Backsliding

BackslidingIllustration.Peter's Denial. "And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the Man." Matt. 26:72.1. How does God regard backsliding?“Thy backslidings shall reprove thee: ...it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that My fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts.”Jer. 2:19.“If any man draw back,My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”Heb. 10:38.2. What has ever been the tendency of God's people?“My people arebent to backsliding from Me.”Hosea 11:7.3. What inevitably leads to departure from God?“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of youan evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”Heb. 3:12.Note.—Unbelief is“the sin which doth so easily beset us.”Heb. 12:1.4. In what ways did the constant backsliding of the people of Jerusalem manifest itself?“Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.[pg 685]I harkened and heard, butthey spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done?every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.”Jer. 8:5, 6.5. To what is backsliding likened?“Surelyas a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.”Jer. 3:20.6. To regain God's favor, what must the backslider do?“Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the Lord.”Verse 13.7. On what condition does God promise mercy to sinners?“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”Isa. 55:7.8. Why must the wicked forsake their thoughts and ways?“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.”Verse 8.Note.—God desires that we shall think His thoughts, which are right thoughts, pure thoughts, everlasting thoughts. He desires also that we shall take on His ways, which are ways of pleasantness, and walk in His paths, which are paths of peace.9. What is especially necessary to prevent backsliding?“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”Mark 14:38.10. What are believers exhorted to do?“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”2 Cor. 13:5.11. If one has God's law in the heart, what will not occur?“The law of his God is in his heart;none of his steps shall slide.”Ps. 37:31.12. What is one characteristic of backsliding?“Even from the days of your fathersye are gone away from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?”Mal. 3:7.[pg 686]13. In response, what neglected ordinance does God cite?“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? Intithes and offerings.”Verse 8.14. What remedy is indicated?“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”Verse 10.15. Because of Christ's plain teachings, what did some of His disciples do?“From that time many of His discipleswent back, and walked no more with Him.”John 6:66.16. When the backslider repents, what does God do?“Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips....I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him.”Hosea 14:2-4.17. Will there be special danger of backsliding in the last days?“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”Matt. 24:12.18. What are some of the evils against which we are specially warned at this time?“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged withsurfeiting, anddrunkenness, andcares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”Luke 21:34.19. In view of the perils surrounding us, what are we told to do?“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”Verse 36.O for a closer walk with God!A calm and heavenly frame,A light to shine upon the roadThat leads me to the Lamb.William Cowper.[pg 687]UnbeliefIllustration.Moses And Aaron Before Pharaoh. "Let us lay aside ... the sin which doth so easily beset us." Heb. 12:1.1. What warning is given in the Bible concerning unbelief?“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you anevil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”Heb. 3:12.2. Without faith, what is impossible?“Without faith it is impossibleto please Him.”Heb. 11:6.3. How only can we be justified?“Being justifiedby faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”Rom. 5:1.4. By what do the just live?“Now the just shall liveby faith.”Heb. 10:38.Note.—If men arejustifiedby faith, and are toliveby faith, it follows that to be unbelieving is not to be justified, and consequently not to live in the sense here referred to.5. In whom does the Lord have no pleasure?“But if any mandraw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”Same verse.[pg 688]6. What kind of report did the ten spies bring back concerning the promised land?“They brought upan evil reportof the land which they had searched.”Num. 13:32.7. What did Caleb say of the ability of Israel to take it?“Let us go up at once, and possess it; forwe are well able to overcome it.”Verse 30.8. What did the ten spies say?“But the men that went up with him said,We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”Verse 31.9. Why did not Israel attain to the standard of righteousness?“But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore?Because they sought it not by faith.”Rom. 9:31, 32.10. When told of the disciples' failure to heal an afflicted son, what did Christ say of that generation?“He answereth him, and saith,O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto Me.”Mark 9:19.11. What did Christ say to Thomas because he did not believe the testimony of his brethren concerning His resurrection?“Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: andbe not faithless, but believing.”John 20:27.Note.—The Lord rebuked Thomas for his unbelief, because he would not accept the testimony of so many credible witnesses who had seen Him. How much more reprehensible is that unbelief which holds out against the present“cloud of witnesses”of prophecy fulfilled and fulfilling!12. After speaking of the numerous examples of faith presented in Hebrews 11, what does Paul exhort us to do?“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let uslay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”Heb. 12:1.Note.—The“every weight”here spoken of includes those traits of character and habits of life that retard or hinder our running successfully the Christian race. These are to be laid aside. But there is one thing referred to here that is more than a weight; it is asin, and one that easily besets us all,—the sin ofunbelief. To be unbelieving, therefore, is sinful.[pg 689]13. Why did many fail to enter into God's rest anciently?“And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them thatbelieved not? So we see thatthey could not enter in because of unbelief.”Heb. 3:18, 19.14. How are these unbelieving ones spoken of?“But with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not withthem that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?”Verse 17.15. What lesson should we learn from their course?“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”Heb. 4:1.Note.—God does not change. If He was grieved at the unbelief of the Israelites, and refused them admittance to Canaan in consequence, He cannot permit us to enter the heavenly rest as long as we indulge in unbelief.16. What should all labor to do?“Let us labor thereforeto enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”Verse 11.17. Against what are we warned when rebuked of God?“My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord,nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.”Heb. 12:5.18. Whom does the Lord chasten?“For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.”Verse 6.19. When God made a promise to Abraham that seemed impossible of fulfilment, how did the patriarch receive it?“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but wasstrong in faith, giving glory to God.”Rom. 4:20.20. For what was Abraham's faith counted?“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, andit was counted unto him for righteousness.”Verse 3.21. When troubled with doubts, how should we pray?“Lord, I believe;help Thou mine unbelief.”Mark 9:24.22. What is promised those who believe when they pray?“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, andye shall have them.”Mark 11:24.[pg 690]JudgingIllustration.Slaying The First-Born. "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Rom. 12:19.1. What warning does Christ give concerning judging?“Judge not, that ye be not judged.”Matt. 7:1.2. What is Satan called in the Scriptures?“The accuser of our brethren... which accused them before our God day and night.”Rev. 12:10.Note.—Then when we judge, accuse, and condemn one another, we are doing the work of Satan.3. If we bite and devour one another, what may we expect?“But if ye bite and devour one another,take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”Gal. 5:15.4. Before attempting to judge, criticize, or correct others, what should we first do?“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye: and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite,first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”Matt. 7:3-5.[pg 691]5. What did Christ say He did not come to do?“If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: forI came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”“For God sent not His Son into the world tocondemnthe world; but that the world through Him might besaved.”John 12:47; 3:17.6. What question does Paul ask concerning judging?“Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?to his own master he standeth or falleth.”Rom. 14:4.7. To whom are all to give account?“So then every one of us shall give account of himselfto God.”Verse 12.8. What exhortation, therefore, does the apostle give?“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.”Verse 13.9. Instead of railing on His enemies, what did Christ do?“Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; butcommitted Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”1 Peter 2:23.10. Wherein do man's judging and God's judging differ?“For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; forman looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”1 Sam. 16:7.“Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; butGod knoweth your hearts: forthat which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”Luke 16:15.11. How does Christ tell us to judge?“Judgenot according to the appearance, butjudge righteous judgment.”John 7:24.12. How, by whom, and in what spirit should those having committed faults be dealt with?“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault,ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”Gal. 6:1.13. Of what are those generally guilty who judge others?“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest[pg 692]thyself;for thou that judgest doest the same things.”Rom. 2:1.14. Whom are we not likely to judge and condemn?“For if we would judgeourselves, we should not be judged.”1 Cor. 11:31.15. What instruction does James give regarding judging?“Speak not evil one of another, brethren.He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”James 4:11. See Titus 3:2.16. Why is it safer not to judge and condemn others?“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned.”Luke 6:37.“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”Matt. 7:2. See Ps. 18:25, 26.17. To what time are we exhorted to defer judgment?“Therefore judge nothing before the time,until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart.”1 Cor. 4:5.“Judge not;”the workings of his brainAnd of his heart thou canst not see.What looks to thy dim eyes a stain,In God's pure sight may only beA scar, brought from some well-won fieldWhere thou wouldst only faint and yield.The look, the air, that frets thy sight,May be a token that, below,The soul has closed in deadly fightWith some infernal, fiery foeWhose glance would scorch thy smiling grace,And cast thee shuddering on thy face.The fall thou darest to despise—Perhaps the angel's slackened handHas suffered it, that he may riseAnd take a firmer, surer stand;Or, trusting less to earthly things,May henceforth learn to use his wings.And judge none lost, but wait and see,With hopeful pity, not disdain;The depth of that abyss may beThe measure of the height of pain,And love, and glory, that may raiseThe soul to God in after-days.Adelaide A. Procter.[pg 693]Gossiping And BackbitingIllustration.Sowing Tares. "While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares." Matt. 13:251. What does the ninth commandment forbid?“Thou shalt not bearfalse witnessagainst thy neighbor.”Ex. 20:16.Note.—The evident object of this commandment is to guard the rights, interests, and reputation of our neighbor, by guarding our conversation, and confining our words to that which is strictly true.2. What instruction did John the Baptist give the soldiers who asked of him advice regarding the way of life?“And he said unto them, Do violence to no man,neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”Luke 3:14.3. What is one test of a perfect man?“If any manoffend not in word, the same isa perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”James 3:2.4. How did Christ teach the importance of guarding our speech?“But I say unto you, Thatevery idle wordthat men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thywordsthou shalt be justified, and by thywordsthou shalt be condemned.”Matt. 12:36, 37.[pg 694]5. To whom are our words all known?“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo,O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether.”Ps. 139:4.6. Of what are one's words an index?“Out of the abundance ofthe heartthe mouth speaketh.”Matt. 12:34.7. What conduct is condemned by the Scriptures?“Thou shalt not go up and downas a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the Lord.”Lev. 19:16.8. To what are the words of a talebearer compared?“The words of a talebearer areas wounds.”Prov. 26:22.9. What is their effect?“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; buthe that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”Prov. 17:9.10. What would follow if there were no talebearers?“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: sowhere there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”Prov. 26:20.11. Among other things, what did Paul fear he would find in the Corinthian church?“For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes,backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.”2 Cor. 12:20.12. What result follows backbiting and like evils?“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Butif ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”Gal. 5:14, 15.13. How may a backbiting tongue be rebuked?“The north wind driveth away rain:so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.”Prov. 25:23.14. To whom is the promise made of abiding in the tabernacle of the Lord, and dwelling in His holy hill?“He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.He that backbiteth not with[pg 695]his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.”Ps. 15:2, 3.Note.—“Never carry a sword in your tongue to wound the reputation of any man,”says Kirkle. Noah Webster laid down this rule:“We should say nothing of a person in his absence that we should be unwilling to say if he were present.”How few govern their conversation according to this rule! See Prov. 31:10, 26.15. What caution is given in regard to receiving an accusation against an elder?“Against an elder receive not an accusation,but before two or three witnesses.”1 Tim. 5:19.Note.—“He that lends an easy and credulous ear to calumny is either a man of very mean morals, or has no more sense of understanding than a child.”—Menander.16. Can man, unrenewed by grace, control his tongue?“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:but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”James 3:7, 8.17. As a guard against the misuse of the power of speech, therefore, for what should we pray?“Set awatch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep thedoorof my lips.”Ps. 141:3.18. What vow did David take against offenses of the tongue?“I said,I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with mytongue:I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”Ps. 39:1.19. What is a sure cure for backbiting?“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”Matt. 22:39.“Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”Matt. 7:12.“Speak evil of no man.”Titus 3:2. See also James 4:11.20. What are those words like which are fitly spoken?“A word fitly spoken islike apples of gold in pictures of silver.”Prov. 25:11.“Keep a watch on your words, my darlings,For words are wonderful things:They are sweet like bees' fresh honey;Like the bees they have terrible stings;They can bless like the warm, glad sunshine,And brighten a lonely life;They can cut in the strife of anger,Like an open, two-edged knife.”[pg 696]Illustration.Joseph Sold Into Egypt. "Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:16.[pg 697]

Illustration.Peter's Denial. "And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the Man." Matt. 26:72.

Peter's Denial. "And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the Man." Matt. 26:72.

1. How does God regard backsliding?

“Thy backslidings shall reprove thee: ...it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that My fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts.”Jer. 2:19.“If any man draw back,My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”Heb. 10:38.

2. What has ever been the tendency of God's people?

“My people arebent to backsliding from Me.”Hosea 11:7.

3. What inevitably leads to departure from God?

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of youan evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”Heb. 3:12.

Note.—Unbelief is“the sin which doth so easily beset us.”Heb. 12:1.

4. In what ways did the constant backsliding of the people of Jerusalem manifest itself?

“Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.[pg 685]I harkened and heard, butthey spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done?every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.”Jer. 8:5, 6.

5. To what is backsliding likened?

“Surelyas a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.”Jer. 3:20.

6. To regain God's favor, what must the backslider do?

“Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the Lord.”Verse 13.

7. On what condition does God promise mercy to sinners?

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”Isa. 55:7.

8. Why must the wicked forsake their thoughts and ways?

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.”Verse 8.

Note.—God desires that we shall think His thoughts, which are right thoughts, pure thoughts, everlasting thoughts. He desires also that we shall take on His ways, which are ways of pleasantness, and walk in His paths, which are paths of peace.

9. What is especially necessary to prevent backsliding?

“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”Mark 14:38.

10. What are believers exhorted to do?

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”2 Cor. 13:5.

11. If one has God's law in the heart, what will not occur?

“The law of his God is in his heart;none of his steps shall slide.”Ps. 37:31.

12. What is one characteristic of backsliding?

“Even from the days of your fathersye are gone away from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?”Mal. 3:7.

13. In response, what neglected ordinance does God cite?

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? Intithes and offerings.”Verse 8.

14. What remedy is indicated?

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”Verse 10.

15. Because of Christ's plain teachings, what did some of His disciples do?

“From that time many of His discipleswent back, and walked no more with Him.”John 6:66.

16. When the backslider repents, what does God do?

“Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips....I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him.”Hosea 14:2-4.

17. Will there be special danger of backsliding in the last days?

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”Matt. 24:12.

18. What are some of the evils against which we are specially warned at this time?

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged withsurfeiting, anddrunkenness, andcares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”Luke 21:34.

19. In view of the perils surrounding us, what are we told to do?

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”Verse 36.

O for a closer walk with God!A calm and heavenly frame,A light to shine upon the roadThat leads me to the Lamb.William Cowper.

O for a closer walk with God!A calm and heavenly frame,A light to shine upon the roadThat leads me to the Lamb.

O for a closer walk with God!

A calm and heavenly frame,

A light to shine upon the road

That leads me to the Lamb.

William Cowper.

UnbeliefIllustration.Moses And Aaron Before Pharaoh. "Let us lay aside ... the sin which doth so easily beset us." Heb. 12:1.1. What warning is given in the Bible concerning unbelief?“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you anevil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”Heb. 3:12.2. Without faith, what is impossible?“Without faith it is impossibleto please Him.”Heb. 11:6.3. How only can we be justified?“Being justifiedby faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”Rom. 5:1.4. By what do the just live?“Now the just shall liveby faith.”Heb. 10:38.Note.—If men arejustifiedby faith, and are toliveby faith, it follows that to be unbelieving is not to be justified, and consequently not to live in the sense here referred to.5. In whom does the Lord have no pleasure?“But if any mandraw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”Same verse.[pg 688]6. What kind of report did the ten spies bring back concerning the promised land?“They brought upan evil reportof the land which they had searched.”Num. 13:32.7. What did Caleb say of the ability of Israel to take it?“Let us go up at once, and possess it; forwe are well able to overcome it.”Verse 30.8. What did the ten spies say?“But the men that went up with him said,We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”Verse 31.9. Why did not Israel attain to the standard of righteousness?“But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore?Because they sought it not by faith.”Rom. 9:31, 32.10. When told of the disciples' failure to heal an afflicted son, what did Christ say of that generation?“He answereth him, and saith,O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto Me.”Mark 9:19.11. What did Christ say to Thomas because he did not believe the testimony of his brethren concerning His resurrection?“Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: andbe not faithless, but believing.”John 20:27.Note.—The Lord rebuked Thomas for his unbelief, because he would not accept the testimony of so many credible witnesses who had seen Him. How much more reprehensible is that unbelief which holds out against the present“cloud of witnesses”of prophecy fulfilled and fulfilling!12. After speaking of the numerous examples of faith presented in Hebrews 11, what does Paul exhort us to do?“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let uslay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”Heb. 12:1.Note.—The“every weight”here spoken of includes those traits of character and habits of life that retard or hinder our running successfully the Christian race. These are to be laid aside. But there is one thing referred to here that is more than a weight; it is asin, and one that easily besets us all,—the sin ofunbelief. To be unbelieving, therefore, is sinful.[pg 689]13. Why did many fail to enter into God's rest anciently?“And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them thatbelieved not? So we see thatthey could not enter in because of unbelief.”Heb. 3:18, 19.14. How are these unbelieving ones spoken of?“But with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not withthem that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?”Verse 17.15. What lesson should we learn from their course?“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”Heb. 4:1.Note.—God does not change. If He was grieved at the unbelief of the Israelites, and refused them admittance to Canaan in consequence, He cannot permit us to enter the heavenly rest as long as we indulge in unbelief.16. What should all labor to do?“Let us labor thereforeto enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”Verse 11.17. Against what are we warned when rebuked of God?“My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord,nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.”Heb. 12:5.18. Whom does the Lord chasten?“For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.”Verse 6.19. When God made a promise to Abraham that seemed impossible of fulfilment, how did the patriarch receive it?“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but wasstrong in faith, giving glory to God.”Rom. 4:20.20. For what was Abraham's faith counted?“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, andit was counted unto him for righteousness.”Verse 3.21. When troubled with doubts, how should we pray?“Lord, I believe;help Thou mine unbelief.”Mark 9:24.22. What is promised those who believe when they pray?“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, andye shall have them.”Mark 11:24.

Illustration.Moses And Aaron Before Pharaoh. "Let us lay aside ... the sin which doth so easily beset us." Heb. 12:1.

Moses And Aaron Before Pharaoh. "Let us lay aside ... the sin which doth so easily beset us." Heb. 12:1.

1. What warning is given in the Bible concerning unbelief?

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you anevil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”Heb. 3:12.

2. Without faith, what is impossible?

“Without faith it is impossibleto please Him.”Heb. 11:6.

3. How only can we be justified?

“Being justifiedby faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”Rom. 5:1.

4. By what do the just live?

“Now the just shall liveby faith.”Heb. 10:38.

Note.—If men arejustifiedby faith, and are toliveby faith, it follows that to be unbelieving is not to be justified, and consequently not to live in the sense here referred to.

5. In whom does the Lord have no pleasure?

“But if any mandraw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”Same verse.

6. What kind of report did the ten spies bring back concerning the promised land?

“They brought upan evil reportof the land which they had searched.”Num. 13:32.

7. What did Caleb say of the ability of Israel to take it?

“Let us go up at once, and possess it; forwe are well able to overcome it.”Verse 30.

8. What did the ten spies say?

“But the men that went up with him said,We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”Verse 31.

9. Why did not Israel attain to the standard of righteousness?

“But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore?Because they sought it not by faith.”Rom. 9:31, 32.

10. When told of the disciples' failure to heal an afflicted son, what did Christ say of that generation?

“He answereth him, and saith,O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto Me.”Mark 9:19.

11. What did Christ say to Thomas because he did not believe the testimony of his brethren concerning His resurrection?

“Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: andbe not faithless, but believing.”John 20:27.

Note.—The Lord rebuked Thomas for his unbelief, because he would not accept the testimony of so many credible witnesses who had seen Him. How much more reprehensible is that unbelief which holds out against the present“cloud of witnesses”of prophecy fulfilled and fulfilling!

12. After speaking of the numerous examples of faith presented in Hebrews 11, what does Paul exhort us to do?

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let uslay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”Heb. 12:1.

Note.—The“every weight”here spoken of includes those traits of character and habits of life that retard or hinder our running successfully the Christian race. These are to be laid aside. But there is one thing referred to here that is more than a weight; it is asin, and one that easily besets us all,—the sin ofunbelief. To be unbelieving, therefore, is sinful.

13. Why did many fail to enter into God's rest anciently?

“And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them thatbelieved not? So we see thatthey could not enter in because of unbelief.”Heb. 3:18, 19.

14. How are these unbelieving ones spoken of?

“But with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not withthem that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?”Verse 17.

15. What lesson should we learn from their course?

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”Heb. 4:1.

Note.—God does not change. If He was grieved at the unbelief of the Israelites, and refused them admittance to Canaan in consequence, He cannot permit us to enter the heavenly rest as long as we indulge in unbelief.

16. What should all labor to do?

“Let us labor thereforeto enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”Verse 11.

17. Against what are we warned when rebuked of God?

“My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord,nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.”Heb. 12:5.

18. Whom does the Lord chasten?

“For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.”Verse 6.

19. When God made a promise to Abraham that seemed impossible of fulfilment, how did the patriarch receive it?

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but wasstrong in faith, giving glory to God.”Rom. 4:20.

20. For what was Abraham's faith counted?

“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, andit was counted unto him for righteousness.”Verse 3.

21. When troubled with doubts, how should we pray?

“Lord, I believe;help Thou mine unbelief.”Mark 9:24.

22. What is promised those who believe when they pray?

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, andye shall have them.”Mark 11:24.

JudgingIllustration.Slaying The First-Born. "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Rom. 12:19.1. What warning does Christ give concerning judging?“Judge not, that ye be not judged.”Matt. 7:1.2. What is Satan called in the Scriptures?“The accuser of our brethren... which accused them before our God day and night.”Rev. 12:10.Note.—Then when we judge, accuse, and condemn one another, we are doing the work of Satan.3. If we bite and devour one another, what may we expect?“But if ye bite and devour one another,take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”Gal. 5:15.4. Before attempting to judge, criticize, or correct others, what should we first do?“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye: and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite,first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”Matt. 7:3-5.[pg 691]5. What did Christ say He did not come to do?“If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: forI came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”“For God sent not His Son into the world tocondemnthe world; but that the world through Him might besaved.”John 12:47; 3:17.6. What question does Paul ask concerning judging?“Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?to his own master he standeth or falleth.”Rom. 14:4.7. To whom are all to give account?“So then every one of us shall give account of himselfto God.”Verse 12.8. What exhortation, therefore, does the apostle give?“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.”Verse 13.9. Instead of railing on His enemies, what did Christ do?“Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; butcommitted Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”1 Peter 2:23.10. Wherein do man's judging and God's judging differ?“For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; forman looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”1 Sam. 16:7.“Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; butGod knoweth your hearts: forthat which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”Luke 16:15.11. How does Christ tell us to judge?“Judgenot according to the appearance, butjudge righteous judgment.”John 7:24.12. How, by whom, and in what spirit should those having committed faults be dealt with?“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault,ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”Gal. 6:1.13. Of what are those generally guilty who judge others?“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest[pg 692]thyself;for thou that judgest doest the same things.”Rom. 2:1.14. Whom are we not likely to judge and condemn?“For if we would judgeourselves, we should not be judged.”1 Cor. 11:31.15. What instruction does James give regarding judging?“Speak not evil one of another, brethren.He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”James 4:11. See Titus 3:2.16. Why is it safer not to judge and condemn others?“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned.”Luke 6:37.“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”Matt. 7:2. See Ps. 18:25, 26.17. To what time are we exhorted to defer judgment?“Therefore judge nothing before the time,until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart.”1 Cor. 4:5.“Judge not;”the workings of his brainAnd of his heart thou canst not see.What looks to thy dim eyes a stain,In God's pure sight may only beA scar, brought from some well-won fieldWhere thou wouldst only faint and yield.The look, the air, that frets thy sight,May be a token that, below,The soul has closed in deadly fightWith some infernal, fiery foeWhose glance would scorch thy smiling grace,And cast thee shuddering on thy face.The fall thou darest to despise—Perhaps the angel's slackened handHas suffered it, that he may riseAnd take a firmer, surer stand;Or, trusting less to earthly things,May henceforth learn to use his wings.And judge none lost, but wait and see,With hopeful pity, not disdain;The depth of that abyss may beThe measure of the height of pain,And love, and glory, that may raiseThe soul to God in after-days.Adelaide A. Procter.

Illustration.Slaying The First-Born. "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Rom. 12:19.

Slaying The First-Born. "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Rom. 12:19.

1. What warning does Christ give concerning judging?

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.”Matt. 7:1.

2. What is Satan called in the Scriptures?

“The accuser of our brethren... which accused them before our God day and night.”Rev. 12:10.

Note.—Then when we judge, accuse, and condemn one another, we are doing the work of Satan.

3. If we bite and devour one another, what may we expect?

“But if ye bite and devour one another,take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”Gal. 5:15.

4. Before attempting to judge, criticize, or correct others, what should we first do?

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye: and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite,first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”Matt. 7:3-5.

5. What did Christ say He did not come to do?

“If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: forI came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”“For God sent not His Son into the world tocondemnthe world; but that the world through Him might besaved.”John 12:47; 3:17.

6. What question does Paul ask concerning judging?

“Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?to his own master he standeth or falleth.”Rom. 14:4.

7. To whom are all to give account?

“So then every one of us shall give account of himselfto God.”Verse 12.

8. What exhortation, therefore, does the apostle give?

“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.”Verse 13.

9. Instead of railing on His enemies, what did Christ do?

“Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; butcommitted Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”1 Peter 2:23.

10. Wherein do man's judging and God's judging differ?

“For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; forman looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”1 Sam. 16:7.“Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; butGod knoweth your hearts: forthat which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”Luke 16:15.

11. How does Christ tell us to judge?

“Judgenot according to the appearance, butjudge righteous judgment.”John 7:24.

12. How, by whom, and in what spirit should those having committed faults be dealt with?

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault,ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”Gal. 6:1.

13. Of what are those generally guilty who judge others?

“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest[pg 692]thyself;for thou that judgest doest the same things.”Rom. 2:1.

14. Whom are we not likely to judge and condemn?

“For if we would judgeourselves, we should not be judged.”1 Cor. 11:31.

15. What instruction does James give regarding judging?

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren.He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”James 4:11. See Titus 3:2.

16. Why is it safer not to judge and condemn others?

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned.”Luke 6:37.“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”Matt. 7:2. See Ps. 18:25, 26.

17. To what time are we exhorted to defer judgment?

“Therefore judge nothing before the time,until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart.”1 Cor. 4:5.

“Judge not;”the workings of his brainAnd of his heart thou canst not see.What looks to thy dim eyes a stain,In God's pure sight may only beA scar, brought from some well-won fieldWhere thou wouldst only faint and yield.The look, the air, that frets thy sight,May be a token that, below,The soul has closed in deadly fightWith some infernal, fiery foeWhose glance would scorch thy smiling grace,And cast thee shuddering on thy face.The fall thou darest to despise—Perhaps the angel's slackened handHas suffered it, that he may riseAnd take a firmer, surer stand;Or, trusting less to earthly things,May henceforth learn to use his wings.And judge none lost, but wait and see,With hopeful pity, not disdain;The depth of that abyss may beThe measure of the height of pain,And love, and glory, that may raiseThe soul to God in after-days.Adelaide A. Procter.

“Judge not;”the workings of his brain

And of his heart thou canst not see.

What looks to thy dim eyes a stain,

In God's pure sight may only be

A scar, brought from some well-won field

Where thou wouldst only faint and yield.

The look, the air, that frets thy sight,May be a token that, below,The soul has closed in deadly fightWith some infernal, fiery foeWhose glance would scorch thy smiling grace,And cast thee shuddering on thy face.

The look, the air, that frets thy sight,

May be a token that, below,

The soul has closed in deadly fight

With some infernal, fiery foe

Whose glance would scorch thy smiling grace,

And cast thee shuddering on thy face.

The fall thou darest to despise—Perhaps the angel's slackened handHas suffered it, that he may riseAnd take a firmer, surer stand;Or, trusting less to earthly things,May henceforth learn to use his wings.

The fall thou darest to despise—

Perhaps the angel's slackened hand

Has suffered it, that he may rise

And take a firmer, surer stand;

Or, trusting less to earthly things,

May henceforth learn to use his wings.

And judge none lost, but wait and see,With hopeful pity, not disdain;The depth of that abyss may beThe measure of the height of pain,And love, and glory, that may raiseThe soul to God in after-days.

And judge none lost, but wait and see,

With hopeful pity, not disdain;

The depth of that abyss may be

The measure of the height of pain,

And love, and glory, that may raise

The soul to God in after-days.

Adelaide A. Procter.

Gossiping And BackbitingIllustration.Sowing Tares. "While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares." Matt. 13:251. What does the ninth commandment forbid?“Thou shalt not bearfalse witnessagainst thy neighbor.”Ex. 20:16.Note.—The evident object of this commandment is to guard the rights, interests, and reputation of our neighbor, by guarding our conversation, and confining our words to that which is strictly true.2. What instruction did John the Baptist give the soldiers who asked of him advice regarding the way of life?“And he said unto them, Do violence to no man,neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”Luke 3:14.3. What is one test of a perfect man?“If any manoffend not in word, the same isa perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”James 3:2.4. How did Christ teach the importance of guarding our speech?“But I say unto you, Thatevery idle wordthat men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thywordsthou shalt be justified, and by thywordsthou shalt be condemned.”Matt. 12:36, 37.[pg 694]5. To whom are our words all known?“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo,O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether.”Ps. 139:4.6. Of what are one's words an index?“Out of the abundance ofthe heartthe mouth speaketh.”Matt. 12:34.7. What conduct is condemned by the Scriptures?“Thou shalt not go up and downas a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the Lord.”Lev. 19:16.8. To what are the words of a talebearer compared?“The words of a talebearer areas wounds.”Prov. 26:22.9. What is their effect?“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; buthe that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”Prov. 17:9.10. What would follow if there were no talebearers?“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: sowhere there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”Prov. 26:20.11. Among other things, what did Paul fear he would find in the Corinthian church?“For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes,backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.”2 Cor. 12:20.12. What result follows backbiting and like evils?“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Butif ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”Gal. 5:14, 15.13. How may a backbiting tongue be rebuked?“The north wind driveth away rain:so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.”Prov. 25:23.14. To whom is the promise made of abiding in the tabernacle of the Lord, and dwelling in His holy hill?“He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.He that backbiteth not with[pg 695]his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.”Ps. 15:2, 3.Note.—“Never carry a sword in your tongue to wound the reputation of any man,”says Kirkle. Noah Webster laid down this rule:“We should say nothing of a person in his absence that we should be unwilling to say if he were present.”How few govern their conversation according to this rule! See Prov. 31:10, 26.15. What caution is given in regard to receiving an accusation against an elder?“Against an elder receive not an accusation,but before two or three witnesses.”1 Tim. 5:19.Note.—“He that lends an easy and credulous ear to calumny is either a man of very mean morals, or has no more sense of understanding than a child.”—Menander.16. Can man, unrenewed by grace, control his tongue?“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:but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”James 3:7, 8.17. As a guard against the misuse of the power of speech, therefore, for what should we pray?“Set awatch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep thedoorof my lips.”Ps. 141:3.18. What vow did David take against offenses of the tongue?“I said,I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with mytongue:I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”Ps. 39:1.19. What is a sure cure for backbiting?“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”Matt. 22:39.“Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”Matt. 7:12.“Speak evil of no man.”Titus 3:2. See also James 4:11.20. What are those words like which are fitly spoken?“A word fitly spoken islike apples of gold in pictures of silver.”Prov. 25:11.“Keep a watch on your words, my darlings,For words are wonderful things:They are sweet like bees' fresh honey;Like the bees they have terrible stings;They can bless like the warm, glad sunshine,And brighten a lonely life;They can cut in the strife of anger,Like an open, two-edged knife.”[pg 696]Illustration.Joseph Sold Into Egypt. "Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:16.

Illustration.Sowing Tares. "While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares." Matt. 13:25

Sowing Tares. "While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares." Matt. 13:25

1. What does the ninth commandment forbid?

“Thou shalt not bearfalse witnessagainst thy neighbor.”Ex. 20:16.

Note.—The evident object of this commandment is to guard the rights, interests, and reputation of our neighbor, by guarding our conversation, and confining our words to that which is strictly true.

2. What instruction did John the Baptist give the soldiers who asked of him advice regarding the way of life?

“And he said unto them, Do violence to no man,neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”Luke 3:14.

3. What is one test of a perfect man?

“If any manoffend not in word, the same isa perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”James 3:2.

4. How did Christ teach the importance of guarding our speech?

“But I say unto you, Thatevery idle wordthat men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thywordsthou shalt be justified, and by thywordsthou shalt be condemned.”Matt. 12:36, 37.

5. To whom are our words all known?

“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo,O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether.”Ps. 139:4.

6. Of what are one's words an index?

“Out of the abundance ofthe heartthe mouth speaketh.”Matt. 12:34.

7. What conduct is condemned by the Scriptures?

“Thou shalt not go up and downas a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the Lord.”Lev. 19:16.

8. To what are the words of a talebearer compared?

“The words of a talebearer areas wounds.”Prov. 26:22.

9. What is their effect?

“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; buthe that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”Prov. 17:9.

10. What would follow if there were no talebearers?

“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: sowhere there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”Prov. 26:20.

11. Among other things, what did Paul fear he would find in the Corinthian church?

“For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes,backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.”2 Cor. 12:20.

12. What result follows backbiting and like evils?

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Butif ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”Gal. 5:14, 15.

13. How may a backbiting tongue be rebuked?

“The north wind driveth away rain:so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.”Prov. 25:23.

14. To whom is the promise made of abiding in the tabernacle of the Lord, and dwelling in His holy hill?

“He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.He that backbiteth not with[pg 695]his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.”Ps. 15:2, 3.

Note.—“Never carry a sword in your tongue to wound the reputation of any man,”says Kirkle. Noah Webster laid down this rule:“We should say nothing of a person in his absence that we should be unwilling to say if he were present.”How few govern their conversation according to this rule! See Prov. 31:10, 26.

15. What caution is given in regard to receiving an accusation against an elder?

“Against an elder receive not an accusation,but before two or three witnesses.”1 Tim. 5:19.

Note.—“He that lends an easy and credulous ear to calumny is either a man of very mean morals, or has no more sense of understanding than a child.”—Menander.

16. Can man, unrenewed by grace, control his tongue?

“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:but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”James 3:7, 8.

17. As a guard against the misuse of the power of speech, therefore, for what should we pray?

“Set awatch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep thedoorof my lips.”Ps. 141:3.

18. What vow did David take against offenses of the tongue?

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

19. What is a sure cure for backbiting?

“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”Matt. 22:39.“Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”Matt. 7:12.“Speak evil of no man.”Titus 3:2. See also James 4:11.

20. What are those words like which are fitly spoken?

“A word fitly spoken islike apples of gold in pictures of silver.”Prov. 25:11.

“Keep a watch on your words, my darlings,For words are wonderful things:They are sweet like bees' fresh honey;Like the bees they have terrible stings;They can bless like the warm, glad sunshine,And brighten a lonely life;They can cut in the strife of anger,Like an open, two-edged knife.”

“Keep a watch on your words, my darlings,

For words are wonderful things:

They are sweet like bees' fresh honey;

Like the bees they have terrible stings;

They can bless like the warm, glad sunshine,

And brighten a lonely life;

They can cut in the strife of anger,

Like an open, two-edged knife.”

Illustration.Joseph Sold Into Egypt. "Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:16.

Joseph Sold Into Egypt. "Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:16.

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