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Helping the Poor encouraged.

thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.-25: 35 If thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner: that he may live with thee.

Dt. 15: 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Dan. 4: 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

Jam. 1: 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 2: 1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly, a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

1 Jn. 3: 17 Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him.

[See 7, 687.]

527. Encouragements to help the poor.

Ps. 41: 1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the

In private and social worship.

earth and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

Ps. 112:9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.

Pr. 19: 17 He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

- 22: 9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Mat. 5: 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 25: 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungerd, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

[See 354, 408, 630, 686.]

PRAISE TO GOD.

528. Praising God in private and social worship required and exemplified. Ps. 9: 11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion, declare among the people his doings. 22: 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.—35: 18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. — 47: 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. 95: 1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 100: 1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. 107: 31 O that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. - 150: 1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in

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Praise should be devout- - Prayer important and necessary.

his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cimbals: praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Mat. 26: 30 When they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Ac. 16: 25 At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Heb. 13: 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. [Ps. 57: 7—11, and 92: 1—4, and 96: 1—4.] [See 747.]

529. Praise should be offered with a devout heart.

Ps. 111: 1 I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

1 Cor. 14: 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Ep. 5: 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Col. 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. [See 333.]

PRAYER.

530. Prayer an important and necessary duty.

Job. 42: 8 Take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

Is. 55: 6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.. -62: 6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day

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Important and necessary.

nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, 7 Aud give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Ezk. 36: 37 Thus saith the Lord Gon; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.

Mat. 5: 44 Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. 6: 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.-26: 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Lk. 18: 1 He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.

Ep. 6: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Ph. 4: 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Col. 4: 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

1 Th. 3: 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?-5: 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks.

1 Tim. 2: 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Heb. 4: 15 We have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Jam. 5: 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

Secret Prayer-Mental Prayer-Audible Prayer required.

1 Pet. 4: 7 The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. [See 64.]

531. Secret prayer required and exemplified.

Ps. 119: 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgments.

Mat. 6: 6 When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.—14: 23 When he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Mk. 1:35 In the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Lk. 5: 16 He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. [See 665.]

532. Mental prayer exemplified

1 S. 1: 12 It came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 13 Now Hannah she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Neh. 2: 4 The king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.

533. Prayer, verbal and audible, required and exemplified.

1 K. 8: 22 Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: 23 And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: 28 Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his

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