A STONE OF STUMBLING.

"HE shall be for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence...to them that stumble at the Word, being disobedient."--I Pet. 2:8.

"Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which shall try you; as though some strange thing happened unto you."--I Pet. 4:12.

"Whosoever will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."--2 Tim. 3:12. "The disciple is not above his Lord."--Matt. 10:24.

"Call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated [enlightened], ye endured a great conflict of sufferings: partly, whilst ye were made a gazing-stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion on me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your valuables, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."-- Heb. 10:32-35.

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"-- Mark 15:34.

"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the pastor and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn my hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass that in all the land two parts shall be cut off and die [(1) the little flock of self-sacrificers and (2) the 'great company' of Rev. 7:14]. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined."--Zech. 13:7-9.

"Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow."-- Lam. 1:12.

"He was led as a lamb to slaughter. As a sheep before shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth" [in resistance].--Isa. 53:7.

"It pleased the Lord to wound him, to put him to shame."--Isa. 53:10. "Many were astonied at thee."-- Isa. 52:14.

"And Pilate answered, What evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, Crucify him! Crucify him!" --Mark 15:14.

"And Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all over me except it were given thee of my Father in heaven."--John 19:11. "The cup which my Father hath poured for me, shall I not drink it?"--John 18:11.

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief."--Isa. 53:3.

"As he was, so are we in this world."--I John 4:17.

"Marvel not if the world hate you. Ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but now ye are not of the world because I have chosen you out of the world; therefore the world hateth you."--John 15:18,19.

"Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven."--Matt. 5:11,12.

"If one member of the body suffers all the members suffer with it. Now are ye the body of Christ and members in particular."--I Cor. 12:26,27.

"Count it all joy when ye fall into divers trials." (Jas. 1:2.) "Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh out for us a far more exceeding and an eternal weight of glory." (2 Cor. 4:17.) "You who are troubled rest with us."--2 Thess. 1:7.

"God gave Christ to be the head over the Church which is his body." (Eph. 1:22,23.) "If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him." (2 Tim. 2:12.) "If we be dead with him we shall also live with him." (Rom. 6:8.) "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the [R3776 : page 152] mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." (2 Pet. 5:6.) "Filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ."--Col. 1:24.

"The reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me." (Rom. 15:3.) "Let us go to him without the camp bearing the reproach with him."--Heb. 13:13.

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