Graphautarkeia, or, The Scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated wherein whatsoever is contain'd in Scripture, respecting doctrine, worship or manners is reduced to its proper head, weighty cases resolved, truths confirmed, difficult texts illustrated and explained by others more plain.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Duties of Saints, Believers, Brethren in the Lord, each to other, as such, and as standing in that relation one to another. (Book 17)

1st. To love one another; the kinds of it.

THou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self: I am the Lord, Levit. 19. 18.

My goodness extends not unto thee: but to the saints who are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight, Psal. 16. 2, 3.

I am a companion of all them who fear thee, &c. Psal. 119. 63.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, then a stalled ox, where hatred is, Prov. 15. 17.

Love is as strong as death, &c many waters cannot quench love, Cant. 8. 6, 7.

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self: on these two commandments hang all the law and the Prophets, Matt. 22. 39, 40.

The love of many shall wax cold, Matt. 24. 12.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another: by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another, John 13. 34, 35.

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you, Joh. 15. 12, 13, 17.

We being many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another, &c. let love be without dissimulation, &c. be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love (or, in the love of the brethren) Rom. 12. 5, 9, 10. 1 Cor. 12. 13, 25, 27.

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he who loveth another, hath fulfilled the law, &c. it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, Rom. 13. 8, 9, 10. Gal. 5. 13, 14.

Though I speak with the tongue of men or angels, &c. have the gift of prophesie, &c. have all faith, &c. 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: charity suffereth long, &c. charity never faileth, &c. 1 Cor. 13. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13.

Follow after charity, 1 Cor. 14. 1.

Let all your things be done with charity, 1 Cor. 16. 14.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, &c. for ye are all one in Christ Jesus, Gal. 3. 28.

The sruit of the spirit is love, &c. Gal. 5. 22.

Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, &c. Ephes. 5. 2.

I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledg, &c. Phil. 1. 9.

Having the same love, &c. look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Phil. 2. 2, 4.

We give thanks, &c. since we heard, &c. of the love which ye have unto all saints, Col. 1. 3, 4. Ephes. 1. 15.

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, Col. 2. 1, 2.

Above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness, Col. 3. 14.

The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another, 1 Thes. 3. 12.

As touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you: for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another, &c. that ye increase more, 1 Thes. 4. 9, 10.

We are bound to thank God, &c. because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth, 2 Thes. 1. 3.

Now the end of the commandment is, love out of a pure heart, 1 Tim. 1. 5.

Follow, &c. love, 2 Tim. 2. 22.

I thank my God, &c. hearing of thy love, &c. toward all saints, Philem. v. 4, 5.

God is not unrighteous to forget your work, and labour of love which ye have shewed towards his name, in that ye have ministred to the saints, and do, Heb. 6. 10.

Let brotherly love continue, Heb 13. 1.

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self, ye do well, James 2. 8.

If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, &c. this wis∣dom descendeth not from above, &c. James 3. 14, 15, 16.

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit, unto unseigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart servently, 1 Pet. 1. 22.

Love the brotherhood, 1 Pet. 2. 17.

Finally, &c. love as brethren, (or, loving to brethren), 1 Pet. 3. 8.

And above all things, have fervent charity among your selves, 1 Pet. 4. 8.

Add, &c. to brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, charity, 2 Pet. 1. 7.

He who saith, he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now: he who loveth his brother, abideth in the light, 1 John 2. 9, 10, 11.

Is not of God, neither he who loveth not his brother: for this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, &c. We know that we are passed from death to life, because we love the brethren, &c. we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren; let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth, 1 John 3. 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19.

Let us love one another: for love is of God, and every one who loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God: he who loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love, &c. if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another, &c. if any man say he loveth God, and hateth his brother, he is a lyar, &c. this com∣mandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also, 1 John 4. 7, 8, 11, 12, 20, 21. 2 Epist. Joh. v. 5.

2dly, From love, to sympathize with each other in pity and compassion, help and com∣fort one another, and bear one anothers burthen: have mutual care.

The children of Israel (when they had in battel cut off the Benjamites, they bemoan them) lift up their voices and wept sore: and said, O Lord God of Israel, Why is this come to pass in Israel, that their should be to day one tribe lack∣ing in Israel, &c? and it repented them for Benjamin their brother: and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day: How shall we do for wives for them, &c? Judges 21. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

With the merciful thou wilt shew thy self merciful, 2 Sam. 22. 26. Psal. 18. 25.

Thus saith the Lord of Host, &c. shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother, and oppress not the widow, Zech. 7. 9, 10.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy, Mat. 5. 7.

Come ye blessed, &c. I was hungry, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me, &c. Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me, Mat. 25. 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40.

In the parable of the man who fell among the thieves: one looked upon the wounded man, and another did so: but a certain Samaritan saw him, had compassion on him, bound up his wounds, &c. He who shewed mercy was his neighbour: Go and do thou likewise, Luke 10. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37.

I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art con∣verted, strengthen thy brethren, Luke 22. 32.

Rejoyce with them who do rejoyce, and weep with them who weep: Be of the same mind one towards another, Rom. 12. 15, 16.

We then who are strong, ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please our selves: Let every one of us please his neighbour, for his good to edification, Rom. 15. 1, 2. 1 Cor. 8. 1.

To the weak, became I as weak, that I might gain the weak, &c. 1 Cor. 9. 22.

Let no man seek his own, but every man anothers wealth, &c. As I please all men, 1 Cor. 10. 24, 33.

By one spirit are we all baptized into one body, &c. that the members should have the same care one of another: and whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: or one member be honoured, all the members rejoyce with it. Now are ye the body of Christ, and members in particu∣lar, 1 Cor. 12. 12, 13, 18, 25, 26, 27.

Charity, &c. seeketh not her own, 1 Cor. 13. 4, 5.

Blessed be God, &c. the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us, &c. that we may be able to comfort them who are in

any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God, 2 Cor. 1. 3, 4.

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 2 Cor. 11. 29.

Bear ye one anothers burthens, and so fulfil the law of Christ, Gal. 6. 1, 2.

We are members one of another, &c. Be ye kind one to another, tender∣hearted, Eph. 4. 25, 32.

Put on therefore (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) bowels of mercy, kindness, &c. Col. 3. 12.

Comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, 1 Thes. 5. 14.

Ye endured a great fight of afflictions, &c. by reproaches and afflictions, and partly whilest ye became companions of them who were so used: for ye had compassion on me in my bonds, Heb. 10. 32, 33, 34.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained Angels, &c. Remember them who are in bonds, as bound with them, and them who suffer adversity, as being your selves also in the body, Heb. 13. 2, 3.

Pure religion, &c. is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affli∣ctions, James 1. 27.

The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy, James 5. 11.

Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, &c. Be pitiful, &c. 1 Pet. 3. 8.

Whoso hath this worlds goods, and seeth his brother hath need, and shut∣teth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John 3. 17.

He shall have judgment without mercy who hath shewed no mercy: and mercy rejoyceth against judgment, James 2. 13.

See this duty in time of affliction, or persecution, Chap. 22.

3dly, To honour and respect each other: and be kind and affectionate.

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle, &c? he in whose eyes a vile person is contemned: But he honoureth them who fear the Lord, Psal. 15. 1, 4.

My goodness extendeth not unto thee, but to the Saints who are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight, Psal. 16. 2, 3.

When Christ had washed his Disciples feet; he said, If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one anothers feet, Joh. 13. 12, 13, 14, 15.

Be kindly affectionate one to another, with brotherly love: in honour pre∣ferring one another, Rom. 12. 10. Eph. 4. 32. 2 Pet. 1. 7.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind, 1 Cor. 13. 4.

As we have opportunity let us do good unto all men: especially to them who are of the houshold of faith, Gal. 6. 10.

Submitting your selves one to another in the fear of God, Eph. 5. 21.

Salute every Saint in Christ Jesus, &c. all the Saints salute you, Phil. 4. 21, 22.

Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus, &c. with respect of persons: For, &c. James 2. 1.

Use hospitality one to another without grudgings, 1 Pet. 4. 9.

We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren, 1 John 3. 16.

Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory: but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves, Phil. 2. 3.

4dly, Not rashly, easily and unadvisedly take up a prejudice against any; believe reports, take offence or be angry; but tenderly to forgive, cover faults, restore such as have offended, in meekness, love and privacy.

Noah was uncovered: Ham saw his fathers nakedness, and told his two brethren without, and Shem and Japhet took a garment and laid it upon their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father, &c. and they saw not their fathers nakedness, &c. Gen. 9. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.

When Joseph had told his dream, his brethren envied him: but his father ob∣served the saying, Gen. 37. 8, 9, 10, 11.

Thou shalt not raise (or, receive) a false report, Exod. 23. 1.

When the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh had built an Altar to a good end; the rest of their brethren heard of it, and presently concludes it to be a turning away from the Lord; and they resolve rashly to go to war against them, Joshua 22. 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, &c.

When Absolom designed his rebellion, there went two hundred men out of Jerusalem with him, and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing, 2 Sam. 15. 10, 11.

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle, &c? he who backbiteth not, &c. nor taketh up (or, receiveth, or endureth) a reproach against his neighbour, Psal. 15. 1, 3.

The Lord is merciful, &c. slow to anger, Psal. 103. 8.

Hatred stirreth up strife: but love covereth all sins, &c. He who uttereth a slander is a fool, Prov. 10. 12, 18.

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his goings, &c. He who is soon angry, dealeth foolishly, Prov. 14. 15, 17.

He who covereth a transgression, seeketh love (or, procureth love), Prov. 17. 9.

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

All who watch for iniquity are cut off: Who make a man an offender for a word, Isa. 29. 21, 22.

Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment, Mat. 5. 22.

If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, &c. Mat. 6. 14, 15.

Judg not, that ye be not judged, &c. Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye, but considerest not the beam which is in thine own eye? or how w•…•…t thou say to thy brother, let me pull out, &c? Mat. 7. 1, 3, 4.

If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between him and thee al•…•…ne: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother, &c. Peter said, L•…•…rd, h•…•…w ost shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till s•…•…ven times? Jesus said, unto him, I say not unto thee, until se∣ven times, but •…•…ntil seventy times-seven, &c. I forgave thee all that debt, &c. Shouldest thou not also have had compassion on thy f•…•…llow-servant, even as I had pity on thee, &c. and his Lord was wrath, &c. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their tr•…•…spasses, Mat. 18. 15, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35.

If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him: If he trespass against thee seven times a day, &c. thou shalt forgive him, Luke 17. 3, 4.

Judg not according to the appearance, but judg righteous judgment, Joh. 7. 24.

The believers of the circumcision rashly judged of Peter, and contended with him for eating with the Gentiles: But when Peter gave them an account of the cause, they held their peace, &c. Acts 11. 1, 2, 3, 4, 18.

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, Rom. 13. 10.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should he judged of you, or of mans judgment (or, day), &c. Judg nothing before the time, until the Lord come; who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, &c. 1 Cor. 4. 3, 4, 5.

Charity suffereth long, &c. seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, &c. beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, 1 Cor. 13. 4, 5, 7.

In malice be ye children, 1 Cor. 14. 20.

The fruit of the spirit is, &c. long-suffering, gentleness, &c. meekness, Gal. 5. 22, 23.

Brethren, if (or, although) a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual re∣store such a one in the spirit of meekness: considering thy self, lest thou also be tempted: Bear ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ, Gal. 6. 1, 2.

Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-fuffering, forbearing one another in love, &c. Be tender∣hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you, Eph. 4. 1, 2, 32.

But now you also put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, &c. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, &c. bowels of mercies, &c. meekness, long-suffering, forbear∣ing one another, and forgiving one another. If any man have a complaint (or, quar∣rel) against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye, Col. 3. 8, 12, 13.

Let every man be, &c. slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God, James 1. 19, 20.

Speak not evil one of another, brethren, for he who speaketh evil of his

brother speaketh evil of the Law, &c. Who art thou who judgest another? James 4. 11, 12.

Above all things have fervent charity among your selves: for Charity shall (or, will) cover the multitude of sins, 1 Pet. 4. 8.

5lthy, To live peaceably among themselves: avoid whispering, tale-bearing, and whatsoever tends to provoke, divide, or disturb the peace among them.

Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee, &c. for we be brethren, &c. If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou to the right hand, then will I go to the left, Gen. 13. 8, 9.

Thou shalt not raise (or, receive) a false Prophet, Exod. 23. 1.

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle, &c? he who backbiteth not with his tongue, &c. nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour, Psal. 15. 1, 3.

Seek peace and pursue it, Psal. 34. 14.

It was not an enemy who reproached me, then could I have born it; but thou, a man, mine equal, &c. We walked unto the house of God in company, Psal. 55. 12, 13, 14.

Whosoever privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off, Psal. 101. 5.

I am for peace, &c. they for war, Psal. 120. 7.

These things doth the Lord hate, &c. him who soweth discord among bre∣thren, Prov. 6. 16, 19.

A tale-bearer revealeth secrets: but he who is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter, Prov. 11. 13.

Only by pride comes contention, Prov. 13. 10.

A whisperer separateth chief friends, Prov. 16. 28.

He who repeateth the matter, separateth friends, &c. the beginning of strife, is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention before it be medled with, Prov. 17. 9, 14.

The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, Prov. 18. 8.

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife, &c. He who goeth about as a tale-bearer, revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him who flat∣tereth, Prov. 20. 3, 19.

Where there is no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth, Prov. 26. 20.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Amos 3. 3.

Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God, Matth. 5. 9.

Every kingdom divided against it self, is brought to desolation, Matth. 12. 25.

If thy brother shall trespass, &c. go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone, Matth. 18. 15.

One is your Master, Christ, and all ye are brethren, Matth. 23. 8.

Have peace one with another, Mark 9. 50.

If it be possible, as much as lyeth in you, live peaceably with all men, Rom. 12. 18.

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edifie another, Rom. 14. 19.

Ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envyings, and strifes, and divisions (or, factions), are ye not carnal, and walk as men? for while one saith, I am of Paul, &c. are ye not carnal? 1 Cor. 3. 3, 4.

Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one who shall be able to judg between his brethren? but brother goeth to law with brother, &c. now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law, &c. 1 Cor. 6. 5, 6, 7.

Charity envieth not, 1 Cor. 13. 4.

For I fear, &c. lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, &c. 2 Cor. 12. 20.

Brethren, &c. live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you, 2 Cor. 13. 11.

If ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not consumed one of another, &c. The fruit of the Spirit is, &c. peace, long-suffering, gentleness, &c. Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one ano∣ther, Gal. 5. 15, 22, 26.

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace: one bo∣dy, &c. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, &c. be put a∣way from you, Ephes. 4. 3, 4, 5, 6, 31.

Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory, &c. Phil. 2. 3.

That ye study to be quiet, and do your own business, &c. 1 Thes. 4. 11.

Be at peace among your selves, 1 Thes. 5. 13.

They learn to be idle, wandring about from house to house; and not only idle, but talkers also, and busie-bodies: speaking things which they ought not, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Tim. 5. 13.

Doting about questions and strifes of words: whereof cometh envy, strife, railing, &c. 1 Tim. 6. 4, 20.

Follow peace with them who call on the Lord, &c. but foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes, 2 Tim. 2. 22, 23.

The aged women, &c. that they be not false-accusers (or, make-bates), Titus 2. 3.

Avoid foolish questions, &c. and contentions, and strivings about the Law: for they, &c. Titus 3. 9.

Follow peace with all men, Heb. 12. 14.

If ye have bitter envyings and strife in your hearts: glory not, &c. This wisdom is not from above, &c. for where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work: But the wisdom which is from above, is, &c. peaceable, gentle, and easie to be entreated, &c. And the fruits of righteousness is sown in peace of them who make peace, James 3. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

Whence comes wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts, &c? speak not evil one of another, brethren, James 4. 1, 11.

Wherefore laying aside all malice, &c. and envyings, and evil speakings, 1 Pet. 2. 1.

Whose adoning, let it not be that outward, &c. but the hidden man, &c. of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price, &c. not ren∣dring evil for evil, or railings: He who will love life, and see good days, &c. let him seek peace and ensue it, 1 Pet. 3. 3, 4, 9, 10, 11.

6thly, To rebuke, reprove, exhort, admonish, and warn each other for, and about sin, and their duty. And to take such rebukes, &c. well and kindly from each other.

1st To rebuke, &c.

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: Thou shalt in any wise re∣buke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him (or, that thou bear not sin for him), Lev. 19. 17.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, and discover not a secret to another, &c. As an ear-ring of gold, &c. so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear, Prov. 25. 9, 12.

Open rebuke is better than secret love, Prov. 27. 5.

He who rebuketh a man, afterwards shall find more favour than he who flat∣tereth with the tongue, Prov. 28. 23.

If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone, &c. If he will not hear thee, then take one or two more, &c. Matth. 18. 15, 16, 17. Luke 17. 3, 4.

Ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledg: able to admonish one another, Rom. 15. 4.

Paul rebuked Peter for not walking uprightly, Gal. 2: 11, 12, 13, 14.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, &c. teaching and admonishing one another, Col. 3. 16.

Comfort (or, exhort) your selves together, and edifie one another, even as also ye do, &c. Warn them who are unruly (or disorderly), comfort the feeble-mind∣ed, 1 Thes. 5. 11, 14.

If any man obey not, &c. have no company with him, &c. but admonish him as a brother, 2 Thes. 3. 14, 15.

Rebuke not an Elder, but intreat him as a father, and the younger men as bre∣thren: the elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, &c. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear, 1 Tim. 5. 1, 2, 20.

Exhort one another daily, &c. lest any of you be hardned through the decitsul∣ness of sin, Heb. 3. 12, 13.

Let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and good works: not for∣saking the assemblings of your selves, &c. but exhorting one another, Heb. 10. 24, 25.

Brethren, if any one of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he, &c. shall save a soul from death, and shall hide, &c. James 5. 19, 20.

Of some have compassion, making a difference; and others save with fear, pul∣ling them out of the fire: hating even the garment spotted by the flesh, Jude, verse 20. 22, 23.

See Discipline. Chap. 27.

To take rebuke, admonition, &c. well from each other.

When David had rashly resolved to cut off all Nabals family: and Abigail had met him, and humbly and wisely admonished him: David accepts of the advice, and saith, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who sent thee this day to meet me: and blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou who hast kept me this day from shedding of blood, &c. I have hearkned to thy voice, 1 Sam. 25. 22, 23, 24, 25, to the 35.

When Nathan had told David his sin in the matter of Uriah: David said, I have sinned against the Lord, 2 Sam. 12. 7, 13.

When Joab had told the King of his errour in mourning so for Absalom, as to discourage his subjects who had fought for him; David hearkned and arose, and sate in the gate, as Joab advised, 2 Sam. 19. 5, 6, 7, 8.

Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it shall be as excellent oyl, which shall not break my head, Psal. 141. 5.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning, Prov. 1. 5.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee: give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser, &c. Prov. 9. 8, 9.

He is in the way of life who keepeth instruction: but he who refuseth re∣proof, erreth (or, causeth to err), Prov. 10. 17.

Whosoever loveth instruction, loveth knowledg: but he who hateth re∣proof, is brutish, &c. he who hearkneth unto counsel, is wise, Prov. 12. 1, 15.

A wise son heareth his fathers instruction: but a scorner heareth not re∣buke, &c. Poverty and shame to him who refuseth instruction: but he who regardeth reproof shall be honoured, Prov. 13. 1, 18.

A fool despiseth his fathers instruction: but he who regardeth reproof is prudent, &c. He who hateth reproof shall die, &c. A scorner loveth not one who reproveth, &c. The ear which heareth reproof of life, abideth among the wise: He who refuseth instruction, despiseth his own soul, &c. Prov. 15. 5, 10, 12, 31, 32.

A reproof entreth more into a wise man, than an hundred stripes into a fool, Prov. 17. 10.

As an ear-ring of gold, &c. so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear, Prov. 25. 12.

He who being often reproved, hardneth his neck, shall suddenly be de∣stroyed, and that without remedy, &c. The rod and reproof gives wisdom, Prov. 29. 1, 15.

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Gal. 4. 16.

Submit your selves one to another in the fear of God, Ephes. 5. 21.

Ye younger submit your selves unto the elder; yea, all of you be subject one to another: and be clothed with humility, 1 Pet. 5. 5.

7thly, To confess sin to, and pray each for other.

When a man or woman shall commit any sin, that men commit, to do a tres∣pass against the Lord, &c. then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompence his trespass, &c. and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed, Numb. 5. 6, 7.

And many who believed, came and confessed, and shewed their deeds, &c. Acts 19. 18, 19.

Paul confesseth, that beyond measure he persecuted the Church of God, and wasted it, &c. Gal. 1. 13. 1 Tim. 1. 12, 13.

Confess your fault one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed, Jam. 5. 16.

If a man see his brother sin a sin not unto death; he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them who sin not unto death, 1 John 5. 16.

8thly, To be of one mind.

Behold, how good, and how pleasant is it for brethren to dwell together in U∣nity! like the precious ointment upon the head, &c. Psal. 133. 1, 2.

Christ prays that they may be kept, that they may be one as we are, &c. Joh. 19. 11, 12.

And the multitude of them who believed were of one heart, and of one soul, &c. Acts 4. 32.

We being many, are one body in Christ; and every one members one of ano∣ther, &c. Be of the same mind one towards another, Rom. 12. 5, 16.

Now the God, &c. grant you to be like-minded one towards another accord∣ing to Christ Jesus, that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God, even the father, Rom. 15. 5, 6.

I beseech you brethren, &c. that ye all speak the same things: and that there be no division, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment, 1 Cor. 1. 10, 12.

Whereas there is among you, &c. divisions: Are ye not carnal, &c? One faith, I am of Paul, &c. 1 Cor. 3. 3, 4.

When ye come together in the Church, I hear there be divisions among you, &c. 1 Cor. 11. 18, 23.

Finally brethren, &c. be of one mind, 2 Cor. 13. 11.

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, &c. one body, and one spirit, Ephes. 4. 3, 4, 5.

That ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith, Phil. 1. 27.

If therefore there be any consolation in Christ, &c. fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, &c. being of one accord, of one mind: let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory, &c. Phil. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing, Phil. 3. 16.

I beseech Euodias, &c. that they be of the same mind in the Lord, Phil. 4. 2.

Finally, be all of one mind, 1 Pet. 3. 8.

9thly, To walk wisely and charitably one towards another: and in things indifferent to have respect to the meek; to avoid offenoes.

The Pharisees would have accused the disciples for plucking corn, and Christ for healing a withered hand on the Sabbath day, till he said unto them, Which of you having one sheep, &c. fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out, &c? it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day, Matth. 12. 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12. Luke 6. 1, 2, &c.

Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me, it were better that a milstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the midst of the sea. Wo unto the world because of offences: for it must needs be that offences come, but wo to that man by whom the offence cometh, Mat. 18, 6, 7. Luk. 17. 1, 2.

His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry: But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given: for there are fome Eunuchs which were so born, &c. and there are some Eunuchs who have made themselves, &c. He who is able to receive it, let him, Matth. 19. 10, 11, 12.

Jesus said, I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now: howbeit when he, the spirit of truth is come, he will guide, John 16. 12, 13.

Him who is weak receive, but not with doubtful disputations (or, not to judg his doubtful thoughts): for one believeth that he may eat all things; another who is weak eateth herbs: let not him who eateth, despise him who eateth not; and let not him who eateth not, judg him who eateth; for God hath received him, &c. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike; let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind; he who observeth a day, observeth it to the Lord, &c. Why dost thou judg thy brother? why dost thou set at nought thy brother, &c? Let us not therefore judg one another any more, but judg this ra∣ther, that no man put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in his brothers way. I know, &c. that there is nothing unclean of it self; but to him who esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. And if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably, &c. Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace, &c. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence; it is good neither to eat flesh, &c. whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or made weak, &c. he who doubteth is damned if he eat, &c. for whatsoever is not of faith, is sin, Rom. 14. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 23.

We then who are strong, ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please our selves: let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to e∣dification, Rom. 15. 1, 2, 3.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to •…•…ear it, neither yet now are ye able to bear it, 1 Cor. 3. 1, 2.

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient (or, profitable): all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any, &c. 1 Cor. 6. 12. chap. 10. 23.

I would that all men were even as I my self: but every man hath his proper gift of God; one after this manner, &c. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised; and is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised; Circumcision is nothing, &c. 1 Cor. 7. 7, 18, 19.

We know that an Idol is nothing in the world, &c. howbeit, there is not in every man that knowledg: for some with conscience of the Idol unto this hour, eat it as a thing offered to Idols, and their conscience being weak, is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God, &c. Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to them who are weak: for if any man see thee who hast knowledg sit at meat in the Idols temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak, be emboldned to eat those things which are offered to Idols, and through thy knowledg shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ died? but when ye sin so against the weak brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ; wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend, 1 Cor. 8. 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made my self a servant unto all, that I might gain the more: and unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jew, &c. To the weak became I as weak, &c. I am made all things unto all men, that I might by all means save some, &c. 1 Cor. 9. 19, 20, 21, 22.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient, &c. all things edifie not: let no man seek his own, but every man anothers wealth: whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake, for the earth is the Lords, &c. If any of them who believe not, bid you, and ye be dis∣posed to go, whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto thee, this is offered in sacrifice unto Idols: eat not for his sake who shewed it, and for conscience sake, &c. conscience, I say; not thine own, but of the others, &c. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God; even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many that they may be saved, 1 Cor. 10. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33. chap. 11. 1.

Charity seeketh not her own, 1 Cor. 13. 4, 5.

Let all your things be done with charity, 1 Cor. 16. 14.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others: let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Phil. 2. 4, 5.

Let us therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise-minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing, Phil. 3. 15, 16.

Let no man therefore judg you, in meat or in drink (or, in eating or in drinking)

or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath, which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is of Christ, Col. 2. 16, 17.

We exhort you brethren, &c. comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men, 1 Thes. 5. 14.

Neither give heed to fables, &c. which minister questions rather than godly edifying, which is in faith: now the end of the commandment is charity, &c. 1 Tim. 1. 4, 5.

Some shall depart from the faith, &c. forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received, &c. 1 Tim. 4. 3, 4, 5.

Unto the pure all things are pure, Tit. 1. 15.

When Paul was writing many things concerning Christ, he said, Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing, &c. ye are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat, &c. strong meat belongs unto them who are of full age, Heb. 5. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats which have not profited them who have been occupied therein, Heb. 13. 9.

I will put upon you no other burden; but that which ye have already, hold fast till I come, Rev. 2. 24, 25.

10thly, To distribute, and communicate to one anothers necessities: give to the poor.

If thou lend money to any of my people who is poor by thee, thou shalt not be unto them as an usurer; neither shalt thou lay upon him usury, &c. Exod. 22. 25, 26.

When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy fields, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, &c. Thou shalt leave them for the poor and the stranger. I am the Lord your God, Lev. 19. 9, 10.

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethen, within any of thy gates, &c. thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand against thy poor brother: but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he want∣eth. Beware that there be not a thought (or, word) in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand, and thine eye be evil against thy brother, and thou givest him nought, and he cry unto the Lord a∣gainst thee, and it be sin unto thee: 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 work, &c. for the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, &c. Deut. 15. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

If I have withheld from the poor their desire, &c. or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless have not eaten thereof, &c. If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering: If his loins have not blessed me, &c. Job 31. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

The righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth, &c. He is ever merciful and lendeth, Psal. •…•…7. 21, 26.

Blessed is he who considereth the poor (or, weak): the Lord will deliver him, Psal. 41. 1.

A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth, &c. He hath dispersed, he hath given unto the poor, &c. Psal. 112. 5, 9.

Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee, Prov. 3. 28.

There is who scattereth, and yet increaseth, &c. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he who watereth shall be watered also himself, Prov. 11. 24, 25.

He who hath mercy on the poor, happy is he, &c. He who oppresseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker: but he who honoureth him, hath mercy on the poor, Prov. 14. 21, 31.

He who hath pity on the poor, lendeth unto the Lord: and that which he hath given, will he pay him again, Prov. 19. 17.

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard, Prov. 21. 13.

He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed: for he giveth of his bread to the poor, Prov. 22. 9.

He who giveth unto the poor shall not lack, Prov. 28. 27.

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight, &c. Eccles. 11. 1, 2, 3.

Is not this the fast that I have chosen, &c? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor which are cast out, to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thy self from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, &c. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfie the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in obscurity, &c. Isa. 58. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

I have desired mercy, and not sacrifice, Hosea 6. 6.

Give to him who asketh thee; and from him who would borrow of thee, turn not away, Mat. 5. 42.

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them, &c. when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, &c. that they may have glory of men, &c. But when thou doest thine alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth, Mat. 6. 1, 2, 3.

Ask, and it shall be given you, Mat. 7. 7.

Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones, a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, He shall in no wise lose his reward, Mat. 10. 42. Mark 9. 41.

Christ shall say, I was an hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye cloth∣ed me, &c. when saw we thee an hungry, &c? Inasmuch as ye have done it

to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me, &c. Mat. 25. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, &c.

The poor widow threw in two mites, &c. Jesus said, This poor widow hath cast more in than all they, &c. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all she had, Mark 12. 42, 43, 44. Luke 21. 1, 2, 3, 4.

When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed, for they cannot recompence thee: for thou shalt be recompenced at the resurrection of the just, Luke 14. 13, 14.

Sell all that thou hast, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, Luke 18. 22.

The multitude of them who believed, were of one heart, &c. neither said any of them, that ought of the things which he possessed, was his own, but they had all things common, &c. Acts 4. 32, 34.

Cornelius a devout man, &c. who gave much alms to the people, &c. thy prayer and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God, Acts 10. 1, 2, 4.

Then the Disciples every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea, Acts 11. 29.

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring, ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of our Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give, than to receive, Acts 20. 35.

He who giveth, let him do it with simplicity (or, liberality): he who sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness, &c. distributing to the necessity of the saints: given to hospitality, &c. Rom. 12. 8, 13. ch. 16. 1, 2.

It hath pleased them of Macedonia, &c. to make a certain contribution for the poor Saints, which are at Jerusalem, Rom. 15. 26.

Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, 1 Cor. 16. 2.

As ye abound in all things, &c. see that ye abound in this grace also: I speak, &c. to prove the sincerity of your love: for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich, &c. As there was a readi∣ness to will, so there may be a performance also, out of that which you have: for if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not, 2 Cor. 8. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

He who soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly: and he who soweth boun∣tifully shall reap bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work, 2 Cor. 9. 6, 7, 8, 9.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the houshold of faith, Gal. 6. 10.

Rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good' that ye may have to give to him who needeth, Eph. 4. 29.

Paul commends the Philippians for their sending to his relief: and said, Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account, &c. My God shall supply all your needs, &c. Phil. 4. 14, 15, 16, 17, 12.

This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat, &c. We command, &c. that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread, 2 Thess. 3. 10, 11, 12.

If any widow have children, or nephews, let them learn first to shew pity (or, kindness) at home, to requite their Parents; for that is good and acceptable before God, &c. And if any provide not for his own, and espe∣cially for those of his own house (or, kindred) he hath denyed the faith, and is worse than an infidel, &c. If any man or woman who believeth, have widows, let them relieve them; and let not the Church be charged, 1 Tim. 5. 4, 8, 16.

Charge them who are rich in this world, &c. that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store a good foundation, 1 Tim. 6. 17, 18, 19.

The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, &c. and in how many things he ministred unto me at Ephesus, &c. 2 Tim. 1. 16, 17, 18.

God is not unrighteous, to forget your works, &c. which ye have shewed towards his name, in that ye have ministred unto the Saints, and do minister Heb. 6. 10.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares, &c. To do good, and to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased, Heb. 13. 2, 16.

Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, &c? If a brother or sister be naked, &c. and one of you say to them, depart in peace, &c. and ye give them not, &c. what doth it profit? James 2. 5, 15, 16.

Use hospitality one to another, without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, so let him minister the same one to another, as good stew∣ards, &c. If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giv∣eth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus, &c. 1 Pet. 4. 9, 10, 11.

Whosoever hath this worlds goods, and seeth his brother hath need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him; how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, or in tongue, but in deed and in truth, 1 Joh. 3. 17. 18.

See more of the relief of the poor of the Churches, &c. Chap. 27.

See more of giving to enemies, Chap. 22.

See shewing mercy to all men, Chap. 19.