Distinguishing traits of.

it hath unto thy judgments at all times. 24. Thy testimonies also are my delight, and my counsellors. 97. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my, mouth. 111. Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage forever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. 127. I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. 131. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. 136. Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. 140. Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. 143. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delight. 158. I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy loving-kindness. 162. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. 167. My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the law of God, after the inward man.

3. The spirit of self-denial and active benevolence.

Job 29. 12. I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

Lk. 18. 28. Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

Ac. 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.

Ac. 4. 32. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul: neither said any

Distinguishing traits of.

34.

of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 4. Honesty

1 Sam. 12. 1. And Samuel said- -3. Whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand.

Jn. 1. 47. Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

2 Cor. 4. 1. We faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty; not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but, by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

5. Meekness.

1 Cor. 4. 12. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat. Heb. 10. 34. And took joyfully the spoiling of your goods.

Jam. 5. 6. Ve have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

6. A sense of guilt and unworthiness.

Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant.

Ps. 115. 1. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

How numerous.

Mat. 8. 8. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

Mat. 25. 37. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison,

and came unto thee?

1 Cor. 15. 9. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am.

Ep. 3. 8. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

592. Have real saints been numerous ?

Gen. 7. 1. And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark: for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Gen. 6. 11, 12.

Gen. 18. 32. I will not destroy it for ten's sake. Num. 14. 23. They shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers-But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit within him- -him will I bring into the land.

Dt. 29. 2. And Moses called unto all Israel, and said, unto them, 4. The Lord hath not given you a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. Ps. 12. 1. Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. Mic. 7. 2. The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men.

Mat. 7. 14. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

How numerous-Adopted as children of God.

Mat. 20. 16. Many be called, but few chosen. Lk. 12. 32. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Lk 13. 23. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Lk. 18. 8. When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

2 Tim. 1. 15. This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me.

593. Will saints be numerous ?

Mat. 16. 18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Rev. 7. 9. I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes.

594. Are believers adopted as the children and heirs of God?

Rom. 8. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

2 Cor. 6. 17. 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.

Gal. 3. 26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 29. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Gal. 4. 4. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made

God's care for.

under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

I Jn. 3. 1.

Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!

595. Is God attentive, merciful and gracious to his people?

Ex. 20. 6. And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Dan. 9. 4.

Dt. 7. 9. The faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.

Dt. 32. 9. For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness: he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings; So the Lord alone did lead him.

Job 36.7. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous.

Ps. 103. 13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

Ps. 105. 12. When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it: When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Is. 49. 13. The Lord hath comforted his people, and