I word is true from the beginning; and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. cry unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. I intreat thy favour with my whole heart be merciful unto me according to thy word." : 3 Neh. ix, 6. Job xlii, 2-6. 1 Mark ix, 24. 2 Ps. cxix, 18. 4 Ps. xc, 2. Chapter Twenty-eighth. THE SINNER SELF-DECEIVED. The self-confident undeceived. "LET no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous; he that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. And hereby we do know that we know Christ, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, 'I know Him,' and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. "If a man say, 'I love God,' and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? He that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. "And this commandment have we from God: That he who loveth God love his brother also.' 6 "If any man seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it; for the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 8 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 9"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of sin cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them; 10 but be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only. " Áll unrighteousness is sin: 12 and the soul that sinneth, it shall die. 13If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us: 14 for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. 15 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 11 John iii. 7, 8. 21 John ii, 3-6. 31 John iv, 20. 41 John ii, 11. 6 Jas. i, 26. 71 Pet. iii, 10-12. 8 1 John ii, 15-17. 12 Ezek. xviii, 4. 51 John iv, 21. 9 Eph. v, 6, 7. 13 1 John i, 8. 10 Jas. 22. 14 Rom. iii, 23. 111 John V, 17. ILLUSTRATION. Parable of the barren fig tree. "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, 'Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?' And he answering, said unto him, 'Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."" 1 Luke xiii, 6-10. The unconverted reproved by God. "The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord: but blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. "Unto the wicked God saith: What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst take my covenant in thy mouth? seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.-Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.-Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. 4"Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompense. 5 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Love the Lord your God, and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. Obey my voice, and do according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God." 7 1 Ps. 1, 1. 2 Jer. xvii, 9, 10, 5, 7. 3 Ps. 1, 16, 17, 19-23. 4 Job xv, 31. 5 Deut. xii, 32. 6 Deut. xi, 13. 7 Jer. xi, 4. ILLUSTRATION. Parable of the talents. 1"A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. "After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five, saying, |