done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 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; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. GAL. 3: 22. The Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. -24. The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. lieveth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God... 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. CHAPTER III. CONFESSION OF CHRIST. JOHN 1: 12. But as many as received Christ, to them gave he pow- § 1. PUBLIC PROFESSION REQUIRED. er to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. GAL. 3:26. Ye are all the children of God, by faith in Jesus Christ. JOHN 16: 27. The Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. T ACTS 10: 42. 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. To him gave all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth on him, shall receive remission of sins. ROM. 15:13. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. 1 PETER 1: 8. In whom believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 27. To them that believe he is precious. ROM. 9:33. Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and Rock of offence, and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Isa. 28: 16.) JOHN 3:14. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.-17. God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that be MAT. 10: 82. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess 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. (Luke 12: 8.) JOHN 12: 42. Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharises 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. ROM. 109. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God 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. HEB. 10: 23. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. PHIL. 2: 11. Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 1 TIM. 6 12. Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, having witnessed a good profession, before many witnesses. : HEB. 3 1. Consider the Apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. 4: 14. Seeing then we have a great high-priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 10:23. Let us hold fast the pro- | with a holy kiss. The churches of fession of our faith without waverChrist salute you. ing. 1 JOHN 4 15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him and he in God. MARK 8 38. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (L. 9: 26.) 2 TIM. 2: 12. If we deny him, he also will deny us. 1 JOHN 2:23. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. CHAPTER IV. THE CHURCH, OR CHRISTIAN 16 5. Greet Priscilla and Aquila likewise the church that is in their house. ... COL. 4 15. Salute... Nymphas, and the church which is in his house, and when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. PHIL. 1: 1. Paul and Timothy... unto Philemon... and the church in thy house, grace to you, &c. ACTS 8: 1. At that time there was great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. 3 JOHN 9. I wrote unto the church. 2 COR. 6:14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers : for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infiOR-del? 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. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you; and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 1. CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS A DISTINCT COMMUNITY OR CHURCH. ACTS 12 5. Prayer was made without ceasing of the CHURCH Unto God, for him [Peter.] 14: 27. And when they were come and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. Acts 15 3. And being brought on their way, by the church, they passed through Phenice.... when they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders. 1 COR. 1: 1. Paul... unto the church 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, Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. REV. 1 4. John, to the seven churches, which are in Asia. 2:1. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus, &c. ROM. 16 16. Salute one another § 3. THE UNITY OF THE CHurch. MAT. 16: 18. On this rock will I build MY CHURCH. ACTS 5: 11. Great fear came on all the church. 1 COR. 12: 12. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. GAL. 3: 26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. EPH. 4: 1. I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 5: 26. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. T COL. 1: 18. He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church. 1 COR. 1: 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 12: 14. For the body is not one member but many.-26. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the BODY of CHRIST, and members in particular. 1 PETER 5: 13. The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, greeteth you. ACTS 20: 28. Feed the church of God. 1 Cor. 15: 9. I persecuted the church of God. CHURCHES only spoken of as existing in different places. ACTS 9: 31. churches rest. Then had the 15: 41. He (Paul) went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. 16: 5. So were the churches established in the faith. 1 Cor. 7: 17. So ordain I, in all the churches. REV. 1: 4. To the seven churches which are in Asia. ACTS 2: 44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. the same mind and in the same judg- § 3. ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH. ment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 3: 1. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. ... For whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?-21. Therefore let no man glory in men; for all things are yours.... and ye ARE CHRISTS,' and Christ is God's. I. Public Worship. 1. Appointed and Illustrated. MARK 16: 15. Go ye into all the world, and PREACH THE GOSPEL to every creature. 1 COR. 1: 21. After that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God; it pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. LUKE 9: 60. Let the dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 4: 44. He, (Christ) preached in the synagogues of Galilee. ACTS 13: 14. Paul.... came to Antioch, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. - 42. And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them, the next sabbath.... And the next sabbath, came almost the whole city together, to hear the word of God. MAT. 11: 5. The poor have the gospel preached unto them. MARK 2:2. Many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them; no, not so much as about the door; and he preached the word unto them. ACTS 17: 17. Therefore disputed he (Paul) in the synagogues with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. JOHN 6: 59. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. ACTs 11: 26. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus to seek Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. HEB. 10: 24. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love, and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is. ACTS 18: 4. And he reasoned with them in the synagogue, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 2. Exercises. I. Devotional Exercises. (1.) Praise. Ps. 100: 1. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: enter into his presence with thanksgiving... Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts. with praise. Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. HEB. 2: 12. In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. Jer. 17 26. They shall come from the cities of Judah, &c. ... bringing sacrifices of praise unto the house of the LORD. Ps. 22: 25. My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation. 35: 18. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise thee among much people. 107: 31. O that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men. Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 108: 2. Awake, psaltery and harp; I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O LORD among the people, and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. 111: 1. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. PSALM CXLVIII, 1. Praise ye the LORD. Praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, Beasts, and all cattle; Kings of the earth; and all people: Princes, and all judges of the earth: Let them praise the name of the LORD: His glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his people, The praise of all his saints; Even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD. PSALM CXLIX. 1. Praise ye the LORD. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people : PSALM CL. 1. Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: Praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him according to his excellent greatness. ISA. 38:20. We will sing my songs to the stringed instruments, all the days of our life, in the house of the LORD. NEH. 12: 8. Mattaniah ... was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. 2 CHRON. 29: 27. When the burntoffering began, the song of the LORD began also, with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David, king of Israel; and all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. 1 Cor. 14: 26. How is it then brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a Psalm, hath a doctrine... Let all things be done to edifying. EPH. 5: 18. Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs: singing, and making melody in your hearts to the LORD, giving thanks always for all things unto God, and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3: 16. Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. JAMES 5: 13. Is any merry him sing psalms. ? let 1 COR. 14: 15. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Men appointed to this service. 1 Kings 10: 12. 2 Chron. 9: 11.1 Chron. 9: 33. 15: 27. Ezra 2: 41. (2.) Prayer. LUKE 18: 1. Men ought always to pray. 10. Two men went up into the temple to pray. MAT. 6:7. When ye pray, use not vain repetitions. 1 COR. 14: 15. I wil pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. 1 TIM. 2: 1. I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. 1 K. 8: 22. And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD, in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven. (See his dedicatory - 54. And it was so, that prayer.) when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees, with his hands spread up to heaven. ACTS 20: 36. And when he Paul had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. (See "Christian Duties.") II. Religious Instruction. Ps. 40: 9. I have preached rightLo! I have not refrained my lips, O eousness in the great congregation. LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness in my heart. I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation. COL. 3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. 1 COR. 14: 18. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. ACTS 18: 26. Apollos spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord... He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. 28. He mightily convinced the Jews, and that pub |