CHRISTINA. ROSSETTI DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY V Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Duke University Libraries https://archive.org/details/calledtobesaints01 ross CALLED TO BE SAINTS: 'i THE IHinor JFcstibals DEVOTIONALLY STUDIED, BY THE LATE CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI, AUTHOR OF “SEEK AND FIND.’' “ ge are (Soli’s fjusbanUrg, ge are ©oil’s builliing.” i Cor. iii. 9. “Efjat our sons mag grofo up as tfje goung plants: anil tfjat our baugfjters mag be as tfje poltsfjelj corners of tfje temple.”—Ps. cxliv. 12. PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE TRACT COMMITTEE. SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. LONDON: NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON : 129, north street. New York: E. & J. B. YOUNG & CO. 1S95. IN HOPE OF OUR RE-UNION. TO THE DEAR AND GRACIOUS MEMORY OF Sister. Hooker, in Book 5 of his Ecclesiastical Polity , speaking of Saints’ Days, tells us :— “ They are the splendour and outward dignity of our religion, forcible witnesses of ancient truth, provocations to the exercise of all piety, shadows of our endless felicity in heaven, on earth everlasting records and memorials, wherein they that cannot be drawn to hearken unto that we teach, may only by looking upon that we do, in a manner read whatsoever we believe.” CONTENTS. Page The Key to my Book.. “ This near-at-hand land ”. xv >*i St. Andrew, Apostle : The Sacred Text. 1 Biographical Additions. 3 A Prayer for Large-heartedness ...... 6 The Memorial. 7 The First Foundation : Jasper.17 The Daisy . 20 St. Thomas, Apostle : The Sacred Text.23 Biographical Additions.25 A Prayer for Confidence of Love.28 The Memorial.28 The Second Foundation : Sapphire.39 Ivy ........... 42 St. Stephen, Deacon : The Sacred Text.45 Biographical Additions ........ 47 A Prayer for Victory.51 The Memorial.52 Holly.. St. John, Apostle and Evangelist: The Sacred Text. 62 Biographical Additions . ....... 70 A Prayer for Union with Christ.76 The Memorial.. r viii Contents. Pagt The Fourth Living Creature : an Eagle .... 85 The Third Foundation : a Chalcedony .... 87 Mistletoe..88 "Jerusalem is built of gold ”.90 Holy Innocents : The Sacred Text.. [Additions].. A Prayer for Cleansing.96 The Memorial. 97 Groundsel and Chickweed ....... 107 ‘' They scarcely waked ”.109 St. Paul, Apostle: The Sacred Text.in Biographical Additions.113 A Prayer for Grace ..118 The Memorial ..119 Gorse ........... 127 The Presentation & Purification : The Sacred Text.130 Glories of the Presentation.132 The Sacred Text (resumed).134 Biographical Additions ........ 136 A Prayer for Acceptance in Christ ...... 138 The Memorial.138 The Snowdrop.148 " O First-fruits of our grain".. . 149 St. Matthias, Apostle : The Sacred Text ..151 Biographical Additions.152 A Prayer for Holy Fear.158 The Memorial.158 The Fourth Foundation : an Emerald ..... 167 Hepaticas.169 The Annunciation : The Sacred Text.172 Contents. IX Page Glories of the Annunciation . . # # , . • 173 The Sacred Text (resumed) . . # • . 176 [Additions]. A Prayer for Self-Devotion . . • . • . . 182 The Memorial .... . 183 Violets. " Herself a rose ” .... St. Mark, Evangelist: The Sacred Text .... Biographical Additions . . A Prayer for Steadfastness . . • • . . • 200 The Memorial .... The First Living Creature : a Lion • • • . • 209 Wood Sorrel. " Once like a broken bow " . • • . • 214 St. Philip & St. James the Less, Apostles : The Sacred Text. . 216 Biographical Additions . . . A Prayer for Sympathy of Love • • • • 22s The Memorial .... The Fifth and Sixth Foundations : Sardonyx and Sardius to CO vi Cowslips and Veronica . . . ** Great or small below ” . . • . • • 242 St. Barnabas, Apostle: The Sacred Text .... Biographical Additions . . . • . 250 A Prayer for Goodwill of Love • • 255 The Memorial .... . . . 256 Honeysuckle ..... *'St. Barnabas, with John" . . • • 267 St. John, Baptist: The Sacred Text .... Biographical Additions . A Prayer for Conformity to God's Will • • . 284 The Memorial .... . 285 X Contents. Page St. John’s Wort. 293 “ Sooner or later : yet at last".295 St. Peter, Apostle: The Sacred Text.297 Biographical Additions.318 A Prayer for Repentance unto Love.321 The Memorial.323 The Seventh Foundation : Chrysolyte.331 The Yellow Flag. 333 “ I followed Thee, my God ”.335 St. James the Great, Apostle : The Sacred Text.338 Biographical Additions.342 A Prayer for Final Perseverance.344 The Memorial.345 The Eighth Foundation : Beryl.353 The Flowering Rush. 357 St. Bartholomew, Apostle: The Sacred Text.359 Biographical Additions.361 A Prayer for Progress.363 The Memorial.364 The Ninth Foundation : a Topaz ...... 373 Harebells.376 St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist: The Sacred Text.378 Biographical Additions.379 A Prayer for Use of Talents.384 The Memorial.385 The Third Living Creature : an Angel.395 The Tenth Foundation : a Chrysoprase .... 400 The Scarlet Pimpernel.402 St. Michael & All Angels : The Sacred Text.404 donlfnts. XI Page [Additions].431 A Prayer for Angelic Fellowship.436 The Memorial.437 Ferns.446 “ Service and strength ".450 St. Luke, Evangelist: The Sacred Text.45t Biographical Additions.432 A Prayer for Final Acceptance. 455 The Memorial.456 The Second Living Creature : an Ox.465 Marigolds.470 St. Simon & St. J ude, Apostles : The Sacred Text.473 Biographical Additions.474 A Prayer of Trembling.478 The Memorial.479 The Eleventh and Twelfth Foundations : a Jacinth and an Amethyst.489 Blackberries and Blackthorn.492 " Leaf from leaf Christ knows ”.494 All Saints : The Sacred Text.496 [Additions].502 A Prayer of Desire.504 The Memorial.504 The Arbutus and Grass.515 “ Light is our sorrow ” . . ...... 518 THE KEY TO MY BOOK. OW beautiful are the arms which have em¬ braced Christ, the hands which have touched Christ, the eyes which have gazed upon Christ, the lips which have spoken with Christ, the feet which have followed Christ. How beautiful are the hands which have worked the works of Christ, the feet which treading in His foot¬ steps have gone about doing good, the lips which have spread abroad His Name, the lives which have been counted loss for Him. How beautiful upon the moun¬ tains were the feet of them who brought glad tidings and published peace, saying unto Zion “ Thy God reigneth: ” how beautiful was the wisdom of those unlearned and ignorant men, whose very opponents felt that they had been with Jesus. I will endeavour to write of the nineteen Saints com¬ memorated by name in our Book of Common Prayer, with the Holy Innocents neither named nor numbered, with St. Michael and his cloud of All Angels, with All Saints as the stars of the firmament and as the sand by the sea-shore innumerable : and lest any one in reading V *-&■ ■3h XIV ®Jjt $- £ U mg §aoR. what I write should condemn me as dwelling too promi¬ nently on the servant in lieu of the Master, I pray him to recall the words of Abigail, who, because she was the King’s bride, protested, “ Let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” Or if one say, “ Was Paul crucified for you ? ” I answer that I desire to follow St. Paul not otherwise than as he bade us thus follow Christ. But if one object that many of my sugges¬ tions are exploded superstitions or mere freaks of fancy without basis of truth ; and that if I have fancied this another may fancy that, and another again that, till the whole posse of idle thinkers puts forth each his fresh fancy, and all alike without basis; I frankly answer, Yes: so long as with David our musings are on God’s works, among the chief whereof is His sinful Saint made perfect; and so long as with St. Timothy our meditations are on charity, faith, purity, which array the Saints of Christ in a robe more excellent than the glory of Solomon or the loveliness of a lily. And whereinsoever I err I ask pardon of mine own Master to Whom I stand or fall, and of my brother lest I offend him. Those verses in the Book of Revelation which name the twelve apostolic foundation stones of New Jerusalem, when set against the Calendar naturally assign the jasper to St. Andrew ; and thence progressing in a regular order throughout, the amethyst at last to St. Jude : according to which arrangement, in default of any clue to the con¬ trary, I have written concerning them. ■H8- A ®Ijc |bg lo mg §ooh. xv For as all virtues have one and the same root, even so does that one root shoot up into every virtue: and although on one tree of God’s own planting the branch of love may overshadow its fellow branches, bearing aloft the double rose of love to God and man ; while on another the lily of faith may exalt its whiteness above its fellows; and on a third every twig may be tipped with azure bells of hope which trembling make music ; yet no single plant, be it lowest or loftiest, be it indomitable trunk which may break but will not bend, or frail climber clinging and mounting around another’s strength, can lack the germ if no more of each grace ; the least indeed may elude notice on earth, but in Paradise it shall become a thousand. Wherefore, to quote one instance as a sample of all, I am not afraid to adorn my conception of St. Andrew with the jasper stone, or to endeavour among its characteristics to find some emblem which may befit him : for little as I know of him now, I know that he lived and died and shall wake up after the likeness of our common Lord; and much more, I know that He Who is full of grace cannot but show forth every grace when reflected in a faithful mirror, even though it be one from which many flaws have had to be abolished. Thus shall the stones also cry out Hosanna. But precious things of the earth and of the deep are for those who are gorgeously apparelled and live deli¬ cately and are in kings’ courts. I think the Gospel xvi $ijc JUg ta mg §5ooh. •ffi* <■© records more lessons drawn by our Master from a seed or a plant than from a pearl. So I will, as it were, gather simples and try to spell out their lessons : I will adorn the shrines of Christ’s friends with flowers, and plant a garden round their hallowed graves. Fuller remarks of a flower: “ In the morning when it groweth up, it is a lecture of Divine Providence : in the evening when it is cut down and withereth, it is a lecture of human mortality.” Let us learn something from the grass of the field which God clothes. Much of my material can only be drawn from uncertain traditions: but after one protest that to such I attach no binding faith, nor even necessarily any credence, I shall not deem it incumbent upon me to guard each sentence as it occurs by a supplementary protest; nor have I hesi¬ tated partly to construct my so-called “ Memorials ” on a legendary foundation. Such Memorials may, I am not without hope, prove helpful towards realizing each Saint in his special Office on his appointed Day. They took their rise from my own observation of appropriate verses when I joined in our Church Service : one such associa¬ tion succeeded another, until it appeared to me that the Psalms of each Feast might be arranged in more or less apt connection with its special history. In the Scripture texts of the parallel column I have observed or imagined some bearing on the subject in hand, at the least either typical or suggestive: and as in every instance reference is made to chapter and verse, no misapprehension of the n Jbg to mg ^ook. XVII ✓ * * primary drift need ensue even where I may have strained an application. My work is based on no text more recondite than that of the Authorized Version : nor have I supposed it either essential or edifying to dwell on alternative readings, or on many other disputed points which meet one even in preparing so slight a study. I have, however, felt at liberty to abridge the text, and to combine into one narrative the statements found in (for instance) the separate Gospels; but without verbal alteration, though not in¬ variably without change of punctuation. The references to ch. and v. enable each clause to be traced to its source. My occasional linguistic statements are given at second-hand, as are most of the authorities I cite whether by name or anonymously. No graver slur could attach to my book than would be a reputation for prevalent originality: and I hope my here, once for all, acknowledging how deeply and widely I am indebted to the spoken or written words of many, will be accepted as sheltering me equally from charges of rashness and of plagiarism. For the learned, then, I have no ability to write, lacking as I do learning and critical practice. But I suppose not that much mischief need accrue from my violating proba¬ bility so far as, for instance, to accept the precious stones of our Authorized Version as gems now known to us under the same names. And if some points of my de¬ scriptions are rather flights of antique fancy than lore of modern science, I hope that such points may rather recall b ■H8 • • ■3h- xvm Hjje |Ug to mg §ooh. a vanishing grace than mislead from a truth. Avowing, as I must, a general ignorance of petrology, and even of botany, I ask any who turn to my nature-portraits to accept them as confessedly no more than loving studies from the outside; elaborated by one who has written partly indeed from her own observation of appearances, but mainly from a little reading; and who is quite pre¬ pared to be convicted of numerous mistakes. Nor have I attempted to select my illustrative flowers from the flora of Palestine : I even think that a flower familiar to the eye and dear to the heart may often succeed in conveying a more pointed lesson than could be understood from another more remote if more eloquent. •* Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.” This near-at-hand land breeds pain by measure: That far-away land overflows with treasure Of heaped-up good pleasure. Our land that we see is befouled by evil: The land that we see not makes mirth and revel, Far from death and devil. This land hath for music sobbing and sighing: That land hath soft speech and sweet soft replying Of all loves undying. This land hath for pastime errors and follies: That land hath unending, unflagging solace Of full-chanted “ Holies.” Jitg io mg §Uok. xix Up and away, call the Angels to us; Come to our home where no foes pursue us, And no tears bedew us ; Where that which riseth sets again never, Where that which springeth flows in a river For ever and ever ; Where harvest justifies labour of sowing, Where that which budded comes to the blowing, Sweet beyond your knowing. Come and laugh with us, sing in our singing; Come, yearn no more, but rest in your clinging. See what we are bringing: Crowns like our own crowns, robes for your wearing; For love of you we kiss them in bearing, All good with you sharing : Over you gladdening, in you delighting ; Come from your famine, your failure, your fighting ; Come to full wrong-righting. Come, where all balm is garnered to ease you ; Come, where all beauty is spread out to please you ; Come, gaze upon Jesu. t. APOSTLE. 30 NOVEMBER. Qbe ^acrcU ®ext. ETHSAIDA, the city of Andrew.— S/. John i. 44. John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God 1 And the two dis¬ ciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto Him, Rabbi, where dwellest Thou ? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias. And he brought him to Jesus.— St. John i. 35, &c. Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea : for they were fishers. And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. f B 2 dallib to lie faints. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him.— St. Matthew iv. 18, &c. When they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.— St. Mark i. 29. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; the first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother. — St. Matthew x. 2. When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto Him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many ?— Si. John vi. 5, &c. There were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: the same came therefore to Philip, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.— St.John xii. 20, &c. As He went out of the temple, one of His disciples saith unto Him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings ? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as He sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?— Si. Mark xiii. 1, &c. When they were come in, they went up into an upper St. Qnbrtb, Apostle. • • 3 room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphseus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren .—Acts i. 13, 14. BIOGRAPHICAL ADDITIONS. HUS much, naming him by name, Holy Scrip¬ ture narrates of St. Andrew’s history, beyond those unnumbered texts in which he is in¬ cluded as one of that blessed band of Apostles who followed Christ while He went about doing good, who became channels of His power over diseases and devils, who were taught of Him that spake as never man spake, who from His own hand received His Body and Blood, who fled from the garden, who returned if not to the Cross at least to the upper chamber, who shared their Lord’s parting benediction, and who watched the cloud which received Him out of their sight. To these facts traditions of more or less certainty are appended. St. Andrew is styled by the Greeks Protoclet, or first-called: and by the Venerable Bede, Introductor to Christ, a name aptly assigned to that large-hearted Saint who at the outset of his ministry brought St. Peter to the Messiah, and at subsequent periods introduced to his Lord’s notice not only certain Greek suppliants, but ■ffi* 4 dalhb to be Saints. even a lad who had five loaves and two small fishes. After the apostolic dispersion from Jerusalem, St. Andrew, preaching the Crucified from place to place, travelled, according to tradition, into Russia, and as far as the frontiers of Poland. If so, by him, true consecrated mouthpiece of the Fiery Tongue that spake, did our Lord go forth as fire into fields of barren snow which yet are portions of God’s own harvest-field of the whole earth. Then were the wilderness and the solitary place glad for Him, then did the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose. God alone knoweth whether He had much people in those places: but there, without doubt, did St. Andrew’s own soul bring forth fruit thirtyfold, or sixty¬ fold, or a hundredfold, to his Master’s glory. He is said also to have preached in Byzantium: but if so, no trace remains to us of this labour; though much, I hope, is clear to the eyes of Angels who behold the elect safely garnered now in paradise. At Patrae in Achaia, having kept the faith and ex¬ asperated the Proconsul by a harvest of souls, he finished his course. On an X-shaped cross, constructed as is alleged of olive-wood, and to him the pledge of assured peace; to his yearning soul less the olive-twig of the pilgrim dove than the very ark of rest; on such a cross after ignominious scourging he made his last bed, and from such a bed he awoke to that rest which remaineth to the people of God. The outburst of his joy on behold¬ ing his cross has been handed down to us : “ Hail, precious cross, consecrated by my Lord’s Body, jewelled by Plis Limbs. I come to thee exultant, embrace thou me with welcome. O good cross, beautified by my Lord’s beauty, I St. §Jttbnfo ; apostle. 5 have ardently loved thee, long have I panted seeking thee. Now found, now made ready to my yearnings, embrace thou me, separate me from mankind, uplift me to my Master, that He Who redeemed me on thee may receive me by thee.” Nevertheless, for his righteousness’ sake the people interceded that he might be spared, and his mortal remains were duly cared for by a holy woman Maximilla. Of St. Andrew and St. Peter we know not which was the elder by natural birth, but St. Andrew appears to have been at least by some brief period the elder in Christ’s kingdom of grace. Whereupon as a better Esau he of good-will did service to his Jacob ; and said not “ he hath supplanted me,” but himself led St. Peter to our Lord. The elder shall serve the younger. — Genesis xxv. 23. By a similar spirit was Moses moved when he led God’s chosen nation toward the promised land:— There ran a young man, and told Moses, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua answered, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake ? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them !—Numbers xi. 27, &c. “ There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many ? ” Perhaps these words afford us a glimpse of brotherly likeness between the characters of St. Andrew and St. Peter. Faith and hope suggest “ five loaves and two fishes ” as ample from our Lord’s hand to feed more than 5000 persons : human reason supervenes and hesitates, saying, “ but what are they among so many ? ” ¥ - 6 (ftaUtb to bt faints. Thus under a different trial St. Peter:— Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.—A/. Matthew xiv. 27, &c. St. Andrew’s Day, as a planet, attends the Sun-day of Advent: yet so far does the kingdom of grace and glory diverge from the kingdom of nature, and in diverging transcend it, that the sun waits upon the planet and moves its own position in accord with its unmoving satellite :— Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.— St. Luke xii. 37. Thou whom A Prayer for Large-heartedness. God Almighty, at Whose word Andrew Thy faithful Saint went up from grace to grace and from glory to glory ;—whom Thou didst call by the servant and by the Master;—whom Thou didst illuminate by the lamp and by the Light;— to whom Thou impartedst good-will to follow St. John Baptist and to lead St.Peter;—to whom gavest grace to forsake nets and cleave to Christ;— Thou didst promote from fisher of fish to fisher of 4 gt. ^nbrefo, g^postli. 7 men ;—whom Thou hast exalted from Behsaida of Galilee, to the heavenly Jerusalem;—grant us grace, O Lord, to tread in those footsteps whereby he followed Christ ; walking humbly with our appointed guides, obeying the voice of our Divine call, forsaking love for Love : grant us grace by teaching if Thou bid us teach, by prayer, by example, to help our brethren to know and love the Saviour Whom we love; yea, crowning grace by grace, strengthen us to give thanks when our brother excels ourself: that so when the many mansions of Thy house shall be filled, and the guests shall sit in order at the Lamb’s Marriage Feast, and star shall differ from star in glory, we all may rejoice together, and may be unto Thee a sweet savour and an offering of righteousness. Only for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen. A Memorial of St. Andrew. Psalms cxliv-cl. St. Andrew of Beth- saida,— Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.— S/. Luke x. 13, 14. Lord, what is man, that Thou hast such respect unto him : or the son of man, that Thou so regardest him ? Man is like a thing of nought : his time passeth away like a shadow. Bow Thy heavens, O Lord, and come down : touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Cast forth Thy lightning, and tear them : shoot out 8 to be learns of St. John Bap¬ tist,— John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this Man were true.— S/. John x. 41. Thine arrows, and consume them. Send down Thine hand from above : deliver me, and take me out of the great waters, from the hand of strange children; Whose mouth talketh of vanity : and their right hand is a right hand of wicked¬ ness.— All Thy works praise Thee, O Lord : and Thy saints give thanks unto Thee. They shew the glory of Thy kingdom : and talk of Thy power; That Thy power, Thy glory, and mightiness of Thy kingdom : might be known unto men.— O sing unto the Lord a new song : let the congrega¬ tion of saints praise Him. Let Israel rejoice in Him that made him : and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His Name in the dance : let them sing praises unto Him with tabret and harp. For theLordhath pleasure in His people : and helpeth the meek-hearted.— Jet. gutbrrfo, giposile. 9 follows Christ and abides with Him that day,— Abide with us : for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.— St. Luke xxiv. 29. brings to our Lord his brother,— Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another .—Romans xii. 10. on whom a new name is bestowed,— Thou shalt be called Cephas. — St.John i. 42. is called from the nets, to be fisher of men,— Friend, go up higher.— St. Luke xiv. xo. is ordained Apostle,— I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I; send me .—Isaiah vi. 8. Thy kingdom is an ever¬ lasting kingdom : and Thy dominion endureth through¬ out all ages. The Lord upholdeth all such as fall : and lifteth up all those that are down.— O praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God : yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful. The Lord doth build up Jerusalem : and gather to¬ gether the outcasts of Israel. He healeth those that are broken in heart : and giveth medicine to heal their sick¬ ness. He telleth the number of the stars : and calleth them all by their names.— My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord : and let all flesh give thanks unto His Holy Name for ever and ever. — Blessed be the Lord my Strength : Who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight; My Hope and my Fortress, my Castle and Deliverer, my Defender in Whom I trust : IO dalhi) to be gainis. seats the multitude on the grass,— They need not depart.— S/. Matthew xiv. 16. Who subdueth my people that is under me.— Great is our Lord, and great is His power : yea, and His wisdom is infinite. The Lord setteth up the meek : and bringeth the un¬ godly down to the ground.— He sheweth His word unto Jacob : His statutes and ordinances unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation : neither have the heathen knowledge of His laws.— O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving : sing praises upon the harp unto our God; Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth : and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for the use of men ; Who giveth fodder unto the cattle : and feedeth the young ravens that call upon Him. He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse : neither delighteth He in any man’s legs. But the Lord’s delight is in them that fear Him : and put their trust in His mercy.— §t. ^ttbrrb, Spastic. ■&H* 11 and distributes to them loaves and fishes:— Give ye them to eat.— St. Matthew xiv. 16. with St. Philip presents the petition of certain Greeks,— I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. —Hosea ii. 23. asks concerning the time and signs of the end,— It is the Lord : let Him do what seemeth Him good. — i Samuel iii. 18. The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord : and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openestThinehand: and fillest all things living with plenteousness. The Lord is righteous in all His ways : and holy in all His works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him : yea, all such as call upon Him faithfully. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him : He also will hear their cry, and will help them. The Lord preserveth all them that love Him : but scattereth abroad all the un¬ godly.— O praise the Lord of heaven : praise Him in the height. Praise Him, all ye angels of His : praise Him, all His host. Praise Him, sun and moon : praise Him, all ye stars and light. PraiseHim,all yeheavens: and ye waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the Name of the Lord : for He spake ■ffi* « t 12 (CalUb to hi faints. HI partakes of the first Holy Communion, — Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall the word, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created. He hath made them fast for ever and ever : He hath given them a law which shall not be broken. Praise the Lord upon earth : ye dragons, and all deeps; Fire and hail, snow and vapours : wind and storm, fulfilling His word; Mountains and all hills : fruitful trees and all cedars; . Beasts and all cattle : worms and feathered fowls; Kings of the earth and all people : princes and all judges of the world; Young men and maidens, old men and children, praise the Name of the Lord : for His Name only is excellent, and His praise above heaven and earth. He shall exalt the horn of His people ; all His saints shall praise Him : even the children of Israel, even the people that serveth Him.— Praise the Lord, O Jeru¬ salem : praise thy God, O Sion. For He hath made fast the bars of thy gates : and &H- St. gmbrtfo, apostle. never hunger.— St.John vi. 35 - abides in the upper cham¬ ber after the Ascension,— If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for My Father is greater than I.— St.John xiv. 28. 13 hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders : and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.— I will sing a new song unto Thee, O God : and sing praises unto Thee upon a ten-stringed lute. Thou hast given victory unto kings : and hast de¬ livered David Thy servant from the peril of the sword. Save me, and deliver me from the handof strange chil¬ dren : whose mouth talketh of vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity. That our sons may grow up as the young plants : and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple. That our garners may be full and plenteous with all manner of store : that our sheep may bring forth thou¬ sands and ten thousands in our streets. That our oxen may be strong to labour, that there be no decay : no leading into captivity, and no com¬ plaining in our streets. Happy are the people ■SH .. 14 (Kallth to lit faints. joyfully expectant,— Blessed is the man that heareth Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors.— Pro¬ verbs viii. 34. receives the gift of the Holy Ghost at Pente¬ cost,— Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say .—Exodus iv. 12. that are in such a case : yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God.— I will magnify Thee, O God, my King : and I will praise Thy Name for ever and ever. Every day will I give thanks untoThee : and praise Thy Name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and marvellous, worthy to be praised : there is no end of His greatness. Onegeneration shall praise Thy works unto another : and declare Thy power. As for me, I will be talk¬ ing of Thy worship : Thy glory, Thy praise, and won¬ drous works; So that men shall speak of the might of Thy mar¬ vellous acts : and I will also tell of Thy greatness.— O praise God in His holiness : praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him in His noble acts : praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him in the sound of the trumpet : praise Him upon the lute and harp. ■» i5 St glniirtfo, gjiposfl*. breaks bread,— This do in remembrance of Me.— Si. Luke xxii. 19. is said to have preached in Russia and else¬ where,— As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it .—Isaiah lv. 10, 11. his life is crowned by his death,— He that hateth his life in Praise Him in the cymbals and dances : praise Him upon the strings and pipe. Praise Him upon the well-tuned cymbals : praise Him upon the loud cym¬ bals. Let every thing that hath breath : praise the Lord.— The memorial of Thine abundant kindness shall be shewed : and men shall sing of Thy righteousness. The Lord is gracious, and merciful: long-suffering, and of great goodness. The Lord is loving unto every man : and His mercy is over all His works.— He sendeth forth His commandment upon earth: and His word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool : and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. He casteth forth His ice like morsels : who is able to abide His frost? He sendeth out His word, and melteth them : He blow- eth with His wind, and the waters flow.— Praise the Lord, O my soul; while I live will I praise the Lord : yea, as long as r6 )hI l£b to be faints. this world shall keep it unto life eternal.—*S 7 . John xii. 25. I have any being, I will sing praises unto my God. O put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man : for there is no help in them. For when the breath of man goeth forth he shall turn again to his earth : and then all his thoughts perish. Blessed is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help : and whose hope is in the Lord his God; Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is : Who keepeth His promise for ever; Who helpeth them to right that suffer wrong : Who feedeth the hungry. The Lord looseth men out of prison : the Lord giveth sight to the blind. The Lord helpeth them that are fallen : the Lord careth for the righteous. The Lord careth for the strangers ; He defendeth the fatherless and widow : as for the way of the ungodly, He turneth it upside down. The Lord thy God, O Sion, shall be King forever¬ more : and throughout all generations.— ■Sir* Hi .. '' *4 - h* gt. 2j>,tt^.postlf. 17 Let the saints be joyful with glory : let them rejoice in their beds. Let the praises of God be in their mouth : and a two- edged sword in their hands ; To be avenged of the heathen : and to rebuke the people ; To bind their kings in chains : and their nobles with links of iron. That they may be avenged of them, as it is written : Such honour have all His saints. The First Foundation. $asper. HOU shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work. And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones. The fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper. And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, like the en¬ gravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes .—Exodus xxviii. 15, &c. And he made the breastplate of cunning work. And they set in it four rows of stones. The fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. And the stones were 0 r i8 (ftallrh fa hr Haiufs. according to the names of the children of Israel .—Exodus xxxix. 8, &c. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper .—Ezekiel xxviii. 13. Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone .—Revelation iv. 2, 3. Her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper.— Revelation xxi. 11, &c. Jasper has a score of hues and a multiplicity of aspects; yet it always remains that same jasper, opaque, hard, comely. It exhibits redness of blood, greenness of foliage, yellowness of gold, brownness of earth, greyness of twilight: and as blood, foliage, gold, earth, twilight, are the common heritage of mankind, these its appearances seem well fitted to recall that Saint who, having himself found the Messiah, rested not content till he had imparted Him first to his own brother Simon, afterwards to the Jews, last of all to the Gentiles; so far as in him lay, to the whole human race. “ There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth .”—Proverbs xi. 24. Again : jasper sometimes displays one unvaried surface; sometimes clouds, stripes, spots, intricacies of markings. It is, as God made it, good: even thus came it fresh St. gutbrjfo, g^osilt. 19 from His hand, planned by His mind and executed by His fiat, to be a beautiful creature in its proper order and place, according to His good pleasure. It retains its own special comeliness, which is His gift to it alone and not to any other. Its veinings are not the veinings of alabaster, nor its colours the colours of opals, nor its hardness the hardness of adamant: nevertheless, good was the word spoken at its creation, for it is fair in its own allotted degree; hard enough to be cut and polished into a thousand delicate and enduring figures, not so hard as to resist the Master’s hand and pleasure. In ancient times the name jasper included many stones now otherwise classed. Thus a jasper might of old be a bright-coloured translucent chalcedony. This perhaps helps to explain the simile: “ Her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” Thus in our Authorized Version. According to a second view, “ clear as crystal ” should be changed into “of crystal hue;” and the image before our eyes should shine with the dazzling lustre of the diamond. Various wonderful properties were in former days as¬ cribed to jasper; and these, and such as these, we may use as parables of those good gifts which God hath often¬ times bestowed on His elect. Whoso wore a jasper attained honour, became poison proof, and under certain con¬ ditions was rendered invisible :— Them that honour Me I will honour.—1 Samuel ii. 30. If they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. — St. Mark xvi. 18. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meek- c 2 20 (ffiallfb to Iu Saints. ness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger .—Zcphaniah ii. 3. The jasper which stands last as a jewel of the High Priest’s breastplate, stands first among the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem :— The last shall be first.— St. Matthew xx. 16. The gracious generosity of St. Andrew hath its arche¬ type in our Lord God : for He Who giving to every man severally as He will, awards the jasper to His Apostle and to His Church, reveals Himself in vision as “ to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone — God created man in His own image .—Genesis i. 27. Christ Jesus made Himself of no reputation, and was made in the likeness of men .—Philippians ii. 5, 7. Exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature.—2 St. Peter i. 4. Hhe 1©aisy. We are well placed where God places us. HIE daisy, scattered over many soils, blows the whole year round in genial weather, and though less plentiful in November than in milder months, its rarity may then be viewed as choice¬ ness, for throughout November flowers are few. The daisy must almost always be precursor and companion of some blossom more gorgeous, or more beautiful, or more fragrant than itself: yet not for this does 4 J5t. ^tibrtfer, gijjostlr. 21 it shrink from opening wide its star towards the sky, and tipping its white disk with a pink nimbus when it expands in sunshine; even in shade it wears no sadder colour than a spotless white. Its centre, or heart, or eye, is of pure gold. Its very name, day’s-eye, shows how it courts the sun, and closes against darkness. Its leaves grow habitually close to the ground, though sometimes a leaf or two unfolds along the flower-stalk: yet low-growing as they are, and springing in profusion amid the meadow grasses, a certain acridity protects them from being made havock of altogether and devoured by the grazing cattle which trample them under foot. Grass is tall enough to tower above and hide a daisy; yet the daisy will more .. 22 ®alltb to be faints. readily spread and supersede the grass, than the grass it. Not the petals only, but the leaves also of the daisy are often tinged with pink; as though its allotted beauty and joy overflowed its capacity to hold them. Small as this plant is, it both spreads rapidly and is at the same time multiplied by seed; it is “mother of thousands of millions.” God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body.—x Corinthians xv. 38. *0 t. tHjotnas, APOSTLE. 21 DECEMBER. &acutr 3Fexi. E goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto Him whom He would: and they came unto Him. And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. . . . Matthew, and Thomas.— S/. Mark iii. 13, &c. Jesus abode two days still in the same place where He was. Then after that saith He to His disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto Him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone Thee; and goest Thou thither again ? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day ? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These things said He: and after that He saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said ■8K 24 Callrb fo b« Saints. His disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that 1 was not there, to the intent ye may believe ; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with Him.— St.John xi. 5, &c. Whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way ? Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.— St. John xiv. 4, &c. Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples there¬ fore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe. And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them : then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands ; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side : and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed : blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.— St. John xx. 24, &c. Jesus shewed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, . . . .— St.John xxi. 1,2. ■6H t J5t. ftljomas, Apostle. 25 The apostles whom He had chosen : to whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many in¬ fallible proofs. When they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, . . . and Thomas. . . . These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication .—Acts i. 2. &c. BIOGRAPHICAL ADDITIONS. HUS far Holy Scripture ;^the sure utterance of inspiration being supplemented by the uncertain voice of tradition. No authentic record has come down to us of the birthplace, or worldly occupation, or Divine call of St. Thomas. One account makes him a native of Antiochia; another, perhaps more probably, describes him as a fisherman of Bethsaida. Of the spiritual Zion only can it be certainly reported that he was born in her, “ a citizen of no mean city.” After the dispersion of the Apostles from Jerusalem, St. Thomas, no longer faithless but believing, brought forth fruit with patience. Knowing Whom he believed he committed himself to His keeping against the great day, and meanwhile preached that Word of Life which he had seen with his eyes and looked upon, and which his hands had handled. To men who heard, to men who forbore, he preached Christ crucified, Christ risen. Into indomitable Parthia he is said to have carried Christ’s 26 (ftalleb to br faints. ®+ standard, victorious beyond the Roman eagles; preaching there his King and Captain, a Standard-bearer among ten thousand. In the course of his travels, which some think extended as far as China, he is reported to have fallen in with the Magi, still alive, whom he baptized and empowered to preach. Beneath the blazing Indian sun, as is supposed, he bore the burden and heat of the day; exalting that Sun of Righteousness which as a bridegroom had come forth out of his chamber, rejoicing as a giant to run his course. Even to our own day, a body of oriental Christians bearing his name have claimed him as their spiritual father. According to one legend St. Thomas in the act of prayer won his martyr’s palm, being killed by certain Brahminical priests. Elsewhere we read how on the Coromandel coast, on a mountain as some aver, he was slain with lances for his Master’s sake ; even as that most loving Master had on a mount and for his sake once suffered His own sacred side to be pierced with a spear—that side which the doubting Apostle afterwards challenged for a sign. To St. Thomas a heathen king’s wrath was truly a messenger of death: for the immediate cause of his martyrdom is stated to have arisen from certain conver¬ sions which he effected in the royal court, perhaps even of the monarch’s wife and son. It is enough for the disciple to be as his Master, and for the servant as his Lord. Years before, the adorable Son of God had stood for mockery amid Herod’s band of soldiers; and so now did His faithful follower stand amid a king’s soldiers to be done to death by them. Meanwhile the King of kings regarded (for there be higher than they); and when those who slew the body had no more that they could do, He HS- J&l. Syomas, Apostlr. reversed their sentence, saying, “ Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” The name Thomas, like its Greek equivalent Didymus, signifies a “twin”: and thus it may be that St. Thomas, to whom one legend assigns a twin sister Lysia, did even above his fellows attain the blessing of him who forsaking “ brethren or sisters ” for the love of Christ, finds all and more than all in Christ:— O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother !—Song of Solomon viii. i. A brother is born for adversity .—Proverbs xvii. 17. There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.— Proverbs xviii. 24. St. Thomas’s Day falls in Advent: thus he who during one week stumbled at our Lord’s return from the grave, now and for evermore directs our contemplation to His return from Heaven. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching. And if He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. Be ye therefore ready also : for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.— Si. Luke xii. 37, &c. / .. 28 CttUrb to be Saints. A Prayer for Confidence of Love. GOD of wisdom and of health, Who didst strengthen and heal the heart of Thy chosen Apostle St. Thomas, calling him from an un¬ recorded birthplace to be a citizen of the New Jerusalem, committing to him treasure of love rather than treasure of knowledge, forearming him at the opened grave of Lazarus against the day of doubt, revealing to him the Way, the Truth, and the Life, turning his mistrust into adoration and his laggings into the mounting up of an eagle : give us grace to adore Thy goodness which provideth for us better things than the things of sense, and openeth to us a more ex¬ cellent way than the way of sight: that following in the steps of this Thy saint, we may like him be ready to die with Christ, and may at length inherit a blessing with all who, whether seeing or not seeing, yet have believed and loved. For the only precious, only beloved sake, of the same Thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. A Memorial of St. Thomas. Psalms cv, cvi. St. Thomas, an Apostle. I have chosen you, and or¬ dained you.— Si. fohn xv. 16. O give thanks unto the Lord, and call upon His Name : tell the people what things He hath done. O let your songs be of Him, and praise Him : and St. fjiflmas, apostle. 29 “ How can we know the way ? ” Joseph a type of Christ.— This is the Way, walk ye in It.— Isaiah xxx. 21. St. Thomas flees from Gethsemane,— Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but Me : for there is no saviour beside Me.— Hosea xiii. 4. the Ten say unto him, “We have seen the Lord: ”— Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one to¬ ward another according to Christ Jesus .—Romans xv.5. he choosing sight, for¬ feits the blessing of faith: a type,— let your talking be of all His wondrous works.— Moreover, He called for a dearth upon the land: and destroyed all the provision of bread. But He had sent a man before them : even Joseph, who was sold to be a bond- servant ; Whose feet they hurt in the stocks : the iron entered into his soul ; Until the time came that his cause was known : the word of the Lord tried him.— And they forgat God their Saviour : Who had done so great things in Egypt; Wondrous works in the land of Ham : and fearful things by the Red sea.— Rejoice in His holy Name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and His strength : seek His Face evermore.— The King sent, and de¬ livered him : the Prince of the people let him go free.— At their desire He brought quails : and He filled them with the bread of Heaven.— dtalhb ic be Saints. O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments ! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea .—Isaiah xlviii. 18. “ My Lord and my God”— I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. —Job xlih 5, 6. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious : and His mercy endureth for ever. Who can express the noble acts of the Lord : or shew forth all His praise ? Blessed are they that al- way keep judgment: and do righteousness. Remember me, O Lord, according to the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people : O visit me with Thy salvation; That I may see the fe¬ licity of Thy chosen : and rejoice in the gladness of Thy people, and give thanks with Thine inheritance. We have sinned with our fathers: we have done amiss, and dealt wickedly. Our fathers regarded not Thy wonders in Egypt, neither kept they Thy great Goodness in remembrance: but were disobedient at the sea, even at the Red sea. Nevertheless, He helped 1 *■© St. apostle. 31 “ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” : a type.— In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the ir habitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.— Zechariah xiii. 1. them for His Name’s sake : that He might make His power to be known. He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so He led them through the deep, as through a wilder¬ ness. And He saved them from the adversary’s hand : and delivered them from the hand of the enemy. As for those that troubled them, the waters over¬ whelmed them : there was not one of them left. Then believed they His words : and sang praise unto Him.— He opened the rock of stone, and the waters flowed out : so that rivers ran in the dry places. For why? He remembered His holy promise : and Abraham His servant. And He brought forth His people with joy : and His chosen with gladness ; And gave them the lands of the heathen : and they took the labours of the people in possession ; That they might keep His statutes : and observe His laws.— 32 dtallrb to be Saints. He •witnesses the Ascen¬ sion.— I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.— St. John xx. 17. Christ the Ferpetnal In¬ tercessor, of Whom Moses and Phinees are types.— Who is he that condemneth ? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us. —Romans viii. 34. He made him Lord also of His house: and Ruler of all His substance. That he might inform His princes after His Will: and teach His senators wis¬ dom.— So He said, He would have destroyed them, had not Moses Flis chosen stood before Him in the gap : to turn away His wrathful in¬ dignation, lest He should destroy them.— Then lift He up His hand against them : to overthrow them in the wilderness; To cast out their seed among the nations : and to scatter them in the lands. They joined themselves unto Baal-peor : and ate the offerings of the dead. Thus they provoked Him to anger with their own in¬ ventions : and the plague was great among them. Then stood up Phinees and prayed : and so the plague ceased. And that was counted unto him for righteousness: among all posterities for ever¬ more.— HI. Cljornas, Apostle. 33 St. Thomas receives the Pentecostal Gift,— There appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and It sat upon each of them .—Acts ii. 3. preaches Christ to the Jews,— As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.—1 Corinthians xv. 22. the Apostles are dis- [ He spread out a cloud to be a covering: and fire to give light in the night season.— Remember the marvellous works that He hath done: His wonders, and the judg¬ ments of His Mouth, O ye seed of Abraham His servant : ye children of Jacob His chosen. He is the Lord our God: His judgments are in all the world. He hath been alway mindful of His covenant and promise : that He made to a thousand generations ; Even the covenant that He made with Abraham : and the oath that He sware unto Isaac; And appointed the same unto Jacob for a law : and to Israel for an everlasting testament; Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan : the lot of your inheritance; When there were yet but a few of them : and they strangers in the land.— Israel also came into D 34 dalltb ter be Hainls. persed from Jerusalem into the wide world,— Is He the God of the Jews only? is He not also of the Gentiles ? Yes, of the Gen¬ tiles also .—Romans iii. 29. the obstinate Jews, given up to spiritual idolatry, are rejected,— The voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now 1 for my soul is wearied be¬ cause of murderers.— Jere¬ miah iv. 31. Egypt : and Jacob was a stranger in the land of Ham.— Neither destroyed they the heathen : as the Lord commanded them ; But were mingled among the heathen: and learned their works. Insomuch that they wor¬ shipped their idols, which turned to their own decay: yea, they offered their sons and their daughters unto devils; And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters : whom they offered unto the idols of Canaan; and the land was defiled with blood. Thus were they stained with their own works : and went a whoring with their own inventions. Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against His people : insomuch that He abhorred His own in¬ heritance. And He gave them over into the hand of the St. Cljontas, ^poslk. •an- 35 yet a remnant is saved.— Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah .—Isaiah i. 9. The Church universal.— Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel Mine in¬ heritance .—Isaiah xix. 25. St. Thomas hath Moses for a warning,— By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words D heathen : and they that hated them were lords over them. Their enemies oppressed them : and had them in subjection. Many a time did He de¬ liver them : but they rebelled against Him with their own inventions, and were brought down in their wickedness. Nevertheless, when He saw their adversity : He heard their complaint. He thought upon His covenant, and pitied them, according unto the multitude of His mercies : yea, He made all those that led them away captive to pity them. Deliver us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen : that we may give thanks unto Thy holy Name, and make our boast of Thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and world without end : and let all the people say, Amen.— They angered Him also at the waters of strife : so that He punished Moses for their sakes; 4 4 »* Callcb to bt faints. 36 thou shalt be condemned.— St. Matthew xii. 37. preaches in Parthia and India,— And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions : be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a re¬ bellious house .—Ezekiel ii. 6. Because they provoked his spirit : so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.— What time as they went from one nation to another: from one kingdom to an¬ other people; He suffered no man to do them wrong : but reproved even kings for their sakes ; Touch not Mine Anointed: and do My prophets no harm.— encounters sacred cattle, and their votaries,— Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worship¬ ped and served the creature more than the Creator.— Romans i. 25. signs confirm the Word; various types,— They went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.— St. Mark xvi. 20. They made a calf in Horeb : and worshipped the molten image. Thus they turned their Glory : into the similitude of a calf that eateth hay.— Then sent He Moses His servant: and Aaron whom He had chosen. And these shewed His tokens among them : and wonders in the land of Ham. He sent darkness, and it was dark : and they were not obedient unto His word. He turned their waters into blood : and slew their fish. ., 37 X SI. Syomas, gtpostU. Their land brought forth frogs : yea, even in their kings’ chambers. He spake the word, and there came all manner of flies : and lice in all their quarters. He gave them hailstones for rain : and flames of fire in their land. He smote their vines also and fig-trees : and destroyed the trees that were in their coasts. He spake the word, and the grasshoppers came, and caterpillars innumerable : and did eat up all the grass in their land, and de¬ voured the fruit of their ground. He smote all the firstborn in their land : even the chief of all their strength. He brought them forth also with silver and gold: there was not one feeble person among their tribes.— They angered Moses also in the tents : and Aaron the saint of the Lord. So the earth opened, and swallowed up Dathan: and covered the congregation of Abiram. | And the fire was kindled •HS' ■f* 3§ Cttlleir to be faints. certain great personages are converted,— There is that maketh him¬ self poor, yet hath great riches .—Proverbs xiii. 7. but the king and many of his subjects remain obstinate.—■ He sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants .—Exodus ix. 34 - St. Thomas in spiritual Egypt is slain for the faith.— I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.— St. Luke xii. 4. in their company : the flame burnt up the ungodly.— And He increased His people exceedingly: and made them stronger than their enemies. Whose heart turned so, that they hated His people : and dealt untruly with His servants.— But within a while they forgat His works: and would not abide His counsel. But lust came upon them in the wilderness : and they tempted God in the desert. And He gave them their desire : and sent leanness withal into their soul.— Yea, they thought scorn of that pleasant land : and gave no credence unto His word; But murmured in their tents : and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.— Egypt was glad at their departing: for they were afraid of them. ■©* £f. ^bontus, apostle. 39 The Second Foundation. Sapper*. HERE was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.— Ex. xxiv. io. Thou shalt make the breastplate of judg¬ ment. And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones. And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.— Ex. xxviii. 15, &c. And he made the breastplate of cunning work. And they set in it four rows of stones. And the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.— Ex. xxxix. 8. &c. As for the earth, the stones of it are the place of sapphires : and it hath dust of gold. But where shall wisdom be found ? It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire .—Job xxviii. 5, &c. O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. — Isaiah liv. ir. Her Nazarites were purer than snow, their polishing was of sapphire .—Lamentations iv. 7. Behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.— Ezek. x. 1. 4° dtalljeb *0 be faints. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle.— Ezek. xxviii. 13. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The second, sapphire. — Revelatio?i xxi. 14, 19. In common with a multitude of crystals the sapphire exhibits the twin formation. Though very subject to flaws, it is sometimes found without blemish: it is a stone of a very great hardness and, as has been alleged, of a special coldness. The sapphire is associated with crys¬ talline rocks, and many of our finest specimens are drawn from river-beds: it adorns itself with various shades of heavenly blue, and is transparent and translucent; in size it sometimes exceeds a length of three inches. One sort there is in which resides a star-like opalescence ; whilst a second kind, pale by nature, loses all colour under the action of intense heat, and becomes brilliant like a diamond. The sapphire, which appears as a piece of heaven dropped down to earth, does indeed link earth to heaven, time to eternity, the old Israel to the new, Eden to Paradise: for while it spreads a pavement beneath the Celestial Throne, it is named also as a precious stone of Eden, and is last of all a gem among the treasures of earth; in the High-Priest’s breastplate it is set for a memorial, and in the New Jerusalem for a foundation; the holy Nazarites displayed a comeliness as of sapphire, and above the heads of the cherubim there appeared as Cljontas, Apostle. 4 1 it were a sapphire stone. Justly abides a star in that gem whose pervading tint is the symbol of faith and the hue of the firmament, and whose brilliance has even been supposed to wax and wane in sympathy with the sky’s fluctuating brightness. Of mystical virtues let us mark four as of old fancifully connected with the sapphire: it demands and guards purity, losing lustre and loveliness if worn by the unchaste ; it releases prisoners, reconciles enmity, enforces prayer. And we Christians enjoy in very truth our corresponding privileges:— Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried.— Daniel xii. io. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me ; He hath sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound .—Isaiah Ixi. i. Forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.— Colossians iii. 13. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name : ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.— Si. John xvi. 24. The rod and tablets of Moses are said by the Hebrews to have been formed of sapphire, which signifies beauty:— Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth .—Numbers xii. 3. The Lord taketh pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation .—Psalm cxlix. 4. Now we who have praised the sapphire, let us praise t 42 dtallrb to bo faints. ■€H that Wisdom which designed, which created, which excelleth the sapphire: which assigneth to saints on earth the sapphire of faith, and to saints in heaven the sapphire of perfection : which here pitieth flaws, but there abolisheth any such thing: which being a loving spirit hath made the fear of the Lord our wisdom, and hath left to us a promise : “ They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”— Dayiiel xii. 3. mw. Wot strong, except with a prop. VY, though greenest when putting forth fresh foliage, remains green and luxuriant the whole year round. Its leaves, which are often of so crowded a growth as to overlap each other, are glossy and full-coloured on that upper surface which spreads towards the sun; duller and paler underneath where they face earthwards. Each indi¬ vidual leaf has its edges fashioned in special curves, or peaked with particular points, unlike the curves and points of a million others; some are boldly rounded, some notched and very delicately tapered off. Ivy flowers in October with a greenish-whitish brushy blossom, not showy but plentiful: in December it is adorned by black or deep purple berries. Its foliage is often dark and even dusky in colour, and is of a solid texture: its stems are rugged and woody, fringed in parts by a coarse shag ■m St. llamas, ^pastlr. • - 43 of rootlets, like bark combed to shreds, or like hundreds of minute fingers helping to attach it here or there. On the whole, ivy wears a sober aspect, yet by an exception it will show forth a wonderful beauty and grace: its branches hanging in garlands, or creeping in exquisite traceries; its leaves decked with a delicate lacework of veins, or blushing with a rich redness, or wholly pale as if carved out of ivory; while let but the sun shine through the tangle of foliage, and it will put on a rich verdure, or a harmony of lights and shadows. Ivy affects not to stand alone, but by clinging and Hi- 4 . 44 (Ka 11 jeir to be Saints. clambering it will scale a lofty height till it overhangs the sustaining oak or pine. Objects which lack beauty, whether decaying trunk, ruin, or chasm, ivy will embrace or bridge over and clothe with grace and comeliness. The entire plant gives out a peculiar aroma; the old stems when bruised exude a very fragrant resin. Ivy flourishes in sunshine and in shade, it mounts skywards, it nestles in nooks, it refuses not to trail along the ground : every¬ where and at all times, except by some special freak of beauty, it is green; it is sometimes more than green, but at the least it is green with an unfading greenness. He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden .—Job viii. 16. 4 DEACON. 26 DECEMBER. Sbacretr ®cxt. HEN the number of the disciples was multi¬ plied, there arose a murmuring of the Gre¬ cians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministra¬ tion. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. And the saying pleased the whole multitude : and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. . . . Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and ■SH 46 Callth fo bje Haittfs. Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, dis¬ puting with Stephen. And they were notable to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. And all that sat in the council, looking sted- fastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Then said the High Priest, Are these things so ? And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting unto his f SI. ^tatoir. 47 death. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him .—Acts vi. i, &c.; vii. i, &c.; viii. 1,2. BIOGRAPHICAL ADDITIONS. HUS much know we certainly of St. Stephen’s life and death. To these facts several parti¬ culars are added by tradition or conjecture. The name Stephen signifies ‘crown’: and being of Greek, not Hebrew, origin falls in with the notion that he who bore it was bred a Hellenist, and therefore was likely to rouse ex¬ ceptional antagonism when after his conversion he preached to the Jews Christ crucified ; and preached moreover as a deacon—as one, that is, whose very office had been called into existence for the care of ‘ Grecian ’ widows. At what period or under what immediate influence he be¬ came a Christian, is not authoritatively recorded : one opinion classes him among the seventy disciples of our Lord Himself; another, among St. Peter’s converts on the first great day of Pentecost. The Libertines, according to a prevalent belief, were Jews, taken in war and carried captive to Rome : being afterwards liberated, they founded the synagogue which bore their name. It has been suggested whether the words of the suborned witnesses were in St. Stephen’s case, as in the case of our sinless Lord, not simply false, but rather of that most fatal form of falsehood, distorted truth : whether St. Stephen and his brother deacons did not in reality ' • ■3H 1 '' H8‘ 48 (Kalkb to be Mantis- anticipate the very College of Apostles in apprehending and proclaiming the breaking down of every wall of par¬ tition before the universal brotherhood of the Gospel:— There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus .—Galatians iii. 28. Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown ; but we an incorruptible.—1 Corinthians ix. 25. Such strife being appointed us, yet not without an in¬ corruptible crown hanging within reach to encourage us, let us consider the example of St. Stephen, who no longer in name only but in very deed and truth now and for evermore sits crowned: and having been for a little while as one younger, a deacon, now as an elder appears exalted in glory, being the firstborn of Christ’s martyrs. The witnesses who prepared death conferred life: the great heap of stones was in truth no more than the one White Stone of salvation: ‘ Who art thou, O great mountain ? ’ Those men that took his life could not take his crown; they could stone him with stones, but they could not mar his lustre against that day when the Lord shall make up His jewels. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.— Isaiah lxii. 3. Now since it was St. Stephen’s life which led up to his death, let us make to ourselves thereof as it were a Jacob’s ladder reaching from earth to heaven; and con¬ templating any crown set before us, be it wreath of victory ,, H&- §f. jSfjpbrn, gtatott. 49 or diadem of dignity, let us ascend by our fellow-servant towards our common Master. Likewise must the Deacons be grave, not double- tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure con¬ science. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a Deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faith¬ ful in all things. Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a Deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.— i Timothy iii. 8, &c. These words of St. Paul may not improbably draw the portrait of one whom elsewhere he names with unfor¬ getting reverence: ‘ When the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and con¬ senting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.’ And as St. Stephen’s likeness I will venture to consider them. ‘ Grave, not double-tongued ’: ‘ they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.’— The prudent are crowned with knowledge .—Proverbs xiv. 18. ‘Not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre’: thus did a holy deacon ‘ serve tables.’—Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; and when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.— i St. Peter v. 2, 4. f E •' H8- 50 (Halkb to bo Saints. A* ‘ Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure con¬ science ’: ‘ Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.’—I have kept the faith : henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.— 2 Timothy iv. 7, 8. ‘ Let these first be proved, then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.’ ‘ Look ye out among you seven men of honest report. And they chose Stephen.’—Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.— St. James i. 12. ‘ Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife,—even so must their wives be faithful in ail things.’—A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.— Proverbs xii. 4. ‘ Ruling their children and their own houses well.’— Children’s children are the crown of old men.— Proverbs xvii. 6. Behold, I come quickly : hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.— Revelation iii. 11. From the glory of St. Stephen let us look up to that glory which excelleth, and behold Jesus Christ our Lord God. He Who is for a Crown of Glory and Diadem of Beauty unto His people, was Himself in the day of His espousals crowned with a crown of thorns. He Who glorified the face of His saint to appear as the face of an angel, hid not His own face from shame and spitting. He Who stood up mighty to save before the dying eyes of His martyr, looked, but there was no man when He 4 St. Stepan, gtacoit. 5i Himself trod the winepress alone. Now on His head are many crowns, and before His throne are cast many crowns, and all creation falling down before Him wor¬ shipped Him that was dead, and is alive for evermore, and liveth for ever and ever. Amen. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests .—Revelation iv. 11 ; v. 9, 10. A Prayer for Victory. GOD of battles, in Whose strength Thy cham¬ pion St. Stephen, taking his life in his hand, followed the Captain of his Salvation through the breach;—to whom Thou confirmedst the good degree of deacon unto all boldness in the faith of Jesus Christ;—whose face Thou showedst forth as the face of an angel;— whose feet Thou madest like hart’s feet to outrun the host of martyrs;—to whose eyes Thou revealedst Christ exalted at the right hand of power;—to whom, making interces¬ sion for the transgressors, Thou accordedst the conversion of a consenting witness ;—whose burial Thou honouredst by a great lamentation of Thy devout servants;—give us also grace, O Lord of all grace, to do our service as unto Thee and not unto men; if Thou call us to bear witness unto Thy truth, to bear our witness without partiality and * . E 2 52 Calltb to bt faints. without hypocrisy; if Thou set us as a stumbling-block unto any, to pray the more for that soul’s salvation; if Thou bid us follow Christ through the Red Sea of suffer¬ ing, at Thy word to go forward. Grant us holy fear, and a good courage, and that shame which is glory and grace: that hereafter with St. Stephen we may ascribe unto Thee all honour and every gift; now and for evermore adoring Thee through Jesus Christ our all-prevalent Intercessor. Amen. A Memorial of St. Stephen. Psalm cxix. 105-176. St. Stephen a Hellenistic Jew— Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obey- eth the voice of His ser¬ vant, that walketh in dark¬ ness, and hath no light ? let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon His God .—Isaiah 1 . 10. Mine eyes are wasted away with looking for Thy health : and for the word of Thy righteousness. O deal with Thy servant according unto Thy loving mercy : and teach me Thy statutes. I am Thy servant, O grant me understanding: thatlmay know Thy testimonies.— Let my complaint come before Thee, O Lord: give me understanding, accord¬ ing to Thy word. Let my supplication come before Thee : deliver me, according to Thy word. My lips shall speak of Thy praise : when Thou hast taught me Thy statutes. Si. Shplrttr, $)£at0it. 53 is converted to the faith of Christ— If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.—i S/. John i. 6. and being of honest re¬ port— Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure con¬ science.— i Timothy iii. 9. Yea, my tongue shall sing of Thy word : for all Thy commandments are right¬ eous.— Thy Word is a lantern unto my feet : and a light unto my paths. I have sworn, and am stedfastly purposed : to keep Thy righteous judgments.— Thy testimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever : and why ? they are the very joy of my heart. I have applied my heart to fulfil Thy statutes alway : even unto the end.— Let Thine hand help me : for I have chosen Thy com¬ mandments. I have longed for Thy saving health, O Lord : and in Thy law is my delight.— It is time for Thee, Lord, to lay to Thine hand : for they have destroyed Thy law. For I love Thy com¬ mandments : above gold and precious stone. Therefore hold I straight all Thy commandments : and all false ways I utterly abhor.— O look Thou upon me, and be merciful unto me : as 54 to be Saints. ground the bush is clothed with strong defensive armour; whilst such twigs as grow high up the stem are often adorned with smooth leaves destitute of lateral prickles. The holly bush is slow of growth, and varies in scale from a shrub to a tree. Its wood is hard, white, of fine grain, and adapted to delicate workmanship. Its berries are plentiful, and usually of a rich red colour: though amongst varieties one there is which bears bright yellow berries; as also there are plants which, not through culture but naturally, have their green foliage diversified by white or yellow borders or patches. The title of Scarlet Oak has been borne by holly; but not, perhaps, with any striking appropriateness. Let us rather dwell on its familiar name of holly as derived from holy-tree : and thus connecting it with all holy things we note how its blossom shadows forth the hue of innocence, and its leaf the flourishing of hope, and its berry the colour of the blood which is the life; its earthward side 4 6i St. Stephen:, jit a tan. is guarded by sharpness, as of self-denial; its heavenward aspect is smooth, as by peaceful contemplation; its leaf fades not, its blossom is comely, its fruit is the crown of its beauty. He hath made everything beautiful in his time.— Eccle¬ siastes iii. ii. t ♦ Iflljn, APOSTLE AID EVANGELIST. 27 DECEMBER. %\)e Sbacrcti E saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him. — St. Matlheiv iv. 21, 22. When they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.— St. Mark i. 29. They inclosed a great multitude of fishes. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. Simon Peter was astonished at the draught of the fishes which they had taken : and so was also James, and John, which were partners with Simon. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.— St. Luke v. 6, &c. ' • •BH* «-©- ---- -- St. folm, glposflt Hub (Bfjstitgtlisf. 63 James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother. And He surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder.— S/. Matihew x. 2 ; St. Mark iii. 17. When He came into the house, He suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.— St. Luke viii. 51. Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them. And there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him. . . . Behold, a bright Cloud overshadowed them : and behold a Voice out of the Cloud, which said, This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.— St. Matthew xvii. 1, &c. John answered Him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy Name, and he followeth not us : and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not.— St. Mark ix. 38, 39. They went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for Him. And they did not receive Him. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But He turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.— St. Luke ix. 52, &c. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto Him, saying, Master, we would that Thou shouldest do for us T 6 4 fiallrb to be Saints. whatsoever we shall desire. And He said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you ? They said unto Him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on Thy right hand, and the other on Thy left hand, in Thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask : can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with ? And they said unto Him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized : but to sit on My right hand and on My left hand is not Mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.— St. Mark x. 35) &c. As He went out of the temple, one of His disciples saith unto Him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as He sat over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?— St. Mark xiii. i, &c. He sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat. And they said unto Him, Where wilt Thou that we prepare? And He said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall H* Sf. Joint, apostle atth tfSftaitgtlisf. 65 say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the Passover with My disciples ? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as He had said unto them : and they made ready the Passover.— St. Luke xxii. 8, &c. There was leaning on Jesus’ Bosom one of His dis¬ ciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom He spake. He then lying on Jesus’ Breast saith unto Him, Lord, who is it?— St.John xiii. 23, &c. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane. And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, My Soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death : tarry ye here, and watch with Me. And He went a little farther, and fell on His Face, and prayed. And He cometh unto the dis¬ ciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. He went away again the second time, and prayed. And He came and found them asleep again : for their eyes were heavy. And He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time. Then cometh He to His disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest : behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going.— St. Matthew xxvi. 36, &c. Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another dis¬ ciple : that disciple was known unto the High Priest, f® v 4 T ■t H 66 Cttlltb to be faints. and went in with Jesus into the Palace of the High Priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the High Priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.— Si. John xviii. 15, 16. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother 1 And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.— St. John xix. 25, &c. One of the soldiers with a spear pierced His Side, and forthwith came thereout Blood and Water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true : and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.— St.John xix. 34, 35- Mary Magdalene cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid Him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepul¬ chre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter. . . . Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.— St. John xx. 1, &c. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, and §1. feint, ^.peslh anb (gbattgelisl. 67 Nathanael, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fish¬ ing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered Him, No. And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. . . . Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask Him, Who art Thou ? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.— St.John xxi. 2, &c. Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following. Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee ? Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee ? This is the disciple which testifieth of these (ftalltb to bt faints. 4 - 68 things, and wrote these things : and we know that his testi¬ mony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.— St.John xxi. 20, &c. When they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John,.... These all continued with one accord in prayer and sup¬ plication .—Acts i. 13, 14. Peter and John went up into the temple at the hour of prayer. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried ; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. . . . In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them.— Acts iii. 1, &c. When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. . . . Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the Chief Priests and elders had said unto them .—Acts iv. 13, &c. When the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that , * gt. foljjr, grpostL atth Sfrangclisf. 69 Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost .—Acts viii. 14, &c. When James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor .—Galatians ii. 9, 10. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.—3 St. John 4. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, .... and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John : who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great Voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven Churches which are in Asia.— Revelation i. 1, &c. Come, Lord Jesus .—Revelation xxii. 20. 4 * (Kallcir tu bt Joints. § BIOGRAPHICAL ADDITIONS. HUS does Holy Scripture draw for us the por¬ trait of him who beloved, loving, lovely, for¬ sook not his Lord along the way of sorrows, and has for eternal reward to follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. Following the ^ Master, let us also with a sacred jealousy follow the servant, and gather up the fragments that remain to us of his example whom Jesus loved. Lord, and what shall this man do?— Si.John xxi. 21. Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do ?—Acts ix. 6. Tradition or probable conjecture points to St.John the Evangelist as that unnamed disciple who, as St. John’s own Gospel records, with St. Andrew heard the holy Baptist’s words : “ Behold the Lamb of God ! ” Thus from the very outset of his glories, no sooner did St. John’s eyes look upon the Word of Life, than he covered himself with silence as with a veil. “ John stood, and two of his dis¬ ciples; and looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God ! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto Him, Rabbi, where dwellest Thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew.”— St.John i. 35, &c. Centuries before, a meeting of consecrated human V JH. $0ljir, apostle anb dfiangElisf. 7i loves faithful and tender, the welcome of a most noble bridegroom to a veiled bride, had typified the union of Christ with each individual beloved soul, no less than His espousals to His universal Church. “ Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself .”—Genesis xxiv. 63, &c. They left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants.— St. Mark i. 20. Many women . . . ., which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him: among which was the mother of Zebedee’s children.— St. Matthew xxvii. 55, 56. From these texts it has been argued that St. John was born in easy circumstances. Some suppose that he even owned two houses, one at Bethsaida his probable birth¬ place, the other in Jerusalem, where as a son he received and cherished the Blessed Virgin; the latter assumption being based on the words, “ from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” At Jerusalem he may have continued chiefly to reside until her death there at a very advanced age: by another tradition, however, the Virgin Mother ended her days at Ephesus. In either case it was at Jerusalem that about the year 52 St. John, with SS. Peter and James the Less, received and bore witness to St. Paul’s confession of faith. A legendary trace exists of St. John’s having preached the Gospel in Parthia: though at what period of his career, I know not; and of his 7 2 (Eallrb Iff be faints. having addressed to the Parthians his First Epistle. It may have been about the year 65, after both St. Paul and his beloved disciple Timothy had laboured in Ephesus, that St. John succeeded to that See: thus uplifting the Cross of Christ in a very stronghold of civilization and nest of error. There he is said to have raised a dead man to life: thence also he could conveniently set forth on those journeys of pastoral visitation to which passages in his Second and Third Epistles have been supposed to allude. Ye shall drink indeed of My cup.— St. Matthew xx. 23. This promise of his Lord’s, fulfilled over and over again to St. John in the course of an exceptionally prolonged life; a life, as we are informed, of great austerity and mortification; a life surely of hope deferred and desire waited for, and eyes that failed for looking upward; may yet have received its special fulfilment at two moments of that long lingering life : first, when at the foot of the Cross he watched the eclipse of his Sun, and like a satellite moon was involved in its darkness; and again at Rome when before the Latin Gate under Domitian’s iron rule, he is said to have submitted to a torturing death, being immersed in a caldron of boiling oil, though by a miracle saved alive therefrom and emerging thence refreshed. Thus tradition avers: yet it has been pointed out that such immersion is unknown as a Roman punishment. Be then the point at issue as it may, it appears that St. John was sent into exile probably under Domitian; and during the milder rule of Nerva returned from Patmos, I the island of his banishment, to Ephesus his former £ St. $ojw, apostle ani> ©bangelist. 73 home. There he is reported to have died in peace in the days of Trajan, at an age stated variously as approaching or exceeding one hundred years. Towards the end of his life, though too feeble for much exertion, he would be carried into church and there exhort his flock : “ My dear children, love one another: ” and when weariness was expressed at the brief reiterated lesson, he made answer: “It is our Lord’s precept, which whoso keepeth doeth enough.” Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not.— Jeremiah xlv. 5. Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the King delighteth to honour .—Esther vi. 11. Various titles have devolved on St. John the Evangelist by more or less of authority or common consent. Our Lord Himself surnamed him and his brother Boanerges, or Sons of Thunder : and as a Son of Thunder St. John in his Third Epistle spake against rebellious Diotrephes:— “ I wrote unto the church : but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.”— vv. 9, 10. So also in aftertimes he gave utterance to no uncertain voice against the heresiarch Cerinthus. By the Greeks St. John is styled the Divine, in allusion to the profound theology of his writings : a depth exempli¬ fied in the opening verses of his First Epistle :— *¥ 74 dtalltb to bi faints. “That which was from the beginning, which wehaveheard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life; (for the Life was manifested, and we have seen It, and bear witness, and shew unto you that Eternal Life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” St. John has moreover been called the Apostle of Love : a designation justly his, whether we trace it to his words or to his works :— Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God ; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.—i Si. John iv. 7. While he himself draws his own title not from love preached or love proffered, but from love received :— That disciple whom Jesus loved.— Si. John xxi. 7. St. John, accounted the youngest of the Apostles at his call, appears to have long survived the rest. In his youth, his maturity, his old age, he preaches as it were a triple sermon for our instruction, culling for us three flowers of fragrance, and laying up for us three fruits of perfection. For of all his acts the first recorded is that he followed Jesus; and of his words the first written down are, “Master, where dwellest Thou?” Later on, when our Lord called another, he set off to follow likewise: yet long afterwards in speaking of that time he was not puffed up, but protested, “ Jesus said not, He shall not die.” And in old age when exile had sealed his testimony, 75 St. apostle aitb (iSfnntgelisf. he called himself no more than the saints’ brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. Thus what he did, what he said, what he disclaimed, sets before our eyes charity, with obedience in her right hand and in her left humility; or, it may be, bearing the yoke of obedience and wearing the curb of humility: most excellent charity, having for companions faith and hope, yet greater than either; and looking forward to a moment when perfect love shall cast out fear, while faith and hope shall be fulfilled and swallowed up. Meanwhile in marvelling over St. John’s gifts and graces, let us not miss the triple message he has left for ourselves:— I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His Name’s sake .... Because ye have known the Father. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that Is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.— i St. John ii. 12, &c. St. John’s writings are three, a Gospel, a group of Epistles, a Revelation: wherein let us seek and find gladness, guidance, assurance of hope. His Epistles, considered by themselves, are equally three; the First, addressed to a body of the faithful; the Second, to an elect lady and her children; the Third, to a well-beloved man : thus St. John loveth all saints; and if St. John, much more Christ:— God is greater than our heart.—1 St.John iii. 20. And now having been stirred up by a triple example, learned a triple lesson, and received a triple legacy, let V<5 dallcir to Jj£ IS a infs. us go on to praise God who thus draweth us as with a threefold cord not quickly broken, and let us labour strenuously to carry out St. Paul’s triple maxim:— Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do. do all to the glory of God.—i Corinthians x. 31. Amen. A Prayer for Union ivith Christ. God, of Whose free gracious bounty Thy holy Apostle and Evangelist St. John was specially beloved;—whom Christ chose and who chose Christ;—whom Christ loved and who loved Christ;—who forsaking his father preferred Christ;—who leaving all that he had followed Christ;—who on the Mount of Transfigura¬ tion beheld the glory of his Lord ;—who in the upper chamber leaned on the Bosom of his Beloved;—who in the High Priest’s palace clave unto his Friend;—who at the foot of the Cross became a son unto his King’s Mother;—who at the empty sepulchre received the illumination of faith;—who hearing another called, himself set off to follow ;—who in will died and in deed lived unto his Master’s honour;—who with bodily eyes looked upon That which was from the beginning ;—who with spiritual eyes contemplated in vision the end of all things ;—who inspired by the Holy Ghost preached Christ to the world, and wrote down the words of Christ for all generations for ever:—Give to us, even to us also, O our God, Thy choice gifts and graces; but in all and above all give us Christ, Whom to possess is to possess all things: that 77 §f. foljit, anit dEbangdist. whether we live we may live unto the Lord, or whether we die we may die unto the Lord; that so whether He bid us follow Him or tarry till He come, we may ever be with the Lord. And accepting us and our prayers for the same our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, do Thou, our Father, according to Thine all-holy Will, mercifully set the rest of our lives in order until He come. Amen. A Memorial of St. John the Evangelist. Psalms cxx-cxxxi. Happy are Zebedee and Salome.— The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice : and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.— Proverbs xxiii. 24, 25. St. John is called to be an Apostle,— The labourer is worthy of his hire.— St. Luke x. 7. a Son of Thunder,— A voice roareth : He thun- Lo, children and the fruit of the womb : are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord. Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant : even so are the young children. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them : they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.— Blessed are all they that fear the Lord : and walk in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labours of thine hands : O well is thee, and happy shalt thou be.— Let them be confounded and turned backward : as 7 8 ®alltb to be Saiwls. dereth with the voice of His excellency .—Job xxxvii. 4. a Pillar of the Faith,— Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out .—Revelation iii. 12. nevertheless he sleeps in Gethsemane,— He found them sleeping for sorrow.— St. Luke xxii. 45. many as have evil will at Sion. Let them be even as the grass growing upon the house-tops : which withereth afore it be plucked up; Whereof the mower filleth not his hand : neither he that bindeth up the sheaves his bosom. So that they who go by say not so much as, The Lord prosper you : we wish you good luck in the Name of the Lord.— Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips : and from a deceitful tongue. What reward shall be given or done unto thee, thou false tongue : even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.— Out of the deep have I called unto Thee, O Lord : Lord, hear my voice. O let Thine ears consider well : the voice of my com¬ plaint. If Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss : O Lord, who may abide it? For there is mercy with Thee : therefore shalt Thou be feared. 79 St. $oJnr, apostle nrtb ©fiangtlisl. yet he follows Christ into the Palace of the High Priest,— As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.—2 Kings ii. 2. stands beside the Cross.— Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow, which is done unto Me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted Me in the day of His fierce anger .—La menta¬ tions i. 12. Christ crucified the Hope of all mankind.— Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else .—Isaiah xlv. 22. I look for the Lord; my I soul doth wait for Him : in His Word is my trust. My soul fleeth unto the Lord : before the morning watch, I say, before the morning watch.— I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills : from whence cometh my help. My help cometh even from the Lord : Who hath made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved : and He that keepeth thee will not sleep. Behold, He that keepeth Israel : shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord Himself is thy keeper : the Lord is thy de¬ fence upon thy right hand; So that the sun shall not burn thee by day : neither the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil : yea, it is even He that shall keep thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thygoing out,and thycoming in : from this time forth for evermore.— 8o (Kalhk Iff Ix£ faints. St. John visits the empty Sepulchre,— He is not here, but is risen. — Si. Luke xxiv. 6. whereof the stone had been sealed.— They went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. — St. Matthew xxvii. 66. Turn our captivity, O Lord : as the rivers in the south. They that sow in tears : shall reap in joy. He that now goeth on His way weeping, and beareth forth good seed : shall doubt¬ less come again with joy, and bring His sheaves with Him.— O Israel, trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy : and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel : from all his sins.— When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion : then were we like unto them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter: and our tongue with joy.— Except the Lord build the house : their labour is but lost that build it. Except the Lord keep the city : the watchman waketh but in vain. It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness : for so He giveth His beloved sleep.— St. loljtt, giposth anb (Bbangelist. t The Lord said not “ He shall not die.”— I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly. —Romans xii. 3. St. John and the eleven, being beaten of the Council, are let go,— Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.— Revela¬ tion iii. 8. he cleaves to Christ under persecution,— Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer.— Revelation ii. 10. Lord, I am not high- minded : I have no proud looks. I do not exercise myself in great matters : which are too high for me. But I refrain my soul, and keep it low, like as a child that is weaned from his mother : yea, my soul is even as a weaned child. O Israel, trust in the Lord : from this time forth for evermore.— The plowers plowed upon my back : and made long furrows. But the righteous Lord : hath hewn the snares of the ungodly in pieces.— They that put their trust in the Lord shall be even as the mount Sion : which may not be removed, but standeth fast for ever. The hills stand about Je¬ rusalem : even so standeth the Lord round about His people, from this time forth for evermore. For the rod of the ungodly cometh not into the lot of the righteous : lest the righteous put their hand unto wicked¬ ness. a ■E 3-s 82 CsIIcb io bt Saints. the Caldron hurts him not,— When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.— Isaiah xliii. 2. Do well, O Lord : unto those that are good and true of heart. As for such as turn back unto their own wickedness : the Lord shall lead them forth with the evil doers; but peace shall be upon Israel.— When I was in trouble I called upon the Lord : and He heard me.— If the Lord Himself had not been on our side, now may Israel say : if the Lord Himself had not been on our side, when men rose up against us; They had swallowed us up quick : when they were so wrathfully displeased at us. Yea, the waters had drowned us : and the stream had gone over our soul. The deep waters of the proud : had gone even over our soul. But praised be the Lord : who hath not given us over for a prey unto their teeth. Our soul is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the fowler : the snare is broken, and we are de¬ livered. Our help standeth in the £>f. ioljir, apostle tntir (Efrangtlisf. 83 in Vision he beholds New Jerusalem,— He carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.— Re¬ velation xxi. 10. Name of the Lord :Who hath made heaven and earth.— Then said they among the heathen : The Lord hath done great things for them. Yea, the Lord hath done great things for us already : whereof we rejoice.— I was glad when they said unto me : We will go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand in thy gates : O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built as a city : that is at unity in itself. For thither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord : to testify unto Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord. For there is the seat of judgment : even the seat of the house of David. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall pros¬ per that love thee. Peace be within thy walls : and plenteousness within thy palaces. For my brethren and com¬ panions’ sakes : I will wish thee prosperity. Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God : I will seek to do thee good.— The Lord from out of 8 4 Callrb to faints. he rejoices in his spiritual family,— There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this pre¬ sent time.— S/. Luke xviii. 29, 30. in extreme old age he waits on the Will of God:— Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season .—-Job v. 26. Sion shall so bless thee : that thou shalt see Jeru¬ salem in prosperity all thy life long. Yea, that thou shalt see thy children’s children : and peace upon Israel.— Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine : upon the walls of thine house. Thy children like the olive- branches : round about thy table. Lo, thus shall the man be blessed : that feareth the Lord.— Wo is me, that I am con¬ strained to dwell with Me- sech : and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar. My soul hath long dwelt among them : that are ene¬ mies unto peace. I labour for peace, but when I speak unto them thereof : they make them ready to battle.— Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us : for we are utterly despised. Our soul is filled with the scornful reproof of the wealthy : and with the de¬ spitefulness of the proud.— St. fnljtt, apostle anb ®battgtlisf. 85 “ Come, Lord Jesus.” The companions hearken to Thy voice : cause me to hear it .—Song 0/ Solomon viii. 13. Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up : may Israel now say : Yea, many a time have they vexed me from my youth up : but they have not prevailed against me.— Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes : O Thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, even as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress : even so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until He have mercy upon us. The Fourth Living Creature. got ®aglr. N the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him ; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, say¬ ing, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Which was, and is, and is to come .—Revelation iv. 6, &c. Of these four awful diverse living creatures the fourth has been assigned to St. John the Evangelist as his symbol. +® • * H8- ' • 86