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should after receive for an inherit-I come to years, refused to be called the unce, obeyed; and he went out, not son of Pharaoh's daughter;

knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things, declare plainly, that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned:

16 But now, they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son;

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

24 By faith Moses, when he was]

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season:

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured,' as seeing him who is invisible.

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the first-born should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea by dry land; which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned."

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Ra'hab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Ge'deon, and of Ba'rak, and of Sam'son, and of Jeph'thæ; of David also, and Sam'uel, and of the prophets.

33 Who through faith subdued king; doms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins ; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy ;) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

1 Endured, persevered.
2 Assaying, attempting.

40 God having provided some bet- which hang down, and the feeble ter thing for us, that they without us knees; should not be made perfect.

to?

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned

Questions. What does this chaptor relate out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

What did Moses prefer?

CHAP. XII.

1 An exhortation to constant faith, patience, and godliness. 22 A commendation of the new testament above the old.

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or WHEREFORE, seeing we also are profane person, as E'sau, who for one compassed about with so great a cloud morsel of meat sold his birth-right.2 of witnesses, let us lay aside every 17 For ye know how that afterward, weight, and the sin which doth so when he would have inherited the easily beset us, and let us run with blessing, he was rejected; for he found patience the race that is set before us, no place of repentance, though he 2 Looking unto Jesus, the author sought it carefully with tears. and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and 3 For consider him that endured the voice of words; which voice they such contradiction of sinners against that heard entreated that the word himself, lest ye be wearied and faint should not be spoken to them any in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation, which speaketh unto you, as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons;, for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the father of spirits, and live?

more:

20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart :

21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake :)

22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not him that 10 For they verily for a few days speaketh; for if they escaped not, chastened us after their own pleasure; who refused him that spake on earth, but he for our profit, that we might be much more shall not we escape, if we partakers of his holiness. turn away from him that speaketh from

11 Now, no chastening for the pre-heaven; sent seemeth to be joyous, but griev- 26 Whose voice then shook the ous; nevertheless, afterward it yield-earth; but now he hath promised, eth the peaceable fruit of righteous

ness unto them, which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore, lift up the

1 Speaketh unto you, Prov, iii. 11.

hands

2 Birthright; before the law was given the first-born in the family of Abraham had a right to the priesthood, Exod. xix. 22, and to a double portion, Deut. xxi. 17, and in the family of Isaac, he was lord over his brethren.

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saying, Yet once more I shake not the have no right to eat which serve the earth only, but also heaven. tabernacle.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

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Questions. What are the 1st and 2d verses?
Whom does the Lord chasten ?
What is the 11th verse?

What is the command in the 14th verse?

CHAP. XIII.

1 Divers admonitions, as to charity, 4 to chastity, 5 to avoid covetousness, 7 to regard God's preachers, 9 to take heed of strange doctrines, 10 to confess Jesus Christ.

LET brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels1 unawares.

as bound with them; and them which 3 Remember them that are in bonds, suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

5 Let your conversation' be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor for

sake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their

conversation;

8 Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.

9 Be not carried about with diverse and strange doctrines; for 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.

10 We have an altar,3 whereof they

1 Entertained angels, Paul here refers to Gen. xviii. 2.

2 Conversation, behaviour. 3 We have an altar, &c.

11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burnt without the camp.

12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

13 Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

15 By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

16 But to do good, and to communicate, forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us; for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

do this, that I may be restored to you 19 But I beseech you the rather to the sooner.

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21 Make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation; for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

23 Know ye that our brother Tim'othy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

Written to the Hebrews from
Italy, by Timothy.

Questions. What is said of brotherly love and hospitality?

What is the 16th verse?

We have a sacri-no right to eat, who think to obtain pardon by fice, that is, Jesus Christ, of which they have Jewish rites, performed in the tabernacle.

266

PREFATORY REMARKS

TO THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES.

ST. JAMES, the author of this Epistle, surnamed the less or younger, was the son of AIphe'us, or according to the Hebrew orthography and pronunciation, Cleophas. He was a relation of Jesus Christ; and because the Jews called relation brethren, he is called the Lord's brother. He was eminent among the Apostles, and was appointed to reside in Jerusaleri, and to superintend the churches there; hence by the ancients he was styled bishop of Jerusalem. There are various conjectures concerning his death; the general opinion however is, that he suffered martyrdom A. D. 62, a short time after he wrote this Epistle.

As many of the converted Jews were formerly of the sect of the Pharisees, who held the doctrines of fate, they brought into the Christian church, not only these, but other errors, which the corrupt part of the nation had built on them; such as, that God is the author of sin, and that whoever professes the true religion, is sure of salvation, whatever be his temper or moral conduct. In these mistaken notions the converted Jews seem to have been confirmed by certain passages in Paul's Epistles, which they wrested to their own destruction. These pernicious errors, so ruinous to the souls of men, and so dishonourable to the character of God, were, in the first ages of Christianity, the source of an extreme corruption of manners, which prevailed among some sects of Christians, particularly among the Simonians, Nicolaitans, and other Jewish heretics, to which there are frequent allusions in the apostolical Epistles. Wherefore to expose the dangerous tendency of these errors, and to guard the faithful against them, the apostles, Peter, James, John, and Jude, wrote the seven Epistles called catholic or general; none of which however more strongly opposes these false doctrines, than St. James in this Epistle.

Questions. What is said of the author of this Epistle? written?

For what purpose was it

THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES.

CHAP. I.

1 We must rejoice under the cross, 5 ask wisdom of God, 19 hear the word, and do thereafter. 27 What true religion is.

JA

wavering; for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed:

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double-minded3 man is unsta

AMES, a servant of God and of ble in all his ways. the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 9 Let the brother of low degree retwelve tribes which are scattered joice in that he is exalted; abroad, greeting.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;2 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing

1 Scattered abroad. At this time the Jews

were very numerous, and found in most of the cities of Europe and Asia; to these James addresses this Epistle.

2 Temptations, trials, affliction and persecution for the sake of the Gospel; for we are directed to pray against temptations.

10 But the rich, in that he is made low; because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth; so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

.13 Let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for

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3 Double-minded, having two minds or opinions, without fixed principles.

God cannot be tempted with evil, nei-| ther tempteth he any man;

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

1

CHAP. II.

We must not regard the rich, and despise the poor. 14 Faith without works 17 is dead.

MY brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if there come unto your as

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift, and every per-sembly, a man with a gold ring, in fect gift, is from above, and cometh goodly apparel, and there come in down from the Father of lights, with also a poor man in vile raiment ; whom is no variableness, neither sha- 3 And ye have respect to him that dow of turning. weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou here, cr sit here under my footstool;

18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore, lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls:

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway for getteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts ?

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him?

6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats?

7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

9 But if ye have respect to persons ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.2

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

27 Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, To 13 For he shall have judgment withvisit the fatherless and widows in their out mercy, that hath shewed no meraffliction, and to keep himself unspot-cy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgted from the world.

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ment.

14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

1 Judges of evil thoughts; judges possessed of evil thoughts.

2 Is guilty of all. The law required perfact obedience; and as he that broke one of the commandments was guilty of violating the law, by that law he must be condemned. It is also true, that whoever wilfully and habitually commits any known sin must be destitute of that genuine love of any virtue which both the law and the gospel require. We cannot

serve two masters.

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