A. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Psalm 2. 11.

I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever. Dan. 6. 26. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Phil, 2. 12.

Q. What be the chief commandments?

A. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Mat. 22. 37 to 40.

Q. What ought a Christian to seek after in the first place?

A. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat. 6. 33.

Q. How ought Christians to behave themselves in this world?

A. But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives, be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away. 1 Cor. 7. 29, 30, 31. '

Q. What saith the apostle Paul further, as that which is fit for Christian men and women to be found in?

A. I will therefore, that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shame-facedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly. array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 1 Tim. 2. 8, 9, 10.

Q. I observe the apostle is much against the vanity and superfluity of clothes among Christians; what saith Peter to this?

A. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorn

ing of plaiting the hair, or wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel: but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible; even the ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Pet. 3. 3, 4.

Q. The apostle is very plain there: but what saith the scripture, as to respect of persons among Christians?

A. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel; and there come in also a poor man, in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, set thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, stand thou there, or sit here under my foot-stool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 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? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats? Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. James 2. 1 to 9.

Q. Though that be indeed sufficient to reprove the dif ferent ranks among Christians, upon the account of riches or birth; yet is there not a relative respect among Christians, as betwixt master and servant? What admonition gives the apostle in this case?

A. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ: not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 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.

5 to 9.

Eph. 6.

Servants, obey in all things your masters, according to the flesh, not with eye-service, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong, shall receive for the wrong which he hath done; and there is no respect of persons. Col. 3. 22

to 25.

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a master in heaven. Col. 4. 1.

Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their own masters worthy of all honour; that the name of God, and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 1 Tim. 6. 1, 2.

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again, not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Tit. 2. 9, 10.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward for this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully: 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, For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. 1 Pet. 2. 18 to 21.

Q. What good admonitions gives the scripture, as to the relation betwixt parents and children?

A. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour thy father and thy mother, (which is the

first commandment with promise) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Eph. 6. 1 to 4.

Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger lest they be discouraged. Col. 3, 20, 21.

Q. What between husbands and wives?

A. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own busbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it; so ought men to love their wives as their own bodies; he that loveth his wife, loveth himself. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife, even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Eph. 5. 22 to 25, and 28, 31, 33.

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Col. 3. 19.

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands; that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives, while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Likewise ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. 1 Pet. 3. 1, 2, 7.

Q. What is the armour of a true Christian, and wherewith ought he to wrestle?

A. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil: For we 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph. 6.

11 to 17.

Q. What are Christians' weapons, and for what end?

A. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; for 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. 10. 3, 4, 5.

Q. Ought strife and envy to be among Christians?

A. Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge amongst you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 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. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3. 13 to 18.

Q. Ought wars to be among Christians? From whence proceed they?

A. From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts, that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not; ye kill and desire to have, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James 4. 1, 2.

Q. What saith Christ even of defensive war?

A. But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil; but