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5. How does Zechariah state the extent of Christ's dominion?

His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. (9 Zec. 10.)

6. Are the influences of the Holy Spirit promised to impart success to the gospel?

I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: and they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water-courses. (44 Is. 3,4.)

7. What means will God render successful?

Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (12 Dan. 4.)

8. By what beautiful images does God shew the effects of his divine influences?

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. (14 Ho. 5, 6, 7.)

9. What vision of the gospel's extension did St.John behold?

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. (14 Rev. 6.)

10. Will the spread of the gospel prevent wars?

And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (2 Is. 4. and 4 Mic. 3.)

11. What will be the delightful results of the Divine assistance and blessing?

After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no

more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them. (31 Jer. 33, 34. and 8 Heb. 11.)

12. How will the songs of heaven record the triumphs of Christ?

The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (11 Rev. 15.)

XVII. HUMILITY AND PRIDE.

Duty of humility-Warnings against pride-God the source of every good-Our insufficiency-God's regard to the humble-Evils and miseries of pride-Advantages of humility-Common objects of pride-Humility in our conduct to others.

1. Is humility particularly required of the young?

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. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. (I. Pet. 5.5, 6.)

2. How does Isaiah describe the pride of the young as a national curse?

The child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable. (3 Is. 5.)

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3. Who is the only proper object of trust?

Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength; for he bringeth down them that dwell on high. (26 Is. 4, 5.)

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory. (115 P. 1.)

4. Is the danger greatest when we think ourselves most secure?

Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. (I. Cor. 10. 12.)

5. What did Christ say to his disciples, when they were striving who should be greatest?

He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. (22 Lk. 26.)

6. When Christ washed the feet of his disciples, how did he exhort them?

If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent, greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (13 Jn. 14 to 17.)

7. How does the apostle enforce humility by referring to the Godhead and humiliation of Christ?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (2 Phi. 5 to 8.)

8. What exhortations to humility are given in the epistle to the Romans?

Be not high-minded, but fear. (11 Ro. 20.)

I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly. (12 Rom. 3.)

Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (12 Rom. 16.)

9. How does St. James enforce humility?

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (4 Jas. 10.)

10. While St. Paul acknowledged "himself the least of the Apostles," how did he magnify the grace of God?

By the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace, which was bestowed on me, was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (I. Cor. 15. 10.)

11. How does he speak of the insufficiency of ministers without Divine help?

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. (II. Cor. 3. 5.) 12. How did God comfort Paul in his afflictions?

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me-for when I am weak, then am I strong. (II. Cor. 12.9, 10.)

13. Does the Apostle connect our duty with our dependance on God's assistance?

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (2 Phi. 12, 13.)

14. How did the Psalmist rejoice in the favor of God to the humble and contrite?

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (34 P. 18.)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (51 P. 17.) Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly but the proud he knoweth afar off. (138 P. 6.)

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15. For what purpose does God instruct man?

That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. (33 Job, 17.)

16. How was the Psalmist enabled to declare his humility before God?

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is weaned of his mother; my soul is even as a weaned child. (131 P.1, 2.)

17. Has God promised to bless the humble?

To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (66 Is. 2.)

18. Did Christ renew the blessing when on earth?

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for their's is the kingdom of heaven. (5 Mt. 3.)

19. By what significant and endearing action did Christ teach his disciples the importance of humility?

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (18 Mt. 2 to 4.)

20. Does God bestow grace on the humble?

He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. (4 Jas. 6, 7.)

21. Does God notice and punish the "proud in heart?" Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. (16 Pr. 5.)

22. How does Solomon shew the connexion between pride and ruin?

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (16 Pr. 18.)

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility. (18 Pr. 12.)

A man's pride shall bring him low; but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit. (29 Pr. 23.)

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