The subject worked out for this month is—
Christian Example illustrated by the lives of Bible saints, and especially by that of the apostle Paul.
The subject has not been treated in this instance exhaustively, as that would be well nigh impossible, but for the first part of this subject, twelve leading graces have been chosen, and the twelve best examples selected of each; for the second, a somewhat full list has been given of the life of Paul as an example of Christian practice.
Part 1. —Examples for Saints Generally of:
1.—Compassion and Sympathy:—
Moses—on account of the oppression of his people, Exodus 2:11.
David—for Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 9
Jonathan—for David, 1 Samuel 20:41.
Boaz—for Ruth, Ruth 2:15, 16.
Job—with those in sorrow, Job 30:25.
Ebedmelech—for Jeremiah, Jeremiah 38:7.
Daniel—for God’s people, Daniel 9
Jailor—for Paul and Silas, Acts 16:33.
Mary—with Christ about His death, Mark 14:8.
Hebrews—to Paul, Hebrews 10:34.
Onesiphorus—to Paul, 2 Timothy 1:16.
2. —Faith for Spiritual Blessings:
Patriarchs—for the heavenly city, Hebrews 11:14.
Jacob—for God’s blessing, Genesis 32:28.
David—when in trouble, Psalms 23, &c.
Simeon—to see Christ, Luke 2:25,34.
Peter—for an incorruptible inheritance, 1 Peter 1:3.
A woman which was a sinner—for forgiveness, Luke 7
Elisha—for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, 2 Kings 2:9.
Moses—for spiritual reward, Hebrews 11:26.
Jailor—for eternal life, Acts 16:32.
Cornelius—for further light, Acts 10
Dying thief—for admittance into the kingdom, Luke 23
Blind man—to receive Christ, John 9:38.
3. —Faith for Temporal Mercies:—
Abraham—for the land, Genesis 15:6.
Abraham’s servant—for a wife for Isaac, Genesis 24
Rahab—for bodily safety, Joshua 2:21.
Ezra—for bodily safety, Ezra 8:22.
Hannah—for a son, 1 Samuel 1:18.
Two blind men—for their sight, Matthew 9:29.
Diseased woman—for healing, Mark 5:34. Jairus—for his daughter’s healing, Mark 5:24.
Bartimaeus—for his sight, Mark 10:52.
Centurion—for his servant, Luke 7
Nobleman—for his son, John 4:50.
Widow at Sarepta—for food, 1 Kings 17:8.
(We have no proof that all these were children of God.)
4. —Humility:—
Abraham—in giving way to Lot, Genesis 18:27.
Jacob—before God, Genesis 32:10.
Moses—according to God’s testimony, Numbers 12:3.
Hannah—in meekness when accused of drunkenness, 1 Samuel 1:16.
David—before God, 2 Samuel 7:18.
Solomon—before God, 1 Kings 3:7.
Daniel—in ascribing all wisdom to God, Daniel 2:30.
Jeremiah—before God, Jeremiah 1:6.
John the Baptist—in taking a low place, Mark 1:7.
Syrophoenician woman—in taking a dog’s place, Matthew 15:25.
Centurion—in not being worthy to receive Christ, Matthew 8:8, 9.
Publican—before God, Luke 18:13.
5. —Joy in God:—
Miriam—for His great deliverance, Exodus 15
Hannah—for answer to prayer, 1 Samuel 2:1.
David—for help and refuge, Psalms 63:7, &c.
Nehemiah—to keep the feast of tabernacles, Nehemiah 8:10.
Children of Israel—when giving for His service, 1 Chronicles 29:9.
Isaiah—for salvation, Isaiah 61:10.
Habakkuk—in spite of the loss of all, Hebrews 3:18.
Jeremiah—on account of God’s word, Jeremiah 15:16.
Mary—for the birth of Christ, Luke 1:46.
Zacharias—for the birth of John, Luke 1:68.
Apostles—for suffering for Christ, Acts 5:41.
Silas—in prison, Acts 16:25.
6. —Liberality:—
Abraham—to three strangers, Genesis 18:3-8.
Joseph—to his brethren, Genesis 43:32.
Abigail—to David in his rejection, 1 Samuel 25:18.
Queen of Sheba—to Solomon in his glory, 1 Kings 10:10.
Nehemiah—in entertaining others, Nehemiah 5:17, 18.
Shunamite woman—in entertaining Elisha. 2 Kings 4:18.
Obadiah—in feeding 100 prophets, 1 Kings 18:13.
Gaius—in receiving strangers, Romans 16:23. 3 John 5, 6.
Macedonian Christians—in helping Paul, 2 Corinthians 8:1-4.
Dorcas—in working for the poor, Acts 9:36.
Mary—towards Christ, Mark 14:3.
Widow—in giving all her living, Mark 12:42.
Joseph—to his brethren, Genesis 45:1-4.
Moses—to God’s people, Exodus 2:11.
Ruth—for God’s people, Ruth 1:16.
Jonathan—for David, 1 Samuel 18:14.
Mephibosheth—for David, 2 Samuel 19:30.
Nehemiah—for Jerusalem, Nehemiah 1
Sinful woman—for Christ, Luke 7
Mary—for Christ, John 12:3.
Mary Magdalene—for Christ, John 20:11, 13.
John—for Christ, John 13:23.
Philippians—for Paul, Philippians 4:15.
Epaphroditus—for Colossians, Colossians 4:12.
8. —Obedience to God:—
Noah—to direct command, Genesis 6:14-32.
Abraham—to direct command, Hebrews 11:8.
Moses—concerning Divine worship, Exodus 40:16.
Gideon—as to God’s way of working, Judges 7:4, 5.
Elijah—to go to Jordan, 1 Kings 17:5.
Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego—to God’s word, Daniel 3
The Wise men—in a dream, Matthew 2
Peter, James, and John—to Christ’s word, Luke 5:5.
Joseph—to take Mary, etc., Matthew 1:24;2. 21.
The disciples—to leave all, for Christ. Matthew 4:18.
Peter and other apostles—to Divine commission, Acts 5:29.
Peter—in receiving Gentiles, Acts 10
9. —Patience:—
Abraham—in bearing with Lot, Genesis 13:8.
Jacob—in long service for Rachel, Genesis 29:20.
Joseph—with his brethren, Genesis 45:5.
Moses—in bearing with the people, Exodus 33:13.
Joshua—in compassing Jericho seven times, Joshua 6
David—under Goliath’s taunts, 1 Samuel 16:13.
Nehemiah—in all his work at Jerusalem, Nehemiah
Jeremiah and the prophets—in various ways, James 5:10.
Job—in his afflictions, Job 2:10; James 5:11.
Stephen—as a martyr, Acts 3:54-60.
Simeon—in waiting for Christ’s first coming, Luke 2:25.
Thessalonians—in waiting for Christ’s second coming, 1 Thessalonians 1:3.
10. —Prayerfulness:—
Abraham’s servant—when fetching Rebekah, Genesis 24
Jabez—for himself, 1 Chronicles 4:10.
Hannah—for a child, 1 Samuel 1:10.
Samuel—for deliverance, 1 Samuel 7:9.
Hezekiah—for deliverance, 2 Kings 19:15-20.
Daniel—for God’s people, Daniel 9
Nehemiah—for guidance, Nehemiah 1:11.
David—about God’s house, 2 Samuel 7:18-29.
Jeremiah—for God’s people, Jeremiah 27:16.
Peter—for a miracle, Acts 9:40.
Cornelius—continually, Acts 10:2.
The Church—without ceasing, Acts 12:5.
11. —Repentance:—
Job—after sore affliction, Job 40:3.
David—for great sin, 2 Samuel 12:13.
Children of Israel—for sins, Judges 10:15,
Nineveh—at Jonah’s preaching, Jonah 3; Matthew 12
Dying thief—from railing at Christ, Luke 23:40, 41.
Those baptized by John—for their sins, Matthew 3:6.
Jailor—for his sins and treatment of Paul, Acts 16:30-33.
Sinful woman—for her sins, Luke 7
Zacchaeus—for defrauding, Luke 19:8.
Peter—for denying Christ, Matthew 26:75.
Joseph’s brethren—for their sin, Genesis 44:16.
Darius—for what he had done, Daniel 6:14.
(These were not all children of God.)
12. —Truthfulness:—
Samuel—to Eli, 1 Samuel 3:18.
Hushai—to Absalom, 2 Samuel 16:18.
David—in confession, 2 Samuel 24:17.
Micaiah—in speaking God s word only, 1 Kings 22:14.
Daniel—in action, Daniel 6:10.
John Baptist—in saying who he was, John 1:20.
Diseased woman—in saying who cured her, Mark 5:33.
Dying thief—in owning his just condemnation, Luke 23:41.
Peter—in preaching, Acts 4:13.
Peter and John—before the rulers, Acts 4:20.
Peter—in narrating events, Acts 11
Officers—in stating their convictions, John 7:40.
Part 2—Example Of Paul The Apostle.
Public acknowledgment of Jesus as the Son of God, Acts 9:20.
Meekness in bearing suspicion from believers. Acts 9:23, 27.
Boldness in the confession of Christ. Acts 9:29; 14:3; 19:8.
Following the leading of the Holy Ghost. Acts 13:4; 16:6-10.
Proving all things by the word of God. Acts 13:16-41; 17:2.
Honoring the Jews as the beloved nation. Acts 5:46; 14:1.
Obedience to the commands of Jesus (Mark 6:11; Matthew 10:23)
Acts 13.51. Refusing honor due to God only. Acts 14:14, 15.
Suffering for Christ—
(1) Reproach and contradiction. Acts 13:8, 45.
(2) Pain and shame. Acts 14:5-19; 16:23, 24.
(3) False accusation. Acts 16:20, 21; 17:7.
Resisting false doctrine. Acts 15:2; Ephesians to Galatians throughout.
Care for the spiritual welfare of saints. Acts 14:21-23; 15:36.
Care for the bodily necessities of saints. Romans 15:25-28; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4.
Preaching not in human wisdom, but by Divine power. 1 Corinthians 2:9.
Independence of man’s judgment. 1 Corinthians 4:3.
Carefulness as regards the conscience of the weak. 1 Corinthians 8:13.
Relinquishing rights and claims, lest the gospel be hindered. 1 Corinthians 9.12.
Free from all men, yet a servant to all. 1 Corinthians 9:19.
Beeping under the body. 1 Corinthians 9:27.
Pleasing all men in all things, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:33.
Preaching the simple Gospel,—the facts relating to Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:.3, 4
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 1 Corinthians 16:3.
Comforting those who are in trouble. 2 Corinthians 1:4.
Trusting not in self, but in God. 2 Corinthians 1:9.
Simplicity and godly sincerity. 2 Corinthians 1:12.
Grief for the sin of the churchapter 2 Corinthians 2:4.
Continual triumph in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14.
Not corrupting the word of God. 2 Corinthians 2:17.
Being the vessel for the treasure of God. 2 Corinthians 4:7.
Occupied not with the things seen, but unseen, 2 Corinthians 4:18.
Willing to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:18.
Being a worker together with God. 2 Corinthians 6:1.
Giving no offense in anything, lest the ministry be blamed. 2 Corinthians 6:3.
Sorrowful yet alway rejoicing. 2 Corinthians 6:10.
Poor, yet making many richapter 2 Corinthians 6:10.
Having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:10.
Neither wronging, corrupting, nor defrauding any man. 2 Corinthians 7:2.
Giving proof of care for the souls of saints. 2 Corinthians 7:12.
Rejoicing with those that rejoice. 2 Corinthians 7:13.
Not warring after the flesh, and discarding carnal weapons. 2 Corinthians 10:3, 4.
Jealous lest the saints should be untrue to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2.
Preaching the gospel fully without reward. 2 Corinthians 11:7-9.
Not only feeling, but expressing love. 2 Corinthians 11:11.
Sympathy with the weak and the offended. 2 Corinthians 11:29.
Glorying in infirmities, because they display the power of Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Taking pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, and distresses for Christ’s sake. 2 Corinthians 12:10.
Gladly spending, and being spent for the saints. 2 Corinthians 12:15.
Loving without return of love, and when love is withdrawn. 2 Corinthians 12:15.
Doing all for edification. 2 Corinthians 12:19.
Faithfulness in rebuking sin. 2 Corinthians 13:2.
Not seeking to please men, but God. Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4.
Not conferring with flesh and blood. Galatians 1:16.
Not giving place by subjection to false teachers. Galatians 2:5.
Remembering the poor. Galatians 2:10.
Telling the truth even if it provokes enmity. Galatians 4:16.
Not shrinking from the offense of the cross. Galatians 5:11.
Glorying in nothing save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14.
Crucified to the world, the world to him. Galatians 6:14.
Prayer for the Saints. Ephesians 1:16; 3:14. Philippians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:10.
Humility as to spiritual attainments. Ephesians 3:8.
Trusting in the loving interest of the saints. Ephesians 6:21.
Longing after the saints. Philippians 1:8.
Rejoicing that Christ is preached, if even for unworthy reasons. Philippians 1:18.
Confidence that in nothing I shall be ashamed. Philippians 1:20.
“ To me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.
Desiring to depart and to be with Christ, yet willing to remain in the flesh for the sake of the Churchapter Philippians 1:23,24.
Rejoicing in the unity of the Spirit as kept by the saints. Philippians 2:2.
Rejoicing in the proclamation of the word by the saints. Philippians 2:16.
Rejoicing in being offered up for the saints. Philippians 2:17.
Caring to know the state of the saints. Philippians 2:19.
Willingly sparing Epaphroditus “ who ministered to my wants,” in order that he and the Philippians might have the comfort of seeing one another. Philippians 2:25.
Counting all loss for Christ. Philippians 3:7.
Not trusting in his own righteousness. Philippians 3:9
Desire to know Christ, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death. Philippians 3:10.
Not satisfied with present attainments, but following after. Philippians 3:12.
Doing one thing, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, pressing toward the mark for the prize for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13,14. Being a peacemaker. Philippians 4:2.
Having learned in all states to be content. Philippians 4:11, 12,
Doing all things through Christ which strengthened him. Philippians 4:13.
Not desiring a gift except for the gain to him who gives. Philippians 4:17.
Perfect satisfaction. Philippians 4:18.
Warning every man in all wisdom by the preaching of Christ. Colossians 1:28.
Laboring and striving, according to the working of God. Colossians 1:29.
Caring earnestly even for saints unknown in the flesh. Colossians 2:1.
Rejoicing in the order, and in the faith of the saints. Colossians 2:5.
Bestowing praise where due. Philippians 2:29, 30. Colossians 4:12, 13. 1 Thessalonians 4:9.
Carefulness to set an example in all things. 1 Thessalonians 1:5.
Free from deceit, uncleanness or guile. 1 Thessalonians 2:3.
Not using flattering words. 1 Thessalonians 2.5.
Nor a cloak of covetousness. 1 Thessalonians 2:5.
Not seeking glory of men. 1 Thessalonians 2:6.
Gentle, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. 1 Thessalonians 2:7.
Laboring night and day, not to be chargeable to any. 1 Thessalonians 2:9.
Living holily, justly, and unblameably. 1 Thessalonians 2:10.
Exhorting, and comforting, and charging others, as a father doth his children. 1 Thessalonians 2:11, 12.
Love not weakened by absence. 1 Thessalonians 2:17.
Diligence to make known the things to come—(Paul was but 3 weeks at. Thessalonica, and found no believers there when he arrived). 2 Thessalonians 2:5.
Deep sense of sinfulness. 1 Timothy 1:15, 16.
Trust in the living God. 1 Timothy 4:10.
Conscientious service. 2 Timothy 1:3; Acts 24:16.
Full trust in Christ. 2 Timothy 1:12.
Gratitude for love and kindness, and affectionate remembrance of service rendered. 2 Timothy 1:16-18.
Enduring all things for the elect’s sake. 2 Timothy 2:10.
Fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7.
Love for the Lord’s appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8.
Personal and individual remembrance of the saints, and love for them. Last Chapters of Romans, of 1 Corinthians, of 2 Timothy, &c.
Care for little matters relating to the personal wants of the saints. Titus 3:13.
Rather desirous to beseech, than to command or enjoin. Philemon 1:8, 9.
Anxiety to give the opportunity for willing, rather than constrained service. Philemon 1:13, 14.
Carefulness in money matters, to do all honestly, as regards the creditor, and generously, in taking the place of the debtor. Philemon 1:18, 19.
In all things being willing to live honestly. Hebrews 13:11.