Since last month the following have expressed a desire to join t is Class, and we accordingly give their numbers:—
131 A. G. G.
132 C. C. & R. M.
133 M. W.
The subject selected for this month is—
Christ our Example.
The subject matter is to be drawn from the New Testament only, and should be arranged as follows:—
First, the particular Christian grace illustrated.
Secondly, the act or words of Christ that illustrate it.
Thirdly, the passage in which the act or words are recorded.
We trust that this subject may be worked out not only with the usual completeness, but with earnest prayer that it may be engraved on our hearts more deeply than over, that each member of the Class may become a better “epistle of Christ.”
The sub-division is arranged as follows:—
Matthew 1-7, by 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 122.
Matthew 7-14, by 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 123.
Matthew 15-21, by 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 124.
Matthew 22-28, by 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 125.
Mark 1-5, by 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 126.
Mark 6-10, by 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 54, 55, 127.
Mark 11-16, by 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 128.
Luke 1-6, by 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69.
Luke 7-12, by 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79.
Luke 13-18, by 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87.
Luke 19-24, by 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95.
John 1-7, by 1, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 133.
John 8-14, by 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111.
John 15-21, by 2, 3, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121.
Acts to Ephesians, by 70, 71, 112, 129, 132.
Philippians to Revelation, by 130, 131, 132, 88, 113.
We now give the results of last month search, according to the division of the subject. One of the papers we have received on the “Humility of Christ “is so complete, that we have printed it entire, with the addition of a few details from the other papers.
PRIDE
Its History—
In the sight of God it is—
Hateful and an abomination, Proverbs 6:16, 17; 16:5.
Sin, Proverbs 21:4.
It proceeds from-
The heart of man, Mark 7:22.
It is found in-
Those who depart from God, Leviticus 26:19; Romans 1:21.
The wicked, Hab. 2:4, 5.
Antichrist, 2 Thessalonians 2:4. Satan, 1 Timothy 3:6.
It is especially to be guarded against by those who-
Are young, 1 Timothy 3:6. Rich, 1 Timothy 6:17. Learned, 1 Corinthians 8:1.
It is characteristic of the last days, 2 Timothy 3:2. False teachers, 1 Timothy 6:3, 4. The world, 1 John 2:16.
Was one of the sins of Sodom, Ezekiel 16:49.
Its varieties-Haughtiness of heart, loftiness, arrogancy, Jeremiah 48.29, scornfulness, Isaiah 29:20; of countenance, Psalms 10:4; of heart, Proverbs 16:5; of spirit, Ecclesiastes 7:8; of birth, John 8:33; of religious privilege, John 9:28; of intellect, Romans 1:21.
Its characteristics persecutes the poor, Psalms 10:2; Seeks not God, Psalms 10:4; Rises against God, Psalms 86:14; Despises the righteous, Psalms 119:51; Forges lies, Psalms 119:69; Despises the humble, Psalms 123:4; Stirs up strife, Proverbs 28:25; Lacks uprightness, Habukkuk 2:4; Exalts itself against God, Zephaniah 2:10, 2 Corinthians 10:5; Rejects the Truth, 1 Timothy 6:3,4; Speaks evil of dignities, James 3:14; Defiles a man, Mark 7:20.
Leads to shame; Proverbs 11:2; Contention, Proverbs 13:10; Destruction, Proverbs 16:18; Abasement, Proverbs 29:23; Hardening of the heart, Daniel 5:20; Self-deception, Jeremiah 49:16.
Shall be punished with death, Deuteronomy 17.12; Judged, Job 26:12; Brought down, Psalms 12:3; 18:27; Obad. 1:4; not suffered, Psalms 101:5; Rebuked, Psalms 119:21; Duly rewarded, Psalms 94:2; Destroyed, Proverbs 15:25; Humbled, Isaiah 5:15; Trodden under foot, Isaiah 28:3; Marred, Jeremiah 13:9; Abased, Daniel 4:37; Burned up, Malachi 4:1.
Is resisted by God, 1 Peter 5:5.
Woman’s pride of Dress, and God’s judgment thereof, Isaiah 3:16.
Examples of Pride—
Religious and Spiritual Pride—
Cain, Genesis 4;
Judah and Jerusalem, Jeremiah 13:9, 10;
King (little horn) Daniel 7:25;
King (of fierce countenance), Daniel 8:25;
Capernaum, Matthew 11:23.
Scribes, Pharisees, Matthew 23:1, &c.;
The young ruler, Mark 10:17;
Heathen, Romans 1:21;
Jews, Romans 2:17;
Corinth. Church, 1 Corinthians 4:8;
Laodicean church, Revelation 3:17.
Pride shown by Ambition—
Eve, Gen 3:6;
The builders of Babel, Genesis 11:4;
Miriam, Numbers 12;
Korah, Dathan, Abiram, Numbers 16;
Adonijah, 1 Kings 1:5;
Disciples, Mark 9:33; 10:35.
Pride of Position—
Pharaoh, Exodus 5:2;
Israel, Deuteronomy 8:14-20;
Michal, 2 Samuel 6:23;
David, 1 Chronicles 21;
Naaman, 2 Kings 5:11;
Uzziah, 2 Chronicles 26:16;
Hezekiah, 2 Chronicles 23:25;
Haman, Esther 5:11;
Shebna, Isaiah 22:16;
Ammon, Jeremiah 49:4;
Edom, Jeremiah 49:16;
Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 4:30;
Belshazzar, Daniel 5:23;
Nineveh, Zephaniah 2:15;
Herod, Acts 12.
Pride of Power—
Israel, Deuteronomy 1:43;
Egyptians, Exodus 18:11;
Goliath, 1 Samuel 17;
Sennacherib, 2 Kings 19:23;
Amaziah, 2 Kings 14:10;
Assyria, Ezekiel 31:10, 11;
Egypt, Ezekiel 30:6.
Pride of Person—
Absalom, 2 Samuel 15:1-10;
Ahitophel, 2 Samuel 17:23;
Jezebel, 2 Kings 9:30;
Daughters of Zion, Isaiah 3:16;
Satan, Isaiah 14:13;
Ephraim, (Israel), Isaiah 28:1-3.
Pride of Possessions—
Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20:13;
Moab, Jeremiah 48:7;
Tire, Ezekiel 28:2-10
HUMILITY.
What God thinks of it.
He exalts, Job 5:11; hears, Psalms 9:12; 10:17; guides and teaches, Psalms 25:9; does not despise, Psalms 51:17; saves, Psalms 76:9; has respect, Psalms 138:6; lifts up, Psalms 147:6; beautifies with salvation, Psalms 149:4; gives grace to, Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; protects in the day of anger, Zephaniah 2:3; dwells with, Isaiah 57:15.
The humble are ill-treated by the wicked, Job 24:4; Isaiah 32:7; receive wisdom, Proverbs 11:2; are upheld by honor, Proverbs 29:23; shall increase their joy in the Lord in the day of blessing, Isaiah 29:19; shall be exalted, Matthew 23:12; shall find satisfaction in God, Psalms 22:25; shall inherit the earth, Psalms 37:11; Matthew 5:5; shall receive riches, honor, and life, Proverbs 22:4.
Humility is before honor, Proverbs 15:33; is commended, Proverbs 16:19; is to be sought, Zephaniah 2:3; a fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:23; should characterize the believer’s walk, Micah 6:8; Romans 12:3; Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:3; 1 Timothy 6:11; 1 Peter 5:5; should characterize women, 1 Peter 3:4.
It is needful that the proper application of these passages should be borne in mind.
False humility is to be avoided as leading to pride, Colossians 2:18, 23. Examples of humility; We would remark that we have not included in the examples of humility, those who had by their ways displeased God, but who in consequence of warnings received, or judgment actually carried out had humbled themselves under His hand.
The course of such can scarcely be said to have been characterized by humility-see the cases of Ahab, Nebuchadnezzar, and others.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE HUMILITY OF CHRIST
Shown (1St) by placing Himself in humiliating circumstances He made Himself of no reputation; took upon Him the form of a servant; was made in the likeness of men, Philippians 2:7.
Was made of a woman, Galatians 4:4,
In the likeness of sinful flesh, Romans 8:3.
Being found in fashion as a man; He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross, Philippians 2:8.
Was made a little lower than the angels, Hebrews 1:9.
Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, 2 Corinthians 8:9.
Was born in a stable and laid in a manger, Luke 2:7.
Lived in the despised village of Nazareth, Matthew 2:23; John 46. Was subject to Joseph and Mary, Luke 2:51.
Called the carpenter’s Son, Matthew 13:55.
Worked as a carpenter, Mark 6:3.
Had not where to lay His head, Matthew 8:20.
Was subject to hunger, Matthew 4:2.
Was tempted by Satan, Matthew 4:1, &c.
Was with the wild beasts in the wilderness, Mark 1:13.
Was subject to weariness, John 4:6.
Was a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, Isaiah 53:3; Luke 19:41; John 11:35; See also Mark 3:5; 7:31; 8:12; 14:34; Luke 22:44; Matthew 26:38; Luke 19:41; John 12:27; Psalms 69:20, 29; Lamentations 1:12;3. 1-17; Luke 22:44.
Lived in dependence on God, Matthew 4:4, &c.
Made Himself subject to the law of God, Galatians 4:4.
To the laws of government, Matthew 17:24-27.
Was lowly, riding upon an ass, Zechariah 9:9.
Became a servant, Isaiah 52:13, &c.; Luke 22:27; John 13:1-16. Asked favors from others, Luke 5:3; John 4:7.
Came not to be ministered unto but to minister, Matthew 20:28. Was strengthened by an angel, Luke 22:43.
Made His grave with the wicked, Isaiah 53:9.
Shown (2nd) in submitting (1) to rejection (2) to insult from Satan and from man—
(1) To Rejection. Was rejected at Bethlehem, Luke 2:7;
Nazareth, Luke 4:28,29; John 4:44;
Jerusalem, John 5:18; 7:1; 8:59; 10:31;
Capernaum, Matthew 11:23, 24; Chorazin, Bethsaida, Matthew 11:21;
Samaria, Luke 9:52, 53;
By His own (Israel) John 1:11; By Gentiles, Matthew 27:26, &c. By men, Isaiah 53:3;
By the world that was made by Him, John 1:10;
By His brethren, John 7:5.
(2) To insult, suffering, opposition, and hatred.
He was called Beelzebub, Matthew 10:26.
A gluttonous man, a winebibber, Matthew 11:19.
A friend of publicans and sinners, Matthew 11:19.
A sorcerer, Matthew 9:34.
A Samaritan, John 8:48.
Calls Himself so, Luke 10:33.
A demoniac, John 7:20; 8:48, 52; 10:20.
A blasphemer, John 10:33, &c.
A sinner, John 9:24.
Ignorant, John 7:15; Luke 22:27, 28.
A liar, John 8:13.
A man not of God, John 9:16.
A lunatic, John 10:20.
He was received without common hospitality, Luke 7:44, 45.
His preaching was derided, Luke 16:14.
No man received His testimony, John 3
He endured the contradiction of sinners, Hebrews 12:3; Mark 9:19, &c.
He was hated, persecuted, and disobeyed, John 15:18-25.
He came in His Father’s name, and was not received, whereas the antichrist, who comes in his own name, will be received John 5:43.
He became a proverb, Psalms 69:11.
The song of the drunkards, 69:12.
A reproach of men; despised of the people, Psalms 22:6.
His people Israel saw no beauty in Him, Isaiah 53:2.
They hid their faces from Him; they esteemed Him not, Isaiah 53:3.
He was to them as a worm, and no man, Psalms 22:6.
They laughed Him to scorn, shooting out their lips, and shaking the head, Psalms 22:7; Matthew 9:24; Mark 5:40; Luke 8:53, &c.
They gaped upon Him with their mouths, Psalms 22:13.
They looked and stared upon Him, Psalms 22:17.
He was forsaken by His disciples, Mark 14:50.
A derision to all His people, and their song all the day, Lamentations 3:14.
He gave His cheek to the smiters, Lamentations 3:30.
He was denied by His disciple, Mark 14.66-72.
He was filled full with reproach, Lamentations 3:30.
He gave His back to the smiters, His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, He hid not His face from shame and spitting, Isaiah 1:6.
He was smitten with a rod upon the cheek, Micah 5:1.
He suffered shame and dishonor, Psalms 69:19.
He was betrayed with a kiss by His own disciple, Matthew 26
He was sold for thirty pieces of silver, Matthew 26:15.
He was seized as a thief, with swords and staves, Luke 22:52.
He was bound, John 18:12, &c.
He was falsely accused, Matthew 26:60.
He was accused of sedition, Luke 23:2.
He was spit upon, buffeted, and mocked by the Jews, Matthew 26:67, &c.
He stood to be judged before the Roman governor, Matthew 27:11.
Barabbas, guilty of murder was preferred to Him, Matthew 27:20, Luke 23:25.
He was stripped, dressed in a gorgeous robe, with a crown of thorns, a reed for a scepter, was mocked, was spit upon and smitten by Gentiles, Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-20; Luke 23:11.
Was scourged, John 19:1.
Made to bear His cross, John 19:17.
Gall and vinegar given Him to drink, Psalms 69:21.
Crucified between two thieves, Matthew 27:38, &c.
Whilst on the Cross, reviled, railed upon, mocked, and derided by chief priests, scribes, soldiers, and thieves, Matthew 27:39-49.
They wagged their heads at Him, Mark 15:29.
He was pierced after His death, John 19:34.
His departure was rejoiced over, John 16:20.
His citizens hated Him, and sent a message after Him, saying, “We will not have this man to reign over us,” Luke 19:14, compare Acts 7:54-60.
Lastly, when He comes, He will gird Himself, make those sit down to meat who have watched for Him, and will serve them. Luke 12:37.