henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. SATURDAY. Subjection of our reason to the revealed Word. From the Book of Proverbs, and from St. Paul's First and Second Epistle to the Corinthians. son.... the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Third Week. MONDAY. Good works: we shall be judged, and rewarded or punished, according as they are so, or not. Math forsakent mercy and From the Book of Ecclesiastes; about thy neck; write them upon the table of thy heart: so shalt thou find favour and good under 4 from St. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians; and from the Revelations of St. John. OD will bring every work to standing in the sight of God and judgment, with every secret man. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 2 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 3 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after 1 Prov. iii 3. 4 Eccles. xii. 14. thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 5 For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 6 And I John saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, accord 22 Cor x. 4. 31 Cor. i. 25. 6 Rev. xx. 11. ing to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. . . . And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 1 Jesus said by His angel, Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man accord ing as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. TUESDAY. Same subject continued. 2 tion of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink : I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink? when saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee? or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me. Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungred, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye AND many of them that sleep in gave Me no drink. I was a stranger, the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that shall be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 3 At that time Jesus said, When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the founda 1 Rev. xxii. 12. and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee? Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 4 2 Dan. xii. 2. THURSDAY. Same subject continued. (Parable of the Tares.) From the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. AT that time Jesus said, Ted kingdom of heaven is likened 3 St. Matt. xxv. 31. unto a man which sowed good seed in his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the housholder came, and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Explanation of foregoing Parable. From the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. 1 away, HEN Jesus sent the multitude THEN and went into the house; and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He an swered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall 1 St. Matt. xiii. 36. 4 St. John ix. 4. 7 St. Matt. xxv. 1. cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. SATURDAY. Preparation for a future life, by good works, not to be delayed. From the Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes; from the Holy Gospel according to St. John; from St. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians; and the Second General Epistle of St. Peter. 27 Bow; for thou knowest not OAST not thyself what a day may bring forth. 3 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Jesus said, I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 6 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure. Be diligent, that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2 Prov. xxvii. 1. 5 2 Cor. vi. 2. 62 Pet. i. 10, and iii. 14. 5 3 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. 4 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. THURSDAY. Same subject continued. From St. Paul's Epistles to the Philippians and Galatians. WHAT meet the bridegroom. And five of air: but I keep under my body, them were wise, and five were fool- and bring it into subjection: lest ish. They that were foolish took that by any means, when I have their lamps, and took no oil with preached to others, I myself should them: but the wise took oil in their be a castaway. vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in HAT things were gain to me, those I counted loss for with him to the marriage; and the Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I door was shut. Afterward came count all things but loss for the also the other virgins, saying, Lord, excellency of the knowledge of Lord, open to us. But he answered Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom and said, Verily I say unto you, I│I have suffered the loss of all things, know you not. Watch therefore, and do count them but dung, that for ye know neither the day nor I may win Christ, and be found in the hour wherein the Son of Man Him, not having mine own rightcometh. eousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, 2 Brethren, know ye not that they either were already perfect: but I which run in a race run all, but one follow after, if that I may apprereceiveth the prize? So run, that hend that for which also I am apye may obtain. And every man prehended of Christ Jesus. Brethat striveth for the mastery is tem-thren, I count not myself to have perate in all things. Now they do apprehended; but this one thing I it to obtain a corruptible crown; do, forgetting those things which but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the TUESDAY. Perseverance in good works. From the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, from St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews, and First Epistle to the Corinthians. 'AT T that time Jesus said, He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 1 St. Matt. xxiv. 13. are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 1 And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. SATURDAY. The Christian course progressive. From the Book of Proverbs, and from the Second General Epistle of St. Peter. 2 THE HE path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the present day. 3 Ye, therefore, beloved, grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. * And giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Fifth Week. MONDAY. way, and thy neighbour as thyself. And He said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he Good works.—1. Love of God and said, He that shewed mercy on him. our neighbour. ND, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Jesus, saying, What shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. TUESDAY. 2. Love of our neighbour. From the Book of Leviticus, and from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. 6 as thyself: I am the Lord. HOU shalt love thy neighbour readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; to them which hate you, bless them 1 Gal. vi. 6. 7 Jesus said, I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good 2 Prov. iv. 18. 32 St. Pet. iii. 17, 18. 6 Lev. xix. 18. |