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CHAP. XV.

Ask, and it shall be given you.Matt. vii. 7.

Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.-Matt. x. 42; Mark ix. 41.

Christ shall say, I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a and stranger, ye took me in naked, and ye clothed me, &c. When saw we thee an hungered? &c. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me, &c.-Matt. xxv. 35, &c.

The poor widow threw in two mites, &c. Jesus said, This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they, &c. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had.-Mark xii. 42-44; Luke xxi. 1—4.

He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none, &c. so of meat.-Luke iii. 11.

When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed, for they cannot recompense thee: thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.-Luke xiv. 13, 14.

Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.-Luke xviii.

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Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea.-Acts xi. 29.

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I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give, than to receive. -Acts xx. 35.

He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity, (or liberality :) he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness, &c. distributing to the necessity of the saints: given to hospitality, &c.. Rom. xii. 8. 13; xvi. 1, 2.

It hath pleased them of Macedonia, &c. to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.-Rom. xv. 26.

Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.-1 Cor. xvi. 2.

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As ye abound in every thing, &c.
also:
see that ye abound in this grace
I speak, &c. to prove the sincerity of
know the grace
of
ye
your love : for
our Lord Jesus Christ, that though
he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, that ye through his
poverty might be rich, &c. As there
was a readiness to will, so there may
be a performance also, out of that
which you have: for if there be first
a willing mind, it is accepted accord-
ing to that a man hath, and not ac-
cording to that he hath not.-2 Cor.
viii. 7-9. 11, 12.

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He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly: and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give: not grudgingly, or of necessity: abound for God loveth a cheerful giver. And grace God is able to make all toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.-2 Cor. ix. 6-8.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men; especially unto them who are of the household of faith. - Gal. vi. 10; 3 John 5,6.

Rather let him labour, working

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This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat, &c. We command, &c. that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.-2 Thess. iii. 10-12.

If any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety (or kindness) at home, and to requite their parents; for that is good and acceptable before God. And if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, (or kindred,) he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel, &c. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them; and let not the church be charged.1 Tim. v. 4. 8. 16.

Charge them that are rich in this world, &c. that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store a good foundation. -1 Tim. vi. 17-19.

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, &c. and in how many things he ministered to me at Ephesus, &c.2 Tim. i. 16. 18; Philem. 7.

God is not unrighteous, to forget your work, &c. which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.-Heb. vi. 10.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares, &c. To do good, and to communicate, forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.-Heb. xiii. 2. 16.

Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom? If a brother or sister

be naked, &c. and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, &c. and ye give them not, &c. what doth it profit?-James ii. 5. 15, 16.

Use hospitality one to another, without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, so let him minister the same one to another, as good stewards, &c. If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified, through Jesus Christ.-1 Pet. iv. 9-11.

Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him; how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.-1 John iii. 17, 18.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE DUTIES OF BELIEVERS TOWARDS EACH OTHER, AS THEY STAND RELATED ONE TO ANOTHER IN THE FLESH.

SECT. 1.-Husbands to Wives, and Wives to Husbands. Of Marriage, &c. Of Women.

AND the Lord said, It is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him an help meet for him, &c. Adam said, This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh.-Gen. ii. 18. 23, 24.

God commanded Abraham to hearken to his wife in the case of Ishmael and Isaac.-Gen. xxi. 12.

Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, &c. and when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. Gen. xxix. 30, 31.

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said unto Jacob, Give

me children, or else I die. And A virtuous woman is a crown to Jacob's anger was kindled against her husband; but she that maketh Rachel; and he said, Am I in God's ashamed, is as rottenness in his bones. stead, who hath withheld from thee-Prov. xii. 4; xviii. 22. the fruit of the womb?-Gen. xxx. 1, 2; 1 Sam. i. 5.

Zipporah the wife of Moses said to him, A bloody husband art thou to me.-Exod. iv. 25, 26.

Moses sanctified the people, &c. and he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day come not at your wives, &c.-Exod. xix. 14, 15. None of you shall approach unto any that is near of kin to him (or remainder of his flesh) to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord. The nakedness of thy father or thy mother, &c. - Levit. xviii. 6-19; Matt. xiv. 3, 4.

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them, &c.-Deut. vii. 3, 4.

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man: neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for all that do so, are abomination unto the Lord thy God.— Deut. xxii. 5.

Hannah wept, and did not eat. Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? So Hannah arose, &c.-1 Sam. i. 8, 9.

Saul sent messengers to David's house, to watch him, and slay him in the morning. And Michal, David's wife, told him, &c. And let him down through a window; and he went and fled, and escaped.-1 Sam. xix. 11, &c. She afterwards despised him.-1 Chron. xv. 29.

Israel's sin in taking strange wives, and their sorrow and reformation.Ezra ix; x.

Job's wife said unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What! shall we receive good? &c.-Job ii. 9, 10; 1 Kings xi. 1.4; xxi. 25.

The contentions of a wife are a continual dropping, &c. A prudent wife is from the Lord.-Prov. xix. 13, 14.

It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.-Prov. xxi. 19.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands, &c.Prov. xxxi. 10, &c.; xiv. 1.

Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced, committeth adultery.—Matt. v. 32; xix. 8.

The Pharisees said, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning, made them male and female? &c. wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder, &c. Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not so. If, &c. it is good not to marry, &c. but all men cannot receive it, &c. he that is able, let him receive it.-Matt. xix. 3-12.

The woman which hath an husband, is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth: but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then, if while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress but if her husband be dead, &c.-Rom. vii. 2, 3.

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak, but to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.-1 Cor. xiv. 34, 35.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, &c.-2 Cor. vi. 1416; Deut. vii. 3, 4; 1 Kings xi. 1— 4; xxi. 25.

It is good for a man not to touch a for as the woman is of the man, even woman nevertheless, to avoid for- so is the man also by the woman, &c. nication, let every man have his own-1 Cor. xi. 3. 8, 9. 11, 12. wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time; that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency, &c. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them, if they abide, even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn. And unto the married, I command, yet not I, but the Lord; Let not the wife depart from her husband: but, and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, &c. Let not the husband put away his wife, &c. And if any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him; let him not put her away, &c. for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, &c. else were your children unclean; but now are they holy, &c. For what knowest thou, O wife! whether thou shalt save thy husband? &c. The time is short; it remains, that both they that have wives be as though they had none, &c. An unmarried life commended.-1 Cor. vii. 1-16. 29. 32, &c.

Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?-1 Cor. ix. 5.

The head of the woman is the man, &c. The man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man; neither was the man created for the woman, but the woman for the man, &c. Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, neither is the woman without the man in the Lord:

Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord: for the husband is head of the wife, &c. therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, &c. So ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies; he that loveth his wife, loveth himself: for no man ever yet hated his own flesh, &c. Let every one of you in particular so love his wife, even as himself: and the wife see that she reverence her husband.Eph. v. 22-25. 28. 33.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.-Col. iii. 18, 19.

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, &c. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection: but I suffer not a woman to teach, or usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve: and Adam was not deceived, &c.— 1 Tim. ii. 9—14.

I will, therefore, that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.— 1 Tim. v. 14.

The aged women likewise, that

they be in behaviour as becometh | kindred, and take a wife unto my son holiness, &c. that they may teach the Isaac, &c.-Gen. xxiv. 3, 4; xxviii. 1, young women to be sober, to love 2. 7—9. their husbands, &c. to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus ii. 3-5.

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.-Heb.

xiii. 4.

Wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, &c. Holy women adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands, even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, &c. Likewise ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge; giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.-1 Pet. iii. 1-7.

SECT. 2.-Parents to their Children, and Children to their Parents. CHILDREN acknowledged to be from God, as a desirable thing; and barrenness a reproach.-Gen. iv. 1. 25; xv. 2, 3; xvi. 2; xxv. 21; xxx. 1,2. 23; 1 Sam. i. 5, 6. 10, 11; Luke i. 24, 25. Noah being uncovered within his tent, Ham saw it, and told his brethren without: who took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father. And Noah arising, from the relation afterwards blessed them, and cursed their brother who told them.-Gen. ix. 20-27. Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, &c. For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him: and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.— Gen. xviii. 18, 19.

Thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, amongst whom I dwell: but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my

Isaac, when he was old, called his son Esau, that he might bless him before he died, &c. Rebekah said, &c. If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, &c. what good shall my life do me?-Gen. xxvii. 1-5. 46; xxvi. 34, 35.

Esau took wives of Ishmael's family, on purpose because the daughters of Canaan pleased not his father and mother.-Gen. xxviii. 7—9.

When Esau saw the women and the children with Jacob, he asked him, Who are those with thee? and he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.-Gen. xxxiii. 4, 5; Ps. cxxviii. 1, 3, &c.

Rachel said to her father, Let it not displease my lord, that I cannot rise up before thee, &c.-Gen. xxxi. 35.

Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colours, &c. therefore his brethren hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him, &c. When Jacob supposed him to be dead, he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, &c. refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning: thus his father wept for him.-Gen. xxxvii. 3, 4. 33—35; xlii. 36. 38.

Simeon and Levi destroyed the Shechemites: their father Jacob rebuked them: they justified it.-Gen. xxxiv. 25, 26. 30, 31.

When Jacob was told that Joseph was yet alive, his heart fainted, for he believed them not, &c. afterwards the spirit of Jacob revived, and he said, I will go and see him before I die.— Gen. xlv. 26-28.

Joseph met his father, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while; and Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face.-Gen. xlvi. 29, 30; l. 1.

When Joseph brought his sons

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