Paul cured the cripple at Lystra, who had been lame from his mother's womb.-Acts xiv. 8-10. Paul casteth the spirit of divination out of the damsel.-Acts xvi. 16-18. God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; so that from his body were brought unto the sick, handkerchiefs, or aprons; and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.-Acts xix. 11, 12. Paul raised Eutychus from the dead, when he had fallen down from the window.-Acts xx. 9, 10. Paul healed the father of Publius of his fever and bloody flux, and others. Acts xxviii. 8, 9. So great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, &c.-Heb. ii. 3, 4. Mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.-Rom. xv. 19. CHAPTER XLII. OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH: THEIR APPOINTMENT AND ESTA BLISHMENT DIVINE. GIDEON judged Israel; he had seventy sons. Abimelech, one of the sons of Gideon by his concubine, by subtilty with the men of Shechem, that it was better one should reign, than all the seventy sons, procures money, hires vain and light persons, and kills all his brethren, except Jotham, the youngest, who hid himself. Abimelech, by the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo, made king. After a few years, he was slain by a piece of mill-stone, which a woman threw down upon him after whom judges governed a long time, till Samuel. Judges ix. us, like all the nations: and though God was displeased at it, and said, that they had not rejected Samuel, but God himself, that he should not reign over them; yet he bids Samuel hearken unto them, and make them a king.-1 Sam. viii. 5. 7. 22. Samuel, before Saul came, was told by the Lord of his coming; and that he should be the man whom he should anoint king. Samuel anoints him king accordingly.-1 Sam. ix; x. According to this, afterward, all the people went to Gilgal: and there they made Saul king before the Lord. -1 Sam. xi. 15. Samuel said to Saul, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel? &c. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.-1 Sam. xv. 17. 23. Samuel, by God's special direction, anointed David the son of Jesse to be king, although Saul was yet living: and the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and came upon David.-1 Sam. xvi. 1. 12-14. And after Saul's death, the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah: but Abner made Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, king over all Israel.-2 Sam. ii. 4. 8, 9. After the death of Ishbosheth, (being slain,) came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, &c. And all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them; and they anointed David king over Israel.— 2 Sam. v. 1-3. Adonijah, David's son, being about to set up himself, David sets up Solomon.-1 Kings i. 5, &c. The Lord said unto Solomon, &c. Thou hast not kept my covenant, &c. I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant, Israel, by the elders, came to Sa- &c. Ahijah the prophet told Jeromuel, and said, Make us a king to judge | boam, That God would give ten tribes to him, and take the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon's son: Solomon died: Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.-1 Kings xi. 11, 12. 29-31. 35-37. 43. All Israel came to Shechem to make Rehoboam king; the people proposing ease, and Rehoboam refusing to grant it, (the cause being from the Lord, that he might perform what he had said,) ten tribes fell off from him. And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. When Rehoboam intended by force to reduce them, God forbade it, and said, This thing is from me. Only Judah remained subject to Rehoboam.-1 Kings xii. 1-4. 13-17. 20-24. Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, and rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it to thee, &c. Jeroboam slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead over Israel. Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and Abijam his son reigned in his stead over Judah.-1 Kings xiv. 7, 8. 20. 31. Abijam died, and Asa his son reigned in his stead over Judah. Asa died, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead over Judah. Baasha conspired against Nadab king of Israel, and smote him, and reigned in his stead over Israel.-1 Kings xv. 8. 24. 27, 28. The word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hananiah against Baasha, saying, Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel, and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam: behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, &c. Baasha slept with his fathers. Elah his son reigned in his stead. Zimri, one of Elah's servants, conspired against him, and smote him, and killed him, and reigned in his stead over Israel. But when Israel, being in the camp, heard of it, they made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. Zimri was burnt. Then half of the people followed Tibni to make him king; and half followed Omri. Tibni died, and Omri prevailed and reigned: he died, and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.1 Kings xvi. 1-3. 6. 9, 10. 16. 18. 21, 22. 28. God appointed Elijah to anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel, (Ahab being alive.)— 1 Kings xix. 16. Ahab the king of Israel was slain in the battle, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead over Israel. Jehoshaphat king of Judah died, and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead over Judah.-1 Kings xxii. 34, 35. 40. 50. Abaziah the king of Israel died, and Jehoram reigned in his stead over Israel, because he had no son.— 2 Kings i. 17. Joram, otherwise Jehoram, the king of Judah, slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead over Judah.-2 Kings viii. 24, 25. Elisha sent one of the children of the prophets to Jehu, the captain of the host of Israel, to anoint him king over Israel, Jehoram the king being yet living in Jezreel, and wounded. When the young man anointed him, he said, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel: and thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood, &c. Then the army proclaimed him king: and Jehu killed Jehoram king of Israel, &c. and also Ahaziah the king of Judah was slain by Jehu.—2 Kings ix. 1-7. 13, 14. 24. 27. And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which was right in mine eyes: and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. Jehu slept with his fathers, and Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead over Israel.-2 Kings x. 33. 35. Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the blood royal, (except Joash, who was hid,) and reigned over Judah. Jehoiada caused Jehoash (or Joash) to be made king, and sit on the throne, and Athaliah to be slain. 2 Kings xi. 1. 3. 19, 20. Jehoash was slain by two of his servants, who conspired against him; and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead over Judah.-2 Kings xii. 20, 21. Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and Joash his son reigned in his stead over Israel. Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat upon his throne over Israel.-2 Kings xiii. 9. 13; xiv. 16. They made a conspiracy against Amaziah, and slew him. And all the people of Judah took Azariah his son, and made him king over Judah. Jeroboam king of Israel died, and Zechariah his son reigned over Israel. 2 Kings xiv. 19-21. 29. Azariah king of Judah died, and Jotham his son reigned in his stead. Shallum conspired against Zechariah king of Israel, and smote him before the people, and reigned in his stead. -2 Kings. xv. 7-10. Manasseh the king of Judah died, and Amon his son reigned in his stead. The servants of Amon king of Judah conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house. The people of the land slew all the conspirators, and made Josiah the son of Amon king in his father's stead: he reigned over Judah.-2 Kings xxi. 18. 23, 24. 26. Josiah is slain by Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt. The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead. Pharaoh put Jehoahaz out, and set up Eliakim in the room of Jehoahaz, and called him Jehoiakim.-2 Kings xxiii. 29, 30. 33, 34. Jehoiakim died, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead over Judah. Jehoiachin is carried away captive to Babylon; and the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, &c. king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.2 Kings xxiv. 6. 15. 17. Zedekiah the king, the rest of the people, and the fugitives, carried captives.-2 Kings xxv. CHAPTER XLIII. ING UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, BEFORE THE GIVING OF THE LAW. Menahem smote Shallum king of OF SACRIFICES AND ALTARS, AND CALLIsrael, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead over Israel. Pekah, one of his captains, conspired against him, smote him, killed him, and others, and reigned in his room over Israel. Hoshea made a conspiracy against Pekah king of Israel, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. Jotham the king of Judah died, and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.2 Kings xv. 14. 22. 25. 30. 38. Ahaz king of Judah died, Hezekiah CAIN brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord: and Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof: and the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering; but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect, &c. Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.— Gen. iv. 3-5. 26. Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar: and the Lord smelled a sweet savour, (or a savour of rest.)-Gen. viii. 20, 21. And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him; and he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, &c. and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.-Gen. xii. 7, 8. Afterwards, Abram came again to the place on the east of Bethel, unto the place of the altar which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord, &c. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. Gen. xiii. 3, 4. 10. 18. Abraham planted a grove (or a tree) in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.-Gen. xxi. 33. Isaac said, Behold the fire and wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering? &c. Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood, &c. Then Abraham took the ram and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son.-Gen. xxii. 7-9. 13. The Lord appeared unto Isaac at Beersheba; and he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there. -Gen. xxvi. 23-25. Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, when Laban came to him. Gen. xxxi. 54. And Jacob came to Shalem, and pitched his tent before the city: and he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel, (that is, God, the God of Israel.)-Gen. xxxiii. 18-20. And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and unto all that were with him, &c. Let us arise, and go unto Bethel, and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, &c. And he built there an altar, and called the place El-Bethel, &c. (the God of Bethel.)-Gen. xxxv. 1-3. 7. And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.-Gen. xlvi. 1. Moses directed of God to say unto Pharaoh, Let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.-Exod. iii. 18. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi, (that is, the Lord my Banner :) for he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek, &c.-Exod. xvii. 15, 16. And Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God.-Exod. xviii. 12. God, when he had given the law upon Mount Sinai, commanded the building of an altar, and the offering of sacrifices.-Exod. xx. 24—26. THE CHAPTER XLIV. IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY, AND THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING A CHRISTIAN INDEED. Ir thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, &c. if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, &c.-Matt. v. 29, 30. Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me: for whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it.-Matt. xvi. 24, 25; Luke ix. 23; xiv. 26, 27. 33. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.-Matt. vii. 14; Luke xiii. 24. If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, &c. He went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions: then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter, &c.-Matt. xix. 21, &c.; xiii. 45, 46. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, &c.-Matt. xxvi. 41. The last shall be first, and the first last; for many be called, but few chosen.-Matt. xx. 16; xxii. 14. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.-John vi. 27. members There is a law in my warring against the law of my mind, &c.-Rom. vii. 23; Gal. v. 17. Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.-Rom. xii. 11. Be ye stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.1 Cor. xv. 58. Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him.-2 Cor. v. 9. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God; and bringing into captivity every thought, to the obedience of Christ.-2 Cor. x. 4, 5. The flesh lusteth against the spirit, &c. so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.-Gal. v. 17; Rom. vii. 21. 23. That ye may know, &c. what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe; according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.-Eph. i. 18-20. See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise: redeeming the time, &c.-Eph. v. 15, 16. Put on the whole armour of God, For we that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. wrestle not against flesh and blood; but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, (or against wicked spirits.) Therefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day; and having done (or overcome) all, to stand.Eph. vi. 11—13. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.—Phil. ii. 12. I I reach forth, &c. press toward the mark.-Phil. iii. 13, 14. We pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.-2 Thess. i. 11. Fight the good fight of faith: lay hold on eternal life.-1 Tim. vi. 12; 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ: no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, &c.2 Tim. ii. 3, 4. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.-Heb. iv. 11. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.-Heb. vi. 12. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, &c. Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin, &c.-Heb. xii. 1. 3, 4. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.-James iv. 7. An inheritance, &c. reserved in |