queen of heaven, &c.-Jer. xliv. 25, &c.

I will pay that which I have vowed. -Jonah ii. 9.

Paul had shorn his head in Cenchrea; for he had a vow.-Acts xviii. 18.

We have four men which have a vow on them; them take, and purify thyself with them, &c. And all may know, &c. that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written, and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only, &c.-Acts xxi. 23, &c.

The law about the vows of a daughter, in her father's house: and of a married person.-Numb. xxx.

CHAPTER L.

OF BLASPHEMY.

AND the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed; and they brought him unto Moses, &c. and they put him in ward, that the mind of the Lord might be shewed unto them. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Bring forth him that hath cursed, without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him, &c. Whosoever curseth his God, shall bear his sin: and he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death. -Levit. xxiv. 11-16. 23.

Jezebel, king Ahab's wife, commanded the nobles to set up false witnesses against Naboth, to testify that he did blaspheme God and the king; and so stone him to death: which accordingly they did.-1 Kings xxi. 8-13; Acts vi. 11. 13.

Sennacherib, king of Assyria, by his servants, said, Who among all the gods, &c. could deliver his people out of mine hand? that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? &c. No god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver,

&c. how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? And his servants spake yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah. He wrote also letters, to rail on the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against him, &c. And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the works of the children of men.-2 Chron. xxxii. 9-20.

The shame of my face hath covered me, for the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth. — Ps. xliv. 15, 16.

O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people hath blasphemed thy name.-Ps. lxxiv. 10. 18. 22.

Render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom, their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.-Ps. lxxix. 12.

What have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? &c. and my name continually every day is blasphemed ?—Isa. lii. 5.

In this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me, when I had brought them into the land, &c. Then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees; and then they offered sacrifices there, &c.— Ezek. xx. 27, 28.

Thou shalt know that I am the Lord, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies, which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume. Thus with your mouth you have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me.-Ezek. xxxv. 12, 13.

When Christ had said to the sick man, Thy sins are forgiven thee, then behold certain scribes said within themselves, This man blaspemeth,

The Pharisees said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils, &c. Jesus said, If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you, &c. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.-Matt. xii. 24. 28. 31, 32; Luke xii. 10.

Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now, ye have heard his blasphemy.-Matt. xxvi. 64, 65.

He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation; because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.-Mark iii. 29, 30.

From within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, blasphemies, &c.-Mark vii. 21, 22.

They, &c. asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.-Luke xxii. 64, 65.

For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy: because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God, &c. Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? -John x. 33. 36.

They suborned men, who said, We

When Herod had spoken, &c. the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory, &c.-Acts xii. 21-23.

Paul testified to the Jews, that Jesus was the Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your heads, &c.-Acts xviii. 5, 6; xix. 9; xiii. 45.

I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceeding mad against them, &c.-Acts xxvi. 11.

The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles, through you, &c.-Rom. ii. 23, 24.

But now ye also put off all these, anger, &c. blasphemy, &c.-Col. iii. 8.

Putting me into the ministry, who before was a blasphemer, &c. Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.-1 Tim. i. 12, 13. 20.

own

Servants, &c. count your masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God, and his doctrine, be not blasphemed.-1 Tim. vi. 1.

Men shall be lovers of their own selves, &c. blasphemers, &c.-2 Tim. iii. 2.

Discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.—Titus ii. 5.

Do not rich men oppress you? &c. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called ?— James ii. 6, 7.

They think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot, (or blaspheming,) speaking evil of you.-1 Pet. iv. 4.

I know the blasphemy of them, who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.Rev. ii. 9.

They could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter, &c. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? -Exod. xv. 23, 24.

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness; and the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord, in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger, &c. Ye shall see the glory of the Lord, for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? &c. Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.-Exod. xvi. 2, 3. 7, 8. 12.

AND MOSES, WHEN GOD WAS IN HIS
WAY OF REDEEMING THEM.

WHEN Moses and Aaron had been with Pharaoh, and Pharaoh had made their burden heavier, they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way as they came forth from Pharaoh; and they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because you have made our savour to be abhorred (or to stink) in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hands to slay us.Exod. v.1, 2. 6, 7. 20, 21.

When they were pursued by the Egyptians, they cried unto the Lord: and they said unto Moses, because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. -Exod. xiv. 10-12.

may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord? and the people thirsted there for water: and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this, that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? &c. They tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?—Exod. xvii. 2, 3. 7.

When the people complained, it displeased the Lord, &c. and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burnt, &c. And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, (or murmured and wept,) and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the onions, and the garlick; but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes, &c. God gave them flesh; but while the flesh was yet

between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people; and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague.-Numb. xi. 1. 4-6. 32, 33.

Upon the report of the spies, of the difficulty of entering the land, all the congregation of Israel lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses, and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or, would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? &c. Let us make us a captain, and let us return into Egypt. Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness, &c. These men, who saw my glory, and my signs, have tempted me, &c.- Numb. xiv. 1-4. 9, 10. 22, 23. 28-32.

When Korah and his company were swallowed up, all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses, and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord.-Numb. xvi. 41. There was no water for the congregation and they gathered themselves together against Moses, and against Aaron; and the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or vines, &c. -Numb. xx. 2—5.

The soul of the people was much discouraged, because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses: Wherefore have

ye brought us up out of Egypt, to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water: and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and much people of Israel died.-Numb. xxi. 4-6.

Ye have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you.— Deut. ix. 23, 24.

They tempted God in their heart, by asking meat for their lust; yea, they spake against God: they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, &c. Can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people? Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth. So a fire was kindled against Jacob, &c. because they believed not in God, nor trusted in his salvation, &c. They sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works, &c. How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert ? Yea, they turned back, and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.-Ps. lxxviii. 18-22. 32. 40, 41.

I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our fathers were under the cloud, &c. but with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were for our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted, &c. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples, (or types,) and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come: wherefore, let him who thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.-1 Cor. x. 1—13.

CHAPTER LII.

MOTIVES TO DILIGENCE AND INDUSTRY

IN OUR CALLINGS.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her fruit in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall thy poverty come, as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.-Prov. vi. 6-11; xxiv. 33, 34.

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich he that gathereth in summer, is a wise son; but he that sleepeth in harvest, is a son that causeth shame, &c. As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.-Prov. x. 4, 5. 26.

He that tilleth his land, shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons, is void of understanding, &c. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful shall be under tribute, &c. the slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting; but the substance of a diligent man is precious.-Prov. xii. 11. 24. 27.

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.-Prov. xiii. 4.

In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. Prov. xiv. 23.

The way of the slothful man is an hedge of thorns.-Prov. xv. 19.

He also that is slothful in his work, is brother to him that is a great waster.-Prov. xviii. 9.

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep and an idle soul shall suffer hunger, &c. A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not

so much as bring it to his mouth again. Prov. xix. 15. 24; xxvi. 15.

The sluggard will not plow, by reason of the cold: therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing, &c. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.-Prov. xx. 4. 13.

He that loveth pleasure (or sport) shall be a poor man, &c. The desire of the slothful killeth him, for his hands refuse to labour.-Prov. xxi. 17. 25.

The slothful man saith, There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets, &c. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.-Prov. xxii. 13. 29; xxvi. 13.

Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.-Prov. xxiii. 21.

I went by the field of the slothful, &c. and lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, &c. Yet a little sleep, &c. so shall thy poverty come, &c.-Prov. xxiv. 30-34.

By much slothfulness, the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands, the house droppeth through.Eccles. x. 18.

As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed, &c. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that can render a reason.-Prov. xxvi. 14. 16.

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.-Prov. xxviii. 19.

The industry of a good wife set forth at large. Prov. xxxi. 10, &c.

Rise up, ye women that are at ease: hear my voice, ye careless daughters, &c. Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women; for the vintage shall fail, &c. Tremble, ye women that are at ease: be troubled, ye careless ones, &c.-Isa. xxxii. 9— 11.

This was the iniquity of thy sister