Required and commended.

20. Sportsmen.

Pr. 10: 23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief.

Ec. 7: 4 The heart of fools is in the house of mirth. [See 479.]

21. Warriors.

Job 5: 2 Wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

Pr. 12: 16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.· 14: 16 The fool rageth, and is confident. — 18: 6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.. 20: 3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. - 27: 3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty: but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

Ec. 7:9 Anger resteth in the bosom of fools. [See 735.]

FORBEARANCE.

201. Forbearance required and commended.

Pr. 19: 11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

1 Cor. 13: 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil: 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Ep. 4: 1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.

1 Pet. 2: 18 Servants, be subject to your masters, with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but con

Forbearance abused-Forgiveness required.

trariwise, blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

[See 203, 437-9, 498, 499, 737.]

202. Sinners abuse forbearance.

Ec. 8: 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

FORGIVENESS.

27 Then

203. Duty to forgive, as we hope to be forgiven — Threats to the implacable. Mat. 6: 12 Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 14 For, if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. - 18: 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not; but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do

also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his

brother their trespasses.

Mk. 11: 25 When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Lk. 6: 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.- 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother

True Friendship - Spurious Friendship.

trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Ep. 4: 32 Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you.

Col. 3: 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any : even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

[See 62, 539, 737.]

N. B. For Divine Forgiveness, see 583.

FRIENDSHIP.

204. True friendship desirable — how to make friends.

2 S. 1: 26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan : very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

Pr. 17: 17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.— 18: 24 A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. -19: 6 Many will entreat the favor of the prince and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 27: 9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. [See 737.] 205. Spurious friendship - Ingratitude.

Job 19: 14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. 19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

Ps. 38: 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.-55: 12 It was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Mat. 26: 56 Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

2 Tim. 4: 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. [See 701.]

How made known - a moral agent.

GOD.

206. Have mankind any intuitive knowledge of God?

Job 32: 8 There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Ac. 17: 28 In him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Rom. 1: 19 Because that which may be known of God; is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.-2: 14 When the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves. 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing, or else excusing one another. [See 394.]

207. God made known by his works.

Ps. 19: 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy work. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.-75: 1 Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks for that thy name is near, thy wondrous works declare.

Ac. 14: 17 He left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Rom. 1: 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.11: 36 Of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever.

Heb. 3: 4 Every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. Ps. 9 16.

208. God, a moral agent, with affections and passions.

Gen. 6: 6 It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Ps. 7: 11 God is angry with the wicked every day. 103: 13 As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that

His chief end. His regard for himself.

fear him.-147: 11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him.

Hos. 11: 8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my_repentings are kindled together.

Zep. 3: 17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy: he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Mat. 3: 17 This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

1 Jn. 4: 8 God is love. [See 223, 230, 238.]

209. God's chief end-his regard for himself.

Ps. 106: 8 He saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

Pr. 16: 4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Is. 42: 8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 43: 7 Even every one that is called by my name; for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him: yea, I have made him. 21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. 48: 11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

Ezk. 20: 9 I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen. - 36: 32 Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

1 Cor. 15: 28 When all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Col. 1: 16 All things were created by him and for him.

Rev. 4: 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were they created. [See 276—7, 570.]

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