James the Lord thine oaths. But I fay unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; neither by Jerufalem, for it is the city of the great King: neither fhalt thou fwear by thy head, because thou canft not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be yea, yea; nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than thefe, cometh of evil. But above all things, my brethren, fwear 5.12. not; neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; left ye fall into condemnation. Q. Is it fit for Chriftians or believers to receive carnal and worldly honour one from another? John A. How can ye believe which receive 5.44. honour one of another, and feek not the honour that cometh from God only. Q. Doth God allow us to give flattering. titles to men? A. Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person; neither let me give flattering titles unto man: for I know not to give flattering titles; in fo doing my Maker would foon take me away. Q. What Should we fay to fuch as quarrel with us for fpeaking proper found words, as thou to one, you to many; which is Chrift's and the faints language in fcripture? A. If any man teach otherwise, and con- 1 Tim. fent not to wholefome words, even the 6.3, 4. words of our Lord Jefus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and ftrifes of words, whereof cometh envy, ftrife, railings, evil furmifings. Hold fast the form of found words, 2 Tim. which thou haft heard of me, in faith and 1.13. love, which is in Chrift Jefus. Q. What is the great commandment given by Chrift to his disciples, as that which even declareth them to be fuch, and is alfo preffed. by his apostles? A. A new commandment I give unto John 13. you, That ye love one another; as I have 34, 35. loved you, that ye also love one another. By this fhall all men know that ye are my difciples, if ye have love one to another. 12. This is my commandment, That ye love John 15. one other, as I have loved you. Thefe 1. 17. things I command you, That ye love one another. I. Be ye therefore followers of God, as Eph. 5. dear children; and walk in love, as Chrift 1. 2. alfo hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a facrifice to God for a sweet smelling favour. If man fay, I love God, and hateth John his brother, he is a liar: for he that 4.20, 21 loveth Mat. 18. 3,4. Mat. 20.25 loveth not his brother whom he hath feen, how can he love God whom he hath not feen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God, love his brother alfo. Q. Is humility very needful to Chriftians? What like must we be 'ere we can enter the kingdom? A. And Jefus faid, Verily, verily, I fay unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whofoever therefore fhall humble himself as this littlechild, the fame is greateft in the kingdom of heaven. Ought Chriftians to lord over one another? What rule giveth Chrift in this cafe? A. But Jefus called them unto him, and to 28. faid, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercife dominion over them: and they that are great, exercife authority upon them. But it fhall not be so among you; but whofoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whofoever will be chief among you, let him be your fervant: even as the Son of Man came not to be miniftered unto, but to minifter, and to give his life a ransom for. many. Mat. 10. 16. Q. How then are Chriftians in this world? the the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wife as ferpents, and harmless as doves. Go your ways; behold, I send you forth Luke as lambs among wolves. Q. Are we then to expect afflictions and perfecutions here? 10. 3. IO. 22. A. And ye fhall be hated of all men for Mat. my name's fake; but he that endureth to Mark the end fhall be faved. And ye fhall be hated of all men for my name's fake. 13. 13. Luke 21. 17. 18, 19. If the world hate you, ye know that it John 15. hated me before it hated you; if ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but becaufe ye are not of the world, but I have chofen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 16. 33. These things have I fpoken unto you, John that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye fhall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And all that will live godly in Chrift 2 Tim. Jefus fhall fuffer perfecution. 3. 12. 10. 28. Q. Ought we then to fear perfecution? A. Fear not them which kill the body, Mat but are not able to kill the foul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both foul and body in hell. And I fay unto you, my friends, be not Luke afraid of them that kill the body, and after 12. 4, 5. that, have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn ye whom you shall fear: fear Mat. 5. 10. 1 Pet. fear him which, after he hath killed, harh power to caft into hell, yea, I fay unto you, fear him. Q. What advantage is it to them that fuffer perfecution cheerfully, and hazard to them that Shun it? A. Bleffed are they which are perfecuted for righteoufnefs fake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. But and if ye fuffer for righteoufnefs fake, 3. 14. happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. Mat. 33.37 to 39 And Whofoever therefore fhall confefs me 10:33 before men, him will I confefs also before my Father which is in heaven. But whofoever fhall deny me before men, him will I alfo deny before my Father which is in heaven. He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me. he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life fhall lofe it, and he that lofeth his life for my fake, fhall find it. Luke Alfo I fay unto you, Whofoever shall confess me before men, him fhall the Son of Man also confefs before the angels of God. But he that denieth me before men, fhall be denied before the angels of God. Mat. 16. Then faid Jefus unto his difciples, If any 24, 25. man will come after me, let him deny himfelf, and take up his crofs, and follow me. For whofoever will fave his life fhall lose it, 12.8,9. and |