Spurious Faith and Religion.

praise. 13 They soon forgat his works, they waited not for his counsel.

Is. 29: 13 This people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men. 58: 2 They seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice: they take delight in approaching to God. 3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?

Jer. 3: 10 Her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord.

Ezk. 33: 31 They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

Mat. 13: 20 He that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth

it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended-15: 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Jn. 6: 26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

Ac. 8: 13 Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Rom. 10: 2 I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

1 Cor. 13: 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Gal. 1: 13 Ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted

Directions for-exemplified

the church of God, and wasted it; 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. -5: 6 In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

2 Tim. 3: 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Jam. 2: 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

[See 194, 333, 411, 609, 623, 689, 702, 704.]

192. Directions for fusting.

FASTING.

Is. 58: 4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Mat. 6: 16 When ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men, to fast, but unto thy Father, which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

193. Fasting exemplified.

Ezra 8: 21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.

Exemplified.

23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.

Dan. 9: 3 I set my face unto the Lord GOD, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. Jonah 3: 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? 10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Mat. 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterwards an hungered.

Lk. 2: 36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Ac. 10: 30 Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting unto this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard.—13: 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 14: 23 When they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord.

11: 27 In

2 Cor. 6: 5 In labors, in watchings, in fastings.. weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Spurious Fasting-Female industry.

194. Spurious fasting.

Is. 58: 3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors. 4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

Zec. 7:5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? 6 And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?

Lk. 18: 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

[See 191, 411, 609, 623, 689.]

FEMALES.

195. Female industry and enterprize.

Pr. 31: 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandize is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

Ac. 9: 39 And all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

Female sympathy-Subordination.

196. Female piety, sympathy, and kindness.

Pr. 31: 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Mat. 27: 55 Many women were there (beholding afar off) which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

Mk. 12: 43 He called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily, I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury. 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance: but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Lk. 24: 1 Upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them.

197. Female subordination and speaking.

Gen. 3: 16 Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Num. 30: 13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.

1 Cor. 11: 3 I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman, but the woman for the man. 13 Judge in yourselves: Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But

if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is