pleasures in those things, and were not afflicted for their sin.-Amos vi. 3, &c. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines: the labour of the olive shall fail, &c. yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. -Hab. iii. 17, 18. When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn; and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat? &c.-Amos viii. 5, &c. Is it a time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? &c. Consider your ways; ye have sown much, and bring in little: ye eat, but ye have not enough, &c. I did blow upon it: Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.-Hag. i. 4-9. Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain: so the Lord shall, &c. give them showers of rain. -Zech. x. 1. Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through, &c. for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. No man can serve two masters, &c. ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, &c. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls, &c. are ye not much better than they? Which of you, by taking thought, can add one cubit unto his stature? &c. Your heavenly Father knoweth that you need these things: but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. -Matt. vi. 19-21.24-34. When Christ had suffered the evil spirits to go into the herd of swine, so that they were drowned: the whole city came out, and besought Jesus to depart.-Matt. viii. 31-34. He that loveth father or mother more than me, &c. or son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me, &c. he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it. --Matt. x. 37-39. Luke xiv. 26. He that received seed among the thorns, is he that heareth the word, and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, &c. -Matt. xiii. 22. Luke viii. 14. Mark iv. 19. Herod, to please Herodias's daughter, and others, orders the cutting off John Baptist's head.-Matt. xiv. 3-10. Mark xv. 15. What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?-Matt. xvi. 26. Luke ix. 25. Mark viii. 36, 37. Judas's covetousness made him to betray Christ into the hands of the Jews. -Matt. xxvi. 15. Go and sell that thou hast, and give, &c. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus, &c. that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. -Matt. xix. 21-23. Luke xviii. 24. Mark x. 21-28. The disciples' ambition made them to envy each other. Christ rebuked them.-Matt. xx. 21, &c. Those who were invited to the feast, made light of it, and went their ways; one to his farm, another to his merchandise, &c.-Matt. xxii. 4, 5. Luke xiv. 16-21. The devil tempted Christ with the things of this world.-Luke iv. 4-6. Woe unto you that are rich, for ye have received your consolation: woe unto you that are full, for ye shall hunger: woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep: woe unto you when all, men shall speak well of you.-Luke vi. 24-26. Christ said to one, Follow me: but he would bury his father first; another would go bid them farewell which were at home. - Luke ix. 59-61. Matt. viii. 21, 22. Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful, &c.-Luke x. 40, 41. Jesus said, Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth, &c. The rich man said to his soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years: take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry: but God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. - Luke xii. 15-22. The parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus.-Luke xvi. 20, &c. Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life; and so that day come upon you unawares.-Luke xxi. 34. Judas, for money, betrays Jesus Christ. - Luke xxii. 3-6. Matt. xxvi. 14, 15. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?-John v. 44. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto everlasting life.-John vi. 27. He is of age, ask him; he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue: therefore, said his parents, He is of age, ask him.John ix. 21-23. Judas, displeased at the use of the ointment, upon pretence of giving to the poor: but it was because he bare the purse, &c. Among the chief rulers also, many believed on him: but, because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.-John xii. 4-6.42, 43. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.-John xvi. 33. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.John xvii. 15. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered, &c.-John xviii. 36. Pilate sought to release Jesus: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend, &c. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, &c.-John xix. 12, 13. 15, 16. Matt. xv. 15. What house will ye build for me? saith the Lord, &c. Hath not my hand made all these things?-Acts vii. 49, 50. xiv. 15. 17. When Paul had cast the evil spirit out of the damsel, and her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, &c. and said, That they did exceedingly trouble the city, &c. - Acts xvi. 18-22. God, that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, &c. giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.Acts xvii. 24, 25. So Demetrius, a silversmith, and others of the same trade, who made silver shrines for Diana, &c. complained against Paul for preaching the gospel, and cried up Diana, because they were like to lose their gain, if men esteemed not Diana as a goddess. -Acts xix. 24-28. Yourselves know that these hands have administered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things: how that so labouring, ye ought to support the weak: and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts xx. 34, 35. The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.Rom. viii. 7. Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Rom. xiii. 14. Ye see your calling, brethren: how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many noble are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, &c. that no flesh should glory in his presence.-1 Cor. i. 26-29. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any: meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them.-1 Cor. vi. 12, 13. The time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives, be as though they had none: and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not: and they that buy, as though they possessed not: and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of the world passeth away, &c. He that is married, careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.-1 Cor. vii. 29-34. I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means when I have preached, &c.1 Cor. ix. 27. The devil is called the god of this world.-2 Cor. iv. 4. The sorrow of the world worketh death.-2 Cor. vii. 10. Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: that though he was rich, yet for your sakes, he became poor, that ye, through his poverty, might be rich.-2 Cor. viii. 9. God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, &c.-2 Cor. ix. 8. Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. Gal. i. 3, 4. The flesh 'lusteth against the spirit, &c. so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Gal. v. 17. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom (or whereby) the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.-Gal. vi. 14. Covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints, &c. 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.-Eph. v. 3. 5. 2 Cor. vi. 10. Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, whose glory is in their shame; who mind earthly things. -Phil. iii. 19. Let your moderation be known, &c. the Lord is at hand: be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, &c. I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content; I know both how to be abased, and how to abound: every where, and in all things, I am instructed both to be full, and to be hungry; both to abound, and to suffer need, &c. But my God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Jesus Christ.Phil. iv. 5, 6. 11, 12. 19. Set your affection (or mind) on things above, not on things on the earth, &c. Mortify, therefore, your members, &c. inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Col. iii. 2. 5. Meats, which God hath created to be received, &c. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused.-1 Tim. iv. 3, 4. 1 Cor. x. 25-27. She that liveth in pleasure (or delicately) is dead while she liveth.1 Tim. v. 6. Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out: having food and raiment, let us be therewith content: but they that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition: for the love of money is the root of all evil; which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things, &c. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come.-1 Tim. vi. 6-11.17-19. Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth, entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.-2 Tim. ii. 3, 4. In the last day, &c. men shall be lovers of their ownselves, &c. lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God. -2 Tim. iii. 4. Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, &c. -2 Tim. iv. 10. The earth, which, &c. bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God. Heb. vi. 7. Ye, &c. took joyfully the spoiling of your goods; knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and enduring substance.-Heb. x. 34. By faith, Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.-Heb. xi. 24-26. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee: so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, &c.Heb. xiii. 5, 6. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted; but the rich, in that he is made low; because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth; so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. - James i. 9-11. 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? but ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seat? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name? &c.James ii. 5-7. Know ye not, that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God, &c. Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy, and sell, and get gain; whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow: for, what is your life? it is even a vapour, &c. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that: but now you rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.-James iv. 4. 13-16. Acts xviii. 21. 1 Cor. xvi. 7. Go to now, ye rich men; weep and howl, for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten; your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire: ye have 2 Pet. iii. 7. 10, 11. CHAP XXXVIII. heaped treasure together for the last 1 Pet. iv. 7. All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass : the grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away. -1 Pet. i. 24. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, &c. casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.-1 Pet. 1 v. 6, 7. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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; and the world passeth away, and the lust thereof.-1 John ii. 15-17. 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.-1 John iv. 4, 5. Whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? -1 John v. 4, 5. The kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, &c. -Rev. vi. 15-17. Heaven and earth shall pass away: all these things shall end. Matt. xxiv. 35. Ps. cii. 25, 26. Isa. li. 6. OF IDOLATRY, SETTING UP GRAVEN IDOLS are called dunghill gods.- Laban said to Jacob, Wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?-Gen. xxxi. 30. Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, &c. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.-Gen. xxxv. 2. 4. I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, &c. Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. -Exod. xx. 2-5. 23. Deut. iv. 15-18. Ps. lxxxi. 9, 10. Hosea xiii. 4. He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed. - Exod. xxii. 20. Deut. xxx. 17, 18. xxxi. 16-18. Make no mention of the names of other gods: neither let it be heard out of thy mouth, &c. 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, &c. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods, &c. If thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee. - Exod. xxiii. |