21. Should the price, which Christ has paid for our ransom, lead us to resign ourselves to him?

Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are God's. (I. Cor. 6. 19, 20.)

XXIX. COMPANY.

Withdraw from bad company, associate with good-Evil of the former-Benefit of the latter.

1. Are we required to guard against forming evil connexions?

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of evil men; avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. (4 Pr. 14, 15.)

2. Does God warn us against following a multitude in sin? Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil. (23 Ex. 2.) 3. What companions did the Psalmist seek, and whom did he avoid?

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. (119 P. 63.)

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers; I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and will not sit with the wicked. (26 P. 4, 5.),

4. Where was Christ found in early youth?

In the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. (2 Lk.46.)

5. When exposed to the enticements of evil company, how should we act?

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. (1 Pr. 10.) 6. How are Christians warned against injurious connexions?

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? and what communion hath light with darkness? (II. Cor. 6. 14.)

7. Does God command us to separate ourselves from sinners?

Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (II. Cor. 6. 17, 18.)

8. Did St. Paul command the Ephesians against evil associations?

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (5 Eph. 11.)

9. What command was given to the Thessalonian church? That ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly. (II. Thes. 3. 6.)

10. Is he blessed who shuns evil company?

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (1 P. 1.)

11. What advantages arise from good, and what evils from bad, companions?

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. (13 Pr. 20.)

12. What temporal evils flow from bad company ?

A companion of riotous men shameth his father.-He that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. (28 Pr. 7,19.)

13. Is bad company necessarily corrupting?

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (I. Cor. 15.33.)

XXX. SELF-DENIAL.

A Christian duty-Motives to-Danger of sensual pleasures-Exhortations against.

1. Does Christ require us to deny ourselves ? If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (9 Lk. 23.)

2. What difference is there between the carnally-minded and the spiritually-minded?

They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit: for to be carnally-minded is death; but to be spiritually-minded is life and peace. (8 Ro.5,6.)

3. By what urgent motives are we exhorted to avoid sensual pleasures?

The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (13 Rom. 12, 13, 14.)

4. How did St. Paul keep under his body?

I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (I. Cor. 9.27.)

5. How does St.Paul describe the selfish and sensual characters of those who should appear in the last times ?

Lovers of their ownselves :-lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. (II. Tim. 3. 2, 4.)

6. How does St.Peter exhort against fleshly lusts?

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. (I. Pet. 2. 11.)

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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?

13.

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.)