Transcriber's Note.
Apparent typographical errors have been corrected. The author's use of
hyphens has been retained. Scriptural references have been reproduced
as printed. The source is not stated but is most probably the King
James version.
Small capitals have been replaced by full capitals. Italics are
indicated by _underscores_.
The work is divided into books, chapters, and sections. Some sections
are divided further: most of the headings of these divisions are not
listed in the Table of Contents, and are indented by one space.
Also indented by one space are three Notes; and the text of the Ten
Commandments, these being printed at the start of each of the ten
chapters of Book IV.
A
BIBLE HAND-BOOK,
Theologically Arranged:
DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE FINDING OF
PROOF-TEXTS
ON THE
LEADING DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE.
BY
REV. F. C. HOLLIDAY, D. D.
_CINCINNATI_:
HITCHCOCK AND WALDEN.
_NEW YORK_:
CARLTON AND LANAHAN.
1869.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by
HITCHCOCK & WALDEN,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for
the Southern District of Ohio.
PREFACE.
This work has engaged the author's attention, at intervals, for
several years; and is the result of the labor of such leisure moments
as could be snatched from the more pressing duties of an active
pastorate.
It will be found a _time saver_ to all students of the Bible, and a
convenient help to young ministers and Sunday-School teachers.
Trusting that the Divine blessing will rest upon this humble effort to
make the Bible its own expositor on the topics herein presented, the
author submits it to the public.
F. C. HOLLIDAY.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., _Sept. 1, 1869_.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
BOOK I.
DOCTRINES RELATING TO GOD 21
CHAPTER I.
1. Existence 26
2. God Self-Existent 26
CHAPTER II.
ATTRIBUTES.
1. Unity 27
2. Spirituality 28
3. Eternity 28
4. Immutability 29
5. Omnipotence 29
(1.) Shown by the Fact of Creation, 29. (2.) By the Vastness
and Variety of His Works, 30. (3.) The Ease with which He is
said to Create and Uphold All Things, 30. (4.) Terrible
Descriptions of Divine Power, 31. (5.) By the Universality of
His Dominion, as well over Intelligent Beings as over the
Material Universe, 32. (6.) Direct Scriptures, 33.
6. Omnipresence 34
7. Omniscience 34
8. Wisdom 36
9. Goodness 36
10. Holiness 38
11. Justice and Truth 39
12. Majesty and Glory 40
CHAPTER III.
PERSONS OF THE GODHEAD.
1. Trinity 44
2. Three Persons, and three only, are spoken of under Divine
Titles 44
3. Baptism is in the Name of Three Divine Persons 45
4. The Apostolic Benediction is in the Name of Three Divine
Persons 45
CHAPTER IV.
DIVINITY OF CHRIST PROVEN.
1. By His Pre-Existence 45
2. He was the Jehovah of the Old Testament 46
3. Divine Titles ascribed to Christ 48
(1.) He is called God, 48. (2.) He is called Lord, 48. (3.) He
is called the Son of God, 50. (4.) Christ, as the Son of God,
calls God Father, 51. (5.) Christ, as the Son of God, is
distinguished from Created Beings by the Phrase, "Begotten,
Only Begotten," etc. (6.) Christ is One with the Father, 52.
(7.) The Same Things are spoken of God the Father and of
Christ, 52. (8.) Equal with God, 53. (9.) Styled God's Fellow,
53. (10.) Called Word of God, 53.
4. Divine Attributes Possessed by Him 53
(1.) Eternity, 53. (2.) Omniscience, 54. (3.) Omnipotence, 54.
5. Divine Acts are attributed to Him 54
(1.) Creation, 54. (2.) Preservation, 55. (3.) The Final
Destruction of the Material Universe is attributed to Christ,
55. (4.) Christ claimed to perform the Works of His Father, and
to possess Original Miraculous Power, 55. (5.) He promised to
send the Holy Ghost, 56. (6.) He gave the Holy Ghost, 56. (7.)
He forgave Sins, 56.
6. Divine Worship paid to Him 57
(1.) Before His Ascension, 57. (2.) After His Ascension, 57.
(3.) Adored by Angels, 58. (4.) Doxologies to Christ, 58. (5.)
But to Worship any Being or Thing but God is Idolatry, 58.
CHAPTER V.
THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
1. His Humanity 59
2. The Union of Two Natures in One Hypostasis 59
CHAPTER VI.
THE HOLY GHOST.
1. Proceeds from the Father and Son 60
2. His Personality 60
3. His Deity 62
(1.) The Subject of Blasphemy, 62. (2.) Divine Titles ascribed
to Him, 62. (3.) Possessed of Divine Attributes, 62. _a._
Eternity, 62. _b._ Omnipresence, 62. _c._ Omniscience, 62. _d._
Holiness--He is styled the Holy Ghost, 63. _e._ Goodness, 63.
_f._ Grace, 63. _g._ Truth, 63.
4. He is the Source of Inspiration 63
5. He is the Source of Life 63
6. He is the Author of the New Creation--Regeneration 63
7. He is the Source of Religious Comfort 63
BOOK II.
DOCTRINES RELATING TO MAN.
CHAPTER I.
MAN'S PRIMEVAL STATE.
1. Made Under Law 71
2. Created in the Image of God 71
(1.) Dominion, 71. (2.) Spirituality, 72. (3.) Immortality, 72.
(4.) Intellectual Powers--Knowledge, 73. (5.) Moral Image of
God--Holiness, 74.
CHAPTER II.
THE FALL OF MAN.
1. The Temptation--The Serpent the Instrument--The Devil the
Real Tempter 74
2. The Transgression 75
3. The Results of the Fall--Physical Evil 75
(1.) The Ground Cursed for Man's Sake, 75. (2.) Man Doomed to
Labor, 75. (3.) Physical Suffering caused by the Fall, 75. (4.)
Temporal Death the Result of Sin, 76.
4. Results of the Fall--Moral Evil 77
(1.) Spiritual Death--Loss of the Divine Image, 77.
5. Man's Moral Nature Corrupted by the Fall 78
6. Depravity Hereditary 79
7. The Extent of Depravity is Total or Universal 80
(1.) The Will is Depraved, 80. (2.) The Understanding Darkened,
81. (3.) The Affections Corrupt, 82. (4.) The Imagination
Vitiated, 82. (5.) Man's Moral Powers Paralyzed, 83. (6.) Man's
Utter Helplessness, 83.
BOOK III.
ATONEMENT OR REDEMPTION 87
CHAPTER I.
REDEMPTION.
1. Necessity for an Atonement 90
2. Redemption by the Death of Christ 92
3. The Death of Christ a Sufficient Atonement for the Sins of
the Whole World 94
4. The Death of Christ the Procuring Cause of Man's Salvation 95
5. Benefits of the Death of Christ 96
(1.) Justification, 96. (2.) Regeneration, 97. (3.)
Reconciliation, 98. (4.) Adoption, 98. (5.) Peace, 99. (6.)
Witness of the Spirit, 100. (7.) Sanctification, 101.
CHAPTER II.
BENEFITS OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST--CONDITIONS OF SALVATION.
1. Repentance--Faith the Instrumental Cause of Man's Salvation 104
2. The Holy Spirit the Efficient Cause of Man's Salvation 107
CHAPTER III.
FURTHER BENEFITS OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
1. The Right to Pray 108
2. The Power of Prayer 110
3. Divine Providence--General and Special 112
4. Victory over Death 113
5. The Immediate Reception of the Souls of the Pious into a
State of Blessedness 114
6. The Resurrection of the Body 114
CHAPTER IV.
ELECTION, DECREES, AND FREE-WILL.
1. Election 117
(1.) The Election of Individuals to perform some Particular
Service, 117. (2.) Collective or National Election, 117. (3.)
Personal Election, or the Choosing of Individuals to be the
Heirs of Eternal Life, 119.
2. Scripture Doctrine of Divine Decrees 120
3. Freedom of the Human Will 121
CHAPTER V.
THE DOCTRINE OF A GENERAL JUDGMENT.
1. The Certainty of the Judgment 123
2. The Judgment Subsequent to Death 124
3. The Judgment Subsequent to the Resurrection 124
4. Christ will be the Judge 126
5. The Decisions of the Judgment will be Final and Equitable 128
6. The Award to the Righteous 129
7. The Doom of the Wicked 131
8. Heaven a Place of Eternal Happiness 133
9. Hell a Place of Endless Misery 136
BOOK IV.
THE MORAL LAW.
CHAPTER I.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.
1. Idolatry Forbidden 146
2. God to be Worshiped 146
3. Threatenings against Idolatry 147
4. The Judgments of God inflicted upon the Violators of this
Commandment 147
5. Instances of God's Judgments upon Particular Transgressors
of this Commandment 148
6. Idolatry Punished with Death 152
7. Idols are but Vanity 153
8. Against Inquiring Concerning Future Events of False Gods
and of those professing to have Familiar Spirits 153
9. This Command requires us to have a God, and is therefore
against Atheism 154
10. This Command requires Supreme Love to God 155
CHAPTER II.
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT.
1. The Use of Images is Forbidden 156
2. Images are not Representations of God 157
3. The Judgments of God upon the Violators of this Command 157
4. Images used by Apostates as Outward Symbols in the Worship
of the True God 159
5. Images not to be Worshiped, though enjoined by Human
Authority 160
6. Threatenings against Idolatry 160
7. The Following Crimes, as partaking of the Nature of Idolatry,
are Prohibited 161
(1.) Magic, 161. (2.) Sorcery, 163. (3.) Enchantments, 164.
(4.) Soothsaying, 164. (5.) Observing of Times, 164. (6.)
Witchcraft, 164. (7.) Divination, 166. (8.) Consulting Familiar
Spirits, 166.
8. Idolatry is Debasing 167
CHAPTER III.
THE THIRD COMMANDMENT.
1. Profane Swearing is Forbidden 168
2. False Swearing is Forbidden 169
3. Swearing by Creatures is Forbidden 171
4. Instances of Swearing to commit Sin or to encourage it 172
5. Civil Oaths Lawful 173
6. Articles of Peace and Private Contracts ratified by an Oath 174
CHAPTER IV.
THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.
1. The Sabbath must be observed as a Day of Rest from Secular
Work 178
2. The Sabbath a Day for Religious Worship 181
3. Works of Necessity and Mercy may be done on the Sabbath Day 182
4. The First Day of the Week is the Christian Sabbath 183
CHAPTER V.
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT.
1. This Command requires Reverence and Obedience on the
Part of Children 185
2. It requires Reverence to the Aged, whether they are our
Parents or not 186
3. God's Judgments against Disobedient Children 186
4. It requires Reverence and Submission to Civil Rulers 187
CHAPTER VI.
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT.
1. Murder is Prohibited 188
2. Threatenings against Murderers 189
3. Cases where Killing a Man is not to be punished with
Death 190
4. Human Life authorized to be taken by the Civil Government 190
5. Hatred Forbidden 191
6. Malice Forbidden 191
7. Anger Forbidden 191
8. Wrath Forbidden 192
9. Contention Forbidden 192
CHAPTER VII.
THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT.
1. Statement of the Law 193
2. Threatenings against Fornication and Adultery 193
3. Impure Thoughts Condemned 197
4. Polygamy Forbidden 197
5. Against Divorce 198
CHAPTER VIII.
THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.
1. Theft Forbidden 199
2. Threatenings against Theft 199
3. Threatenings against Robbery 200
4. Fraud and Cheating Forbidden 200
5. Precepts Concerning Landed Property 201
6. Precepts Concerning Things Found, Loaned, or Intrusted to
Others 201
7. Restitution to be made to the Injured 202
8. Threatenings against Oppressors 202
CHAPTER IX.
THE NINTH COMMANDMENT.
1. False Swearing is Condemned 203
2. Lying is Forbidden 204
3. Evil Speaking is Condemned 205
4. Slander is Condemned 206
5. Tale-Bearing and Backbiting are Condemned 206
6. Reviling and Railing Condemned 206
7. Unprofitable Conversation Forbidden 207
8. Flattery Forbidden 207
CHAPTER X.
THE TENTH COMMANDMENT.
1. Covetousness Condemned 208
2. Unjust Means of Acquiring Property Condemned 209
3. The Folly of Trusting in Riches 210
BOOK V.
INSTITUTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY.
CHAPTER I.
THE CHURCH.
1. The Church a Divine Institution 217
2. The Unity of the Church under all Dispensations 218
3. God's Dwelling-Place the Church 220
4. The Stability of the Church 220
5. The Church's Prosperity Dependent upon the Divine Blessing 221
6. The Ultimate Universal Triumph of the Church 221
7. The Blessedness of Church Fellowship 223
8. The Duty of Christians toward Each Other 225
9. The Duty of Union with the Church 226
10. Heretics and Disorderly Persons to be Excluded 227
11. Prayers for the Church's Prosperity 228
12. Limits of Christian Fellowship 229
13. The Church Missionary in its Constitution 230
CHAPTER II.
THE MINISTRY.
1. Ministers are called of God 231
2. The Preaching of the Gospel the Great Instrument of Human
Salvation 233
3. Ministers to be Supported 236
4. Different Orders in the Ministry 237
5. Ministers to be Examples to the Church 238
CHAPTER III.
CHRISTIAN BAPTISM.
1. Baptism a Christian Duty 243
2. The Design of Baptism 244
3. Examples of Baptism 244
4. Baptism of Households 245
5. The Spiritual Import and Scriptural Mode of Baptism 246
CHAPTER IV.
THE LORD'S SUPPER.
1. Its Institution 250
2. The Obligation upon Christians to Observe It 251
3. The Elements to be Used 252
BOOK VI.
CHRISTIAN DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES.
CHAPTER I.
PRAYER.
1. Prayer a Duty 255
2. Vocal and Audible 256
3. With Faith and Submission to the Will of God 257
4. With the Spirit of Forgiveness 258
5. Should be Importunate 258
6. Should be in the Name of Christ 259
7. The Posture of the Body in Prayer 260
8. Secret Prayer 260
9. Public and Social Prayer 261
10. Prayer for Temporal Blessings 262
11. Examples of Answers to Prayer 263
CHAPTER II.
PRAISE TO GOD.
1. Praise is a Christian Duty 265
2. Praise should be Earnest 266
CHAPTER III.
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT.
1. Love 267
(1.) Love to God, 267. (2.) The Love of God, 268. (3.) Love to
the Brethren, 270. (4.) Love to all Men, 271.
2. Joy 272
(1.) Rejoice in God, 272. (2.) Rejoice Always, 274.
3. Peace 275
(1.) Peace with God, 275. (2.) Peace of Mind--Tranquillity,
277. (3.) Disposed to Promote Peace, 278.
4. Long-Suffering 279
(1.) Patience under Provocation, 279. (2.) Submission to the
Will of God, 280.
5. Gentleness 282
(1.) Must be Kind, 282. (2.) Not Contentious, 283. (3.) Should
Help the Feeble, 284.
6. Goodness 285
(1.) The Right State of the Heart--Be Good, 285. (2.) Doing
Good--Beneficence, 286.
7. Meekness 289
(1.) Christian Lowliness, 289. (2.) Humility, 290.
8. Temperance 291
(1.) Self-Denial, 291. (2.) Christian Moderation, 292. (3.)
Self-Government, 294.
9. Faith 294
(1.) Belief in God's Word, 294. (2.) Trust in God, 296. (3.)
Faith Exemplified, 298.
CHAPTER IV.
RELATIVE DUTIES OF CHRISTIANS TOWARD EACH OTHER.
1. To Love One Another 302
2. To Live in Peace 303
3. Christian Forbearance 303
4. Duty to Forgive One Another 304
5. True Friendship 304
6. To be Benevolent 305
7. Liberality Rewarded 305
8. Encouragements to Liberality 307
CHAPTER V.
DOMESTIC DUTIES.
1. The Marriage Relation Instituted and Recommended 308
2. Cautions against Improper Marriages 308
3. Mutual Duties of Husbands and Wives 308
4. Duty of Parents to their Children 309
(1.) To Provide for them, 309. (2.) To Administer Needful
Correction, 309. (3.) Encouragements to Parental Faithfulness,
309.
5. Duty of Children to their Parents 310
6. Disobedient Children Punished 310
7. Divorce 310
8. Polygamy 311
BOOK VII.
CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE 315
CHAPTER I.
CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.
1. Conviction for Sin 317
2. Sinners called upon to Repent 318
3. God Expostulates 320
4. Repentance Demanded 321
5. Repentance includes Sorrow for Sin and Confession 321
6. Genuine Repentance Acceptable to God 323
7. Repentance includes Reformation 324
8. Conversion, including Pardon and Regeneration 325
CHAPTER II.
1. Evidences of Regeneration 327
2. Christian Holiness 329
BOOK I.
DOCTRINES RELATING TO GOD.
EXISTENCE OF GOD.
The plain argument for the existence of the Deity, obvious to all, and
carrying irresistible conviction with it, is the evident contrivance
and fitness of things for each other which we meet with throughout all
parts of the universe. There is no need of subtile reasonings in this
matter. A manifest contrivance immediately suggests a contriver. It
strikes us like a sensation, and artful reasonings against it may
puzzle us, but they do not shake our belief. No person who knows the
principles of optics and the structure of the eye believes that it was
formed without a knowledge of that science, or that the ear was formed
without a knowledge of sounds, or that male and female in animals were
not formed for each other and for continuing the species. All accounts
of nature are full of instances of this kind. The admirable and
beautiful structure of things for final causes exalts our idea of the
contriver, and the unity of design shows him to be one. The great
motions in the systems, performed with the same facility as the least,
suggests his almighty power, which gave motion to the earth and the
celestial bodies with equal ease as to the minutest particles. The
subtility of the motions and actions in the internal parts of bodies
shows that his influence penetrates the inmost recesses of things, and
that he is equally active and present every-where. The simplicity of
the laws that prevail in the world, and the excellent disposition of
things in order to obtain the best ends, and the beauty which adorns
the works of nature, far surpassing any thing in art, suggests his
consummate wisdom. The usefulness of the whole scheme, so well
contrived for the intelligent beings who enjoy it, with the internal
dispositions and moral structure of those beings themselves, shows his
unbounded goodness. These are arguments which are sufficiently open to
the views and capacities of the unlearned, while at the same time they
acquire new strength and luster from the discoveries of the learned.
The existence of God is the basis of religion. This truth will be
evident if we remember that the word religion always denotes either a
system of truths of which God is the great subject, or a system of
affections and conduct of which he is the supreme object. Were there
no such being, there could be no such relations and duties. Were the
existence of such being incapable of proof, the existence of the
relations and duties would be equally incapable of being proved. But
God has not left himself without ample witness.
Because something exists, something must have existed always. The mind
can not realize the fact that existence or change can take place
without a cause. If nothing had originally existed, we can not
possibly conceive that any thing could ever have existed. Causes
absolutely the same must, in the same circumstances, produce
absolutely the same effects. This, I think, is self-evident, and
admitted as such. An absolute want of cause involves an absolute
sameness of an opposite kind, and must, with nearly the same evidence,
continue forever. The necessity of causes to all the changes of being
is universally admitted. No absurdity can be greater than to argue
with a man who denies the connection between cause and effect. He
himself, in speaking, admits himself to be the cause of the words he
utters, and of the opinions he communicates, and the act of arguing
admits you to be a similar cause. If his body be not a cause, and your
eyes another cause, you can not see him. If his voice and your ears be
not causes, you can not hear him. If your mind and his be not causes,
you can not understand him.
Mr. Locke presents the argument substantially as follows: Every man
knows with absolute certainty that he himself exists. He knows, also,
that he did not always exist, but began to be. It is clearly certain
to him that his existence is caused, and not casual, and was produced
by a cause adequate to the production. By an adequate cause is
invariably intended a cause possessing and exerting an efficacy to
bring any effect to pass. In the present case an adequate cause is one
possessing and exerting all the understanding necessary to contrive
and the power necessary to create such a being as the man in question.
This cause is what we are accustomed to call God.
The understanding necessary to conceive and the power necessary to
create a being compounded of the human soul and body admit of no
limits. He who can contrive and create such a being can contrive and
create any thing. He who actually contrived and created man certainly
contrived and created all things. This argument is conclusive. It has
not been nor will it ever be answered except with sophistry or sneers.
I do not affirm that every step of it is attended with what logicians
call intuitive evidence, nor that it amounts to what is, in the
logical sense, an absolute demonstration. But it is in every step
attended with such evidence as excludes all rational doubt, and
approaches so near the character of a demonstration as to leave the
mind completely satisfied. At the same time it is opposed to no
counter evidence.
The state of existing things completely proves the being of a God. The
argument derived from this source is presented by Bishop Berkley in a
clear and forcible manner, and is substantially as follows:
We acknowledge the existence of each other to be unquestionable, and
when called upon for evidence on which this acknowledgment is founded
allege that of our senses; yet it can by no means be affirmed with
truth that our senses discern immediately any man. We see, indeed, a
form, and we hear a voice communicating to us the thoughts, emotions,
and volitions of an intelligent being. Yet it is intuitively certain
that neither the form, the motions, the actions, the voice, the
thoughts, nor the volitions are that intelligent being, or the living,
acting, thinking thing which we call man. On the contrary, they are
merely effects of which that living, active, acting thing denominated
by the word man is the cause. The existence of the cause, or, in other
language, of the man, we conclude from the effects which he thus
produces. In the same manner, and with the like certainty, we discover
the existence of God.
In the universe without us, and in the little world within us, we
perceive a great variety of effects produced by some cause adequate to
their production. Thus the motions of the heart, arteries, veins, and
other vessels; of the blood and other juices; of the tongue, the
hands, and other members; the perceptions of the senses and the
actions of the mind; the storm, the lightning, the volcano, and the
earthquake; the reviviscence and growth of the vegetable world; the
diffusion of light and the motions of the planetary system--are all
effects, and effects of a cause adequate to their production. This
cause is God, or a being possessed of intelligence and power
sufficient to contrive and bring them to pass. He, with evidence from
reason equally clear with the testimony of the Scriptures, thundereth
marvelously with his voice, holdeth the winds in his fists, sendeth
lightnings with rain, looketh on the earth and it trembleth, toucheth
the hills and they smoke, melteth the mountains like wax at his
presence, causeth the outgoings of the morning and the evening to
rejoice, and maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good. Him also
we are bound to praise, because we are fearfully and wonderfully made
by him. Our substance was not hid from him when we were made in
secret. His eyes saw our substance, yet being imperfect, and in his
book all our members were written, which in continuance were fashioned
by him, when as yet there was none of them. He also breathed into our
nostrils the breath of life, and the inspiration of the Almighty hath
given us understanding. Should it be said that these are the natural
and necessary results of certain inherent powers of matter and mind,
and therefore demand no extrinsic agency, I answer that this objection
affects the conclusion only by removing it one step further back in
the course of reasoning. That matter should have possessed these
powers eternally without exerting them is impossible, and that it
should have exerted them from eternity is equally impossible. It then
follows that the properties and exertions of matter are derived from
an extrinsic cause, and that that cause is possessed of intelligence
and power to which no bounds can be assigned. The same argument may be
stated in a more general and popular manner. The agency of God is
clearly and certainly seen in the preservation and government of all
things. The existence of all the forms and states of being which we
behold in the universe is plainly derived, because it is a change in
the former state of things, communicating, continuing, and
terminating, and, as it is impossible that any thing should commence
its own existence, derived certainly from an extrinsic and adequate
cause. This cause can be none other than God.
CHAPTER I.
1. EXISTENCE.
Every Scripture that speaks of God implies his existence. The common
interpretation makes "Lord"--Heb., Yehovah--mean the Existing One; as,
EXODUS III, 14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said,
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me
unto you.
2. GOD SELF-EXISTENT.
JOHN V, 26. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given
to the Son to have life in himself.
JOHN VI, 57. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the
Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
JER. X, 10. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an
everlasting king; at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the
nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
ACTS XVII, 24. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing
that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with
hands;
25. Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any
thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.
1 TIM. VI, 15. Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed
and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to whom be honor
and power everlasting. Amen.
CHAPTER II.
ATTRIBUTES.
1. UNITY.
DEUT. VI, 4. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.
DEUT. XXXII, 39. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god
with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is
there any that can deliver out of my hand.
DEUT. IV, 35. Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that
the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him.
MARK XII, 32. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast
said the truth: for there is one God: and there is none other but he.
EPH. IV, 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and
in you all.
1 COR. VIII, 4. As concerning therefore the eating of those things
that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is
nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
ISAIAH XLIII, 10. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant
whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand
that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there
be after me.
11. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.
12. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was
no strange God among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the
Lord, that I am God.
13. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can
deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it.
PSALM LXXXVI, 10. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou
art God alone.
2 KINGS XIX, 15. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord
God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubim, thou art the God,
even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made
heaven and earth.
NEH. IX, 6. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven,
the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things
that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou
preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshipeth thee.
ISAIAH XLIV, 6. Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his
Redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and
beside me there is no God.
ISAIAH XLV, 5. I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God
beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me.
JOHN X, 30. I and my Father are one.
JOHN XVII, 3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the
only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
1 COR. VIII, 6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom
are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are
all things, and we by him.
GAL. III, 20. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
1 TIM. I, 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only
wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
JAMES II, 19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well;
the devils also believe, and tremble.
2. SPIRITUALITY.
JOHN IV, 24. God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship
him in spirit and in truth.
COL. I, 14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins:
15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every
creature.
1 TIM. I, 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only
wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
HEB. XI, 27. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the
king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
3. ETERNITY.
PSALM XC, 2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou
hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to
everlasting, thou art God.
3. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of
men.
4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is
past, and as a watch in the night.
PSALM XCIII, 2. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from
everlasting.
ISAIAH LXIII, 16. Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be
ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our
Father, our Redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
DEUT. XXXIII, 27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are
the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before
thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
ROM. I, 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the
world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,
even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
1 TIM. I, 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only
wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 TIM. VI, 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of
whom I am chief.
16. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus
Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them
which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
ISAIAH LVII, 15. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth
eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with
him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit
of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
PSALM CII, 27. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
ISAIAH XLIV, 6. Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his
Redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and
beside me there is no God.
HAB. I, 12. Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy
One? We shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment;
and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
REV. I, 8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith
the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
2 COR. IV, 18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are
temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
ISAIAH XL, 28. Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the
everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his
understanding.
DAN. IV, 3. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders!
his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from
generation to generation.
LAM. V, 19. Thou, O Lord, remainest forever; thy throne from
generation to generation.
PSALM IX, 7. But the Lord shall endure forever: he hath prepared his
throne for judgment.
4. IMMUTABILITY.
PSALM CII, 25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and
the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall
wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they
shall be changed:
27. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
PSALM XXXIII, 11. The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the
thoughts of his heart to all generations.
MAL. III, 6. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of
Jacob are not consumed.
JAMES I, 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning.
NUM. XXIII, 19. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son
of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it?
or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
1 SAM. XV, 29. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor
repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
JOB XXIII, 13. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what
his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
HEB. XIII, 8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.
5. OMNIPOTENCE.
(1.) _Shown by the Fact of Creation._
GEN. I, 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
ISAIAH XL, 28. Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the
everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his
understanding.
ISAIAH XLII, 5. Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens,
and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which
cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and
spirit to them that walk therein.
REV. IV, 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and
power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are
and were created.
HEB. III, 4. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built
all things is God.
JOHN I, 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made.
NEH. IX, 6. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven,
the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things
that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou
preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshipeth thee.
PSALM XXXVI, 6. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy
judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
COL. I, 16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones,
or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by
him, and for him.
(2.) _By the Vastness and Variety of his Works._
GEN. II, 1. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the
host of them.
PSALM XCII, 5. O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are
very deep.
PSALM III, 2. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them
that have pleasure therein.
REV. XV, 3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and
the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord
God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
JOB IX, 8. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon
the waves of the sea;
9. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the
south;
10. Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders
without number.
JOB XXXVII, 14. Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider
the wondrous works of God.
15. Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his
cloud to shine?
16. Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of
him which is perfect in knowledge?
PSALM XL, 5. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou
hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they can not be
reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them,
they are more than can be numbered.
GEN. I, 14. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the
heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs,
and for seasons, and for days, and years:
15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give
light upon the earth: and it was so.
16. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day,
and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon
the earth.
18. And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the
light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
JER. XXXI, 35. Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light
by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by
night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of
hosts is his name.
(3.) _The Ease with which he is said to Create and Uphold all Things._
ISAIAH XL, 12. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the
earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills
in a balance?
13. Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor
hath taught him?
14. With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him
in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him
the way of understanding?
15. Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as
the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a
very little thing.
JOB XXXVIII, 8. Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake
forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9. When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a
swaddling-band for it,
10. And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11. And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall
thy proud waves be stayed?
JOB XXVIII, 24. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth
under the whole heaven;
25. To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by
measure.
26. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of
the thunder.
JOB XXVI, 10. He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day
and night come to an end.
PSALM XXXIII, 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and
all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: he layeth up
the depth in storehouses.
PSALM CIV, 2. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who
stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the
clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4. Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5. Who laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed
forever.
JOB XXXVII, 14. Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider
the wondrous works of God.
15. Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his
cloud to shine?
16. Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of
him which is perfect in knowledge?
17. How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south
wind?
18. Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a
molten looking-glass?
JER. X, 13. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters
in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of
the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind
out of his treasures.
(4.) _Terrible Descriptions of Divine Power._
1 CHRON. XXIX, 11. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and
the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the
heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and
thou art exalted as head above all.
JOB XXVI, 6. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth
right to the poor.
7. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are
they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them forever, and they are
exalted.
8. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of
affliction;
9. Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they
have exceeded.
10. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they
return from iniquity.
11. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in
prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they
shall die without knowledge.
13. But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he
bindeth them.
14. They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
JOB IX, 5. Which removeth the mountains, and they know not; which
overturneth them in his anger;
6. Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof
tremble;
7. Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the
stars;
8. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves
of the sea;
9. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the
south;
10. Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders
without number.
11. Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I
perceive him not.
12. Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him,
What doest thou?
PSALM LXXVII, 16. The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee;
they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
17. The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine
arrows also went abroad.
18. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings
lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
PSALM CXIV, 3. The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
4. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
5. What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that
thou wast driven back?
6. Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like
lambs?
7. Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence
of the God of Jacob.
JOB XI, 7. Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out
the Almighty unto perfection?
8. It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what
canst thou know?
9. The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the
sea.
JOB XXXVII, 22. Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is
terrible majesty.
23. Touching the Almighty, we can not find him out: he is excellent in
power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
ISAIAH XLIII, 16. Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea,
and a path in the mighty waters;
17. Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the
power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise; they are
extinct, they are quenched as tow.
ISAIAH L, 2. Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called,
was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can not
redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up
the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish stinketh, because
there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
3. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their
covering.
(5.) _By the Universality of His Dominion, as well over Intelligent
Beings as over the Material Universe._
ISAIAH XL, 22. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and
the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the
heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
23. That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the
earth as vanity.
PSALM LXXV, 7. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth
up another.
PSALM XXII, 28. For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor
among the nations.
2 PETER II, 4. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast
them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be
reserved unto judgment;
5. And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a
preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the
ungodly;
6. And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned
them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after
should live ungodly.
DAN. IV, 34. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up
mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I
blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth
forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is
from generation to generation:
35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and
he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the
inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him,
What doest thou?
ISAIAH XL, 26. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created
these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them
all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in
power; not one faileth.
ISAIAH XLVIII, 13. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the
earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto
them, they stand up together.
(6.) _Direct Scriptures._
GEN. XVII, 1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord
appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk
before me, and be thou perfect.
JOB IX, 12. Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say
unto him, What doest thou?
ISAIAH XLIII, 13. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none
that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
JER. XXXII, 17. Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the
earth by thy great power and stretched-out arm, and there is nothing
too hard for thee.
MATT. XIX, 26. But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men
this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
REV. I, 8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith
the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
REV. XI, 17. Saying, we give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which
art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy
great power, and hast reigned.
REV. XIX, 6. And I heard as it were the voices of a great multitude,
and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty
thunderings, saying, Alleluiah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
PSALM XCIII, 1. The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the
Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the
world also is stablished, that it can not be moved.
PSALM LXII, 11. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that
power belongeth unto God.
PSALM LXXXIX, 13. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high
is thy right hand.
EX. VI, 3. And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by
the name of God Almighty; but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to
them.
GEN. VII, 1. And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house
into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this
generation.
JER. XXXII, 18. Thou shewest loving kindness unto thousands, and
recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their
children after them: The Great, The Mighty God, The Lord of hosts, is
his name.
JER. X, 6. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art
great, and thy name is great in might.
DEUT. III, 24. O Lord God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy
greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in
earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?
1 CHRON. XXIX, 11. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and
the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the
heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and
thou art exalted as head above all.
ISAIAH XXVI, 4. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in
with dissemblers.
1 CHRON. I, 25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and
the weakness of God is stronger than men.
6. OMNIPRESENCE.
JER. XXIII, 23. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar
off?
24. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?
saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
ISAIAH LXVI, 1. Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the
earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me, and
where is the place of my rest?
1 KINGS VIII, 27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the
heaven and heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this
house that I have builded?
AMOS IX, 2. Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take
them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
3. And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search
and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the
bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall
bite them.
PSALM CXXXIX, 7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall
I flee from thy presence?
8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in
hell, behold, thou art there.
9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost
parts of the sea;
10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold
me.
11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall
be light about me.
ACTS XVII, 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as
certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his
offspring.
MATT. XVIII, 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there am I in the midst of them.
EPH. I, 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be
the head over all things to the church,
23. Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
7. OMNISCIENCE.
ACTS XV, 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of
the world.
PSALM CXXXIX, 1. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest
my thought afar off.
3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with
all my ways.
4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest
it altogether.
5. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, and I can not
attain unto it.
7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from
thy presence?
8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in
hell, behold, thou art there.
9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost
parts of the sea;
10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold
me.
11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall
be light about me.
15. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as
the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
HEB. IV, 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his
sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with
whom we have to do.
PSALM XXXIII, 13. The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the
sons of men.
14. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the
inhabitants of the earth.
1 CHRON. XXVIII, 9. And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy
Father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind:
for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the
imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of
thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever.
PROV. XV, 3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the
evil and the good.
PSALM XCIV, 8. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools,
when will ye be wise?
9. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye,
shall he not see?
10. He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that
teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
PSALM CXLVII, 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his
understanding is infinite.
1 SAM. II, 3. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy
come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him
actions are weighed.
JOB XXXVII, 16. Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the
wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
ISAIAH XL, 28. Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the
everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his
understanding.
ROM. II, 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God? how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways
past finding out!
DAN. II, 22. He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what
is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
1 JOHN III, 20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our
heart, and knoweth all things.
1 KINGS VIII, 39. Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and
forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose
heart thou knowest: (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of
all the children of men.)
JOB XXIV, 1. Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do
they that know him not see his days?
PSALM XLIV, 21. Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the
secrets of the heart.
PROV. V, 21. For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and
he pondereth all his goings.
JER. XXIII, 23. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar
off?
EZEK. XI, 5. And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto
me, Speak; Thus saith the Lord; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel:
for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
ACTS I, 24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the
hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen.
8. WISDOM.
PSALM CIV, 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou
made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
1 TIM. I, 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only
wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
JUDE 25. To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
ROM. XVI, 27. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.
Amen.
1 COR. I, 25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and
the weakness of God is stronger than men.
EPH. I, 8. Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and
prudence.
EPH. III, 9. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the
mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God,
who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in
heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of
God.
COL. II, 3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
9. GOODNESS.
_Love--Kindness--Long-Suffering--Mercy--Compassion--Forgiveness, etc._
PSALM LXXXVI, 5. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and
plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
PSALM CIX, 68. Thou art good, and doest good: teach me thy statutes.
PSALM CVI, 1. Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he
is good: for his mercy endureth forever.
JAMES I, 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning.
PSALM XXV, 8. Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach
sinners in the way.
MATT. XIX, 17. And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there
is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life,
keep the commandments.
2 CHRON. V, 13. It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers
were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking
the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and
cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For he
is good; for his mercy endureth forever: that then the house was
filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord.
PSALM XXXIV, 8. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the
man that trusteth in him.
PSALM C, 5. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his
truth endureth to all generations.
EX. XXXIV, 6. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The
Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and
abundant in goodness and truth.
PSALM XXXI, 19. O how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up
for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust
in thee before the sons of men!
1 JOHN IV, 8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.
PSALM XXV, 6. Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy
loving-kindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
ISAIAH LXIII, 7. I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and
the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed
on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he
hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the
multitude of his loving-kindnesses.
EX. XXXIV, 7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and
transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty;
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the
children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
NUM. XIV, 18. The Lord is long-suffering, and of great mercy,
forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the
guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto
the third and fourth generation.
PSALM XXIII, 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
PSALM LXII, 12. Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou
renderest to every man according to his work.
LUKE I, 72. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to
remember his holy covenant;
73. The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74. That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the
hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
75. In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our
life.
76. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for
thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of
their sins,
78. Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on
high hath visited us.
JER. III, 12. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say,
Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause
mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I
will not keep anger forever.
PSALM LXXXVI, 15. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and
gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
ROM. II, 4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and
forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God
leadeth thee to repentance?
2 PETER III, 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing
that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are
therein shall be burned up.
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner
of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein
the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat?
13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be
diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and
blameless.
15. And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation; even
as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto
him hath written unto you.
DEUT. XIII, 17. And there shall cleave naught of the cursed thing to
thine hand: that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger,
and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee,
as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;
18. When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep
all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which
is right in the eyes of the Lord thy God.
PSALM LXXVIII, 38. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their
iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger
away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
PSALM XCIX, 8. Thou answerdest them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God
that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their
inventions.
PSALM CXXX, 4. But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be
feared.
DAN. IX, 9. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses,
though we have rebelled against him.
ROM. III, 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through
faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of
sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
2 CHRON. XXX, 18. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim
and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet
did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah
prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one.
ISAIAH XXV, 7. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the
covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all
nations.
JER. XXXIII, 8. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity,
whereby they have sinned, against me; and I will pardon all their
iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have
transgressed against me.
MICAH VII, 18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity,
and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he
retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy.
PSALM LI, 19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of
righteousness, with burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering: then
shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
ISAIAH XLIV, 21. Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my
servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt
not be forgotten of me.
22. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as
a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
23. Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower
parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest,
and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and
glorified himself in Israel.
10. HOLINESS.
2 KINGS XIX, 22. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against
whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high?
even against the Holy One of Israel.
1 SAM. II, 2. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none
besides thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
EX. XV, 11. Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like
thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
HEB. I, 13. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my
right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
ISAIAH VI, 3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy,
is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
REV. IV, 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him;
and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night,
saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is
to come.
REV. XV, 4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for
thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before
thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
JAMES I, 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:
for God can not be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.
LEV. XIX, 2. Speak unto all the congregation of the children of
Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God
am holy.
JOSHUA XXIV, 19. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye can not serve the
Lord: for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive
your transgressions nor your sins.
PSALM XXII, 3. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises
of Israel.
REV. III, 7. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write;
These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the
key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and
no man openeth.
PSALM V, 4. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:
neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers
of iniquity.
ISAIAH XLIII, 15. I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel,
your King.
11. JUSTICE AND TRUTH.
DEUT. XXXII, 4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways
are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is
he.
HEB. VI, 10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor
of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have
ministered to the saints, and do minister.
1 JOHN I, 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
JOB VIII, 3. Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert
justice?
JOB XXXIV, 12. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the
Almighty pervert judgment.
ACTS X, 34. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I
perceive that God is no respecter of persons.
EPH. VI, 9. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing
threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is
there respect of persons with him.
DEUT. X, 17. For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords,
a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons,
nor taketh reward.
JOB XXXIV, 19. How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of
princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are
the work of his hands.
PSALM XXV, 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such
as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
PSALM XIX, 9. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the
judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
PSALM LVII, 10. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth
unto the clouds.
HEB. VI, 18. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible
for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for
refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.
DEUT. VII, 9. Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the
faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him
and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
10. And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he
will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his
face.
2 TIM. II, 13. If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he can not
deny himself.
PSALM III, 7. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his
commandments are sure.
ISAIAH XXVIII, 17. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and
righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge
of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.
ROM. II, 2. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to
truth against them which commit such things.
3. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such
things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of
God?
4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance?
5. But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto
thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God;
6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and
honor and immortality, eternal life:
8. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but
obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9. Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; of
the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10. But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good; to
the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11. For there is no respect of persons with God.
PSALM VII, 11. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the
wicked every day.
HEB. X, 30. For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto
me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge
his people.
31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
12. MAJESTY AND GLORY.
DEUT. X, 17. For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords,
a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons,
nor taketh reward.
PSALM CIV, 1. Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very
great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty:
2. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest
out the heavens like a curtain:
3. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the
clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4. Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire;
5. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be
removed forever.
JOB XXXVII, 22. Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is
terrible majesty.
23. Touching the Almighty, we can not find him out: he is excellent in
power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24. Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of
heart.
PSALM XXIX, 1. Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord
glory and strength.
2. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in
the beauty of holiness.
3. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory
thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.
4. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of
majesty.
5. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh
the cedars of Lebanon.
6. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a
young unicorn.
7. The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.
8. The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the
wilderness of Kadesh.
9. The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth
the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
10. The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King
forever.
11. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless
his people with peace.
ISAIAH VI, 1. In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord
sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the
temple.
2. Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he
covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain
he did fly.
3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord
of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
DAN. VII, 9. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient
of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his
head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his
wheels as burning fire.
10. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand
thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand
stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
EX. XXXIII, 18. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I
will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious
to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew
mercy.
20. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man
see me, and live.
21. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt
stand upon a rock:
22. And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will
put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand
while I pass by:
23. And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts;
but my face shall not be seen.
ROM. II, 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways
past finding out!
34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his
counselor?
35. Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto
him again?
36. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom
be glory forever. Amen.
CHAPTER III.
PERSONALITIES IN THE GODHEAD.
THE TRINITY IN UNITY.
The word Trinity does not occur in the Scriptures, but this is no
argument against the doctrine itself, since the Scriptures teach the
divinity of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, as well as that of the
Father; and as neither the divinity of the Father nor the unity of the
Godhead was ever called in question at any period, it follows that the
doctrine of the Trinity in unity has been in substance, in all its
constituent parts, always known among Christians.
The testimony of the fathers is explicit in favor of this doctrine.
Justin Martyr, in refuting the charge of atheism urged against the
Christians because they did not believe in the gods of the heathen,
expressly says: "We worship and adore the Father, and Son who came
from him and taught us, these things, and the prophetic Spirit."
Athenagoras, in replying to the same charge, says: "Who would not
wonder when he knows that we who call upon God the Father, and God the
Son, and God the Holy Spirit, showing their power in the unity and
their distinction in order, should be called atheists."
Tertullian says: "There are three of one substance, and of one
condition, and of one power, because there is one God." And he further
adds: "The connection of the Father in the Son and of the Son in the
Comforter makes three united together, which three are one thing, not
one person, as it is said, I and the Father are one thing with regard
to the unity of substance, not of the singularity of numbers." And he
adds: "The Father is God, and the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is
God." Tertullian asserts that this doctrine was in the Church prior to
any heresy.
Cyprian says, after reciting the form of baptism: "By it Christ
delivered the doctrine of the Trinity, unto which mystery or sacrament
the nations were to be baptized."
In the charge and commission which our Savior gave to his
disciples--Matthew xxviii, 19--he said: "Go and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost." The Gospel was a covenant or conditional offer of
salvation to men. Baptism was the appointed ordinance by which men
were to be admitted into that covenant, by which that offer was made
and accepted. This being to be made with God himself, the ordinance
must, of course, be made in his name; but Christ directed that it
should be performed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost, and therefore we conclude that God is the same as the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Since baptism is to be performed
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, they
must be all three persons. And since no superiority or difference
whatever is mentioned in this solemn form of baptism, we conclude that
all three of these persons are of one substance, power, and eternity.
The Apostolic benediction teaches the same doctrine. Paul uses this
language: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and
the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with you." The manner in which
Christ and the Holy Ghost are here mentioned clearly implies that they
are persons, for none but persons can confer grace or fellowship, and
these three great blessings of grace, love, and fellowship being
respectively prayed for by the inspired apostle from Jesus Christ, God
the Father, and the Holy Ghost, without any intimation of disparity,
we conclude that these three persons are equally divine. This solemn
benediction is certainly a clear proof of the doctrine of the Trinity,
since it acknowledges the divinity of Jesus Christ and of the Holy
Ghost.
THE TRINITY.
1. GOD'S NAMES HAVE, IN HEBREW, PLURAL FORMS, _and are connected with
plural modes of speech_.
GEN. I, 26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and
over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth,
and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
GEN. III, 22. And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one
of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and
take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.
GEN. XI, 7. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language,
that they may not understand one another's speech.
2. THREE PERSONS, AND THREE ONLY, ARE SPOKEN OF UNDER DIVINE TITLES.
NUM. VI, 24. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
25. The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
ISAIAH VI, 3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy,
is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
ISAIAH VI, 8. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I
send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
JOHN XII, 41. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and
spake of him.
ACTS XXVIII, 25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they
departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy
Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers.
ISAIAH XLVIII, 16. Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not
spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there
am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
ISAIAH XXXIV, 16. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no
one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it
hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
HAGGAI II, 4. Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be
strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all
ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you,
saith the Lord of hosts:
5. According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out
of Egypt, so my Spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
6. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while,
and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry
land;
7. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall
come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.
MATT. XXVIII, 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
2 COR. XIII, 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of
God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
3. BAPTISM IS IN THE NAME OF THREE DIVINE PERSONS.
MATT. XXVIII, 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
4. THE APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION IS IN THE NAME OF THREE DIVINE PERSONS.
2 COR. XIII, 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of
God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
CHAPTER IV.
DIVINITY OF CHRIST PROVEN.
1. BY HIS PRE-EXISTENCE.
JOHN III, 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through him might be saved.
1 JOHN IV, 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that
confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.
HEB. II, 14. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and
blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same: that through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil.
PHIL. II, 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
JOHN XIII, 15. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was
he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me;
for he was before me.
16. And of his fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
17. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ.
18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is
in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
19. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and
Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20. And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the
Christ.
21. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am
not. Art thou that Prophet? And he answered, No.
22. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer
to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make
straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
24. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
25. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if
thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that Prophet?
26. John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there
standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27. He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's
latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was
baptizing.
29. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!
30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is
preferred before me; for he was before me.
JOHN III, 13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came
down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
JOHN VI, 33. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven,
and giveth life unto the world.
34. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh
to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
thirst.
36. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me: and him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will
of him that sent me.
39. And this is the Father's will that sent me, that of all which he
hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at
the last day.
JOHN VI, 42. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph,
whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came
down from heaven?
JOHN VI, 62. What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where
he was before?
JOHN III, 31. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of
the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from
heaven is above all.
JOHN VIII, 56. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw
it, and was glad.
57. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and
hast thou seen Abraham?
58. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before
Abraham was, I am.
JOHN XVII, 5. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self
with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
2. HE WAS THE JEHOVAH OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
EX. XXIII, 20. Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in
the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
21. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will
not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
MAL. III, 1. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare
the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to
his temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in:
behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
MATT. XI, 10. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my
messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
LUKE I, 76. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the
Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his
ways.
JOHN III, 28. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the
Christ, but that I am sent before him.
GEN. XXII, 16. And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for
because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son,
thine only son,
17. That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will
multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is
upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his
enemies:
18. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
because thou hast obeyed my voice.
EX. III, 2. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of
fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush
burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight,
why the bush is not burnt.
4. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto
him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses: and he said,
Here am I.
5. And he said, Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy
feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
6. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he
was afraid to look upon God.
7. And the Lord said I have surely seen the affliction of my people
which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their
taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
8. And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the
Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and
a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of
the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the
Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
9. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come
unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians
oppress them.
10. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou
mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
11. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh,
and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
12. And he said, Certainly I will he with thee; and this shall be a
token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth
the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
13. And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of
Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me
unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say
unto them?
14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt
thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
15. And God said moreover, unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the
children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is
my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
ISAIAH XLII, 8. I am the Lord; that is my name: and my glory will I
not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
PSALM LXXXIII, 18. That men may know that thou, whose name alone is
JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
3. DIVINE TITLES ASCRIBED TO CHRIST.
(1.) _He is called God._
ISAIAH VII, 14. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his
name Immanuel.
MATT. I, 23. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring
forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us.
ISAIAH IX, 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.
JOHN I, 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
JOHN XX, 28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my
God.
ACTS XX, 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed
the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
ROM. IX, 5. Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh
Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
PHIL. II, 6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to
be equal with God.
1 THESS. I, 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised
from the dead, even Jesus.
1 TIM. III, 16. And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit,
seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world,
received up into glory.
TITUS I, 3. But hath in due times manifested his word through
preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of
God our Savior.
TITUS II, 10. Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they
may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
TITUS II, 13. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing
of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
HEB. I, 8. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever
and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.
HEB. III, 4. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built
all things is God.
1 JOHN III, 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid
down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the
brethren.
1 JOHN V, 20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given
us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in
him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God,
and eternal life.
(2.) _He is called Lord._
PSALM XC, 1. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all
generations.
MATT. XXII, 44. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
ACTS II, 25. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord
always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not
be moved.
HEB. I, 13. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my
right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
ISAIAH XL, 3. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare
ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our
God.
MATT. III, 3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias,
saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way
of the Lord, make his paths straight.
JER. XXIII, 6. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall
dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE
LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
JOEL II, 32. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on
the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in Mount Zion and in
Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the
remnant whom the Lord shall call.
MAL. III, 1. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare
the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to
his temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in:
behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
MATT. VII, 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in
thy name done many wonderful works?
MARK II, 28. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
LUKE II, 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
LUKE V, 8. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees,
saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
LUKE VI, 46. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things
which I say?
LUKE XXIII, 42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou
comest into thy kingdom.
JOHN VI, 68. Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go?
thou hast the words of eternal life.
JOHN XIII, 13. Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well: for so I
am.
ACTS II, 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord
and Christ.
ACTS VII, 59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
ACTS IX, 5. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am
Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the
pricks.
ACTS IX, 29. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and
disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
ACTS X, 36. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel,
preaching peace by Jesus Christ: he is Lord of all.
ACTS XVI, 31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
ACTS XIX, 10. And this continued by the space of two years; so that
all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both
Jews and Greeks.
ROM. X, 12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:
for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
ROM. XIV, 9. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived,
that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
1 COR. I, 10. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no
divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the
same mind and in the same judgment.
1 COR. VI, 11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye
are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God.
1 COR. VIII, 6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom
are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are
all things, and we by him.
1 COR. XV, 47. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man
is the Lord from heaven.
PHIL. II, 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2 THESS. I, 7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 PETER I, 2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the
knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.
(3.) _He is called the Son of God._
PSALM II, 7. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me,
Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
PSALM LXXXIX, 27. Also I will make him my first-born, higher than the
kings of the earth.
ISAIAH IX, 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.
MATT. III, 17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased.
MATT. VIII, 29. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to
do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment
us before the time?
LUKE I, 32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the
Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father
David.
LUKE I, 35. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow
thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall
be called the Son of God.
JOHN I, 34. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
JOHN I, 49. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the
Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
JOHN V, 18. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he
not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his
Father, making himself equal with God.
JOHN IX, 35. And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the
Son abideth ever.
36. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
37. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because
my word hath no place in you.
JOHN X, 36. Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent
into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
JOHN XIX, 7. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he
ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
ACTS III, 13. The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God
of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up,
and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to
let him go.
JOHN XX, 31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name.
ACTS III, 26. Unto you first, God having raised up his Son Jesus sent
him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his
iniquities.
ACTS VII, 37. This is that Moses, which said unto the children of
Israel, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your
brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
ACTS IX, 20. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues,
that he is the Son of God.
ROM. I, 3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, which was made
of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the
spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
ROM. VIII, 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up
for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things.
2 COR. XI, 31. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is
blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
EPH. I, 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
Christ.
1 JOHN IV, 15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God,
God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1 JOHN V, 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that
believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
COL. I, 3. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, praying always for you.
HEB. I, 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he
hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.
(4.) _Christ, as the Son of God, calls God Father._
MATT. XI, 25. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
MARK XIII, 32. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not
the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
MARK XIV, 36. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto
thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless, not what I will, but
what thou wilt.
LUKE X, 22. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man
knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the
Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
LUKE XII, 42. And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise
steward, whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give
them their portion of meat in due season?
LUKE XXIII, 34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know
not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
LUKE XXIII, 46. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said,
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he
gave up the ghost.
JOHN XX, 17. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet
ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I
ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
(5.) _Christ, as the Son of God, is distinguished from created
beings, by the phrases_, BEGOTTEN, ONLY BEGOTTEN, _etc._
PSALM II, 7. I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me,
Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
JOHN I, 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
JOHN I, 18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son,
which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
JOHN III, 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.
HEB. I, 6. And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the
world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
1 JOHN IV, 9. In this was manifested the love of God toward us,
because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we
might live through him.
1 JOHN V, 1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of
God: and every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is
begotten of him.
ROM. VIII, 3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak
through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.
GAL. IV, 4. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth
his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.
(6.) _Christ is one with the Father._
JOHN X, 30. I and my Father are one.
JOHN X, 38. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works;
that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
JOHN XVII, 11. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the
world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name
those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
JOHN XVII, 22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them;
that they may be one, even as we are one.
JOHN XIV, 11. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in
me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
JOHN XII, 44. Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth
not on me, but on him that sent me.
45. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
JOHN XV, 23. He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
1 JOHN II, 23. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the
Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
HEB. I, 3. Who, being the brightness of his glory and the express
image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his
power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right
hand of the Majesty on high.
JOHN V, 22. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all
judgment unto the Son.
COL. I, 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness
dwell.
(7.) _The same things spoken of God, the Father, and of Christ._
EPH. V, 5. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person,
nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and of God.
1 JOHN V, 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
COL. II, 2. That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together
in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding,
to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of
Christ.
2 THESS. II, 16. Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they
might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come
upon them to the uttermost.
17. But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in
presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your
face with great desire.
1 TIM. VI, 13. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth
all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate
witnessed a good confession.
TITUS II, 13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
REV. XIV, 4. These are they which were not defiled with women; for
they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever
he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits
unto God and to the Lamb.
REV. XXI, 22. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty
and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine
in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light
thereof.
(8.) _Christ Equal with God._
PHIL. II, 6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to
be equal with God.
JOHN V, 17. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I
work.
JOHN X, 37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye
may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
JOHN XIV, 9. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you,
and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen
the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
JOHN XVII, 5. And now, O Father, glorify thou me, with thine own self
with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
JOHN XVII, 8. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest
me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out
from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
(9.) _Christ is styled God's Fellow._
ZECH. XIII, 7. Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the
man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the Shepherd,
and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the
little ones.
(10.) _Christ is called the Word of God._
JOHN I, 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
JOHN I, 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
4. DIVINE ATTRIBUTES POSSESSED BY HIM.
(1.) _Eternity._
REV. XXII, 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the
first and the last.
ISAIAH IX, 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.
REV. I, 17. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he
laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first
and the last:
18. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forever
more, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
HEB. XIII, 8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and
forever.
HEB. I, 10. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation
of the earth: and the heavens are the works of thine hands.
11. They shall perish, but thou remainest: and they all shall wax old
as doth a garment;
12. And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be
changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
1 JOHN I, 2. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and
bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the
Father, and was manifested unto us.
JOHN VIII, 58. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Before Abraham was, I am.
(2.) _Omniscience._
MATT. IX, 4. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye
evil in your hearts?
LUKE XX, 23. But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them,
Why tempt ye me?
JOHN II, 24. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he
knew all men,
25. And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what
was in man.
JOHN XVI, 30. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and
needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou
camest forth from God.
JOHN XXI, 17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third
time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all
things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my
sheep.
MATT. XVIII, 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there am I in the midst of them.
JOHN X, 15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I
lay down my life for the sheep.
(3.) _Omnipotence._
REV. I, 8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith
the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
JOHN XVI, 15. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said
I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
5. DIVINE ACTS ARE ATTRIBUTED TO HIM.
(1.) _Creation._
JOHN I, 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made.
JOHN I, 10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and
the world knew him not.
EPH. III, 9. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the
mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God,
who created all things by Jesus Christ.
COL. I, 16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones,
or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by
him, and for him.
17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
HEB. I, 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he
hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.
HEB. I, 10. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation
of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.
HEB. III, 3. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses,
inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the
house.
4. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all
things is God.
(2.) _Preservation._
COL. II, 17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of
Christ.
HEB. I, 3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express
image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his
power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right
hand of the Majesty on high.
(3.) _The final destruction of the material universe attributed to
Christ._
HEB. I, 10. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation
of the earth: and the heavens are the works of thine hands.
11. They shall perish, but thou remainest: and they all shall wax old
as doth a garment:
12. And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be
changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
2 THESS. I, 7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
REV. VI, 14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled
together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their
places.
15. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men,
and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond man, and
every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the
mountains:
16. And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from
the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the
Lamb:
17. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to
stand?
2 PET. III, 10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the
night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the
works that are therein.
(4.) _Christ claimed to perform the works of his Father, and to
possess original miraculous power._
JOHN V, 17. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I
work.
18. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not
only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father,
making himself equal with God.
19. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father
do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son
likewise.
20. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that
himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye
may marvel.
21. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even
so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
JOHN X, 37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye
may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
LUKE X, 19. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by
any means hurt you.
LUKE IX, 1. Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave
them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
MARK XVI, 17. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my
name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.
ACTS III, 16. And his name through faith in his name hath made this
man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath
given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
(5.) _He promised to send the Holy Ghost._
JOHN XVI, 7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for
you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come
unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of
righteousness, and of judgment:
9. Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no
more;
11. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye can not bear them
now.
13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you
into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he
shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew
it unto you.
(6.) _He gave the Holy Ghost._
ACTS II, 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and
having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath
shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
EPH. IV, 8. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led
captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first
into the lower parts of the earth?
10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all
heavens, that he might fill all things.
11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature
of the fullness of Christ.
PSALM LXVIII, 18. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity
captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious
also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
(7.) _He forgave sins._
MARK II, 5. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the
palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
6. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning
in their hearts,
7. Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but
God only?
8. And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so
reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these
things in your hearts?
9. Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be
forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to
forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
11. I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into
thine house.
LUKE VII, 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.
48. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves,
Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
COL. III, 13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if
any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so
also do ye.
MATT. IX, 2. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy,
lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the
palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This
man blasphemeth.
4. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in
your hearts?
5. For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to
say, Arise, and walk?
6. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to
forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up
thy bed, and go unto thine house.
6. DIVINE WORSHIP PAID TO HIM.
(1.) _Before his ascension._
MATT. VIII, 2. And, behold, there came a leper and worshiped him,
saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
JOHN IX, 35. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had
found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
36. He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on
him?
37. And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he
that talketh with thee.
38. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him.
MATT. XIV, 33. Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him,
saying, Of a truth, thou art the Son of God.
LUKE V, 8. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees,
saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
(2.) _After his ascension._
LUKE XXIV, 51. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was
parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
ACTS I, 24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the
hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen.
ACTS VII, 59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge. And when he had said this he fell asleep.
2 COR. XII, 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it
might depart from me.
9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I
rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me.
2 THESS. II, 16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our
Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation
and good hope through grace,
17. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
2 TIM. IV, 22. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with
you. Amen.
1 COR. I, 2. Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, to them that
are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in
every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs
and ours.
PHIL. II, 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.
(3.) _Adored by angels._
HEB. I, 6. And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the
world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
REV. V, 13. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth,
and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in
them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be
unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and
ever.
(4.) _Doxologies to Christ._
2 PET. III, 18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
REV. I, 5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the
first-begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him
be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
ROM. XVI, 20. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet
shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
2 COR. XIII, 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of
God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
(5.) _But to Worship any Being or Thing but God is Idolatry._
MATT. IV, 10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it
is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt
thou serve.
REV. XIX, 10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto
me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren
that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
EX. XX, 3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
EX. XXXIV, 14. For thou shalt worship no other God: for the Lord,
whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
DEUT. IV, 15. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw
no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in
Horeb out of the midst of the fire;
16. Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the
similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
17. The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of
any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
18. The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the
likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:
19. And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest
the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven,
shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord
thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
EX. XXII, 20. He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord
only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
DEUT. VIII, 19. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy
God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I
testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
EX. XXIII, 13. And in all things that I have said unto you be
circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither
let it be heard out of thy mouth.
CHAPTER V.
THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
1. HIS HUMANITY.
ISAIAH IX, 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of peace.
MATT. IV, 2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he
was afterward an hungered.
MATT. XXI, 18. Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he
hungered.
MATT. XXVI, 38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding
sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
LUKE II, 52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor
with God and man.
LUKE XXIV, 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself:
handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see
me have.
JOHN II, 35. Jesus wept.
MARK XIV, 34. And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto
death: tarry ye here, and watch.
LUKE XXIII, 46. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said,
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he
gave up the ghost.
2. THE UNION OF THE TWO NATURES IN ONE HYPOSTASIS.
HEB. II, 14. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and
blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil.
COL. I, 14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins:
15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every
creature:
16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by
him, and for him:
17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
JOHN I, 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (Sand we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.
1 TIM. III, 16. And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit,
seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world,
received up into glory.
COL. II, 9. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead
bodily.
ACTS XX, 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed
the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
CHAPTER VI.
THE HOLY GHOST.
1. PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER AND THE SON.
MATT. X, 20. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your
Father which speaketh in you.
1 COR. II, 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the
spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no
man, but the Spirit of God.
12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit
which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given
to us of God.
GAL. IV, 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of
his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
ROM. VIII, 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be
that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
1 PETER I, 11. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of
Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the
sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
PHIL. I, 19. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through
your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
JOHN XIV, 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
JOHN XV, 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you
from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the
Father, he shall testify of me.
2. HIS PERSONALITY.
GEN. I, 2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was
upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face
of the waters.
PSALM XXXIII, 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and
all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
JOB XXXIII, 4. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the
Almighty hath given me life.
2 PETER I, 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
PSALM CIV, 27. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them
their meat in due season.
28. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they
are filled with good.
29. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their
breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest
the face of the earth.
1 COR. III, 16. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that
the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 COR. VI, 19. What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your
own?
REV. I, 4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto
you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to
come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the
first-begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
MATT. XXVIII, 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
REV. XXII, 17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him
that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And
whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
JOHN XVI, 13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will
guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you
things to come.
ACTS VIII, 29. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join
thyself to this chariot.
GEN. VI, 3. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with
man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and
twenty years.
ISAIAH XLVIII, 16. Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not
spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there
am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
ISAIAH LXIII, 10. But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit:
therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
ISAIAH XXXIV, 16. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no
one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it
hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
HAG. II, 4. Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be
strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all
ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you,
saith the Lord of hosts:
5. According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out
of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
6. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while,
and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry
land;
7. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall
come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.
ISAIAH VI, 8. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I
send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
2 THESS. II, 13. But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far
off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
ACTS V, 3. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart
to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the
land?
4. While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was
it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine
heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
ACTS X, 38. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and
with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
ACTS XXVIII, 25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they
departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy
Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers.
ROM. XV, 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy
Ghost.
1 COR. II, 4. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing
words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of
power.
ACTS XV, 28. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay
upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.
EPH. IV, 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption.
3. HIS DEITY.
(1.) _The subject of blasphemy._
MATT. XII, 31. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and
blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the
Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
(2.) _Divine titles ascribed to him._
ACTS V, 3. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart
to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the
land?
4. While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was
it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine
heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
2 COR. III, 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is liberty.
(3.) _Possessed of Divine attributes._
_a. Eternity._
HEB. IX, 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
_b. Omnipresence._
1 COR. VI, 19. What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your
own?
ROM. VIII, 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are
the sons of God.
_c. Omniscience._
1 COR. II, 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for
the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
JOHN XVI, 13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will
guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you
things to come.
2 PET. I, 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
_d. Holiness._
He is styled the Holy Ghost.
_e. Goodness._
NEH. IX, 20. Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them, and
withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for
their thirst.
PSALM CXLIII, 10. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy
Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
_f. Grace._
HEB. X, 29. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be
thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath
counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an
unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
_g. Truth._
JOHN XIV, 17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world can not
receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know
him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
4. HE IS THE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION.
2 PET. I, 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
JOHN XVI, 13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will
guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you
things to come.
5. HE IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE.
2 COR. III, 6. Who also hath made us able ministers of the New
Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter
killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
JOHN VI, 63. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they
are life.
ROM. VIII, 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the
dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also
quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
6. HE IS THE AUTHOR OF THE NEW CREATION--REGENERATION.
JOHN III, 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the
sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it
goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
TITUS III, 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
7. HE IS THE SOURCE OF RELIGIOUS COMFORT.
JOHN XIV, 16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you
another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.
ACTS IX, 31. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and
Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the
Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
PROV. I, 23. Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my Spirit
unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
ISAIAH XLIV, 3. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and
floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and
my blessing upon thine offspring.
EZEK. XI, 19. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new
spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh,
and will give them a heart of flesh.
ZECH. XII, 10. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications:
and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall
mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in
bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
JOHN VI, 63. It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they
are life.
ACTS V, 32. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also
the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
ROM. V, 5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
ROM. VIII, 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are
in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death.
ROM. VIII, 5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of
the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the
Spirit.
6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace.
7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8. So then they that are in the flesh can not please God.
9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his.
10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the
Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell
in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your
mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
1 COR. VI, 11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye
are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God.
1 COR. III, 19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God:
for it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
GAL. IV, 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of
his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
1 JOHN III, 24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him,
and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit
which he hath given us.
EPH. II, 22. In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of
God through the Spirit.
BOOK II.
DOCTRINES RELATING TO MAN.
"And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness;
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl
of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over
every thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his
own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created
he them." (Gen. i, 26, 27.) Man was created in the image of God, and
invested with dominion and authority. St. Paul, in Col. iii, 10, says:
"Put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of
him that created him," and in Eph. iv, 24, "Put on the new man, which
after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." From these
passages it is evident that the image of God consists in "knowledge,"
in "righteousness," and in "true holiness." The likeness of God in
which man was created was that of the moral perfections of his Maker.
That this moral image of God in man implies and rests upon the natural
image of God, must be apparent; for unless he had been endowed with
_knowledge_, _spirituality_, and _will_, he would have been wholly
incapable of moral qualities. In the Book of Wisdom, which conveys the
ideas of the ancient Jews, we find this language: "For God created man
to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity." As a
moral being, man was created under law; the language of which was: "Of
every tree of the garden mayest thou freely eat, but of the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the
day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Gen. ii, 16, 17. The
history informs us that the woman, tempted through the agency of the
serpent, which was "more subtile than any beast of the field," took of
the fruit, gave it to her husband, who also ate; that for this act of
disobedience they were expelled from the garden, made subject to
death, and laid under other maledictions. "By Adam's transgressions,"
says Paul, Rom. v, "many were made sinners." Through him death passed
upon all men. As the federal head of the race, he was the fountain of
sin and death to his posterity.
The prohibition under which our first parents were placed has been the
subject of much ridicule, and the occasion of many a "fool-born jest;"
and the whole transaction has been declared to be unworthy of the
parties concerned. Where would the test be placed if not in the
government of man's own appetites? Social and political relations he
had none. We do not suppose that the prohibition under which our first
parents were placed was the only rule of their conduct. This precept
was made prominent by special injunction, and the result showed that
it was a sufficient test. The law was simple and explicit. It was not
difficult of observation, and it accorded with the circumstances of
those on whom it was enjoined.
The immediate visible agent in the seduction of man to sin was the
serpent; but the testimony of Scripture is in proof that the real
tempter was that subtile and powerful evil spirit whose general
appellations are the devil and Satan; the former signifying traducer
and false accuser, and the latter, an adversary. That the devil was
the real tempter is the uniform teaching of the Scriptures, and that
an order of fallen spirits, under the guidance of an arch-leader, are
permitted to have influence on earth, to war against the virtue and
peace of man, though under constant control and government, and that
this entered into the circumstances of the trial of our first parents,
and that it enters into ours.
It is not our purpose in this connection to discuss either the theory
of temptation, or the extent of Satanic influence, but to present
man's relation to the Divine government as revealed in the Scriptures.
In consequence of the apostasy of Adam, all men have sinned. After
Adam had lost the image of God he begat a son in his own likeness. The
image of God, in which Adam was created, we have shown to have been
_divine knowledge_, _righteousness_, and _true holiness_. The likeness
of Adam is, by unquestionable analogy, the _moral character which he
possessed after his apostasy_. In this likeness Seth is said to have
been begotten. That Cain was _depraved_ will not be denied. The same
thing is indirectly, but conclusively, taught concerning Abel; for he
is declared to have lived and died in faith; and that faith had
reference to a future promised Redeemer. Christ, as a Redeemer, could
not have been an object of faith to Abel had he not been a sinner; or,
in other words, had he not borne the likeness of apostate Adam. If
this was the nature of the immediate children of Adam, it can not be
denied that it is equally the nature of his remotest progeny, or that
they do not all bear the likeness of their common parent. St. Paul
argues this doctrine at length in his Epistle to the Romans, and his
conclusions are that all are under sin--that judgment has come upon
all men to condemnation. St. Paul teaches the same doctrine by
asserting the impossibility of being justified by the works of the
law. If one sinless man existed in this world, he could not fail to be
justified by the works of the law; for the law itself says: "_He that
doeth these things_"--that is, the things required in the law--"_shall
live by them_." As, therefore, no flesh--no child of Adam--shall be
justified by the works of the law, it follows conclusively that every
one is sinful. The necessity of the new birth, as taught by our Savior
to Nicodemus, is founded on this doctrine: "Except a man be born again
he can not see the kingdom of God." The only use or effect of the new
birth is, that in it holiness is implanted in the mind. But if any man
were sinless he could not need regeneration, nor be regenerated. He
would already possess that holiness which is communicated in
regeneration, and, of course, would see the kingdom of God as
certainly and easily, at least, as sinners who had been born again. In
2 Cor. v, 14, Paul says: "We thus judge, that if one died for all then
were all dead;" that is, in sins. What the Scriptures thus clearly
assert is fully borne out by observation and experience. Men,
every-where, are sinful. It is not an incident of climate, or
education, or surroundings; it is as universal as humanity.
Human laws are made to repress and restrain sin. They exist in every
country, and are enforced upon men by an iron necessity. The penalties
by which they attempt to restrain and punish sin are various and
dreadful. And although the most efficacious that human experience and
ingenuity can devise, yet they always fall short of their purpose. The
propensity to evil in the human heart has defied all their force and
terror, and boldly ventured on the forbidden perpetration in the face
of all their threatenings. No ingenuity on the one hand, and no
suffering on the other, has, in any country, or in any age, been
sufficient to overcome this propensity. The conclusion is therefore
irresistible, that human nature is universally sinful, and in the
language of the creed, that "man is very far gone from original
righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil."
CHAPTER I.
MAN'S PRIMEVAL STATE.
1. MADE UNDER LAW.
GEN. II, 16. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree
of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not
eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely
die.
DEUT. VI, 5. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
DEUT. X, 12. And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of
thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to
love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with
all thy soul.
MARK XII, 30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy
strength: this is the first commandment.
ROM. VII, 12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and
just, and good.
ROM. VI, 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
EZEK. XVIII, 4. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father,
so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall
die.
2. CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
(1.) _Dominion._
GEN. I, 26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and
over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth,
and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created
he him; male and female created he them.
28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth.
PSALM VIII, 6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy
hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8. The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever
passeth through the paths of the seas.
(2.) _Spirituality._
ACTS VII, 59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
NUM. XVI, 22. And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God
of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth
with all the congregation?
NUM. XXVII, 16. Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set
a man over the congregation.
JAMES II, 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
without works is dead also.
HEB. XII, 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?
ACTS XVII, 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as
certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his
offspring.
29. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to
think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven
by art and man's device.
JOB XXXII, 8. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the
Almighty giveth them understanding.
ECCL. III, 21. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and
the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
JOB XXXIV, 14. If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself
his spirit and his breath.
ISAIAH LVII, 16. For I will not contend forever, neither will I be
always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls
which I have made.
ZECH. XII, 1. The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the
Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of
the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
2 COR. V, 6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst
we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
JOB XXXIII, 4. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the
Almighty hath given me life.
JER. XXXVIII, 16. So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah,
saying, As the Lord liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put
thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men
that seek thy life.
(3.) _Immortality._
GEN. II, 7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul.
ECCL. III, 21. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and
the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
ECCL. XII, 7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and
the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
MATT. X, 28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able
to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell.
LUKE XX, 37. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the
bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
38. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live
unto him.
2 COR. V, 2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed
upon with our house which is from heaven:
3. If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not
for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might
be swallowed up of life.
5. Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God, who
also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at
home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
2 COR. XII, 2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago,
whether in the body I can not tell, or whether out of the body I can
not tell; God knoweth: such a one caught up to the third heaven.
3. And I knew such a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, I
can not tell; God knoweth:
4. How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable
words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
REV. VI, 9. And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to
him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever,
10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the
throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their
crowns before the throne.
(4.) _Intellectual Powers--Knowledge._
JOB XXXII, 8. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the
Almighty giveth them understanding.
GEN. II, 19. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of
the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to
see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living
creature, that was the name thereof.
20. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and
to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a
helpmeet for him.
ROM. I, 19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in
them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his
eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God,
neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and
their foolish heart was darkened.
PSALM XCIV, 10. He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct?
he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
COL. III, 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in
knowledge after the image of him that created him.
DAN. IV, 36. At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the
glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and
my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my
kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
ECCL. VII, 25. I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to
seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness
of folly, even of foolishness and madness.
ISAIAH I, 18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
EX. XXXV, 31. And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in
wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of
workmanship.
(5.) _Moral image of God--holiness._
GEN. I, 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he them.
ECCL. VII, 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man
upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
GEN. IX, 6. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be
shed: for in the image of God made he man.
ROM. VII, 22. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.
1 COR. XV, 45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a
living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
EPH. IV, 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is
created in righteousness and true holiness.
COL. III, 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in
knowledge after the image of him that created him.
LUKE III, 38. Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth,
which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
JAMES III, 9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith
curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
CHAPTER II.
THE FALL OF MAN.
1. THE TEMPTATION.
_The serpent the instrument--the devil the real tempter._
JAMES I, 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:
for God can not be tempted with evil, neither 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.
GEN. III, 1. Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the
field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea,
hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2. And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the
trees of the garden:
3. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden,
God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest
ye die.
4. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes
shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
REV. XII, 9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent,
called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was
cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
ISAIAH XXVII, 1. In that day the Lord with his sore and great and
strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even
leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is
in the sea.
GEN. III, 13. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that
thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did
eat.
2 COR. XI, 3. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled
Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the
simplicity that is in Christ.
GEN. III, 14. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou
hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every
beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou
eat all the days of thy life:
15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy
seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his
heel.
2. THE TRANSGRESSION.
GEN. III, 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food,
and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make
one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also
unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
1 TIM. II, 14. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them
before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to
the subverting of the hearers.
3. THE RESULTS OF THE FALL--PHYSICAL EVIL.
(1.) _The ground cursed for man's sake._
GEN. III, 17. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto
the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I
commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground
for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou
shalt eat the herb of the field.
HEB. VI, 8. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and
is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
(2.) _Man doomed to labor._
GEN. III, 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou
return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou
art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
(3.) _Physical suffering caused by the Fall._
GEN. III, 16. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy
sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;
and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
ROM. VIII, 20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not
willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope;
21. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the
bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of
God.
22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in
pain together until now.
23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits
of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for
the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
2 COR. V, 4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being
burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that
mortality might be swallowed up of life.
(4.) _Temporal death the result of sin._
1 COR. XV, 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be
made alive.
ROM. V, 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have
sinned:
13. For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed
when there is no law.
14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that
had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is
the figure of him that was to come.
15. But not as the offense, so also is the free gift: for if through
the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the
gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto
many.
16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the
judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many
offenses unto justification.
17. For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they
which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness
shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
18. Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to
condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came
upon all men unto justification of life.
19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the
obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
HEB. IX, 27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this the judgment.
JOB. XVI, 22. When a few years are come, then I shall go the way
whence I shall not return.
JOB. III, 23. Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom
God hath hedged in?
ECCL. VIII, 8. There is no man that hath power over the spirit to
retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and
there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver
those that are given to it.
ISAIAH LXIV, 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and
our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
JOB XIV, 1. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of
trouble.
2. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a
shadow, and continueth not.
PSALM XXXIX, 5. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and
mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state
is altogether vanity.
GEN. IV, 8. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to
pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his
brother, and slew him.
9. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he
said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
10. And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood
crieth unto me from the ground.
DEUT. XXXII, 39. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god
with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; neither is
there any that can deliver out of my hand.
ECCL. XII, 7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and
the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
GEN. VI, 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was
only evil continually.
6. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it
grieved him at his heart.
7. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the
face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and
the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
4. RESULTS OF THE FALL--MORAL EVIL.
(1.) _Spiritual death--loss of the Divine image._
EPH. II, 1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins;
2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit
that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he
loved us,
5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ.
GEN. VI, 11. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was
filled with violence.
12. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt: for
all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
GEN. VI, 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was
only evil continually.
ROM. III, 10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after
God.
12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have
used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15. Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16. Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17. And the way of peace have they not known:
18. There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to
them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all
the world may become guilty before God.
20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be
justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
PSALM XIV, 1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They
are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth
good.
2. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see
if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there
is none that doeth good, no, not one.
JOB XV, 16. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh
iniquity like water?
PSALM V, 9. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward
part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they
flatter with their tongue.
ROM. VI, 20. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from
righteousness.
1 COR. II, 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned.
MATT. XXIII, 33. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye
escape the damnation of hell?
JOHN VIII, 44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your
father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not
in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a
lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
ACTS VII, 51. Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye
do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
ROM. VIII, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
EPH. IV, 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from
the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart.
ROM. I, 29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate,
deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors
of evil things, disobedient to parents.
JER. XVII, 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked: who can know it?
ROM. VI, 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
5. MAN'S MORAL NATURE CORRUPTED BY THE FALL.
ROM. V, 17. For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much
more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness shall reign by one, Jesus Christ.
18. Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to
condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came
upon all men unto justification of life.
19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the
obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
ROM. VIII, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
ROM. V, 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have
sinned.
ISAIAH I, 4. Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed
of evil-doers, children that are corrupters! they have forsaken the
Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel into anger, they are
gone away backward.
JER. IV, 22. For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they
are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise
to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
JOHN III, 19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil.
PROV. II, 14. Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness
of the wicked.
MICAH VII, 3. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the
prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man,
he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
PSALM LVIII, 3. The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray
as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
ISAIAH I, 6. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no
soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they
have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with
ointment.
ECCL. VIII, 11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed
speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them
to do evil.
MARK VII, 21. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil
thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22. Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil
eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
ACTS XXVIII, 27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and
their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest
they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and
understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should
heal them.
EPH. IV, 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the
old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
JER. XVII, 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked: who can know it?
MATT. XXIII, 26. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is
within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean
also.
27. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like
unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are
within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
2 PETER II, 12. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken
and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and
shall utterly perish in their own corruption:
13. And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that
count it pleasure to riot in the day-time. Spots they are and
blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they
feast with you;
14. Having eyes full of adultery, and that can not cease from sin;
beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous
practices; cursed children:
15. Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following
the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of
unrighteousness;
16. But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass, speaking with
man's voice, forbade the madness of the prophet.
17. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a
tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.
18. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure
through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that
were clean escaped from them who live in error.
MATT. III, 7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come
to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath
warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
6. DEPRAVITY HEREDITARY.
GEN. V, 3. And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son
in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.
JOHN VIII, 44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your
father ye will do: he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not
in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a
lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
MATT. VII, 17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but
a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
GEN. VI, 11. The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was
filled with violence.
12. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for
all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
PSALM XIV, 1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They
are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth
good.
2. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see
if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there
is none that doeth good, no, not one.
JOHN III, 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which
is born of the spirit is spirit.
ROM. VIII, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
ROM. VII, 14. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal,
sold under sin.
1 JOHN III, 8. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil
sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1 JOHN III, 10. In this the children of God are manifest, and the
children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of
God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
EPH. IV, 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the
old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
COL. II, 13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven
you all trespasses.
1 JOHN II, 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,
but is of the world.
GEN. VIII, 21. And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said
in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's
sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth;
neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have
done.
PROV. XXII, 15. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the
rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
PSALM LI, 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my
mother conceive me.
ECCL. IX, 3. This is an evil among all things that are done under the
sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons
of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live,
and after that they go to the dead.
MATT. XXIII, 27. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for
ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful
outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all
uncleanness.
7. THE EXTENT OF DEPRAVITY IS TOTAL OR UNIVERSAL, _in that all of
Man's Powers and Faculties are Involved, but not in Degree; so that,
while Man's Entire Nature is Corrupt, he may yet sink deeper in
Corruption_.
(1.) _The will is depraved._
JOHN V, 40. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
EPH. II, 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past
in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of
the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
ROM. VIII, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
JOB XXI, 15. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what
profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
PSALM LXXXI, 11. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and
Israel would none of me.
PROV. I, 24. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched
out my hand, and no man regarded;
25. But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my
reproof.
ZECH. VII, 11. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the
shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
12. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should
hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his
spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the
Lord of hosts.
EX. V, 2. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his
voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel
go.
JOB XXI, 14. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we
desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
JER. V, 23. But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart;
they are revolted and gone.
ROM. I, 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things
which are not convenient;
29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers,
30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors
of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31. Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural
affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32. Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such
things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in
them that do them.
(2.) _The understanding darkened._
DEUT. XXXII, 18. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and
hast forgotten God that formed thee.
PSALM L, 21. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou
thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself: but I will
reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
ISAIAH I, 3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib:
but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
JER. IV, 22. For my people is foolish, they have not known me, they
are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise
to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
JER. VIII, 7. Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed
times; and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow observe the time
of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord.
EPH. IV, 19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto
lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
PSALM LVIII, 4. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are
like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
5. Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so
wisely.
PSALM LXXXII, 5. They know not, neither will they understand: they
walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of
course.
PROV. I, 22. How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and
the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
PROV. I, 29. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the
fear of the Lord:
30. They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
EPH. IV, 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from
the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart.
1 COR. II, 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2 TIM. III, 13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived.
(3.) _The affections are corrupt._
EPH. II, 3. Among whom also we had our conversation in times past in
the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
TITUS III, 3. For we ourselves also were sometime foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in
malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
1 PET. IV, 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have
wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness,
lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable
idolatries:
4. Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same
excess of riot, speaking evil of you.
JER. II, 22. For though thou wash thee with niter, and take thee much
soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God.
JER. XVII, 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked: who can know it?
EPH. IV, 19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto
lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
ROM. VIII, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
JER. V, 23. But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart;
they are revolted and gone.
EPH. V, 14. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise
from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
JOHN III, 19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil.
20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to
the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
JOHN VII, 7. The world can not hate you; but me it hateth, because I
testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
JOHN XV, 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you
from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the
Father, he shall testify of me.
(4.) _The imagination is vitiated._
GEN. VI, 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was
only evil continually.
GEN. VIII, 21. And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said
in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's
sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth:
neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have
done.
JER. III, 17. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the
Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of
the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the
imagination of their evil heart.
JER. VII, 24. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but
walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and
went backward, and not forward.
EPH. IV, 17. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye
henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their
mind,
18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life
of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness
of their heart:
19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto
lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
2 COR. X, 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
(5.) _Man's Moral Powers Paralyzed._
EPH. V, 14. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise
from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
ROM. XI, 8. According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit
of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should
not hear, unto this day.
JONAH I, 6. So the shipmaster came unto him, and said unto him, What
meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God
will think upon us, that we perish not.
ROM. VII, 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.
ROM. VII, 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?
(6.) _Man's Utter Helplessness._
ROM. V, 6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ
died for the ungodly.
EPH. II, 1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins.
EPH. II, 5. Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of
men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets.
2 PET. II, 3. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words
make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth
not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
ROM. III, 11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that
seeketh after God.
12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13. Their throat is an open sepulcher: with their tongues they have
used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15. Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16. Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17. And the way of peace have they not known.
BOOK III.
ATONEMENT OR REDEMPTION.
Atonement is the satisfaction offered to Divine justice by the death
of Christ for the sins of mankind, by virtue of which all true
penitents, who believe in Christ, are personally reconciled to God,
are freed from the penalty of their sins, and entitled to eternal
life. The atonement made for sin by the death of Christ is represented
in the Christian system as the means by which mankind may be delivered
from eternal death, reconciled to God, and restored to the Divine
image. These ends it professes to accomplish by means which, with
respect to the Supreme Governor himself, preserve his character from
mistake, and maintain the authority of his government; and with
respect to man, give him the strongest reasons for hope, and render
more favorable the conditions of his earthly probation.
How sin may be forgiven without leading to such misconceptions of the
Divine character as would encourage disobedience, and thereby weaken
the influence of the Divine government, must be considered a problem
of very difficult solution. A government which admitted of no
forgiveness would sink the guilty to despair. A government which never
punishes offense is a contradiction--it can not exist. Not to punish
the guilty is to dissolve authority; to punish without mercy is to
destroy, and, where all are guilty, to make the destruction universal.
Through the atonement all the ends of government are answered. No
license is given to offense. The moral law is unrepealed. A day of
judgment is still appointed. Future and eternal punishments still
display their awful sanctions. A new and singular display of the awful
purity of the Divine character is afforded; yet pardon is offered to
all who seek it, and the whole world may be saved.
With such evidence of suitableness to the wants of mankind, under such
lofty views of connection with the principles and ends of moral
government, does the doctrine of the atonement present itself. The
Scriptures speak on this wise. The first declaration on this subject,
after the appearance of Christ, is from John the Baptist, when he
beheld Christ coming to him: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of world." There can be no doubt that John spoke of
Christ under a sacrificial character, and of the effect of that
sacrifice as an atonement for the sins of mankind. In the Acts of the
Apostles, Philip, the Evangelist, applies the following words of
Isaiah to Christ and his death: "He was led as a sheep to the
slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not
his mouth; in his humiliation his judgment was taken away, and who
shall declare his generation, for his life is taken from the earth."
If this applied to Christ, of course the whole of the prophecy, of
which this is but a part, applies to him. "He was wounded for our
transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of
our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed: the Lord
hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more, being now
justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For
if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of
his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
Rom. v, 8-10.
"Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by
the sacrifice of himself. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of
many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time
without sin unto salvation." Heb. ix, 26-28.
"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; and,
having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile
all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in
earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and
enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet hath he now reconciled in
the body of his flesh through death." Col. i, 19-22.
"God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." 2 Cor. v, 19.
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse
for us." Gal. iii, 13.
"Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus." Rev. iii, 24.
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace." Eph. i, 7.
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by
tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as
of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Peter i, 18, 19.
"And ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price." 1 Cor.
vi, 19, 20.
"The Son of man came to give his life a ransom for many." Matt.
xx, 28.
"Who gave himself a ransom for all." 1 Tim. ii, 6.
"In whom we have redemption through his blood." Eph. i, 7.
These passages clearly teach that the death of Christ is an atonement
for sin, a satisfaction offered to Divine justice, the price for our
ransom, and the meritorious and procuring cause of our pardon. "We are
freely justified by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus;" but this redemption was not procured by us, nor at our expense;
it was the result of the pure love of God, who, compassionating our
misery, himself provided the means of our deliverance, by sending his
only begotten Son into the world, who voluntarily submitted to die
upon the cross that he might become the propitiation for our sins, and
reconcile us to God.
Throughout the whole of this glorious doctrine of our redemption from
the tremendous evils of sin, there is, in the New Testament, a
constant reference to the _redemption price_, which is uniformly
declared to be the death of Christ, which he endured in our stead.
CHAPTER I.
REDEMPTION.
1. NECESSITY FOR AN ATONEMENT.
ROM. III, 19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it
saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped,
and all the world may become guilty before God.
20. Therefore by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be
justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
ROM. III, 31. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid:
yea, we establish the law.
GAL. II, 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by
the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified.
GAL. III, 10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under
the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not
in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is
evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall
live in them.
13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a
curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a
tree:
14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through
Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith.
15. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a
man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth or addeth
thereto.
16. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not,
and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is
Christ.
17. And this I say, That the covenant that was confirmed before of God
in Christ, the law which was four hundred and thirty years after, can
not disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise:
but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19. Wherefore then serveth the law? it was added because of
transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was
made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20. Now, a mediator is not a mediator of one: but God is one.
21. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if
there had been a law given which could have given life, verily
righteousness should have been by the law.
22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise
by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto
the faith which should afterward be revealed.
24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,
that we might be justified by faith.
HEB. IX, 22. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood;
and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the
heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things
themselves with better sacrifices than these.
ACTS XIII, 38. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that
through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins;
39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from
which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
ACTS IV, 12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is
none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved.
JOHN III, 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the
sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it
goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
MATT. XVIII, 11. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the
east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,
in the kingdom of heaven.
2. REDEMPTION BY THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
ISAIAH LIII, 5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon
him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his
own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his
mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before
her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare
his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for
the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his
death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his
mouth.
10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:
when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his
seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall
prosper in his hand.
11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied:
by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall
bear their iniquities.
MATT. XX, 28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,
but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
JOHN VI, 51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any
man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I
will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
MATT. XXVI, 28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins.
HEB. IX, 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own
blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us.
13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer
sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from
dead works to serve the living God?
HEB. IX, 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and
unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without
sin unto salvation.
EPH. II, 13. But now, in Christ Jesus, ye, who sometime were far off,
were made nigh by the blood of Christ.
EPH. V, 2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a
sweet-smelling savor.
GAL. II, 20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me.
GAL. III, 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being
made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree.
1 COR. V, 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new
lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed
for us.
1 COR. XV, 3. For I delivered unto you first of all, that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures.
ROM. III, 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his
blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God:
26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might
be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
ROM. V, 6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ
died for the ungodly.
ROM. V, 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,
so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
HEB. XIII, 12. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people
with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
1 PETER I, 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers;
19. But with the previous blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot.
1 PETER II, 24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the
tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by
whose stripes ye were healed.
1 PETER III, 18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just
for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in
the flesh, but quickened by the spirit.
HEB. X, 10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering
oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever
sat down on the right hand of God;
13. From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are
sanctified.
HEB. X, 19. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the
holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20. By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through
the veil, that is to say, his flesh.
1 JOHN III, 5. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our
sins; and in him is no sin.
JOHN III, 14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
eternal life.
ISAIAH XXXV, 10. For in this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest,
and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden
down for the dunghill.
1 TIM. II, 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in
due time.
1 COR. VI, 20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God
in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 COR. I, 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made
unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
REV. V, 9. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take
the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast
redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation.
REV. V, 4. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open,
and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
3. THE DEATH OF CHRIST A SUFFICIENT ATONEMENT _for the Sins of the
Whole World_.
ROM. V, 18. Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all
men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift
came upon all men unto justification of life.
HEB. II, 9. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the
angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that
he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
1 JOHN I, 2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
2 COR. V, 14. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus
judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15. And that he died for all, that they which live should not
henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and
rose again.
1 TIM. II, 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in
due time.
1 TIM. IV, 10. For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach,
because we trust in the living God who is the Savior of all men,
especially of those that believe.
JOHN IV, 42. And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of
thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is
indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.
JOHN I, 29. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!
ISAIAH LIII, 6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity
of us all.
JOHN III, 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world, to condemn the world, but
that the world through him might be saved.
ROM. III, 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through
faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of
sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
GAL. IV, 4. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth
his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons.
1 JOHN IV, 9. In this was manifested the love of God toward us,
because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we
might live through him.
10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and
sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
2 COR. V, 18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to
himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation;
19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed
unto us the word of reconciliation.
EPH. II, 13. But now, in Christ Jesus, ye, who sometime were far off,
are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down
the middle wall of partition between us;
15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of
commandments contained in ordinances: for to make in himself of twain
one new man, so making peace;
16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the
cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to
them that were nigh.
18. For through him we both have an access by one Spirit unto the
Father.
19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.
COL. I, 20. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by
him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they
be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21. And 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.
4. THE DEATH OF CHRIST THE PROCURING CAUSE _of Man's Salvation_.
ROM. III, 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through
faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of
sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
2 COR. V, 18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to
himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation;
19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed
unto us the word of reconciliation.
EPH. II, 13. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations
for you, which is your glory.
14. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
15. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.
16. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to
be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being
rooted and grounded in love,
18. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
length, and depth, and height;
19. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye
might be filled with all the fullness of God.
1 COR. I, 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made
unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
GAL. IV, 4. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth
his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.
GAL. III, 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being
made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree.
TITUS II, 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.
MATT. XX, 28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,
but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
1 COR. VI, 20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God
in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
ACTS XX, 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock
over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
1 PET. I, 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye are not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers.
ROM. V, 10. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by
the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved
by his life.
EPH. I, 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
COL. I, 14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins.
ROM. III, 24. Being justified freely by his grace, through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
JOB XXXIII, 24. Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him
from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
5. BENEFITS OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
(1.) _Justification._
1 COR. VI, 11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye
are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God.
ACTS XIII, 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all
things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
ROM. III, 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
ROM. VIII, 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are
in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death.
ROM. VIII, 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?
It is God that justifieth:
34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also
maketh intercession for us.
JOHN X, 9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be
saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
1 COR. XV, 57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory,
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
GAL. II, 19. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might
live unto God.
20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me.
EPH. I, 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath
made us accepted in the Beloved:
7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace.
EPH. II, 18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto
the Father.
19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.
COL. I, 21. And 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:
23. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved
away from the hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was
preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am
made a minister.
HEB. X, 19. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto
him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting
nothing: for I have sent them.
1 JOHN II, 12. I write unto you, little children, because your sins
are forgiven you for his name's sake.
ROM. III, 8. And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as
some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose
damnation is just.
ROM. V, 16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift. For
the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many
offenses unto justification.
17. For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they
which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness,
shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
18. Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to
condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came
upon all men unto justification of life.
19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the
obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
ROM. III, 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that
he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works?
Nay, but by the law of faith.
28. Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith without
the deeds of the law.
ISAIAH LIII, 11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be
satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many;
for he shall bear their iniquities.
1 JOHN V, 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the
name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life,
and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
(2.) _Regeneration._
GAL. II, 20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me.
GAL. V, 24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with
the affections and lusts.
GAL. VI, 15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any
thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
2 COR. V, 17. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new.
ROM. II, 28. For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is
that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of
the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not
of men, but of God.
EZEK. XXXVI, 26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit
will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of
your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
EPH. IV, 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the
old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
JOHN I, 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor
of the will of man, but of God.
EZEK. II, 19. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new
spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh,
and will give them a heart of flesh:
20. That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and
do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
EZEK. XXXVI, 25. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye
shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols,
will I cleanse you.
26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put
within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,
and I will give you a heart of flesh.
27. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my
statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
JER. XXIV, 7. And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the
Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they
shall return unto me with their whole heart.
JER. XXXI, 33. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with
the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my
law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be
their God, and they shall be my people.
ACTS III, 19. Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins
may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord.
HEB. XI, 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him.
(3.) _Reconciliation._
ROM. V, 10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by
the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved
by his life.
EPH. I, 10. That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven,
and which are on earth; even in him.
EPH. II, 16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.
COL. I, 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness
dwell;
20. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be
things in earth, or things in heaven.
21. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
2 COR. V, 18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to
himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation;
19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed
unto us the word of reconciliation.
EPH. II, 13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometime were far off are
made nigh by the blood of Christ.
(4.) _Adoption._
EPH. II, 13. But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off
are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down
the middle wall of partition between us;
15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of
commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain
one new man, so making peace;
16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the
cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to
them that were nigh.
18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow
citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.
ROM. V, 10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by
the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved
by his life.
COL. I, 2. To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at
Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ.
1 JOHN III, 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed
upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be
like him; for we shall see him as he is.
GAL. IV, 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption of sons.
EPH. I, 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by
Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
accepted in the Beloved.
ROM. VIII, 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to
fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry,
Abba, Father.
2 COR. VI, 16. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will
dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they
shall be my people.
17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you;
18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
JOHN I, 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor
of the will of man, but of God.
HEB. XII, 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.
HOS. I, 10. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the
sand of the sea, which can not be measured nor numbered; and it shall
come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are
not my people, there shall it be said unto them, Ye are the sons of
the living God.
(5.) _Peace._
ROM. I, 7. To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be
saints: Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
1 COR. I, 3. Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and
from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 COR. I, 2. Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from
the Lord Jesus Christ.
GAL. I, 3. Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from
our Lord Jesus Christ.
PHIL. I, 2. Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and
from the Lord Jesus Christ.
ROM. V, 1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God,
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
EPH. II, 14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath
broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of
commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain
one new man, so making peace.
EPH. VI, 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of
peace.
ROM. X, 15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is
written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of
peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
PHIL. IV, 7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
ACTS X, 36. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel,
preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all.)
JOHN XVI, 33. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might
have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.
JOHN XIV, 27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as
the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.
ZECH. VI, 13. Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall
bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall
be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between
them both.
ZECH. IX, 10. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the
horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he
shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea
even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
EPH. II, 13. But now, in Christ Jesus, ye, who sometime were far off,
are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down
the middle wall of partition between us;
15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of
commandments contained in ordinances: for to make in himself of twain
one new man, so making peace;
16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the
cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to
them that were nigh.
ISAIAH IX, 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace.
ISAIAH LIII, 5. But he was wounded for our trangressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon
him; and with his stripes we are healed.
ISAIAH LIV, 10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be
removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the
covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on
thee.
EZEK. XXXIV, 25. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and
will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall
dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
(6.) _Witness of the Spirit._
GAL. IV, 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption of sons.
6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son
into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then
an heir of God through Christ.
ROM. VIII, 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are
the sons of God.
15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but
ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God.
1 JOHN V, 9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is
greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his
Son.
10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:
he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar; because he believeth
not the record that God gave of his Son.
1 JOHN II, 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth
in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same
anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and
even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
2 COR. I, 21. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath
anointed us, is God;
22. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in
our hearts.
EPH. I, 13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of
truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye
believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of
the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
EPH. IV, 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption.
2 TIM. II, 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every
one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
LUKE XII, 11. And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto
magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall
answer, or what ye shall say:
12. For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought
to say.
JOHN XVI, 7. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: It is expedient for
you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come
unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
JOHN XVI, 13. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will
guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you
things to come.
14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew
it unto you.
ROM. V, 5. And hope maketh not ashamed: because the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
1 JOHN V, 20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given
us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in
him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God,
and eternal life.
(7.) _Sanctification._
COL. III, 9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the
old man with his deeds.
EPH. IV, 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the
old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts:
23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness.
ROM. VI, 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
JOHN XVII, 17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
COL. I, 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to
be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
1 THESS. IV, 3. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,
that ye should abstain from fornication.
1 THESS. V, 23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I
pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
LEV. XX, 8. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord
which sanctify you.
LEV. XI, 44. For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify
yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye
defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon
the earth.
ROM. XV, 16. That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the
Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the
Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
2 COR. III, 18. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to
glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 THESS. II, 13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for
you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and
belief of the truth.
ACTS XX, 32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word
of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an
inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
JER. IV, 14. O Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness, that thou
mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
HEB. X, 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our
bodies washed with pure water.
REV. I, 5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, and the
first-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his father; to him
be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
REV. VII, 14. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to
me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
ISAIAH I, 18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
PSALM LI, 2. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me
from my sin.
PSALM LI, 7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and
I shall be whiter than snow.
PSALM LI, 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right
spirit within me.
JER. XXXIII, 8. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity,
whereby they have sinned against me: and I will pardon all their
iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have
transgressed against me.
EZEK. XXXVI, 25. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye
shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols,
will I cleanse you.
2 COR. VII, 1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us
cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 PET. I, 22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye
love one another with a pure heart fervently.
1 JOHN III, 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure.
JAMES IV, 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse
your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.
TITUS II, 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.
HEB. I, 3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express
image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his
power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right
hand of the Majesty on high.
MAL. III, 2. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall
stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like
fuller's soap:
3. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall
purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they
may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
ISAIAH I, 25. And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away
thy dross, and take away all thy tin.
PSALM LXV, 3. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions,
thou shalt purge them away.
ZECH. XIII, 9. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and
will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is
tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say,
It is my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God.
ISAIAH VI, 7. And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath
touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin
purged.
1 COR. I, 2. Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that
are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in
every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs
and ours.
1 COR. VI, 11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye
are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the spirit of our God.
TITUS III, 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
HEB. II, 11. For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are
sanctified, are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call
them brethren.
HEB. X, 10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
HEB. XIII, 12. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people
with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
ROM. VI, 22. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to
God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
CHAPTER II.
BENEFITS OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
CONDITIONS OF SALVATION.
1. REPENTANCE--FAITH THE INSTRUMENTAL CAUSE OF MAN'S SALVATION.
GAL. II, 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by
the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified.
HEB. XI, 16. But now they desire a better country, that is, a
heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he
hath prepared for them a city.
ROM. IV, 5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
ROM. X, 4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every
one that believeth.
ACTS X, 43. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his
name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
ACTS XVI, 31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
JOHN VI, 28. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might
work the works of God?
29. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that
ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30. They said therefore unto him, What sign showest thou then, that we
may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
31. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave
them bread from heaven to eat.
32. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses
gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true
bread from heaven.
33. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and
giveth life unto the world.
34. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh
to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
thirst.
36. But I said unto you, that ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will
of him that sent me.
39. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all
which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up
again at the last day.
40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which
seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I
will raise him up at the last day.
JOHN III, 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.
JOHN III, 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and
he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
abideth on him.
JOHN I, 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
MARK I, 15. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God
is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel.
16. Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew
his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
ROM. X, 9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved.
10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be
ashamed.
1 JOHN V, 12. He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not
the Son of God, hath not life.
2 COR. V, 7. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
GAL. II, 20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me.
HEB. XI, 7. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as
yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by
the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness
which is by faith.
8. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which
he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out
not knowing whither he went.
9. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, and 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.
HEB. XI, 32. And what shall I say more? for the time would fail me to
tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David
also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
33. 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.
1 PETER I, 8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye
see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full
of glory:
9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1 JOHN V, 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and
this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that
Jesus is the Son of God?
COL. I, 23. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be
not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and
which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I
Paul am made a minister.
COL. II, 6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so
walk ye in him:
7. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have
been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
HEB. X, 23. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow
Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied
him.
1 PET. V, 8. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
ROM. V, 1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God,
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we
stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
EPH. II, 8. For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God.
GAL. V, 6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any
thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
ACTS XV, 9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their
hearts by faith.
TITUS I, 1. Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ,
according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the
truth which is after godliness.
ROM. I, 17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from
faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
ROM. IX, 30. What shall we say then? That the Gentiles which followed
not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the
righteousness which is of faith:
31. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath
not attained to the law of righteousness.
32. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by
the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.
ROM. I, 5. By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for
obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name.
1 TIM. I, 19. Holding faith and a good conscience; which some having
put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck.
1 TIM. III, 9. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1 TIM. IV, 1. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils.
1 TIM. V, 12. Having damnation, because they have cast off their first
faith.
HEB. XI, 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him.
REV. XIV, 12. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that
keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
GAL. III, 22. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the
promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto
the faith which should afterward be revealed.
24. Wherefore the law was our school-master to bring us unto Christ,
that we might be justified by faith.
25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a
school-master.
26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT THE EFFICIENT CAUSE OF MAN'S SALVATION.
JOHN III, 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the
kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit.
PSALM LI, 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right
spirit within me.
JER. XXIV, 7. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the
Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they
shall return unto me with their whole heart.
PSALM CXIX, 32. And I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou
shalt enlarge my heart.
JER. XXXI, 33. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with
the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my
law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be
their God, and they shall be my people.
EZEK. XI, 19. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new
spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh,
and will give them an heart of flesh:
20. That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and
do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
EZEK. XXXVI, 25. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye
shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols,
will I cleanse you.
26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put
within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,
and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my
statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
DEUT. XXX, 6. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and
the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
JOHN I, 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor
of the will of man, but of God.
PSALM XXXII, 1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose
sin is covered.
2. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in
whose spirit there is no guile.
PSALM LXV, 3. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions,
thou shalt purge them away.
JER. XXXIII, 8. And I will cleanse them from their iniquity, whereby
they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities,
whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against
me.
PSALM LI, 7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and
I shall be whiter than snow.
ROM. VIII, 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are
the sons of God.
15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but
ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
ROM. VIII, 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be
that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
2 COR. III, 3. Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the
epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the
Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly
tables of the heart.
JOEL II, 28. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out
my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions:
29. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days
will I pour out my Spirit.
ZECH. IV, 6. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the
word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power,
but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
GAL. IV, 29. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted
him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
ROM. XV, 16. That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the
Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the
Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
ROM. V, 5. And hope maketh not ashamed: because the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
2 THESS. II, 13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for
you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and
belief of the truth.
TITUS III, 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
EPH. IV, 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption.
1 COR. II, 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for
the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
JOHN XIV, 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
JOHN XVI, 13. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will
guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you
things to come.
CHAPTER III.
FURTHER BENEFITS OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
1. THE RIGHT TO PRAY.
1 TIM. II, 8. I will therefore that men pray every-where, lifting up
holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
PSALM XXXIV, 15. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous; and his
ears are open unto their cry.
1 PET. III, 12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and
his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is
against them that do evil.
PSALM XXXIV, 17. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and
delivereth them out of all their troubles.
EPH. VI, 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints.
JUDE I, 20. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy
faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
HEB. X, 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our
bodies washed with pure water.
HEB. XI, 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him.
JAMES I, 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that
wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
PSALM LXII, 8. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your
hearts before him: God is a refuge for us.
PSALM CXLV, 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to
all that call upon him in truth.
JER. XXIX, 13. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search
for me with all your heart.
LAM. III, 41. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the
heavens.
JOHN IX, 31. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man
be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
2 COR. VII, 14. For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am
not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our
boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
MATT. VI, 9. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art
in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
11. Give us this day our daily bread.
12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
1 KINGS XVIII, 28. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after
their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon
them.
29. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied
until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there
was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
30. And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all
the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord
that was broken down.
PSALM LXXXVII, 2. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the
dwellings of Jacob.
PSALM CXVI, 18. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence
of all his people,
19. In the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O
Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.
ISAIAH LVI, 7. Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make
them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their
sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be
called a house of prayer for all people.
HOSEA XIV, 2. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him,
Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render
the calves of our lips.
MATT. XXVI, 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
LUKE XVIII, 1. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men
ought always to pray, and not to faint.
ACTS II, 42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine
and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
ACTS X, 2. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house,
which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
HEB. V, 7. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up
prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that
was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.
2. THE POWER OF PRAYER.
MATT. XVIII, 19. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree
on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done
for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am
I in the midst of them.
MATT. XXI, 22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer
believing, ye shall receive.
JAMES V, 15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be
forgiven him.
16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that
ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.
JOHN XV, 7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask
what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
JOHN XVI, 23. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily,
I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will
give it you.
24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall
receive, that your joy may be full.
JOHN XIV, 13. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
JOHN III, 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the
kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born
of the Spirit, is spirit.
7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so
is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10. Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and
knowest not these things?
PSALM CXLV, 19. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he
also will hear their cry, and will save them.
ISAIAH XXXVIII, 5. Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the
God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy
tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
2 KINGS XX, 5. Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people,
Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy
prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third
day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.
6. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee
and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will
defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
2 CHRON. VII, 15. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend
unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may
be there forever: and mine eyes and my heart shall be there
perpetually.
1 JOHN V, 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, If
we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we
have the petitions that we desired of him.
ACTS XXVIII, 8. And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay
sick of a fever, and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in and
prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
JAMES V, 13. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry?
let him sing psalms.
14. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the
Lord:
15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven
him.
GEN. XX, 17. So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech and
his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
EX. VIII, 30. And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord.
31. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and he removed
the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his
people; there remained not one.
JOB XLII, 10. And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed
for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had
before.
MATT. VII, 7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
PHIL. IV, 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God.
JAMES IV, 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse
your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.
ISAIAH LXV, 24. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I
will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
JOEL II, 32. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on
the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in
Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the
remnant whom the Lord shall call.
ROM. X, 12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:
for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1 KINGS IX, 3. And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and
thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this
house, which thou hast built, to put my name there forever; and mine
eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.
2 KINGS XIX, 20. Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying,
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me
against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
EX. XXXII, 11. And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord,
why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought
forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty
hand?
12. Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he
bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them
from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of
this evil against thy people.
13. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou
swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your
seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of
will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever.
14. And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his
people.
JAMES V, 17. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and
he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the
earth by the space of three years and six months.
18. And he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth
brought forth her fruit.
JOSHUA XXIV, 7. And when they cried unto the Lord, he put darkness
between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and
covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and
ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
8. And I brought you in the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the
other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your
hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroy them from before
you.
NUM. XIV, 19. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people
according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven
this people, from Egypt even until now.
20. And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word.
3. DIVINE PROVIDENCE--GENERAL AND SPECIAL.
PSALM CXLVII, 8. Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth
rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
PSALM CXLVII, 16. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the
hoar-frost like ashes.
17. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his
cold?
18. He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to
blow, and the waters flow.
PSALM CIV, 27. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them
their meat in due season.
28. That thou givest them, they gather: thou openest thy hand, they
are filled with good.
MATT. V, 45. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in
heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and
sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
MATT. VI, 26. 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?
MATT. VI, 28. And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies
of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these.
30. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day
is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe
you, O ye of little faith?
ACTS XVII, 26. And hath made of one blood all the nations of men for
to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times
before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27. That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after
him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us;
28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also
of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
JER. X, 23. O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it
is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
JOB XII, 10. In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the
breath of all mankind.
JER. XVIII, 6. O house of Israel, can not I do with you as this
potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand,
so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
JOHN XV, 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me,
and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye
can do nothing.
PSALM III, 6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that
have set themselves against me round about.
PSALM LXIII, 8. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand
upholdeth me.
HEB. I, 3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express
image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his
power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right
hand of the Majesty on high.
4. VICTORY OVER DEATH.
PSALM XXXVII, 7. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret
not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the
man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
PSALM XXXI, 5. Into thy hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed
me, O Lord God of truth.
ACTS VII, 59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
PSALM CXVI, 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his
saints.
PROV. XIV, 32. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the
righteous hath hope in his death.
ISAIAH LVII, 1. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to
heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the
righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
2. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one
walking in his uprightness.
JOB III, 17. There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the
weary be at rest.
18. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the
oppressor.
PSALM LXXIII, 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward
receive me to glory.
PSALM XVI, 11. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is
fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
LUKE XVI, 22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was
carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died,
and was buried.
ECCL. VII, 1. A good name is better than precious ointment; and the
day of death than the day of one's birth.
1 COR. XV, 25. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under
his feet.
26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 COR. XV, 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,
and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought
to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our
Lord Jesus Christ.
5. THE IMMEDIATE RECEPTION OF THE SOULS _of the Pious into a State of
Blessedness_.
LUKE XVI, 22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was
carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died,
and was buried.
LUKE XVI, 25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy
life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil
things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
LUKE XXIII, 43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee,
To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
1 COR. III, 22. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or
life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23. And ye are Christ's: and Christ is God's.
2 COR. V, 6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we
are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
2 COR. V, 8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent
from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
PHIL. I, 21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
PHIL. I, 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to
depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.
REV. XIV, 13. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write,
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith
the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do
follow them.
1 THESS. V, 10. Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we
should live together with him.
6. THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY.
ACTS IV, 2. Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached
through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
ACTS XXIII, 6. But when Paul perceived that the one part were
Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men
and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and
resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
ACTS XXIV, 15. And have hope toward God, which they themselves also
allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the
just and unjust.
ACTS XXIV, 21. Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing
among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in
question by you this day.
ACTS XXVI, 8. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you,
that God should raise the dead?
ROM. XIV, 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
2 COR. I, 9. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we
should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.
2 COR. VIII, 11. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there
was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of
that which ye have.
1 COR. VI, 14. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also
raise up us by his own power.
1 COR. XV, 12. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead,
how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not
risen.
1 COR. XV, 20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
first-fruits of them that slept.
21. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of
the dead.
22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23. But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward
they that are Christ's at his coming.
1 COR. XV, 42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in
corruption, it is raised in incorruption:
43. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory: it is sown in
weakness, it is raised in power:
44. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is
a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1 COR. XV, 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
mortal must put on immortality.
54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
2 COR. V, 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle
were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens.
2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with
our house which is from heaven.
2 COR. IV, 14. Knowing, that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall
raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
LUKE XIV, 14. And thou shalt be blessed: for they can not recompense
thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
MATT. XXII, 30. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are
given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
31. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read
that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
LUKE XX, 35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on
the face of the whole earth.
36. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to
stand before the Son of man.
DAN. XII, 2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt.
PSALM XVII, 15. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I
shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
PSALM XVI, 9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my
flesh also shall rest in hope.
10. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer
thy Holy One to see corruption.
PSALM LXVIII, 20. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto
God the Lord belong the issues from death.
ACTS II, 26. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad;
moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou
suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me
full of joy with thy countenance.
29. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch
David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us
unto this day.
30. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an
oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh,
he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31. He, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that
his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
JOB XIX, 25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall
stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh
shall I see God:
27. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not
another; though my reins be consumed within me.
PSALM XLIX, 15. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the
grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
1 THESS. IV, 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which
are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
them which are asleep.
16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first:
17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord.
JOHN V, 28. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which
all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of damnation.
JOHN XI, 23. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the
resurrection at the last day.
25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
ISAIAH XXVI, 19. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body
shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew
is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
REV. XX, 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall
be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years.
REV. XX, 13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death
and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were
judged every man according to their works.
CHAPTER IV.
ELECTION, DECREES, AND FREE-WILL.
1. ELECTION.
"To elect is to designate or select."--_Webster._
There are three kinds of election spoken of in the Scriptures:
(1.) _That of individuals to perform some special service, or to fill
some particular office._
_As Cyrus to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem._
EZRA I, 1. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the
word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord
stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a
proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing,
saying,
2. Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given
me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him
a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and
let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of
the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
_Or Paul to be an Apostle._
ROM. I, 1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated unto the Gospel of God.
ACTS XIII, 2. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy
Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I
have called them.
GAL. I, 1. Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus
Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.
_Or Saul to be king over Israel._
1 SAM. X, 24. And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the
Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?
And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
_Or David to be king in the stead of Saul._
1 SAM. XVI, 12. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and
withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord
said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of
his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day
forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
_Or Moses to be the deliverer of the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage._
EX. III, 10. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh,
that thou mayest bring forth my people, the children of Israel, out of
Egypt.
(2.) _Collective or national election._
DEUT. X, 8. At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear
the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to
minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
1 SAM. II, 27. And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto
him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy
father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
28. And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my
priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod
before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the
offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
LUKE VI, 13. No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate
the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and
despise the other. Ye can not serve God and mammon.
ACTS I, 24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the
hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25. That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which
Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias;
and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
ACTS VI, 7. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose
Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and
Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a
proselyte of Antioch:
6. Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they
laid their hands on them.
ROM. IX, 10. Or saith he altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no
doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and
that he that thrasheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if
we shall reap you carnal things?
12. If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather?
Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest
we should hinder the Gospel of Christ.
13. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of
the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are
partakers with the altar?
DEUT. IV, 37. And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose
their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his
mighty power out of Egypt.
DEUT. VII, 6. For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God: the
Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself,
above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
7. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye
were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all
people:
8. But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath
which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out
with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from
the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
DEUT. X, 15. Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them,
and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it
is this day.
1 KINGS III, 8. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which
thou hast chosen, a great people, that can not be numbered nor counted
for multitude.
1 CHRON. XVI, 13. O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of
Jacob, his chosen ones.
14. He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
PSALM CV, 6. O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob
his chosen.
7. He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
PSALM XXXIII, 12. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the
people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
NEH. IX, 7. Thou art the Lord the God, who didst choose Abram, and
broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the
name of Abraham;
8. And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant
with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the
Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites,
to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou
art righteous.
ACTS XIII, 17. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and
exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt,
and with a high arm brought he them out of it.
ISAIAH LIV, 4. Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be
thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt
forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of
thy widowhood any more.
ISAIAH LXV, 9. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of
Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it,
and my servants shall dwell there.
PSALM CXXXV, 4. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and
Israel for his peculiar treasure.
EZEK. XX, 5. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day
when I chose Israel, and lifted up my hand unto the seed of the house
of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I
lifted up my hand unto them, saying, I am the Lord your God.
ROM. III, 1. What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there
of circumcision?
2. Much every way: chiefly because that unto them were committed the
oracles of God.
ROM. IX, 4. Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and
the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the
service of God, and the promises;
5. Whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ
came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
ROM. IX, 10. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by
one, even by our father Isaac,
11. (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good
or evil, that the purpose of God, according to election might stand,
not of works, but of him that calleth,)
12. It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God
forbid.
15. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
(3.) _Personal election, or the choosing of individuals to be the
heirs of eternal life._
_Personal election dependent upon faith and holiness._
ROM. VIII, 38. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be
able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
EPH. I, 4. According as he hath chosen us in him, before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before him in love.
5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
COL. III, 12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
long-suffering.
1 THESS. I, 4. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
2 THESS. II, 13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for
you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and
belief of the truth.
2 TIM. II, 10. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake,
that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with
eternal glory.
TITUS I, 1. Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ,
according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the
truth which is after godliness.
JAMES II, 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.
1 PET. I, 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of
the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 PET. II, 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises
of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
REV. VII, 14. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to
me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
JUDE I, 1. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to
them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus
Christ, and called:
2. Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
1 TIM. VI, 12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal
life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good
profession before many witnesses.
2 TIM. I, 9. Who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
2 PET. I, 3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of
him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
HEB. III, 1. Wherefore holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly
calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession,
Christ Jesus.
2 PET. I, 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make
your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall
never fall.
EPH. I, 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye
may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the
glory of his inheritance in the saints.
ROM. IX, 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on
the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24. Even us whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the
Gentiles.
25. As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were
not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said
unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called, The
children of the living God.
2. SCRIPTURE DOCTRINE OF DIVINE DECREES.
JOB XXVIII, 26. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the
lightning of the thunder.
PSALM CXLVII, 6. The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked
down to the ground.
PSALM XXXVIII, 10. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for
the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
PROV. VIII, 29. When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters
should not pass his commandment; when he appointed the foundations of
the earth.
JER. V, 22. Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my
presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a
perpetual decree, that it can not pass it: and though the waves
thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar,
yet can they not pass over it?
DAN. IV, 24. This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the
decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25. That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be
with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as
oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times
shall pass over thee, till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
ZEPH. II, 2. Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the
chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the
day of the Lord's anger come upon you.
JOB XX, 29. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the
heritage appointed unto him by God.
JOB XXXVIII, 10. And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars
and doors,
11. And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall
thy proud waves be staid.
PSALM II, 7. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me,
Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
PSALM CXLVIII, 6. He hath also established them forever and ever: he
hath made a decree which shall not pass.
DAN. IV, 17. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the
demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may
know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to
whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
3. FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN WILL.
JOHN V, 40. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
ROM. VII, 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.
JOSH. XXIV, 15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose
you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers
served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will
serve the Lord.
PROV. I, 29. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the
fear of the Lord:
30. They would none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof:
31. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be
filled with their own devices.
PROV. XVI, 9. A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth
his steps.
PROV. XXIII, 26. My son, give me thy heart, and let thine eyes observe
my ways.
MATT. XIII, 15. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and 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, and should
understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should
heal them.
DEUT. XXX, 19. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you,
that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing:
therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.
EX. VIII, 32. And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also,
neither would he let the people go.
EX. X, 16. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and he
said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.
PHIL. II, 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as
in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling.
13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his
good pleasure.
EZEK. XVIII, 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby
ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for
why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the
Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
EZEK. XVIII, 26. When a righteous man turneth away from his
righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his
iniquity that he hath done, shall he die.
27. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that
he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall
save his soul alive.
EZEK. XXXIII, 11. Say unto them, 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, O house of Israel?
12. Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people,
The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of
his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not
fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither
shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day
that he sinneth.
13. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if
he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his
righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he
hath committed, he shall die for it.
14. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he
turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15. If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed,
walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall
surely live, he shall not die.
16. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto
him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely
live.
EZEK. XXXIII, 18. When the righteous turneth from his righteousness,
and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
19. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is
lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
ACTS VII, 51. Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye
do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
2 TIM. III, 8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these
also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the
faith.
CHAPTER V.
THE DOCTRINE OF A GENERAL JUDGMENT.
1. THE CERTAINTY OF THE JUDGMENT.
ACTS XVII, 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will
judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained;
whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised
him from the dead.
ACTS XXIV, 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and
judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this
time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
ROM. II, 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by
Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel.
ECCL. XII, 14. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with
every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
MATT. XII, 36. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
REV. XX, 11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it,
from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was
found no place for them.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the
books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of
life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written
in the books, according to their works.
MARK XIII, 24. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun
shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.
25. And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in the
heaven shall be shaken.
26. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with
great power and glory.
MARK XIII, 32. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not
the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
1 THESS. V, 2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord
so cometh as a thief in the night.
2 PET. III, 10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the
night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the
works that are therein shall be burned up.
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner
of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein
the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat?
ROM. XIV, 12. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to
God.
1 PET. IV, 5. Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the
quick and the dead.
MATT. XXIV, 30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they
shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory.
31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and
they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end
of heaven to the other.
2 PET. III, 7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the
same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of
judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
JUDE 6. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left
their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under
darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
2. THE JUDGMENT SUBSEQUENT TO DEATH.
HEB. IX, 27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this the judgment.
REV. XX, 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God;
and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the
book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which are
written in the books, according to their works.
13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell
delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every
man according to their works.
2 COR. V, 10. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of
Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
PSALM L, 3. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire
shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about
him.
4. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he
may judge his people.
5. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant
with me by sacrifice.
6. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge
himself.
ISAIAH XXVI, 19. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body
shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew
is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
2 TIM. IV, 1. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and
his kingdom.
2 PETER III, 7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the
same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of
judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
ROM. XIV, 10. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou
set at naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the
judgment-seat of Christ.
11. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow
to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
ACTS XXIV, 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and
judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this
time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
3. THE JUDGMENT SUBSEQUENT TO THE RESURRECTION.
1 THESS. IV, 15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall
not prevent them which are asleep.
16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first:
17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord.
REV. XX, 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God;
and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the
book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were
written in the books, according to their works.
13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell
delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every
man according to their works.
2 PETER III, 7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the
same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of
judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is
with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that
are therein shall be burned up.
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner
of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein
the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat?
MATT. XIII, 30. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the
time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first
the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat
into my barn.
MATT. XXII, 11. But he that is greatest among you, shall be your
servant.
12. And whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased; and he that
shall humble himself, shall be exalted.
13. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut
up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves,
neither suffer ye them that are entering, to go in.
MATT. XXV, 31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all
the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his
glory:
32. And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall
separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from
the goats:
33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the
left.
MATT. V, 28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to
lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from
thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
MATT. XIII, 47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that
was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
47. Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and
gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come
forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
JOHN V, 28. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in the which
all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29. And shall come forth; they that have done good unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of damnation.
4. CHRIST WILL BE THE JUDGE.
ACTS X, 40. Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41. Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God,
even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the
dead.
42. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that
it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
JOHN V, 22. For the Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all
judgment unto the Son:
23. That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.
He that honoreth not the Son, honoreth not the Father which hath sent
him.
24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not
come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is,
when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that
hear shall live.
26. For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the
Son to have life in himself;
27. And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he
is the Son of man.
2 TIM. IV, 1. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and
his kingdom.
ROM. II, 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by
Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel.
2 THESS. I, 7. And to you, who are troubled, rest with us, when the
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
ISAIAH XI, 3. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of
the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither
reprove after the hearing of his ears.
MATT. XXIV, 30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they
shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory.
31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and
they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end
of heaven to the other.
DAN. VII, 13. I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the
Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of
days, and they brought him near before him.
14. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that
all people, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is
an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom
that which shall not be destroyed.
MARK XIII, 24. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun
shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light,
25. And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in
heaven shall be shaken.
26. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with
great power and glory.
27. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his
elect from the four winds, from the uttermost parts of the earth to
the uttermost part of heaven.
28. Now learn a parable of the fig-tree: When her branch is yet
tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that Summer is near.
MATT. XXV, 31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all
the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his
glory:
32. And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall
separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from
the goats:
33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the
left.
34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world:
35. For I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye
gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36. Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in
prison, and ye came unto me.
37. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we
thee a hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38. When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and
clothed thee?
39. Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto
you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41. Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42. For I was a hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and
ye gave me no drink:
43. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me
not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a
hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison,
and did not minister unto thee?
45. Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch
as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal.
REV. I, 7. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him,
and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall
wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
REV. XIV, 14. And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the
cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden
crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
MATT. XIX, 28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That
ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man
shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
ACTS X, 42. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to
testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of
quick and dead.
ACTS XXVIII, 31. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those
things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no
man forbidding him.
ROM. XIV, 10. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou
set at naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the
judgment-seat of Christ.
5. THE DECISIONS OF THE JUDGMENT WILL BE FINAL AND EQUITABLE.
MATT. XVI, 27. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his
Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according
to his works.
ROM. II, 6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7. To them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory
and honor and immortality, eternal life:
8. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but
obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9. Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; of
the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
11. For there is no respect of persons with God.
12. For as many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without
law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.
2 COR. V, 10. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of
Christ: that every one may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
GAL. VI, 7. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap.
8. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap
corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap
life everlasting.
REV. XXII, 11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he
which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous,
let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy
still.
12. And behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give
every man according as his work shall be.
REV. XX, 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God;
and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the
book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were
written in the books, according to their works.
13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell
delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every
man according to their works.
JUDE 6. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left
their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under
darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
2 PET. III, 7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the
same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of
judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
HEB. IX, 27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this the judgment.
2 TIM. IV, 1. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and
his kingdom.
ACTS XVII, 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will
judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained:
whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised
him from the dead.
PSALM L, 3. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire
shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about
him.
4. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he
may judge his people.
5. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant
with me by sacrifice.
6. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge
himself.
ECCL. XII, 14. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with
every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
MATT. XII, 36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
LUKE XII, 2. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed;
neither hid, that shall not be known.
3. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in
the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall
be proclaimed upon the housetops.
ROM. II, 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by
Jesus Christ according to my Gospel.
1 COR. III, 13. Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day
shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire
shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1 COR. IV, 4. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby
justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who
both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make
manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have
praise of God.
LUKE XIII, 25. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath
shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the
door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say
unto you, I know you not whence ye are.
LUKE XVI, 26. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great
gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you can not;
neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
MATT. XIII, 40. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the
fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather
out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing
and gnashing of teeth.
43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of
their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
MATT. XIII, 49. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels
shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.
50. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
6. THE AWARD TO THE RIGHTEOUS.
MATT. XXV, 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand,
Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world.
LUKE XXII, 29. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath
appointed unto me;
30. That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on
thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
ROM. V, 17. For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much
more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of
righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
2 TIM. II, 12. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny
him, he also will deny us.
2 PET. I, 11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you
abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ.
REV. I, 6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;
to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
REV. XXI, 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will
be his God, and he shall be my son.
HEB. IV, 9. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
JOHN XIV, 2. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not
so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
REV. III, 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not
defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they
are worthy.
REV. XXII, 4. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in
their foreheads.
5. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither
light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall
reign forever and ever.
JOHN XVII, 24. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me,
be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast
given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
COL. III, 4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye
also appear with him in glory.
REV. III, 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his
throne.
REV. VII, 15. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve
him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne
shall dwell among them.
PSALM XVI, 11. God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me
over into the hands of the wicked.
MATT. XXV, 21. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and
faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
JUDE 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to
present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding
joy.
REV. XXI, 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and
there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
REV. XXII, 3. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God
and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.
MATT. XIII, 43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the
kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
DAN. XII, 3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of
the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars
forever and ever.
JOHN IV, 36. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit
unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may
rejoice together.
REV. II, 7. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the Churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the
tree of life.
REV. XXII, 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they
may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates
into the city.
7. THE DOOM OF THE WICKED.
MATT. XXV, 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand,
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the
devil and his angels:
42. For I was a hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and
ye gave me no drink:
43. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me
not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
MATT. XXV, 45. Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto
you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it
not to me.
46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the
righteous into life eternal.
PSALM IX, 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the
nations that forget God.
MATT. III, 10. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees:
therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,
and cast into the fire.
MATT. X, 28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able
to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell.
MATT. XIII, 40. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the
fire: so shall it be in the end of this world.
41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather
out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing
and gnashing of teeth.
JOHN V, 29. And shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of damnation.
MARK IX, 43. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for
thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell,
into the fire that never shall be quenched.
MARK IX, 45. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for
thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into
hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.
MARK IX, 47. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better
for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having
two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
LUKE III, 17. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge
his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner: but the chaff he
will burn with fire unquenchable.
LUKE XVI, 23. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,
and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
1 THESS. V, 2. For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord
so cometh as a thief in the night.
5. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction
cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall
not escape.
1 THESS. I, 7. In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in
them.
8. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy,
filthy communication out of your mouth.
9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man
with his deeds.
HEB. VI, 8. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and
is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
2 THESS. II, 8. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord
shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the
brightness of his coming:
9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all
power, and signs, and lying wonders,
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they
might be saved.
11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie:
12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 PET. II, 4. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast
them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be
reserved unto judgment.
2 PET. II, 9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of
temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be
punished:
10. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of
uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they,
self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2 PET. III, 7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the
same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of
judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
JOHN III, 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of
God.
REV. XIV, 9. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud
voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his
mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is
poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he
shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy
angels and in the presence of the Lamb:
11. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and
they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
REV. XXII, 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they
may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates
into the city.
15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and
murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
REV. XXI, 8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all
liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death.
MATT. V, 20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall
exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no
case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
MATT. VII, 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in
thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that work iniquity.
LUKE XIII, 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.
REV. XXII, 10. And he said unto me, Seal not the sayings of the
prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
1 COR. VI, 9. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the
kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind,
10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
GAL. V, 19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these,
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies,
21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revilings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that
they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
EPH. V, 5. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person,
nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and of God.
REV. XXI, 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that
defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but
they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
PSALM XI, 6. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire, and
brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their
cup.
8. HEAVEN A PLACE OF ETERNAL HAPPINESS.
"That part of space in which the omnipresent Jehovah is supposed to
afford more sensible manifestations of his glory. Hence this is called
habitation of God; and is represented as the residence of angels and
blessed spirits."--_Webster._ Heaven is both a _place_ and a state. "I
go to prepare a place for you," said Jesus; and "Where I am there
shall my servant be." "I will that those whom thou hast given me be
with me where I am, that they may behold my glory." "In my Father's
house there are many mansions." _To_, and _at_, and _from_ are
predicated of heaven in the Scriptures, just as they are of the sun,
or the earth. The bodies of Enoch and Elijah, who were translated
without dying, are somewhere. The glorified body of Jesus is
somewhere. The bodies of the saints, after the general resurrection,
will be somewhere. They will occupy space. The paradise in Eden and
the literal Canaan were types of a _place_ as certainly as of a
_state_. Heaven is the Christian's eternal _home_; his _house not made
with hands_; his _better country_, _even a heavenly_. There shall be
mutual recognition and intelligent converse in heaven. This is taught
in the transfiguration scene, where Moses and Elias appeared in glory,
and conversed with Jesus in the presence and hearing of Peter, James,
and John. Heaven is a _state_; the saints are glorified, soul and
body. "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the _glory_ which shall be _revealed in us_." "There
shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying." "They shall not
hunger nor thirst any more." "Then shall we know even as we are known,
and see as we are seen." "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city
of God." There shall be no sin in heaven; "Nothing that loveth or
maketh a lie." "There shall be no night there;" "that is to say," says
Mr. Harbaugh, "there no dependent or secondary planet exists." There,
consequently, none of the unpleasant extremes involved in day and
night are found. There no dark night-sides of nature cover the lovely
face of paradisean realms. No cycles in the heavenly worlds ever cause
the joyous life of the saints to ebb back from the waking energies of
bliss into dull stupor, under the overshadowings of darkness and
gloom. That world needs no repose; for life, in right relations, is
rest in its own peaceful flow of bliss. No curse. In all that land
wasting disease is unknown. No malice shall be feared; for "the sun
shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night." Heaven is a
prepared _place_ for a _prepared people_. "They shall see his face."
The heart feels that union is the height of joy. They shall hear his
voice, saying, "Come ye blessed, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
"His servants shall serve him." They shall receive a crown of life,
and that crown shall shine through all eternity, to tell of the
triumph he has achieved through the blood of the Lamb. The Christian's
heavenly inheritance is an _infinite and an eternal weight of glory_.
JOHN XIV, 2. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not
so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
JOHN XVII, 24. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me,
be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast
given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
1 THESS. IV, 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so
shall we ever be with the Lord.
REV. III, 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his
throne.
1 COR. II, 9. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him.
1 JOHN III, 2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear,
we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
2 PETER I, 2. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you
abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ.
JAMES II, 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?
LUKE XXII, 29. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath
appointed unto me;
30. That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
ROM. V, 17. For if by one man's offense death reigneth by one; much
more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of
righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
COL. III, 24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of
the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
1 PETER I, 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not
away, reserved in heaven for you.
REV. XXII, 5. And there shall be no night there; and they need no
candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light:
and they shall reign forever and ever.
MATT. XXV, 21. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and
faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
JUDE 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to
present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding
joy.
REV. XXI, 4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be
unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to
come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne.
REV. XXII, 3. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God
and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.
REV. VII, 15. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve
him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne
shall dwell among them.
16. They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more: neither shall
the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes.
9. HELL A PLACE OF ENDLESS MISERY.
The chief objections that have been urged against the doctrine of the
eternal punishment of the finally impenitent, are the following:
1. The disproportion between the actions done in time and endless
punishment. While it is not denied that punishment is merited, it is
contended that there should be some proportion between the crime and
the duration of the penalty. To this objection we deem the following
arguments a sufficient answer:
What is the moral proportion between one day and a month, or one day
and a year? Does nothing depend on the nature of the crime? Suppose a
man commits a petty larceny, would the objector say a month's
imprisonment is enough? Another man commits murder, would the objector
say that a year's punishment would suffice? But should the latter
criminal be punished a month and the other a year? It is urged that
the nature of the crime determines that. If this is granted it is
apparent that the proportion is one of _turpitude_, and not of _time_.
Society, and all civil governments, proceed upon the principle that
the time occupied in the perpetration of a criminal act is not to be
taken into account in considering the punishment that is to be
awarded. This is manifestly correct; for less time is usually occupied
in committing murder than in perpetrating a burglary; and, on the
principle of strict proportion, the burglar should undergo a longer
punishment than the murderer. But the moral instincts of society
overrule its sentimentalities, and demand that the gravity of the
crime shall determine the gravity of the punishment.
Take another illustration: suppose that twenty years ago a criminal
forged your name to a check for ten thousand dollars. It was the work
of a moment. A stroke or two of the pen and the work was done. The
criminal never confessed the act, nor ever uttered a penitential word.
You had him prosecuted, and he was imprisoned for ten years. He has
now been at large ten years. Have you forgiven him? Have you invited
him to your family circle? Have you restored him to your confidence?
You answer, "No!" What then becomes of the argument of proportion? He
was imprisoned ten years for a crime that consumed less than ten
minutes in its perpetration. Ten years of punishment for ten minutes
of crime! But you say the criminal is impenitent; he has never
acknowledged his sin, and never asked for forgiveness. Time has no
mitigating influence upon guilt. If a criminal continues impenitent
respecting any crime, he is as guilty of that crime on the last day of
his life as he was in the very hour of its committal, although he may
have survived that hour fifty years. The question between the criminal
and society is not one of time, but of penitence.
Look at the question of proportion from another point. Here is a man
who has sustained an unspotted reputation for half a century. He has
been regarded as a pattern of benevolence, and his credit is
unquestioned. But he is proved guilty of crime. The criminal had no
idea that his crime was known, but it is made public. How does society
treat that splendid reputation, which was fifty years in building?
Does it deduct but one day from the fifty years of reputation, and
regard the crime as but a spot on the disk of a brilliant life? Does
it not rather raze the very foundations of the structure that was
fifty years in building, and forgets half a century of unchallenged
life in one day's discovered villainy? All actions are influential.
What is done in an hour may affect society through many generations.
Punishment is not regenerative. A felon who has undergone a term of
imprisonment may leave the prison as great a criminal as when he
entered it. The fact of his imprisonment does not make him an honest
man. Hell itself, if intermediate instead of final, would not convert
men to Christianity.
2. It has been urged that, as virtue is its own reward, and vice its
own punishment, the criminal is sufficiently punished while upon
earth, and need not, therefore, have hell superadded. If the argument
is valid in relation to hell, it is equally valid in relation to
heaven. The logic which closes hell annihilates heaven. If vice is its
own punishment, why should the thief be imprisoned, or the murderer
executed? Why not leave the criminal simply to his own remorse of
conscience? The fact is, by the repetition of crime conscience becomes
hardened, and the old criminal suffers less compunction for murder
than the young offender does for some petty theft.
3. It is urged that God should issue a universal amnesty; that he
should open every prison-door in the universe; that he should say to
lost men, "You are forgiven;" and to devils, "You are free." It is
contended that this would be magnanimity worthy of a God. But it must
be remembered that amnesty, in itself, would work no moral change.
Would the thief and the murderer become virtuous members of society by
being simply liberated from jail? Does their moral character depend
upon which side of the prison-door they are? Would a devil be any less
a devil on one side of a prison-door than on another? It is not the
door that makes the devil. Forgiveness requires the consent of two
parties. An enemy can not by any so-called act of forgiveness be
turned into a friend. A man may excuse an offense against himself, but
he has no power to excuse an offense against righteousness. He may
rise superior to mere personal considerations, but if he trifle with
the demands of morality, which alone can make personal considerations
of any consequence, his so-called forgiveness is a sin. Hence it
appears that even God himself can not forgive a sinner, apart from
certain conditions which the sinner himself must supply.
4. It is suggested that a second probation might meet the case. A
second probation is an impossibility. But if possible, where would be
the equity? Give men to know that there would he a second probation,
and how many of them would care for the first? If they neglected the
first they would be necessarily weaker to encounter the discipline of
the second. And if a second probation, why not a third and a fourth?
If temporary punishment in hell would bring man to God, why send
Christ into the world to die for sinners? Hell is nowhere spoken of in
the Scriptures as exerting a remedial influence upon criminals. But
Christ is "the only name given, under heaven, amongst men, whereby we
must be saved."
ISAIAH XXX, 33. For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is
prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and
much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth
kindle it.
MATT. XXIII, 33. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye
escape the damnation of hell?
LUKE XVI, 24. And he cried and said, father Abraham, have mercy on me,
and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and
cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
2 THESS. I, 7. And to you, who are troubled, rest with us, when the
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be
admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was
believed) in that day.
11. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count
you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his
goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you,
and ye in him, according to the grace of our God, and of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
JOHN III, 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and
he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of
God abideth on him.
PROV. X, 28. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the
expectation of the wicked shall perish.
PROV. XI, 7. When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish:
and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
DAN. XII, 2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt.
MATT. XXV, 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment:
but the righteous into life eternal.
MARK IX, 43. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for
thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell,
into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
MARK XIV, 21. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him:
but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it
for that man if he had never been born.
LUKE III, 17. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge
his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner: but the chaff he
will burn with fire unquenchable.
LUKE XVI, 26. And besides all this, between us and you there is a
great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you, can
not; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
REV. XIV. 10. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation;
and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of
the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and
they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
REV. XX, 10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake
of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and
shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.
REV. XXII, 11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he
which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous,
let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy
still.
MARK III, 29. But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath
never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
HEB. VI, 8. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and
is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
PSALM IX, 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the
nations that forget God.
PSALM XI, 6. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone,
and a horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
PROV. I, 24. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched
out my hand, and no man regarded;
25. But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my
reproof:
26. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear
cometh;
27. When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh
as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall
seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the
Lord:
30. They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be
filled with their own devices.
32. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the
prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
MATT. V, 20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall
exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no
case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
MATT. VII, 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in
thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that work iniquity.
MATT. VIII, 11. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east
and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in
the kingdom of heaven.
12. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer
darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
MATT. X, 33. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also
deny before my Father which is in heaven.
MATT. XIII, 40. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the
fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather
out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity,
42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing
and gnashing of teeth.
MATT. XIII, 49. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels
shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
GAL. V, 21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like:
of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
GAL. VI, 8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap
life everlasting.
BOOK IV.
THE MORAL LAW.
NOTE.--The moral law, as a standard rule for our obedience, remains
in full rigor and authority, and constitutes a body of precepts which
carry a universal and natural equity in them, being so conformable to
the light of reason and the dictates of every man's conscience that,
as soon as they are declared and understood, they must needs be
subscribed to as just and right.
CHAPTER I.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.
EXODUS XX, 3: _Thou shalt have no other gods before me._
This command, although given in a negative form, enjoins the following
positive duties:
1. That _we must have a God_, which, of course, is against atheism.
2. That _we must have the Lord Jehovah for our God_, which is against
idolatry.
3. That _we must have the only true God, the Lord Jehovah alone, for
our God_, and that is against Polytheism.
4. That _all our services and acts of worship to the true and only God
be performed with sincerity and true devotion_. This is implied in the
expression, _before me, or in my sight_.
1. IDOLATRY FORBIDDEN.
EX. XX, 3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
EX. XXXIV, 14. For thou shalt worship no other God: for the Lord,
whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
EX. XXIII, 13. And in all things that I have said unto you be
circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither
let it be heard out of thy mouth.
EX. XXIII, 24. Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them,
nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and
quite break down their images.
DEUT. IV, 15. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; (for ye saw
no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in
Horeb out of the midst of the fire;)
16. Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the
similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
17. The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of
any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
18. The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the
likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:
19. And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest
the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven,
shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord
thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
DEUT. VI, 14. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the
people which are round about you;
15. (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you;) lest the anger
of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off
the face of the earth.
HOSEA XIII, 4. Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and
thou shalt know no god but me; for there is no savior besides me.
1 COR. VIII, 4. As concerning therefore the eating of those things
that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is
nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in
earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things,
and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and
we by him.
EX. XXII, 20. He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord
only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
2. GOD IS TO BE WORSHIPED.
DEUT. XXVI, 10. And now, behold, I have brought the first-fruits of
the land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me: and thou shalt set it
before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God.
2 KINGS XVII, 36. But the Lord, who brought you up out of the land of
Egypt with great power and a stretched-out arm, him shall ye fear, and
him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
LUKE IV, 8. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him
only shalt thou serve.
JOHN IV, 24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship
him in spirit and in truth.
1 CHRON. XVI, 29. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name:
bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty
of holiness.
PHIL. III, 3. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the
spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the
flesh.
PSALM XCV, 6. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before
the Lord our maker.
3. THREATENINGS AGAINST IDOLATRY.
EX. XXII, 20. He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord
only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
LEV. XX, 5. Then I will set my face against that man, and against his
family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to
commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.
DEUT. VIII, 19. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy
God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I
testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
1 KINGS IX, 6. But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or
your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which
I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them;
7. Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them;
and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of
my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a by-word among all
people.
DEUT. XXVIII, 15. But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken
unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his
commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all
these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
16. Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the
field.
17. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
18. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land,
the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
29. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be
when thou goest out.
DEUT. VI, 14. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the
people which are round about you.
DEUT. XXVII, 15. Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten
image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the
craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall
answer and say, Amen.
4. THE JUDGMENT OF GOD _Inflicted upon the Violators of this Command_.
DEUT. XXXII, 16. They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with
abominations provoked they him to anger.
17. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew
not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
DEUT. XXXII, 19. And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because
of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
20. And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their
end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom
is no faith.
JUDGES II, 11. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the
Lord, and served Baalim:
12. And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them
out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the
people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and
provoked the Lord to anger.
13. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
JUDGES X, 6. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of
the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and
the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children
of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and
served not him.
7. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them
into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children
of Ammon.
2 KINGS XXII, 17. Because they have forsaken me, and have burned
incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all
the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against
this place, and shall not be quenched.
JER. V, 9. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and
shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
JER. VII, 9. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear
falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye
know not;
10. And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my
name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?
JER. VII, 20. Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, mine anger
and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon
beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the
ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.
EZEK. XX, 32. And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at
all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the
countries, to serve wood and stone.
33. As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with
a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you.
ZEPH. I, 3. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of
the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling-blocks with
the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord.
4. I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the
inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from
this place, and the name of the Chamarim with the priests;
5. And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and
them that worship and them that swear by the Lord, and that swear by
Malcham.
5. INSTANCES _where God's Judgments have been Visited upon Particular
Transgressors of this Command_.
_a. Jeroboam._
1 KINGS XII, 28. Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves
of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to
Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the
land of Egypt.
29. And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.
30. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before
the one, even unto Dan.
1 KINGS XIII, 33. After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil
way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high
places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the
priests of the high places.
34. And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut
it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.
_b. Solomon._
1 KINGS XI, 1. But king Solomon loved many strange women, together
with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites,
Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
2. Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of
Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto
you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods:
Solomon clave unto these in love.
3. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred
concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
4. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned
away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with
the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and
after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully
after the Lord, as did David his father.
7. Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of
Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the
abomination of the children of Ammon.
8. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense
and sacrificed unto their gods.
9. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned
from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
10. And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go
after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.
11. Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of
thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have
commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will
give it to thy servant.
_c. Baasha._
1 KINGS XVI, 1. Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of
Hanani against Baasha, saying,
2. Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince
over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam,
and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with
their sins;
3. Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity
of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the
son of Nebat.
4. Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him
that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
_d. Ahab._
1 KINGS XVI, 30. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the
Lord above all that were before him.
1 KINGS XVI, 33. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke
the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were
before him.
1 KINGS XXI, 20. And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine
enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold
thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord.
21. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy
posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the
wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,
22. And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of
Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the
provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel
to sin.
2 KINGS X, 11. So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in
Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests,
until he left him none remaining.
_e. Ahaziah._
2 KINGS I, 2. And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper
chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and
said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I
shall recover of this disease.
3. But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up
to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is
it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of
Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?
4. Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from
that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah
departed.
2 KINGS I, 16. And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as
thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron,
is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?
therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone
up, but shalt surely die.
17. So he died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had
spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead, in the second year of
Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
_f. Jehoram._
2 CHRON. XXI, 11. Moreover he made high places in the mountains of
Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication,
and compelled Judah thereto.
12. And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying,
Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not
walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa
king of Judah,
13. But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the
whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of
thy father's house, which were better than thyself:
14. Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people, and
thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:
15. And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until
thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.
2 CHRON. XXI, 19. And it came to pass, that in process of time, after
the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness:
so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him,
like the burning of his fathers.
_g. Manasseh._
2 KINGS XXI, 3. For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah
his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a
grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshiped all the host of
heaven, and served them.
4. And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord
said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.
5. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of
the house of the Lord.
6. And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and
used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he
wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to
anger.
7. And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the
house, of which the Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son, In
this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of
Israel, will I put my name forever.
2 CHRON. XXXIII, 1. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to
reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
2. But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the
abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the
children of Israel.
3. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had
broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and
worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4. Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had
said, In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.
5. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of
the house of the Lord.
6. And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley
of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments,
and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with
wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him
to anger.
7. And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house
of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this
house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of
Israel, will I put my name forever:
8. Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the
land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take
heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law
and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
9. So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and
to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the
children of Israel.
10. And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would
not hearken.
11. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of
the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound
him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
_h. Amaziah._
2 CHRON. XXV, 14. Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come
from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the
children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down
himself before them, and burned incense unto them.
15. Wherefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Amaziah, and
he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought
after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people
out of thine hand?
16. And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said
unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldst
thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God
hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast
not hearkened unto my counsel.
17. Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son
of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see
one another in the face.
18. And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying,
The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon,
saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a
wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.
19. Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart
lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldst thou meddle
to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with
thee?
20. But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might
deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after
the gods of Edom.
_i. Twenty-four thousand slain._
NUM. XXV, 2. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their
gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
3. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the Lord
was kindled against Israel.
4. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and
hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of
the Lord may be turned away from Israel.
5. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men
that were joined unto Baal-peor.
NUM. XXV, 9. And those that died in the plague were twenty and four
thousand.
6. IDOLATRY PUNISHED WITH DEATH.
DEUT. XIII, 1. If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of
dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2. And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto
thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known,
and let us serve them;
3. Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that
dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether
ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his
commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave
unto him.
5. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death;
because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which
brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the
house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God
commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the
midst of thee.
DEUT. XVIII, 20. But the prophet which shall presume to speak a word
in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall
speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
DEUT. XIII, 6. If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or
thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as
thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve
other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
7. Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh
unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even
unto the other end of the earth;
8. Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither
shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou
conceal him:
9. But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him
to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people.
10. And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath
sought to thrust thee away from the Lord thy God, which brought thee
out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
DEUT. XIII, 12. If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the
Lord thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
13. Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you,
and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go
and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
14. Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and,
behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination
is wrought among you;
15. Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge
of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the
cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.
16. And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the
street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil
thereof every whit, for the Lord thy God: and it shall be an heap
forever; it shall not be built again.
7. IDOLS ARE BUT VANITY.
JUDGES VI, 31. And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye
plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him
be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him
plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.
1 KINGS XVIII, 21. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How
long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but
if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
1 KINGS XVIII, 27. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked
them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or
he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth,
and must be awaked.
1 CHRON. XVI, 26. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the
Lord made the heavens.
ISAIAH XLI, 23. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we
may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be
dismayed, and behold it together.
ACTS XIX, 26. Moreover, ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus,
but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned
away much people, saying, that they be no gods which are made with
hands.
ROM. I, 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and
served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.
Amen.
GAL. IV, 8. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto
them which by nature are no gods.
8. AGAINST INQUIRING CONCERNING FUTURE EVENTS _of false gods, and of
those professing to have familiar spirits_.
ISAIAH XLIII, 23. Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy
burnt-offerings; neither hast thou honored me with thy sacrifices. I
have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with
incense.
2 KINGS I, 2. And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in the upper
chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and
said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I
shall recover of this disease.
3. But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up
to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is
it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of
Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?
4. Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from
that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah
departed.
1 SAM. XXVIII, 7. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman
that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her.
And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a
familiar spirit at En-dor.
8. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went,
and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he
said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me
him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
1 CHRON. X, 13. So Saul died for his transgression which he committed
against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept
not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to
inquire of it.
GEN. XXXV, 2. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were
with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean,
and change your garments.
JOSHUA XXIV, 14. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in
sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers
served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the
Lord.
JOSHUA XXIV, 23. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods
which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of
Israel.
1 SAM. VII, 3. And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying,
If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the
strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts
unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the
hand of the Philistines.
JUDGES X, 16. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and
served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
2 KINGS XXIII, 4. And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and
the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring
forth out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for
Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned
them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes
of them unto Beth-el.
5. And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had
ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah,
and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense
unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all
the host of heaven.
2 CHRON. XXXIII, 15. And he took away the strange gods, and the idol
out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in
the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them
out of the city.
HOSEA XIV, 3. Asshur shall not save us: we will not ride upon horses:
neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our
gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
9. THIS COMMAND REQUIRES US TO HAVE A GOD, _and is therefore against
Atheism_.
PSALM XIV, 1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They
are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth
good.
PSALM LIII, 1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none
that doeth good.
ROM. I, 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the
world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,
even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
ACTS XIV, 17. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in
that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons,
filling our hearts with food and gladness.
PSALM XIX, 1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament
sheweth his handiwork.
2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth
knowledge.
3. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
10. THIS COMMAND REQUIRES SUPREME LOVE TO GOD.
MATT. XXII, 37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38. This is the first and great commandment.
ROM. XIII, 9. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not
kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou
shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly
comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself.
10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law.
PSALM XLII, 1. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth
my soul after thee, O God.
2. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come
and appear before God?