Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

* Mark the old Way which wicked Men have trodden; which were cut down out of Time, whofe Foundation was overflown with a Flood.

y Be ye not Idolaters, as were fome of the Jewish Fathers; neither let us commit Fornication, as fome of them committed; neither let us tempt Chrift, as fome of them alfo tempted; neither murmur ye, as fome of them alfo murmured; for they were overthrown in the Wilderness, and were deftroyed of the Deftroyer. Now thefe Things were our Examples, to the Intent we fhould not luft after evil Things, as they also lufted; and they are written for our Admonition, upon whom the Ends of the World are

come.

* Job 22. 15, 76.

II.

7 1 Cor. 10. 7, 1, 8, 9, 10, 5, 10,

CHAP.

CHAP. IX.

Concerning the PERFECTION of

HOLINESS.

The Perfection of a Chriftian confifts in ufing his utmoft Endeavours to perform with Sincerity and Zeal the whole Will of God; to grow in Grace, and excel in all Manner of Virtue; and to perfevere in the Ways of Piety and Holiness to the End of his Life.

UNIVERSAL OBEDIENCE.

ABHOR that which is evil;, cleave to that

which is good. Cleanfe yourfelves from all Filthinefs both of Flesh and Spirit, perfecting Holinefs in the Fear of God.

b Lay apart all Filthinefs and Superfluity of Naughtiness; and keep yourselves unfpotted from the World.

• Whatever is an Abomination to the Lord thy God thou fhalt utterly deteft, and thou fhalt utterly abhor it; for it is a curfed Thing.

Let thine Eyes look right on, and let thine Eyelids look ftraight before thee: Ponder the Path of thy Feet, and let all thy Ways be eftablished. Turn not to the right Hand nor to the left. Remove thy Foot from Evil.

a Rom. 12. 9. 2 Cor. 7. 1. b James 1. 21, 27. c Deut. 7 25, 26. á Prov. 4. 35, 26, 27.

Let

Let us lay afide every Weight, and the Sin which doth fo easily befet us; and let us run with Patience the Race that is fet before us.

f Ye fhall be righteous before God; working that which is Good, and Right, and Truth, before the Lord; following him fully; and walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blamelefs.

Follow after Righteoufnefs, Godliness, Faith, Love, Patience, Meeknefs. Fight the good Fight of Faith; lay hold on eternal Life; that ye may ftand perfect and complete in all the Will of God.

Whatfoever Things are true, whatsoever Things are honeft, whatsoever Things are juft, whatfoever Things are pure, whatfoever Things are lovely, whatsoever Things are of good Re port; if there be any Virtue, if there be any Praife, think on thefe Things. For he that in thefe Things ferveth Chrift, is acceptable to God, and approved of Men.

Whether 'ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the Glory of God.

As God hath diftributed to every Man, as the Lord hath called every one, fo let him walk; caring for the Things of the Lord, that he may be holy both in Body and Spirit.

Let your Speech be always with Grace, feafoned with Salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every Man.

m If any Man among you feem to be religious,

e Heb. 12. 1. f Luke 1. 6.

14. 24. Luke 1. 6.
Phil. 4. 8.
7. 172 34°

2 Chron. 31. 20.

Numb.

g Tim. 6. 14, 12.5 Col. 4. 12.

Rom. 14. 18. 2 1 Col. 4. 6.

i

1 Cor. 103N k. Cor.

James 1. 26.

ar

t

t

and bridleth not his Tongue, but deceiveth his own Heart, this Man's Religion is vain.

In the Multitude of Words there wanteth not Sin: He therefore that hath Knowledge, fpareth his Words, and taketh heed to his Ways, that he offend not with his Tongue.

If any Man offend not in Word, the fame is a perfect Man, and able alfo to bridle the whole Body. For out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth Speaketh.

Whofo keepeth his Mouth and his Tongue, keepeth his Soul from Troubles.

s' He that will love Life, and fee good Days, let him refrain his Tongue from Evil, and his Lips that they fpeak no Guile. For Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue.

Every idle Word that Men fhall speak, they fhall give an Account thereof in the Day of Judg ment. For by thy Words thou shalt be juftified, and by thy Words thou shalt be condemned.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Let us caft down Imaginations, and every high Thing that exalteth itself against the Knowledge of God; and bring into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Chrift. For the Thought of Foolishness is Sin.

Wo unto you that pay Tithe of Mint, and Anife, and Cummin, and have omitted the weightier Matters of the Law, Judgment, Mercy, and Faith. Thefe ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

" Wo unto them which truft in themselves that they are righteous, and defpife others; because they are

[blocks in formation]

not as other Men are, Extortioners, Unjuft, Adulterers; when they are at the fame Time guilty of as great Sins.

w Shall we continue in Sin, that Grace may abound? God forbid. Shall we fin, because we are not under the Law, but under Grace? God forbid. Let us not do Evil that Good may come. For if the Truth of God hath more abounded through my Lie unto his Glory, yet I am juftly judged as a Sinner.

Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ, not only depart from Iniquity, but abitain from all Appearance of Evil.

Let not your Good be evil spoken of. Provide Things honeft, not only in the Sight of the Lord, but in the Sight of Men. Cut off Occafion from them which defire Occafion; that they may be alhamed which speak Evil of you, and falfely accufe your good Converfation in Chrift. For fo is the Will of God, that by well doing ye may put to Silence the Ignorance of foolish Men.

[ocr errors]

All Things are lawful for me; but all Things are not expedient. All Things are lawful for me; but I will not be brought under the Power of any.

a Whofoever fhall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one Point, he is guilty of all: For he that faid, Do not commit Adultery, faid alfo, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no Adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a Tranfgreffor of the Law.

So fpeak ye, and fo do, as they that shall be judged by the Law of Liberty.

2. 11.

Luke 18. 11. w Rom. 6. 1, 2, 15. Rom. 3. 8, 7. x 2 Tim. y Rom. 14. 16. Rom. 12. 17. 2 Cor. 1 Pet. 3. 16. 1. Pet. 2. 15. Z I Cor. James 2. 10, 11. b

i Theff. 5. 22. 8.21. 2 Cor. 11. 12. 10. 23, 1 Cor. 6. 12.

a

James 2. 12

« FöregåendeFortsätt »