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unto the LORD the words of this song, in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul and he said,

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: ·
He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
My high tower, and my refuge, my Savior;
Thou savest me from violence.

Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 8. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that

I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be taught the people, said unto all the praised:

So shall I be saved from mine enemies.
When the waves of death compassed me,
The floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
The sorrows of hell compassed me about;
The snares of death prevented me;

In my distress I called upon the LORD,
And cried to my God:

And he did hear my voice out of his temple,
And my cry did enter into his ears.-

17. He sent from above, he took me ;

He drew me out of many waters;

He delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from them that hated me:

For they were too strong for me,

They prevented me in the day of my calamity:
But the LORD was my stay.

He brought me forth also into a large place:
He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
The LORD rewarded ine according to my right-

eousness:

According to the cleanness of my hands hath he ecompensed me.

For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.

(4.) Solomon at the Dedication of the Temple.

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1 KINGS 8: 55. He stood and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, Blessed be the LORD that hath given rest unto his people, according to all that he promised. 65. And at that time Solomon held a feast and all Israel with him, a great congregation... seven days and seven days, even fourteen days. On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart, for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.

(5.) Nehemiah and Ezra, at the Resto

ration.

NEH. 8: 1. And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate. -5. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people ;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up and Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen,

people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go

your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them. 18. And there was very great gladness. Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.

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2. Public Fasting.

EZRA 8 21. Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Áhava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good, that seek him.. So we fasted and besought our God for this, and he was entreated of us.

ESTH. 4 16. Gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink, three days, night or day; I also, and my maidens will fast likewise. So will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.

ISA. 58 3. Wherefore have we fasted say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure and exact all your labors. Behold ye fast for strife and debate ; and to smite with the fist of wickedness ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

Is not this the fast, that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickedness; to undo the heavy burthens, 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? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning.

1 SAM. 7 6. And they gathered together to Mizpeh... and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD.-10. And the LORD thundered with a great thunder upon the Philistines, and they were smitten before Israel.

NEH. 1 4. When I heard their words, I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. (See Prayer.)

DAN. 93. I set my face unto the LORD, to seek by prayer and by supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. (See Prayer.)

T JOEL 2: 12. Therefore also now turn ye unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rend your heart and not your garment, and turn unto the LORD your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. - 15. Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of

her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach.

MAT. 6: 16. 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 thy 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, himself shall reward you openly.

ACTS 14: 23. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed.

§ 5. MINISTERS OF INSTRUCTION, AND GOVERNMENT IN THE CHURCH.

I. The ministry appointed, with their instructions.

MARK 3: 14. He ordained twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach.

MAT. 9: 37. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few, Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

10: 1. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease.

5. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses; nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes,

nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into a house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house, or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily, I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment, than for that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues: and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another. For verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

¶ Luke 10: 1. After these things,

the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

ACTS 12: 25. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

13: 1. Now there were, in the church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon, that was called Niger, and Lucius, of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 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.

T 14: 23. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

20: 17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.-28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God.

21:8. And we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Aga

bus.

ROM. 1:1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (which he had promised afore by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures,) concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Cor. 12: 4. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit: and there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge by the same Spirit ; to another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, discerning of spirits; to another, divers kinds of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues. But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first, Apostles, secondarily, prophets, thirdly, teachers, after that, miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all Apostles are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret ?

But covet earnestly the best gifts.

T 2 COR. 2:14. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place! For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

5: 20. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

1 COR. 14: 1. Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth, speaketh unto men to edifica- }} tion, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

2 Cor. 10: 7. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed.

EPH. 3: 7. Whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power: (unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given,) that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ: and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mys tery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ,

to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers, in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

EPH. 4: 11. And he gave some Apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

1 TIM. 1: 12. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

JOHN 20: 21. As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

ROм. 1: 1. Paul, called to be an Apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.

HEB. 5: 4. No man taketh this honor to himself; but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

2 TIM. 2: 2. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

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thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

1 THESS. 2: 5. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness: nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the Apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: as ye know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

¶ 1 TIM. 3: 1. This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober,

II. The character they should pos- of good behavior, given to hospi

sess.

MAT. 10: 16. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

2 COR. 3: 1. Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God: not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any

tality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient; not a brawler; not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil: moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil.

4:12. Let no man despise thy youth. But be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

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