and will cut off man and beast from it. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they should deliver but their own souls, &c.-Ezek. xiv. 13—20. Pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness, were Sodom's sins, for which God took her away.-Ezek. xvi. 49, 50. Thus saith the Lord God, Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you, &c.-Ezek. xx. 3, 4. God reckons up many sins of Jerusalem, and then says, Can thine heart endure? Can thine hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it and I will scatter thee, &c.Ezek. xxii. 1-15. When the righteous man turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.-Ezek. xxxiii. 12, 13. 18. The heathen shall know, that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they trespassed against me; therefore, &c. Ezek. xxxix. 23, 24. The kings of Babylon punished for their pride, &c.-Dan. iv. 31, 32. v. Let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, &c. lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, &c. and I will not have mercy upon her children, &c.-Hosea ii. 2-5. The Lord hath a controversy with the land, because no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God is in the land: by swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood therefore shall the land mourn, &c. Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.-Hosea iv. 1-17. himself from them. They have dealt treacherously against the Lord.Hosea v. 5-7. Zech. vii. 11-13. They consider not, &c. now their own doings have beset them about they, &c. Woe unto them, for they have fled from me; destruction unto them, because they have transgressed, &c. They return, but not to the Most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword, &c.-Hosea vii, 2. 13—16. Woe to them when I depart from them for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of my house; I will love them no more, &c. Hosea ix. 12. 15. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? &c. mine heart is turned within me, &c.Hosea xi. 8, 9. vi. 4. They hate him that rebuketh in the gate they abhor him that speaketh uprightly, &c. I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies, &c.— Amos v. 10-12. 21-23. Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, &c. that put far away the evil day, &c. that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, &c. that chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David: that drink wine in bowls, &c. but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph; therefore now shall they go captive, &c. I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces. Amos vi, 1. 3-8. Isa. v. 11-13. 22. Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up, &c. thence will I, &c. -Amos ix. 2, &c. They shall cry unto the Lord, but The pride of Israel doth testify to he will not hear them; he will even his face therefore shall Israel and hide his face from them as they Ephraim fall in their iniquity. Judah behaved themselves ill in their doings, also shall fall with them: they shall &c. They build up Zion with blood, go with their flocks and with their and Jerusalem with iniquity; the herds to seek the Lord: but they heads thereof judge for reward, and shall not find he hath withdrawn the priests thereof teach for hire, I will be a swift witness against and the prophets thereof divine for sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt money; yet will they lean upon the thing.-Mal. i. 14. Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon the sorcerers, and against the adulus therefore shall Zion for your terers, and against false swearers, and sake be plowed as a field, and Jeru- against those that oppress the hiresalem shall become heaps, &c.- ling in his wages, the widow and the Micah iii. 3-5. 10—12. i. 1—6. fatherless: that turn aside the stranGod warned Nineveh of her deso- ger, &c. Ye are gone away from lation for her sins, if she repented mine ordinances, &c. ye are cursed not.-Jonah i. 2. iii. 2—4. with a curse, for ye have robbed me, &c. your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord: yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? ye have said, It is in vain to serve God, &c.-Mal. iii. 5. 7. 9. 13, 14. Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, &c. for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel; O my people, what have I done unto thee, and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me: for I have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, &c. There are yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, &c. the rich men thereof are full of violence, &c. therefore also will I make thee sick, &c.-Micah vi. 2-4. 10-13. Amos ii. 4, &c. Several woes pronounced against persons for divers sins. Hab. ii. 6. 9. 12. 15. 19. Micah ii. 1, &c. I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel, &c. all those who leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit, &c. I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, and say in their heart, the Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil, &c. and I will bring distress upon men, &c. because they have sinned, &c. He shall make a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land. Zeph. i. 8, 9. 12. 17, 18. Is this a time for you to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? &c. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house: therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit, and I called for a drought upon the land. Hag. i. 4. 9-11. Cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth and Behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.-Mal. iv. 1. Christ pronounceth a woe against Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, for not repenting.-Matt. xi. 21-24. xii. 41, 42. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets : fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes, and some of them ye shall kill and crucify, and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city; that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, unto the blood of Zacharias, &c. whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together? &c. and ye would 9, 10. not: behold your house is left unto of the wrath of God, &c.-Rev. xiv. you desolate.-Matt. xxiii. 31-38. Ananias and Sapphira, for their lying to the Holy Ghost, and Herod, for pride, slain.-Acts v. 5. 10. xii. 21-23. xiii. 10, 11. Because when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, &c. wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves; who changed the truth of God into a lie, &c. for this cause God gave them up unto vile affections, &c. God gave them over to a reprobate mind.-Rom. i. 21, &c. Thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God.-Rom. ii. 3. We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth, against them which commit such things, &c. who will render to every man according to his deeds.-Rom. ii. 2-6. Gal. vi. 7, 8. Eph. v. 5, 6. Col. iii. 5, 6. Heb. xiii. 4. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep, &c.-1 Cor. xi. 30, 31, The apostle reckons up some of the sins and punishments of Israel; and concludes, Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.-1 Cor. x. 5-11. Now the works of the flesh, &c. adultery, &c. they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.--Gal. v. 19-21. 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. Eph. v. 5. If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.-Heb. x. 26, 27. If any shall worship the beast, &c. the same shall drink of the wine He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still, &c. Behold I come quickly, &c.-Rev. xxii. 11. The great judgments denounced against Babylon, for her great sins and persecutions.-Rev. xviii. See more on the Duty of Obedience in this Chapter. SECT XV. To own and profess the true God and our Lord Jesus Christ boldly before Men; and to wait for Christ's second coming. I. To own and confess the true God and our Lord Jesus Christ before Men. I KNOW my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.-Job xix. 25. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed, &c. I am a companion of all them that fear thee.-Ps. cxix. 46. 63. xvi. 2, 3. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth.-Isa. lix. 4. Our God whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king: but if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods.-Dan. iii. 17, 18. When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God.-Dan. vi. 10. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven: but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. -Matt. x. 32, 33. Luke xii. 8, 9. A damsel came unto Peter, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest, &c. And again he denied with an oath, saying, I do not know the man, &c. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.-Matt. xxvi. 69, 70. 72. 74. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.—Mark viii. 38. The parents of the blind man durst not confess Christ, but answered, He is of age, ask him. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, that he should be put out of the synagogue; therefore said his parents, He is of age, ask him, &c. But the son confessed him. -John ix. 19-23. 30, &c. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.—John xii. 42, 43. to obey God rather than men: the God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew, &c. Him hath God exalted with his right hand, &c.— Acts v. 28–31. Be it known to you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.-Acts xiii. 38. This I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers.Acts xxiv. 14. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the name of the Lord Jesus, &c. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.-Rom. x. 9, 10. As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew (or shew ye) the Lord's death till he come.1 Cor. xi. 26. And many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.-Phil. i. 14. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, &c. that at the name of Jesus, &c. and that every tongue should confess that Jesus is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.— Phil. ii. 9-11. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, &c. I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed.— Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.-Acts ii. 36. The God of our fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus, whom ye deli- 2 Tim. i. 8. 12. vered up, &c. but ye denied the Holy One and Just, &c. and killed the Prince of life, &c.—Acts iii. 13-15. Be it known unto you all, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, &c. even by him doth this man stand before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought by you builders, &c. We cannot but speak, &c.-Acts iv. 10, 11. 20. Did we not straitly command you, that you should not teach in this name, &c. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.-2 Tim. ii. 12. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him: being abominable, and disobedient, &c.— Titus i. 16. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.-Heb. xiii. 13. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.-1 John iv. 15. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest: where Satan's seat is, and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith.-Rev. ii. 13. See more of Perseverance, in this Chapter. II. To wait for Christ's Second WATCH ye therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come, &c. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of man cometh.-Matt. xxiv. 42. 44. xxv. 13. Rev. xvi. 15. The wise and foolish virgins slumbered and slept, while the bridegroom tarried.-Matt. xxv. 5. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning, and ye your selves like unto men that wait for the Lord, &c. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching, &c.Luke xii. 35-38. 40. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke xviii. 8. Take heed your hearts be not overcharged, &c. and so that day come upon you unawares.-Luke xxi. 34. I will come again and receive you unto myself.--John xiv. 3. So that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.-1 Cor. i. 7. For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, &c.— Phil. iii. 20, 21. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.-Col. iii, 4. Ye turned to God, &c. and to wait for his Son from heaven.-1 Thess. i. 9, 10. To you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.-2 Thess. i. 7. The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. -2 Thess. iii. 5. A crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day, &c. and unto them also that love his appearing.— 2 Tim. iv. 8. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.Titus ii. 13. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation. Heb. ix. 28. Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry, &c.— Heb. x. 36, 37. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth near.-James v. 7, 8. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind; be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.-1 Pet. i. 13. There shall come in the last days scoffers, &c. saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were, &c. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, &c. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, &c. What manner of persons ought ye to be? &c. Looking for, and hasting unto the day of God, &c.-2 Pet. iii, 3, 4. 9-12. Abide in him; that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.-1 John ii. 28. We know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.-1 John iii. 2. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 21. -- |