Description and Reproof of Fools.

seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Lk. 10:38 And a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered, and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day: 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Rom. 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things; another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not, judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

1 Cor. 8:13 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 Tim. 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

FOOLS.

195. Description and reproof of foo's.

Ps. 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.

74:18 The foolish people have blasphemed thy name.

Description and Reproof of Fools.

Ps. 94: 6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, nei ther shall the God of Jacob regard it. 8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise Pr. 1:7 Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief.

12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. 16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

13:19 It is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

14:9 Fools make a mock at sin. 16 The fool rageth, and is confident.

15:5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction. 14 The mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

18:2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. 6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

20:3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. 12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a

reason.

27:3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool.

29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Ec. 5:3 A fool's voice is known by multitude of words. 7:4 The heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 9 Anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14 A fool also is full of words.

Jer. 17:11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches and not by right, shall

Forbearance required.

leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

Lk. 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

FORBEARANCE.

196. Forbearance required.

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

1 Cor. 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil: 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Ep. 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.

1 Pet. 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.

3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise, blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

[See Forgiveness, 198; Meekness, 386; Patience, 428; Peace, 429; and War, 597.]

Forbearance abused-Forgiveness required.

197. Sinners abuse forbearance.

Ec. 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

FORGIVENESS.

[Forgiveness divine. See 489.]

198. Duty to forgive as we hope to be forgiven.

Mat. 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 14 For, if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But, if ye forgive not men their tresspasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Mk. 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Lk. 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn

True Friendship-Spurious Friendship.

not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.

17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Ep. 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Col. 3: 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

FRIENDSHIP.

199. True friendship desirable.

2 S. 1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

Pr. 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

18:24 There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

200. Spurious friendship.

Job 19:14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. 19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

Ps. 38:11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

55: 12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together and walked unto the house of God in company.