SINCE last month the following have expressed a desire to join the Class, and we accordingly give their numbers.
134 M. F. G.
136 A. G. B.
136 A. S.
137 G. W. R.
The subject selected for this month is—
Christian example illustrated by the lives of Bible saints and especially by that of the apostle Paul.
Twelve leading Christian characteristics have been selected, of which sufficient examples occur in Scripture, and those to whom they are allotted are requested to select the twelve best instances of each particular grace that they can find in Scripture. In addition, the example of Paul will be taken up separately, he being emphatically a pattern for others-see 1 Timothy 1:1616Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:16) (R. V.) and other passages.
The subject is arranged as follows: Twelve instances from Scripture (excluding Paul) of each of the following: compassion and sympathy, by 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 128.
Faith for spiritual blessings, by 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 129.
Faith for temporal mercies, by 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 130.
Humility, by 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 131.
Joy in God, by 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 56, 56, 132.
Liberality, by 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 133.
Love, by 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 134.
Obedience to God, by 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85.
Patience, by 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 136.
Prayerfulness, by 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104, 106, 107, 137.
Repentance, by 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117.
Truthfulness, by 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126.
The examples of Paul, arranged as last month’s subject, by 1, 9, 16, 25, 37, 44, 60, 84, 105, 127, 135.
In giving the results of last month’s search, we may remark that we have sometimes found it to be very difficult in the case of persons mentioned in the Old Testament to decide in which, if either, of the two classes they should be placed.
No doubt many familiar names will be missed, but we think they will be found to be mainly those of persons, whom, from the place they occupy in Scripture, one would consider to be children of God, but of whom nothing definite is recorded, on which a judgment can be formed.
Amongst these are some who had a prominent place in connection with the history of the children of Israel, and the service of the Tabernacle, &c., and some who were used by God as instruments to carry out His purposes, but as these were the only grounds on which they could be included, we have omitted their names, there being instances where such positions have been held by those of whom one would have no hesitation in saying that they were not children of God, Does not the same remark hold good in our own day?
It will be noticed how greatly those to whom portions of the Old Testament were allotted, have been helped by the record given by the Spirit of God in the New Testament, as for example in Hebrews 11.
Division 1.
CHILDREN OF GOD MENTIONED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
Abraham’s servant, Genesis 24
Hannah, 1 Samuel 1.
David, Acts 13:2222And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. (Acts 13:22); Hebrews 11:3232And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (Hebrews 11:32).
Heman, do. Psalms 88.
Elijah, 1 Kings 17, &c.
Micaiah, 1 Kings 22.
Elisha, 2 Kings 2, &c.
Jehoiada, 2 Kings 12
Ezra, Nehemiah, Joshua, Zerubbabel, Hananiah, Asaph, and many others who returned with them from the captivity, Ezra, Neh.
Job, ch. 1 and 42.
Elihu, Job 32-37
Hananiah (Shadrach), Michael (Meshach), Azariah (Abednego) Daniel 3:2626Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire. (Daniel 3:26).
CHILDREN OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
John the Baptist, 3:1.
The Eleven. Apostles.
Joseph of Arimathea, 27:57.
Mary Magdalene, 28:1.
Mary, mother of James and Joses, 27:56.
Salome, 27:56.
Simeon, 2:25.
Anna, 2:36.
Joanna, 8:3.
Susanna, do.
Zacchaeus, 19.
The Malefactor, 23:43.
Cleopas, 24:18.
Woman of Samaria, 4:29.
Blind man, 9:38.
Lazarus, 11.
Mary, do.
Martha, do.
Nicodemus, 19:39.
Matthias, do.
Barnabas, 4:36.
Stephen, 6:5.
Philip, do.
Prochorus, do.
Nicanor, do.
Timon, do.
Parmenas, do.
Nicolas, do.
Eunuch, 8:36-39
Ananias, 9:10.
Paul, 9:15.
Dorcas, 9:36.
Cornelius, 10:44.
Agabus, 11:28.
Mary, the mother of Mark, 12:12.
Simeon-Niger, 13:1.
Lucius, do.
Manaen, do.
Sergius Paulus, 13:12.
Silas, 15:22.
Timotheus, 16: 1.
Lydia, 16:14, 15.
Dionysius, 17:34.
Damaris, do.
Aquilla, do.
Justus, 18:7. Crispus, 18:8.
Apollos, 18:24-28.
Erastus, 19:22.
Sopater, 20:4.
Tychicus, do.
Trophimus, do.
Mnason, 21:16.
Phebe, Romans 16.
Epenetus, do.
Andronicus, do.
Junia, do.
Amplias, do.
Urbane, do.
Stachys, do.
Apelles, do.
Tryphena, do.
Tryphosa, do.
Persis, do.
Rufus, do.
Asyncritus, do.
Phlegon, do.
Hermas, do.
Patrobas, do.
Hermes, do.
Philologus, do.
Julia, do.
Nereus, do.
Olympas, do.
Quartus, do.
Sosipater, do.
Tertius, do.
Stephanas, 1 Corinthians 16.
Fortunatus, do.
Achaicus, do.
Epaphroditus, Philippians 2.
Syntyche, do.
Eunice, do.
Linus, do.
Claudia, do.
Philemon, 1.
Archippus, do.
Elect lady, 2 John.
Division 2.
THOSE PRESUMED TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
Abimelech, 20:6-11.
Rebekah, Genesis 25.
Rachel, Genesis 29; 30.
Leah, do.
Puah, do.
Bezaleel, Exodus 31.
Aholiab, do.
Medad, do.
Boaz, Ruth.
Ruth, Ruth.
Elkanah, 1 Samuel 1.
Abigail, 1 Samuel 25:27-3127And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. 28I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. 29Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. 30And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; 31That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid. (1 Samuel 25:27‑31).
Uzziah, 2 Chronicles 24.
Mordecai and Esther, Esther.
THOSE PRESUMED TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
The Leper, do. 8:2.
Centurion, do. 8:10.
Jairus, do. 9:18.
Woman with issue of blood, do. 9:20.
Syrophenician woman, 15:22.
Two blind men, do. 20:30.
Shepherds, Luke 2.
Rhoda, do. 12:13.