Railing at Dignities - Bridling the Tongue.

born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.—3: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise, blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Jude 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. [See 200, 417.]

730. Railing at dignities, and reviling superiors forbidden.

Ex. 22:28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Ac. 23: 4 They that stood by, said, Revilest thou God's high priest? 5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

2 Pet. 2: 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

Jude 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. [See 10.]

731. Bridling the tongue enjoined and exemplified.

Ps. 34: 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.-39: 1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

Pr. 10: 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.-13: 3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.-21: 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles.

Ec. 10: 20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the

matter.

Mic. 7: 5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

Jam. 1: 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and

Forbidden-Tendency of.

bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

1 Pet. 3: 10 He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.

UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

732. Unrighteousness and dishonesty forbidden.

Lev. 19: 11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. 13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him : the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. 35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in mete-yard, in weight, or in measure. 25: 14 If thou sell aught unto thy neighbor, or buyest aught of thy neighbor's hand, ye shall not oppress one

another.

Dt. 19: 14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's land-mark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.-25: 13 Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. 14 Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small: 15 But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have; that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.. 27:17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark: and all the people shall say, Amen.

Ps. 82: 2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?

Pr. 11: 1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

1 Th. 4: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

[See 629, 636.]

733. Unrighteousness, extortion, etc., inexpedient, or the tendency of sin to ruin sinners here and hereafter Threats.

Num. 32: 23 If ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

2 Ch. 28: 19 The LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel: for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.

Job. 21: 17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out?

Destructive tendency of.

and how oft cometh their destruction upon them? God distributeth sorrows in his anger. 18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. 19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. 20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.-27: 13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty. 14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. 15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep. 16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay; 17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

Ps. 1: 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish.-9:15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. 16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.-34: 16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.-55: 23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days.-58: 11 Verily, there is a reward for the righteous : verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.-73: 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. Pr. 3: 33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.-11: 31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. -13: 5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. 15 Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.-28: 8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that shall pity the poor. 18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved; but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

Jer. 17: 11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth

Destructive tendency of.

them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.-22: 17 Thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. 18 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory! 19 He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

Ezk. 22: 12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God. 13 Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee. 14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.— 28: 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

1 Cor. 6: 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Jam. 5: 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

2 Pet. 2: 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly. [See 87, 138, 303, 362, 381, 478, 486, 489, 497, 513, 551, 555–6, 630, 735.]

Have been prevalent - Sin and Folly of.

WAR AND FIGHTING.

734. War and fighting have been prevalent.

Gen. 6: 11 The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence.

2 K. 19: 11 Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly : and shalt thou be delivered?

Is. 1: 15 When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 10: 13 I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants, like a valiant

man.

Ezk. 33: 25 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land? 26 Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbor's wife: and shall ye possess the land? [See 488, 701.]

735. Sin and folly of anger, and other warlike passions — wisdom of suppressing them.

Job 5: 2 Wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

Ps. 37: 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Pr. 11: 17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 14: 16 A wise man feareth and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. 17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. 29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.-15: 18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.-16: 32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.-19: 19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. — 22: 24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go. 24: 17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 25: 28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city