CHAPTER IV.
RELATIVE DUTIES OF CHRISTIANS TOWARD EACH OTHER.
1. TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
ROM. XIII, 8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
COL. III, 14. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
1 THESS. III, 12. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love, one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you.
1 COR. XIII, 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
GAL. V, 13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14. For all law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
JAMES II, 8. If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:
9. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
1 PET. IV, 8. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
MATT. VII, 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
MATT. XXII, 39. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
ROM. XV, 1. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves,
2. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.
3. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
1 COR. X, 33. Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God:
33. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
1 JOHN III, 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
LUKE X, 33. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
2. TO LIVE IN PEACE.
MATT. V, 9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
ROM. XII, 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.
ROM. XIV, 19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
1 COR. VII, 15. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
2 COR. XIII, 11. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
GAL. V, 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
EPH. IV, 1. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2. With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love;
3. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
EPH. IV, 32. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
PHIL. II, 14. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
COL. III, 8. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.
1 THESS. II, 7. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.
2 TIM. II, 24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.
HEB. XII, 14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
JAMES III, 17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
1 PET. III, 10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
3. CHRISTIAN FORBEARANCE.
PROV. XIX, 11. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
1 COR. XIII, 4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.
EPH. IV, 1. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2. With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.
1 PET. II, 18. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.
1 PET. II, 23. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again: when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
1 PET. III, 8. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
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.
4. DUTY TO FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER.
MATT. VI, 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
MATT. VI, 14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
MATT. XVIII, 21. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
MATT. XVIII, 33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee?
34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
LUKE VI, 37. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
LUKE XVII, 3. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
EPH. IV, 32. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
COL. III, 12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
5. TRUE FRIENDSHIP.
PROV. XVIII, 24. A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
PROV. XVII, 17. A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
2 SAM. I, 26. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of woman.
PROV. XXVII, 9. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
6. TO BE BENEVOLENT.
JOB XXIX, 12. Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
ACTS II, 44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common.
ACTS IV, 34. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35. And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
MATT. X, 8. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
ECCL. XI, 1. Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
2. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
LUKE III, 11. He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
LUKE XII, 33. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
ACTS XX, 35. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
2 COR. VIII, 7. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
GAL. VI, 9. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
HEB. XIII, 16. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
1 TIM. VI, 17. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
7. LIBERALITY REWARDED.
PSALM XXXVII, 3. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
PSALM XXXVII, 25. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
PSALM CXII, 5. A good man showeth favor, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6. Surely he shall not be moved forever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
PROV. III, 9. Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase:
10. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
PROV. XI, 24. There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
PROV. XIII, 7. There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
ISAIAH XXXII, 8. But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
MAL. III, 9. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, and there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
LUKE VI, 38. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.
2 COR. IX, 6. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
LEV. XXV, 35. And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
DEUT. XV, 10. Thou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto.
11. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thy hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
JAMES I, 27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
JAMES II, 1. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2. For if there come unto your assembly, a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man with vile raiment;
3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou here, or sit there under my footstool:
4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
1 JOHN III, 17. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
8. ENCOURAGEMENTS TO LIBERALITY.
PSALM XLI, 1. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
2. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth; and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
PSALM CXII, 9. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.
PROV. XIX, 17. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
ISAIAH LVIII, 6. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him? and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.
9. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, and putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
11. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
MATT. V, 7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
MATT. XXV, 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35. For I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36. Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.