Prone to deny Obligation and palliate Sin- Voluntary Ignorance and Blindness.

705. Sinners inclined to deny or resist obligation to God.

Ps. 2: 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his Anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. -12: 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

Mat. 25: 24 He which had received the one talent came, and eaid, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is thine. [See 22, 695.]

706. Sinners prone to deny or palliate their sins.

Gen. 3: 12 The man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me and I did eat.

1 S. 15: 13 Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 14 And Samuel said, what meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

Pr. 14: 9 Fools make a mock at sin.

Jer. 7: 9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods, whom ye know not; 10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

Mat. 25: 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? [See 272, 373.]

707. Voluntary ignorance, blindness, and infatuation of sinners.

Job 5: 14 They meet with darkness in the day-time, and grope in the noon-day as in the night. 12: 25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

Ps. 50: 17 Thou hatest instruction, and castest my words

Their voluntary ignorance and blindness.

behind thee. - 21: Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself. 58: 4 They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; 5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.-82: 5 They know not, neither will they understand: they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

Pr. 1: 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. -4: 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Jer. 17: 23 They obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.—32: 33 They have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.

Dan. 12: 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Zec. 7:11 They refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. 12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

Jn. 3: 19 This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 17: 25 O righteous Father, the world hath not

known thee.

Ac. 26: 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in

me.

Rom. 1: 21 When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.

M

1 Cor. 2: 14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the

Inclined to unbelief.

Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Ep. 4: 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.

1 Jn. 4:8 He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. [See 26, 693.]

708. Sinners inclined to theoretical and practical unbelief- Threats.

Num. 14: 11 The LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

me,

Ps. 10: 11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. 13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, thou wilt not require it.—73: 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?-94: 5 They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thy heritage. 6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

Ezk. 8: 12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

Zep. 1: 12 I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.

Mk. 6: 6 He marvelled because of their unbelief. — 16: 16 He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned.

Jn. 3: 18 He that believeth not, is condemned already. 36 He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. 5: 44 How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?— 8: 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 16: 8 When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me. Rom. 11: 20 Because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.

Their idleness-their presumption.

Heb. 3: 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. [See 22, 568.]

709. Idleness of sinners.

Ezk. 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Mat. 20: 6 About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 25: 18 He that had received one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Lk. 13:6 He spake also this parable: A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground? [See 358.]

710. Presumption and procrastination of sinners. — death put für away

Ps. 49: 11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

Pr. 24: 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.

Is. 28: 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves. -56: 12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

Sobriety required - Steadfastness required.

Am. 6: 3 Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near.

Lk. 12:19 I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be

merry.

Ac. 24: 25 As he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. [See 22, 479, 726-7.]

N. B. For other characteristics of sinners, especially for their vices, see "Threats of Evil," in the Index.

SOBRIETY AND GRAVITY.

711. Sobriety and gravity required.

Tit. 2: 11 The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

1 Pet. 1: 13 Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ: 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation: -4: 7 The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. -5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. [See 479.]

STEADFASTNESS.

ye

712. Steadfastness and firmness required.

1 Cor. 15: 58 My beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 16: 13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.. Ph. 1: 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel: : 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries.

4:1.