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 Tim. 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 Heb. 11.
Division I.
CHILDREN OF GOD MENTIONED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
Abel, Heb. 11:4.
Enoch, Gen. 5:22, 24.
Noah, Heb. 11:7.
Abraham, Gen. 15:6.
Sarah, Heb. 11:11.
Abraham's servant, Gen. 24
Melchizedek, Gen. 14:18.
Lot, 2 Peter 2:7, 8.
Isaac, Heb. 11:20.
Jacob, Gen. 28:15; Heb. 11:21.
Joseph, Heb. 11:22.
Amram and Jochebed, Heb. 11:23.
Moses, Heb. 11:24; Deut. 34.10.
Aaron, Psa. 106:16.
Phinehas, Num. 25:11.
Joshua, Deut. 34:9.
Caleb, Num. 14:24; Deut. 1:36.
Rahab, Heb. 11:31.
Othniel, Gideon, and others of the Judges, Heb. 11:32.
Hannah, 1 Sam. 1.
Samuel, Heb. 11:32.
David, Acts 13:22; Heb. 11:32.
Gad, 1 Sam. 22:5.
Nathan, 2 Sam. 7:2.
Solomon, 1 Kings 3:3.
Ethan, 1 Kings 4:31; Psa. 89
Heman, do. Psa. 88.
Shemaiah, 1 Kings 12:22.
Ahijah, 1 Kings 14:2.
Asa, 1 Kings 15:14.
Elijah, 1 Kings 17, &c.
Obadiah, 1 Kings 18:3.
Micaiah, 1 Kings 22.
Jehoshaphat, 1 Kings 22:43.
Elisha, 2 Kings 2, &c.
Naaman, 2 Kings 5:15.
Jehoiada, 2 Kings 12
Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18:5.
Josiah, 2 Kings 22:2.
Huldah, 2 Kings 22:14.
Ride, 2 Chr. ix. 29.
Oded, 2 Chr. xv. 1, 8.
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
Agur, Prov. 30:1.
Lemuel, Prov. 31:1.
Eliakim, Isa. 22:20.
Urijah, Jer. 26:20.
Hanan, Jer. 35:4.
Hananiah (Shadrach), Michael (Meshach), Azariah (Abednego) Dan. 3:26.
The prophets from Isaiah to Malachi, see 2 Peter 1:21.
CHILDREN OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, Matt. 1:16.
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.
Zacharias, Elizabeth, Luke 1:6.
Simeon, 2:25.
Anna, 2:36.
Joanna, 8:3.
Susanna, do.
Zacchaeus, 19.
The Malefactor, 23:43.
Cleopas, 24:18.
Nathanael, John 1:47.
Woman of Samaria, 4:29.
Blind man, 9:38.
Lazarus, 11.
Mary, do.
Martha, do.
Nicodemus, 19:39.
Joseph, Acts 1:23.
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.
John Mark, 12:25, 2 Tim. 4:11.
Simeon-Niger, 13:1.
Lucius, do.
Manaen, do.
Sergius Paulus, 13:12.
Silas, 15:22.
Timotheus, 16: 1.
Lydia, 16:14, 15.
Jailer at Philippi, Acts 16:34.
Jason, 17:5; Rom. 16:21.
Dionysius, 17:34.
Damaris, do.
Priscilla, 18:2; Rom. 16:3.
Aquilla, do.
Justus, 18:7. Crispus, 18:8.
Sosthenes, 18:17; 1 Cor. 1:1.
Apollos, 18:24-28.
Erastus, 19:22.
Gaius, 19:29; Rom. 16:23.
Aristarchus, do. Col. 4:10.
Sopater, 20:4.
Tychicus, do.
Trophimus, do.
Mnason, 21:16.
Phebe, Rom. 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 Cor. 16.
Fortunatus, do.
Achaicus, do.
Silvanus, 2 Cor. 1:19.
Titus, 2 Cor. 8:16.
Epaphroditus, Phil. 2.
Euodias, Phil. 4:2.
Syntyche, do.
Epaphras, Col. 1:7.
Luke, Col. 4:14.
Onesimus, Col. 4:9.
Archippus, Col. 4:17.
Silvanus, 1 Thess. 1:1.
Lois, 2 Tim. 1:5.
Eunice, do.
Onesiphorus, 2 Tim. 1:16.
Eubulus, 2 Tim. 4:21.
Pudens, 2 Tim. 4:21.
Linus, do.
Claudia, do.
Philemon, 1.
Apphia, Philem. 1:2.
Archippus, do.
Elect lady, 2 John.
Demetrius, 3 John 12.
Division II.
THOSE PRESUMED TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
Adam and Eve, Gen. 3:20.
Shem, Gen. 9:26.
Hagar, Gen. 16:14.
Abimelech, 20:6-11.
Rebekah, Gen. 25.
Rachel, Gen. 29; 30.
Leah, do.
Shiphrah, Ex. 1:17.
Puah, do.
Bezaleel, Ex. 31.
Aholiab, do.
Miriam, Mic. 6:4.
Eldad, Num. 11:26.
Medad, do.
Boaz, Ruth.
Ruth, Ruth.
Elkanah, 1 Sam. 1.
Eli, 1 Sam. 4:18.
Wife of Phinehas, 1 Sam. 4:21.
Jonathan, 1 Sam. 14:7.
Abigail, 1 Sam. 25:27-31.
Joash, 2 Kings 12:2.
2 Chron. 24:17.
Amaziah, 2 Kings 14:3.
Uzziah, 2 Chron. 24.
Jotbam, 2 Chron. 27:6.
Mordecai and Esther, Esther.
Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, Jer. 39:18.
Helem and others, Zech. 6:14.
THOSE PRESUMED TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
Joseph, Matt. 1:16.
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.
Man who had the legion of devils, Mark 5:20.
Shepherds, Luke 2.
Samaritan leper, Luke 17:15.
The man that sat at the Beautiful gate, Acts 3:8.
Aeneas, Acts 9:34.
Rhoda, do. 12:13.
Chloe, 1 Col, 1:9.
Demas, Col. 4:14-2 Tim. 4:10.
Crescens, 2 Tim. 4:10.
Carpus, 2 Tim. 4:13.