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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 me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

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.

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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 far 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 for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. [See 22, 479, 726-7.]

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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.]

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STEADFASTNESS.

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 ye 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.

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Stealing forbidden -Punishment of.

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Col. 1: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel. 2: 5 Though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

2 Tim. 1: 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Heb. 10: 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.

1 Pet. 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith.

2 Pet. 3: 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

[See 187, 364.]

STEALING.

713. Stealing forbidden.

Ex. 20: 15 Thou shalt not steal.

Lev. 19: 11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.

Ep. 4: 28 Let him that stole, steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

1 Pet. 4: 15 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other men's

matters.

714. Punishment of stealing-Threats.

Ex. 21: 16 He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

Jos. 7: 11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any

Duty to Strangers.

more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. 15 It shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

Hos. 4: 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. 3 Therefore, shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

1 Cor. 6: 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

STRANGERS.

715. Justice, kindness and hospitality to strangers required.

Ex. 22: 21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. -23: 9 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers- in the land of Egypt.

Lev. 19: 10 Thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God. 33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. 34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Dt. 1: 16 I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. 10: 18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. 19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Job 31: 32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.

Mat. 25: 35 I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in.

Heb. 13: 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. [See 354.]

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