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Christ, a true peace-meaker.-Perfection required.

it with untempered mortar: Say unto them which daub it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hail-stones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.

485. Was Christ such a peace-maker?

Mat. 10.34. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword.` For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

Lk. 12. 51. Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.

486. Is true peace destined to prevail?

Ps. 37. 11. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. [See 412.1

Perfection.

487. Does God require moral perfection?

Mat. 5. 48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect. [See 294.]

488. Are saints distinguished by the appellation, "Perfect?"

Gen. 6. 9. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Job. 1. 1. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 8. Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man. Job. 2. 3.

Ps. 37. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.

Reasonable-Saints perfect in Christ-A duty-Promises of.

Pr. 2. 21. The upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

Pr. 11. 5. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way.

1 Cor. 2. 6. We speak wisdom among them that are perfect.

Ph. 3. 15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.

489. Do saints upon earth have any holy exercises in which God delights?

1 Jn. 4. 12. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. [See 590.]

490. Are saints perfect in Christ, or free from condemnation?

Heb. 10. 14. By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. [See 32.]

491. Is perpetual holiness a duty?

2 Cor. 7. 1. 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.

1 Pet. 2. 21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.

492. Are there any promises or predictions which involve a peculiar state of sanctification in Zion?

Dt. 30. 6. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.

Jer. 31. 33. This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; 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.

None attain permanent perfection in this life.

Jer. 32. 39. And I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good: but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

Jer. 50. 20. In those days, and in that time saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found.

Ep. 5. 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

1 Th. 5. 23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Tit. 2. 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

493. Have any saints attained a permanent state of holiness in this life?

2 Ch. 6. 36. There is no man which sinneth not. Job 9. 20. If I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Job 40. 4. Behold, I am vile.

Job 42. 5. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee: Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Ps. 38. 4. Mine iniquities are gone over my head, as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6-8.

Ps. 39. 6. Surely every man walketh in a vain show. Ps. 119. 96. I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Pr. 20. 9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin.

None attain permanent perfection in his life.

Pr. 30. 12. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthi

ness.

Ec. 7. 20. There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Is. 6. 5. I am a man of unclean lips.

Is. 42. 19. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant?

Rom. 7. 14. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (Verses 16.-25.)

Gal. 5. 17. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Ph. 3. 12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.

1 Tim. 1. 15. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Heb. 12. 6. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Jam. 3. 2. In many things we offend all.

1 Jn. 1. 8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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Gen. 5. 24. And Enoch walked with God, and he was not: for God took him.

Jos. 14. 14. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb-because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.

Is. 6. 7. Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

Ps. 119. 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

Prayers of saints imply a consciousness of moral imperfection.

Jn. 1. 47. Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.

Ac. 20. 26. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men, For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Rom. 6. 2. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.

Gal. 5. 24. They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts.

1 Th. 2. 10. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.

1 Jn. 3. 3. Every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

494. Do not the prayers of ancient saints imply a consciousness of moral imperfection?

Ps. 19. 12. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.

Ps. 51. 11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;

and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Ps. 119. 36. Incline my heart to thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Mat. 6. 12. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

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