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Ministers encouraged.

for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israe are impudent and hard-hearted.

Jn. 12: 37 Though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Ac. 13: 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. [See 435.]

470. Faithful ministers encouraged and rewarded by God.

Jer. 1:18 For behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.-15: 19 Thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. 20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.

Ezk. 3: 8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 As an adamant, harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

Mat. 28: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Lk. 6: 22 Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of

Ministers to be prayed for-Ministerial Support.

man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven.- -21: 15 I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

2 Tim. 4: 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. [See 630.]

471. Faithful ministers to be prayed for.

Ep. 6: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.

1 Th. 5: 25 Brethren, pray for us.

2 Th. 3: 1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you; 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

472. Faithful ministers should be supported.

Num. 18: 21 Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Mal. 3: 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house.

Mat. 10: 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses; 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: (for the workman is worthy of his meat.)

Jn. 13: 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me.

1 Cor. 9: 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple, and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. Gal. 6: 6 Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

1 Th. 5: 12 We beseech you, brethren, to know them which

Numerous - deceitful.

labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

1 Tim. 5: 17 Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.

MINISTERS OF SATAN.

473. False and unfaithful ministers numerous.

1 K. 18: 22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

Jer. 10: 21 The pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

Mat. 7: 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then I will profess unto them I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.—24: 5 Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 1 Jn. 4: 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2 Jn. 7 Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver, and an antichrist.

474. False and unfaithful ministers deceitful.

Jer. 6: 14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Ezk. 13: 10 They have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar. 18 Wo to the women that sew pillows to all arm-holes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every statue to hunt souls! 22 Because with lies ye have

made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way by promising him life.

Cruel, dangerous and despicable.

Mat. 7: 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.24: 11 Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 24 There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Rom. 16: 17 I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

2 Cor. 11: 13 Such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Ep. 4: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

2 Tim. 3: 13 Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Tit. 1: 10 There are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

2 Pet. 2: 3 Through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. [See 15, 198, 702.]

475. False and unfaithful teachers cruel, dangerous and despicable·

Threats.

Is. 3: 12 O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.-9: 15 The ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. 16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

Jer. 23: 1 Wo be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. 2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the

Cruel, dangerous and despicable

evil of your doings, saith the LORD. 14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. 15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. 32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.

Ezk. 13: 22 With lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.—22: 25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. 26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned my holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. 28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. 31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD. -34: 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Wo be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. 4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold,

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