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8. Is the scorner disliked?

The scorner is an abomination to men. (24 Pr. 9.)

9. How does God treat him?

Surely he scorneth the scorner, but he giveth grace unto the lowly. (3 Pr. 34.)

10. How were those children punished who mocked the prophet Elisha?

As he was going up by the way, there came forth little. children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; Go up, thou bald head: and he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. (II. K. 2. 23, 24.)

11. Is mocking a reflection against our Creator?

Whoso mocketh the poor, reproacheth his Maker. (17 Pr.5.)

12. Is all corrupt communication prohibited ?

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (4 Eph. 29.)

13. What should our speech be employed in ?

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient; but rather giving of thanks. (5 Eph. 4.)

XXV. TRUTH AND DECEIT.-
HYPOCRISY.

Commands against lying, and exhortations to truth-God requires truth, punishes liars-Advantages of truth.Evils of lying-The operation of deceit-HypocritesHow they act-Their detection and punishment.

1. What is the ninth commandment?

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (20 Ex. 16.)

2. Are false reports also forbidden?

Thou shalt not raise a false report. (23 Ex.1.)

3. How does the Psalmist caution against deceit ? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. (34 P. 13.)

4. How does Zechariah enforce the importance of truth? Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates. (8 Zech. 16.)

5. How does the Apostle write to the Ephesians on this subject?

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness; whereby they lie in wait to deceive: but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.-Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. (4 Eph. 14, -15, 25.)

6. What does God require?

Thou desirest truth in the inward parts. (51 P.6.)

7. Does God abhor lying?`

Lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are his delight. (12 Pr. 22.)

8. Did the Psalmist hate the sin of lying?

I hate and abhor lying; but thy law do I love. (119 P.163.) Remove from me the way of lying.-I have chosen the way of truth. (119 P. 29,30.)

9. Will the deceitful escape punishment?

A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. (19 Pr. 5.)

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10. Are the deceitful cursed by God?

Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully. (48 Jer. 10.)

11. Will they be punished with everlasting misery?

All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. (21 Rev. 8.)

Whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (22 Rev. 15.)

12. Are the advantages of truth permanent, and those of deceit momentary?

The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment. (12 Pr. 19.)

Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. (20 Pr. 17.)

13. Are deceivers their own greatest enemies?

They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. (2 Jonah, 8.)

14. Are temporal blessings connected with truth?

He that will have life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. (I. Pet. 3. 10. & 34 P. 12.)

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18. How does the Psalmist describe the characters of the deceitful?

They delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. (62 P. 4.)

16. Is deceit often practised in buying?

It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. (20 Pr. 14.)

17. What is money obtained by fraud?

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. (21 Pr. 6.)

18. How does Jeremiah describe the deceitful character ? They bend their tongues like their bow for lies; but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth. They will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies.-Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit.-Their tongue is as an arrow shot out: it speaketh deceit. (9 Jer. 3, 5, 6, 8.)

19. Is Satan deceitful?

When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. (8 Jn. 44.)

20. What is the language of the hypocrite?

Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. (65 Is.5.)

21. How does God describe the hypocrisy of the Israelites to Ezekiel?

And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. (33 Ez. 31, 32.)

22. How does St. Paul describe the hypocrite?

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. (II. Tim. 3. 5.)

23. Is the hope of hypocrites vain, and their punishment certain?

The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment. (20 Job, 5.) What is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? (27 Job, 8.)

The hypocrites in heart heap up wrath. (36 Job, 13.)

24. How did Christ expose the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees?

Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (23 Mt. 27, 28.)

25. How does Christ show the insufficiency of a mere profession?

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (7 Mt. 21.)

26. With whom will other unconverted sinners have their portion?

With hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (24 Mt.51.)

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