November 28

From Reformata Daily Devotions

November 28

Prayer

Pray that we be so moved to greet our fellow Christians as beloved family.
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
(2 Corinthians 13:11-14)

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Question 75

Question 75 - What is forbidden in the Eighth Commandment?
The Eighth Commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbour's wealth or outward estate.

Reformational Reading

The Westminster Larger Catechism

Question 163

Question 163 - What are the parts of a sacrament?
The parts of a sacrament are two; the one an outward and sensible sign, used according to Christ's own appointment; the other an inward and spiritual grace thereby signified.

Private Reading

Micah 3

1.  And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?
2.  Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;
3.  Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.
4.  Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
5.  Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
6.  Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
7.  Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.
8.  But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
9.  Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.
10.  They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
11.  The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
12.  Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

Commentary: Micah 3

Vs. 1-8
Men cannot expect to do ill, and fare well; but to find that done to them which they did to others. How seldom do wholesome truths reach the ears of those in high stations or in authority! Those who deceive others are preparing confusion for their own faces. The prophet had ardent love to God and to the souls of men; deep concern for his glory and their salvation, and zeal against sin. The difficulties he met with did not drive him from his work. He had this strength; not from and of himself, but he was full of power by the Spirit of the Lord. Those who act honestly, may act boldly. And those who come to hear the word of God, must be willing to be told of their faults, must take it kindly, and be thankful.
Vs. 9-12
Zion's walls owe no thanks to those that build them up with blood and iniquity. The sin of man works not the righteousness of God. Even when men do that which in itself is good, but do it for filthy lucre, it becomes abomination both to God and man. Faith rests in the Lord as the soul's foundation: presumption only leans upon the Lord as a prop, and would use him to serve a turn. If men's having the Lord among them will not keep them from doing evil, it never can secure them from suffering evil for so doing. See the doom of wicked Jacob; Therefore shall Zion for your sake be ploughed as a field. This was exactly fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and is so at this day. If sacred places are polluted by sin, they will be wasted and ruined by the judgments of God.

Luke 12

1.  In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2.  For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3.  Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4.  And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5.  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
6.  Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7.  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
8.  Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9.  But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
10.  And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
11.  And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
12.  For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
13.  And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14.  And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15.  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16.  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17.  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18.  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20.  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21.  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22.  And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23.  The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24.  Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25.  And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26.  If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27.  Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28.  If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29.  And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30.  For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31.  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32.  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33.  Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35.  Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36.  And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37.  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38.  And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39.  And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40.  Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41.  Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42.  And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43.  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44.  Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45.  But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46.  The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47.  And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48.  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
49.  I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50.  But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51.  Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52.  For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53.  The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
54.  And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
55.  And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56.  Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
57.  Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
58.  When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
59.  I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

Commentary: Luke 12

Vs. 1-12
A firm belief of the doctrine of God's universal providence, and the extent of it, would satisfy us when in peril, and encourage us to trust God in the way of duty. Providence takes notice of the meanest creatures, even of the sparrows, and therefore of the smallest interests of the disciples of Christ. Those who confess Christ now, shall be owned by him in the great day, before the angels of God. To deter us from denying Christ, and deserting his truths and ways, we are here assured that those who deny Christ, though they may thus save life itself, and though they may gain a kingdom by it, will be great losers at last; for Christ will not know them, will not own them, nor show them favor. But let no trembling, penitent backslider doubt of obtaining forgiveness. This is far different from the determined enmity that is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall never be forgiven, because it will never be repented of.
Vs. 13-21
Christ's kingdom is spiritual, and not of this world. Christianity does not meddle with politics; it obliges all to do justly, but worldly dominion is not founded in grace. It does not encourage expectations of worldly advantages by religion. The rewards of Christ's disciples are of another nature. Covetousness is a sin we need constantly to be warned against; for happiness and comfort do not depend on the wealth of this world. The things of the world will not satisfy the desires of a soul. Here is a parable, which shows the folly of carnal worldlings while they live, and their misery when they die. The character drawn is exactly that of a prudent, worldly man, who has no grateful regard to the providence of God, nor any right thought of the uncertainty of human affairs, the worth of his soul, or the importance of eternity. How many, even among professed Christians, point out similar characters as models for imitation, and proper persons to form connections with! We mistake if we think that thoughts are hid, and thoughts are free. When he saw a great crop upon his ground, instead of thanking God for it, or rejoicing to be able to do more good, he afflicts himself. What shall I do now? The poorest beggar in the country could not have said a more anxious word. The more men have, the more perplexity they have with it. It was folly for him to think of making no other use of his plenty, than to indulge the flesh and gratify the sensual appetites, without any thought of doing good to others. Carnal worldliness are fools; and the day is coming when God will call them by their own name, and they will call themselves so. The death of such persons is miserable in itself, and terrible to them. Thy soul shall be required. He is loath to part with it; but God shall require it, shall require an account of it, require it as a guilty soul to be punished without delay. It is the folly of most men, to mind and pursue that which is for the body and for time only, more than that for the soul and eternity.
Vs. 22-40
Christ largely insisted upon this caution not to give way to disquieting, perplexing cares, Matthew 6:25-34. The arguments here used are for our encouragement to cast our care upon God, which is the right way to get ease. As in our stature, so in our state, it is our wisdom to take it as it is. An eager, anxious pursuit of the things of this world, even necessary things, ill becomes the disciples of Christ. Fears must not prevail; when we frighten ourselves with thoughts of evil to come, and put ourselves upon needless cares how to avoid it. If we value the beauty of holiness, we shall not crave the luxuries of life. Let us then examine whether we belong to this little flock. Christ is our Master, and we are his servants; not only working servants, but waiting servants. We must be as men that wait for their Lord, that sit up while he stays out late, to be ready to receive him. In this Christ alluded to his own ascension to heaven, his coming to call his people to him by death, and his return to judge the world. We are uncertain as to the time of his coming to us, we should therefore be always ready. If men thus take care of their houses, let us be thus wise for our souls. Be ye therefore ready also; as ready as the good man of the house would be, if he knew at what hour the thief would come.
Vs. 41-53
All are to take to themselves what Christ says in his word, and to inquire concerning it. No one is left so ignorant as not to know many things to be wrong which he does, and many things to be right which he neglects; therefore all are without excuse in their sin. The bringing in the gospel dispensation would occasion desolations. Not that this would be the tendency of Christ's religion, which is pure, peaceable, and loving; but the effect of its being contrary to men's pride and lusts. There was to be a wide publication of the gospel. But before that took place, Christ had a baptism to be baptized with, far different from that of water and the Holy Spirit. He must endure sufferings and death. It agreed not with his plan to preach the gospel more widely, till this baptism was completed. We should be zealous in making known the truth, for though divisions will be stirred up, and a man's own household may be his foes, yet sinners will be converted, and God will be glorified.
Vs. 54-59
Christ would have the people to be as wise in the concerns of their souls as they are in outward affairs. Let them hasten to obtain peace with God before it is too late. If any man has found that God has set himself against him concerning his sins, let him apply to him as God in Christ reconciling the world to himself. While we are alive, we are in the way, and now is our time.

Family Reading

1 Chronicles 24-25

1.  Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2.  But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.
3.  And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.
4.  And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.
5.  Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
6.  And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
7.  Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8.  The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9.  The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10.  The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
11.  The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
12.  The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13.  The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14.  The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15.  The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,
16.  The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
17.  The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
18.  The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
19.  These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.
20.  And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.
21.  Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
22.  Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.
23.  And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24.  Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.
25.  The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.
26.  The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.
27.  The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
28.  Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
29.  Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
30.  The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
31.  These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.


1.  Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
2.  Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.
3.  Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
4.  Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
5.  All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6.  All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
7.  So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
8.  And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
9.  Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:
10.  The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
11.  The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
12.  The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
13.  The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
14.  The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
15.  The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
16.  The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
17.  The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
18.  The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
19.  The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
20.  The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
21.  The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
22.  The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
23.  The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
24.  The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
25.  The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
26.  The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
27.  The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
28.  The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
29.  The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
30.  The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
31.  The four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.

Commentary: 1 Chronicles 24-25

Vs 1-31
When every one has, knows, and keeps his place and work, the more there are the better. In the mystical body of Christ, every member has its use, for the good of the whole. Christ is High Priest over the house of God, to whom all believers, being made priests, are to be in subjection. In Christ, no difference is made between bond and free, elder and younger. The younger brethren, if faithful and sincere, shall be no less acceptable to Christ than the fathers. May we all be children of the Lord, fitted to sing his praises for ever in his temple above.


Vs 1-31
David put those in order who were appointed to be singers and musicians in the temple. To prophesy, in this place, means praising God with great earnestness and devout affection, under the influences of the Holy Spirit. In raising these affection, poetry and music were employed. If the Spirit of God do not put life and fervor into our devotions, they will, however ordered, be a lifeless, worthless form.

1 Peter 5

1.  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2.  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3.  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4.  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5.  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6.  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7.  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9.  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10.  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11.  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12.  By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
13.  The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
14.  Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Commentary: 1 Peter 5

Vs. 1-4
The apostle Peter does not command, but exhorts. He does not claim power to rule over all pastors and churches. It was the peculiar honor of Peter and a few more, to be witnesses of Christ's sufferings; but it is the privilege of all true Christians to partake of the glory that shall be revealed. These poor, dispersed, suffering Christians, were the flock of God, redeemed to God by the great Shepherd, living in holy love and communion, according to the will of God. They are also dignified with the title of God's heritage or clergy; his peculiar lot, chosen for his own people, to enjoy his special favor, and to do him special service. Christ is the chief Shepherd of the whole flock and heritage of God. And all faithful ministers will receive a crown of unfading glory, infinitely better and more honorable than all the authority, wealth, and pleasure of the world.
Vs. 5-9
Humility preserves peace and order in all Christian churches and societies; pride disturbs them. Where God gives grace to be humble, he will give wisdom, faith, and holiness. To be humble, and subject to our reconciled God, will bring greater comfort to the soul than the gratification of pride and ambition. But it is to be in due time; not in thy fancied time, but God's own wisely appointed time. Does he wait, and wilt not thou? What difficulties will not the firm belief of his wisdom, power, and goodness get over! Then be humble under his hand. Cast "all you care;" personal cares, family cares, cares for the present, and cares for the future, for yourselves, for others, for the church, on God. These are burdensome, and often very sinful, when they arise from unbelief and distrust, when they torture and distract the mind, unfit us for duties, and hinder our delight in the service of God. The remedy is, to cast our care upon God, and leave every event to his wise and gracious disposal. Firm belief that the Divine will and counsels are right, calms the spirit of a man. Truly the godly too often forget this, and fret themselves to no purpose. Refer all to God's disposal. The golden mines of all spiritual comfort and good are wholly his, and the Spirit itself. Then, will he not furnish what is fit for us, if we humbly attend on him, and lay the care of providing for us, upon his wisdom and love? The whole design of Satan is to devour and destroy souls. He always is contriving whom he may ensnare to eternal ruin. Our duty plainly is, to be sober; to govern both the outward and the inward man by the rules of temperance. To be vigilant; suspicious of constant danger from this spiritual enemy, watchful and diligent to prevent his designs. Be steadfast, or solid, by faith. A man cannot fight upon a quagmire, there is no standing without firm ground to tread upon; this faith alone furnishes. It lifts the soul to the firm advanced ground of the promises, and fixes it there. The consideration of what others suffer, is proper to encourage us to bear our share in any affliction; and in whatever form Satan assaults us, or by whatever means, we may know that our brethren experience the same.
Vs. 10-14
In conclusion, the apostle prays to God for them, as the God of all grace. "Perfect" implies their progress towards perfection. "Stablish"" imports the curing of our natural lightness and inconstancy. "Strengthen" has respect to the growth of graces, especially where weakest and lowest. "Settle" signifies to fix upon a sure foundation, and may refer to Him who is the Foundation and Strength of believers. These expressions show that perseverance and progress in grace are first to be sought after by every Christian. The power of these doctrines on the hearts, and the fruits in the lives, showed who are partakers of the grace of God. The cherishing and increase of Christian love, and of affection one to another, is no matter of empty compliment, but the stamp and badge of Jesus Christ on his followers. Others may have a false peace for a time, and wicked men may wish for it to themselves and to one another; but theirs is a vain hope, and will come to naught. All solid peace is founded on Christ, and flows from him.

Prayer

Lord's Prayer

Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Apostle's Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.

Amen.

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