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182 Not seeking God.- Drawing near to God. Chap. XIV.

2 Chron. xv. 12, 13. Israel entered into CXL. They seek not God aright. 2 a covenant to seek the Lord God of their Chron. xii. 14. Rehoboam prepared not fathers, with all their heart and with all his heart to seek the Lord. their soul: And that whosoever would Isa. lviii. 2, 3. They seek me daily, not seek the Lord God of Israel, should and delight to know my ways, as a na. be put to death. 2 Kings xxiii. 3. Nch. tion that did righteousness, and forsook X. 29. 2 Chron. xxiv. 31.

not the ordinances of their God; they xvii. 3, 4. The Lord was with Jehosha- seek of me the ordinances of justice, they phat; because he sought the Lord God of take delight in approaching unto God. his fathers, and walked in his command. In the day of your fast, ye exact all your ments. Ch. xix. 3.-XX. 3.-xxii. 9. labours; ye fast for strife. Johin vi. 26.

xxvi. 5. Uzziah sought God; and as Threats against the wicked, who seek long as he sought the Lord, God made not God aright. Ps. Ixxxiii. 16. Fill their him prosper. Ver. 7.

faces with shame, O Lord, that they may xxxi. 21. In every work that Hezehiah seek thy name. began in the service of the house of God, cxix. 155. Salvation is far from the and in the law, and in the command- wicked, for they seek not thy statutes. ments, to seek God, he did it with all his Prov. i. 8. They shall seek me early, heart, and prospered.

but shall not find me. Ezra vi. 21. The children of Israel Isa. ix. 13, 14. The people turned not separated themselves from the filthiness to him that siniteth them; neither do of the heathen of the land, to scek the they seek the Lord of hosts. ThereLord God of Israel.

fore the Lord will cut off from Israel vii. 10. Ezra prepared his heart to seek head and tail, &c. Hos. vii. 10. 13, 14. the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to 16. teach in Israel statutes and judgments. xxxi. 1. Woe to them that go down to

Job v. 8. I would seek unto God, and Egypt, that stay on horses, that trust in unto God would I commit my cause. chariots, but look not to the Holy One

Ps. xxiv. 6. This is the generation of of Israel, neither seek the Lord. Ch. them that seek him.

xxii. 21. xxxiv. 4. I sought the Lord; he heard, Jer. x. 21. The pastors are become and delivered me from all my fears. Ch. brutish, and have not sought the Lord; Ixxvii. 2.

therefore they shall not prosper, and all Song iii. 2. I will seek him whom my their Hocks shall be scattered. soul loveth. Ch. vi. 1.

Hos. v. 5, 6. The pride of Israel doth Isa. xxvi. 9. With my spirit within testify to his face, therefore shall Israel me will I seek thce carly.

and Ephraim fall in their iniquity. They Dan. ix. 3. I set my face unto the Lord shall go with their focks and their herds, God, to seek by prayer and supplications, to seek the Lord, but they shall not find with fastings, and sackcloth and ashes. him; he hath withdrawn himself from

Mal. iii. 1. The Lord (Christ] whom them. ye seck, shall suddenly come to his temple. Ver. 15. I will go and return to my Isa. 1. 4, 5. Hos. iii. 5. Zech. viii. 21, place, saith the Lord, till they acknow22.

ledge their offence, and seek my face :
in their affliction they will seek me early.

Zeph. i. 6.
NOT SEEKING GOD.

John vii. 34. Jesus said, Ye shall seek

me, and shall not find me. CXXXIX. The wicked seek not God. viii. 21. Ye shall seek me, and die in 2 Chron. xvi. 2. Asa in his disease, your sins. sought not to the Lord, but to the phy. sicians.

Ps. x. 14. The wicked, through the DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his CXLI. Drawing near to God. Lev. thoughts.

x. 3. The Lord spake, saying, I will be xiv. 2, 3. The Lord looketh down from sanctified, in all them that come nigh heaven upon the children of men, to see me, and before all the people will I be if there were any that did understand glorified. and seek God. They are all gone aside. 1 Sam. xiv. 36. The priest said, Let Ps. lii. 2. Rom. iii. 11.

us draw near to God.

your God.

Ps. Ixv. 4. Blessed is the man whom | CXLIV. Following Christ. Matt. xvi. thou causest to approach unto thee. 24. Jesus said, If any man will come

Ixxiii. 28. It is good for me that I draw after me, let him take up his cross and near to God.

follow me. John xii. 26. Jer. xxx. 21, 22. I will cause him to John viii. 12. He that followeth me draw near, and he shall approach unto me. shall not walk in darkness. And ye shall be my people, and I will be x. 27, 28. My sheep hear my voice, and

they follow me: And I give unto themeterHeb. x. 22. Let us draw near with a nal life, and they shall never perish; neitrue heart, in full assurance of faith, hav- ther shall any pluck them out of my hand. ing our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. Ch. vii. 19. James iv. 8. Draw nigh to God, and

FORSAKING GOD. he will draw nigh to you. Isa. xxix. 13. The wicked draw nigh with their lips only. CXLV. Forsaking God. Threats. 1 Matt. xv. 8. Ezek. xxxiii. 31.

Chron. xxviii. 9. If thou forsake God he will cast thee off for ever.

2 Chron. xv. 21. The Lord is with you COMING TO GOD.

while ye be with him, and if ye seek him

he will be found of you: if you forsake CXLII. Coming to God. Ps. lxv. 2. him, he will cast you off for ever. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall xxiv. 20. Because ye have forsaken all flesh come.

the Lord, he hath forsaken you. Isa. xliv. 24. In the Lord have I righ. Ezra viii. 2. God's power and wrath is teousness and strength; even to him shall against all that forsake him. all men come.

Isa. i. 4. They have forsaken the Lord, lv. 3. Incline your ear, and come unto they have provoked the Holy One of Is me; hear and your soul shall live, and I will rael to anger.-Ver. 28. They that for. make an everlasting covenant with you. sake the Lord shall be consumed.

Jer. iii. 22. Return, ye backsliding chil. Jer. ii. 13. My people have forsaken dren, and I will heal your backslidings: me, the fountain of living waters, and behold we come unto thee, for thou art hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns the Lord our God. Ch. xxx. 21.

that can hold no water. Come to God through Christ. Heb. vii. Ver. 19. Thine own wickedness shall 25. Christ is able to save them to the ut. correct thee, and thy backslidings shall termost, that come to God by him. Heb. reprove thee; know therefore, and see iv. 16.-xi. 6.

that it is an evil thing and bitter, that Come to Christ. Matt. xi. 28. Jesus thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God. said, Come unto me all ye that labour, and Sce ver. 14—18. are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. xvii. 13. O Lord, the hope of Israel, Isa. lv. 1.-lx. 3. Rev. xxii. 17.

all that forsake thee shall be ashamed. See John vi. 37. Jesus said, All that the Deut. viii. 20.—xxxi. 16, 17.-xxxii. 15 to Father hath given me, shall come unto me, 32. 2 Chron. xii. 15. Isa. Ixv. 11, and he that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.-Ver. 44. No man can come unto me, except the Father draw him.

DEPARTING FROM GOD.
FOLLOWING GOD.

CXLVI. Departing from God. Jer. xvii.

5. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, CXLIII. Following God. 1 Sam. xi. and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart 14. Continue following the Lord your departeth from God. Ver. 13. Ezek. God. Ver. 20, 21. 25. 1 Kings ix. 6, 7, 8. xviii. 24.-xxxiii. 12. See this sin conIf ye will not, then shall the hand of the fessed, Dan. ix. 5. 11. Isa. lix. 12, 13. Lord be against you.

Not departing from God. Instances., 2 1 Kings xviii. 21. Elijah said, If the Sam. xxii. 22, 23. I have kept the

ways of Lord be God, follow him. Deut. xiii

. 4. the Lord, and have not wickedly departed Ps. lxiii. 8. My soul followeth hard from my God: For all his judgments were after thee.

before me; and as for his statutes, I did Eph. v. 1. Be ye followers of God as not wickedly depart from them. See Ps. dear children.

xviii. 21. Ps. cxix, 3, 8, 10, 11. 102,

184 Backsliding-Going astray-Worship. CHAP. XIV. BACKSLIDING.

we like lost sheep have gone astray; we

have turned every one to his own way. CXLVII. Backsliding from God. Prov. xiv. 14. The backslider in heart shall be CL. Threats. Ps. cxix. 21. Thou hast filled with his own ways.

rebuked the proud that are cursed, that do Isa. i. 4. They are gone away back- err from thy commandments.Ver. 118. ward. Jer, vii. 24.

Thou hast trodden down all them that do Jer. ii. 19. Thy backslidings shall re- err from thy statutes. prove thee,

Prov. xxviii. 10. Whoso causeth the v. 6, 7. Their transgressions are many, righteous to go astray in an evil way, shall their backslidings are increased. How fall himself into his own pit. shall I pardon thee? Ch. viii. 5. 13.—xiv. James v. 20. He that converteth a sin. 2 to 7.

ner from the error of his way, shall save xv. 6. Thou hast forsaken me, and a soul from death, and shall hide a multiart gone away backward; therefore will tude of sins. I destroy thee.

2 Pet. iii. 17. Beware lest ye be led xlix. 4. O backsliding daughter, I will away with the error of the wicked. See bring a fear upon thee.

Rom. i. 27. Hos. iv. 16. Israel slideth back, as a backsliding heifer. xi. 6, 7. The sword shall abide on his

WORSHIP. cities; for my people are bent to backsliding.

CLI. Worship due to God only. See Heb. x. 38, 39. If any man draw back, Command. 1st. 2 Kings xvii. 36. The my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Lord, who brought you out of the land But we are not of them that draw back of Egypt with great power, and with a unto perdition; but of them that believe stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, him to the saving of the soul.

shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do Promise. Hos. xiv. 1. Return unto the sacrifice. Neh. ix. 6. Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by Ps. xxii. 37. All the ends of the world thine iniquity.—Ver. 4. I will heal your shall remember and turn unto the Lord, backslidings. Jer. iii. 22.

and all the kindreds of the nations shall

worship before him. Ver. 29. Ps. lxxxvi. GOING ASTRAY.

9, 10.

xcv. 6, 7. O come, let us worship and CXLVIII. The wicked go aside, go bow down; let us kneel before the Lord astray, err, wander, turn away from God. our Maker. For he is God. Ps. xiv. 3. They are all gone aside, &c. xcvii. 7. Worship him all ye gods.

Iviii. 3. The wicked are estranged xcix. 5. Worship at his footstool, for he from the very womb: they go astray as is holy.-- Ver. 9. Worship at his holy hill. soon as born.

Isa. lxvi. 23. All flesh shall come and lxxviii. 57. They are turned aside like worship before me, saith the Lord. a deceitful bow. Ver. 62.

Zeph. ii. 11. Men shall worship him, xcv.10. It is a people that doerr in heart. every one from his place, even all the

Prov. v. 23. The wicked shall die isles of the heathen. without instruction, and in the greatness Rev. iv. 10. In heaven the four and of his folly he shall go astray.

twenty elders fell down before him that xiv. 22." Do they not err that devise sat on the throne, and worshipped him that evil ? but mercy and truth shall be to liveth for ever and ever. See Ch. v. 14. them that devise good.

vii. 11.—xi. 16.–xiv. 7.xix. 4. Isa, xliv. 20, A deceived heart hath xv. 4. All nations shall come and wor. turned him aside: he cannot deliver his ship before thee, for thy judgments are soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my made manifest. right hand ?

Heb. i. 6. Let all the angels of God wor. Jer. ii. 27. They have turned their ship Christ. For the worship due to back unto me, and not their face. Christ, see Worship offered to him by the

viii. 6. Every one turned to his course, church in heaven and on earth, Chap. upon as the horse rusheth into the battle. the Dignity and Offices of Jesus Christ.

Angels not to be worshipped. See Col. CXLIX. Confession. Isa. liii. 6. All ii. 18. Rev. xix. 10, 11.xxii. 8, 9.

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Against worshipping creatures for God, teaching for doctrines the commandments see Commandments I. and II.

of men. See Acts xvii. 25. CLII. How God is to be worshipped. 1 Chron. xvi. 29. Worship the Lord in

FASTING. the beauty of holiness.

xxix. 9. With a perfect heart the peo- CLIV. Fasting appointed by God. Lev. ple offered willingly to the Lord. xxiii. 27, 28. The tenth day of the se.

Ps. ti. 6. Thou desirest truth in the in- venth month shall be a day of atonement, ward parts.

an holy convocation unto you; ye shall Ver. 17. The sacrifices of God are a afflict your souls, and offer an offering broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, made by fire unto the Lord. Ye shall do O God, thou wilt not despise.

no work in that same day. See to ver. 33. John iv. 23. The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth ; CLV. Fasts extraordinary and mira. for the Father seeketh such to worship culous.-Kept by Moses, Exod. xxxiv. 28. him.

-By Elijah, 1 Kings xix. 8.-By Jesus Acts xxiv. 14. After the way which Christ, Matt. iv. 2. they (the Jews) call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers; believing all CLVI. Fasting acceptably. Isa. lviii. things which are written in the law and 6. Is not this the fast that I have the prophets.

chosen: to loose the bands of wickedness, Phil. iii. 3. We are the circumcision, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the opwhich worship God in the spirit, and re- pressed go free, and to break every yoke. joice in Christ Jesus, and have no confi- —Ver. 7. To deal thy bread to the hungry, dence in the flesh. See Mal. i. 11.- and to bring the poor that are cast out into iii. 4.

thine house; when thou seest the naked

that thou cover him, &c. Zech. viii. 19. CLIII. Worship offered by the wicked Matt vi. 16. When ye fast, be not as unacceptable to God. Isa. i. 11, 12. To the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. what purpose are the multitude of your Ver. 17, 18. When thou fastest anoint sacrifices to me? saith the Lord. When thine head and wash thy face : that thou ye come to appear before me, who hath appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy required this at your hands, to tread my Father which is in secret. courts?

Ver. 15, 16. Your hands are full of CLVII. Fasts of the wicked. Isa. lviii blood : Wash you, make you clean. See 3, 4. In the days of your fast ye exact Ch. lxvi. 3, 4. Jer. vii. 9, 10, 11. 21, 22. all your labours. Ye fast for strife and vi. 20.

debate. Ver. 5. Ps. I. 16, 17. Unto the wicked God Jer. xiv. 12. When they fast I will not saith, What hast thou to do to declare my hear their cry. Zech. vii. 5. statutes ? or that thou shouldst take my Matt. vi. 16. Hypocrites fast with a covenant in thy mouth ? seeing thou sad countenance, to appear unto men. hatest instruction, and casteth my words Luke xviii. 12. The Pharisee said, I behind thee.

fast twice in the week; yet he was not Prov. vii. 14. The whorish woman said justified. See an hypocritical fast ap I have peace-offerings with me; this day pointed by Jezebel, 1 Kings xxi. 9. I have paid my vows.-Ver. 27. Her house is the way to hell, &c.

CLVIII. Occasions of fasts observed by Mal. i. 8. IŤ ye offer the blind, the God's people before war, or an expected lame and the sick for sacrifice, is it not attack from an enemy. 2 Chron. xx. 3, evil ? offer it up to thy governor, will he at the approach of enemies, king Jebe pleasad with thee ?–Ver. 10. I have hoshaphat proclaims a fast.–Ver. 15. He no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts; and his people are delivered from their neither will I accept an offering at your enemies. See 1 Sam. vii. 6. hands. See Ver. 9. 13, 14.

Esther xiv. 3. The Jews, when threatMatt. xv. 8, 9. This people draweth ened with destruction in Babylon, fast,near me with their mouth, and honour. Ver. 16. Are delivered. eth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, CLIX. After being defeated by enemies. Sce Josh. vii. 6. Judg. xx. 26. 1 Sam. him that is godly for himself: the Lord xxxi. 13. 2 Sam. i. 12. At calamities from will hear when I call unto him. the hand of God, upon man or beast, or xxvi. 6. I will wash mine hands in in. the fruit of the earth. Joel i. 14.-ii. 12. nocency, so will I compass thine altar. 15, 16, 17.

xxxiv. 15. The eyes of the Lord are CLX. Upon threatened judgments, and upon the righteous, and his ears are open other critical occasions. 1 Kings xxi. 27. to their cry : (1 Pet

. iii. 12. His ears are Ahab, terrified at God's threatenings righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and

open to their prayers.) Ver. 17. The against him, fasted.-Ver. 29.

delivereth them out of all their troubles. brought not the evil threatened in his day.

Prov. xv. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked Jonah ii. 5. 7. The king and people of

is an abomination to the Lord; but the Nineveh, terrified at God's threatenings against them by Jonah, proclaim a fast, prayer of the upright is his delight.-Ver.

29. The Lord is far from the wicked, but and keep it with great strictness.-Ver.

he hcareth the prayer of the righteous. 10. They are saved from destruction.

1 Tim. ii. 8. I will that men pray every Daniel fasts and prays for the Jews' return from captivity, Dan. ix. 3.-The where, lifting up holy hands without wrath

and doubting. Jeas held a fast on setting out on their

James v. 16. The prayer of a righteous return from captivity, Ezra viii. 21. 23.

man availeth much. - The Jews having returned from captivity, and restoring the public worship

CLXIII. Of the divine influence, or the of God, hold a fast, and read the law, Neh. ix. 1. Also, see Jer. xxxvi. 6.

Spirit's assistance in prayer. Ps. x. 17. The apostles fasted and prayed with the wilt cause thine ear to hear.

Lord, thou wilt prepare their heart, thou church, before they ordained elders and

Lxxx. 18. Quicken us, and we will call preachers of the gospel, Acts xiv. 23.

on thy name. xiii. 2, 3.

Zech. xii. 10. I will pour upon the Devils cast out by fasting and prayer, house of David, and upon the inhabitants Matt. xvii. 21.

of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of CLXI. Fasts of particular persons held supplication. at their own discretion. 2 Sam. xii. 16. xiii. 9. I will refine them as silver is re. David fasted when his child was sick. fined, and I will try them as gold is tried,

Ps. xxxv. 13. When they were sick, I and they shall call on my name, and I humbled my soul with fasting.

will hear them: I will say, It is my people; lxix. 10." I wept and chastened my and they shall say, The Lord is my God. soul with fasting.

Rom. viii. 15. Ye have received the cix. 24. My knces are weak through Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, fasting:

Father. Matt. ix. 14. John's disciples and the Ver. 26, 27. The Spirit helpeth our inPharisces fasted often. Mark ii. 18. firmities : for we know not what to pray

Christ's disciptes fasted, after he was for as we ought; but the Spirit maketh taken from them. 2 Cor. vi. 5.xi. 27. intercession for us with groanings which

Luke ii. 37. Anna served God with cannot be uttered. And he that search. fastings night and day.

eth the heart knoweth the mind of the Acts x. 30. Cornelius, while he fasted Spirit. and prayed, was directed by an angel Gal. iv. 6. Because ye are sons, God to send for Peter to preach the gospel. hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into

1 Cor. vii. 3. Husband and wife ought your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. not to separate except for a time, to give Eph. vi. 18. Praying with all prayer themselves to fasting and prayer. and supplication in the Spirit. N. B. Religious fasting is always to be

Jude 20. Praying in the Holy Ghost.

1 Cor. xiv. 15. accompanied with prayer, and with all the requisites in prayer; which sec, in the following section,

CLXIV. Prayer is to be made in the

name of Christ. John xiv. 13. Jesus said, PRAYER.

Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that

will I do unto you.Ver. 14. That the CLXII. Persons whose prayer shall be Father may be glorified in the Son, heard. Ps. iv. 3. The Lord hath set apart xvi. 23, 24. Whatsoever ye shall ask

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