They are the light of the world - Their peculiarity.

sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

Mat. 7:14 Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 20: 16 The last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Lk. 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 13: 23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 18: 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

2 Tim. 1: 15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Rev. 7: 9 After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. [See 440.]

670. Saints, the light and salvation of the world.

Jer. 5:1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

Ezk. 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.

Mat. 5: 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. [See 545.]

671. Singularity of Sainis.

Dt. 14: 2 The LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Rom. 7: 15 That which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I dọ

Their future preeminence and glory.

that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not.

19 For the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God, after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O'wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, with the mind, I myself serve the law of God: but with the flesh the law of sin.

2 Cor. 6: 8 As deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Tit. 2: 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

672. God's delight in saints, and prospective view of their perfection, preëminence and glory.

Num. 23: 21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel.

Dt. 32: 9 The LORD's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

Job 7: 17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

Ps. 50: 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

Song 4:7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

my sight, thou hast therefore will I give 46: 13 I will place

Is. 43: 4 Since thou wast precious in been honorable, and I have loved thee; men for thee, and people for thy life. salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.- 62: 3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. 5 For as a young man marrieth

Their future preeminence and glory.

a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

Zep. 3: 17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Mal. 3: 16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it: and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Mat. 13: 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Lk. 7: 42 When they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 47 Wherefore, I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

Jn. 14: 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, (not Iscariot) Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you.-20: 17 Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.

Rom. 8: 29 Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren.

1 Cor. 6: 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels?

Scorn and contempt reprobated.

2 Cor. 8:23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

Ep. 5: 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Col. 1: 21 You, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable, in his sight.

Heb. 12: 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

Rev. 1: 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father. 14: 3 They sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.-21: 9 Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. [See 94, 340, 504, 584-5.]

SCORN AND CONTEMPT.

673. Unhallowed scorn and contempt reprobated.

Pr. 3: 34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 9: 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. 12: 5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. - 15: 20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother. -19: 29 Judgments are prepared for scorners. - 22: 10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. 29: 8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

Mat. 18: 10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Required, exemplified, and encouraged.

SELF-DENIAL.

674. Self-denial required, exemplified and encouraged.

Gen. 22: 10 Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 12 Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.

Mat. 10: 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it. 16: 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? [Mk. 8: 34—37.]

-19: 29 Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Mk. 10: 28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come, eternal life. [Lk. 18: 28-30.]

Lk. 14: 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 33 Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.-18: 28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. [See 356.] 477