &c. so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. -Prov. xxv. 12. He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. The rod and reproof give wisdom.. Prov. xxix. 1. 15. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than the song of fools.Eccles. vii. 5. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth ?—Gal. iv. 16. Submit yourselves one to another in the fear of God.-Eph. v. 21. Ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder; yea, all of you be subject one to another; and be clothed with humility.-1 Pet. v. 5. VII. To confess to, and pray each for other. WHEN a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the Lord, &c. then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass, &c. and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.-Numb. v. 6, 7. And many that believed, came and confessed, and shewed their deeds.Acts xix. 18, 19. Paul confesseth, that beyond mea-with one mind striving together for sure he persecuted the church of God, the faith.-Phil. i. 27. and wasted it, &c.-Gal. i. 13; 1 Tim. i. 12, 13. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.-James v. 16. If any man see his brother sin a sin, not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them which sin not unto death.-1 John v. 16. SECT. 8.-To be of one mind. BEHOLD, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! like the precious ointment upon the head, &c.-Ps. cxxxiii. 1, 2. Christ prays that they might be kept; that they may be one as we are, &c.-John xvii. 11. 22. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul.-Acts iv. 32. We, being many, are one body in Christ and every one members one of another. Be of the same mind one toward another.-Rom. xii. 5. 16. Now the God, &c. grant you to be like-minded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father.-Rom. xv. 5, 6. I beseech you, brethren, &c. that ye all speak the same thing: and that there be no divisions; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.1 Cor. i. 10. Whereas there is among you, &c. divisions are ye not carnal? &c. One saith, I am of Paul, &c.-1 Cor. iii. 3, 4. When ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you.-1 Cor. xi. 18. Finally, brethren, &c. be of one mind.-2 Cor. xiii. 11. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit.-Eph. iv. 3-5. That ye stand fast in one spirit, If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, &c. fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, &c. being of one accord, and of one mind: let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, &c.-Phil. ii. 1—3. Whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.-Phil. iii. 16. I beseech Euodias, &c. that they be of the same mind in the Lord.Phil. iv. 2. Finally, be ye 1 Pet. iii. 8. all of one mind. SECT. 9.-To walk wisely and charitably one towards another; and in things indifferent to have respect to the Meek; to avoid Offences. IF ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.-Matt. xii. 7; Hosea vi. 6. The Pharisees accused the disciples for plucking corn, and Christ for healing a withered hand, on the sabbath day: till he said unto them, Which of you having one sheep, &c. fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will not lay hold on it, and lift it out? &c. It is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.-Matt. xii. 1-4. 10— 12; Luke vi. 1, &c.; Matt. xv. 2. Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences for it must needs be that offences come, but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh.-Matt. xviii. 6, 7; Luke xvii. 1, 2. : His disciples say unto him, If the case of the inan be so with his wife, it is not good to marry; but he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given for there are some eunuchs which were so born, &c. and there are : some eunuchs which have made them- | bear the infirmities of the weak, and selves, &c. He that is able to receive not to please ourselves: let every one it, let him.-Matt. xix. 10-12. of us please his neighbour, for his good to edification.-Rom. xv. 1, 2. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned.-Luke vi. 37. Jesus said, I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you.—John xvi. 12, 13. Why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples? which, &c.-Acts xv. 10; Gal. v. 12, 13. I have fed you with milk and not with meat; for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able to bear it.-1 Cor. iii. 2. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient, (or profitable;) all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.-1 Cor. vi. 12; x. 23. I would that all men were even as I myself; but every man hath his proper gift of God; one after this manner, &c. Is any man called, being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised; and is any called in uncircumcision? let him not become circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, &c.-1 Cor. vii. 7. 18, 19. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations, (or not to judge his doubtful thoughts:) for 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 that eateth not, judge him that eateth: for God hath re- We know that an idol is nothing ceived him, &c. One man esteemeth in the world, &c. howbeit there is one day above another; another es- not in every man that knowledge : teemeth every day alike: let every for some, with conscience of the idol man be fully persuaded in his own unto this hour, eat it as a thing offermind; he that regardeth the day, re-ed unto an idol, and their conscience gardeth it to the Lord, &c. Why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock, or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, &c. that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably, &c. Let us therefore now follow after the things which make for peace, &c. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence; it is good neither to eat flesh, &c. whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak, &c. He that doubteth is damned if he eat, &c. for whatsoever is not of faith, is sin.-Rom. xiv. 1-3. 5, 6. 10. 13-15. 19-21. 23. We then that are strong, ought to being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God, &c. Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak; for if any man see thee, who hast knowledge, sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; and through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? but when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ: wherefore if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.-1 Cor. viii. 4. 7-13. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself a servant unto all, that I might gain the more and unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews, &c. To the weak became I as weak, &c. I am CHAP. XV. THE DUTY OF BELIEVERS. made all things to all men, that I weak, be patient toward all men.— 14. Neither give heed to fables, &c. which minister questions, rather than godly edifying, which is in faith: now the end of the commandment is charity, &c.-1 Tim. i. 4, 5. Some shall depart from the faith, &c. forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received, &c. -1 Tim. iv. 1. 3. Unto the pure all things are pure. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient, &c. all things edify not; let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake, for the earth is the Lord's, &c. If any of them that believe not, bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking-Titus i. 15. no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols; eat not, for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake, &c. Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other, &c. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God; even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.. 1 Cor. x. 23-29. 31-33; xi. 1. Charity seeketh not her own. 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5. Let all your things be done with charity.-1 Cor. xvi. 14. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others: let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. -Phil. ii. 4, 5. Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. —Phil. iii. 15, 16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, (or in eating, or in drinking,) or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days, which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is of Christ. Col. ii. 16, 17. We exhort you, brethren, &c. comfort the feeble-minded, support the When Paul was writing many things concerning Christ, he said, Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing, &c. ye are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat, &c. strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age.Heb. v. 11, 12. 14. It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.— Heb. xiii. 9. Charity shall cover the multitude of sins.-1 Pet. iv. 8. I will put upon you none other burden: but that which ye have already, hold fast, till I come.-Rev. ii. 24, 25. SECT. 10.-To distribute, and communicate to one another's Necessities; give to the Poor. IF thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as a usurer; neither shalt thou lay upon him usury, &c.Exod. xxii. 25. When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy Thou shalt leave them vineyard, &c. for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.-Levit. xix. 9, 10; xxv. I, &c. If thy brother be waxen poor, &c. then thou shalt relieve him, &c. that | be made fat: and he that watereth he may live, &c.-Levit. xxv. 35. shall be watered also himself.—Prov. xi. 24, 25. If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates, &c. thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother; but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought (or word) in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought, and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee: thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, &c. for the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, &c. Deut. xv. 7-11. If I have withheld the poor from their desire, &c. or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof, &c. If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering: if his loins have not blessed me, &c. The stranger did not lodge in the street; but I opened my doors to the traveller.-Job xxxi. 16-20. 32. The righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth, &c. He is ever merciful, and lendeth.-Ps. xxxvii. 21. 26. Blessed is he that considereth the poor, (or weak:) the Lord will deliver him.-Ps. xli. 1. A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth, &c. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor, &c.-Ps. cxii. 5.9. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of thine increase, &c. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.-Prov. iii. 9. 28. There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth, &c. The liberal soul shall He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he, &c. He that oppresseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him, hath mercy on the poor.-Prov. xiv. 21. 31. He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given, will he pay him again.-Prov. xix. 17. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.-Prov. xxi. 13. He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed: for he giveth of his bread to the poor.-Prov. xxii. 9. He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack.-Prov. xxviii. 27. Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight, &c.-Eccles. xi. 1, 2. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? &c. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, &c. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise in obscurity, &c.— Isa. lviii. 6-8. 10. I desired mercy, and not sacrifice. -Hosea vi. 6. Give to him that asketh thee; and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away.-Matt. v. 42. Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them, &c. when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, &c. that they may have glory of men, &c. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.-Matt. vi. 1-3. |