the working of Satan, with all power, covetous, boasters, proud, blaspheand signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned, &c.-2 Thess, ii. 2-4.8-13. Rev. xiii. 13, 14. Charge some, that they teach no other doctrine; neither give heed to Jewish fables, &c. Some, having swerved, have turned aside to vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.-1 Tim. i. 3, 4. 6, 7. 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; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron: forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, &c.-1 Tim. iv. 1-3. If any man teach otherwise, &c. he is proud, knowing nothing; but doting (or sick) about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth; supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. Some professing, have erred, &c.-1 Tim. vi. 3-5.21. Strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers, &c. Shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness; and their word will eat as doth a canker (or gangrene): of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; who, concerning the truth, have erred; saying, That the resurrection is passed already; and overthrown the faith of some: nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, &c.-2 Tim. ii. 14.16-19. Perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own selves, mers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away: for of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women, laden with sins, led away with divers lusts; ever learning, and never coming to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate (or of no judgment) concerning the faith, &c. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse; deceiving, and being deceived: but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned.2 Tim. iii. 1-8. 13, 14. The time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts, shall they heap to themselves teachers; having itching ears: and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables: but watch thou, &c. -2 Tim. iv. 3-5. A bishop must be blameless, &c. holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught (or in teaching), that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers: for there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped; who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake, &c. Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth, &c. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him; being abominable, &c.-Titus i. 7.9-11.13, 14. 16. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines: for it is a But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction: and many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of: and through covetousness shall they, with feigned words, make merchandise of you; whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, &c. Chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government (or dominions); presumptuous are they, self-willed: they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities, &c. These, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not, &c. sporting themselves with their own deceivings, while they feast with you; having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices: cursed children which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, &c. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever: for when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that are clean escaped from them; who live in errors while they promise them liberty, &c. 2 Pet. ii. 1-3.10-19. good thing that the heart be esta- Ye, therefore, beloved, seeing ye blished, &c.-Heb. xiii. 9. There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts; and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning, &c. Some things hard to be understood; which they that are unlearned and unstable, wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. know these things before, beware, lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.-2 Pet. iii. 3, 4. 16, 17. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time: they went out from us, but they were not of us, &c. Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son, &c. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.-1 John ii. 18, 19. 22. 26. Believe not every spirit; but try the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world: hereby know ye the spirit of God; every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, and have overcome them; because, greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them, &c. He that knoweth God, heareth us: he that is not of God, heareth not us: hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error, &c.-1 John iv. 1-7. Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh: this is a deceiver, and an antichrist: look to yourselves, that ye lose not those things which we wrought, but that ye receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God, &c. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your houses, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds.2 John 7-12. Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints: for there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation; ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. These filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities: yet Michael the archangel, contending with the devil, &c. durst not bring against him a railing accusation. But these speak evil of those things which they know not, &c. Clouds are they without water, &c. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts, and their mouth speaketh great swelling words: having mens' persons in admiration because of advantage, &c. These be they who separate themselves; sensual, having not the Spirit.-Jude 3, 4.8-10.12, 13. 16. 19. I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not; but are the synagogue of Satan, &c. hold the doctrine of Balaam, &c. So the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, &c. Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, &c. to teach and seduce my servants, &c. Rev. ii. 9. 14, 15. 20. iii. 9. All that dwell upon the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life, &c. worshipped the beast, &c. And he had power, &c. That the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast, should be killed: and he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Rev. xiii. 9. 12.15-17. Unclean spirits come out of the mouth of the dragon, &c. beast, and, &c. false prophets, &c. the spirits of devils, working miracles, &c.-Rev. xvi. 13, 14. I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues; for her sins have reached unto heaven. -Rev. xviii. 4, 5. If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, &c. Rev. xiv. 9, 10. The destruction of Babylon, the great whore, prophesied of. Rev. xvi. 16. xviii. 2, &c. xix. 2, 3. CHAP. XXIX. OF CONSIDERATION, MEDITATION, PONDERING UPON, AND SERIOUS WEIGHING OF THE THINGS OF GOD, HIS WORD AND WORKS, &c. ABRAHAM's servant wondering, held his peace; that he might know if God prospered his journey, &c.Gen. xxiv. 21. Isaac went out to meditate (or pray) in the field at the even tide.Gen. xxiv. 63. When Joseph had told his dream, &c. his father observed the saying.Gen. xxxvii. 11. Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God.-Deut. iv. 39. If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I, how can I dispossess them? Thou shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt, &c.-Deut. vii. 17,18. xxiv. 9. Matt. xvi. 8, 9. Thou shalt consider in thine heart, that as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee, &c. remember, &c.-Deut. viii. 5. 17, 18. Therefore shall ye lay up all these my words in your heart, and in your soul, &c. ye shall teach them your children: speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way; when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. -Deut. xi. 18, 19. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!-Deut. xxxii. 29. Lam. i. 9. Jer. xxiii. 20. xxx. 24. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. Josh. i. 8. Fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.-1 Sam. xii. 24. 1 Chron. xvi. 12. David hastily resolved to cut off Nabal's house: but when by Abigail's words he considered the matter, he was staid, and blessed the counsel, &c.-1 Sam. xxv. 14.39. 44. If they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captives, and repent, &c.--1 Kings viii. 47. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles. -Neh. v. 7. Therefore am I troubled at his presence; when I consider, I am afraid of him. Job xxiii. 15. Ps. lxxvii. 3. He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways.-Job xxxiv. 26, 27. Ps. xxviii. 5. O Job, stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. - Job xxxvii. 14. Ps. cv. 5. Blessed is the man, &c. whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Ps. i. 1, 2. Sin not, commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.Ps. iv. 4. lxxvii. 6. Eccles. i. 16. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained: what is man that thou art mindful of him, &c.-Ps. viii. 3, 4. → All the ends of the world shall re member and turn unto the Lord, &c. -Ps. xxii. 27. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned : then spake I with my tongue.-Ps. xxxix. 3. Luke iii. 15. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear: forget also thine own people, and thy father's house. - Ps. xlv. 10. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.-Ps. 1. 22. Deut. xxxii. 18. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips, when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night.Ps. Ixiii. 5, 6. xlii. 6. All men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God: for they shall wisely consider of his doing.-Ps. lxiv. 9. I have considered the days of old, &c. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune, &c. I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High: I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old: I will meditate also on all thy works, and talk of thy doings. Ps. lxxvii. 5, 6. 10-12. When he slew them, &c. they remembered that God was their rock. -Ps. lxxviii. 34, 35. 41-43. I will sing praise unto my God, &c. my meditation of him shall be sweet.-Ps. civ. 33, 34. They forgat God their Saviour, who had done great things in Egypt, &c.-Ps. cvi. 7. 20-22. Who is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.-Ps. cvii. 43. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein: his work is honourable, &c. he hath made his wonderful works to be remembered.--Ps. cxi. 2-4. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word? &c. I will meditate in thy precepts, &c. Princes also did sit and speak against me, but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes, &c. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies, &c. I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself, &c. I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, &c. I will consider thy testimonies, &c. Thy commandment is exceeding broad, &c. Thy law is my meditation all the day: thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me: I have more understanding than my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation, &c. Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.-Ps. cxix. 9. 15. 23. 48.52.55.59.78. 95-99.148. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!-Ps. cxxxix. 17, 18. I remember the days of old, I me ditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thine hands, &c. my soul thirsteth after thee, &c.-Ps.cxliii. 5,6. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established (or all thy ways shall be ordered aright). -Prov. iv. 26. Eccles. ii. 14. Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise. - Prov. vi. 6. The simple believeth every word, but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Prov. xiv. 15. The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. --Prov. xv. 28. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth (or maketh his mouth), &c.Prov. xvi. 23. A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth (or considereth) his way. - Prov. xxi. 29. When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee, and put a knife to thy throat, &c.-Prov. xxiii. 1, 2. Keep thy foot, when thou goest to the house of God: and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they consider not that they do evil: be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven. Eccles. v. 1, 2. Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight which he hath made crooked? &c. in the day of adversity consider. - Eccles. vii. 13, 14. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.-Eccles. xii. 1. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib : but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah, sinful nation ! - Isa. i. 3, 4. They regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands: therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge.-Isa. v. 12, 13. Ps. xxviii. 5. That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it. Isa. xli. 20. Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.Isa. xliii. 18. God, complaining of the sottishness of the makers and worshippers of idols, saith, None considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge or understanding to say, I have burnt part of it in the fire, &c. and shall I make make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?-Isa. xliv. 17-19. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away; none considering that the righteous is taken from the evil to come. Isa. lvii. 1. Thou meetest him, &c. those that |