CHAPTER III.
FURTHER BENEFITS OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
1. THE RIGHT TO PRAY.
1 TIM. II, 8. I will therefore that men pray every-where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
PSALM XXXIV, 15. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous; and his ears are open unto their cry.
1 PET. III, 12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
PSALM XXXIV, 17. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
EPH. VI, 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
JUDE I, 20. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
HEB. X, 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
HEB. XI, 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
JAMES I, 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
PSALM LXII, 8. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your hearts before him: God is a refuge for us.
PSALM CXLV, 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
JER. XXIX, 13. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
LAM. III, 41. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
JOHN IX, 31. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
2 COR. VII, 14. For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
MATT. VI, 9. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
11. Give us this day our daily bread.
12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
1 KINGS XVIII, 28. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
29. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
30. And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.
PSALM LXXXVII, 2. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
PSALM CXVI, 18. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people,
19. In the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.
ISAIAH LVI, 7. Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.
HOSEA XIV, 2. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
MATT. XXVI, 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
LUKE XVIII, 1. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.
ACTS II, 42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
ACTS X, 2. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
HEB. V, 7. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.
2. THE POWER OF PRAYER.
MATT. XVIII, 19. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
MATT. XXI, 22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive.
JAMES V, 15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
JOHN XV, 7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
JOHN XVI, 23. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
JOHN XIV, 13. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
JOHN III, 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.
7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10. Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
PSALM CXLV, 19. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
ISAIAH XXXVIII, 5. Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
2 KINGS XX, 5. Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.
6. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
2 CHRON. VII, 15. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there forever: and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.
1 JOHN V, 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
ACTS XXVIII, 8. And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever, and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
JAMES V, 13. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
GEN. XX, 17. So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
EX. VIII, 30. And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord.
31. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
JOB XLII, 10. And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
MATT. VII, 7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
PHIL. IV, 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
JAMES IV, 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.
ISAIAH LXV, 24. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
JOEL II, 32. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
ROM. X, 12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1 KINGS IX, 3. And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.
2 KINGS XIX, 20. Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
EX. XXXII, 11. And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
12. Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
13. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever.
14. And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
JAMES V, 17. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18. And he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
JOSHUA XXIV, 7. And when they cried unto the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
8. And I brought you in the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroy them from before you.
NUM. XIV, 19. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
20. And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word.
3. DIVINE PROVIDENCE--GENERAL AND SPECIAL.
PSALM CXLVII, 8. Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
PSALM CXLVII, 16. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
17. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18. He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
PSALM CIV, 27. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28. That thou givest them, they gather: thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good.
MATT. V, 45. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
MATT. VI, 26. Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
MATT. VI, 28. And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
ACTS XVII, 26. And hath made of one blood all the nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27. That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us;
28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
JER. X, 23. O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
JOB XII, 10. In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
JER. XVIII, 6. O house of Israel, can not I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
JOHN XV, 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
PSALM III, 6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
PSALM LXIII, 8. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
HEB. I, 3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
4. VICTORY OVER DEATH.
PSALM XXXVII, 7. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
PSALM XXXI, 5. Into thy hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
ACTS VII, 59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
PSALM CXVI, 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
PROV. XIV, 32. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
ISAIAH LVII, 1. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
2. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
JOB III, 17. There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
18. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.
PSALM LXXIII, 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
PSALM XVI, 11. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
LUKE XVI, 22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
ECCL. VII, 1. A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
1 COR. XV, 25. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 COR. XV, 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. THE IMMEDIATE RECEPTION OF THE SOULS _of the Pious into a State of Blessedness_.
LUKE XVI, 22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
LUKE XVI, 25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
LUKE XXIII, 43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
1 COR. III, 22. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23. And ye are Christ's: and Christ is God's.
2 COR. V, 6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
2 COR. V, 8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
PHIL. I, 21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
PHIL. I, 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.
REV. XIV, 13. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.
1 THESS. V, 10. Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
6. THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY.
ACTS IV, 2. Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
ACTS XXIII, 6. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
ACTS XXIV, 15. And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
ACTS XXIV, 21. Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
ACTS XXVI, 8. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
ROM. XIV, 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
2 COR. I, 9. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.
2 COR. VIII, 11. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
1 COR. VI, 14. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
1 COR. XV, 12. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen.
1 COR. XV, 20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.
21. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23. But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1 COR. XV, 42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption:
43. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power:
44. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1 COR. XV, 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 COR. V, 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.
2 COR. IV, 14. Knowing, that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
LUKE XIV, 14. And thou shalt be blessed: for they can not recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
MATT. XXII, 30. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
31. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
LUKE XX, 35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
DAN. XII, 2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
PSALM XVII, 15. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
PSALM XVI, 9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.
PSALM LXVIII, 20. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
ACTS II, 26. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day.
30. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31. He, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
JOB XIX, 25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
PSALM XLIX, 15. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
1 THESS. IV, 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
JOHN V, 28. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
JOHN XI, 23. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
ISAIAH XXVI, 19. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
REV. XX, 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
REV. XX, 13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.