Its Root and Branches.

with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such a one no not to eat.

10:20 I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Ep. 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

2 Th. 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

2 Tim. 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Jn. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds. [See 415.]

103. Christian churches, branches of the Abrahamic church. Rom. 11:16 For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive-tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive-tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.

Abrahamic Covenant.

Be not high-minded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive-tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive-tree; how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive-tree?

Gal. 3:7 Know ye therefore, that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. [Rom. 4:11–25. Ac. 7:38. Ep. 2:12.]

104. God's covenant with the Abrahamic church.

Gen. 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Ps. 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Mic. 7:20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

Gal. 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, That the covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God

Abrahamic Covenant-Circumcision.

gave it to Abraham by promise. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

105. God's covenant with the Abrahamic church involves true religion.

Ex. 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.

Lev. 26:41 If then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

Dt. 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

1 K. 8:23 And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart.

Ps. 78: 10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law.

Rom. 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Gal. 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

106. Circumcision, the appointed seal of the Abrahamic church. Gen. 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you, and thy seed after thee; Every man-child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. 12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man-child in your gen. erations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger which is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs

Covenant Blessings for Children-Covenant permanent.

be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

Rom. 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.

107. Did the Abrahamic covenant include blessings for the posterity of believers?

Gen. 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

26:24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

Dt. 30: 19 Choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. 2 K. 13:23 And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.

Is. 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Ac. 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children. Gen. 26:24. [See 426.]

108. The covenant between God and the Abrahamic church not abolished with the Jewish ritual.

Rom. 15: 8 Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.

Gal. 3:17 And this I say, That the covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should

Good and Bad.

make the promise of none effect. 29 If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

COMPANIONS.

109. Instructions respecting good and bad companions.

Ex. 34: 12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee.

Ps. 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

119:115 Depart from me, ye evil-doers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

139:19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

Pr. 1: 10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood: 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

7:24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thine heari decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

12:11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.