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the praise of men, more than the praise of God.-John xii. 5, 6. 10, 11. 19. 42, 43.

The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service. And these things they will do unto you, because they have not known the Father nor me.--John xvi. 2, 3.

Pilate sought to relieve Jesus; but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cæsar, &c. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your king? the chief priests answered, We have no king but Cæsar. -John xix. 12. 15.

Others mocking, said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter said, &c. These men are not drunken as ye suppose.-Acts ii. 13-15.

As the apostles spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, &c. And they laid hands on them, &c. saying, By what power, or by what name have ye done this? &c. They said, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them, is manifest unto all, &c. and we cannot deny it; but that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name : and they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. -Acts iv. 13.7.14-18.

Ananias and Sapphira brought part of the price, and would have deceived the Holy Ghost, &c. Multitudes were added to the Lord. Then the high priest, &c. were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison, &c. They doubted whereunto this would grow, &c. Said to the apostles, Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us, &c.

When the apostles had said, That God had exalted that Jesus whom they slew, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.-Acts v. 1-3.14-18.24.28.30-33. vii. 51, 52.54, 55.

When they could not resist the spirit and wisdom by which Stephen spake, then they suborned men, which said, We have heard, &c. and they stirred up the people, and the elders and scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, &c. And set up false witnesses. -Acts vi. 10-13.

Simon, when he saw the apostles through laying on of hands conferred the Holy Ghost, offered them money for the like power, &c. He was in the gall of bitterness.-Acts viii. 18, 19. 23.

When Saul had preached the gospel, the Jews took counsel to kill him: but their laying in wait was known of Saul: and they watched the gates day and night to kill him.Acts ix. 22-24.

The next sabbath day, came almost the whole city together, to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against the things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming, &c. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.Acts xiii. 44, 45. 50.

The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren, &c. and persuaded the people to stone them. -Acts xiv. 2. 19.

When Paul had preached, and many believed, the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar, &c. They drew Jason, and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down,

&c. These do all contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying, That there is another king, one Jesus. The Jews came also to Berea, and stirred up the people. Acts xvii. 2-7.13.

The Jews made an insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. -Acts xviii. 12, 13.

Paul said, I was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day: and I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons, &c.-Acts xxii. 3-7.

Certain Jews bound themselves under a curse to kill Paul, &c. The chief priests and elders agree to help it forward.-Acts xxiii. 12-14. xxv.2,3. They got an orator to accuse Paul, thus; We found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes; who also, hath gone about to profane the temple, &c. When Paul reasoned of righteousness, &c. Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time: when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee, &c.-Acts xxiv. 1, 2.5, 6. 25.

Paul said, I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth: w which things I also did, &c. being exceedingly mad. - Acts xxvi. 9-11.

The Jews told Paul, That concerning this sect, it was every where spoken against.-Acts xxviii. 21.

Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, &c. and art confident that thou thyself art a guide to the blind, &c. Thou, therefore, which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest, a man shall not steal, dost thou steal? &c. He is not a Jew which is one outwardly: neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh, &c. -Rom, ii. 17-23.28.

Israel, 'which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness: 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, &c. -Rom. ix. 31, 32.

They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge: for they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.-Rom. x. 1-3.

As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ: for neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.Gal. vi. 12, 13.

The Jews who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us (or chased us out); and they please not God, and are contrary unto all men: forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.-1 Thess. ii. 14-16.

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, &c. These also resist the truth, &c.-2Tim.iii. 5.8.

They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him: being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate (or void of judgment).-Titus i. 16.

They went out from us, but they were not of us, &c. they went out that they might be made manifest, &c.-1 John ii. 19.

Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead, &c. I have not found thy works perfect before God, &c. The church of the Laodiceans, &c. I know thy works, that thou art neither hot nor cold, &c. Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, &c.-Rev. iii. 1, 2. 14, 15. 17.

SECT. 1. The great danger of Hypocrisy and Formality, and the end of Hypocrites.

THE Israelites had sinned; and though they had the ark amongst them, yet they fell before their enemies.1 Sam. iv.

The hypocrite's hope shall perish, whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web: he shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.-Job viii. 13-15.

He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.-Job xiii. 16.

The congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, &c. -Job xv. 34.

He that speaketh flattery to his friends, the eyes of his children shall fail. Job xvii. 5.

The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment: though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds, he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him, shall say, Where is he? and he shall flee away as a dream, and shall not be found. The eye also which saw him, shall see him no more, &c.-Job xx. 5, &c. What is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?-Job xxvii. 8, 9.

The hypocrites in heart heap up wrath. Job xxxvi. 13.

Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, &c.-Ps.lv. 23. O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, &c. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge. -Isa. x. 5, 6.

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark; and

they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth? Isa. xxix. 15, 16.

The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? &c.-Isa. xxxiii. 14.

Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled: this shall ye have of my hand, ye shall lie down in sorrow. Isa. 1. 11.

I will declare thy righteousness and thy works, for they shall not profit thee. Isa. lvii. 12.

Trust ye not in lying words; saying, The temple of the Lord, &c. Behold, ye trust in lying words that cannot profit, &c. therefore will I do to this house which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh; and I will cast you out of my sight. -Jer. vii. 4.8-11.

I will punish all them which are circumcised, with the uncircumcised. Egypt, &c. all these nations are uncircumcised: and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart. -Jer. ix. 25, 26.

Ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the Lord your God, &c. Now, therefore, know certainly, that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, &c.-Jer. xlii. 20-22. Isa. ix. 17.

Cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, &c. and sacrificeth to the Lorda corrupt thing.-Mal. i. 14.

Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father, &c. The axe is laid, &c. -Matt. iii. 8-10. vii. 18, 19.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men, &c. I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case

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He heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for awhile, &c.-Matt. xiii. 20, 21.

Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up: let them alone, &c. If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. --Matt. xv. 13, 14. When Christ found nothing but leaves on the fig tree, he said, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever; and presently, it withered away, &c. Jesus said to the priests, &c. The publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. -Matt. xxi. 19. 23. 29-31.

When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither? &c. and he was speechless: then said the king to his servants, Bind him, &c. and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping, &c.- Matt. xxii. 11-13.

Woe unto the scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, often pronounced. - Matt. xxiii. 13-16.23.25.27.29-33.

The foolish virgins who had no oil to put into their lamps, were shut out. Matt. xxv. 8, &c.

Whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have (or thinketh he hath). -Luke viii. 18.

Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy, &c. He that knoweth his Lord's will, and doeth not according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.- Luke xii. 1. 47. James iv. 17.

They shall begin to say, We have eat and drank in thy presence, &c.

but he shall say, I tell you I know you not whence you are: depart from me, all ye workers, &c. Ye shall see Abraham, &c. in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.-Luke xiii. 25-28.

Ye are they which justify your selves, but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed amongst men, is abomination in the sight of God. - Luke xvi. 15.

Every branch that beareth not fruit in me, he taketh away. -John xv. 2. Ananias and Sapphira, both smote with death for their hypocrisy.-Acts v. 5. 10.

They are not all Israel, which are of Israel, &c. Rom. ix. 6, 7. 11. 28. 1 Cor. x. 1-6.

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness, &c. of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Rom. i. 18.

If a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. - Gal, vi. 3.

A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.-James i. 8.

The Jews, &c. forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. - 1 Thess. ii. 16.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie, &c. - Rev. iii. 9.

CHAP. XXVII.

OF THE CONSCIENCE.

And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt: and he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him! &c.-1 Sam. xxiv. 5, 6.

And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people: and David said unto the Lord, I have

sinned greatly in that I have done, &c.-2 Sam. xxiv. 10. xii. 13.

When Josiah had heard the words of the book of the law, he rent his clothes; and he commanded, &c. Go ye, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, concerning this book that is found; for great is the wrath of the Lord, &c. Tell the man that sent you to me, &c. I will bring evil upon this place, &c. But to the king of Judah, &c. Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself, &c. thine eyes shall not see all the evil, &c.-2 Kings xxii. 11-13. 15, 16. 18-20.

I will not remove mine integrity, &c. my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. -Job xxvii. 5, 6.

He that is without sin, let him first cast a stone at her, &c. They which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one.John viii. 7. 9.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter, &c. What shall we do? -Acts ii. 37.

Paul said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. -Acts xxiii. 1.

And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence, toward God and toward men. -Acts xxiv. 16.

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts; their conscience also bearing them witness (or the conscience witnessing with them), and their thoughts the meanwhile (or between themselves) accusing or else excusing one another.-Rom. ii. 15,16.

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not; my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost.-Rom. ix. 1. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Rom. xiii. 5.

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: if any of them that believe not, bid you

to a feast, &c. whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no questions for conscience sake; but if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice to idols; eat not, for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake, &c. Conscience, I say; not thine own, but of the others: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? &c. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.1 Cor. x. 25-29. 32. viii. 7.

Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, &c. -2 Cor. i. 12.

By manifestation of the truth, commended ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.2 Cor. iv. 2.

We are made manifest unto God; and I trust also, are made manifest in your consciences.-2 Cor. v. 11.

Now the end of the commandment is charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned, &c. holding faith and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck.-1 Tim. i. 5. 19.

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.-1 Tim. iii. 9.

The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, &c. speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their consciences seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, &c.-1 Tim. iv. 1-3.

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers, with a pure conscience.-2 Tim. i. 3.

Unto them that are defiled and unbelieving, is nothing pure; but even. their mind and conscience is defiled. -Titus i. 15.

In which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience, &c. If the blood of bulls and of goats sanctifieth, to the purifying of the flesh;

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