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water, and there is none, and their tongue | hath chosen that good part that shall not be faileth for thirst; I the Lord will hear them, I taken away from her. the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Ezek. xxxvi. 29, 30. I will call for the corn and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. Ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

Hab. iii. 17, 18. Though the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Matt. iv. 4. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

SPIRITUAL RICHES.

CCXIX. Not earthly, but spiritual riches, or the interests of the soul, the chief object of a wise man's desires and pursuits. Ps. xxxvii. 16. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

Prov. xv. 16. Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and trouble therewith.

xxiii. 4. Labour not to be rich.

xxi. 34. Take heed lest your hearts be overcharged with the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

John vi. 27. Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you.

1 Cor. iii. 22. All things are yours. 2 Cor. viii. 9. Our Lord Jesus Christ, though he was rich, for your sakes became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God. 1 Cor. vii. 31, 32.

Col. iii. 1, 2. Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.

James i. 10. Let the rich rejoice that he is made low.

ii. 5. 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? 1 Pet. v. 7. Casting all your care upon God, for he careth for you. Ps. lv. 22.

1 John ii. 15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: if any man love

Jer. xlv. 5. Seekest thou great things for the world, the love of the Father is not in him. thyself? seek them not.

v. 4. Whosoever is born of God overcometh

Matt. vi. 8. Your Father knoweth what the world. See 2 Cor. ix. 8. 10. things ye have need of.

Ver. 9. 11. After this manner pray ye: Give us this day our daily bread.

Ver. 19, 20. Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, &c. But lay up for your

selves treasures in heaven.-Ver. 24. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Ver. 25-27. Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on Is not the life more than meat, and the body

more than raiment? Behold the fowls of the

air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feedeth them; are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature.-Ver. 32. Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.-Ver. 33, 34. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteous

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Is not the body more than raiment?
CCXX. Raiment promised. Matt. vi. 25.

raiment? Consider the lilies of the field: they
Ver. 28-30. Why take ye thought for
toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say
unto you, That even Solomon, in all his glory,
if God so clothe the grass of the field, which
was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore,
to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven,
shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of
little faith?

Clothes miraculously supplied to Adam and Eve, Gen. iii. 21.-To the Jews in the wilderness, Deut. viii. 4. Neh. ix. 21.-A gourd for Jonas, Jonah iv. 6.

CCXXI. Supports supplied to the Jews. Quails and manna.

of life miraculously Exod. xvi. 13, 14, 15.

Deut. viii. 3. The Lord thy God fed thee with manna, that he might make thee know, that man doth not live by bread only; but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord, doth man live. Neh. ix. 21.

Matt. iv. 4.

1 Kings xvii. 6. The ravens brought to Elijah, bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening.

Ver. 14. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.-Ver. 16. The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord.

Mark vi. 43. Christ feeds five thousand with five loaves and two fishes.

viii. 8. Christ feeds four thousand with seven loaves and a few fishes.

John ii. 8. Christ turns water into wine. See Contentment, Submission, and Resig nation.

CHAPTER XVIII.

OF REPENTANCE.

I. REPENTANCE, the first doctrine into the kingdom of God before you. For preached at the publishing of the Gospel. John came to you in the way of righteous. Matt. iii. 1, 2. John the Baptist came preach-ness, and ye believed him not; but the publiing, and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of cans and harlots believed him; and ye reheaven is at hand. Acts xiii. 24.-xix. 4. pented not. Ver. 8. Bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Ver. 10. The axe is laid unto the root of the trees; every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. iv. 17. Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ix. 13. Jesus said, I came to call sinners to repentance. Mark ii. 17.

Mark vi. 12. The disciples being sent forth by Christ, preached that men should repent.

Ver. 7.

Acts xx. 21. Paul said, I taught, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

xxvi. 20. I shewed first to the Jews and

then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. See above, Matt. iii. 8.

II. The duty of repentance enforced by threatenings in the New Testament. Matt. xi. 20-22. Then began Jesus to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: saying, Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you. Ver. 23. See Capernaum threatened. Ver. 24.

xii. 41. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. Luke xi. 32. Compare Jonah iii. 5. xxi. 31, 32. The publicans and harlots go

39

Acts xvii. 30. The times of ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men every where to repent.

Rev. ii. 5. Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent; or I will come and remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. See ver. 16. 21, 22. Ch. iii. 3. -ix. 20.-xvi. 9.

by promises in the New Testament. Luke III. The duty of repentance encouraged xxiv. 46, 47. It behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations.

Acts ii. 38. Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of

sins; and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost.

iii. 19. Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.

viii. 22. Repent of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.

IV. Promises to those that return to God. Deut. iv. 30, 31. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shall be obedient to his voice, he will not forsake thee. Ch. xxx. 1 to 10. 2 Chron. xv. 4.

1 Sam. vii. 3. If ye return unto the Lord with all your hearts, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only, he will deliver you. 1 Kings viii. 33 to 38. 48, 49. 2 Chron. vi. 37. Neh. ix. 33. Ps. cvi. 6. Dan. ix. 5. 15.

Job xxii. 23. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up.

Isa. lv. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and 2 c2

let him return unto the Lord, and he will have Inercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Jer. iii. 12. Return, thou backsliding Israel,| saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you. (Ver. 1. 10. 14.) Ver. 22. Return and I will heal your backslidings. Ch. iv. 1.—xv. 19.

xviii. 7, 8. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it: If that nation turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. Ch. xxvi. 2, 3.—xxxvi. 3.

Ezek. xviii. 21-23. If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is Jawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. They shall not be mentioned unto him in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God; and not that he should return from his ways, and live? Ver. 27, 28.

Ver. 30. 32. Repent, and turn from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn and live.

xxxiii. 11. As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way, and live. Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die, Ó house of Israel? Ver.

14. 19. 2 Pet. iii. 9.

Hos. vi. 1. Let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. Lam. iii. 40. xiv. 1, 2. O Israel, return unto the Lord: for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity; take with you words, and say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously.-Ver. 4. I will heal their backslidings, I will love them freely, saith the Lord. Ch. xii. 6.

Joel ii. 12, 13. Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Zech. i. 3. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Turn ye unto me, and I will turn unto you. Mal. iii. 7.

ix. 12. Turn to the strong-hold, ye prisoners of hope.

V. Remarkable instances of penitent returning sinners obtaining mercy. 2 Chron. xv. 4. When they in their trouble did turn

unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them. Ch. xxx. 6. 9. Neh. i. 9.-ix. 28.

Ps. lxxviii. 34. They returned, and inquired early after God.-Ver. 38. He forgave their iniquity.

exix. 59. I turned my feet unto thy testimonies.-Ver. 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, according to thy word. 2 Kings xxiii. 25.

Jonah iii. 10. God saw the works of the Ninevites, that they turned from their evil way: and God repented him of the evil that he had said he would do unto them, and he did it not. Matt. xii. 41.

VI. Turning to God enjoined by commands, and enforced by threatenings against those who turn not from sin. 2 Kings xvii. 13, 14. The Lord testified against Israel and Judah, by the prophets and seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways. But they would not hear.-Ver. 18. The Lord was angry, and removed them out of his sight. Jer. xliv. 4, 5, 6.

Neh. ix. 26, 27. They slew the prophets, which testified against them, to turn them to thee. Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies.

Ver. 35. They have not served thee, in thy great goodness, neither turned from their wickedness.-Ver. 36. Behold, we are servants this day, &c.—Ver. 37.

Job xxxvi. 10-12. He openeth their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. If they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and die without knowledge.

Ps. vii. 12, 13. If the wicked turn not, God will whet his sword: he hath bent his bow and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death.

Isa. xxxi. 6. Turn ye to him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.

Jer. v. 3, 4. Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than a rock, they have refused to return. Therefore I said, Surely these are poor, they are foolish.-Ver. 6. A lion out of the forest shall slay them, &c.

viii. 5, 6. Why is this people slidden back with a perpetual backsliding? they refuse to return. No man repenteth him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? Every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. Hos. xi. 5.

xv. 7. I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways.

xviii. 11. Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I frame evil against you; return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good. Ch. xxxv. 15.

xxiii. 14, 15. The false prophets strengthen the hands of evil-doers, that no man doth return from his wickedness. Therefore, thus saith the Lord of hosts, concerning the prophets, Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall. Ezek. xiii. 22.

xxv. 4, 5. The Lord sent unto you his servants the prophets. They said, Turn ye every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land, &c. -Ver. 7. Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord. See threats to ver. 12. Ch. xxvi. 3.-xxxvi. 3. 7.

Ezek. iii. 19. If thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Ch. xxxiii. 9.

Dan. ix. 13, 14. All this evil is come upon us, yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us. Zech. i. 4. 6.

Hos. v. 3, 4. I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me. They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God.-Ver. 14. I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah; I will tear, and I will take away, and none shall rescue.

vii. 9, 10. Gray hairs are here and there upon Ephraim, and he knoweth it not. The pride of Israel doth testify to his face, and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.-Ver. 13. 16. Woe unto them, destruction unto them, they return, but not to the Most High. Ch. xi. 5.

xiv. 1. O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

Amos iv. 6. I have given you cleanness of teeth, and want of bread; yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. Ver. 8-11. Jer. iv. 3, 4. Thus saith the Lord to them of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground; and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your hearts; lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it. Hos. x. 12.

Matt. xviii. 3. Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

VII. The cause and means of repentance and conversion. God the cause; this implied in prayers made to God for it, and other expressions ascribing it to God as his

gift. Ps. lxxx. 3. Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved. Ver. 7. 19.

lxxxv. 4. Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger towards us to cease. Song i. 4. Draw me, I will run after thee. Jer. xxxi. 18, 19. Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. After that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed; yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

Lam. v. 21. Turn thon us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned.

Acts xi. 18. They said, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto

life.

Ver. 21. The hand of the Lord was with the disciples, and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Rom. ii. 4. The goodness of God leadeth to repentance.

2 Tim. ii. 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance, to the acknowledgment of the truth.

VIII. Jesus Christ giveth repentance. Acts iii. 26. God having raised up his son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

v. 31. Him hath God exalted, a Frince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

IX. God's law a mean of converting sinPs. xix. 7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

ners.

Luke xvi. 30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will the dead, they will repent.-Ver. 31. If they they be persuaded, though one rose from the

dead.

X. The ministry a mean of converting sinners. Ezek. iii. 19. If thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Ch. xxxiii. 9.

Dan. xii. 3. They that turn many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. James v. 19. Prov. xi. 30.

Luke i. 16. Many of the children of Israel shall John Baptist turn to the Lord their God. Matt. xxi. 32.

Acts xxvi. 17, 18. The Lord said to Paul, I send thee to open men's eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; that they may receive the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among

all them that are sanctified, by faith that is Deut. xxxii. 29. O that they would consider their latter end.

in me.

XI. Repentance promised. Ps. xxii. 27. All the ends of the world shall remember, and turn to the Lord. Ps. li. 3.-cx. 3.

Isa. i. 27. Zion shall be redeemed with

I

tear you in pieces, and there be none to dePs. 1. 22. Consider, ye that forget God; lest

liver.

Eccl. v. 1. They consider not that they do evil. judgment, and her converts with righteous- doth not consider. Ch. v. 12. Isa. i. 3. Israel doth not know, my people Ps. lxxxii. 5.

ness.

x. 21. The remnant shall return unto the

mighty God. Mic. v. 3.

lx. 5. The abundance of the sea shall be

converted unto thee, and the

forces of the

Gentiles shall come unto thee. Ch. lv. 7. Jer. xxiv. 7. They shall return unto me with their whole heart.

Hos. ii. 7. The church shall say, I will return to my first husband.

xiv. 7. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine.

XII. Self-examination needful to repentance. 1 Kings viii. 38. Know every man the plague of his own heart.

Ps. iv. 4. Commune with your own heart on your bed, and be still.

lxxvii. 6. My spirit made diligent search. cxix. 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

Lam. iii. 40. Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.

1 Cor. xi. 28. Let a man examine himself. 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine yourselves, prove your own selves.

Gal. vi. 4. Let every man prove his own work.

-xciv. 8.

xliv. 19. None considereth in his heart. Ch. xlvii. 7.

aside; he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

Ver. 20. A deceived heart hath turned him

Jer. ii. 10, 11. Consider, hath a nation changed their gods? but my people have changed their glory.

x. 8. They are altogether brutish. Ver. 14. Ch. li. 17.

Hos. vii. 2. They consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness.

Matt. vii. 3. Thou consideredst not the beam that is in thine own eye.

Luke ix. 55. Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

xix. 42. If thou hadst known the things that belong to thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes.

Rev. iii. 17. Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

XV. The case of those who withstand the appointed means of repentance. Matt. xiii. XIII. Consideration needful to repent-bles; because they seeing, see not; and hear13, 14. Jesus said, I speak to them in paraDeut. iv. 39. Consider in thy heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and in the earth beneath.

ance.

1 Sam. xii. 24. Consider how great things the Lord hath done for you.

Job xxiii. 15. When I consider him, I am

afraid.

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ing, they hear not; neither do they understand.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias,
shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see,
which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and
and shall not perceive: (Isa. vi. 9.) Ver. 15.
their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes
they have closed; lest at any time they should
see with their eyes, and hear with their ears,
should be converted, and I should heal them.
and should understand with their heart, and
Acts xxviii. 26. Rom. xi. 8.
Mark iv. 12. Luke viii. 10. John xii. 40.

Luke xvi. 30. Dives said, If one went from

the dead unto my brethren they will repent. -Ver. 31. Abraham said, If they hear not persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Moses and the prophets, neither will they be

xix. 41, 42. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, saying, If thou hadst known, in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes.

Rom. ii. 5. After thy hardness and impeni

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