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12. How did Solomon sum up the total of all mere worldly pleasures?

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. (1 Ec. 2.)

All is vanity and vexation of spirit. (2 Ec. 17.)

13. What exhortation does Solomon give on this subject?

Labour not to be rich, cease from thine own wisdom; wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings, they fly away as an eagle toward heaven, (23 Pr. 4, 5.)

14. How are we required to use worldly enjoy

ments?

Use this world as not abusing it, for the fashion of this world passeth away. (I. Cor. 7, 31.)

15. What charge was Timothy required to give the rich?

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, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. (I. Tim. 6. 17, 18.)

16. What is the tenth commandment?

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man servant, nor his maid servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. (20 Ex. 17.)

17. For what does the Psalmist pray?

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. (119 P. 36.)

18. How does Christ caution against covetousness? Take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (12 Lk. 15.)

19. What is this disposition called? Covetousness, which is idolatry. (3 Col. 5)

20. How does the apostle exhort the Hebrews against this sin?

Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have, for He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. (13 Heb. 5.)

21. Are piety and contentment preferable to large possessions?

Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and trouble therewith. (15 Pr. 16.)

Better is an handful with quietness than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. (4 Ec. 6.)

22. What was Agur's earnest desire and prayer?

Remove far from me vanity and lies, give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny thee and say Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain, (30 Pr. 8, 9.)

23. How does Christ exhort us to avoid worldly anxiety and seek spiritual blessings?

Therefore take no thought, saying what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or wherewithal shall we be clothed ;for your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (6 Mt. 31, 32, 33, 34.)

24. Should God's care of the birds, lead us to depend on him?

The life is more than meat, and the body than raiment, Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which neither have storehouse, nor barn, and God feedeth them; how much more are ye better than fowls. (12 Lk. 23. 24.)

25. What does the apostle Paul say to Timothy on this subject?

Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out, and having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition, for the love of money is the root of all evil. (I. Tim. 6. 6 to 10.)

26. How did St. Paul learn content?

I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content, I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; every where and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (4 Phi. 11, 12, 13.)

27. How does he exhort others?

The Lord

Let your moderation be known unto all men. is at hand. Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (4 Phi. 5, 6,7.)

XXII. HONESTY AND DISHONESTY. JUSTICE AND INJUSTICE.

Commands against dishonesty and injustice in generalAs to Weights and measures-Evils and punishment of-Duty of honesty.

1. What is the eighth commandment? Thou shalt not steal. (20 Ex. 15.)

2. Is all fraud strictly forbidden?

Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him. (19 Lev. 11, 13.)

3. What command is given to him who has been dishonest?

Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labour working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (4 Eph. 28.)

4. What command is given as to weights and measures?

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard,* in weight or in measure. Just balances, just weight, a just ephah and a just hin‡ shall ye have. (19 Lev. 35, 36.)

* A yard or stick by which any thing is measured.

+ About seven gallons and two quarts, and about half a pint, wine measure.

About one gallon and two pints.

5. Is keeping as well as using unjust weights and measures forbidden?

Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small; but thou shalt have a perfect and just weight; a perfect and just measure shalt thou have. For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously are an abomination unto the Lord thy God. (25 Deu. 13, 14, 15, 16.) 6. Does God notice our conduct in this respect?

A false balance is abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. (11 Pr. 1.)

7. What is the character of him who robs his parents?

Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith it is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer. (28 Pr. 24.)

8. Will the unrighteous be excluded from the kingdom of God?

Ye do wrong and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not, that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived. (I. Cor. 6. 8, 9.)

9. Will God punish those who secretly defraud others?

That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, because that the Lord is the avenger of all such. (I. Thes. 4, 6.)

10. How did the Psalmist pray to be kept from these sins?

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me. (25 P. 21.)

11. Are the just blessed by God?

Blessings are upon the head of the just.-The memory of the just is blessed. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely. (10 Pr. 6, 7, 9.)

The way of the just is uprightness: thou most Upright dost weigh the path of the just. (26 Is. 7.)

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