Could you calmly meet reproaches for Christ's sake? Have you any portion of the spirit of the martyrs?

81. Will God perform ALL his promises?

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is GOD, the faithful GOD, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him, and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.- GOD is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?- And ye know in all your hearts, and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your GOD spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. Deut. 7. 9. Num. 23. 19. Josh. 23. 14. || Ps. 18. 30. and 89. 34. and 105. 8. and 119. 89, 90. Is. 25. 1. and 46. 11. Heb. 6. 18. and 10. 23.

How little confidence any one of us reposes in the promises of GOD! Have you never regarded them less, than the promises of some fellow worm? How base thus to treat INFINITE VERACITY!

82. Are Christians directed to maintain firm confidence in God?

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of GoD, who also maketh intercession for us.Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with GOD, through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of GoD.- My little children,. these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Rom. 8. 33, 34. and 5. 1, 2. 1 John 2. 1, 2. Heb. 4. 16. || Rom. 8. 14-18. Eph. 2. 18-22. Are the atonement and intercession of Christ the ground of your confidence? May not Christians be cheerful?

83. What is the language of the believer under the hidings of God's countenance?

I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake; I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no anwser. I remembered GOD, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. I call to remem

brance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart, and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off

for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath GoD forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.- O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Cant. 5. 6. Ps. 77. 3, 6 -9. and 51. 15, 8, 11, 12. || and 88. 9, 14-17. and 86. 16, 17. Jer. 14. 7, 8. Job 23. 3, 8, 9.

Do you ever mourn because the Comforter is far from your soul.

84. What are suitable directions and promises for a believer, when in darkness and distress of mind?

Who is among you that feareth th. Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his GOD.- Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of GOD, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world. Is. 50. 10. 1 Pet. 5. 6-9. John 14. 1, 27. and 16. 33. || Ps. 44. 8-11. Is. 43. 1, 20. and 41. 10, 13, 14. and 40. 30, 31. Deut. 33. 27.

If in darkness should you not cry to God for light? Will you not cast your cares on him?

85. Does God particularly observe the religious principles and practices of his people?

I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. But if any man love Gon, the same is known of him. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon

them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.- The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable, in his sight. Rev. 2. 19. 1 Cor. 8. 3. Ps. 33. 18, 19. Nah. 1. 7. Col. 1. 21, 22. || Job 33. 27-30. Jer. 6. 15, 16.

How much fruit God has reason to expect from you? What fruit has he found?

86. What are the privileges, in this life, of those who obey the requirements of God?

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.- For the Lord GOD is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Ps. 34. 7, 15. and 84. 11. Rom. 8. 28. || Job 5. 17, 18. Ps. 5. 12. and 58. 11.

How safe and happy is the true Christian! Can you be indifferent to such privileges?

87. What ordinances are to be administered under the Gospel dispensation?

Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.- For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Mat. 28. 19, 20. 1 Cor. 11. 23-26. || 1 Pet. 3. 20, 21. Acts 2. 38, 39, 41. and 8. 12.

Have you a right understanding of Gospel ordinances? Do you highly prize them?

88. Is it not a highly important duty_publicly to profess the Gospel, and attend the ordinance of the Lord's Supper?

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.- But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: THIS DO in remembrance of me. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, DRINK YE ALL of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Mat. 10. 32, 33. Rom. 10. 8-10. Luke 22. 19. Mat. 26. 27, 28. 1 Cor. 11. 26. || Is. 45. 24, 25. and 44. 4, 5. Acts 2. 41, 42, 46, 47. and 5. 14.

What excuse have you for neglecting it? Is it one which will answer you in the Great Day?

89. What preparation is requisite to the acceptable receiving the Lord's Supper? (n)

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of GOD.- Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

And

if any man hunger, let him eat at home: that ye come not together unto condemnation. 1 Cor. 5. 7, 8. and 10. 16, 17, 31. and 11. 27, 28, 34. || Mal. 1. 7. 1 Cor. 10. 1-6. 2 Cor. 13. 5. See Appendix, Note N.

Have you examined yourself impartially? Have you come to the table of the Lord with sincerity, penitence, faith, and joy?

90. What are suitable meditations at, before, and after the communion?

What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.- And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me, shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me, shall never thirst. I am that bread of life. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. Ps. 116. 12-14. John 6. 35, 48, 51, 54-58. || Cant. 2. 3, 4. and 5. 1. Is. 25. 6, 9. and 55. 1. Rev. 21..6. John 4. 14. (0)

Have you found this ordinance a feast to the soul? Has it quickened you?

91. How is an offending brother in the Lord to be treated?

Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, GO AND TELL HIM HIS FAULT BETWEEN THEE AND HIM ALONE: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such a one no not to eat. Mat. 18. 15, 21, 22, 16, 17. 1 Cor. 5. 11. || Luke 17. 3, 4. Ps. 141. 5. John 13. 35. Jam. 5. 16, 19, 20.

(0) See Appendix, Note O.