Nature of-Watchfulness against-Divine Aid against it.

touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jam. 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

582. Temptation, in the sense of solicitation to sin, arises from a corrupt heart.

Jam. 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

583. Duty to pray and watch against tempters and temptations.

Pr. 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11-16.

Mat. 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

584. Believers shall be helped out of all their temptations.

1 Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

2 Cor. 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Heb. 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

Short-Important-Should be improved without Procrastination.

2 Pet. 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.

Rev. 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

585. Time short.

TIME.

Ps. 89:47 Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

1 Cor. 7:29 But this I say, brethren, The time is short. It remaineth, that both they that have wives, be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it. For the fashion of this world passeth away. [See Death, 133.]

586. Time determines our eternal condition.

Mat. 16:25 For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. [See Probation, 468.]

587. Time should be improved; or procrastination forbidden. Job 22:21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

Ps. 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To-day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

Pr. 27:1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow: for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Ec. 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

2 Cor. 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time ac

Sins of the Tongue.

cepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Heb. 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. [See Death, 139.]

TONGUE.

588. The tongue often very injurious and mischievous.

Ps. 52:2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

55:21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

57:4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Pr. 11:9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

16:27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. 28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter, separateth very friends.

18:7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

25:18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth.

Jer. 9:8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit one speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.

1 Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: Evil communications cor rupt good manners.

Sins of the Tongue.

Jam. 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed, of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

[See Flattery, 193; and Lying, 370.]

589. Censoriousness, railing, tale-bearing, whispering, backbiting, slander, and other sins of the tongue forbidden.

Lev. 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor; I am the Lord.

Ps. 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

Pr. 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

24:28 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

Mat. 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Rom. 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

1 Cor. 5:11 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.

Tit. 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

1 Pet. 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise, blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

2 Pet. 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

Railing at Dignities-Bridling the Tongue.

Jude 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

590. Railing at dignities, and reviling superiors, particularly forbidden.

Ex. 22:28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Ac. 23:4 And they that stood by, said, Revilest thou God's high priest? 5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

2 Pet. 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

Jude 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

[See Aged Persons, 8.]

591. Bridling the tongue enjoined.

Ps. 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

Pr. 4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles.

Ee. 10:20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and