Of miracles.

fessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. [See 144.]

188. Ought we to contend for the true faith?

Ph. 1. 27. Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries.

Jude 3.

Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

189. Did God make peculiar promises to the faith of miracles?

Mat. 21. 21. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig-tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, it shall be done. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Mk. 11. 23. Verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mk. 16. 17. These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

190. Is the faith of miracles saving faith?

Mat. 7. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not propehsied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them,

Laying on of hands.

I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity.

1 Cor. 13. 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge: and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity I am nothing.

191. Were miraculous gifts conferred and miracles performed through laying on of hands?

Mk. 6. 5. He laid his hand on a few sick folk, and healed them.

Mk. 16. 18. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Lk. 4. 40. And he [Christ] laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

Ac. 6. 6. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 8. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Ac. 8. 17. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power.

Ac. 13. 2. The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 9. Then Saul, (who is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said- -Thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness.

Ac. 19. 6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Ac. 28. 8.

hands on him,

Unbelief.

Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his and healed him.

1 Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

192. Has unbelief been a common sin?

Is. 53. 1. Who hath believed our whom is the arm of the Lord revealed.

report? and to

Mat. 13. 58. And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Mk. 6. 6. And he marvelled because of their unbe

lief.

Lk. 18. 8.

find faith on the

When the Son of man cometh, shall he earth?

Heb. 4. 2. The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

193. Is God displeased with unbelief?

Num. 14. 11. And the Lord said unto Moses, how long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they will believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them.

Mk. 16. 14. Afterwards he appeared unto the eleven, as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief, and hardness of heart-And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned.

Jn. 3. 18. He that believeth not is condemned already. 36. He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Rom. 11. 20. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.

194. Does unbelief spring from an evil heart?

Jn. 5. 44. How can ye believe, which receive hon

Infidelity.

or one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?

Jn. 8. 43. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Ep. 4. 13. Having the unders anding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.

Heb. 3. 12. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

195. What is the nature of infidelity?

Ex. 5. 2.

voice?

Who is the Lord, that I should obey his

Ps. 2. 3. Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

Ps. 10. 4.

Ps. 14. 1.

no God.

God is not in all his thoughts.

The fool hath said in his heart, there is

Ps. 59. 7. Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear? Is. 56. 12. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

Ezk. 8. 12. They say, the Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth.

Zep. 1. 12. I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.

Rom. 3. 18. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

2 Pet. 3. 3. There shall come in the last day scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Directions for-Exemplified.

Fasting.

196. What directions are given for fasting?

Is.. 58.6. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?

Mat. 6. 16. Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face: That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

197. Is fasting enforced by scripture examples?

Mat. 4. 1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterwards an hungered.

Lk. 2. 37. She was a widow of about four score and four years: which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Ac. 10. 30. And Cornelius said, Four days ago, I was fasting unto this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard.

Ac. 13. 2. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me, Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Ac. 14. 23.

And when they had ordained them el