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Thirdly, a fear of idols. 2 Kings xvii. 33. they feared Jehovah, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried

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And lastly, a fear of any thing whatever except God. Matt. x. 28. fear not them which kill the body.'

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Humility is that whereby we acknowledge our unworthiness in the sight of God. Gen. xxxii. 10. 'I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies,' &c. 1 Chron. xxix. 14. who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.' Psal. li. 17. the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.' cxv. 1. not unto us, O Jehovah, not unto us, but unto thy name give the praise.' Isai. Ixvi. 2. to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.' Matt. v. 3. blessed are the poor in spirit.' Luke ix. 48. he that is least among you all, the submit yourselves,' &c. 1 Tim. i. 15. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.'

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same shall be great.' 1 Pet. v. 5, 6.

To this is opposed, first, pride towards God. Job xv. 25. 'he stretcheth out his hand against God.' Prov. iii. 34. he scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.' See also James iv. 6. 1 Pet. v. 5. Prov. xvi. 5. 'every one that is proud of heart is an abomination to Jehovah.' Acts xii. 23. the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory.' Rev. iii. 17. thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and

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knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.'

Secondly, a false or superstitious humility. Col. ii. 23. 'which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.'

Patience is that whereby we acquiesce in the promises of God, through a confident reliance on his divine providence, power, and goodness, and bear inevitable evils with equanimity, as the dispensation of the supreme Father, and sent for our good. Job i. 22. 'in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.'

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ii. 10. shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?' 2 Sam. xvi. 10. 'because Jehovah hath said unto him, Curse David, who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?" Isai. xxviii. 16. he that believeth shall not mistake.' Lam. iii.

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29, &c. he putteth his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope; he giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him.' Matt. xvi. 24. let him take up his cross, and follow me.' Luke xxi. 19. 'in your patience possess ye your souls.' Rom. viii. 25. ‘if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.' xv. 4. that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.' 2 Cor. xii. 10. 'therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake.' Coloss. i. 11. unto all long-suffering.' 2 Thess. iii. 5. ‘the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.' Heb. x. 36. 'ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the

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promise.' James v. 7, 8. be patient unto the coming of the Lord; behold, the husbandman waiteth-...be ye also patient, stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.' 1 Pet. ii. 19, &c. this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.....if when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God: for even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps....who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.'

Job

iii. 2, &c. ‘let

vii. 11.

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xix. 7. behold,

Opposed to this is impatience under the divine decrees; a temptation to which the saints themselves are at times liable. 1 Kings xix. 4. he requested for himself that he might die.' the day perish wherein I was born.' fore I will not refrain my mouth.' I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard; I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.' Eccles. vii. 7. surely oppression maketh a wise man mad.' Jer. xx. 15. 'cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying. xlv. 5. thou didst say, Woe is me now, for Jehovah hath added grief to my sorrow.' Jonah iv. 3. it is better for me to die than to live.'

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Obedience is that virtue whereby we propose to ourselves the will of God above all things as the rule of our conduct, and serve him alone. Thus Abraham, Gen. xii. 4.departed from Canaan, as Jehovah had spoken unto him.' xxii. 3. Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass-.' 1 Sam. xv. 22. hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings

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and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.' Psal. lxxxi. 13, 14. O that my people had hearkened unto me,' &c. Eccles. v. 1. 'be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools.' Jer. vi. 19, 20. ‘because they have not hearkened unto my words.......your burnt-offerings are not acceptable.' vii. 22, 23. 'I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices; but this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice.' XXXV. 2. go unto the house of the Rechabites-.' Matt. vi. 10. thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.' xxvi. 39. 'not as I will, but as thou wilt.' v. 42. 'thy will be done.' John xiv. 15. if ye love me, keep my commandments.' See also v. 21, 23. Acts iv. 19. whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.' v. 29. we ought to obey God rather than men.' Eph. vi. 6, 7. 'as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will doing service.' 1 John ii. 5. whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.' v. 17. he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.' v. 3. this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.' Opposed to this is disobedience.

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1 Sam. xv. 23.

' rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.' This was the error of the prophet of Judah, 1 Kings xiii. 22. Prov. xiii. 13. 'whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed.' xxviii. 9. he that turneth away his ear....even his prayer shall be abomination.' Jer. vi. 16. thus

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saith Jehovah, Stand ye in the ways...and walk therein...but they said, We will not walk therein.' V. 'they said, We will not hearken.' vii. 26. they hearkened not unto me-.' xxii. 21. this hath been

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that thou obeyedst not

thy manner from thy youth, my voice.' xxxvi. 23, &c. it came to pass that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves,' &c. xliv. 16. as for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of Jehovah, we will not hearken unto thee.' Even where it wears the disguise of humility: John xiii. 8. thou shalt never wash my feet;' or of a righteousness beyond what is commanded: Deut. v. 32. 'ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.' See also xxviii. 14. Josh. i. 7. Deut. xii. 32. thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.' 1 Kings xx. 35. the man refused to smite him.' Prov. xxx. 6. 'add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.' 1 Cor. iv. 6.that ye might learn in us above that which is written.' any man shall add unto these unto him the plagues-.'

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not to think of man Rev. xxii. 18, 19. 'if things, God shall add

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