brance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart, and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath GOD forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.- O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Cant. 5. 6. Ps. 77. 3, 6 -9. and 51. 15, 8, 11, 12. || and 88. 9, 14-17. and 86. 16, 17. Jer. 14. 7, 8. Job 23. 3, 8, 9. Do you ever mourn because the Comforter is far from your soul. 84. What are suitable directions and promises for a believer, when in darkness and distress of mind? Who is among you that feareth th. Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his GOD.- Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of GOD, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.- 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. 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. Is. 50. 10. 1 Pet. 5. 6-9. John 14. 1, 27. and 16. 33. || Ps. 44. 8-11. Is. 43. 1, 20. and 41. 10, 13, 14. and 40. 30, 31. Deut. 33. 27. If in darkness should you not cry to God for light? Will you not cast your cares on him? 85. Does God particularly observe the religious principles and practices of his people? I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. But if any man love Gon, the same is known of him. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.- The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable, in his sight. Rev. 2. 19. 1 Cor. 8. 3. Ps. 33. 18, 19. Nah. 1. 7. Col. 1. 21, 22. || Job 33. 27-30. Jer. 6. 15, 16. How much fruit God has reason to expect from you? What fruit has he found? 86. What are the privileges, in this life, of those who obey the requirements of God? The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.- For the Lord GOD is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love Gon, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Ps. 34. 7, 15. and 84. 11. Rom. 8. 28. || Job 5. 17, 18. Ps. 5. 12. and 58. 11. How safe and happy is the true Christian! Can you be indifferent to such privileges? 87. What ordinances are to be administered under the Gospel dispensation? Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.- For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Mat. 28. 19, 20. 1 Cor. 11. 23-26. || 1 Pet. 3. 20, 21. Acts 2. 38, 39, 41. and 8. 12. Have you a right understanding of Gospel ordinances? Do you highly prize them? 88. Is it not a highly important duty publicly to profess the Gospel, and attend the ordinance of the Lord's Supper? Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.- But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: THIS DO in remembrance of me. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, DRINK YE ALL of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remis sion of sins. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Mat. 10. 32, 33. Rom. 10. 8-10. Luke 22. 19. Mat. 26. 27, 28. 1 Cor. 11. 26. || Is. 45. 24, 25. and 44. 4, 5. Acts 2, 41, 42, 46, 47. and 5. 14. What excuse have you for neglecting it? Is it one which will answer you in the Great Day? 89. What preparation is requisite to the acceptable receiving the Lord's Supper? (n) 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: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Wheth er therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of GoD.- Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home: that ye come not together unto condemnation. 1 Cor. 5. 7, 8. and 10. 16, 17, 31. and 11. 27, 28, 34. || Mal. 1. 7. 1 Cor. 10. 1-6. 2 Cor. 13. 5. (n) See Appendix, Note N. E Have you examined yourself impartially? Have you come to the table of the Lord with sincerity, penitence, faith, and joy? 90. What are suitable meditations at, before, and after the communion? What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.- 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. I am that bread of life. I am the living bread which came down from heaven": if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. Ps. 116. 12-14. John 6. 35, 48, 51, 54-58. || Cant. 2. 3, 4. and 5. 1. Is. 25. 6, 9. and 55. 1. Rev. 21. 6. John 4. 14. (0) He Have you found this ordinance a feast to the soul? Has it quickened you? 91. How is an offending brother in the Lord to be treated? Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, GO AND TELL HIM HIS FAULT BETWEEN THEE AND HIM ALONE: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner with such a one no not to eat. Mat. 18. 15, 21, 22, 16, 17. 1 Cor. 5. 11. || Luke 17. 3, 4. Ps. 141. 5. John 13. 35. Jam. 5. 16, 19, 20. (0) See Appendix, Note O. Have you never spread the faults of a brother? Can you meekly receive a Christian rebuke? 92. What are some of the consolations for the truly pious in old age? O GOD, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O Gon, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.- Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shall quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. Ps. 71, 17, 18, 20. Is. 46. 4. Job 5. 26. Eccl. 12. 3—7. Ps. 73. 26. Will not the Scriptures treasured in memory in youth be useful in old age? Would they not then be comforting to the truly pious? 93. What are the privileges of the righteous in the trying hour of death? The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.- Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.- Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.- O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to GoD, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Prov. 14. 32. Ps. 37. 37. and 23. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 55-57. || Ps. 116. 15. and 73. 26. 2 Cor. 4. 16. Acts 7. 55, 56, 59, 60. How desirable to die the death of the righteous! Will you not seek to live like them? 94. Are the spirits of the just active, perfected in holiness and happiness, in the interim between their death and the resurrection of their bodies? Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 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. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the |