God's Sincerity. Ezk. 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Mic. 6:1 Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains and let the hills hear thy voice. 2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. 3 0 my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. Mat. 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 238. Sincerity of God's invitations evinced by his desires for the sanctification and salvation of mankind. Dt. 5:29 O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! 32:29 Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! Ps. 5:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 81:13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him. Is. 48:18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. Ezk. 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GoD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. Lk. 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. Jn. 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Capacity and Duty of Sinners to comply. begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. 1 Th. 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification 1 Tim. 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 2 Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 289. Capacity and duty of sinners to comply with God's invitations. Jer. 5:21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: 22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD. Ezk. 12:2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house. Mat. 25: 24 Then he which had received the one talent came, and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Lk. 19:20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin : 21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not 22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was BOW. Invitations rejected. an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath, shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. 2 Cor. 8:12 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. 1 Jn. 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. [See 253, 468, 469, and 505, 506.] 290. Invitations rejected. Pr. 1:24 Because I have called and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof. Zec. 7:11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. 12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. 13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts. Mat. 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying. Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise. 6 And the remnant took nis servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. Lk. 14:17 And sent his servant at supper-time, to say to 291, 292 GOSPEL INVITATIONS GOVERNMENT CIVIL. No excuse for rejecting Gospel Invitations-Argument for Civil Government. them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and 1 go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife: and therefore I canno come. Jn. 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Ac. 7:51 Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, So do ye. 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 291. No excuse for rejecting God's invitations. * Mat. 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. Rom. 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. 3:19 Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 292. Argument for the divine authority and expediency of civil government, and duty of maintaining it. Dt. 13:10 And thou shalt stone him with stones that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage. 11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is, among you. 19:18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and Duty of maintaining it. behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. 20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you. 2 Ch. 9:8 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever therefore made he thee [Solomon] king over them, to do judg ment and justice. Pr. 20:8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Ec. 10:16 Wo to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness ! Is. 1:26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. 1 Tim. 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the un godly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. Pr. 26: 3, and 20:30. [See 423, 424.] Duty of maintaining it. Ex. 18:25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. Num. 11:11 And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, hat thou layest the burden of all this |