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XXXI. SELF-EXAMINATION AND
WATCHFULNESS.

Self-deception-Duty of self-examination and watchfulness-Motives to these duties.

1. Are we prone to self-deception?

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Even in laughter, the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. (14 Pr. 12, 13.)

2. How should the heart be kept?

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (4 Pr. 23.)

3. How does God enforce serious thoughtfulness?

Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Consider your ways. (1 Hag.5.)

4. Are Christians required to examine themselves? Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves. (II. Cor. 13.5.)

5. Does Christ command us to watch?

Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (25 Mt. 13.)

6. How does the Apostle enforce this duty?

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (I. Cor. 16. 13.)

7. Should the consideration of Satan's efforts for our destruction lead us to watchfulness?

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (I. Pet. 5. 8, 9.)

XXXII. DUTIES OF CHILDREN TO PARENTS.

Commands to honor and obey Parents-Punishment of disobedience-Exhortations to the duty.

1. What is the fifth Commandment?

Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long_upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (20 Ex. 12.)

2. Is he cursed who slights his parents ?

Cursed be he that setteth light by his father, or his mother. (27 Deu. 16.)

3. What punishment was denounced against him who cursed his parents?

He that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. (21 Ex. 17.)

4. What punishment did God appoint for a “stubborn and rebellious son?"

If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; and they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die. (21 Deu. 18 to 21.)

5. How are children to regard the instruction of their parents?

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. (1 Pr. 8.)

6. Does the conduct of children affect the happiness of their parents?

A wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. (10 Pr. 1.)

7. Did Christ display an example of obedience to his mother and Joseph ?

He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. (2 Lk. 51.)

8. When Christ was dying on the cross, how did he manifest his tender care for his mother?

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son? Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (19 Jn, 26, 27.)

9. Does Christ claim more from us than even our parents? He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. (10 Mt. 37.)

10. How does St. Paul command obedience to parents? Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother; which is the first commandment, with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (6 Eph. 1, 2, 3.) 11. Does God approve of obedient children?

Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is wellpleasing unto the Lord. (3 Col. 20.)

XXXIII. DUTIES TO BROTHERS, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBOURS.

Commands to-Love, to, a test of character-Manner of performing this duty-Advantages of

1. Are we forbidden to hate our brethren?

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart, (19 Lev. 17.)

2. In our dealings are we required to guard against oppressing each other?

If thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour's hand, ye shall not oppress one another. (25 Lev. 14.)

3. What is our duty to a brother in distress?

If thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee, then thou shalt relieve him. (25 Lev. 35.)

4. What command did God give by Zechariah? Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother.-Let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. (7 Zech. 9, 10.)

5. Will God punish those who are unforgiving to their brethren?

And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors.- So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (18 Mt. 34, 35.)

6. How does the Apostle enjoin brotherly love?

As touching brotherly love, ye have no need that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. (I. Thes. 4. 9.)

Let brotherly love continue. (13 Heb. 1.)

7. How did Cain wickedly express himself as to his brother?

Am I my brother's keeper? (4 Gen. 9.)

8. Are we warned against imitating Cain's awful example?

Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God; neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another : not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own deeds were evil,. and his brother's righteous. (I. Jn. 3. 10, 11, 12.)

9. What is the awful state of him who hates his brother? He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness. He that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. (I. Jn. 2. 9, 11.)

10. Does love to our Christian brethren afford a test of our own characters?

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (I. Jn. 3. 14.)

11. How must friendship be manifested?

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (18 Pr.24.)

12. What benefits arise from friendship?

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (27 Pr. 17.)

13. Is real Christian kindness manifested in the conduct as well as in the profession?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit? (2 Jas. 15, 16.)

14. Does true friendship continue in adversity?

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (17 Pr. 17.)

15. How does the Psalmist praise brotherly love?

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (133 P. 1.)

XXXIV. DUTY TO THE KING, TO MASTERS, AND TO ALL THAT ARE IN AUTHORITY.

Commands to-Reasons of-Manner of performing.

1. Are we all commanded to be subject to the higher powers? Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers; for there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Render, therefore, to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. (13 Ro. 1, 7,)

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