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XXVIII. PURITY. SANCTIFICATION.

IMPURITY.

Purity commended, Impurity forbidden-Blessings of the former, punishment of the latter-Reasons for holiness-The means and end of Sanctification.

1. Are we by nature unholy?

We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, (64 Is. 6.)

2. What is the seventh commandment?

Thou shalt not commit adultery. (20 Ex. 14.)

3. How did Christ explain the extent of this command?

Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (5 Mt. 28.) 4. What was the inscription which God ordered to be placed on Aaron's mitre ?

HOLINESS TO THE LORD. (28 Ex. 36.)

5. Must the heart be sanctified?

Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. (I. Pet. 3. 15.)

6. Must every appearance of evil be avoided?

Abstain from all appearance of evil, and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. (I. Thes. 5. 22, 23.)

7. Is holiness necessary for happiness and heaven? Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. (12 Heb. 14.)

8. What blessing did Christ pronounce on the pure? Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (5 Mt. 8.)

9. What fruit does the true Christian bring forth?

But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (6 Ro. 22.)

10. Will God punish the impure?

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (I. Cor, 3. 16, 17.)

11. What do those who were once

"enemies" to

God "by wicked works," become when they are reconciled by Christ?

Holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight. (1 Col. 22.)

12. By what argument does St. Paul exhort the Romans to holiness?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (12 Ro. 1.) 13. What effect should the gracious promises of God produce?

Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (II. Cor. 7, 1.)

14. Is the perfect holiness of God one of the most powerful recommendations of purity?

As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, Be ye holy for I am holy. (I. Pet. 1. 15, 16.)

15. What is the will of God concerning us?

This is the will of God, even your sanctification. That ye should abstain from fornication. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel, in sanctification and honor. (I. Thes. 4. 3, 4.)

16. Why did Christ suffer?

That he might sanctify the people with his own blood. (13 Heb. 12.)

17. What did Christ pray for his disciples?

Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth. (17 Jn. 17.)

18. Is the aid of the Holy Spirit necessary?

And God which knoweth the hearts bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us, and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (15 Ac. 8, 9.)

19. Is the death and resurrection of Christ a powerful motive to holiness?

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof, neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (6 Ro. 11, 12, 13.)

20. Is the union of saints with Christ productive of holiness?

According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. (1 Eph. 4.)

21. Should the price which Christ has paid for our ransom, lead us to resign ourselves to him?

Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit which are God's. (I. Cor. 6. 19, 20.)

XXIX. COMPANY.

Withdraw from bad company, associate with good-Evil of the former-Benefit of the latter.

1. Are we required to guard against forming evil connexions?

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of evil men: avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it and pass away. (4 Pr. 14, 15.)

2. Does God warn us against following a multitude in sin?

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil. (23 Ex. 2.) 3. What companions did the Psalmist seek, and whom did he avoid?

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. (119 P. 63.)

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers: I have hated the congregation of evil doers, and will not sit with the wicked. (26 P. 4, 5.)

4. Where was Christ found in early youth?

In the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them,questions. (2 Lk. 46.)

5. When exposed to the enticements of evil company how should we act?

My son, if sinners entice thee consent thou not. (1 Pr. 10.) 6. How are Christians warned against injurious connexions?

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness? (II. Cor. 6. 14.)

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7. Does God command us to separate ourselves from sinners?

Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (II. Cor. 6. 17, 18.) 8. What did St. Paul command the Ephesians?

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (5 Eph. 11.)

9. What command was given to the Thessalonian church?

That ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly. (II. Thes. 3. 6.)

10. Is he blessed who shuns evil company?

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (1 P. 1.)

11. What advantages arise from good, and what evils from bad companions?

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. (13 Pr. 20.)

12. What temporal evils flow from bad company?

A companion of riotous men shameth bis father. He that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. (28 Pr. 7, 19.)

13. Is bad company necessarily corrupting?

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (I. Cor. 15. 33.)

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