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النشر الإلكتروني

10. While St. Paul acknowledged "himself the least of the Apostles," how did he magnify the grace of God?

By the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed on me, was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (I. Cor. 15. 10.)

11. How does he speak of the insufficiency of ministers without divine help?

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God. (II. Cor. 3. 5.)

12. How did God comfort Paul in his afflictions?

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me for when I am weak, then am I strong. (II. Cor. 12. 9, 10.)

13. Does the Apostle connect our duty with our dependance on God's Assistance?

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (2 Phi, 12, 13.)

14. How did the Psalmist rejoice in the favour of God to the humble and contrite?

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (34 P. 18.)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (51 P. 17.) Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly, but the proud he knoweth afar off. (138 P. 6.)

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15. For what purpose does God instruct?

That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. (33 Job 17.)

16. How was the Psalmist enabled to declare his humility before God?

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. (131 P. 1, 2.)

17. Has God promised to bless the humble?

To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and tren bleth at my word. (66 Is. 2.)

18. Did Christ renew the blessing when on earth? Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven. (5 Mt. 3.)

19. By what significant and endearing action did Christ teach the importance of humility?

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (18 Mt. 2 to 4.)

20. Does God bestow grace on the humble?

He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. (4 Jas. 6, 7.)

21. Does God notice and punish the "proud in heart?"

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though hand join in hand he shall not be unpunished. (16 Pr. 5.)

22. How does Solomon shew the connexion between pride and ruin?

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (16 Pr. 18.)

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before, honor is humility. (18 Pr. 12.)

A man's pride shall bring him low; but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit. (29 Pr. 23,)

23. Is pride closely connected with shame, and humility with wisdom?

When pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom. (11 Pr. 2.)

24. Does pride produce contention?

Only by pride cometh contention; but with the well advised is wisdom. (13 Pr. 10.)

25. Is pride closely connected with deceit?

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The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee: thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord. (Obad. 3, 4.)

His soul which is lifted up is not upright in him. (2 Hab. 4.)

26. Are we able to direct our own steps?

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. (10 Jer. 23.)

27. What curse does God pronounce on him who trusts in man, and what blessing on him who trusts in the Lord?

Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land, and not inhabited,

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (17 Jer. 5 to 8.)

28. What was the saying which Christ very frequently repeated?

Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (14 Lk. 11.)

29. Are the wise, the mighty, and the honorable things of this world vain objects of pride?

God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, 'to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (I. Cor. 1. 27 to 31.)

30. Are the wise, the mighty, and the rich forbidden to glory?

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom; neither let the mighty man glory in his might: let not the rich man glory in his riches. (9 Jer. 23.)

31. Did St. James caution against despising the poor when compared with the rich?

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? (2 Jas. 5.)

32. What is beauty when made an object of pride?

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised, (31 Pr. 30.)

33. How are females cautioned against pride in dress?

That women adorn themselves in modest apparel; with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array, but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. (I. Tim. 2. 9, 10).

Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning, of plaiting the hair, and of 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. (I. Pet. 3. 3, 4.)

34. What did Christ say as to clothing?

Solomon in all his glory was If then God so clothe the and to-morrow is cast into

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not, and yet I say unto you, that not arrayed like one of these. grass which is to-day in the field, the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith. (12 Lk. 27, 28.)

35. How are we exhorted not to be puffed up against others?

That no one of you be puffed up one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (I, Cor. 4, 6, 7.)

36. Are we required to submit to each other?

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (5 Eph. 21.)

37. How are we to esteem others as compared with ourselves?

Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (2 Phi. 3.)

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