A6S A PRESERVATIVE FROM SIN AND FOLLY. Scripture. " Ps. lxv. 2. 0 thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Dan. ix. 14. We made not our prayer before the Lord our God, therefore hath,the Lord brought this evil upon us." 13. Q. What is the third sign of ungodliness? A. When I do not give thanks to God for the mercies I receive. Reason against unthankfulness. I may justly expect God will take away all the blessings he has bestowed, if 1 never thank him for them. ,Scripture. " 2 Tim. iii. 2. The unthankful are joined with the blasphemers and unholy. Rom. i. 20, 21. They are without excuse, because they were not thankful." 14. Q. What is the fourth mark of ungodliness ? A. When I do not hearkento the wordof God, nor obey his commands. Reason for hearkening to the word of God and obeying his will. God who Made me is my Owner, and my Governor, and my great Judge ; and his word and will should be the rule of all my behaviour. Scripture. " Lev. xxvi. 14, 16, 17. If ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments, I will appointover you terror, and the con- sumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume your eyes, and cause sor- row of heart, and I will set my face against you. Po. lxxxi. 12. My people would not hearkento my voice, Israel would have noneof me, -so I gave them up to their own hearts' lost." 15. Q. Having heard your account of ungodliness, tell me now, what is profaneness? A. Abusing or despising any thing that is holy, or that belongs to God. 16. Q. When may you be said to despise or abusewhat belongs to God? A. Four ways. 17. Q. What is the first instance of profaneness ? A. 1. If I make g Mock of God, or reproach his name, which is called blasphemy ; or if 1 swear, or take the name of God in vain, or use it in a trifling manner, with- out seriousness. Reason against this sib. Because if I make light of the name of God, I Shall quickly come to make light of God himself, and live as an enemy to God in the world.- Scripture. God made it a law among theJews, " in Lev, xxiv. 16. He that blaspbemeth the nameof the Lord shall surely be pinto death ; all the con- gregation shall certainly stone him. Exod. xx. 7. The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. James v. xii. Above all things, my bre- thren, swear not neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by anyother oath." 18. Q. What is the second mark of profaneness ? A. 2. If I spend that time amiss, which God hasappointed for his own worshipand service. Reason. When God has appointed times of worship, man must not put these . to other uses without necessity, far he is not lord of his time. Scripture. " Exod. xx. 8. Remember. theSabbath-day to keep it holy." 19. Q. What is the third mark of profaneness ? A. 3. if I laugh at any persons, or jeer them because they are God's ministers or God's people: Reason a?ainst this sin. When persons are abused because they are reli- gious and holy, and belong to God, God takes the abuse as done to himself : And thole ,who laugh at saints, are not likely to become saints themselves. Scripture. " 2 Chron. xxxvi, 16. They mocked the messengers of God, and misused his prophets, till the wrath of-the Lord arose, and there was no re- medy. Luke x. 16. He that despiseth you, despiseth me, milli Christ, and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me. Zech. ii. 8. He that toucheth yon, toucheth the appleof mine eye. 2 Tim. iii. 3, It is one of the charac- ters of the wicked in the lait days, They shall be despisers of those that are good." 20. Q. What is the fourth mark of profaneness ? A. 4. If I make a jest of the word of God, or preaching, or prayer, or any parrot' true reli- gion. Reason against this sin. They who jest with the bible and holy things, will not long continue to esteem the bibles or to practise holiness...
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=