#5 ••S" r(3 «^ ^ 1^ , •^ _Q- ^ 1 J5 -»n. «^ ha -C • ^ Q. S> i\ o fe :> > 2 i c < © g (U . ^' o 3 E CO ■ 1 S J2 ^ ^ -T3 <:i ?i ,^ >1 (U ^ CL 1 1 Digitized by tine Internet Arcinive in 2011 with funding from Princeton Tiieological Seminary Library littp://www.arcliive.org/details/orderforvisitatiOOmoul THE ORDER FOR THE VISITATION AND COMMUNION OF AXD THE MIXISTEATIOX OE PRIVATE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN: TO WHICH ARE ADDED, PSALMS AND LESSONS SUITABLE FOR THE EDIFICATION OF SICK PERSONS, SELECTED AND ARRANGED, WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS AS TO THEIR USE AT THE VISITATION OF THE SICK, jsr^ioij] RALPH ALLEJST'^iOIJLD, M.A. PERPETUAL CURATE OF HOLY TRINITY CHAPEL, WARRINGTON, IN THE DIOCESE OF CHESTER. LONDON: FRANCIS & JOHN RIVINGTON, ST. Paul's church yard, and Waterloo place. 1851. London: gilbert and kivington, printers, st. john's square. %1 " But, of all things in the world, methinks, men should be most careful not to abuse dying people ; not only because their condition is pitiable, but be- cause they shall soon be discovered, and, in the secret region of souls, there shall be an evil report concern- ing those men that have deceived them: and if we believe we shall go to that place where such reports are made, we may fear the shame and amazement of being accounted impostors in the presence of angels, and all the wise holy men of the world. To be erring and innocent is hugely pitiable, and incident to mor- tality ; that we cannot help : but to deceive or to destroy so great an interest as is that of a soul, or to lessen its advantages, by giving it trifling and false confidences, is injurious and intolerable. And, there- fore, it were very well, if all the churches of the world would be extremely curious concerning their offices and ministries of the visitation of the sick ; that their ministers they send be holy and prudent ; that their instructions be severe and safe ; that their sentences be merciful and reasonable ; that their offices be suf- ficient and devout ; that their attendances be frequent and long ; that their deputations be special and pecu- liar ; that the doctrines upon which they ground their A 2 offices be true, material, and holy; that their cere- monies be few, and their advices wary; that their separation be full of caution, their judgments not remiss, their remissions not loose and dissolute ; and that the whole ministration be made by persons of experience and charity. For it is a sad thing to see our dead go out of our hands ; they live incuriously, and die without regard ; and the last scene of their life, which should be dressed with all spiritual advan- tages, is abused by flattery and easy propositions, and let go with carelessness and folly." Bp. Jeremy Taylor, Preface to " Holy Dying." ,^\ CONTENTS. PAET I. IXTRODUCTIOX PAGE xi CHAP. I. General Examination of the Offices which the Church HAS provided for THE SiCK. I. The Visitation of the Sick. 1 . Of sending for the minister 2. Of the Salutation of Peace 3. Of the Prayers before the Exhortation 4. Of the Exhortation . 5. Analysis of the Exhortation 6. Of the concluding Prayers 7. Of the Prayers for Special Occasions 8. Two special cases considered 1. Of recovery from sickness . 2. Of permanent infirmity xu XV XV xvii xviii xix XX xxi xxi xxi II. The Communion of the Sick. 1. The Communion Service . 2. The Rubrical directions XXI xxi III. The Baptism of the Sick. 1. The Baptismal Service 2. The Rubrical directions XXI 1 xxiii VI CONTEXTS. CHAP. II. coxsideratiox of suxdry questions relating to the Visitation of the Sick. PAGE 1. Of the constant use of the Visitation Service. Excuses for its disuse ....... xxiv 1. That it is unsuitable in its construction . . xxiv 2. That it is inapplicable in the present state of the Church XXV 3. That it is insufficient ..... xxvi 4. That it wants variety ..... xxviii 2. The twofold object in Visiting the Sick . . . xsix 3. Of reading Holy Scripture and Exhortation . . xxx 4. Of the catechetical method of teaching those who are very ignorant ....... xxxi 5. Each case to be specially studied .... xxxii 6. Several particulars to be considered .... xxxiii 7. Frequent intercourse with the whole a help to the profitable Visiting of the Sick .... xxxiii 8. Of the frequency of our visits ..... xxxiv 9. Of regularity in visiting ...... xxxvi 10. Of persererance in visiting xxxvi 11. Of our manner and carriage in our visits . . . xxxviii 1. Of reverence xxxviii 2. Of avoiding controversy ..... xxxviii 3. Of kindness xxxix 4. Of alms xxxix CHAP. III. Consideration of the Preliminary Instructions prior to the Examination of a Sick Person's Faith and Repentance. 1. Of our first exhortation . 2. Of exhortations unto patience . 3. Of exhortations to self-examination 4. Pecuhar cases .... 1 . Of the very ignorant 2. Of the worldly and careless 3. Of the self-righteous 4. Of the hardened and profligate xl xU xlii xlii xlii xliii xliv xlv CO>'TEXTS. Vll CHAP. IV. The Examination of Faith. PAGE 1. Of the sick person's faith, and his instruction therein xlv 2. Of God the Father xlvi 3. Of God the Son xlvii 4. Of God the Holy Ghost xUx 5. Of the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints 1 6. Of the Forgiveness of sins liii 7. Of the Resurrection of the body .... Iv 8. Of the Life everlasting ...... Iv CHAP. V. The Examination of Repentance and Charity. 1. Of repentance. 2. Of the particular examination of repentance 3. Of charity 4. Of the sick man's will and declaration of debts 5. Of liberahty to the poor .... 6. Of special confession of sins Iv Ivii Ix Ixi Ixii Ixiii CHAP. VL On Subjects of Instruction subsequent to the Examina- tion OF Repentance and Charity. 1. Of the Communion of the sick .... Ixvii 2. Of the near approach of death \x\m 3. Of instructions suitable for the time of recovery . Ixix YUl CONTEXTS. PAET ir. PAGE The Order for the Visitatiox of the Sick ... 1 The Order for the Commuxiox of the Sick . . .10 The Order for the Ministration of Private Baptism of Children IN houses .' 19 The Exhortations contained in the Order for the Administration of the Holy Communion . . 22 Part of the Address in the Commination Service . 26 Psalms 29 Lessons on the Cause and End of Sickness, and the Christian's Duty in times of Affliction. 1. On Patience, i. — vii. 2. On Carelessness, viii. — x. . 3. On Self-righteousness, xi. xii. . 4. On presumptuous Sin, xiii. xiv. Lessons on the Examination of Faith. 1. On God the Father, i.— iv. 2. On God the Son, v. — xxiv. 3. On God the Holy Ghost, xxv. — xxviii. 4. On the Church, xxix. — xxxv. . 5. On the Forgiveness of Sins, xxxvi. xxxvii. 6. On the Resurrection of the Body, xxxviii. xxxix. 7. On the Life everlasting, xl. xU. . 89 97 100 101 104 107 129 134 141 143 145 Lessons on the Examination of Repentance and Charity. 1. On Repentance, i. — vii 147 2. On particular Duties and Sins, viii. — xvii. . . . 155 3. On Charity, xviii. — xxi 164 4. On Prayer, xxii.— xxv 168 Lessons on Subjects of Instruction suBSEauENT to the Examination of Repentance and Charity. 1. On the Holy Communion, i. — iii 171 2. On the near approach of death, iv. . . . .174 3. On Recovery from Sickness, v.— xi 177 TABLE OF LESSONS. PAGE PAGE Eccles. xi. xii. . . 182 St. Luke xiv. . . 173 Isaiah xxxviii. . . 177 XV. . 150 Hii. . 117 xvii. . . 177 Jer. xvii. . 99 xviii. . 169 Lam. iii. v. . 154 xix. . . 165 Ezek. xviii. . 147 xxii. . . 115 Ecclus. ii. . 95 St. John i. . 107 V. . 97 iii. . 104 St. Matt. iv. . . Ill V. . 145 V. . 140 vi. . 172 ib. . . 160 xiv. . . 131 vi. . 156 XV. . . 135 vii. . . 157 xvii. . . 136 XV. . . 168 xix. . . 113 xviii. . . 164 XX. . . 123 xix. . . 158 Acts i. . . 125 xxiv. . . 126 ii. . . 121 XXV. . . 127 ib. . . 129 ib. . . 127 X. . 141 ib. . . 127 Romans ii. . 100 xxvi. . . 113 vi. . 119 xxvii. . 115 viii. . . 92 St. Mark V. . . 168 ib. . . 132 viii. . . 112 xiii. . . 159 X. . 167 xiv. XV. . 139 xii. . . 155 xvi. . . 138 xvi. . . 122 1 Cor. i. iii. . . 138 St. Luke i. . 109 X. . 100 ii. . . 110 X. xi. . 171 iii. . 148 2 Cor. iv. v. . . 94 vii. . . 152 ix. . 164 viii. . . 178 Gal. V. vi. . 133 X. . 158 Eph. iv. . . 134 xi. . 170 ib. . . 159 xii. , . 163 V. . . 161 ib. . . 180 vi. . . 181 xiii. . . 149 Phil. ii. . . 120 TABLE or LESSO>'S. PAGE PAGE Phil. iii. . . 143 1 St. Pet. i. . . 106 Col. i. . . 142 iv. . . 91 iii. . . 124 2 St. Pet. i. . . 139 1 Thess. iv. v. . . 144 ii. . . 101 1 Tim. vi. . 166 iii. . . 102 Heb. i. . . 108 1 St. John i. ii. . 153 ii. iii. iv. . 98 ii. . . 158 X. . . 179 iii. . . 105 xii. . 90 iv. . . 104 St. James i. v. . 96 Rev. XX. xxi. . . 145 iii. . . 162 INTRODUCTION. The Visitation of the Sick is, without question, one of the most difficult parts of that ministry which is committed unto us. While men are in health, we speak to them as it were from pulpits afar off; but when the hand of God is heavy upon them we are brouofht very nigh, even to their bedsides. At such seasons the faithful 'Christian will be more than ever humble and penitent, severe in self-judgment, and tender of heart ; then, we may haply find the careless and ungodly awakened and teachable ; and most, if not all, will then receive and hear us willingly, for the dread reality of the four last things, death and judgment, heaven and hell, presses fearfully upon them. And upon the faithfulness and discretion of our ministra- tions at such times, a brother's eternal welfare may depend : we " watch for his soul" — how excellent an office : " as they that must give account" — how awful a responsibility : " and who is sufficient for these things ?" Xevertheless, we must not therefore faint, but rather give all the more heed to fulfil our ministry, considering from Whom we have received it, and with the promise of His continual presence. It will, however, be most profitable for us, often to think on these things, that thus we may keep ever in remembrance what great need we have, even beyond all other men, of unceasing prayer, study, and meditation, that by all the means in our power, we may " stir up the gift of God which is in us." It is, indeed, a solemn thing to reflect that, in visiting the sick, we are called to preach the Gospel, to bear the word of reconciliation, to administer the Holy Communion to one whose soul, to all appearance, will soon be required of him. We scarce can estimate it aright, for its frequent re- currence tends to deaden our sense of its exceeding responsi- bility. But it is our blessing, that in the exercise of this ministry, we are not left each one to his private judgment, and therefore to the peculiar errors and deficiencies of his Xll lyTEODUCTIOX. own individual mind, but that we have a sure guide in the service which the Church has set forth for these occasions. And the more we study and use this, the more sensible we shall become of its excellence and completeness. The prayers which it contains are fervent and sufficient, the exhortation is a fruitful model, and the directions for examination and instruction, furnish us with a comprehensive scheme by which to shape our counsels : for the office is so drawn up as to include every particular about which it is necessary to speak, and in the most profitable order. And we may be very sure, that the more thoroughly we imbibe its admirable spirit, the more effectual our ministrations will be. Let us, therefore, shortly consider the office as a whole, before proceeding to the details of that part of it with which the following lessons are more immediately connected. CHAPTER I. GENERAL EXAMINATION OF THE OFFICES WHICH THE CHURCH HAS PROVIDED FOR THE SICK. 1 . The Visitation of the Sick. 1 . Of sending The Visitation Service supposes that we have for the minis- " been sent for by the sick person, or his friends ; ^^^- and it is much to be regretted, that for the most part people are so remiss in this matter. It is advisable, therefore, to take all opportunities of pressing upon our pa- rishioners, how careful they should be to perform this act of duty and charity, by the neglect of which so great evil may ensue. " Is any sick among you ? let him call for the elders of the church ; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord : and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up : and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." To the sick, therefore, it becomes a duty, in their friends and neighbours it is an act of charity, to inform the clergyman of their situation ; and whenever we go to any uncalled, we should not fail to speak to them of their neglect. But whether we be sent for or not, we should be careful to visit our people as soon as ever we hear of their sickness. And it is well to lose no time about it, but to go at once ; iXTEODrcTiox. xm for until we actually see them, so uncertain are messages or reports, we cannot tell how urgent any case may be : if we are told at night, and delay until the morning, the oppor- tunity may be lost. " Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." And this we should be the more particular about, if at any former time we have had to rebuke the sick person, or if any shyness happen to exist between us ; for such, who may perhaps stand most in need of our ministry, will be the least likely of their own accord to seek it ; nay, though it may be suggested to them to send for us, and they may themselves desire our visits, yet through diffidence or shame, they may hang back. And surely it is our place to show a pattern of personal charity, and official kindness. There may have been differences between us in time past, our endeavours for good may have been opposed, the counsels we gave in former sicknesses may have been unheeded, and laughed at, when health was restored ; but notwithstanding all this, we should ever be ready to proffer our ministrations, and should cheerfully take the first step, especially at such a time ; re- membering that the offence may have come, in part at least, by us ; or if not, that it is written, " If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness ; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." We must also here consider the case of those who have withdrawn or separated themselves from the Church, but who have not become actual members of any other religious body. In sickness such are often neglected by those they have followed, or it may be that their conscience misgives them, and they doubt the truth of their own position, and desire the ministrations of the Church, but are afraid to ask for them. It is well, therefore, for us to be ready to visit these also, though unbidden, and offer them instruction, that their sickness may, by God's grace, be the means of restoring them to the unity of the Church. If they hear us, we may " gain our brother ;" if they be perverse and reject us, our conscience is free. There is yet another case, singular as it may seem, which sometimes happens. Professed dissenters, we know, often desire the other ordinances of the Church ; and so, too, they will occasionally send and ask for our visits when sick ; and that, not merely if they happen to be neglected by their own teachers, but even when visited by them ; and this they do, XIV INTEODrCTIOlN". not from any doubt or distrust in tlieir own position, as separated from the Church, but rather that they may have some one, or, as in the latter case, as many as possible to visit and comfort them. Our position in such cases becomes one of considerable difficulty, not so much in knowing what our true course is, as in the discretion required in following it out. We ought not, surely, to hesitate to visit any, especially one who actually sends for us, so long as we can do so without danger of misleading him thereby. Hence, though we should cheerfully go, whenever opportunity offers, in these cases, we ought in no wise to compromise our own office, but. from the first, should speak plainly, though temperately and kindly, of the great differences existing between us, so that there may be no ground for misunder- standing ; and, whilst enlarging on the other necessary subjects of instruction, we should be careful not to conceal or prevaricate about that especial article of the faith in the disregard or denial whereof such persons have lived, but instruct them diligently and fully thereon ; especially showing how great hindrances to God's word, and what bitterness and uncharitable speeches, feehngs, and actions, spring out of divisions amongst Christians. To refuse to visit one who is a dissenter would be most blameworthy ; for to what end are we sent forth but to admonish with all patience, and, if possible, win back those who have gone astray ? To visit them, and be silent on their error, would be still worse ; for strife, divisions, contentions, seditions, heresies, are ex- pressly named by St. Paul as sins of the flesh. How then can we justify ourselves, if we visit any whom we know to be dissenters, and, ignoring the fact of their being so, say nothing whatever of their schism ? To make every allow- ance for ignorance, temptation, and past neglect, is just and right ; but to be wholly silent is surely to mislead. Must not such conduct lead them to suppose that we lightly esteem one of the articles of our faith, and regard schism as a thing indifferent ? It is no part of our office to assume to pass sentence on those vvho are not our own members, but it is our duty to do all we can, both by kindness and by warning, to bring them into the fold of the Church ; and with this view, we should be very careful to avoid misleading them by ambiguous words or actions, in a matter so essential as the unity of the Christian body. But let us ever remember to deal with these and the like cases with all possible gentleness, having compassion on ignorance and infirmity, and the force of long prejudice. I^'TEODrCTIO:^'. XV " The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves." ^ ^^ , ^ , When we come into the sick person's tation of Peace, ho^f ' ^^^ are enjoined to say, "Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell in it. And the salutation of peace ought not to be omitted, seeing that the Church here follows the twice repeated command of our Saviour, " And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house ; and if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it : if not, it shall turn to you again." Why then is it, for the most part, neglected by us ? In part, doubtless, because having fallen so much into the habit of using other than the prescribed form of visiting the sick, we have naturally, in proportion as we have renounced the guidance of the Church, also wandered at the same time from Holy Scripture ; partly, too, from the consciousness that so solemn a form of address would beget a feeling of restraint in those who might hear it. But is not this latter circumstance a real benefit, when we come to consider it ? We go to the sick person s house, not as we have probably done aforetime, rather as a friend than a pastor, on a visit of courtesy, or to speak about his children, or on some other matter of business, or with a simple word of admonition, but in our ministerial capacity alone, and to perform an appointed service of the Church. We may not, indeed, be clad in the same white vestments which we use in our public ministrations, but we are there, no less than at church, in our oflBce and ministry, and therefore we should use, as far as may be, the same solemn reverence towards the people, and they the same towards us, which is exhibited on either side in the public services. There is much in the necessary absence of external associations, and in the distractions con- sequent upon sickness, especially in the homes of the poor, to efface this from our minds, as well as from theirs ; and there would, therefore, seem to be all the more reason for adhering to this divine and prescribed form of salutation, which might serve to bring it to remembrance. 3. Of the We are directed, when we come into the Prayers before sick man's presence, to kneel down and say the Exhortation, certain prayers. These consist of a short Litany, and after that the Lord's Prayer, and appropriate suffrages. Then follow two collects, in the former of which we pray that God will behold, visit, comfort, relieve, and protect the sick person ; and in the latter, that his sickness XVI IXTEODrCTIOX. may be sanctified to him, that his faith ma}' be strengthened, and his repentance become more serious, so that, if he recover his bodily health, he may live in the fear and to the glory of God, or if he die, that he may dwell with Him for ever. But for the most part, it is the practice at once to enter upon reading and exhortation, reserving all prayer until that be ended. And in defence of this custom it is alleged, that the rubric after the exhortation to the sick man to settle his temporal affairs, says, " These words before rehearsed may be said before the minister begin his prayer, as he shall see cause :" thereby giving us liberty to proceed first to prayer or exhortation, as we may judge best. And this is certainly the case ; for though the rubric originally had reference only to counsel about worldly affairs, yet the very circum- stance of its position having been changed, so as to include the whole, and not a part only, of the previous directions, would seem as though such alteration were meant to enlarge our discretionary power. May we not, therefore, con- clude that the Church recommends and desires, though she does not absolutely require these prayers to be said as soon as we come into the sick person's presence ? The question then becomes, When should we exercise this discretion ? for there are cases where it is very necessary to do so. For instance, we may be sent for by a sick person or his friends, who from his past life should not be allowed these prayers at first. Suppose the case of one who had been utterly regardless of religion, a notorious evil liver, and who, were the Church in different circumstances, would have been formally cut off from her by sentence of excom- munication : or again, suppose the case of a worldly-minded and careless person, one on whom sickness has made little or no impression ; in such cases and the like, we shall surely do well to confine ourselves to counsel and admonition, and to withhold the prayers for a while, until we believe that they can be said in the sick person's presence without danger of profanation by disregard or contempt on his part. And though in these instances our first words will often seem to be unavailing, let us not be discouraged, but continue to visit the unhappy person diligently, if opportunity be afforded us, always taking care, as we cannot pray with him, to be the more instant in our prayers for him, that he may receive the grace of repentance. Again, when we visit sick persons for the first time with- out being sent for by them, it will be well not to begin the I^'TEODUCTIOX. XVll prayers until the exhortation be first proceeded with, unless in the case of those whom we know to be devout and good Christians. Or again, we may find their minds so pre-occupied with other thoughts, that they cannot easily shake them off and compose themselves to prayer ; and in these cases also, it will be advisable to pause, and give them time to recover, and first lead them into a more serious frame of mind by suitable exhortations. This may happen even with the best disposed, but for the most part we shall find it occur with such as have lived carelessly, and on whom sickness has made but transient impressions, especially where a relaxa- tion from pain or danger renders even those impressions fainter ; and if this be the case, we should rather rebuke than compassionate such wanderings, for they are an evi- dence of insincerity and coldness of heart, and endeavour by earnest remonstrance to arouse the sick person to a sense of his dangerous state. And besides these, there will of course be other occasions, especially where we have to visit the same person frequently, when we may find it better to commence our visits with reading and exhortation ; for a private visit cannot be tied down by the same exact rules as a public service. But at the same time it is well to bear in mind, not only the posi- tive duty of doing all things in order, but also the manifest propriety of commencing this, as most of the other services, with prayer ; for the very solemnity thereby gained for our words, by thus consecrating the exhortation and counsel which follow, and distinctly marking from the outset the spiritual character of our visit, would seem to be an ample reason why we should here, as in the first salutation, keep as closely as possible to the directions of the rubric. There will likewise occur many cases of a very mixed description, where we go to visit persons who are more or less out of health, but yet not sick in that strict sense of the term, which the Church contemplates in the Visitation Ser- vice ; and where though we may find, and advantageously embrace, the opportunity of giving counsel and instruction, it would manifestly be out of place to use a solemn service evidently compiled for cases where the sickness assumes a dangerous character. With respect to these, each must judge for himself what course will be most edifying under the particular circumstances. The Church next provides for the sick per- hortation ^ ^ ^°"'^ instruction, and has set forth a pattern, directing us to " exhort him after this form or other like." XVm IXTEODUCTION. Here then we are allowed full liberty, with this limitation only, that our instructions if not " after this form," must be " like it." And this is indeed a very wise restriction, and one which we should ever bear in mind, since great evil must necessarily result from hasty and inconsiderate ad- dresses to sick people. It is far easier to speak pleasantly, than discreetly : for to whisper false words of comfort to a sick or dying man, to flatter his good opinion of himself, and by leading him through vague and general contemplations, to say, " Peace, where there is no peace," is a matter of no great ditficulty. We should therefore take heed that our own discourses be always framed after this model ; and especially that we do not omit any of the subjects comprised in it. And as those only can safely and effectually thus instruct and examine the sick, who have themselves well studied its contents and order, the following analysis is otFered in the hope that it may furnish some help thereto. - . , . r The sick person is exhorted to consider, — 0. Analysis of . ^ ..,, ^ , . . , . , ', the Exhortation. ^' oy \v hom his sickness is sent: namely, God, the Lord and Giver of all things. 2. The purposes for which it is sent : namely, 1. To try his patience : and this again, 1. For the example of others. 2. To prove his own faith. 2. To correct and amend his faults. 3. The manner in which he must take it: namely, 1. With true repentance. 2. With patience. 3. With lively faith. 4. With humility and thankfulness. 5. With entire conformity to the will of God. Thus, in few words, he is exhorted so to take God's visita- tion, that it may turn to his profit. And here, if he be very sick, we may break off the ex- hortation. Where, in this case, we are to resume it, is not directed : the most proper place would seem to be at the words, " Now, therefore, taking your sickness," &c. ; for all that intervenes is an enlargement on the duty of patience, and following our Lord's example herein ; whereas, at this point, an entirely fresh subject is introduced, leading to the sick man's confession of faith, and examination of re- pentance. But if he may well bear it, or if he be impatient, and need it, the exhortation further calls him to patience, 1. By the words of St. Paul in his Epistle to the He- brews ; 2. By the example of our Blessed Lord. INTEODrCTION. XIX And having thus taught him the end of his sickness, and his present duty of patience, we are to call upon him as a Chris- tian man, 1. To remember his baptismal vows : and, 2. The judgment to come : and therefore, 3. To examine himself and his estate, both toward God and man, and 4. To humble himself, and confess his sins, that he may find mercy at the last day. We are then to require him to make a solemn confession of his faith, according to the Apostle's Creed, and when this is done, we are to examine him, 1. Whether he repent him truly of all his sins. 2. Whether he be in charity with all the world. And that he may know the several parts of such charity, we are to exhort him further, 1. To forgive all who have wronged him. 2. To ask forgiveness of those whom he has offended. 3. To make amends to such as he has injured, if it be in his power to do so. And we are to admonish him, as an act of justice, and for the quietness of his executors, 1. To make his will. 2. To declare all debts due to or from him. There is a rubric here to the following effect : " But men should often be put in remembrance to take order for the settling of their temporal estates when they are in health ;" a warning we should not omit to give them when oppor- tunities present themselves. And here follows the rubric before adverted to, giving us permission to say the foregoing before we begin the ])rayers. We are then required to move the sick person, 1. To be liberal to the poor, if of ability. 2. To make a special confession of his sins, if he feel his conscience troubled with any weighty matter. And after such special confession, if he humbly and heartily desire it, the priest is to absolve him according to the pre- scribed form there set forth : and this brings us to the end of the exhortation. After all this has been gone through, there follows a collect, to be said by the priest, im- ploring God's mercy on the penitent man, that his sins may be forgiven, and his contrition accepted, that he may be continued in the unity of the Church, and be com- forted. The service then continues by our saying Psalm Ixxi. a 2 6. The con- cludinsPraveis. XX IXTEODUCTIOX. To this succeeds a short petition or litan3% on behalf of all present, and the visitation concludes with two forms of bene- diction pronounced over the sick person, who is then solemnly commended to the mercy and protection of God. But, when the whole of the subjects comprised in the ex- hortation and subsequent directions are not gone through, it does not appear where we should take up the concluding- prayers ; since the collect for God's mercy, with which they re-commence, would seem as though intended to be used only where a profession of repentance, if not a special con- fession of sins, has been made ; and if we do not proceed as far as the examination of the sick person's repent- ance, it would, perhaps, be more correct to resume our devotions either with the Psalm, or the supplication that follows it. If the Holy Communion be administered at the same rime that the sick person is visited, the Visitation Service breaks off at the Psalm. 7. Of the There are four special forms of prayer ap- Pra vers for Spe- pended to the Visitation Service. The first cial Occasions. of these is for a sick child, and is another proof of the tender regard shown by the Church for Christ's little ones within her fold. Are they in health ? She gives order for their diligent instruction in the Catechism, that thus they may be brought up by her in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Are they sick ? She provides a special prayer for the lambs she has to feed. Let us then follow her steps herein, and be careful that we do not slur over our visits in these cases, as though, because their innocence has compara- tively less need of our exhortations, we might deny them the prayer of faith. " Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones, for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father Which is in heaven." The second special prayer is for a sick person, when there appears but small hope of his recovery ; and the third is a commendation of his soul unto Almighty God, to be said when he is at the point of departure. The fourth is a special prayer for those that are troubled in mind or conscience. At what part of the service these prayers are to be said, is not directed. Doubtless the Church meant to leave it to our own discretion in each particular case. The place most g-enerally suitable for their introduction, would seem to be after, or instead of, the second collect, or else when we re- commence the prayers after the exhortation is finished. iyTEODUCTIO>'. XXI There are, however, two cases in which it 8. Two spe- ^^y certainly seem, at first sight, that no pro- vision has been made by the Church. The P^^^'^P', first is that of a person who is manifestly reco- ness ^^^ ^^^ " "vering from sickness. Xow the collect speaks of his being restored to "his former health,' which must generally be taken to mean the time when he can join in the pubUc services of the Church, and therefore has no need for private visitation as a sick person. .-, „ „ But it frequently happens that this, humanly raanent infir- speaking, is impossible, as in continuing intirmi- niitv. ties, and old age ; and yet it would scarcely be reasonable always to visit such as actually sick. Should they not rather be considered as restored to their former health, when they are as well as they are ever likely to be ? and in such cases, is it not the best plan, at our visits, to use the Visitation Service at periods of severe attack, when sharp pains, or extraordinary weakness make them feel their sickness more acutely, and to return to the usual daily prayers when they are restored to their ordinary state of health whatever that may be ? 2. The Commu7iion of the Sick. The Church further provides an order for the 1. The Com- administration of the Holy Communion to the munion oer- . , , i , , i • i ^j(.g Sick, so that they may, with more reverence and edification, receive that Holy Sacrament daring their sickness, and especially before they depart out of this life. The service itself requires little comment ; the collect, epistle, and gospel, have reference to the sick person's par- ticular state, while the rest of the office is taken from the public Liturgy. The collect may, it is conceived, be ap- propriately used at any other time, along with those in the Visitation Service, if we think fit, on the same princi- ple that the collect in the public Communion Service is also said at Morning and Evening Prayer. But the rubrics of this service are much to , 2- The ru- ^g ^^^^^^ tions! ' The first reminds us with what earnestness and diligence we should, from time to time, but especially in seasons of pestilence, exhort our parishioners to the often receiving of the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ publicly, when in health ; so that, in case of sudden visitations, they may be the less dis- XXll IXTEODUCTIOX. quieted for lack of the same ; a rubric we should carefully attend to, and the more so, from the prevailing neglect of this Holy Sacrament. At the celebration, there should be " three, or two at the least," to communicate with the sick person, unless in times of contagious disease or pestilence, when, if others cannot be gotten, the minister may communicate with him alone, at his special request. Again, there must be a convenient place provided in his house, and all things necessary so prepared, that we may reverently minister. To this end there should always be due notice given on both sides, that all may be got ready with decency and order ; for painful confusion and irre- verence will often arise if we go to administer the Holy Com- munion to sick persons without previoush' letting them know the time we intend to be with them. The usual and best plan is for the priest to provide the elements of con- secration, together with the vessels, linen, and vestments, that they may not be such as are used for other purposes. And let us ever bear in mind, that too great regard cannot possibly be paid to the administration of this Holy Sacrament with the utmost reverence in every respect. The order of communicating is then prescribed, which is, first the priest himself, then those present, and last of all, the sick person. We should also remember, that all the directions which are contained in the rubrics of that portion of the public Liturgy which is used at this time, should be strictly observed. If the sick person be prevented by any of the external causes named in the next rubric, or "by any other just im- pediment,'" from receiving the Holy Communion, the Priest is directed to instruct him, '•' That if he do truly repent hin> of his sins, and stedfastly believe that Jesus Christ hath suf- fered death upon the cross for him, and shed His Blood for his redemption, earnestly remembering the benefits he hath thereby, and giving Him hearty thanks therefore, he doth eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his soul's health, although he do not receive the Sacrament with his mouth :" an instruction full of consolation, when the case occui'^, to any who earnestly and worthily desires to communicate, but is really and truly hindered from so doing. The other two rubrics have been already noticed. I?s-TIlODrCTIO:N'. XXlll 3. The Baptism of the Sick. The Sacraments of the Gospel are to be 1. TheBaptis- (j^nigd to none who are capable of receiving mal bervice. ^^^^ worthily, and therefore the Church pro- vides an order for the private Baptism of children in houses when occasion requires. Like the Com.munion of the Sick, the service itself re- quires little comment. The Lord's Prayer, the Baptism, and the thanksgiving after the administration of the Sacra- ment, are all that is enjoined in cases of extreme necessity. Nevertheless, if the time allow, as for the most part is the case, we are directed also to say " so many of the collects appointed to be said in the form of Public Baptism as the time and present exigence will suffer." It is right therefore, if we have opportunity, to say those parts of the Service which are not appointed to be said afterwards in public, when the child is brought to be received into the congre- gation. There is no form set forth for the private Baptism of adults capable of answering for themselves, in case of sickness : whenever, therefore, such a case occurs, we can only follow the analogy of the service for children, being careful, how- ever, to require from the adult, that he make the same pro- fessions in sickness, which he would have been required to make had the Sacrament been administered to him publicly in the congregation. There are, however, three rubrics which cai dh-ection"' ""^^ "^^^ ^^ passed over without notice. By the first we are directed often to admonish the people, that they defer not the Baptism of their children longer than the first or second Sunday next after their birth, or other Holy-day falling between, unless upon a great and reasonable cause, to be approved by the curate. For the most part people do not long defer the Baptism of their children, though they rarely bring them quite so soon after their birth as the rubric directs : but in some places they are more careless about it, and in all parts we must expect to find many parents who study not their children's spiritual welfare : and whenever this is the case we must not fail to admonish them, privately as well as publicly, of their duty herein. And next, we are to warn them that, " without the like great cause and necessity, they procure not their children to be baptized at home in their houses." What is to be accounted such sufficient cause, is left to our own discretion to deter- XXIV IXTRODrCTIOX. mine. In general it is the practice to baptize privately only in cases of urgent sickness, and it is advisable not to relax this custom more than we can help, for the same reasons for which the Church confines public Baptisms, as far as possible, to Sundays and Holy-days. Again, in the rubric immediately after the thanksgiving, the Church declares the sufficiency of the Baptism thus privately administered, and that the child ought not to be baptized again, but that if it live, it is expedient that it be brought into the church, to be received into the congrega- tion. This we should not fail to enjoin on the parents to do, and if we find them remiss, we should admonish them from time to time until they do their duty herein. CHAPTER II. CONSIDERATION OF SUNDRY QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE VISITATION OF THE SICK. 1. Of the con- Having thusbriefly gone through the several ^ant use of the services which the Church has set forth for vice **^°" ^^' ^^^® "^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^'^^^ members, we must proceed to consider some points connected with the Visitation of the Sick ; and first let us speak on the constant use of the Visitation Service. It is the practice of many, either wholly or in part, to cast it aside when ministering to the sick, and to substitute in its place other and generally shorter forms, and, in many cases, extempore prayers of their own. And for so doing several reasons are alleged, which it will be worth while to examine. Sometimes it is urged that the service is Excuses for for the most part unsuitable, inasmuch as its disuse. j|. implies a congregation of persons who unsuitable in iJs ^^^ J«'" ^" J^^ responses which is not always, construction. or even otten, to be found. Undoubtedly it does ; and let us remember that the Scripture speaks of many elders visiting the sick together. But though this, in the present state of the Church, is seldom possible now, and perhaps never was in rural dis- tricts, except in the neighbourhood of monastic establish- ments, yet it rarely happens that some are not to be found in a sick man's house or amongst his neighbours, who would be ready and willing to join in prayer on his behalf if asked so to do. And if, when we make our visits to the sick, we IXTEODL'CTIO^r. XXV find people get out of our way, and leave the room or the house, why is it, but that we have never taught them better? that we have never instructed them that the Church hath her appointed order of service for the occasion, and that they ought to be as ready to assist with their prayers at the visitation of a brother or a sister who is sick, as to attend at the funeral of one who is departed ? Instead, then, of making their ignorance, or their apathy, an excuse for throw- ing aside the appointed service, should we not rather em- brace the opportunity of teaching our people how to use their Prayer Books on the occasion, and help at the visita- tion ? When need requires we can, of course, dismiss those who are present, as soon as the prayers are ended, and before we commence our exhortation and examinations. But even in those cases where none can conveniently be found to pray along with us, there seems no good reason why the minister should not say the whole service by himself alone, the responses as well as the other parts, if the sick person be unable from any cause to make them himself. Whatever other form we use, whether one previously com- posed, or put forth extempore, we have of necessity to say the whole by ourselves alone, and therefore nothing is gained in this respect by not using the regular service, whereas much may be lost by its neglect. It may be useful here to name that the Services for the Visitation and Communion of the Sick are published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in print of a large type, which we may readily procure for the use of such sick persons as cannot read the services in a small Prayer Book, and who may not be able to endure the fatigue of holding up a large one. Again ; others say that the service is in- . iT ,\ '^^ }^ applicable in the maiority of cases, because it inapplicable m ' ' ^i ^ ^u • i • •* ^ i the present state assumes that the sick person is a penitent and of the Church. faithful Christian. It is certainly true that this, like other offices of the Church, is framed upon the supposition that the person for whose benefit it is intended is in the full communion of the Church, inasmuch as by the canon all who are not so should be presented to the Bishop, and if perverse, be formally excommunicated by him. But why should this form any graver objection, in the present state of the Church, to the general use of the Visitation Ser- vice, than it does to the use of the Offices for Churching and Matrimony, which we say for all alike, whether they be communicants or not? The Visitation Service does indeed (but in the same Ian- XXVI IXTEODUCTIOIS'. guage which is used in th'^se other offices) make mention of the sick person's trust in God, and we also pray therein that God will add strength to his faith, and seriousness to his repentance ; and, therefore, if we are called to visit one who is in such a state as to give evidence that he has neither faith nor repentance, we surely ought not to say the service : indeed, it seems more than questionable whether we should say any prayers at all in his presence, for to force prayer upon one in such a condition is surely only to lead him into temptation, and provoke him to take God's Name in vain. But if a man desire and willingly receive our visits, if he have any portion of faith and repentance, it seems neither wise nor charitable for us to take upon ourselves to pro- nounce upon the exact apparent measure of each which is to be regarded as sufficient to qualify such a one to receive the benefit of the prayers of the Church. If there be but a spark amid dying embers it is our part to fan it : "A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench." o rru . •. • Again; some will say that the Visitation 6. That It IS c • • J c • ^ • ..u 1 J insufficient Service is dehcient in the number and variety of its prayers ; and that more collects are wanted, in order to suit each person's particular condition and temper, and the several stages of his sickness ; and that we are therefore compelled to substitute or add others, according to the several cases we have to visit. But let us pause ere we act upon this conclusion, which at first sight, considering the brevity and small number of the prayers, may appear so sound ; and let us remember that they who compiled, and from time to time revised the Visi- tation Service, were doubtless men of more piety, learning, and wisdom, than we can dare claim credit for ; that they had probably had full as much practice in visiting the sick, cer- tainly far more in hearing confessions, than we have ; and that we may therefore well believe that they understood better than we do the condition and wants of those for whom they drew it up. Surely, then, it is no light thing to dis- parage and rudeh' thrust aside an office which such men compiled, and which the Church has accepted and sanc- tioned. Let us consider, moreover, for what do we ofl^er up our prayers therein ? Do we not pray, in the first place, for the sick person's protection, relief, and comfort? Next, that his sickness may be sanctified to him, for the increase of his faith and repentance, and that good fruits of his visitation may be found, whether he live or die? Thirdly, after I^'TEODUCTIO:N■. xxvu instruction and examination as to his faith and repentance, we prav for the forgiveness of his sins, for his continuance in the unity of the Church, and that he may be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Fourthly, in the communion collect, for patience, for his recovery, if it so please God ; and that, whenever he shall depart, his soul may be presented without spot to God; and besides all this there are the four prayers for special occasions. Now it would surely be well if those persons who call for a greater number and variety of prayers, would first of all seriously consider what it is that they really vvish to ask of God ; and when they have come to a clear and definite conclusion in their own minds on this point, 1 think they will find, if they carefully examine the Visitation Service in all its parts, that all they desire to pray for is really and suf- ficiently comprehended therein ; but should this not be the case, it is more than probable, and a little further reflection will perhaps convince them, that their desires are of such questionable particulars concerning the sick person's con- dition, and their own private judgment respecting him, as had best not be specially introduced into their prayers, but rather left to the merciful dispensations of Almighty God, Who knows how to answer our general supplications in the particular manner most expedient for us. For be it re- membered, we are no where taught that any such extreme particularity in prayer is desirable. Our Blessed Lord left His Church but a very short and general form of prayer, which He enjoined us to use on all occasions ; adding, more- over, " Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him." We may also learn a lesson of caution in this matter, by considering how very unsuccessful, for the most part, are such private attempts to improve upon the offices of the Church. For example, how many diff'erent forms of daily prayer have been put forth at various times by pious and excellent men, for use in families, and yet is it not almost always confessed, even by those who adopt them, how inferior they are to the services which the Church has herself provided for us? And on what grounds are we to expect that private forms of prayer, at the Visitation of the Sick, whether printed or ex- tempore, will be more successful ? Nevertheless, if any through habit or custom think other- wise, and if what has been said fail to convince them, let this at least be granted, that they use any other prayers as suppletory and additional, and not instead of those set forth by the Church. By so doing, their zeal may haply, by XXVm IXTEODUCTIOX. God's blessing-, do some good by what they thus specially introduce ; whilst, at any rate, the sick members of the Church M'ill not be defrauded of the blessing of those prayers which she hath provided for their benefit, to which, as her children, they have an undoubted claim, and of which no minister, of his own private judgment, has any right to deprive them. 4 Tl t "t ^'' again, some say that a change of prayers wants variety ^^ profitable for the sick, and may serve to arouse their attention more than the constant repetition of the same forms can do. And, indeed, if the chief end of prayer were to excite attention, or convey instruction, we might possibly do well to use strange and new prayers at every visit ; but seeing that our prayers are addressed to God alone on the sick person's behalf (and not at all to him, for the purpose of instruction, which is otherwise provided for), and that God knoweth all the wants of man, and that these are in generals the same in the same circumstances, and in particulars are best left to His good providence ; there is need, from the very nature of the case, but of one short and comprehensive form of prayer, which may be always suitable, and always used. And this is confirmed by the perfect example of our Blessed Lord Himself, who, when He taught His disciples how to pray, gave them but one such brief and complete form of prayer, which He bade them say when they prayed. And, in like manner, the Church, following in the steps of her divine Head, has set forth for our use but one only form of daily morning, and one of evening prayer, one litany, one bap- tismal service for infants, and one for adults, one communion service, one order for confirmation, marriage, churching, and at the burial of the dead, and, in like manner, one form of service onh^ at the Visitation of the Sick. If, therefore, want of variety were any real objection to the Visitation Service, it would be equally so to all the other offices of the Church. Yet with respect to them, I believe all will confess that the more they use them, the more they love them, and can enter into them : and why should it not be the same with the Visitation Service also ? We pride ourselves on our Prayer Book as one of our greatest blessings : is it not then a blessing to the sick ? Speaking of my own experience, I can truly say, that I have said the Visitation Service with sick persons continuously from the beginning of an illness, through pressing danger, up to the point of departure, and I never yet found that they grew weary of it ; on the con- trary, 1 have always observed that in proportion as, in the IXTEOCrCTIOX. XXIX course of a long sickness, they became familiar with its words and expressions, they were able to throw their whole soul into it with more intense devotion. But all this will, perhaps, become still 2. The two- more clear, if we consider next the two dis- vStiniThJ'' ^^"^^ ^^^^ ^^'^^^^ ^^^ Church has in view in gi^^j.^ = the provision she makes for the Visitation of the Sick. In the first place we go, that we may offer up our prayers, with the Church that is in his house, unto Almighty God on his behalf, that he may find refuge and protection under the shadow of His wings, and that his sickness may turn to his spiritual profit and advancement. And in the second place, we go to console and comfort him ; to instruct him in his present duties under affliction ; to assist him in making his self-examination ; to receive his profession of faith, repentance, and charity ; and, if his conscience be burdened, to give him ghostly counsel and advice, wMth the benefit of absolution, that he may be enabled worthily to receive at our hands the Holy Sacrament ; and thus, in all things, to help to prepare him for the judgment of the great day, and to support him, if God's will be so, in the hour of death. Now when we call to mind that the first of these two parts of our ministration, that is, the prayers, have God alone for the object of their address, there seem to be very strong reasons, as we have before seen, against any departure from the prescribed order of worship ; neither do we appear to have any authority given to us, when as parish priests we visit the sick, to dispense with the office of the Church set forth for such occasions, any more than in the private admi- nistration of Baptism or the Lord's Supper ; a liberty I never heard, or read, of any one claiming. It is certain that the Prayer Book gives no sanction to any such violation of order ; neither, surely, can the canon be so construed, which directs that the minister shall resort to the sick " to instruct and comfort them in their distress, according to the order of the communion book, if he be no preacher, or if he be a preacher, then as he shall think most needful and conve- nient ;" for the instruction and comfort here named clearly belong to the latter of the two parts, into which the service is divisible, namely, that exhortation which we address to the sick person by way of counsel and advice. And here it is that we really require latitude, since it is manifest that though one form of prayer is all that is necessary, one only form of exhortation could not be suited to every case ; accordinsflv the Church, both in the Praver Book, and also XXX IXTEODrCTIOX. in the canon as to those who are licensed to preach, permits us either to use the form set forth, or some other like it, as we may deem most expedient. And it is with the hope of helping my brethren of the clergy, especially those who are young in the ministry, more readily and effectually to perform this latter part of their ministration to the sick, that the following lessons from Holy Scripture have been collected together. They are arranged under the several heads to which they seem most appropriate, following the order of the subjects comprised in the exhortation and directions in the service, and are of course applicable to different cases according to their pecu- liar features. And as judgment and care will be required in the choice of which to read, I have taken upon myself to add some few remarks upon them ; and I trust that these, as all other things which I have presumed herein to say, vi'ill be found to be in accordance with the mind of the Church, for I have striven in all respects exactly to follow out her order, and the spint of her teaching. And besides these lessons, there are also chosen several of the Psalms from the Psalter which seem to be the most suitable for the edification of the sick. Of these we shall find some which we may read for the purpose of direct in- struction and warning, and which will be mentioned in the proper places. But their greatest value will be found to consist rather in their being most precious helps to kindle and inflame the spirit of devotion in more advanced and earnest Christians, to whom their music will be doubly sweet in seasons of sadness and affliction : and hence many of those not specially named will readily commend themselves to us for use as opportunity shall serve. It is the general custom amongst us, 3. Of reading though not enjoined by the Church, to read Holy Scripture lessons from the Scripture, on which to an ex or a- rrround our exhortations to the sick. Of tion. o , r > • • 1 • the great advantage of this practice nothing need be said ; indeed, many persons, especially the more unlettered who cannot read for themselves, or but with difficulty, will think themselves neglected if we do not often read some portion of the Bible to them. And indepen- dently of this pious desire on their part, the custom is a very advisable one, not only with them, but with others also ; for the written word of God bears its own weight, and comes with an authority none dare gainsay, however much they may dislike the thoughts that are " not their thoughts," and the ways that are " not their ways." Many who lightly IXTEODUCTIO^'. XXXI esteem our person or office, and who would at once repu- diate an unpalatable duty enforced by our own words alone, are constrained to silence by that one saying, " It is written." But merely to read the Scripture, we know from that Scripture itself, is not enough ; the Gospel must be preached. God has given two means of direct instruction in His Church, the written word, and the preaching thereof by those who are lawfully called thereto, neither of which may be dis- pensed with. " And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest ? And he said. How can I, except some man should guide me?" Does not this whole history, espe- cially these words, condemn the work of such as would fain help those clergy who minister in large parishes, by sending forth to labour among the poor and sick an order of men, not separated or ordained to thi& ministry by the only known Apostolic ordinance of laying on of hands, but who are simply told to go and read, while the}' are forbidden to preach ? If the Ethiopean eunuch, a devout man, of rank and learning, could not understand the words of Holy Scrip- ture without some man to guide him, how can the poor and unlearned among us ? And what are our Scripture readers but men sent out to do the most difficult parts of the work of a deacon, if not of a priest, but without that imposition of hands which is at once the authoritative seal of their calling, and the necessary first means of grace to execute it ? 4 Of th ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ meet with many for whose in- techetical me- struction not even reading and exhortation thod of teaching will be sufficient : namely, those who are gross- those who are ly ignorant, either from the total want of pre- very ignorant. vious instruction, or else from forgetfulness in after-life of the lessons they learnt in youth. There are many whom we meet with on their sick beds, who, from the time they came to man's estate, have seldom or never entered church, and whom we often find not only utterly without knowledge, but apparently without even the capacity for re- ceiving it. Their neglect of God for years and years has dead- ened their soul to the reception of the truth, and all our words seem spoken to the wind. And in these wretched cases, almost the only way in which we can hope to succeed in conveying any religious instruction at all, is by adopting the catechetical method we use with children ; and as often as we read to them, and explain the several points of Chris- tian doctrine, we should also prove them with questions, and endeavour to discover by their answers how far they com- XXXll lyXEODrCTIOI?'. prehend and retain what we try to teach them. To do this requires the greatest gentleness and forbearance of manner, much patience, and frequent repetition of the same lessons ; for though such persons have the ignorance of children, they have neither their innocence, nor their capacity for in- struction. But if we steadily persevere with this plan, we may hope in the end to be able, by God's grace, to convey all necessary learning, even to the most ignorant. ^ And as, in the course of our ministration, to^be s eciali^^ ^^ ^^ through the several subjects put forth studied. ' ^Y '^^ Church, we shall do well to consider separately each case that comes before us, (for no two are exactly alike,) and make the instructions of each visit, when possible, the subject of previous study and medi- tation, in order that we may so minister the word of God that all may be edified. One general method of dealing with all must of necessity be vague and unedifying. For example, we may teach a man articles of faith and doctrines he has always believed in ; we may tell him only of duties he has endeavoured punctually to perform, and in respect of which he has, in comparison, less whereof to accuse himself; or we may speak to him only about sins which he may have been enabled to avoid : and' who does not see that the end of all this may be but to inspire him with deceitful hope ? And again, even those subjects on which we require to speak particularly to all, ought to be differently presented to different individuals. For example, the consideration of the judgment to come is especially to be pressed on every man's conscience ; and yet we should be very indiscreet, were we to choose the same lesson, and speak in the same language about it, to the pious and patient, as to the worldly or the murmuring ; to the penitent and downcast, as to the profligate and hardened. Great need, therefore, have we to ponder well before we speak to any, that our words may be wise and well chosen. And is it not very much owing to the want of this previ- ous thought, that many fail, to their own grief, in this part of the ministry of God's word ? They do not clearly under- stand all they have to do, what course they must travel through, what subjects their instructions must embrace, and with what ultimate object, so as to frame their ministrations with due order and point. Hence, they exhort in generals, and shun particulars ; hence, they speak words of comfort, but pass over the oft-broken vows and frequent sins ; hence, after a while, they repeat themselves continually, and make no advance ; they grow weary of uttering the same vague IXTEODUCTIOX. XXXlll remarks over and over again, and feel conscious that such exhortation can be little profitable ; and so, becoming- dis- couraged, they faint and slacken in their ministrations. But if we take the Church's scheme for our model, and, following its order, keep steadily in view the first great end which is set before us, namely, to prepare the sick person to commu- nicate ; if we choose our lessons with forethought, and study our instructions with the help of sound writers on practical divinity ; one great ditnculty which oppresses so many will surely be much lessened. We must be guided in our treatment of b.beveralpar- g^^j^ g^j.j, person, bv our previous knowledge ticulars to be o , • , i " i • , . ° considered. ^^ "^"i' '^J ^^'^^t we can learn with certainty about him from others, and also by the state of mind and body in which we actually find him. And in particular we should consider what his former life and conversation have been : whether he has lived soberly, righteously, and in the fear of God ; whether he has attended church, and received the Holy Communion, and that dili- gently or remissly ; whether he has been peaceable, honest, and industrious, or the contrary : we must consider, too, his condition in life, whether rich or poor, whether learned or ignorant ; whether he has lived in any notorious crime, and what have been the various sins of omission or commission we know, or may have reasonable cause to suspect him to have been guilty of, having regard to the peculiar circum- stances of his station and calling. We must likewise take into consideration his present state both of body and mind : whether he be in much pain or weakness; whether he be patient and gentle, or fretful and complaining ; whether his danger be imminent, and he himself aware of it ; for, if not, we should ourselves, as soon, and yet as gently as possible, inform him : also, whether he be alive to religious impres- sions ; and whether tie has at any former time been seriously ill, and what effect it produced upon his after-life. All these things and the like we should learn and bear in mind, that we may shape our instructions accordingly. 7 Freouent ^^'^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ have to trust as little as intercourse with possible to the reports of others, who for the tlie whole a most part will fain make out the best case help to the pro- they can for the sick person's credit, it should ^f^V^ g,^ isitmg bg Q^j, gjfj^^ Qg f^j. g^g ^yg ggjj^ ^Q know all ^ ^ ^ ■ those unto whom we are sent. " I am the good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine." " He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." Such are our Lord's own words of Himself, b XXXIV rN'TEODUCTTO:S'. Who also said, " As my Father hath sent Me, even so send I you." And he, surely, will best fulfil this part of his mission, who shall most closely follow his Divine Master in the knowledge of each member of the flock committed to his care. And, moreover, is not this duty especially bound upon us by the Church, who, at our ordination as priests, reminded us that we are called " to be messengers, watchmen, and stewards of the Lord, to teach and to premonish, to feed and to provide for the Lord's family ; to seek for Christ's sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for his children who are in the midst of this naughty world, that they may be saved through Christ for ever?" and who exacted of us then a vow, " to use both public and private monitions and exhorta- tions, as well to the sick as to the whole within our cures, as need shall require, and occasion shall be given ?" Surely, then, all those who live in any open sin, all those who habi- tually neglect any of their various duties, as well towards their families and neighbours, as towards God in respect of His worship and service, ought, no less than the sick, to be visited by us : not so urgent, indeed, are their cases, for the sick are " even hard at death's door;" yet the others we should also continually call to repentance, for " in the midst of life we are in death." And he who for charity and duty's sake shall so visit the froward and careless, will not fail, for his own comfort and refreshment, to commune often with the godly and devout ; and then, when any fall sick, we shall be able to visit them, not as a stranger, but as one knowing, and known. We shall best learn how often it will be / requisite to visit the sick in each particular quency or our ^ , • i • • i • i visits. case, by considenng agani the entire scheme of the Visitation Service. This, as was said before, is so drawn up as to contain every thing in which it is necessary for the sick to be instructed and examined. But not only does it comprehend all that is needful in any case, but also it contains nothing that is not essential ; for all that is found therein is most necessary to be spoken of, with more or less particularity, according to the circumstances of each sick person, and as time shall be afforded. And therefore, if we be called to visit one in such extremity of sickness that his life be there and then despaired of, it is clear that we should in no wise leave him, if we can possibly help it, until we have so gone through the whole office that we may ad- minister the Holy Sacrament to him. And, accordingly, we find that the service has been so framed as to include every IXTRODrCTIOX. XXXV thing that is essential (even the administration of the Holy Communion along with the Visitation) in one visit ; for it may so fall out, that such one shall be the first and the last that we are ever able to pay. But for the most part God deals more mercifully with men, and a longer time is granted to the sick person to prepare for death, and we may well hope to visit him many times. In such cases we should, of course, commence with the ex- hortation as set forth in the service at our first visit, and afterwards proceed to enforce its several particulars more deliberately and at large, dwelling upon each subject as the sick person's state may require. And according to the se- verity of the sickness, and the probable approach of death, we should hasten our ministrations, taking care that, as far as lies in our power, nothing may be omitted or slurred over ; but that we may so travel through the several matters em- braced in the Visitation Service in due course, as that in the end, the sick person may be enabled worthily to receive the Holy Sacrament at our hands, before he depart out of this life. This, then, in every case is what we have to do, in order to prepare for eternity every one whom we are called to visit. It is indeed a solemn charge ; one we must ever un- dertake with fear and trembling ; one likewise in which we must give all diligence, lest, in any case, aught be left undone, and the sin lie on our heads. We should be ready therefore to visit the sick and dying every day, if need so require, yea, and many times in every day, that we may not fall short in our duty. " Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it." Neither, when this is done, are we to think that all our work is over : we may indeed be under less anxiety, yet not altogether free ; for the sick person will stiil need our watch- ful care, our prayers, our doctrine, our word in season when he is weary, and the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, from time to time, so long as he shall live ; for his trials and temptations will not cease until the last moment of this mortal life. We are called to " watch for his soul," let us love to do it " unto the end," as standing in His stead. Who hath said, " I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Moreover, in regulating the frequency of our visits, we require to bear in mind, not merely the severity of the sick- ness, but also the peculiar temperament of the sick person. We shall meet with many who have a great dislike to being left alone for long together, and who grow weary and b 2 XXXYl IXTSODrCTIOX. faint-hearted in solitude, when no one, on whose word they can rely, is at hand to speak comfortably to them. These claim our affectionate sympathy : " Who is weak, and I am not weak?" We should visit them continually, and not imagine that, because some are stronger, and more inde- pendent, therefore all ought to be so ; or grudge the trouble of a more constant attendance upon those whose weakness stands in need of it. It may be good at times for the edi- fication of others, that we should "magnify our office ;" but for our own advancement it is more profitable to accustom our thoughts to dwell mostly upon our general and inferior title of ministers, that is, servants of the Lord's flock, even of the lowest, and the least, and the very weakest among them. " If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." Whenever, therefore, we are tempted to think an unreasonable demand is made by any upon our time and trouble, let us remember that we are their ministers, and our consequent obligation. It is, moreover, very advisable that, how- laritv in visit" ^^^^ '^^^^'^ ^^^ ^^^ think it expedient at any iucr. ' period of sickness to make our visits, we should do so with as much regularity as we can ; for if we be not careful, we shall find some of the cases will slip our memory. Some persons we shall need to see daily, others twice, thrice, or only once a week, and some in times of pressure less frequently than this ; and though we cannot well forget the urgent cases, we may easily fail to re- member the others. It is, therefore, a good plan to keep a list of our sick people, and to look over it daily, and mark them down as we see them ; for this will prevent forgetful- ness in a matter where the loss of two or three days or a week may be of great consequence ; or even if not, may convey to the sick person the impression that he is neg- lected by us. We must also beware, lest at any time we lO.Ofpersever- suffer ourselves to be discouraged, and slacken ance in visiting, our visits, because they may be unpleasant to ourselves, or apparently fruitless. The former is necessarily the case where the disease is loathsome or infectious. But though this may well excuse all who are not obliged by the imperative calls of duty, to come into a sick person's presence who lies in such a state, it affords no excuse whatever for our absence, who ought to be there. The physician of the body fails not in his attend- iyTEODUCTIO>'. XXXVll ance : how then should we who "watch for the soul?" Rather let us remember that the disease, whatever it be, is God's visitation, and should only the more excite our com- ])assion, and make us anxious, as far as possible, to lighten the distress from which we are ourselves exempt. Nor will the faithful pastor be scared from his post by personal fears. Consecrated to his high office by the laying on of hands, how shall he shrink from the danger as though he were but an intruder, "taking this honour unto himself," nut " called of God?" Is it not written, " He shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter : and from the noisome pesti- lence. Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night ; nor for the arrow that flieth by day : for the pestilence that walketh in darkness ; nor for the sickness that de- troyeth in the noonday?"' Another cause of discouragement arises from untowardness of temper, or great reserve, on the part of the sick. We may visit some persons continually without making any sensible advance with them, and after all our diligence still find the same apparent unthankfulness, the same coldness and silence, which tend so painfully to embarrass and depress us. But these things instead of causing us to slacken, should rather stimulate us to increase our etforis, and strive all the more earnestly "against hope, believing in hope." So long as any person is abb and willing to receive us, it is our duty to visit him, whether we see any fruits of our labour or not. " Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." For it may happen, and often is the case, that this strangeness of manner in those we visit arises from in- firmity rather than intention, and while they appear not to appreciate our ministrations, they may really be thankful for them, and grieve if they be discontinued ; or it may be, that this silence and awkward embarrassment, proceeds in ])art from our own want of skill in visiting sick people, in which our duty is to examine, no less than to exhort. And this is more especially liable to be the case, when we are called to visit persons whose station and education are equal to, or greater than our own. Reserve is the national characteristic of Englishmen ; and if this be exhibited on any one subject more than another, it is on that of religion and religious feelings ; and while our peculiar temperament, na- turally leads us in this direction, we have been more powerfully bent towards it by the extravagant and passionate displays, common with some of the religious bodies which exist around us. And when to this natural inclination of the people is added a want of skill on our side, exhibiting itself in com.mon XXXYUl IXTRODrCTIOX. place, vague, and hesitating* remarks (such as \voulcl pro- bably produce in the mind of a shrewd man of the world a feeling bordering on contempt), our visits become very pain- ful and depressing ; and some remedy for all this we shall surely find in a clear and, so to speak, professional knowledge of what we have to do when as pastors we visit our sick, and a straightforward manner of doing it. Our Prayer Books are in our hands, and there is the appointed service for the occasion ; let us say it in its fulness and due order, and call on all present to join with us : the form of exhortation is there suggested with the subjects of our examination ; let us abide by it, and follow it exactly, sentence by sentence ; and then, for all we say and do, we shall have such an authority by our side as will keep us right, and render our visitation honourable and profitable. 11. Of our O^ o"^ personal deportment while visiting manner and the sick but little need be said : yet seeing carriage in our that manner goes a great way with all men, ^i^^its, ti^j^t [^ jg ti^e outward index by which alone men can at first judge us, and that an evil opinion of us must be a great hindrance to the success of our ministrations, it is too important a matter to be passed over altogrether. Above all things, then, we should be mind- 1. Of Rever- ^-^j ^^ display the greatest reverence in all our ministrations. A careless, hasty, uncouth, abrupt manner of performing divine service (to say nothing of the dishonour thereby shown to Almighty God), is most painful and injurious in its eifects upon the minds of men, especially when, as in seasons of sickness, they are more than usually sensitive. It is a hard thing to believe an irre- verent man sincere ; and if sick persons notice negligence and disregard in solemnizing the ordinances of worship in us, who are ministers of religion, will it not naturally produce in them a carelessness about religion itself? And as we are especially mindful of our own deportment at these times, so should we also see that those who are present join reverently in the service, and if the}^ be ignorant how to do so, we should not neglect the opportunity of teaching them better. ^ . Another important point is, to avoid contro- - Of avoid- ygj,gy j„ q\\ cases where it is not absolutely incr controversy. •' „ i ^ necessary, borne men are by nature more inclined than others to take up theological inquiries and ques- tions : and we shall meet with persons of this sort who have chiefly fallen in with controversial or devotional writings of an unsound school. These will of course have had some in- fluence upon their thoughts and opinions ; and still more IXTEODrCTlOX. X5X1X upon their language and phraseology ; but we shall at the same time often find that an honest and good heart, with real piety, will have saved them from the evil consequences to which their erroneous views might have led. Now, to reply in the language of controversy or reproof to every un- sound or questionable sentiment which such persons may utter, would be very unwise and injurious. For while sick- ness ma}'' not have repressed their natural fondness for such disputations, their weakness will render them peculiarly unfit for the strife of argument which would probably ensue. The better course is, to instruct them, quietly and practically, out of Scripture, upon those duties which their jiarticular views might tempt them to disparage or neglect ; saying as little as possible upon the opinions themselves. By this means v\e shall be able most likely to keep them in the right way, without entering upon differences which, in their case, may after all be more about words than things. „ „ Moreover, we should be careful to show all meekness, gentleness, courtesy, and brotherly affection, in our manner towards those to whom we are am- bassadors in Christ's stead. How surpassing was His gentle- ness I " His compassions fail not." Let us remember, likewise, how admirable an example the Church sets us, who scarcely ever addresses her children but as "beloved," if not "dearly beloved." And if we follow in her steps, and adopt her language, we shall at once feci how contrary to this begin- ning is a quick, sharj), peremptory style of address or manner, either of which tells so powerfully to our prejudice with the sick, but especially such as are poor. Hard-hearted people often rail at the ingratitude of the poor ; but they do not consider with how much repulsiveness of manner the hand is often stretched out. One thing may be almost invariably noticed, which is this, that though the poor do not neces- sarily speak well, or much, of those who give, they never fail to retain a warm and grateful impression of all who speak kindly and tenderly to them. ^ Q^ , Again, as we use the title of brother, let us show ourselves brothers indeed, and have resrard not only to the spiritual, but also to the bodily wants of those of our sick who are poor and needy. And let us remember, that the tattered and slovenly are not necessarily the poorest, or most in want. For the most part we shall find that they have full as much to live on as others who keep themselves clean and respectable. And therefore, when we visit these latter, it is always well to ask what their actual condition is, and not hastily to presume that they Xl INTKODUCTIO?^". stand in no need of help because of their decent appearance : for in sickness almost all people in humble station require many things which they have no means whatever of procur- ing- for themselves. It may be true, indeed, that many will at first seek our visits for little else save to get relief for their bodily wants. But in cases like these we shall do well to bear in mind a wise sentence of Hooker's, " Ignorant we are not, that of such as resorted to our Saviour Christ being present on earth, there came not any unto Him with better success for the benefit of their souls' everlasting happiness, than they whose bodily necessities gave them the first occasion to seek relief, where they saw willingness and ability of doing good unto all." And therefore we should not keep aloof from any, because we may fancy, or even be certain, that they send for us first of all for temporal help ; but rather rejoice, if by any means they may be brought to the knowledge of the truth. CHAPTER III. CONSIDERATION OF THE PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO THE EXAMINATION OF A SICK PERSON's FAITH AND REPENTANCE. When we are called to visit a sick person 1. Of our first f^^ ^^le first time, it will be most reverent and proper to exhort him according to the form set forth by the Church. To this end we should read it over slowly and distinctly ; and when this has been done, we may profitably reiterate its instructions by way of dis- course, at greater or less length, as we shall judge best, taking care that he understand and confess, I. The cause of his visitation : that it comes not by chance or accident, but is sent upon him by Almighty God : Who designs thereby, II. To try his faith, and the sincerity of his former pro- fessions : for, we should remind him, it is easy to seem religious when all goes well ; but that sickness is one of the many ways by which God proves us, whether our hearts be with Him or not : and therefore we should exhort him to bear it patiently, and as a Christian man should do. And to this end we should see that he understands the IXTEODrC'TION. Xll several parts of that duty of patience which he is now so especially called on to practise ; and in order thereto \ve should warn him : 1. To avoid all manner of secret murmuring or open com- plaining, as though his trials were harder than those which others undergo ; or as though he had not deserved far worse things at God's hand. 2. That he be not sour, peevish, or fretful in his temper, but that he study to be meek and gentle to all about bin), obedient to his physician, and thankful to his attendants. 3. That he submit himself in all things to God's will, praying not for health, nor yet for death, save as He will ; but rather for grace to bear his sufferings patiently, and for the forgiveness of his sins. 4. That he be not troubled in mind, or repine, at leaving the world, his family, or friends ; but that he be willing to give up all, if such be his cross. And passing on, we should remind him further, that his sickness is also designed, III. To chasten him for his former sins, and to bring him to repentance : and therefore we should exhort him to humility and self-examination, remembering the judgment to come ; and we should beseech him in no wise to neglect or despise his present warning, which is a gracious call from God. And, if we think it expedient, we may confirm sui-h dis- course by reading any of the sentences of Holy Scripture contained in Lesson I. But we may find it necessary or desirable, . U ex or- jj^ some cases, to renew our instructions on tations unto pa- , , p • . ■ ticnce. the duty or patience at subsequent visits : and this we may do by reading any of the succeeding lessons on that subject which we may think most appropriate, and making suitable exhortations ujjon the same. Lesson IL is taken from Hebrews xii., out of which we may enforce this duty by the remembrance of our blessed Lord's example ; and that we, as members of Him, and children of God, are called to endure chastisement. Lesson IIL is from 1 St. Peter iv. and instructs us to keep from sin, and to rejoice in our affliction, especially if we be in any way suffering wrongfully. This lesson we shall find very profitable in cases where sick persons have been grieved by any harsh or uncharitable acts or speeches of others ; for such occurrences will often sorely disturb their peace of mind, and tempt them both to impaiience and retaliation. Lesson IV., which is taken from Romans viii., and Lesson V., which is from 2 Corinthians iv. and v., exhort xlii IXTEODUCTIOX. unto patience by the remembrance of our adoption to be sons of God, and by the hope of the resurrection of the dead, and the glories which shall then be revealed in the faithful. Lesson VI. is from Ecclesiasticus ii., and Lesson YIL is from St. James i. and v., and these contain general ex- hortations unto patience, from the consideration of the necessity and blessedness of suffering, which is part of man's probation, and of the reward of those that continue stedfast. And we should also remember, that there can be no more fruitful subject of meditation to move any unto patience than the sufferings of our Blessed Lord ; and that we may therefore read for this purpose the lessons on His agony, cross, and passion, which will be found hereafter amongst the lessons on the creed. We may also read any of the following Psalms, viz. vi. xxxviii. xxxix. Ixxvii. Ixxxvi. Ixxxviii. xc. xci. xciv. In the course of a long sickness we shall find it beneficial to return to this subject from time to time, and to renew our instructions thereon, especially \\hen, from increased pain, weariness, or any other cause, the sick person is more than usually tempted to impatience. When we have sufficiently instructed the d. Of exior gj^j. pgj.gy^j ^^ ^j^g cause and first end of his tations to sell- m- • i i i i • i examination. affiiction, and on the duty and particular acts of patience, we should proceed solemnly to call his thoughts to the other great end thereof; namely, that it is a chastisement for his past sins, and a warning to repent. And here the Church bids us call upon him "in the Name of God, to remember the profession which he made unto God in his baptism," and having before his eyes the judgment to come, "to examine himself and his estate both towards God and man : so that, accusing and condemning himself for his own faults, he may find mercy at our heavenly Father's hand for Christ's sake, and not be accused and con- demned in that fearful judgment.'' But before we accordingly go on to require his solemn profession of faith, and to examine him touching his repent- ance and charity, it may be requisite to give him some pre- vious instruction, according to the state of mind, understand- ing, and temper in which we find him. For, in the first place, we shall meet with 4. Peculiar some who are very ignorant ; who have either n \ Of th never learnt, or else have forgotten, the very veiT i^norant^ ^^^^ principles of religion ; and to whom we must again preach them, speaking in the sim- plest possible language of repentance, faith, and obedience ; warning them that this life is their time of trial ; that death is niofh at hand ; that after death comes the iudirment, with cases. I^'TEODrCTIOX. xllU heaven, or hell, according to each man's works ; all which things we must urge them seriously to lay to heart, that they may lose no time in turning unto God, with true repentance and faith. And remembering that this sort of persons are for the most part dull of apjjrehension, we should take care to explain fully, and see that they really understand each point of our discourse as we go along ; to which end we shall find it advisable to adopt, as far as possible, the cate- chetical method of instruction as before mentioned. In dealing with these cases we must, of course, have regard to the probable time we may expect to have allowed us. It is most painful when very ignorant persons are cut off with but a short time for their preparation ; and when there is reason to suppose that this will be the case, we should redouble our diligence. It is advisable, when we are called to visit this class of sick persons, to ascertain at once whether they know the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, for if not, we should lose no time in teaching them, more especially the two first, which are quickly learnt ; and if opportunity be given, in the course of a long sickness, or declining age, we may profitably add the general confession of sins, and the two regular collects at morning and evening prayer. For the most part we shall find that actually to teach an ignorant person these short forms of sound words, with their interpre- tation, will be of far more benefit to him than a multitude of discourses which will pass away from his memory almost as soon as uttered. We should likewise be very careful to see that he knov^s the true meaning of the words we teach him, or which we use in our discourse. We are far too apt to measure other people's understanding by the standard of our own knowledge ; a mistake we shall quickly be convinced of, if we will only be at the pains to ask all persons we visit of the class now spoken of, the meaning of such words as " crucify," or " the cross." We are also often tempted to give over visiting extremely ignorant persons, or to go to them only to supply their temporal wants, because we fancy them too far gone in ignorance, and dulness of intellect, for us to do them any good : let us beware, lest the fault be not rather on our side, in our not conforming ourselves to the level of their capacity. " Who is weak, and I am not weak ? " There is another class of persons to whom ^^A] ^^^^^ we mav find access at these times, namely, Tareless. ^^^ worldly-minded, who in health had little serious thought ; who cannot bring them- xliv lyxEODrcTioy. selve?, even in sickness, to think that death may be nigh, and who would therefore fain defer their repentance to a more convenient season. In reminding these of their baptismal vows, we should press upon their consciences the bitter fruits of neglect of God, of carelessness, and of sin, and also the deceitfulness of all those things in which they trust, and find their pleasure. And these points we can convenient!}' speak of after having read either of the three following lessons, namely : — Lesson VIII., which is from Ecclesiasticus v., and con- tains a warning against presumptuously living in sin. Lesson IX., which is taken from Hebrews, ii. iii. iv., whereby we are admonished to take heed and labour, lest any of us fall short of the promise we have received, especially considering that all things are open unto the eyes of God. Lesson X.., which is taken from Jeremiah xvii., and teaches the vanity of trusting in aught else save God, Who searcheth man's heart, and will reward him according to his ways. But if we find that our words make but small impression, we should entreat all the more earnestly, and read the denunciation of God's judgment upon impenitent sinners in the lessons which are given below, when we come to speak of hardened and obstinate sinners. -5, „, .. Others, again, we shall find self-righteous, riAi^teous^ "^ ' ^^^^^ ^^ their own conceits, thoughtless of sin and repentance, and who imagine themselves sure of salvation. Dangerous indeed is the condition of such ; the snare is fascinating, and the spell in which they are bound is of all others the most difficult to b'^eak. The hardened sinner is more easily softened than the fancied saint humbled; but we must do our work, in spite of all difficulties, and exhort with all sincerity and plainness, which we may do out of either of the following lessens, namely : Lesson XL, which is taken from 1 Corinthians x., wherein we are warned that the sacraments of the Jews being types of ours, and their punishments examples for us, those that think they stand must take heed lest they fall. Lesson XII., from Romans ii., where those that judge others are taught that they condemn themselves, for that they transgress the same commandments as do those whom they censure ; a lesson we may find useful for the class of persons here spoken of, inasmuch as the self-righteous are also, for the most part, prone to judge and condemn others. And because self-righteousness is a sin which so easily besets us, especialh' those who live in the observance of the ordi- nances of religion, it is a profitable thing, where we have lyXRODUCTIOX. xlv opportunity, to read either of the foregoing lessons, even to those whom we may not find manifesting this disposition ; for the temptation is in their path, and the warning to humility will haply not be thrown away. Or, lastly, we may find men hardened, i'^)- The liar- presumptuous, and swallowed up in gross dened and pro- ^^.jckedness ; and in such cases we must exert all our power to arouse the slumbering con- science by setting- forth the awful consequences of sin, the terrors of the day of judgment, and the vengeance which will then overtake all impenitent sinners. It can scarcely be necessary to point out the address in the commination service as the most forcible exhortation we can make on this subject, for which purpose such portions as are suitable for the present purpose are printed along with the other services. We may also read Psalms xiv. xxxvi. 1. lii. and xciv., or the last lesson, No. XII. or else Lessons XIII. or XIV., taken from 2 St. Peter ii. and iii., in which is set forth the vengeance of God upon the wicked at the day of judgment. But it is also requisite that wc should speak on this mo- mentous subject, not to the hardened and rebellious only, but likewise to all others whom we visit, in order that the remembrance thereof may render their self-examination more searching, and increase their contrition for sin ; and for this purpose we may read Lesson V., from 2 Corinthians iv., where the subject is introduced by St. Paul ; Lesson IX., from Hebrews ii. iii. and iv., on the danger of falling short of our promised hope, in the severe scrutiny we must undergo ; Lesson XIV., from 2 St. Peter iii., assuring us of the certainty of Christ's coming to judgment, and warning all, by the lonssuffering of God, to hasten their repentance ; or we may read any of the lessons upon this subject which are given hereafter amongst those upon the Creed. CHAPTER IV. THE EXAMINATION OF FAITH. Having thus called the sick person to ^;_^f ^^^^^^'-'^ remember his baptismal vows, and, consider- and^Ms^nTtruc- ^"o ^^^ account he will have to render at the tion therein. day of judgment, to examine himself thereby, and to confess his sins, with earnest prayer xlvi INTEODUCTIOX. for God's pardon, the Church next bids us require him to make a solemn profession of his faith, in order " that he may know whether he doth believe as a Christian man should, or no." To this end we are to rehearse to him the articles of our faith, whereunto he shall answer, " All this I stedfastly believe." And if we know him to be sufficiently instructed, and of such conversation that we may well believe that such confession is made, not with the lips alone, but with the heart and understanding- also, we should proceed at once, especially if he be very sick, to examine him concerning his repentance and charity. But if it should be requisite so to do, we must be prepared to instruct him in the grounds and meaning of this confes- sion of faith, so that he may not only sufficiently understand the several articles of the creed, but also be al)le to examine his life thereby, and thus learn whether his faith is indeed bringing forth its necessary fruits ; for the foundation of which instructions, many lessons are selected upon the various articles in their order, after reading which we may make the necessary exhortations. Moreover, in cases of prolonged sickness, it will be found very profitable to all persons, to enlarge these instructions, particularly as those seasons recur, \Then the several articles of our belief are made the subject of commemoration, or instruction, in the public services of the Church. o ofp ri commencing these exhortations, we ^1 -17*1 should proceed to set forth to the sick per- tlie rather. , ^ ^ r -.i .l tt i son the great mystery or our laith, the Holy Trinity, into Whose sacred Name he was baptized : and then we should instruct him further in our belief in God the Father, Almighty : I. As the Maker and Preserver of all things : the Author and Giver of all good : Eternal, Almighty, Incomprehensible, Who seeth, and knoweth all things, and Who will render unto all men according to their deeds. And this meditation on God the Father is most profitable not only for those that are very ignorant, for instruction's sake ; but also, 1. For the faithful ; that they may receive consolation in their trials, by meditating on His power and mercy, Whom they believe to be the " rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." *2. For the froward, for warning ; that by the remem- brance of His power, Who is chastening them for their past sins, they may be brought to repentance : and especially, 3. Fur hypocrites, who cloke their sins, and forget that i>'TEODUCTiox. xlni the eyes of the Lord are in every place, and that the day is at hand when He shall bring into judgment every secret thing-, and make it manifest. And these several considerations we may further enforce by reading- either of the following Psalms, viz. viii. xxiv. xciv. ciii. cxxxix. II. As the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, His only- begotten Son, Whom He sent into the world for our redemp- tion : by which consideration we may exhort unto gratitude and the love of God, for so great mercy vouchsafed unto fallen man, and unto the love of our neighbour, which floweth out of, and is one proof of the love of God existing in us ; unto which end we may read Lesson I., taken from St. John iii. ; or, Lesson II., taken from 1 St. John iv. in. As our Father, inasmuch as we who have been bap- tized into Christ, have thereby been made the sons of God, and inheritors of eternal life, if we continue stedfast ; which is a most fruitful theme of meditation to the devout Christian, for his comfort in sickness, by reminding him of the great mercies shewn to him in his election in Christ Jesus ; and to provoke him to holiness, that he may walk worthy of his Christian calling, and attain unto the joy that is set before him ; and we may read either of the following lessons, namely, Lesson III., which is from 1 St. John iii.; or, Le^son IV., which is from 1 St. Peter i. The lessons upon this portion of the Creed 3. Of God ^j,g Q^ course many in number, and are arranged in the order in which the different articles to which they relate occur : and some others are also added upon other portions of our Blessed Lord's ministry, which seem to be very necessary for the due instruction and edification of the sick, although not the subject of special mention in the Creed : and these are inserted in their natural places along with the rest. Lesson V. is taken from St. John i., from which we may teach the Divinity and Incarnation of our Blessed Lord: both which, we must take care, that the sick person believes and confesses, as being the very foundation of our faith, and the only true ground of our hope. Should we meet with any who receive not this doctrine, we must labour with all our might to convince them, by setting before them the evidence thereof which is afforded us in Holy Scripture, and on which the Catholic Church has ever confessed this faith ; with earnest prayer on their behalf, that God will xlviii iyTBODrcTio>'. lighten their darkne?s, and open their eyes unto the truth : and we may also teach the same truth from Lesson VI., which is from Hebrews i. And passing from His Di- vinity to His Incarnation, we may read Lesson VII., from St. Luke i., from which we may teach His conception by the Holy Ghost; and Lesson VIII., from St. Luke ii., whereby we learn the circumstances of His nativity ; after reading- which we may not only instruct the sick in the facts of which they testify, but also exhort them unto grati- tude for such marvellous love, and to follow His example of humility. Lesson IX. is taken from St. Matthew iv., and contains the history of our Lord's temptation in the wilderness: this is not mentioned in the Creed, but it is a fruitful lesson for instructing such sick persons as seem to be in a fair way of recovering ; and after reading it we may point out the various temptations of life, and remind them of the first vow of their baptism, to renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh. Lesson X. is taken from St. Mark viii., and contains St. Peter's confession of our Lord, from which we may teach, 1. The necessity of confessing Christ before men ; and '2. That we must follow His example in denying ourselves, and taking up the cross. There are two sorts of persons to whom this lesson may ])rofitably be read, as being in want of the instruction to be tausrht out ot it, namely, those who are afraid of being thought religions ; who conform, often against their will, to the standard of the world, and take part in actions they disajiprove ; who avoid openly dedicating them- selves to God in the Holy Communion, and shrink from fol- lowinsr the dictates of their conscience in spiritual things, for fear of the world's remarks, " condemning themselves in that which they allow ;" and also to those who seek to live easily, and murmur at trials and disappointments, forgetting that the true Christian must cheerfully take up, and glory in the cross. Then follows Lesson XL, from St. Matthew xxvi., con- taining the account of our Lord's agony in the garden of Gethsemane, after which the several particulars of His crucifixion, death, and burial, are set forth in Lesson XII., which is composed of extracts from the Gospels ; to which are added Lesson XIIL, being the prophecy thereof from Isaiah liii. ; Lesson XIV., from Romans vi., whereby we are taug-ht that we may not live in sin, for we are dead unto it, having been baptized into the death of Christ; and Lesson XV., from Philippians ii., being St. Paul's exhortation on the humiliation of Christ. lyTEODUCTiox. xlix Continuino: in the order of the Creed are Lessons XVI. XVII. and XVIII., from the Acts of the Apostles, and the Gospels of St. Mark and St. John, relatinof the descent into hell, and resurrection of Christ, with his manifestation of Himself to His Apostles, and Lesson XIX., from Colossians iii., containins" St. Paul's exhortation thereon. Lesson XX., from Acts i., gives the account of Christ's ascension, with the prophecy of His coming again to judg- ment ; and Lessons XXI. — XXIV., taken from St. Matthew xxiv. and xxv., contain our Lord's own teaching, by prophecy and parable, concerning the time and manner of the last judgment. It can hardly be requisite to say much about the use of these lessons, for the great events of which they speak should be our constant meditation day and night. The suf- ferings of our Blessed Lord are especially suitable for those who are in acute pain, and more particularly at the near approach of death, when Christ crucified should ever be before their eyes. The ignorant should, of course, be thoroughly instructed out of these lessons ; and we shall find that the practical ad- monitions drawn by St. Paul, from the crucifixion, death, and resurrection, in Lessons XIV. XV. and XTX., will be most profitable to those who are likely to recover, that we may set before them the life of a faithful Christian, as one cruci- fied, buried, and risen with Christ. Of the lessons on the judgment we shall find that Xos. XXI. and XXII. are applicable to all people, especially to those who require to be awakened out of a thoughtless and indifferent mode of living ; Lesson XXIII. is instructive to the simple, the unlearned, or the poor, warning them not to neglect the one talent committed to their keeping ; while Lesson XXIV. is more particularly adapted for reminding such as are rich, and well to do in this world, in what way they will hereafter be required to give account of their stewardship. We must next proceed with oar instruc- wi, / w tions in this Article of the Faith, for which pur- Holy (_t host. ^U P II • 1 1 I u pose the tollowing lessons have been chosen ; namely. Lesson XXV., which is from Acts ii., and con- tains the history of the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, with the promise by the mouth of St. Peter that all who should repent, and be baptized should also receive the same ; from which we may instruct the sick person in the belief in the Holy Ghost, and likewise that he was himself, in the Sacrament of Holy Bap- c 1 IXTEODrCTIOX. tism, regenerate and born anew of water and the Holy Ghost, and therefore is bound to walk in the Spirit. Lesson XXVI. is from St. John xiv., being our Saviour's promise of the Comforter, Whose words, as they were spoken for the consolation of His disciples, are also most full of com- fort to the devout Christian. Lesson XXVIL is from Romans viii., and Lesson XXVIIL is from Galatians v. and vi., out of which we may show the necessity of our mortifying the flesh, and bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit, which are described in the latter ; and we shall find both of these lessons particularly suitable, for the instruction of those who are recovering, and who will most likely be again exposed to the temptations of the lusts of the flesh. We may instruct the sick person in the 5. Of the doctrine comprehended in this Article cWMbe °^ ^^^ ^^^^^ «^^ °^ t^^ following lessons, communion of namely, saints. Lesson XXIX., which is from Ephesians, iv., out of which we may teach the unity and constitution of the Church, with the appointment and end of the ministry thereof. Lesson XXX., from St. John xv., shows the necessity of our abiding stedfastly in Christ, in order that we may bring forth good fruit of our calHng, to the glory of God. Lesson XXXI., which is from St. John xvii., contains our Lord's prayer for the unity of the Church, from which we may teach the sinfulness and danger of schism. Lesson XXXII., which is from 1 Corinthians i. iii. and Romans xvi., whereby we may further show the sin of schism, and how the promoters of divisions in the Church of Christ are to be marked and avoided. Lesson XXXIII. from Romans xiv, and xv., shows the charity, forbearance, and unity, w4iich ought to exist among Christians, as being all members one of another. Lesson XXXIV., from 2 St. Peter i., teaches us the ne- cessity of perseverance that we may make our calling and election sure, and by continual increase in holiness, may advance toward perfection. Lesson XXXV., from St. Matthew v., is the beginning of our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, declaring both what is the character of a true Christian, and also the blessings which belong to the faithful. There is, perhaps, no Article of the Faith, with respect to which we shall meet with more perplexity, or need more care and discretion than this ; by reason of the unhappy divisions IXTEODUCTIOX. li which exist amongst us. Our Lord, we know, enjoined upon His disi-iples, yea, and even prayed for them, that they might be all one; but we, alas! breathe an atmosphere so tho- roughly impregnated with schism, that there are many who from long habit and prejudice cannot receive this doctrine, and whom we find it next to impossible to awaken to a due sense of its importance ; while many others even think that division amongst Christians is an advantasre, and suppose it to conduce to the spreading of truth and godliness. And our dissensions are not only such as arise amongst members of the same body by breaches of charity, but we have also strifes of doctrine, and separations into several and distinct bodies, preaching Christ of contention, and rivals one of another. Xow, we shall meet in our parishes with two classes of persons, who, professing religion, are not members of the Church : namely, 1. Those who are professed dissenters, and absolutely separated from us ; and, 2. Persons whose lives are led in iincertainty and wavering, who are not actually joined to any body of professing Christians, but who wander to and from the Church, and amongst dissenting communities, as the whim of the moment may chance to carry them. And with both of these we shall come in contact in times of sickness : with the former, indeed, as might be expected, more rarely, but with the latter frequently : and we must not fail to take advantage of the opportunity thus offered for their instruction. Their sickness has called us solemnly to speak to them, and at such times they will haply hear us dif- ferently to what they have ever done before. While, there- fore, we instruct them in other necessary things, we should not omit especially to speak of this Article of the Faith, concern- ing which they have erred; and we should set before them the whole doctrine comprehended therein, according as time may be afforded. And, in particular, we should teach them, in the first place, the nature and constitution of the Church : That God of His mercy hath called out of the world certain elect and chosen people, who by His grace are brought unto the knowledge of God, and the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and who, being baptized into the Name of the Holy Trinity, are begotten again unto a lively hope, are made partakers of the Divine nature, and knit together in one communion and fellowship ; which unity they are commanded to maintain, as well in respect of mutual charity and well-doing, as also in Divine worship and service, assembling themselves together that they may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, c2 lii IXTEODrCTIOX. and partaking together of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. And next, we may show them, how in the one body of the Church there are many members, having different gifts and offices, some in spiritual things, some in temporal, some in things not found among us now ; and, in particular, some are ministers of divers orders, sent forth to minister unto the rest in things spiritual, who have the promise of Christ's perpetual presence, and whose acts, done according to His word, He hath ratified and confirmed ; and whomthe rest are bound to remember, obey, and esteem very highly in love for their works' sake, as watching for the souls of those to whom they minister : and that, of these ministers, our Lord Himself sent forth His Apostles, who, as the faith spread, and churches multiplied, ordained others to various offices, and committed the power of ordaining, with direc- tions as to its exercise, to those whom they set over particu- lar churches ; which perpetual succession and mission of min'sters hath continued in the Church unto this day, and is by God's word declared to be necessary for the instruction of man in the faith of the Gospel. And' we should also be prepared to show from later history, that, the fliith having been planted in this land by missionaries from various parts, the due and continual succession of ministers has been main- tained in the Church of England until the present time ; whereby we have received of God, by the laying on of hands, our ministry, which we have authority to execute suf- ficiently in all things necessary to salvation. Moreover, we should not fail to teach that the Church is called " Holy ;" not only because Christ, Who is the Head thereof, is holy, and that all who are worthily baptized into Him are regenerate and sanctified, and accordingly are ad- dressed in Scripture as "Saints;" but also because we are called to be " holy in all manner of conversation," or else we shall fall short of our promised salvation. And because many are scandalized when they see members of the Church who walk not according to this rule, but hold the faith in unrighteousness, and profane their holy calling, we must remind them that such was the case even in the Apostles' time, and that our Lord's parable of the tares, of the draw-net cast into the sea, and the marriage of the king's son, with the punishment of him that wanted the wedding garment, teach us that in the visible Church the bad will ever be mingled with the good ; and that, however much this is to be lamented, the truth of the Church's claims to the communion and reverence of the people is not atfected bv it. iXTEODrcTTOX. liii And hence we may press upon their consciences, how grievous a thing: is any schism in the Church, for the unity of which Christ so earnestly prayed. It is true that men will often try to rebut the charge of schism by pretending a unity of spirit when outwardly disunited ; yet reason and experience alike teach us that external divisions could not arise, save from prior internal difference. For schism is nothing else than the secretly rebellious ^^ill, taking occasion as it can to develope itself in outward dissensions ; and the act is com- pleted when men, from whatever cause, break off into several and distinct bodies, and are no longer " one body and one bread," being no longer "all partakers of that one bread." And therefore, whenever we visit those now spoken of, we must instruct them as carefully as we can in these things, and seek to persuade them no longer to remain in separation, but to join themselves unto us. Called to preach God's word unto them, let us speak with meekness, but with truth ; peaceably, but sincerely ; lest, haply, the " trumpet give an unoertain sound." Let us take care that we neither ourselves deceive any sick person, or suffer him to deceive himself. We are ministers of the Church, of which he is not a true and faith- ful member ; and until he be restored to the unity of the Church, and to her full communion, we may not rest satisfied, whatever may be his condition in other respects. But above all thinirs, we must be careful always to speak with tenderness and forbearance on a subject of controversy, and upon which we may expect to encounter much ignorance, prejudice, and, what is worse, previous wrons: teaching. And more especially should this be the case, seeing that this is a question in which we may be supposed to be our- selves personally concerned. The dissenter has rejected us and our ministry, and has chosen for himself another system, and other teachers, after his own taste ; and we, being men compassed about with infirmity, can scarcely avoid being mortified at conduct which may wear the appearance of slight towards ourselves ; and therefore any harshness of speech or demeanour would seem to proceed rather from wounded pride than from zeal for the truth. Let us therefore strive to imitate him, who received the testimony, not only that he was faithful in all the house of God, but withal "very meek, above all men which were upon the face of the earth." 6 Ofth for ^*^'' *^^ ^'^^ person's instruction herein, givenessof sins. "'^ ^^Y ^^ad Lesson XXV., from Acts ii., or else either of the following, namely, Lesson XXXVI., which is from Acts x., being St. Peter's iiV IXTEODrCTIOy. discourse to Cornelius; or Lesson XXXVI I., from Colos- sians i. ; and we may also read Psalms xxxii. and ciii. It can scarcely be necessary to remark that these lessons, and the great doctrine taught in them, will be found very full of comfort to the devout Christian ; for what can be more powerful to kindle his spiritual affections, and encourage him in all patience and holiness, than to meditate often upon the great blessing he has received in his redemption through Christ Jesus. But besides the general profit to be drawn by the devout from these considerations, there is one class of persons who require especial instruction in this article ; namely, those who are downcast and troubled in conscience, the cause of which is for the most part to be found in a perplexity concerning their own hope of forgiveness. We should therefore labour to remove this load from their mind, by instructing them fully in this doctrine, showing likewise the true nature and evidences of that repentance which is the condition of their forgive- ness, and the certain acceptance of the penitent, whereof we have God's commission to assure them ; and several lessons upon these particulars will be found hereafter, when we come to speak on the examination of the sick person's repentance. There will of course remain other causes for this state of mind, and the sick person may be prevented from receiving comfort from our counsels for a long time, as part of the chastisement for his sins, upon which cases somewhat more will be said, when we come to consider them hereafter in the due order of the service. There is yet another class of persons of whom we must here speak, and with whom we require to deal cautiously with respect to this article, lest we mislead them ; namely, those who are self-righteous, and over confident about their own salvation, which persuasion we shall often find, even in persons who have lived in habits of sin, and neslect of moral or religious duties. In such we must first see the fruits of repentance, ere we can speak much of the blessings of for- giveness : we should remind them, that by baptism they are not only made heirs of salvation and receive the sure pro- mises of God, but also for their parts promise that they will thenceforward die unto sin, rise again unto righteousness, and walk in newness of life — the performance of which latter promise by them, is the necessary condition on which they may hope to enjoy God's promises made to them : and we must also remind them how crross a delusion it is for men to presume on their death-beds to expect to enjoy the one, iSr' I^'TEODrCTIOX. Iv all their lives long they disregard the other. Very cau- tiously, therefore, must we touch upon the comforts which the devout Christian draws from his belief in " the forgive- ness of sins" when we are visiting persons of this sort : rather should we set before them the exceeding sinfulness of their own sins, and the danger of self-deceit. I have already spoken upon this subject in the former chapter, and may refer to the Lessons XL and XIL there given, as appropriate to be used here, as also to those which are set forth in the next chapter on repentance. On this article we may instruct the sick, 7. Of there- ^^ afflicted, out of either of the following surrectionoitne ,1 ° ^qjI^. lessons ; namely, Lesson XXXVIIL, which is from Philip- pians iii., and which teaches us so to walk that we may attain thereto, for it is the prize of our high calling. Lesson XXXIX., taken from 1 Thessalonians iv. and v., teaches us to take comfort in the loss of friends by the remembrance of our hope, and warns us that the times and seasons of the Lord's coming being uncertain, we should watch and be sober, that we may obtain the promised salva- tion. We may teach the sick person on the life a Of the life everlasting unto which the faithful shall at- everlastmg. ^ . , ,r, . ^, . . ^ ^, • i j * tain, and likewise the rejection of the wicked, from two lessons ; namely. Lesson XL., from St. John v., which is our Lord's dis- course upon the resurrection of the just unto life, and the resurrection of the evil unto damnation. Lesson XLL, which is from Revelation xx. and xxi., being the vision of the last and general resurrection, and the description of the new heaven and the new earth, with the prophecy of the acceptance and joy of the faithful, and the punishment of the disobedient. CHAPTER V. THE EXAMINATION OF REPENTANCE AND CHARITY. , When the sick person has made his solemn ance ^^^^^ " confession of faith, the Church directs us to " examine whether he repent him truly of his sins :" and this we should proceed to do as soon as pos- sible. And that our ministration may be really profit- lYi INTRODUCTION'. able, we must not confine ourselves simply to reminding him in general terms of this duty, and asking him whether he does repent, but we should take care that he compre- hends the true meaning of "repentance" — its grounds in the fear and love of God, its duties in godly sorrow, humiliation, and hatred of sin ; confession, reconciliation, and reparation where required ; and, in all cases, the necessity he is under of bringing forth fruits meet for repentance, by eschewing his former sins, and diligently living according to his Christian profession. And, in order to such instructions, we may read such of the following lessons as vve may deem best suited to the several cases which present themselves to us ; namely. Lesson I., from Ezekiel xviii., from which we may show the necessity of repentance, and the acceptance of the peni- tent ; and this lesson we shall find very tiseful, not only for the purpose of calling the sinner to repentance, but also as a warning well suited for the case which so frequently occurs, of persons who for a while ran well, but afterwards, in times of trial, or through the deceitfulness of pleasure, or the cares of life, fell away. We shall often meet with persons of this description, more especially amongst the poorer and more igno- rant classes, who, after having passed the maturity of their years in great neglect of their religious duties, will, in sickness or old age, point back to the diligence and regularity of their youth ; and from this lesson we may show them how unavail- ing is early piety to excuse subsequent sin. Lesson IL, from St. Luke iii., beinsr the preaching of St. John Baptist ; teaching also the necessity, and the fruits, of true repentance. Lesson IIL, from St. Luke xiii., from which we may warn all persons that except they repent of their sins they shall not escape : a lesson we shall find very suitable in the case of those who justify themselves, and think that they are sure of salvation. Lesson IV., from St. Luke xv., being our Lord's three parables, whereby He taught that there is ever mercy for those that repent, and return unto God. Lesson V., from St. Luke vii., exhibiting God's mercy to- wards penitents, and the fruits of true conversion. Lesson VL, from 1 St. John i. and ii., where we are taught the duty of confessing our sins, that we may obtain remission thereof through Christ Jesus. And, where we have the opportunity of paying many visits, we should often return to this subject, and dwell upon it ; for we may be very sure that the more we can move any one to i>'TEODrcTio>'. Ivii godly sorrow and repentance, and the more we can increase his contrition for sin, the more ett'ectually are we ministering to his eternal welfare. And to this end we should read to sick persons any of the seven penitential psalms, or else we may use for the same purpose the confession of sin contained in Lesson VII., from Lamentations iii. But while we thus set forth the necessity 2. Of the par- of repentance, its fruits and blessings, we ticular exami- ^^^^ ^^ careful, knowing the danger of self- nation otrepent- , ., , ^ ^ 1 '^ -iU j.V."^ 1 jjj^pg ^ deceit, not to stop short with these general exhortations. For nothing is easier than for a man to say, " I repent ;" yea, and even to feel a general sorrow, and temporary compunction of heart for past ungod- liness, while, all the time, his particular acts of sin, their frequency, and aggravated circumstances, are little thought of; and consequently his grief is but superficial, and his repentance delusive, and not unto salvation. We should, therefore, as soon as we have sufficiently taught him what true repentance is, call upon him not to rest con- tent with making a general profession thereof, but seriously to examine his past life by the rule of God's commandments, and that honestly, as in the presence of Almighty God, unto Whom all the secrets of his heart are known, and before Whose judgment-seat he will one day have to stand. And that he may be able to discover his sins, we should be ready to give him such instruction in his duty towards God, and his neisrhbour, as may best help him thereunto. The precise instructions to be given will, of course, vary with each case, and there is no doubt that this is often a very difficult part of our ministry to the sick : as faithful pastors we require to speak with all truth, at a time, of all others, the most critical; and yet we must use great caution; " be ye therefore wise as serpents ;" for if our teaching be vague and pointless, or if our expressions be over harsh, or hasty, or not pertinent to the case in question, we shall lead men astray ; or cause them to des})ise, or harden themselves against our ministry; or, at the least, they will derive but slender profit from it. We should, therefore, be very circumspect, and consider well the peculiarities of each case, as has been already pointed out, and bear in mind especially those things in which we know, or probably suspect, that each sick person has off'ended. If we know that he has up to the time of his sickness been living in notorious sin, whether against God or his neigh- bour, whether of omission or commission, we should by no Iviii IXTEODUCTIO>'. means neglect, as we value our own son!?, to speak openly, anrl boldly warn him of his guilt. " When I say unto the wicked, 6 wicked man, thou shalt surely die ; if thou dost not speak to warn the svicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity ; but his blood will I require at thine hand." Or again ; we may know him to have been guilty of deadly sins in former days, and of which we may have to remind him ; especially in cases where there have been no lasting fruits of repentance, and where time has evidently brought with it fors"et fulness of past transo:ressions. And this is a work of still more delicacy than the former ; for we should aim so to speak the truth with love and meekness, as to win rather than force a way for our counsels. In these cases it is not our place to rebuke or censure, as though the sins were immediately notorious and an open scandal to the Church, but patiently and gently to call the sinner to re- pentance. Moreover we must remember, that all have not the same keen sense of the guilt of particular sins that we may have. For example, how hard it is for a man to realize the' exceeding sinfulness of acts of drunkenness or fornication committed years ago when he was a youth, or for a woman in humble circumstances to be convinced of the guilt of un- chastity before marriage. The sense of sin in most men is gi'eatly influenced by their early education, or the moral atmosphere in which they have lived ; and we must, therefore, expect to find very different standards of moral right and wrong adopted by persons according to their respective con- ditions of life, it is true, indeed, that we may not on these grounds lower the tone of our teaching and doctrine, so as to make it in any way conform with the perverted views of the world ; but we may and should speak with forbearance and compassion, both of and to those who have been exposed to temptations from which we have been preserved. Let us remember that our Blessed Lord spoke harshly to those only who sinned against the light and against knowledge ; " Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites !" but to all others He was ever merciful : " Neither do I condemn thee : go, and sin no more." With respect to the sick person's other sins, of which we are not informed, but which we may reasonably suppose that he has at various times been tempted to commit, we must be careful of this at least, that if he have done them, he may not remain in ignorance, or forgetfulncss of their guilt, through our silence. We must bear in mind , that though we are iXTEODrcTiox. lix charged to " examine whether he repent hun truly of his sins," and should require from him such profession of re- pentance, we have no authority Sfiven us by the Church to exact from him any special confession of particular acts of sin. If he shall open to us his past life in any respects, it will be profitable for him, as we shall thereby be enabled to counsel him with more certainty, but we have no warranty to require it of him. A careful consideration, however, of what we do know about him, will enable us to judge pretty well what his temptations at particular times of his life must have been ; and we must exercise our discretion in framing our instructions accordmgly ; pointing out those sins against God's commandments, whether of a grosser or more subtle nature, about which he is concerned especially to examine himself. And that these may be introduced with more gen- tleness, it will be well, when time allows, to go through the several points of Christian duty in their course, speaking even on subjects less immediately needed, in order more gradually to approach those on which we require to deal plainly and strongly ; so that, by this means, while we " spare no man's sin," we may seem to " attack no man's person." The order of this instruction will of course be that of the Ten Commandments, according to the exposition of them set forth by the Church in the Catechism, which may be profitably rehearsed, especially to the unlearned, and upon which we should suggest to the sick person the several par- ticulars upon which he should carefully examine himself. And because we may find it necessary to enlarge upon the several subjects w^hich will occur in these instructions, the following lessons are chosen with reference to various parts of our duty towards God, namely : — Lesson VIII. , from St. Mark xii., being our Lord's answer to the Scribe, setting forth the two great Commandments. Lesson IX., from St. Matthewvi., showing the impossibility of serving God by halves, whence we may set forth the great danger of neglecting any part of our duties towards Him, especially in respect of His worship and service. Lesson X., from St. Matthew vii., exhorting us to earnest- ness and diligence, and setting forth the danger of hearing the word of God without doing it. Lesson XL, from St. Luke x., and from 1 St. John ii., whereby vve are taught the vanity of all earthly things, for that one thing is needful. And in respect of our duties under the second table, the following lessons will be fuund useful, as suggesting subjects Ix IXTEODrCTIOy. of consideration, according as the circumstances of different sick persons may require, namely : — Lesson XI L, from St. Matthew xix. and Romans xiii., wherein are set forth generally man's duty towards his neighbour. Lesson XIIL, from Ephesians iv., wherein the Christian's walk in risfhteousness and true holiness is pourtrayed. Lesson XIV., from St. Matthew v., being our Lord's exposi- tion of the Sixth Commandment, in His Sermon on the Mount, and showing the sin of all evil or uncharitable dealins:, either by word or deed. Lesson XV., from Ephesians v., against all uncleanness, both in word and deed ; whereby we are exhorted to walk circumspectly, as children of the light. Lesson XVL, from St. James iii., upon the government of the tongue, whereby we learn our duty, both towards God and man, in respect of that member. Lesson XVII., from St. Luke xii., which contains our Lord's warning and parable against -covetousness ; and His exhorta- tion to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness. We may also here refer to the following lessons given amongst those upon the Creed, as suitable also for reading with respect to the examination of repentance ; namely. Les- son XIV., from Romans vi. ; Lesson XIX., from Colossians iii. ; Lesson XXVIII., from Galatians v. and vi. And we shall find that these lessons upon the Command- ments will be profitable, not only as affording us the texts out of which we may exhort those who are in danger to examine their past lives, and call to remembrance their several sins, but also for the purpose of instructing those who are re- covering from sickness, how they ought to walk according to their Christian profession so as to attain unto the hope of their calling. o rvf 1 •. x\fterthe examination of repentance, comes that 01 charity ; wherem we are directed to exhort the sick person, 1. "To forgive from the bottom of his heart all persons that have offended him ;" 2. " And if he have offended any other, to ask them forgiveness ;" 3. " And where he hath done injury or wrong to any man, that he make amends to the uttermost of his power." We should be very careful in our instructions on this momentous subject, not only as knowing that "all our doinofs without charity are nothing worth," but also con- sidering, how long old quarrels and grudges remain unrecon- ciled, and that even where there is no open exhibition of IXTEODUCTIOX. hsi enmity, yet a coldness, a shyness, or sharpness of speech about others, will testify that the root of bitterness still remains and defiles. And above all, should we anxiously strive to heal those quarrels with children, or amongst brothers, sisters, or other near relations, which so widely exist, and are the source of so much sin. Where the sick person has been offended, let us exhort him not to let pride cause him to hang- back from seeking a reconciliation ; and where he is the transgressor, we should not fail to point out the double duty that falls upon him, not only frankly to acknowledge his fault, and ask forgiveness, but also, wherever it is practicable, to make reparation for the injury he has done. And that these instructions may be confirmed out of the word of God, we may read Lesson XVI II., from St. Matthew xviii., showing that our hope of forgiveness depends upon our own readiness to forgive. Lesson XIX., from St. Luke xix., where we are taught, by our Lord's commendation of Zacchaeus, the duty of repara- tion for wrong doings. We may also read the second Lesson on the Creed from 1 St. John iv., out of which we may enforce the ne- cessity of brotherly love, without which all professions of re- ligion are vain ; or else we may read Lesson XIV., irom St. Matthew v., being our Lord's discourse, in His Sermon on the Mount, upon the same subject. While thus speaking of temporal things in 4. Of the sick the matter of reparation, we are to take the man s will and opportunity to admonish the sick person to dedaration of ^^^^ ^.^ ^..^^^ ^^^ ^^^1^^,^ ^jj j^^. ^, ^^ ^.^^^ ^^^ owing to him, or which he owes : and this, both to discharge his own conscience from any wrong that might happen for the want thereof, and also for the quietness of his executors. And here, if he be one likely to need such advice, we may well counsel him, generally, to deal fairly and justly by all in making his will, if it be not already done, and especially to regard all his children, or near relations, with kindness and equity, and without improper partiality in the disposition of his property, and not to make unjust ditferences, especially from uncharitable motives, amongst those whom God hath given unto him with equal claims ; for even though he may have received just provocation to anger, he should strive not to give place to it ; an exhortation we may support by read- ing the latter portion of Lesson XIV., from St. Matthew v. Ixii lyTEODUCTIOX. And this is a thing the more needful to name, when we consider the many after evils, and unhappy differences, which partial wills occasion. The next sentence of the Rubric tells us, that " men should often be put in remembrance to take order for the settling of their temporal estates whilst they are in health ;" for, as it is a point of conscience in a good Christian to live in all honesty, justice, and peace, during his lifetime, so should he endeavour to preserve quietness to his heirs after his decease. And this Rubric may also serve to show us, how close and practical our teaching ought to be, even to the unfolding of every point of a Christian man's duty ; and that, in matters solely temporal. " He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much : and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If, therefore, 3-e have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will com- mit to your trust the true riches?" 5. Oflibe- "The minister should not omit earnestly rality to the to move such sick persons as are of ability, to po'^'^- be liberal to the poor." How sadly we have omitted it, let the parsimonious be- quests for pious purposes of these latter days of wealth and plenty testify, when compared v^ith the colleges, and hospi- tals, and schools, and doles, endowed by the munificence of former generations. A bequest for the poor is, indeed, the exception, rather than the rule, now, in the rich man's will. Almsgiving was for years an almost forgotten doctrine in our churches, or when enforced, was spoken of, not so much as a positive duty at all times incumbent on the Christian, but rather with reference to some particular object, in behalf of which the preacher was pleading. And how shall we mention it to the sick, but with faltering tongues and stam- mering lips ; hesitating, for very shame at speaking, as it were, some new thing at the bedsides of those who heard it not in the days of their health ? Nevertheless, it must be done, as we would answer to God for it. Let us only profit by the warning, and take heed that we ourselves shun not •' to declare the whole counsel of God" in our public teach- ing ; so that when an}- are sick, neither this, nor any other necessary doctrine, may sound strange in their ears. But in order that, while we speak new, and, to many, unpalatable truths, we may show from the Word of God that these things are so indeed, we may read either of the fol- lowing lessons, namely : — Lesson XX., taken from 1 Timothy vi., and 2 Corinth- I^-TEOD^CTIO^^ Ixiii ians ix., admonishing those that are rich to be liberal to the poor ; and reminding them that as we sow, so shall we also reap. Lesson XXL, from St. Mark x., being our Lord's own words, whereby He "resolveth a rich man how he may inherit life everlasting, telleth his disciples the danger of riches, and promiseth rewards to them that forsake any thing for the Gospel." He may also read for this purpose Lesson XVIL, from St. Luke xii., being our Lord's warning against covetous- ness ; and Lesson XIX., from St. Luke xix., being His praise of Zacchseus, who gave one half of his goods unto the poor. Lastly, the Church directs, " Here shall 6 Of special ^^^ ^^^^ person be moved to make a special ■^ confession of his sins, if he feel his conscience troubled with any weighty matter." The Church of England does not require any of her mem- bers necessarily to make a special confession of their sins unto the priest, but on two several occasions she directs us to move them thereto, in case their consciences be troubled ; namely, whenever we give notice of the public adminis- tration of the Holy Communion, and also in the jjresent case, when we are visiting the sick, and before we proceed to administer that holy sacrament in private. It has been wisely remarked, that every deadly sin is a weighty matter, and should be felt so to be ; but it does not therefore follow that a mans conscience must necessarily be so troubled thereby, as that he shall need to make a special confession thereof to the priest, in order that he may receive a particular absolution for the same ; nor have we any right to doubt the perfect sincerity of a man's profession of repent- ance, because he may not feel such disquietude as to render it necessary for him to open his grief, and disclose his several acts of sin to us. This ministry of absolution after a special confession of sins to the priest, which the Church provides, and to the benefit whereof she solemnly invites all the faithful, before administering the Holy Communion, is not, like Baptism, or the Lord's Supper, a sacrament generally necessary to salvation, and therefore to be received of all ; but rather, it is a remedy for the confirmation of the timid, the weak, and the doubtful, who cannot quiet their own consciences, as touching the sincerity or depth of their re- pentance, and their full assurance of hope ; and who there- fore fear, in such case, to draw nisfh and receive the Holy Ixiv I>'TEOI>rCTIO>'. Communion, lest peradventure tliey should eat and drink thereof unworthily. It were indeed greatly to be desired that men should feel, far more than they do, the sore burden and defilement of sin. But constant mingling with the world, multitude of business, fulness of bread, the fascinations of pleasure, habits of sin formed in early youth, matured, and confirmed as age advances, a secular and sensual life, whose standard of re- ligion, even at best, is but low, the neglect of prayer and self- examination, and of the Holy Communion, — all these things, operating each in its degree, combine to sear the conscience, and dull the heart to the sense of its own wickedness ; and hence men's sins, be they never so deadly or oft repeated, make, for the most part, but transient impressions upon them. And how may we ever hope to overcome this but by sincere and faithful preaching, which, as it is God's ordi- nance for men's instruction and admonition, will not fail, b}'' His blessing, to bring forth fruit in due season? Let our sermons be close, earnest, and practical ; for vague decla- mations, controversial differences, and doubtful disputations only tend to lead men astray. They may indeed thereby attain to knowledge ; but it will be merely to that which putFeth up, and not to the understanding of their duties, or the sense of their sins ; they will be exalted in their own eyes, not humbled. " Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins," are words spoken unto us, no less than to the prophet of old ; and were our discourses severe and searching, developing each part of Christian doctrine in its corresponding duties, and tracing out the spiritual fulfilling of each commandment, such lessons, how- ever unheeded, and soon forgotten at the time, would surely revive and strike home to the hearts and consciences of those who have heard them, when they come to the anxious self- examination of sickness. But leaving the consideration of such as are not troubled in conscience, let us come to those who are. Trouble of mind does exist among men, and more widely than we may imagine, though expressed but vaguely. Many will send for us, whom we shall find to be in doubt and uncertainty ; who are downcast about their own spiritual state, dreading lest all be not right with them, full of misgivings, and earnestly de- siring to be comforted. We must be careful how we deal with such, lest we say, " Peace, when there is no peace ;" and the more so, as the false systems which have sprung up I>'TEODrCTIOX. IXV without the Church minister a hollow comfort to such per- sons by persuading them to feel themselves saved, and then assuring them that they are so. It is only by bringing them back to the sense of their own sins and sinfulness, by teaching them to examine themselves by their baptismal vows, and so leading them to a godly repentance, that a true and abiding comfort can be afforded. But besides this class of cases, we have also to deal with those who are not merely uncomfortable and perplexed, but who are, indeed, sore distressed in mind, and feel a heavy burden oppressing them which they cannot shake off. These we must in like manner instruct in the duty and method of self-examination, and in the nature and fruits of repent- ance ; and we must also move them to make a special con- fession of the particular sins which weigh upon their con- science ; teaching them at the same time what is the true Christian faith in the " forgiveness of sins," and the power given by Christ to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in Him. Cases like these are often long and obstinate, and we may find the sick person swallowed up as it were with overmuch sorrow, and unable to raise his head ; for God will not always speedily remove the heavy temptations of doubt and despair. These are, perhaps, the most perplexins: of all the cases which come before us, and as each man's mind is by nature differently constituted, and also differently affected by ex- ternal circumstances, we must endeavour to find out the pe- culiar causes of disquietude in each instance, and exhort accordingly. Some lose hope through losses of property, or children, or reputation, and then neglect God's service, and hide themselves from man ; and these require to be taught submission, repentance, and the active duties of a Christian life. Others, again, are oppressed by the remembrance of particular sins of former times which weigh down their spirits, and make them fear that they have no place of re- pentance left them ; and these require to be taught the long- suffering of Christ, His acceptance of all who truly turn to Him, and the comfortable promises of the Gospel to all who are really penitent. Others, again, we shall find to be afflicted with a general heaviness of soul, but without any anguish for particular acts of sin ; such mental disquietude being in fact the form which God's visitation takes in their case : here we must of course try to learn what manner of life they have led ; for we shall probably find, that even if free from great and glaring crimes, they have lived in some sinful habit, or systematically neglected some known duty ; so that (1 Ixvi IXTEODUCTIOX. by discovering this, and bringing before their eyes the actual course of sin by which they have provoked God's wrath, they may be brought to repentance, and so receive comfort. But we must remember, that there is one charac- teristic common to all cases of this sort, which is that they all require time and patience on our part ; for distress of mind, being sent to men as a chastisement for sin, cannot, any more than a mere bodily infirmity, be removed all at once, or by a few visits and exhortations. " Thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the ini- quities of my youth." " My sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up : yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me." And, therefore, though these cases be never so weari- some, or perplexing, we must not let ourselves be discouraged, but must persevere to the last with our exhortations, and above all with our prayers, until God shall see fit to have mercy, and remove the burden His hand has imposed. " Hath God for- gotten to be gracious, and will He shut up His loving kind- ness in displeasure ? And I said, It is mine own infirmity ; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High." And let us remember that this is one of the cases for which the Church hath provided a special form of prayer, which we should therefore never omit to say. The Lessons which are suitable for these cases will be those given under the Creed on the subject of the remission of sins, viz.. Lessons XXXVL and XXXVIL, and those on repentance. Lessons L — VIL, to which we may add any of the penitential Psalms, or Psalms xlii. Ixxvii. Ixxxvi. Ixxxviii. Moreover, we must not omit to exhort the afiiicted person himself to pray earnestly and continually ; and that we en- courage him thereto, we may read any of the following lessons, from which he may learn how sincere and persever- ing prayer will in the end be heard and answered; namely, — Lesson XX IL, from St. Matthew xv., being the history of the Canaanitish woman. Lesson XXIIL, from St. Mark v., being the history of the woman who was healed by touching the hem of our Lord's garment. Lesson XXIV., from St. Luke xviii., being the parable of the importunate widow. Lesson XXV., from St. Luke xi., being our Lord's dis- course whereby He taught His disciples to pray, and that instantly, assuring that God so will give us good things. I^^TEODUCTIO^'. Ixvii CHAPTER VI. ON SUBJECTS OF INSTRUCTION SUBSEQUENT TO THE EXAMI- NATION OF REPENTANCE AND CHARITY. Having thus gone through all the subjects 1. Of tlie com- (.oi^pi^isefj in the scheme of instruction and munion oi the ' . . , • i , ^ ^u gjplj examination, there remain but two or three other points on which it will be needful to say a few words. And first, of the Communion of the Sick. This, as before stated, should be the first great end of all our ministrations. Never can we ourselves be satisfied, never can we consider that our ministry is duly successful, until we are enabled with a good conscience to administer the Holy Communion to the sick person. All our previous instructions, all our examinations, all our counsels, are but the preparations for the worthy celebration of this our Chris- tian sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. There is an unsys- tematic mode of visiting sick people which many fall into, without order, without method, with no definite end in view, in which they read, and speak, and pray, just what comes uppermost, but which is most unsatisfactory. After a few such visits the minister only repeats himself, and neither he nor the sick person ever advance : whereas, by making all our exhortations definite parts of a preparation for the Lord's Supper, and by administering that Holy Sacrament as soon as we rightly can, and thenceforward, continually, the sick person's soul will indeed be strengthened and refreshed, and all our ministrations will be unto edification. And it should not be forgotten, that in cases not so much of sickness, as of infirmity and inability to come to church, the Holy Communion should be regularly administered at stated times. Three times a year, of which Easter shall be one, is the least frequent reception which the rule of the Church permits : the oftener it can be administered the better : we know that the custom of the primitive Church was, that every Lord's day the deacons should carry round the Holy Communion to all the faithful whom sickness hindered from coming to communicate publicly. When we have gone through all the previous subjects little will remain to be said by way of preparation, unless the sick person require to be taught the institution of the Lord's Supper, its nature and blessings, or the conseauences of un- d2 Ixviii IXTRODUCTIOX. worthily receiving, or neglecting it ; which we may do out of the following lessons : Lesson 1., from 1 Corinthians x. and xi., being St. Paul's words on the nature and institution thereof. Lesson IL, from St. John vi., being our Lord's discourse on the inestimable blessings thereof, and on the danger of those who neglect it. Lesson IIL, from St. Luke xiv., being the parable of the great supper, and the punishment of those who were invited and refused to come. And we may also read Psalms xxvi. xxxiv. and cxvi. It can scarcely be needful to mention the three exhorta- tions in the public Liturgy, as most suitable for private ad- monition also ; and these are therefore printed along with the other services. ,j When the sick person has thus been ^1 solemnly prepared, and has received the near approach tt i r-." • ^ i of death. -H-oly Lommunion, we may at our subsequent visits renew any parts of the previous instruc- tions as we shall deem most advisable. Let us not think that we may now neglect him, or relax our vigilance, for we watch for his soul as having ourselves to give account, and therefore it is our duty still to attend and minister unto him, that by our words of comfort and consolation, by our prayers, and by the often receiving of the Lord's Supper, he may be so strengthened and supported in his last struggle, that no temptation, or fear of death, may cause him to fall away. And as the time of his departure draws nigh, let us con- tinually endeavour to fill his mind with contemplations on the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ, the founda- tioQ of all his hopes. And we shall find the lessons on the various articles of the Creed especially suited for confirming and assuring the sick at their last end ; especially those upon the passion and resurrection of Christ, and on the remission of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life ever- lasting. We may also read Psalms xvi. xxiii. Iv. cxvi. cxviii. or any portions of Lesson IV., which is composed of short pas- sages of Holy Scripture, affording fruitful subjects of medi- tation to those who are too weak to admit of longer lessons being read to them. And let us remember likewise that there are two special forms of prayer for extreme cases, which we should now say ; namely, the one whenever the danger is imminent, the other when the sick person is at the point of departure. IXTEODL'CTIOy. ixiX In conclusion, we must speak of the fre- 3. Ofinstruc- quent case where the sickness is not unto forTe'dme of 4^^^^' ^"^ '''^^'^^ ^^^er passing through a recovery. ^^^^ of more or less danger, we come to visit the sick person as he is recovering his lost strength. When the voice of joy and health is heard again, the world returns, with its cares, its business, its pleasures, its distractions, its snares ; and he whose heart was lately tender, often yields to these influences, and is drawn aside into fresh sins : and so, but too frequently, our labour will seem to have been altogether thrown away. In part, this is naturally to be looked for, but it is worth while considering, whether much of this falling away may not be occasioned by our ceasing to visit as soon as danger is over, and health begins to return, or is restored. And does not this relaxation of diligence on our part, half countenance the too common notion, that the minister is to be sent for in the agony of sickness, but discarded in health. Let us remember, then, that recovery has its duties no less than sickness, and likewise its peculiar topics of instruction. No one can have a serious illness and be the same man after it that he was before ; he must be changed, either for better or for worse ; and if he be not better, he will be worse for the neglect of God's warning. The season of recovery, therefore, is one of peculiar value, and the style of our instructions will be materially different from what they were before. During the severity of sickness we are chiefly con- cerned in directing the sick person's thoughts backward to the contemplation of his former sins, so that he might call them to remembrance and repent. But now we must rather lead him forward to consider the future, and exhort him to bring forth, according to his increased opportunities, worthy fruits of that repentance he professed in his sickness. And, therefore, we should now instruct him, in the first place, in the thankfulness and gratitude he owes to Almighty God for His late mercies vouchsafed to him ; and that it is his duty not only to feel, but also openly to confess the same. And that we may move him thereto, we may read to him any of the following Psalms, namely, the xxxiv. Ixiii. Ixvi. ciii. cxvi. cxviii. ; or we may teach him out of the following lessons, namely : — Lesson V., from Isaiah xxxviii., being the writing of King Hezekiah when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness. Lesson VI., from St. Luke xvii., being the miracle of the IXX DTTEODTJCTIOlir. cleansing of the ten lepers, and the thankfulness of the Samaritan. And after thus speaking of gratitude, we should exhort him to show it forth, not only with his lips, but in his life ; and therefore we should instruct him fully in all the duties of a Christian life, and warn him against the several sins he is most liable, according to his station, and time of life, to fall into. With this object, we may reiterate any of the lessons which have been given before upon the Creed, or on the examination of repentance, especially such as have been noted as more peculiarly appropriate for the time of re- covery. We may also read either of the following Lessons, and make suitable exhortations out of them, namely : — Lesson VIL, from St. Luke viii., being our Lord's parable of the sower ; from which we may warn him against the several temptations which are represented therein, and which will cause the seed of God's word, sown during his sickness, to be unfruitful, if he do not withstand them. Lesson VIIL, from Hebrews x., whereby he is exhorted to lead a Christian life, knowing the great danger of wilful sin, after receiving the knowledge of the truth. Lesson IX., from St. Luke xii., showing the need of con- tinual watchfulness, because of the suddenness of our Lord's coming. Lesson X., from Ephesians vi., which teaches us the severity of our struggle, and the armour with which the Christian must be girded, that he may be able to stand in the day of trial. Lesson XL, from Ecclesiastes xi. and xii., which we may read to those who are young, for their warning against the temptations of youth, and the pleasures of sin for a season, and that we may exhort them to walk early with God. In ministering the word of God to those who have received the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, we should aim not only to keep in their memory that which they have received, but likewise, so to lead them forward, to strengthen and build them up in the faith, that they may walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called, and adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. And we shall find that this great object will be more effectually accom- plished, in proportion as by our own personal intercourse with our parishioners we can obtain influence over them for their good. Public discourses at best are but general ; private conferences can descend into the particulars of each I]S'TRODTJCTIO>^. Ixsi man's feelings and conscience, and hence our counsels may be more exact and safe. Many things, too, which could not be said publicly, for fear of offence, can be mentioned quietly, and profitably, in private. Now at one period in the life- time of each, in the morning of their youth, this personal communication takes place by the provision of the Church ; namely, when we catechise them before they are confirmed by the Bishop : and it is a happy thing when this solemn intercourse can be afterwards maintained for their benefit and advancement. In the majority of cases, however, this is obviously impracticable : they pass away from our pastoral care, or we from them — and a stranger takes our place. But when they are sick, we are again solemnly brought nigh unto them by God's visitation, even more solemnly than before ; and if we find that they recover and go forth into the world again, we should not rest content with having done our best to instruct them while they were sick, but should strive to perpetuate that close personal intercourse which then took place ; so that, by its frequent renewal, the lessons of the past may from time to time be recalled to their minds, and the influence of their sickness, and our ministry, may survive for their continual edification. THE ORDER "^ THE VISITATION OF THE SICK. % When any person is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Minister of the Parish ; who, coming into the sick person's house, shall sag, Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell in it. % When he cometh into the sick man's presence he shall sag, kneeling doivn. Remember not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the ini- quities of our forefathers : Spare us, good Lord, spare Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever. Answer. Spare us, good Lord. ^ Then the Minister shall sag. Let US pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Our rather, "Which art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth. As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from evil. Amen. Min. Lord, save Thy servant ; Ans. "VYhich putteth his trust in Thee. 2 THE YISITATION OF THE SICK. Mill. Send liim lielp from Thy liolj place ; Ans. And evermore mightily defend him. Min. Let the enemy have no advantage of hi?}i ; Ans. Nor the wicked approach to hurt liim. Min. Be unto liim, Lord, a strong tower, Ans. From the face of his enemy-. Min. Lord, hear our prayers. Ans. And let our cry come unto Thee. Minister. O Lord, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this Thy servant. Look upon him with the eyes of Thy mercy, give him comfort and sure con- jBdence in Thee, defend him from the danger of the enemy, and keep him in perpetual peace and safety ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Hear us. Almighty and most merciful Grod and Saviour ; extend Thy accustomed goodness to this Thy servant who is grieved with sickness. Sanctify, we beseech Thee, this Thy fatherly correction to him; that the sense of his weakness may add strength to his faith, and seriousness to his repentance : That, if it shall be Thy good pleasure to restore him to his former health, he may lead the residue of his life in Thy fear, and to Thy glory : or else, give him grace so to take Thy visitation, that, after this painful life ended, he may dwell with Thee in life everlasting ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^ Then shall the Minister exhort the sick person after this form, or other like. Dearly beloved, know this, that Almighty Grod is the Lord of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining, as youth, strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. AVherefore, what sever your sickness is, know you certainly, that it is Grod's visitation. And for what cause soever this sickness is sent unto you ; whether it be to try your patience for the example of others, and that your faith may be found in the day of the Lord, laudable, glorious, and honourable, to the increase of glory and endless felicity} or else it be THE YISITATIOX OF THE SICK. 3 sent unto you to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father ; know you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God's mercy, for His dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, and render unto Him humble thanks for His fatherly visi- tation, submitting yourself wholly unto His will, it shall turn to your profit, and help you forward in the riorht wav that leadeth unto everlastincr life. % If the person visited be very sick, then the Curate may end his exhortation in this place, or else proceed. Take therefore in good part the chastisement of the Lord : For (as Saint Paul saith in the twelfth Chapter to the Hebrews) whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons ; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not ? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Fur- thermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which cor- rected us, and we gave them reverence : shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live ? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. These words, good hrother, are written in holy Scripture for our comfort and instruction ; that we should patiently, and with thanksgiving, bear our heavenly Father's cor- rection, whensoever by any manner of adversity it shall please His gracious goodness to visit us. And there should be no greater comfort to Christian per- sons, than to be made like unto Christ, by suffering patiently adversities, troubles, and sicknesses. For He Himself went not up to joy, but first He suffered pain ; He entered not into His glory before He was crucified. So truly our way to eternal joy is to suffer here with Christ ; and our door to enter into eternal life is gladly to die with Christ ; that we may rise again from death, and dwell with Him in everlasting life. B 2 4 THE YISITATIOK OF THE SICK. Now therefore, taking your sickness, whicli is thus profitable for you, patiently, I exhort you, in the Name of God, to remember the profession which you made unto God in your Baptism. And forasmuch as after this life there is an account to be given unto the right- eous Judge, by Whom all must be judged, without respect of persons, I require you to examine yourself and your estate, both toward God and man ; so that, accusing and condemning yourself for your own faults, you may find mercy at our heavenly Father's hand for Christ's sake, and not be accused and condemned in that fearfid judgment. Therefore I shall rehearse to you the Articles of our Taith, that you may know whether you do believe as a Christian man shoidd, or no. ^ Here the Minister shall rehearse the Articles of the Faith, saying thus, Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth ? And in Jesus Christ His only-begotten Son our Lord ? And that He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, bom of the Virgin Mary; that He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; that He went down into hell, and also did rise again the third day ; that He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead ? And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost ; the Holy Catholic Church ; the Communion of Saints ; the Ee- mission of sins ; the Pesurrection of the flesh ; and everlasting life after death ? % The sick pet'son shall ansioer. All this I stedfastly believe. ^ Then shall the Minister examine vhether he repent him truly of his sins, and he in charity tvith all the icorld ; exhorting him to forgive, from the bottom of his heart, all persons that have offended him ; and if he hath offended any other, to ask them forgiveness ; and where he hath done injury or wrong to any THE TISITATION OF THE SICK. 5 man, that he make amends to the uttermost of his power. And if he hath not before disposed of his goods, let him then be ad- monished to make his Will, and to declare his Debts, what he owefh, and what is oiring unto him ; for the better discharging of his conscience, and the quietness of his Executors. But men should often be put in remembrance to take order for the settling of their temporal estates, whilst they are in health. ^ These ivords before rehearsed may be said before the Minister begin his prayer, as he shall see cause. ^ The Minister shall not omit earnestly to move such sick persons as are of ability, to be liberal to the poor. ^ Here shall the sick person be moved to make a special Confession of his sins, if he feel his conscience troubled with any weighty matter. After which Confession, the Priest shall absolve him {if he humbly and heartily desire it) after this sort. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath left power to His Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in Him, of His great mercy forgive thee thine offences : And by His authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Grhost. Amen. % And then the Priest shall say the Collect following. Let us pray. most merciful God, "Who, according to the multi- tude of Thy mercies, dost so put away the sins of those who tridy repent, that Thou rememberest them no more ; Open Thine eye of mercy upon this Thy ser- vant, who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgive- ness. Eenew in liim, most loving Father, whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the devil, or by his own carnal will and frailness ; preserve and continue this sick member in the unity of the Church; consider his contrition, accept his tears, asswage his pain, as shall seem to Thee most expedient for him. And forasmuch as he putteth his full trust only in Thy mercy, impute not unto him his former sins, but strengthen him with Thy blessed Spirit ; and, when Thou art pleased to take him hence, take him unto Thy favoiu", through the merits of Thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 6 THE TISITATIOX OF THE SICK. ^ Then shall the Minister say this Psalm. In te, Domine, speravi. Psal. Lxxi. In Thee, Lord, have I put ray trust ; let me never be put to confusion : but rid me, and deliver me in Thy righteousness ; incline Thine ear unto me, and save me. Be Thou my strong hold, ^hereunto I may alway resort : Thou hast promised to help me ; for Thou art my house of defence, and my castle. DeHver me, my Grod, out of the hand of the un- godly : out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For Thou, Lord God, art the thing that I long for : Thou art my hope, even from my youth. Through Thee have I been holden up ever since I Avas born: Thou art He that took me out of my mother's womb ; my praise shall be always of Thee. I am become as it were a monster unto many : but my sure trust is in Thee. let my mouth be filled with Thy praise : that I may sing of Thy glory and honour all the day long. Cast me not away in the time of age : forsake me not when my strength faileth me. For mine enemies speak against me, and they that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together, say- ing ': God hath forsaken him, persecute him, and take him ; for there is none to deliver him. Go not far from me, God : my God, haste Thee to help me. Let them be confounded and perish that are against my soul : let them be covered with shame and disho- nour that seek to do me evil. As for me, I will patiently abide alway: and will praise Thee more and more. My mouth shall daily speak of Thy righteousness and salvation : for I know no end thereof. 1 will go forth in the strength of the Lord God: and will make mention of Thy righteousness only. Thou, God, hast taught me from my youth up THE YISITATIOX OF THE SICK. 7 until now : therefore will I tell of Thy wondrous works. Forsake me not, Grod, in mine old age, when I am gray-headed : until I haye showed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to all them that are yet for to come. Thy righteousness, God, is yery high, and great things are they that Thou hast done : God, who is like unto Thee ? Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and eyer shall be : world without end. Amen. ^ Adding this. O Sayiour of the world, "U^ho by Thy Cross and pre- cious Blood hast redeemed us, Saye us, and help us, we humbly beseech Thee, Lord. ^ Then shall the Minister say, The Almighty- Lord, AYho is a most strong tower to all them that put their trust in Him, to Whom all things in heayen, in earth, and under the earth, do bow and obey, be now and eyermore thy defence ; and make thee know and feel, that there is none other Kame under heayen giyen to man, in "Whom, and through AYhom, thou mayest receiye health and salya- tion, but only the Xame of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. ^ And after that shall say, Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we com- mit thee. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gra- cious unto thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, both now and ever- more. Amen. A Prayer for a sick Child, Almighty God, and merciful Father, to "Whom alone belong the issues of life and death ; Look down 8 THE TISITATION OF THE SICK. from heaven, we humbly beseech Thee, with the eyes of mercy upon this child now lying upon the bed of sickness : Visit Mm, Lord, with Thy salvation ; de- liver him in Thy good appointed time from his bodily pain, and save his soul for Thy mercies' sake : That, if it shall be Thy pleasure to prolong his days here on earth, he may live to Thee, and be an instrument of Thy glory, by serving Thee faithfully, and doiug good in his generation ; or else receive him into those hea- venly habitations, where the souls of them that sleep in the Lord Jesus enjoy perpetual rest and fehcity. Grant this, O Lord, for Thy mercies' sake, in the same Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. A Prayer for a sick person, when there appeareth hut small hope of recovery. O Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need ; We fly unto Thee for suc- cour in behalf of this Thy servant, here lying under Thy hand in great weakness of body. Look graciously upon him, Lord ; and the more the outward man decayeth, strengthen him, we beseech Thee, so much the more contiuually with Thy grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man. Give him unfeigned repentance for all the errors of his life past, and stedfast faith in Thy Son Jesus ; that his sins may be done away by Thy mercy, and his pardon sealed in heaven, before he go hence, and be no more seen. We know, O Lord, that there is no word impossible with Thee ; and that, if Thou wilt. Thou canst even yet raise him up, and grant him a longer continuance amongst us : Yet, forasmuch as in all appearance the time of his dissolution draweth near, so fit and prepare him, we beseech Thee, against the hour of death, that after his departure hence in peace, and in Thy favour, his soul may be received into Thine everlasting kingdom, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thine only Son, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. THE TISITATION OF THE SICK. 9 A commendatory Prayer for a sick person at the point of departure. O Almighty Grod, witli AVliom do live the spirits of just men made perfect, after they are delivered from their earthly prisons ; We humbly commend the soul of this Thy servant, our dear hrotlier, into Thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator, and most mer- ciftd Saviour; most humbly beseeching Thee, that it may be precious in Thy sight. Wash it, we pray Thee, in the blood of that immaculate Lamb, that -was slain to take away the sins of the world ; that whatsoever defilements it may have contracted in the midst of this miserable and naughty world, through the lusts of the flesh, or the wiles of Satan, being purged and done away, it may be presented pure and -without spot be- fore Thee. And teach us who survive, in this and other like daily spectacles of mortahty, to see how frail and uncertain our own condition is ; and so to number our days, that we may seriously apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom, whilst we live here, which may in the end bring us to life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ Thine only Son our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for persons troubled in mind or in conscience. O Blessed Lord, the Father of mercies, and the Grod of all comforts ; We beseech Thee, look down in pity and compassion upon this Thy afflicted servant. Thou writest bitter things against Jiim, and makest him to possess his former iniquities ; Thy wrath lieth hard upon hi?n, and his soul is full of trouble : But, mer- ciful God, Who hast written Thy holy Word for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of Thy holy Scriptures, might have hope ; give him a right understanding of himself, and of Thy threats and pro- mises ; that he may neither cast away his confidence in Thee, nor place it any where but in Thee. Give him strength against all his temptations, and heal aU his distempers. Break not the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax. Shut not up Thy tender 10 THE COMMU^'IOy OF THE SICK. mercies in displeasure ; but make him to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Deliver him from fear of the enemy, and lift up the light of Thy countenance upon him, and give him peace, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Clirist our Lord. Amen. THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. ^ Forasmuch as all mortal men be subject to many sudden perils, diseases, and siclcnesses, and ever uncertain what time they shall depart out of this life; therefore, to the intent that they may he always in a readiness to die, whensoever it shall please Al- mighty God to call them, the Curates shall diligently from time to time {but especially in the time of pestilence, or other infec- tious sickness) exhort their Parishioners to the often receiving of the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of oxi.r Saviour Christ, ichen it shall be publicly administered in the Church; that so doing, they may, in case of sudden visitation, have the less cause to be disquieted for lack of the same. But if the sick person be not able to come to the Church, and yet is desirous to receive the Communion in his house ; then he must give timely notice to the Curate, signifying also how many there are to com- municate ivith him, {which shall be three, or tivo at the least,) and having a convenient place in the sick man's house, with all things Jiecessary so prepared, that the Curate may reverently minister, he shall there celebrate the holy Communion, beginning with the Collect^ Epistle, and Gospel, here following. The Collect. Al:m:ightt, overliving God, Maker of mankind, "WTio dost coiTCct those whom Thou dost love, and chastise every one whom Thou dost receive ; "We beseech Thee to have mercy upon this Thy servant visited with Thine hand, and to grant that he may take his sickness pa- tiently, and recover his bodily health, (if it be Thy gracious will;) and whensoever his soul shall depart from the body, it may be without spot presented unto Thee ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE COMMUXIOX OF THE SICK. 11 The Epistle. Heb. xii. 5. IMv son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth ; and scourgeth every son whom He recei^'eth. The Gospel. St. John v. 24. Yerily, verily I say unto you. He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent ^le, hath ever- lasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. ^ After which the Priest shall proceed according to the form before prescribed for the holy Communion^ beginning at these words [Ye that do truly, «^'c.]. \ Then shall the Priest say to them that come to receive the holy Communion, Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the command- ments of Grod, and walking from henceforth in His holy ways ; Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort ; and make your humble confession to Almighty God, meekly kneeling upon your knees. \ Then shall this general Confession be made, in the name of all those that are minded to receive the holy Communion, by one of the Ministers ; both he and all the people kneeling humbly upon their knees, and saying, Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things. Judge of all men ; We acknow- ledge and bewail our manifold sins and Avickedness, AYhich we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed. Against Thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. "We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings ; The remem- brance of them is grievous unto us ; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father ; For Thy Son our 12 THE COMMUNION' OP THE SICK. Lord Jesus Ckrist's sake, Forgive us all that is past ; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please Thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of Thy name ; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, ^ Then shall the Priest (or the Bishop, being present) stand up, and turning himself to the people, pronounce this Absolution. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, "Who of His great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto Him ; Have mercy upon you ; pardon and de- liver you from all your sins ; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness ; and hring you to everlasting life ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. % Then shall the Priest say, Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to Him. Come unto Me aU that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. St, JSIattli. xi. 28. So God loved the world, that He gave His only- begotten Son, to the end that aU that beheve in Him should not perish, but have everlasting Hfe. St. John iii. 16. Hear also what St. Paul saith. This is a ti'ue saying, and worthy of aU men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim. i. 15. Hear also what St. John saith. If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous ; and He is the propitiation for our sins. 1 St. John ii. 1. ^ After which the Priest shall proceed, saying, Lift up your hearts. Answer. We lift them up unto the Lord. Friest. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God. Answer. It is meet and right so to do. ^ Then shall the Priest turn to the Lord's Table, and say, It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that THE COMMUNIOJf OF THE SICK. 13 we sliould at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, * Holj Father, Almighty, Ever- lasting God, * These words [Holy Father] must be omitted on Trinity-Sunday. ^ Here shall follow the Proper Preface, according to the time, if there be any specially appointed : or else immediately shall follow, Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name ; evermore praising Thee, and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord Grod of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory : Glory be to Thee, Lord most High. Amen. Proper Prefaces, Upon Christmas-day, a7id seven days after. Because Thou didst give Jesus Christ Thine only Son to be born as at this time for us ; Who, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary His mother ; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with Angels, &c. Upon Easter-day, and seven days after. But chiefly are we bound to praise Thee for the glorious Eesurrection of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord : for He is the very Paschal Lamb, Which was offered for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world ; "Who by His death hath destroyed death, and by His rising to life again hath restored to us ever- lasting life. Therefore with Angels, &c. Upon Ascension-day, arid seven days after. Through Thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord ; AVho after His most glorious Eesurrection manifestly appeared to all His Apostles, and in their sight ascended up into heaven to prepare a place for us ; that where He is, thither we might also ascend, and reign with Him in glory. Therefore ^ith Angels, &c. 14 THE C0MM^^'I0^' or the sice:. Upon WTiit-Sunday, and six days after. Tlirougli Jesus Christ our Lord ; according to "Whose most true promise, the Holy Grhost came down as at this time from heaven with a sudden great sound, as it had been a mighty wind, in the likeness of fiery tongues, lighting upon the Apostles, to teach them, and to lead them to all tnith ; giving them both the gift of divers lanfjuages, and also boldness with fervent zeal con- stantlv to preach the Gospel unto all nations ; whereby we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of Thee, and of Thy Son Jesus Christ. Therefore with Angels, &c. Ujyon the Feast 0/ Trinity only. "Who art one God, one Lord ; not one only Person, but thi^ee Persons in one Substance. Por that which we beheve of the glory of the Pather, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any difference or inequality. Therefore with Angels, &c. % After each ofu-hich Prefaces shall immediately be sung or said, Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious iS'ame ; evermore praising Thee, and sajdng, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory : Glory be to Thee, Lord most high. Amen. ^ Then shall the Priest, kneeling doicn at the Lord's Table, say in the name of all them that shall receive the Communion this Prayer folio icing. We do not presume to come to this Thy Table, O merciful Lord, trustmg in our own righteousness, but in Thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy Table. But Thou art the same Lord, AVhose property is always to have mercy : Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink His blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean, by ELis body, and our souls washed through His THE COMMr^IOX OF THE SICK. 15 most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us. Amen. % When the Priest, standing before the Table, hath so ordered the Bread and Wine, that he may with the more readiness and decency break the bread before the people, and take the Cup into his hands, he shall say the Prayer of Consecration, as follow eth. Almighty Grod, our heavenly Father, "VMio of Thy tender mercy didst give Thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death ujDon the cross for our redemption ; "Who made there (by His one oblation of Himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world ; and did institute, and in His holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that His precious death, until His coming again ; Hear us, merciful Father, we most humbly beseech Thee ; and grant that we receiving these Thy creatures of bread and wine, according to Thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of His death and passion, may be partakers of His most Blessed Body and Blood : "Who, in the same night that He wa. betrayed («) took Bread; ,„ W,f "/St.': and when He had given thanks, ^^-^ ;^^„^^ . (6) He brake it, and gave it to {b) And here to break His disciples, saying. Take, eat, the Bread: (c) this is My Body which is given (c) And here to lay for you: Do this in remembrance fiis hand upon all the of Me. Likewise after supper ^''ead : He (d) took the Cup ; and, when {d) Here he is to take He had given thanks, He gave it ^^' ^''P '"^^ '"'^ ^«^^^ •• to them, saving, Drink ye all of this, for this (e) is Mv Blood of (e) ^nd here to lay the XewTestament, which is shed ^^ J ("' .rS.:?. tor you and lor many tor the re- piagoyi) in which there mission of sins : Do this, as oft as is any Wine to be conse- ye shall drink it, in remembrance crated. of Me. Amen. ^ At the time of the distribution of the holy Sacrament, the Priest shall first receive the Communion himself, and after minister 16 THE COMMUIs'ION OF THE SICK. unto them that are appointed to communicate with the sick, and last of all to the sick person. And, when he delivereth the Bread to any one, he shall say, The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto ever- lasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on Him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving. ^ And the Minister that delivereth the Cup to any one shall say, The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto ever- lasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ's Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful. % If the consecrated Bread or Wine be all spent before all have commtinicated, the Priest is to consecrate more, according to the Form before prescribed ; beginning at [Our Saviour Christ in the same night, ^•c.'] for the blessing of the Bread; and at [Like- wise after Supper, (^'c] for the blessing of the Cup. ^ When all have commtinicated, the Minister shall return to the Lord's Table, and reverently place upon it what remaineth of the consecrated Elements, covering the same with a fair linen cloth. ^ Then shall the Priest say the Lord's Prayer, the people repeat- ing after him every Petition. Our Father, Which art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Grive us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom. The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen. ^ After shall be said as followeth, Lord and heavenly Father, we Thy humble ser- vants entirely desii^e Thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching Thee to grant, that by the merits and death of Thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in His blood, we and all Thy whole Church may THE COM:MUyiO>' OP THE SICK. 17 obtain remission of our sins, and all otlier benefits of His passion. And here we offer and present nnto Thee, Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holj, and lively sacrifice unto Thee ; humbly beseeching Thee, that all we, who are partakers of this holy Communion, may be fidfilled with Thy grace and heavenl}- benediction. And although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto Thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech Thee to accept this our bounden duty and service ; not weighing orn* merits, but pardoning orn* offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by Whom, and with "WTiom, in the unity of the Holy G-host, all honour and glory be unto Thee, Father Almighty, world without end. Amen. Or this. Almighty and everliving Grod, we most heartily thank Thee, for that Thou dost vouchsafe to feed us, who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of Thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ ; and dost assure us thereby of Thy favour and goodness towards us ; and that we are very members incorporate in the mys- tical body of Thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people ; and are also heirs through hope of Thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and passion of Thy dear Son. And we most humbly beseech Thee, heavenly Father, so to assist us with Thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as Thou hast prepared for us to walk in ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to Whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. % Then shall be said or sung, Griory be to Grod on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory, Lord Grod, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. c 18 THE COMIMUXIOX or THE SICK. Lord, the onlv-begotten Son Jesu Clirist; O Lord God, Lamb of Grod, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive oiu? prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For Thou only art holy ; Thou only art the Lord ; Thou only, Chi'ist, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. ^ Then the Priest {or Bishop if he be present) shall let them depart with this Blessing. The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of Hjs Son Jesus Christ our Lord : and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen. % But if a man, either hy reason of extremity of sickness, or for want of warning in due time to the Curate, or for lack of company to receive ivith him, or by any other just impediment, do not re- ceive the Sacrament of Chrinfs Body and Blood, the Curate shall instruct him, that if he do truly repent him of his sins, and stedfastly believe that Jesus Christ hath suffered death upon the Cross for him, and shed his Blood for his redemption, earnestly remembering the benefits he hath thereby, and giving him hearty thanks therefore, he doth eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his Soul's health, although he do not receive the Sacrament with his mouth. \ When the sick person is visited, and receiveth the holy Commu- nion all at one time, then the Priest, for more expedition, shall cut off the form of the Visitation at the Psalm [In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust, (^'c] and go straight to the Com- munion. ^ In the time of the Plague, Sweat, or such other like contagious times of sickness or diseases, u-hen none of the Parish or neigh- bours can be gotten to communicate with the sick in their houses, for fear of the infection, upon special request of the diseased, the Minister may only communicate with him. THE MINISTRATION OP PRIVATE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN IN HOUSES. ^ The Curates of every Parish shall often admonish the people, that they defer not the Baptism of their Children longer than the first or second Sunday next after their birth, or other Holy- day falling between, unless upon a great and reasonable cause, to be approved by the Curate. ^ And also they shall warn them, that without like great cause and necessity they procure not their Children to be baptized at home in their houses. But tvhen need shall compel them so to do, then Baptism shall be administered on this fashion : ^\ First, let the Minister of the Parish {or, in his absence, any other lawful Minister that can be procured) with them that are present call upon God, and say the Lord's Prayer, and so many of the Collects appointed to be said before in the Form of Public Baptism, as the time and present exigence will suffer. ^ Then shall be said, all kneeling ; Our Father, Whicli art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from evil. Amen. ^ Then shall the Priest say, Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting Ood, who of Thy great mercy didst save Noah and his family in the ark from. c2 20 PEIYATE BAPTISM OF CHILDEEN. perishing by water; and also didst safely lead the children of Israel Thy people through the E-ed Sea, figuring thereby Thy holy Baptism ; and by the Bap- tism of Thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ, in the river Jordan, didst sanctify Water to the mystical washing away of sin ; "We beseech Thee, for Thine in- finite mercies, that Thou vrilt mercifully look upon this Child ; wash him and sanctify him with the Holy Ghost ; that he, being delivered from Thy wrath, may be received into the ark of Christ's Church; and being stedfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally he may come to the land of everlast- ing life, there to reign with Thee, world without end ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ameji. Almighty and immortal God, the aid of all that need, the helper of all that flee to Thee for succour, the life of them that believe, and the resurrection of the dead ; AVe call upon Thee for this Infant, that he, coming to Thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of his sins by spiritual regeneration. Eeceive him, Lord, as Thou hast promised by Thy well-beloved Son, saying. Ask, and ye shall have ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you : So give now unto us that ask ; let us that seek find ; open the gate unto us that knock ; that this Infant may enjoy the everlasting benediction of Thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which Thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen. ^ Then shall the Priest say, O Merciful God, grant that the old Adam in this Child may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in him. Amen. Grant that all carnal affections may die in him, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in him. Amen. Grant that he may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph, against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen. Grant that whosoever is here dedicated to Thee by PEIYATE BAPTISM OF CHILDEEN". 21 OUT office and ministry, may also be endued with hea- venly virtues, and everlastingly rewarded, through Thy mercy, blessed Lord Grod, Who dost live and govern all things, world without end. Amen. Almighty, overliving God, "Whose most dearly be- loved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of His most precious side both water and blood ; and gave commandment to His disciples, that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; Eegard, we beseech Thee, the supplica- tions of Thy congregation ; Sanctify this AVater to the mystical washing away of sin ; and grant that this Child, now to be baptized therein, may receive the ftdness of Thy grace, and ever remain in the number of Thy faithful and elect children ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^ And then, the Child being named by some one that is present, the Minister shall pour Water upon it, saying these words ; N. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. ^ Then, all kneeling down, the Minister shall give thanks unto God, and say. We yield Thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased Thee to regenerate this Infant with Thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for Thine own Child by adoption, and to incorporate Mm into Thy holy Church. And we humbly beseech Thee to grant, that as he is now made partaker of the death of Thy Son, so he may be also of His resurrection ; and that finally, with the residue of Thy Saints, he may inherit Thine everlasting kingdom ; through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^ And let them not doubt, but that the Child so baptized is law- fully and sufficiently baptized, and ought not to be baptized again. Yet nevertheless, if the Child, which is after this sort baptized, do afterward live, it is expedient that it be brought into the Church, to the intent that, if the Minister of the same Parish did himself baptize that Child, the Congregation may be certified of the true Form of Baptism, by him privately before used. THE EXHOETATIONS CONTAINED IN THE ORDER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOLY COMMUNION. Deaelt beloved, on day next I purpose, througli God's assistance, to administer to aU such as shall be religiously and devoutly disposed, the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; to be by them received in remembrance of His meritorious Cross and Passion ; whereby alone we obtain remission of our sins, and are made partakers of the Kingdom of heaven. "Wherefore it is our duty to render most humble and hearty thanks to Almighty Grod oiu' heavenly Father, for that He hath given His Son oar Saviour Jesus Christ, not only to die for us, but also to be our spiritual food and sustenance in that holy Sacrament. "Which being so di^itie and com- fortable a thing to them who receive it worthily, and so dangerous to them that will presume to receive it unworthily ; my duty is to exhort you in the mean season to consider the dignity of that holy mystery, and the great peril of the unworthy receiving thereof; and so to search and examine your own consciences, (and that not lightly, and after the manner of dissem- blers with God ; but so) that ye may come holy and clean to such a heavenly Feast, in the mamage-gar- ment required by God in holy Scripture, and be received as worthy partakers of that holy Table. The way and means thereto is ; First, to examine your lives and conversations by the rule of God's com- EXHOETATIONS. 23 mandments ; and wliereinsoever ye sliall perceive your- selves to have ofiended, either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail your own sinfulness, and to confess yourselves to Almighty Grod, with full purpose of amendment of hfe. And if ye shall perceive your offences to be such as are not only against Grod, but also against your neighbours ; then ye shall reconcile yourselves unto them ; being ready to make restitution and satisfaction, according to the uttermost of your powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other ; and being likewise ready to forgive others that have offended you, as ye woiild have forgiveness of your offences at Grod's hand: for otherwise the re- ceiving of the holy Communion doth nothing else but increase your damnation. Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of Grod, an hinderer or slanderer of His Word, an adulterer, or be in malice, or envy, or in any other grievous crime, repent you of your sins, or else come not to that holy Table ; lest, after the taking of that holy Sacrament, the devil enter into you, as he entered into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to destruction both of body and soul. And because it is requisite, that no man should come to the holy Communion, but with a fiill trust in God's mercy, and with a quiet conscience ; therefore if there be any of you, who by this means cannot quiet his own conscience herein, but requireth further comfort or counsel, let him come to me, or to some other discreet and learned Minister of G-od's AVord, and open his grief; that by the ministry of Grod's holy AVord he may receive the benefit of absolution, to- gether with ghostly counsel and advice, to the quiet- ing of his conscience, and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness. Dearly beloved brethren, on 1 intend, by Grod's grace, to celebrate the Lord's Supper : unto which, in God's behalf, I bid you all that are here present ; and beseech you, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, that ye 24 EXHOETATIONS. will not refuse to come thereto, being so lovingly called and bidden bv God Himself. Te know how grievous and unkind a thing it is, when a man hath prepared a rich feast, decked his table with all kind of provision, so that there lacketh nothing but the guests to sit down ; and yet they who are called (without any cause) most unthankfully refuse to come. Which of you in such a case would not be moved ? Who would not think a great injury and wi^ong done unto him ? "WTierefore, most dearly beloved in Christ, take ye good heed, lest ye, withdi-awing youi'selves from this holy Supper, pro- voke God's indignation against you. It is an easy matter for a man to say, I will not communicate, be- cause I am otherwise hindered with worldly business. But such excuses are not so easily accepted and allowed before God. If any man say, I am a grievous sinner, and therefore am afraid to come : wherefore then do ye not repent and amend ? AYhen God calleth you, are ye not ashamed to say ye will not come ? "When ye should return to God, will ye excuse yourselves, and say ye are not ready ? Consider earnestly with yourselves how little such feigned excuses will avail before God. They that refused the feast in the Gos- pel, because they had bought a farm, or would try their yokes of oxen, or because they were married, were not so excused, but counted unworthy of the heavenly feast. I, for my part, shall be ready ; and, according to mine Office, I bid you in the jS'ame of God, I call you in Christ's behalf, I exhort you, as ye love your own salvation, that ye will be partakers of this holy Communion. And as the Son of God did vouchsafe to yield up his soul by death upon the Cross for your salvation ; so it is your duty to receive the Communion in remembrance of the sacrifice of His death, as He Himself hath commanded : which if ye shall neglect to do, consider with yoiu-selves how great injury ye do unto God, and how sore punishment hangeth over your heads for the same ; when ye wilfidly abstain from the Lord's Table, and separate from your brethren, who come to feed on the banquet of that most heavenly EXnOETATIO>'S. 25 food. These things if ye earnestly consider, ye will by God's grace return to a better mind : for the ob- taining whereof we shall not cease to make our humble petitions unto Almighty God our heavenly Father. Dearly beloved in the Lord, ye that mind to come to the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, must consider how Saint Paul ex- horteth all persons diligently to try and examine them- selves, before they presume to eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy Sacrament ; (for then we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ, and drink His blood; then we dwell in Christ, and Christ in us ; we are one with Christ, and Christ with us ;) so is the danger great, if we receive the same unworthily. For then we are guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ our Saviour; we eat and drink our own damnation, not considering the Lord's Body ; we kindle God's wrath against us ; we provoke Him to plague us with divers diseases, and sundry kinds of death. Judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord ; repent you truly for your sins past ; have a lively and stedfast faith in Christ our Saviour ; amend your lives, and be in per- fect charity with all men ; so shall ye be meet par- takers of those holy mysteries. And above all things ye must give most humble and hearty thanks to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for the re- demption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ, both God and man ; Who did humble Himself, even to the death upon the Cross, for us miserable sinners, who lay in darkness and the shadow of death ; that He might make us the children of God, and exalt us to everlasting life. And to the end that we should alway remember the exceeding great love of our Master, and only Saviour, Jesus Christ, thus djing for us, and the innumerable bene- fits which by His precious blood-shedding He hath 26 ADDEESS IX THE COMMES'ATION SEEYICE. obtained to us ; He hatli instituted and ordained liolj mysteries, as pledges of His love, and for a continual remembrance of His death, to our great and endless comfort. To Him therefore, Avith the Father and the Holy Ghost, let us give (as we are most bouuden) continual thanks ; submitting ourselves wholly to His holy will and pleasure, and studying to serve Him in true holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. Amen. PAET OF THE ADDEESS THE COMMINATION SERVICE. jS'ow seeing that all they are acciu-sed (as the pro- phet David beareth witness) who do err and go astray from the commandments of God ; let us (remembering the dreadful judgment hanging over our heads, and always ready to fall upon us) return unto our Lord God, with all contrition and meekness of heart ; be- wailing and lamenting our sinful life, acknowledging and confessing our offences, and seeking to bring forth worthy fruits of penance. For now is the ax put imto the root of the trees, so that every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is he^m down, and cast into the fire. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God : He shall pour do^Ti rain upon the sin- ners, snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest ; this shall be their portion to drink. For lo, the Lord is come out of His place to visit the wickedness of such as dwell upon the earth. But who may abide the day of His coming? "Who shall be able to endure when He appeareth ? His fan is in His hand, and He wiU pui'ge His floor, and gather His wheat into ADDEESS rS" THE COM:MrN'ATIOX SEETICE. 27 the bam ; but He will burn the chaff with unquench- able fire. The day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night : and when men shall say, Peace, and all things are safe, then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as sorrow cometh upon a woman travailing with child, and they shall not escape. Then shall ap- pear the wrath of Grod in the day of vengeance, which obstinate sinners, through the stubbornness of their heart, have heaped unto themselves ; which despised the goodness, patience, and long-sufferance of God, when He calleth them continually to repentance. Then shall they call upon Me, (saith the Lord.) but I will not hear ; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me ; and that, because they hated knowledge, and received not the fear of the Lord, but abhorred My counsel, and despised My correction. Then shall it be too late to knock when the door shall be shut ; and too late to cry for mercy when it is the time of justice. O terrible voice of most just judgment, which shall be pronounced upon them, when it shall be said unto them, Gro, ye cursed, into the fire everlasting, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. Therefore, brethren, take we heed betime, while the day of salva- tion lasteth ; for the night cometh, when none can work. But let us, while we have the light, believe in the light, and walk as children of the light ; that we be not cast into utter darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let us not abuse the goodness of God, "Who calleth us mercifully to amendment, and of His endless pity promiseth us forgiveness of that which is past, if with a perfect and ti-ue heart we return unto Hun. Eor though our sins be as red as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow ; and though they be like purple, yet they shall be made white as wool. Turn ye (saith the Lord) from all your wickedness, and your sin shall not be your destruction : Cast away from you all your ungodliness that ye have done : Make you new hearts, and a new spirit : AYherefore will ye die, O ye house of Israel, seeing that I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God ? 2S ADDEESS I^' THE COMMiyATIO>' SEEYICE.. Turn ve then, and ye sliall live. Although we have sinned, yet have we an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : and He is the propitia- tion for our sins. For He was wounded for our of- fences, and smitten for our wickedness. Let us there- fore return unto Him, "Who is the merciful receiver of all tnie penitent sinners ; assmTQg oui'selves that He is ready to receive us, and most ^^illing to pardon us, if we come unto Him with faithful repentance ; if we submit ourselves unto Him, and fi'om henceforth walk in His ways ; if we vrill take His easy yoke and light burden upon us, to follow Him in lowliness, patience, and charity, and be ordered by the governance of His Holy Spirit: seeking always His glory, and serving Him duly in our vocation with thanksgiving : This if we do. Christ will deliver us fi'om the curse of the law, and from the extreme malediction which shall light upon them that shall be set on the left hand ; and He will set us on His right hand, and give us the gracious benediction of His Father, commanding us to take possession of His glorious kingdom : Unto which He vouchsafe to bring us all, for His infinite mercy. Amen, PSALMS. PSALM I. Beatiis vir, qui non abiit, t^'c. 1 Blessed is the man, that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sin- ners : and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord : and in His law will he exercise himself day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the water- side : that will bring forth his fruit in due season. 4 His leaf also shall not wither : and look, whatso- ever he doeth, it shall prosper. 5 As for the ungodly, it is not so with them : but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth. 6 Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment : neither the sinners in the congrega- tion of the righteous. 7 But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous : and the way of the ungodly shall perish. PSALM III. Domine, quid multiplicati ? 1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me : many are they that rise against me. 2 !Many one there be that say of my soul : There is no help for him in his God. 3 But Thou, O Lord, art my defender : Thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head. 4 I did call upon the Lord with my voice : and He heard me out of His holy hill. 30 psal:m:s. 5 I laid me down and slept, and rose up again : for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid for ten thousand of the peo- ple : that have set themselves against me round about. 7 Up, Lord, and help me, O my God : for Thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone ; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord : and Thy blessing is upon Thy people. PSAL^I IT. Cum invocarem. 1 Hear me when I call, G-od of my righteous- ness : Thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble ; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer. 2 ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour : and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing ? 3 Ejiow this also, that the Lord hath chosen to Himself the man that is godly : when I call upon the Lord, He will hear me. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not : commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still. 5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness : and put your trust in the Lord. 6 There be many that say : "WTio will show us any good? 7 Lord, lift Thou up : the light of Thy countenance upon us. 8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart : since the time that their com, and wine, and oil, increased. 9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest : for it is Thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety. PSALM Y. Verba mea auribus. 1 Ponder my words, Lord : consider my medita- tion. PSALMS. 31 2 O hearken Thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my Grod : for unto Thee will I make my prayer. 3 My voice shalt Thou hear betimes, Lord : early in the morning vrill I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up. 4 For Thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness : neither shall any evil dwell with Thee. 5 Such as be foolish shall not stand in Thy sight : for Thou hatest all them that work vanity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing : the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into Thine house, even upon the multitude of Thy mercy : and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, Lord, in Thy righteousness, because of mine enemies : make Thy way plain before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in his mouth : their inward parts are very wickedness. 10 Their throat is an open sepulchre : they flatter with their tongue. 11 Destroy Thou them, God; let them perish through their own imaginations : cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness ; for they have rebelled against Thee. 12 And let all them that put their trust in Thee rejoice : they shall ever be giving of thanks, because Thou defendest them ; they that love Thy name shall be joyful in Thee. 13 For Thou, Lord, wilt give Thy blessing unto the righteous : and with Thy favourable kindness wilt Thou defend him as with a shield. PSALM YI, Domine, ne in furore. 1 Lord, rebiike me not in Thine indignation : neither chasten me in Thy displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak : Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed. 32 PSALMS. 3 My soul also is sore troubled : but, Lord, how long wilt Thou punisb me ? 4 Turn Thee, Lord, and deliver my soul : save me for Thy mercy's sake. 5 For in death no man remembereth Thee : and who will give Thee thanks in the pit ? 6 I am weary of my groaning ; every night wash I my bed : and water my couch with my tears. 7 My beauty is gone for very trouble : and worn away because of all mine enemies. 8 Away from me, all ye that work vanity : for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The Lord hath heard my petition : the Lord vnH receive my prayer. 10 All mine enemies shall be confounded, and sore vexed : they shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly. PSALM yiii. Domine, Dominus nosier. 1 O Lord our Grovernour, how excellent is Thy Kame in all the world : Thou that hast set Thy glory above the heavens ! 2 Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength, because of Thine ene- mies : that Thou mightest still the enemy, and the avenger. 3 Por I will consider Thy heavens, even the works of Thy fingers : the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained. 4 "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him : and the son of man, that Thou visitest him ? 5 Thou madest him lower than the angels : to crown him with glory and worship. 6 Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of Thy hands : and Thou hast put all things in sub- jection under his feet ; 7 All sheep and oxen : yea, and the beasts of the field ; 8 The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea : PSALMS. 83 and whatsoever walketh througli the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord our Governour : how excellent is Thv Xame in all the world ! PSAL^^I XI. In Domino confido. 1 In the Lord pnt I my trust : how say ye then to my soul, that she should flee as a bii'd unto the hiU ? 2 For lo, the ungodly bend their bow, and make ready their arrows within the quiver : that they may pri^-ily shoot at them which are true of heart. 3 Tor the foundations will be cast down : and what hath the righteous done ? 4 The Lord is in His holy temple : the Lord's seat is in heaven. 5 His eyes consider the poor : and His eye-lids try the children of men. 6 The Lord aUoweth the righteous : but the un- godly, and him that delighteth in wickedness doth His soul abhor. 7 L^pon the ungodly He shaU rain snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest : this shall be their por- tion to drink. 8 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness : His countenance will behold the thing that is just. PSAL3I XIY. Dixit insipiens. 1 The fool hath said in his heart : There is no God. 2 They are corrupt, and become abominable in their doings : there is none that doeth good, no not one. 3 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men : to see if there were any that would understand, and seek after God. 4 But they are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become abominable : there is none that doeth good, no not one. 5 Their throat is an open sepulclu-e, with their D 34 PSALMS. tongues have tliey deceived : the poison of asps is under their lips. 6 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness : their feet are swift to shed blood. 7 Destruction and unhappiness is in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known : there is no fear of God before their eyes. 8 Have they no knowledge, that they are all such workers of mischief : eating up my people as it were bread, and call not upon the Lord ? 9 There were they brought in great fear, even where no fear was : for Grod is in the generation of the righteous. 10 As for you, ye have made a mock at the counsel of the poor ; because he putteth his trust in the Lord. 11 Who shall give salvation unto Israel out of Sion ? "When the Lord tumeth the captivity of His people : then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. PSALM XY. Domine, quis habitabit ? 1 Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle : or who shall rest upon Thy holy hill ? 2 Even he, tliat leadeth an uncorrupt Hfe : and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart. 3 He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour : and hath not slandered his neighbour. 4 He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly in his own eyes : and maketh much of them that fear the Lord. 5 He that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disap- pointeth him not : though it were to his own hindrance. 6 He that hath not given his money upon usury : nor taken reward against the innocent. 7 Whoso doeth these things : shall never fall. PSALilS. 35 PSALM XVI. Conserva me, Domine. 1 Preserve me, O Grod : for in Thee have I put my trust. 2 my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord : Thou art my Grod, my goods are nothing unto Thee. 3 AH my delight is upon the saints, that are in the earth : and upon such as excel in virtue. 4 But they that run after another god : shall have great trouble. 5 Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer : neither make mention of their names within my lips. 6 The Lord Himself is the portion of mine inherit- ance, and of my cup : Thou shalt maintain my lot. 7 The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground : yea, I have a goodly heritage. 8 I will thank the Lord for giving me warning ; my reins also chasten me in the night-season. 9 I have set God always before Me : for He is on my right hand, therefore I shall not fall. 10 ^Hierefore My heart was glad, and My glory rejoiced : My flesh also shall rest in hope. 11 Por why ? Thou shalt not leave My soul in hell : neither shalt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. 12 Thou shalt shew Me the path of life ; in Thy presence is the fulness of joy : and at Thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore. PSALM XIX. Coeli enarrant. 1 The heavens declare the glory of Grod : and the firmament sheweth His handy- work. 2 One day telleth another : and one night certifieth another. 3 There is neither speech nor language : but their voices are heard among them. 4 Their sound is gone out into all lands : and their words into the ends of the world. D 2 36 PSALMS. 5 In tliem hath He set a tabernacle for the sun : which Cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a giant to run his course. 6 It goeth forth from the uttermost part of the heaven, and runneth about unto the end of it again : and there is nothiug hid from the heat thereof. 7 The kiw of the Lord is an undefiled law, convert- ing the soul : the testimony of the Lord is sure, and giveth wisdom unto the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, and rejoice the heart : the commandment of the Lord is pure, and giveth light unto the eves. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, and endureth for ever : the judgments of the Lord are true, and right- eous altogether. 10 jMore to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold : sweeter also than honey, and the honey-comb. 11 Moreover, by them is Thy servant taught : and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can tell how oft he ofiendeth : O cleanse Thou me from my secret faults. 13 Keep Thy servant also from presumptuous sins, lest they get the dominion over me : so shall I be unde- filed, and innocent from the great offence. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart : be alway acceptable in Thy sight. 15 Lord : my strength, and my redeemer. PSALM XXIII. Dominus regit me. 1 The Lord is my shepherd : therefore can I lack nothing. 2 He shall feed me in a green pastiire : and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. 3 He shall convert my soul : and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for His IS'ame's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for Thou art with me ; Thy rod and Thy staff" comfort me. PSALMS. 37 5 Thou slialt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me : Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full. 6 But Thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life : and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. PSAL^I XXIY. Domini est terra. 1 The earth is the Lord's, and all that therein is : the compass of the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For He hath founded it upon the seas : and pre- pared it upon the floods. 3 ^Tio shall ascend into the hill of the Lord : or who shall rise up in His holy place ? 4 Even he that hath clean hands, and a pure heart : and that hath not lift up his mind unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive his neighbour. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord : and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek Him : even of them that seek Thy face, Jacob. 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors : and the King of glory shall come in. 8 "WTio is the King of glory : it is the Lord strong and mighty, even the Lord mighty iu battle. 9 Lift up your heads, ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors : and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is the King of glory : even the Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. PSALM XXY. Ad te, Domine, levavi. 1 L^nto Thee, O Lord, will I lift up my soul ; my God, I have put my trust in Thee : O let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies triumph over me. 38 PSALMS. 2 For all they that hope in Thee shall not be ashamed : but such as transgress without a cause shall be put to confusion. 3 Shew me Thy ways, Lord : and teach me Thy paths. 4 Lead me forth in Thy truth, and learn me : for Thou art the God of my salvation ; in Thee hath been my hope all the day long. 5 Call to remembrance, Lord, Thy tender mer- cies : and Thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old. 6 O remember not the sins and offences of my youth : but according to Thy mercy think Thou upon me, O Lord, for Thy goodness. 7 Grracious and righteous is the Lord : therefore will He teach sinners in the way. 8 Them that are meek shall He guide in judgment : and such as are gentle, them shall He learn His way. 9 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth : unto such as keep His covenant, and His testimonies. 10 For Thy Name's sake, O Lord : be merciful unto my sin, for it is great. 11 AYhat man is he, that feareth the Lord : him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose. 12 His soul shall dwell at ease : and his seed shall inherit the land. 13 The secret of the Lord is among them that fear Him : and He will shew them His covenant. 14 Mine eyes are ever looking unto the Lord : for He shall pluck my feet out of the net. 15 Turn Thee unto me, and have mercy upon me : for I am desolate, and in misery. 16 The sorrows of my heart are enlarged : O bring Thou me out of my troubles. 17 Look upon my adversity and misery : and for- give me all my sin. 18 Consider mine enemies, how many they are : and they bear a tyrannous hate against me. 19 keep my soul, and deliver me : let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in Thee. PSALMS. 39 20 Let perfectness and righteous dealing wait upon me : for my hope hath been in Thee, 21 Deliver Israel, God : out of all his troubles. PSALM XXYI. Judica me, Domine. 1 Be Thou my Judge, Lord, for I have walked innocently : my trust hath been also in the Lord, therefore shall I not fall. 2 Examine me, Lord, and prove me : try out my reins and my heart. 3 For Thy loving-kindness is ever before mine eyes : and I ^vill walk in Thy truth. 4 I have not dwelt with vain persons : neither will I have fellowship with the deceitfid. 5 I have hated the congregation of the "kicked : and will not sit among the ungodly. 6 I will wash my hands in innocency, Lord : and so will I go to Thine altar ; 7 That I may shew the voice of thanksgiving : and tell of all Thy wondrous works. 8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house : and the place where Thine honour dwelleth. 9 shut not up my soul with the sinners : nor my life with the blood-thirsty ; 10 In whose hands is wickedness : and their right hand is full of gifts. 11 But as for me, I will walk innocently : deliver me, and be merciful unto me. 12 My foot standeth right : I will praise the Lord in the congregations. PSALM XXYII. Dominus illuminatio. 1 The Lord is my light, and my salvation ; whom then shall I fear : the Lord is the strength of my life ; of whom then shall I be afraid ? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies, and my foes. 40 PSALMS. came upon me to eat up mv flesh : tliey stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host of men were laid against me, jet shall not mj heart be afraid : and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put mj trust in Him. 4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will requii'e : even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit His temple. 5 Tor in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His tabernacle : yea, in the secret place of His dwell- ing shall He hide me, and set me up upon a rock of stone. 6 And now shall He lift up mine head : above mine enemies round about me. 7 Therefore will I offer in His dwelling an oblation with great gladness : I will sing, and speak praises unto the Lord. 8 Hearken unto my voice, Lord, when I cry unto Thee : have mercy upon me, and hear me. 9 ]\Ey heart hath talked of Thee, Seek ye My face : Thy face. Lord, will I seek. iO hide not Thou Thy face from me : nor cast Thy servant away in displeasure. 11 Thou hast been my succour : leave me not, nei- ther forsake me, O God of my salvation. 12 When my father and my mother forsake me : the Lord taketh me up. 13 Teach me Thy way, Lord : and lead me in the right way, because of mine enemies. 14 Dehver me not over into the will of mine adver- saries : for there are false witnesses risen up against me, and such as speak ^vl^ong. 15 I should utterly have fainted : but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 16 O taiTy thou the Lord's leisure : be strong, and He shall conifort thine heart ; and put thou thy trust in the Lord. PSALMS. 41 PSALM XXXII. Bead, quorum. 1 Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven : and whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin : and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 For while I held my tongue : my bones consumed away through my daily complaining. 4 For Thy hand is heavy upon me day and night : and my moisture is like the drought in summer. 5 I will acknowledge my sin unto Thee : and mine unrighteousness have I not hid. 6 I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord : and so Thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin. 7 For this shall every one that is godly make his prayer unto Thee, in a time when Thou mayest be found : but in the great water-floods they shall not come nigh him. 8 Thou art a place to hide me in, Thou shalt pre- serve me from trouble : Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. 9 I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go : and I vrill guide thee with ]\Iine eye. 10 Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding : whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle, lest they fall upon thee. 11 G-reat plagues remain for the ungodly : but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side. 12 Be glad, ye righteous, and rejoice in the Lord : and be joyful, all ye that are true of heart. PSALM XXXIY. Benedicam Domino. 1 I vrill alway give thanks unto the Lord : His praise shall ever be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord : the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 42 PSALMS. 3 O praise the Lord with me : and let us magnify His Name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me : yea, He delivered me out of all my fear. 5 They had an eye unto Him, and were lightened : and their faces were not ashamed. 6 Lo, the poor crieth, and the Lord heareth him : yea, and saveth him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord tarrieth round about them that fear Him : and deliyereth them. 8 O taste, and see, how gracious the Lord is : blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. 9 fear the Lord, ye that are His saints : for they that fear Him lack nothing. 10 The lions do lack, and suffer hunger : but they who seek the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good. 11 Come, ye children, and hearken unto me : I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 AYhat man is he that lusteth to live : and would fain see good days ? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil : and thy lips, that they speak no guile. 14 Eschew evil, and do good : seek peace, and ensue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous : and His ears are open unto their prayers. 16 The countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil : to root out the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous ciy, and the Lord heareth them : and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart : and will save such as be of an humble spirit. 19 G-reat are the troubles of the righteous : but the Lord dehvereth him out of all. 20 He keepeth all his bones : so that not one of them is broken. 21 But misfortunes shall slay the ungodly : and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. PSALMS. 43 22 The Lord delivereth the souls of His serrants : and all they that put their trust in Him shall not be destitute. PSALM XXXYL Dixit injustus. 1 My heart sheweth me the wickedness of the un- godly : that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flattereth himself in his own sight : until his abominable sin be found out. 3 The words of his mouth are uni'ighteous, and full of deceit : he hath left off to behave himself wisely, and to do good. 4 He imagineth mischief upon his bed, and hath set himself in no good way : neither doth he abhor any thing that is evil. 5 Thy mercy, O Lord, reacheth unto the heavens : and Thy faithfulness unto the clouds. 6 Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains : Thy judgments are like the great deep. 7 Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast ; How excellent is Thy mercy, O Grod : and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. 8 They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of Thy house : and Thou shalt give them drink of Thy pleasures, as out of the river. 9 For with Thee is the well of life : and in Thy light shall we see light. 10 O continue forth Thy loving-kindness unto them that know Thee : and Thy righteousness unto them that are true of heart. 11 let not the foot of pride come against me : and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down. 12 There are they fallen, all that work T^ickedness : they are cast down, and shall not be able to stand. 44 PSALMS. PSALM XXXYII. Noli amulari. 1 Fret not tliyself because of the ungodly : neither be thou emious against the evil doers. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass : and be Avithered even as the green herb. 3 Put thou thy trust in the Lord, and be doing good : dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Dehght thou in the Lord : and He shaU give thee thy heart's desire. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord, and put thy trust in Him : and He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shaU make thy righteousness as clear as the light : and thy just dealing as the noon-day. 7 Hold thee still in the Lord, and abide patiently upon Him : but grieve not thyself at him, whose way doth prosper, against the man that doeth after evil counsels. 8 Leave off from wrath, and let go displeasure : fret not thyself, else shalt thou be moved to do evil. 9 AVicked doers shall be rooted out : and they that patiently abide the Lord, those shall inherit the land. 10 Yet a little while, and the ungodly shall be clean gone : thou shalt look after his place, and he shall be away. 11 But the meek-spirited shall possess the earth : and shall be refreshed in the multitude of peace. 12 The ungodly seeketh counsel against the just : and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh him to scorn : for He hath seen that his day is coming. 14 The ungodly have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow : to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as are of a right conversation. 15 Their sword shall go through their own heart : and theii' bow shall be broken. 16 A small thing that the righteous hath : is better than great riches of the ungodly. PSAL^IS. 45 17 Eor the arms of the ungodly shall be broken : and the Lord iipholdeth the righteous. 18 The Lord kuoweth the davs of the godly : and their inheritance shall endure for ever. 19 They shaU not be confoimded in the perilous time : and in the days of dearth they shall have enough. 20 As for the ungodly, they shaU perish ; and the enemies of the Lord shaU consume as the fat of lambs : yea, even as the smoke, shall they consume away. 21 The ungodly borroweth, and payeth not again : but the righteous is merciful, and liberal. 22 Such as are blessed of God shall possess the land : and they that are cursed of Him shall be rooted out. 23 The Lord ordereth a good man's going : and maketh his way acceptable to Himself. 24 Though he faU, he shaU not be cast away : for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old : and yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor his seed beg- ging their bread. 26 The righteous is ever merciful, and lendeth : and his seed is blessed. 27 Flee from evil, and do the thing that is good : and dwell for evermore. 28 For the Lord loveth the thing that is right : He forsaketh not His that be godly, but they are preserved for ever. 29 The unrighteous shall be punished : as for the seed of the ungodly, it shall be rooted out. 30 The righteous shall inherit the land : and dwell therein for ever. 31 The mouth of the righteous is exercised in wis- dom : and his tongue wiU be talking of judgment. 32 The law of his God is in his heart : and his go- ings shaU not slide. 33 The imgodly seeth the righteous : and seeketh occasion to slay him. 34 The Lord wiU not leave him in his hand : nor condemn him when he is judged. 46 PSALMS. 35 Hope thou in ttie Lord, and keep His way, and He shall promote thee, that thou shalt possess the land : when the ungodly shall perish, thou shalt see it. 36 I myself have seen the ungodly in great power : and flourishing like a green bay-tree. 37 I went by, and lo, he was gone : I sought him, but his place could no where be found. 38 Keep innoceney, and take heed unto the thing that is right : for that shall bring a man peace at the last. 39 As for the transgressors, they shall perish to- gether : and the end of the ungodly is, they shall be rooted out at the last. 40 But the salvation of the righteous cometh of the Lord : "WTio is also their strength in the time of trouble. 41 And the Lord shall stand by them, and save them : He shall deliver them from the ungodly, and shall save them, because they put then' trust in Him. PSAL3I xxxyni. Domine, ne in furore. 1 Put me not to rebuke, Lord, in Thuie anger : neither chasten me in Thy heavy displeasiu-e. 2 For Thine arrows stick fast in me : and Thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no health in my flesh, because of Thy displeasure : neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin. 4 For my wickednesses are gone over my head : and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear. 5 My wounds stink, and are corrupt : through my foolishness. 6 I am brought into so great trouble and miseiy : that I go mourniag all the day long. 7 For my loias are filled with a sore disease : and there is no whole part in my body. 8 I am feeble, and sore smitten : I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart. PSALiTS. 47 9 Lord, Tliou knowest all my desire : and my groan- ing is not hid from Thee. 10 Mj heart panteth, my strength hath failed me : and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me. 11 My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my trouble : and my kinsmen stood afar off. 12 They also that sought after my life laid snares for me : and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness, and imagined deceit all the day long. 13 As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not : and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth. 14 I became even as a man that heareth not : and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in Thee, Lord, have I put my trust : Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my Grod. . 16 I have required that they, even mine enemies, should not triumph over me : for when my foot slipped, they rejoiced greatly against me. 17 And I, truly, am set in the plague : and my heaviness is ever in my sight. 18 For I will confess my wickedness : and be sorry for my sin. 19 But mine enemies live, and are mighty : and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number. 20 They also that reward evil for good are against me : because I follow the thing that good is. 21 Forsake me not, Lord my Grod : be not Thou far from me. 22 Haste Thee to help me : O Lord God of my salvation. PSALM XXXIX. Dixi, custodiam. 1 I said, I will take heed to my ways : that I offend not in my tongue. 2 I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle : while the ungodly is in my sight. 3 I held my tongue, and spake nothing : I kept silence, yea, even from good words ; but it was pain and grief to me. 48 psAL:d:s. 4 My heart was hot within me, and while I was thus musing the fire kindled : and at last I spake with my tongue ; 5 Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my days : that I may be certified how long I haye to live. 6 Behold, Thou hast made my days as it were a span long : and mine age is eyen as nothing in respect of Thee; and yerily eyery man liying is altogether yanity. 7 For man wallveth in a yain shadow, and disquieteth himself in yain : he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them. 8 And now. Lord, what is my hope : truly my hope is eyen in Thee. 9 Dehyer me from all mine ofiences : and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish. 10 I became dumb, and opened not my mouth : for it was Thy doing. 11 Take Thy plague away from me : I am eyen con- sumed by the means of Thy heayy hand. 12 When Thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin. Thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment : eyery man there- fore is but yanity. 13 Hear my prayer, Lord, and with Thine ears consider my calHng : hold not Thy peace at my tears. 14 For I am a stranger with Thee : and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 15 O spare me a little, that I may recoyer my strength : before I go hence, and be no more seen. PSALM XLI. Beatus qui intelligit. 1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy: the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble. 2 The Lord preserve him, and keep him alive, that he may be blessed upon earth : and deliver not Thou him into the will of his enemies. PSALMS. 49 3 The Lord comfort hini, wlieu lie lieth sick upon his bed : make Thou all his bed in his sickness. 4 I said, Lord, be merciful unto me : heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. 5 Mine enemies speak evil of me : "Wlien shall he die, and his name perish ? 6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity : and his heart conceiveth falsehood within himself, and when he cometh forth he telleth it. 7 All mine enemies whisper together against me : even against me do they imagine this evil. 8 Let the sentence of guiltiness proceed against him : and now that he lieth, let him rise up no more. 9 Yea, even mine own familiar friend, whom I trusted : who did also eat of my bread, hath laid great wait for me. 10 But be Thou merciful unto me, O Lord : raise Thou me up again, and I shall reward them. 11 By this I know Thou favourest me : that mine enemy doth not triumph against me. 12 And when I am in my health. Thou upholdest me : and shalt set me before Thy face for ever. 13 Blessed be the Lord Grod of Israel : world with- out end. Amen. PSALM XLIL Quemadmodum. 1 Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks : so longeth my soul after Thee, Grod. 2 My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living Grod : when shaU I come to appear before the presence of God ? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night : while they daily say unto me, "Where is now thy God ? 4 N'ow when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself : for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house of God ; 5 In the voice of praise and thanksgiving : among such as keep holy-day. E 50 PSALMS. 6 Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul : and why art thou so disquieted within me ? 7 Put thy trust in God : for I will yet give Him thanks for the help of His countenance. 8 My God, my soul is vexed within me : therefore wWl I remember Thee concerning the land of Jordan, and the little hill of Hermon. 9 One deep calleth another, because of the noise of the water-pipes : all Thy waves and storms are gone over me. 10 The Lord hath granted His lorag-kindness in the day-time : and in the night-season did I sing of Him, and made my prayer unto the God of my life. 11 I T^-ill say unto the God of my strength, "Why hast Thou forgotten me : why go I thus hea\Tly, while the enemy oppresseth me ? 12 My bones are smitten asunder as with a sword : while mine enemies that trouble me cast me in the teeth ; 13 Namely, while they say daily unto me : Where is now thy God ? 14 Why art thou so vexed, my soul : and why art thou so disquieted within me ? 15 put thy trust in God : for I will yet thank Him, which is the help of my countenance, and mv God. PSALM L. Deus deorum. 1 The Lord, even the most mighty God, hath spoken : and called the world, from the rising up of the sun, unto the going down thereof 2 Out of Sion hath God appeared : in perfect beauty. 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence : there shall go before Him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stuTcd up roimd about Him. 4 He shall call the heaven from above : and the earth, that He may judge His people. PSALMS. 51 5 Gather My saints together unto 'Me : those that have made a covenant with Me "with sacrifice. 6 And the heaven shall declare His righteousness : for God is Judge Himself. 7 Hear, O Mv people, and I will speak : I Myself will testify against thee, Israel ; for I am God, even thy God. * 8 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices, or for thy bumt-ofi'erings : because they were not alway before Me. 9 I will take no bullock out of thine house : nor he- goat out of thy folds. 10 For aU the beasts of the forest are Islme : and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls upon the mountains : and the wild beasts of the field are in My sight. 12 If I be hungn,', I will not tell thee : for the whole world is Mine, and all that is therein. 13 Thiukest thou that I ^^ill eat bull's flesh : and di'ink the blood of goats ? 14: Ofi'er unto God thanksgiving : and pay thy vows unto the Most Highest. 15 And caU upon Me in the time of trouble : so win I hear thee, and thou shalt praise Me. 16 But unto the ungodly said God : "WTiy dost thou preach My laws, and takest My covenant in thy mouth : 17 Whereas thou hatest to be reformed : and hast cast My words behind thee ? 18 AVlien thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him : and hast been partaker with the adul- terers. 19 Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness : and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit. 20 Thou satest, and spakest against thy brother : yea, and hast slandered thine own mother's son. 21 These things hast thou done, and I held My tongue, and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself : but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done. £ 2 02 PSALMS. 22 consider this, ye that forget Grod : lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you. 23 Whoso offereth ]Me thanks and praise, he ho- noureth ]Me : and to him that ordereth liis conversation rio[ht will I show the salvation of God. PSAL3I LI. Miserere rnei, Dens. 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy gi'eat goodness : accordinc]; to the multitude of Thv mercies do away mine offences. 2 Wash me throughly fi'om my wickedness : and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my faults : and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in Tliy sight : that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged. 5 Behold, I was shapen in wickedness : and in sin hath my mother conceived me. 6 But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts : and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. 7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean f Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness : that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Turn Thy face from my sins : and put out all my misdeeds. 10 Make me a clean heart, God : and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from Thy presence : and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. 12 give me the comfort of Thy help again ; and stablish me with Thy free Spmt. 13 Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked : and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. 14 DeKver me from blood-guiltiness, God, Thou psal:ms. 53 that art tlie God of my liealtli : and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness. 15 Thou shalt open my lips, Lord : and my mouth shall shew Thy praise. 16 For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee : but Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings. 17 The sacrifice of Grod is a troubled spirit : a broken and contrite heart, God, shalt Thou not despise. 18 O be favourable and gracious unto Sion : build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations : then shall they offer young bullocks upon Thine altar. PSALM LV. Exaudi, Deus. 1 Hear my prayer, O God : and hide not Thyself from my petition. 2 Take heed unto me, and hear me : how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed. 3 The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh on so fast : for they are minded to do me some mischief; so maliciously are they set against me. 4 My heart is disquieted within me : and the fear of death is fallen upon me. 5 Fearfuhiess and trembling are come upon me : and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me. 6 And I said, O that I had wings hke a dove : for then would I flee away, and be at rest. 7 Lo, then would I get me away far off" : and re- main in the wilderness. 8 I would make haste to escape : because of the stormy wind and tempest. 9 Destroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them : for I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go about within the walls thereof : mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. 54 PSALMS. 11 "Wickedness is therein : deceit and guile go not out of tlieir streets. 12 For it is not an open enemy, that hath done me this dishonoiu" : for then I could have borne it. 13 jSTeither was it mine adversary, that did magnify himself against me : for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him. 14 But it was even thou, my companion : my guide, and mine own familiar friend. 15 We took sweet counsel together : and walked in the house of God as friends. 16 Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down quick into hell : for wickedness is in their dweUings, and among them. 17 As for me, I will call upon God : and the Lord shall save me. 18 In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that instantly : and He shall hear my voice. 19 It is He that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me : for there were many with me. 20 Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down : for they ^dll not turn, nor fear God. 21 He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him : and he brake his covenant. 22 The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart : his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords. 23 cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall nourish thee : and shall not suffer the righteous to fall for ever. PSALM LXI. Exaudi, Deus. 1 Hear my crying, God : give ear unto my prayer. 2 From the ends of the earth will I call upon Thee : when my heart is in heaviness. PSALMS. OO 3 set me up upon the rock that is higher than I : for Thou hast been my hope, and a strong tower for me against the enemy. 4 I will dwell in Thy tabernacle for ever : and my trust shall be under the covering of Thy wings. 5 For Thou, Lord, hast heard my desires : and hast given an heritage unto those that fear Thy ^ame. 6 Thou shalt grant the King a long life : that his years may endure throughout all generations. 7 He shall dwell before God for ever : prepare Thy loving mercy and faithfulness, that they may pre- serve him. 8 So vd]\ I alway sing praise unto Thy ]S'ame : that I may daily perform my vows. PSALM LXII. Nonne Deo ? 1 My soul truly waiteth still upon God : for of Him Cometh my salvation. 2 He verily is my strength and my salvation : He is my defence, so that I shall not greatly faU. 3 How long will ye imagine mischief against every man : ye shall be slain aU the sort of you ; yea, as a tottering waU shall ye be, and like a broken hedge. 4 Their device is only how to put him out whom God wiU exalt : their delight is in fies ; they give good words with their mouth, but curse with their heart. 5 Nevertheless, my soul, wait thou still upon God : for my hope is in Him. 6 He truly is my strength and my salvation : He is my defence, so that I shall not faU. 7 In God is my health, and my glory : the rock of my might, and in God is my trust. 8 put your trust in Him alway, ye people : pour out your hearts before Him, for God is our hope. 9 As for the children of men, they are but vanity : the children of men are deceitful upon the weights, they are altogether lighter than vanity itself. 56 PSALMS. 10 trust not in wrong and robbery, give not your- selves unto vanity : if riches increase, set not your lieart upon them. 11 Grod spake once, and twice I have also heard the same : that power belongeth unto Grod ; 12 And that Thou, Lord, art merciful : for Thou rewardest every man according to his work. PSAL31 LXIII. Deus, Deus mens. 1 O God, Thou art my Grod : early will I seek Thee. 2 My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh also longeth after Thee : in a barren and dry land where no water is. 3 Thus have I looked for Thee in holiness : that I might behold Thy power and glory. 4 For Thy loving-kindness is better than the life itself : my Hps shall praise Thee. 5 As long as I live will I magnify Thee on this manner : and lift up my hands in Thy Name. 6 My soLil shall be satisfied, even as it were \vith marrow and fatness : when my mouth praiseth Thee with joyful lips. 7 Have I not remembered Thee in my bed : and thought upon Thee when I was waking ? 8 Because Thou hast been my helper : therefore under the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. 9 My soul hangeth upon Thee : Thy right hand hath upholden me. 10 These also that seek the hurt of my soul : they shall go under the earth. 11 Let them fall upon the edge of the sword : that they may be a portion for foxes. 12 But the King shall rejoice in Grod ; all they also that swear by Him shall be commended : for the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. PSALMS. 57 psal:\i lxyi. Jubilate Deo. 1 be joyfiil in God, all ye lands : sing praises unto the honour of His Xame, make His praise to be glorious. 2 Say unto Grod, how wonderful art Thou in Thy works : through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies be foimd liars unto Thee. 3 Tor all the world shall worship Thee : sing of Thee, and praise Thy Xame. 4 O come hither, and behold the works of God : how wonderful He is in His doing toward the childi^n of men. 5 He turned the sea into dry land : so that they went through the water on foot ; there did we rejoice thereof. 6 He ruleth with His power for ever ; His eyes be- hold the people : and such as will not beheve shall not be able to exalt themselves. 7 O praise our God, ye people : and make the voice of His praise to be heard ; 8 Who holdeth our soul in life : and suffereth not our feet to shp. 9 For Thou, God, hast proved us : Thou also hast tried us, like as silver is tried. 10 Thou broughtest us into the snare : and laidest trouble upon our loins. 11 Thou sufferedst men to ride over oiu' heads : we went through lire and water, and Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. 12 I will go into Thine house with burnt-offerings : and will pay Thee my vows, which I promised with my lips, and spake with my mouth, when I was in trouble. 13 I will offer unto Thee fat bumt-sacriiices, with the incense of rams : I wiU offer bullocks and goats. 14 come hither, and hearken all ye that fear God : and I wiU teU you what He hath done for my soul. 58 PSALMS. 15 I called unto Him with my mouth : and gave Him praises with my tongue. IG If I incline unto wickedness with mine heart : the Lord will not hear me. 17 But Grod hath heard me : and considered the voice of my prayer. 18 Praised be God who hath not cast out my prayer : nor turned His mercy from me. PSALM LXXIII. Quam bonus Israel ! 1 Truly Grod is loving unto Israel : even unto such as are of a clean heart. 2 Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone : my treadings had well-nigh slipt. 3 And why ? I was grieved at the wicked : I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity. 4 Por they are in no peril of death : but are lusty and strong. 5 They come in no misfortune hke other folk : neither are they plagued like other men. 6 And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride : and overAvhelmed with cruelty. 7 Theii' eyes swell with fatness : and they do even what they lust. 8 They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blas- phemy : their talking is against the most High. 9 Por they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven : and their tongue goeth through the world. 10 Therefore fall the people unto them : and there- out suck they no small advantage. 11 Tush, say they, how should God perceive it : is there knowledge in the most High ? 12 Lo, these are the ungodly, these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession : and I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, and washed mine hands in innocency. 13 All the day long have I been punished : and chastened every morning. PSALMS. 50 14 Tea, and I had almost said even as tliey : but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of Thy children. 15 Then thought I to understand this : but it was too hard for me. 16 Until I went into the sanctuary of God : then understood I the end of these men ; 17 Namely, how Thou dost set them in slippery places : and castest them down, and destroyest them. 18 Oh, how suddenly do they consume : perish, and come to a fearful end ! 19 Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh : so shalt Thou make their image to vanish out of the city. 20 Thus my heart was grieved : and it went even through my reins. 21 So foolish was I, and ignorant : even as it were a beast before Thee. 22 Nevertheless, I am alway by Thee : for Thou hast holden me by my right hand. 23 Thou shalt guide me -^ith Thy counsel : and after that receive me with glory. 24 Whom have I in heaven but Thee : and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of Thee. 25 My flesh and my heart faileth : but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 26 For lo, they that forsake Thee shall perish : Thou hast destroyed all them that commit fornication against Thee. 27 But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord God : and to speak of all Thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion. PSALM LXXYII. Voce mea ad Dominum. 1 I will cry unto God with my voice : even unto God will I cry with my voice, and He shall hearken unto me. 60 PSALMS. 2 In the time of mj trouble I sought the Lord : my sore ran, and ceased not in the night season ; my soul refused comfort. 3 "When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God : when my heart is vexed, I will complain. 4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking : I am so feeble, that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old : and the years that are past. 6 I call to remembrance my song : and in the night I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirits. V Will the Lord absent Himself for ever : and will He be no more intreated ? 8 Is His mercy clean gone for ever : and is His promise come utterly to an end for evermore r 9 Hath Grod forgotten to be gracious : and will He shut up His loving-kindness in displeasure ? 10 And I said. It is mine own infirmity : but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most Highest. Ill will remember the works of the Lord : and call to mind Thy wonders of old time. 12 I will think also of all Thy works : and my tally- ing shall be of Thy doings. 13 Thy way, O Grod, is holy : who is so great a God as our God ? 14 Thou art the God that doeth wonders : and hast declared Thy power among the people. 15 Thou hast mightily delivered Thy people : even the sons of Jacob and Joseph. 16 The waters saw Thee, God, the waters saw Thee, and were afraid : the depths also were troubled. 17 The clouds poui'ed out water, the air thundered : and Thine arrows went abroad. 18 The voice of Thy thunder was heard round about : the lightnings shone upon the ground : the earth was moved, and shook withal. 19 Thy way is in the sea, and Thy paths in the great waters : and Thy footsteps are not kno'VMi. PSALMS. 61 20 TIlou leddest Tlir people like sheep : by tlie hand of Moses and Aaron. PSALM LXXXIY. Quam dilecfa ! 1 how amiable are Thy dwellings : Thou Lord of hosts ! 2 My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord : my heart and my flesh rejoice in the hring God. 3 Tea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young : even Thy altars, Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house : they will be alway praising Thee. 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee : in whose heart are Thy ways. 6 Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well : and the pools are Med with water. 7 They will go from strength to strength : and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion. 8 Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer : hearken, God of Jacob. 9 Behold, God our defender : and look upon the face of Thine Anointed. 10 For one day in Thy courts : is better than a thousand. 11 I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God : than to dwell m the tents of ungodliness. 12 For the Lord God is a light and defence : the Lord will give grace and worship, and no good thing shall He withhold from them that hve a godly life. 13 O Lord God of hosts : blessed is the man that putteth his trust in Thee. 62 PSALMS. PSALM LXXXYI. Inclina, Domine. 1 Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, and hear me : for I am poor, and in misery. 2 Preserve Thon my soul, for I am holy : my God, save Thy servant that putteth his trust in Thee. 3 Be merciful unto me, Lord : for I will call daily upon Thee. 4 Comfort the soul of Thy servant : for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For Thou, Lord, art good and gracious : and of great mercy unto all them that call upon Thee. 6 Give ear. Lord, unto my prayer : and ponder the voice of my humble desires. 7 In the time of my trouble, I will call upon Thee : for Thou hearest me. 8 Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O Lord : there is not one that can do as Thou doest. 9 All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship Thee, O Lord : and shall glorify Thy Name. 10 Por Thou art great, and doest wondrous things : Thou art God alone. 11 Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and I will walk in Thy truth : O knit my heart unto Thee, that I may fear Thy name. 12 I will thank Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart : and will praise Thy name for evermore. 13 Por great is Thy mercy toward me : and Thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell. 14 God, the proud are risen against me : and the congregations of naughty men have sought after my soul, and have not set Thee before their eyes. 15 But Thou, Lord God, art full of compassion and mercy : long-suifering, plenteous in goodness and truth. 16 turn Thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me : give Thy strength unto Thy servant, and help the son of Thine handmaid. PSALMS. 63 17 Shew some token upon me for good, that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed : because Thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me. psal:\i lxxxyiii. Domine Deus. 1 Lord Grod of my salvation, I have cried day and night before Thee : let my prayer enter into Thy presence, incline Thine ear unto my calling. 2 For my soul is full of trouble : and my life dravreth nigh unto hell. 3 I am counted as one of them that go down into the pit : and I have been even as a man that hath no strength. 4 Free among the dead, like unto them that are wounded, and lie in the grave : who are out of remem- brance, and are cut away from Thy hand. 5 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit : in a place of darkness, and in the deep. 6 Thine indignation lieth hard upon me : and Thou hast vexed me with all Thy storms. 7 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me : and made me to be abhorred of them. 8 I am so fast in prison : that I cannot get forth. 9 My sight faileth for very trouble : Lord, I have called daily upon Thee, I have stretched forth my hands unto Thee. 10 Dost Thou shew wonders among the dead : or shall the dead rise up again, and praise Thee ? 11 Shall Thy loving-kindness be shewed in the grave : or Thy faithfulness in destruction ? 12 Shall Thy wondrous works be known in the dark : and Thy righteousness in the land where all things are forgotten ? 13 L'nto Thee have I cried, Lord : and early shall my prayer come before Thee. 14 Lord, why abhorrest Thou my soul : and hidest Thou Thy face from me ? 15 I am in miserv, and like unto him that is at the 64j psalms. point to die : even from my youth up Tliy terrors liaye I suffered with a troubled mind. 16 Thy wrathful displeasure goeth over me : and the fear of Thee hath undone me. 17 They came round about me daily like water : and compassed me together on every side. 18 My lovers and friends hast Thoa put away from me : and hid mine acquaintance out of my sight. PSALM XC. Domine, refugium. 1 Lord, Thou hast been our refuge : from one gene- ration to another. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made : Thou art Grod from everlasting, and world without end. 3 Thou turnest man to destruction : again Thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men. 4 For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday : seeing that is past as a watch in the night. 5 As soon as Thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep : and fade away suddenly like the grass. 6 In the morning it is green, and groweth up : but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered. 7 For we consume away in Thy displeasure : and are afraid at Thy wratliful indignation. 8 Thou hast set our misdeeds before Thee : and our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. 9 For when Thou art angiy all our days are gone : we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told. 10 The days of our age are threescore years and ten ; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years : yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow ; so soon it passeth away, and we are gone. 11 But who regardeth the power of Thy wrath : for even thereafter as a man feareth, so is Thy displeasure. 12 So teach us to number our days : that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. PSALMS. 65 13 Turn Thee again, O Lord, at the last : and be gracious unto Thj servants. 1-i O satisfy us with Thv mercy, and that soon : so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life. 15 Comfort us again now after the time that Thou hast plagued us : and for the rears wherein we have suffered adversity, 16 Shew Thy servants Thy work : and their childi^en Thy glory. 17 And the glorious Majesty of the Lord our Grod be upon us : prosper Thou the work of our hands upon us, prosper Thou our handy-work. PSALM XCI. Qui habitat. 1 Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the most High : shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my strong hold : my Grod, in Him will I trust. 3 For He shall dehver thee from the snare of the hunter : and from the noisome pestilence. •i He shall defend thee under His wings, and thou shalt be safe under His feathers : His faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night : nor for the arrow that flieth by day ; 6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness : nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thou- sand at thy right hand : but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Tea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold : and see the reward of the ungodly. 9 For Thou, Lord, art my hope : Thou hast set Thine house of defence very high. 10 There shall no evil happen unto thee : neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For He shall give His angels charge over thee : to keep thee in all thy ways. r bb PSALMS. 12 They shall bear thee in their hands : that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder : the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him : I vrWl set him up, because he hath known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will hear him : yea, I am with him in trouble ; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour. 16 AYith long life will I satisfy him : and shew him My salvation. PSALM XCIY. Deus ultionum, 1 Lord God, to Whom vengeance belongeth : Thou God, to Whom vengeance belongeth, shew Thy- self. 2 Arise, Thou Judge of the world : and reward the proud after their deserving. 3 Lord, how long shall the ungodly : how long shall the ungodly triumph ? 4 How long shall all wicked doers speak so disdain- fully : and make such proud boasting ? 5 They smite down Thy people, Lord : and trouble Thine heritage. 6 They murder the widow, and the stranger : and put the fatherless to death. 7 And yet they say, Tush, the Lord shall not see : neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. 8 Take heed, ye unwise among the people : ye fools, when will ye understand ? 9 He that planted the ear, shall He not hear : or He that made the eye, shall He not see ? 10 Or He that nurtureth the heathen : it is He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not He punish ? 11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man : that they are but vain. PSALMS. 67 12 Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, Lord : and teachest him in Thy law ; 13 That Thou mayest give him patience in time of adversity : until the pit be digged up for the ungodly. 1-4 For the Lord will not fail His people ; neither will He forsake His inheritance ; 15 Lentil righteousness turn again unto judgment : all such as are true in heart shall follow it. 16 Who will rise up with me against the wicked : or who will take my part against the evil doers ? 17 If the Lord had not helped me : it had not failed but my soul had been put to silence. 18 But when I said, My foot hath slipt : Thy mercy. O Lord, held me up. 19 In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart : Thy comforts have refreshed my soul. 20 Wilt Thou have any thing to do with the stool of wickedness : which imagineth mischief as a law ? 21 They gather them together against the soul of the righteous : and condemn the innocent blood. 22 But the Lord is my refuge : and my God is the strength of my confidence. 23 He shall recompense them their wickedness, and destroy them in their own mabce : yea, the Lord our God shall destroy them. PSALM CI. Misericordiam et judicium. 1 My song shall be of mercy and judgment : unto Thee, O Lord, will I sing. 2 let me have understanding : in the way of god- liness. 3 "VMien wilt Thou come unto me : I will walk in my house with a perfect heart. 4 I will take no wicked thing in hand ; I hate the sins of unfaithfulness : there shall no such cleave unto me. 5 A froward heart shall depart from me : I will not know a wicked person. r2 68 PSALMS. 6 "Wlioso privily slandereth his neighbour : him will I destroy. 7 Whoso hath also a proud look and high stomach : I will not suffer him. 8 Mine eyes look upon such as are faithful in the land : that they may dwell with me. 9 "Whoso leadeth a godly life : he shall be my ser- vant. 10 There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house : he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. 11 I shall soon destroy all the ungodly that are in the land : that I may root out all wicked doers from the city of the Lord. PSALM CII. Domine, exaudi. 1 Hear my prayer, Lord : and let my crying come unto Thee. 2 Hide not Thy face from me in the time of my trouble : incline Thine ear unto me when I call; O hear me, and that right soon. 3 Tor my days are consumed away like smoke : and my bones are burnt up as it were a firebrand. 4 My heart is smitten down, and withered like grass : so that I forget to eat my bread. 5 For the voice of my groaning : my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh. 6 I am become like a pelican in the wilderness : and like an owl that is in the desert. 7 I have watched, and am even as it were a sparrow : that sitteth alone upon the house-top. 8 Mine enemies revile me all the day long : and they that are mad upon me are sworn together agaiQst me. 9 For I have eaten ashes as it were bread : and mingled my drink with weeping ; 10 And that because of Thine indignation and wrath : for Thou hast taken me up, and cast me down. 11 My days are gone like a shadow : and I am withered hke grass. PSALMS. 69 12 But Thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever : and Thy remembrance throughout all generations. 13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Sion : for it is time that Thou have mercy upon her, yea, the time is come. Ill And why ? Thy servants think upon her stones : and it pitieth them to see her in the dust. 15 The heathen shall fear Thv IS'ame, Lord : and all the kings of the earth Thy Majesty ; 16 AYhen the Lord shall build up Sion : and when His glory shall appear ; 17 When He tiuneth Him unto the prayer of the poor destitute : and despiseth not their desire. 18 This shall be written for those that come after : and the people which shall be born shall praise the Lord. 19 For He hath looked down from His sanctuari^ : out of the heaven did the Lord behold the earth ; 20 That He might hear the mournings of such as are in captivity : and deliver the children appointed unto death ; 21 That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion : and His worship at Jerusalem ; 22 When the people are gathered together : and the kingdoms also, to serve the Lord. 23 He brought down my strength in my journey : and shortened my days. 21 But I said, my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age : as for Thy years they endure throughout all generations. 25 Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foun- dation of the earth : and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but Thou shalt endiu-e : they all shall wax old as doth a garment ; 27 And as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed : but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail. 28 The children of Thy servants shall continue : and their seed shall stand fast in Thy sight. 70 psal:ms. PSALM cm. Benedic, anima mea, 1 Praise the Lord, my soul : and all that is within me praise His holy Xame. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul : and forget not all His benefits ; 3 "Who forgiveth all thy sin : and healeth all thine infirmities ; 4 "Who saveth thy life from destruction : and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness ; 5 'Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things : making thee young and lusty as an eagle. 6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment : for all them that are oppressed with wrong. 7 He shewed His ways imto Moses : His works unto the children of Israel. 8 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy : long- suffering, and of great goodness. 9 He will not alway be chiding : neither keepeth He His anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins : nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses. 11 For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth : so great is His mercy also toward them that fear Him. 12 Look how wide also the east is from the west : so far hath He set our sins from us. 13 Tea, like as a father pitieth his o^vn children : even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear Him. 14 Por He knoweth whereof we are made ; He re- membereth that we are but dust. 15 The days of man are but as grass : for he flou- risheth as a flower of the field. 16 For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone : and the place thereof shall know it no more. 17 But the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear Hun : and His righteousness upon children's children; 18 Even upon such as keep His covenant : and think upon His commandments to do them. psal:ms. 7X 19 The Lord hath prepared His seat in heaven : and His kingdom ruleth over all. 20 praise the Lord, ye angels of His, je that excel in strength : ye that falfil His commandment, and hearken unto the voice of His words. 21 O praise the Lord, all ye His hosts : ye servants of His that do His pleasure. 22 speak good of the Lord, all ye works of His, in all places of His dominion : praise thou the Lord, O my soul. PSALM CXYI. Dilexi, quoniam. 1 I am well pleased : that the Lord hath heard the voice of my prayer ; 2 That He hath inclined His ear unto me : there- fore will I call upon Him as long as I live. 3 The snares of death compassed me round about : and the pains of heU gat hold upon me. 4 I shall find trouble and heaviness, and I will call upon the Xame of the Lord : Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul. 5 G-racious is the Lord, and righteous : yea, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserveth the simple : I was in misery, and He helped me. 7 Turn again then unto thy rest, my soul : for the Lord hath rewarded thee. 8 And why ? Thou hast delivered my soul from death : mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the Lord : in the land of the living. 10 I believed, and therefore will I speak ; but I was sore troubled : I said in my haste, AU men are liars. 11 What reward shall I give unto the Lord : for all the benefits that He hath done unto me ? 12 I will receive the cup of salvation : and call upon the Name of the Lord. 13 I wlQ pay my vows now in the presence of all 72 PSALMS. His people : right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. 14 Behold, Lord, how that I am Thy servant : I am Thy servant, and the son of Thine handmaid ; Thou hast broken my bonds in sunder. 15 I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving : and will call upon the Name of the Lord. 16 I will pay my vows unto the Lord, in the sight of all His people : in the courts of the Lord's house, even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord. PSALM CXYIIL Confitemini Domino. 1 give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious : because His mercy endureth for ever. 2 Let Israel now confess, that He is gracious : and that His mercy endureth for ever. 3 Let the house of Aaron now confess : that His mercy endureth for ever. 4 Yea, let them now that fear the Lord confess : that His mercy endureth for ever. 5 I called upon the Lord in trouble : and the Lord heard me at large. 6 The Lord is on my side : I Avill not fear what man doeth unto me. 7 The Lord taketh my part with them that help me : therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies. 8 It is better to trust in the Lord : than to put any confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the Lord : than to put any confidence in princes. 10 AH nations compassed me round about : but iu the Name of the Lord will I destroy them. 11 They kept me in on every side, they kept me in, I say, on every side : but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them. 12 They came about me like bees, and are extinct even as the fire among the thorns : for in the Name of the Lord I will destroy them. PSALMS. 73 13 Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall : but the Lord was my help. 14 The Lord is my strength, and my song : and is become my salvation. 15 The voice of joy and health is in the dwelhngs of the righteous : the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass. 16 The right hand of the Lord hath the pre-emi- nence : the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass. 17 I shall not die, but live : and declare the works of the Lord. 18 The Lord hath chastened and corrected me : but He hath not given me over unto death. 19 Open me the gates of righteousness : that I may go into them, and give thanks imto the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord : the righteous shall enter into it. 21 I wiU thank Thee, for Thou hast heard me : and art become my salvation. 22 The same stone which the builders refused : is become the head-stone in the corner. 23 This is the Lord's doing : and it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the Lord hath made : we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Help me now, Lord : Lord, send us now prosperity. 26 Blessed be he that cometh in the Xame of the Lord : we have wished you good luck, ye that are of the house of the Lord. 27 God is the Lord Who hath shewed us light : bind the sacrifice with cords, yea, even unto the horns of the altar. 28 Thou art my God, and I will thank Thee : Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee. 29 give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious ; and His mercv endureth for ever. 74 PSALMS. PSALM CXIX. Beati immaculati. 1 Blessed are those that are undefiled in tlie way : and walk in the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are they that keep His testimonies : and seek Him with their whole heart. 3 Eor they who do no wickedness : walk in His ways. 4 Thou hast charged : that we shall diligently keep Thy commandments. 5 that my ways were made so direct : that I might keep Thy statutes ! 6 So shall I not be confounded : while I have re- spect unto all Thy commandments. 7 I will thank Thee with an unfeigned heart : when I shall have learned the judgments of Thy righteous- ness. 8 I will keep Thy ceremonies : forsake me not utterly. In quo corriget ? 9 "Wherc^-ithal shall a young man cleanse his way : even by ruling himself after Thy word. 10 "VYith my whole heart have I sought Tliee : O let me not go wrong out of Thy commandments. 11 Thy words have I hid within my heart : that I should not sin against Thee. 12 Blessed art Thou, O Lord : teach me Thy statutes. 13 "With my lips have I been telling : of all the judgments of Thy mouth. 11 I have had as great delight in the way of Thy testimonies : as in all manner of riches. 15 I will talk of Thy commandments : and have respect unto Thy ways. 16 My dehght shall be in Thy statutes : and I will not forget Thy word. PSALMS. 75 Retribue servo tuo. 17 O do well unto Thy servant : that I may live, and keep Thy word. 18 Open Thou mine eyes : that I may see the won- drous things of Thy law. 19 I am a stranger upon earth : hide not Thy commandments from me. 20 My soul breaketh out for the very fervent de- sire : that it hath alway unto Thy judgments. 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud : and cursed are they that do err from Thy commandments. 22 O turn from me shame and rebuke : for I have kept Thy testimonies. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me : but Thy servant is occupied in Thy statutes. 24 For Thy testimonies are my delight : and my counsellors. Adhcesit pavimento. 25 My soul cleaveth to the dust : O quicken Thou me, according to Thy word. 26 I have acknowledged my ways, and Thou heardest me : teach me Thy statutes. 27 Make me to understand the way of Thy com- mandments : and so shall I talk of Thy wondrous works. 28 My soul melteth away for very heaviness : com- fort Thou me according unto Thy word. 29 Take from me the way of lying : and cause Thou me to make much of Thy law. 30 I have chosen the way of truth : and Thy judg- ments have I laid before me. 31 I have stuck unto Thy testimonies : Lord, confound me not. 32 I will run the way of Thy commandments : when Thou hast set my heart at liberty. Legem pone. 33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes : and I shall keep it to the end. 76 psal:m:s. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law : yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart. 35 Make me to go in the path of Thy command- ments : for therein is my desire. 36 Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies : and not to covetousness. 37 turn away mine eyes, lest they behold yanity : and quicken Thou me in Thy way. 38 stablish Thy word in Thy servant : that I may fear Thee. 39 Take away the rebulve that I am afraid of : for Thy judgments are good. 40 Behold, my delight is in Thy commandments : O quicken me in Thy righteousness. Et veniat super me. 41 Let Thy loving mercy come also unto me, Lord : even Thy salvation, according unto Thy word. 42 So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers : for my trust is in Thy word. 43 * take not the word of Thy truth utterly out of my mouth : for my hope is in Thy judgments. 44 So shall I alway keep Thy law : yea, for ever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty : for I seek Thy commandments. 46 I will speak of Thy testimonies also, even before kings : and will not be ashamed. 47 And my delight shall be in Thy commandments : which I have loved. 48 My hands also will I lift up imto Thy command- ments, which I have loved : and my study shall be in Thy statutes. Memor esto servi iui. 49 think upon Thy servant, as concerning Thy word : wherein Thou hast caused me to put my trust. 50 The same is my comfort in my trouble : for Thy word hath quickened me. PSALMS. 77 51 The proud have had me exceedingly in derision : yet have I not shrinked from Thy law. 52 For I remembered Thine everlasting judgments, Lord : and received comfort. 53 I am horribly afraid : for the ungodly that for- sake Thy law. 54 Thy statutes have been my songs : in the house of my pilgrimage. 55 I have thought upon Thy Name, O Lord, in the night- season : and have kept Thy law. 5G This I had : because I kept Thy commandments. Portio mea, Domine. 57 Thou art my portion, Lord : I have promised to keep Thy law. 58 I made my humble petition in Thy presence with my whole heart : O be merciful unto me, according to Thy word. 59 I called mine own ways to remembrance : and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and prolonged not the time : to keep Thy commandments. 61 The congregations of the ungodly have robbed me : but I have not forgotten Thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee : because of Thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear Thee : and keep Thy commandments. 64 The earth, Lord, is full of Thy mystery : teach me Thy statutes. Bonitatem fecisti. 65 Lord, Thou hast dealt graciously with Thy servant : according unto Thy word. QQ learn me true understanding and knowledge : for I have believed Thy commandments. 67 Before I was troubled I went wrong : but now have I kept Thy word. 68 Thou art good and gracious : O teach me Thy statutes. 78 PSALilS. 69 The proud have imagined a lie against me : but I ^vill keep Thv commandments with mj whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as brawn : but mv dehght hath been in Thy law. 71 It is good for me that I have been in trouble : that I may learn Thy statutes. 72 The law of Tliy mouth is dearer unto me : than thousands of gold and silver. Manus tua fecerunt me. 73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me : give me understanding, that I may learn Thy com- mandments. 7-1 They that fear Thee will be glad when they see me : because I have put my trust in Thy word. 75 I know, Lord, that Thy judgments are right : and that Thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled. 76 let Thy merciful kindness be my comfort : according to Thy word unto Thy servant. 77 O let Thy loving mercies come unto me, that I may live : for Thy law is my delight. 78 Let the proud be confounded, for they go vrickedly about to destroy me : but I wiU be occupied in Thy commandments. 79 Let such as fear Thee, and have known Thy tes- timonies : be tui'ned unto Thee. 80 O let my heart be sound in Thy statutes : that I be not ashamed. Defecit anima mea. 81 My soul hath longed for Thy salvation : and I have a good hope because of Thy word. 82 Mine eyes long sore for Thy word : saying, O when wilt Thou comfort me ? 83 For I am become Hke a bottle in the smoke : yet do I not forget Thy statutes. 84 How many are the days of Thy servant : when wilt Thou be avenged of them that persecute me ? PSALMS. 79 85 The proud have digged pits for me : which are not after Thy law. 86 All Thy commandments are true : they persecute me falsely ; he Thou mj help. 87 They had almost made an end of me upon earth : but I forsook not Thy commandments. 88 O quicken me after Thy loving-kindness : and so shall I keep the testimonies of Thy mouth. In ceternum, Domine. 89 O Lord, Thy word : endureth for eyer in heayen. 90 Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another : Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth. 91 They continue this day according to Thine ordi- nance : for all things serye Thee. 92 If my dehght had not been in Thy law : I should haye perished in my trouble. 93 I will neyer forget Thy commandments : for with them Thou hast quickened me. 94; I am Thine, saye me : for I haye sought Thy commandments . 95 The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me : but I will consider Thy testimonies. 96 I see that all things come to an end : but Thy commandment is exceeding broad. Quomodo dilexi ! 97 Lord, what loye haye I unto Thy law : aU the day long is my study in it. 98 Thou through Thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies : for they are eyer with me. 99 I haye more understanding than my teachers : for Thy testimonies are my study. 100 I am wiser than the aged : because I keep Thy commandments. 101 I haye refrained my feet from eyery eyil way : that I may keep Thy word. so PSALMS. 102 I have not shrunk from Thy judgments : for Thou teachest me. 103 O how sweet are Thy words unto my throat : yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth. 104 Through Thy commandments I get understand- ing : therefore I hate all e^oL ways. Lucerna pedibus meis. 105 Thy word is a lantern unto my feet : and a light unto my paths. 106 I have sworn, and am stedfastly purposed : to keep Thy righteous judgments. 107 I am troubled above measure : quicken me, Lord, according to Thy word. 108 Let the free-will offerings of my mouth please Thee, Lord : and teach me Thy judgments. 109 My soul is alway in my hand : yet do I not forget Thy law. 110 The ungodly have laid a snare for me : but yet I swerved not from Thy commandments. 111 Thy testimonies have I claimed as mine heri- tage for ever : and why ? they are the very joy of my heart. 112 I have applied my heart to fulfil Thy statutes alway : even unto the end. Iniquos odio habui. 113 I hate them that imagine evil things : but Thy law do I love. 114 Thou art my defence and shield : and my trust is in Thy word. 115 Away from me, ye wicked : I will keep the com- mandments of my God. 116 stablish me according to Thy word, that I may live : and let me not be disappointed of my hope. 117 Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe : yea, my delight shall be ever in Thy statutes. *118 Thou hast trodden do^vn all them that depart from Thy statutes : for they imagine but deceit. PSALMS. 81 119 Thou puttest away all the ungodly of the earth like dross : therefore I love Thv testimonies. 120 My flesh trembleth for fear of Thee : and I am afraid of Thy judgments. Feci judicium. 121 I deal with the thing that is lawful and right : O give me not over unto mine oppressors. 122 Make Thou Thy servant to delight in that which is good : that the proud do me no wrong. 123 Mine eyes are wasted away with looking for Thy health : and for the word of Thy righteousness. 121j deal with Thy servant according unto Thy loving mercy : and teach me Thy statutes. 125 I am Thy servant, grant me understanding : that I may know Thy testimonies. 126 It is time for Thee, Lord, to lay to Thine hand : for they have destroyed Thy law. 127 For I love Thy commandments : above gold and precious stone. 128 Therefore hold I straight all Thy command- ments : and all false ways I utterly abhor. Mirabilia. 129 Thy testimonies are wonderful : therefore doth my soul keep them. 130 "When Thy word goeth forth : it giveth light and understanding unto the simple. 131 I opened my mouth, and drew in my breath : for my delight was in Thy commandments. 132 look Thou upon me, and be merciful unto me : as Thou usest to do unto those that love Thy Name. 133 Order my steps in Thy word : and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me. 134 deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men : and so shall I keep Thy conunandments. 135 Shew the light of Thy countenance upon Thy servant : and teach me Thy statutes. 82 PSALMS. 136 Mine eyes gush out with water : because men keep not Thy law. Justus es, Domine. 137 Eighteous art Thou, Lord : and true is Thy judgment. 138 The testimonies that Thou hast commanded: are exceeding righteous and true. 139 My zeal hath even consumed me : because mine enemies have forgotten Thy words. 140 Thy word is tried to the uttermost : and Thy servant loveth it. 141 I am small, and of no reputation : yet do I not forget Thy commandments. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteous- ness : and Thy law is the truth. 143 Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me : yet is my delight in Thy commandments. 144 The righteousness of Thy testimonies is ever- lasting : O grant me understanding, and I shall live. Clamavi in toto corde meo. 145 I call with my whole heart : hear me, Lord, I will keep Thy statutes. 146 Yea, even unto Thee do I call : help me, and I shall keep Thy testimonies. 147 Early in the morning do I cry unto Thee : for in Thy word is my trust. 148 IVline eyes prevent the night-watches : that I might be occupied in Thy words. 149 Hear my voice, Lord, according unto Thy loving-kindness : quicken me, according as Thou art wont. 150 They draw nigh that of malice persecute me : and are far from Thy law. 151 Be thou nigh at hand, Lord : for all Thy commandments are true. 152 As concerning Thy testimonies, I have known long since : that Thou hast grounded them for ever. PSALMS. 83^ Vide htimilifatem. 153 consider mine adversity, and deliver me : for I do not forget Thy law. 154 Avenge Thou my cause, and deliver me : quicken me, according to Thy word. 155 Health is far from the ungodly : for they regard not Thy statutes. 156 Great is Thy mercy, O Lord : quicken me, as Thou art wont. 157 Many there are that trouble me, and persecute me : yet do I not swerve from Thy testimonies. 158 It grieveth me when I see the transgressors : because they keep not Thy law. 159 Consider, O Lord, how I love Thy command- ments : quicken me, according to Thy loving-kind- ness. 160 Thy word is true from everlasting : all the judg- ments of Thy righteousness endure for evermore. Principes persecuH sunt. 161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause : but my heart standeth in awe of Thy word. 162 I am as glad of Thy word : as one that findeth great spoils. 163 As for lies, I hate and abhor them : but Thy law do I love. 164 Seven times a day do I praise Thee : because of Thy righteous judgments. 165 Great is the peace that they have who love Thy law : and they are not offended at it. 166 Lord, I have looked for Thy saving health : and done after Thy commandments. 167 My soul hath kept Thy testimonies : and loved them exceedingly. 168 I have kept Thy commandments and testi- monies : for all my ways are before Thee. Appropinquet deprecatio. 169 Let my complaint come before Thee, Lord, give me understanding, according to Thy word. G 2 84 PSALMS. 170 Let mj supplication come before Thee : deliver me, according to Thy word. 171 My lips shall speak of Thy praise : when Thou hast taught me Thy statutes. 172 Tea, my tongue shall sing of Thy word : for all Thy commandments are righteous. i73 Let Thine hand help me : for I have chosen Thy commandments. i74 I have longed for Thy saving health, Lord : and in Thy law is my delight. 175 let my soul live, and it shall praise Thee : and Thy judgments shall help me. 176 I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost : O seek Thy servant, for I do not forget Thy command- ments. PSALM CXXX. De profundis. 1 Out of the deep have I called unto Thee, Lord : Lord, hear my voice. 2 let Thine ears consider well : the voice of my complaint. 3 If Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss : Lord, who may abide it ? 4 For there is mercy with Thee : therefore shalt Thou be feared. 5 I look for the Lord ; my soul doth wait for Him : in His word is my trust. 6 My soul fieeth unto the Lord : before the morn- ing watch, I say, before the morning watch. 7 O Israel, trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy : and with Him is plenteous redemp- tion. 8 And He shall redeem Israel : from all his sins. PSALMS. 85 PSALM CXXXIX. Domine, probasti. 1 Lord, Thou hast searched me out, and known me : Thou knowest my down-sitting, and mine up- rising ; Thou understandest my thoughts long before. 2 Thou art about my path, and about my bed : and spiest out all my ways. B For lo, there is not a word in my tongue : but Thou, Lord, knowest it altogether. 4 Thou hast fashioned me behind and before : and laid Thine hand upon me. 5 Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me : I cannot attain unto it. 6 Whither shall I go then from Thy spirit : or whither shall I go then from Thy presence ? 7 If I climb up into heaven. Thou art there : if I go down to hell, Thou art there also. 8 If I take the wings of the morning : and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea ; 9 Even there also shall Thy hand lead me : and Thy right hand shall hold me. 10 If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me : then shall my night be turned to day. 11 Yea, the darkness is no darkness with Thee, but the night is as clear as the day : the darkness and light to Thee are both alike. 12 For my reins are Thine : Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 13 I wiU give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made : marvellous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. 14 My bones are not hid from Thee : though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth. 15 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being im- perfect : and in Thy book were all my members writ- ten; 16 "Which day by day were fashioned : when as yet there was none of them. 86 psal:ms. 17 How dear are Thy counsels unto me, Grod : how great is the sum of them ! 18 K I tell them, they are more in number than the sand : when I wake up I am present with Thee. 19 AYilt Thou not slay the wicked, O Grod : depart from me, ye blood-thirsty men. 20 For they speak unrighteously against Thee : and Thine enemies take Thy Name in vain. 21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee : and am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee ? 22 Tea, I hate them right sore : even as though they were mine enemies. 23 Try me, Grod, and seek the ground of my heart : prove me, and examine my thoughts. 24 Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me : and lead me in the way everlasting. PSALM CXLI. Domine, clamavu 1 Lord, I call upon Thee, haste Thee unto me : and consider my voice when I cry unto Thee. 2 Let my prayer be set forth in Thy sight as the incense : and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. 3 Set a watch, Lord, before my mouth : and keep the door of my lips. 4 O let not mine heart be inclined to any evil thing : let me not be occupied in ungodly works with the men that work wickedness, lest I eat of such things as please them. 5 Let the righteous rather smite me friendly : and reprove me. 6 But let not their precious balms break my head : yea, I will pray yet against their wickedness. 7 Let their judges be overthrown in stony places : that they may hear my words, for they are sweet. 8 Our bones lie scattered before the pit : like as when one breaketh and heweth wood upon the earth. PSALMS. 87 9 But mine eyes look unto Thee, Lord G-od : in Thee is my trust, cast not out my soul. 10 Keep me from the snare that they have laid for me : and from the traps of the wicked doers. 11 Let the ungodly fall into their own nets together : and let me ever escape them. PSALM CXLII. Voce mea ad Dominum. 1 I cried unto the Lord with my Toice : yea, even unto the Lord did I make my supplication. 2 I poured out my complaints before Him : and shewed Him of my trouble. 3 When my spirit was in heaviness Thou knewest my path : in the way wherein I walked have they pri- vily laid a snare for me. 4 I looked also upon my right hand : and saw there was no man that would know me. 5 I had no place to flee unto : and no man cared for my soul. 6 I cried unto Thee, Lord, and said : Thou art my hope, and my portion in the land of the living. 7 Consider my complaint : for I am brought very low. 8 O deliver me from my persecutors : for they are too strong for me. 9 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks unto Thy N'ame : which thing if Thou wilt grant me, then shall the righteous resort unto my company. PSALM CXLin. Domine, exaudi. 1 Hear my prayer, Lord, and consider my desire : hearken unto me for Thy truth and righteousness* sake. 2 And enter not into judgment with Thy servant : for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. 3 Por the enemy hath persecuted my soul ; he hath 8^ PSALMS. smitten my life down to the ground : he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men that have been long dead. 4 Therefore is my spirit vexed within me : and my heart within me is desolate. 5 Yet do I remember the time past ; I muse upon all Thy works : yea, I exercise myself in the works of Thy hands. 6 I stretch forth my hands unto Thee : my soul gaspeth unto Thee as a thirsty land. 7 Hear me, O Lord, and that soon, for my spirit waxeth faint : hide not Thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 8 let me hear Thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning, for in Thee is my trust : shew Thou me the way that I should walk in, for I lift up my soul unto Thee. 9 Deliver me, Lord, from mine enemies : for 1 flee unto Thee to hide me. 10 Teach me to do the thmg that pleaseth Thee, for Thou art my Grod : let Thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness. 11 Quicken me, Lord, for Thy Name's sake : and for Thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 And of Thy goodness slay mine enemies : and destroy all them that vex my soul; for I am Thy servant. LESSONS CAUSE AND END OF SICKNESS, AND THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTY IN SEASONS OF AFFLICTION. LESSON I. Job v.— behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth : therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: for He maketh sore, and bindeth up : He woundeth, and His hands make whole. Deut. xxxii. — See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god but Me : I kill, and I make alive : I wound, and I heal : neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand. 1 Sam. ii. — The Lord killeth, and maketh ahve : He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. Ps. xxxviii. — There is no health in my flesh, be- cause of Thy displeasure: neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin. Ps. xc. — Eor we consume away in Thy displeasure : and are afraid at Thy \sTathful indignation. Thou hast set our misdeeds before Thee : and our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. Eor when Thou art angry all our days are gone : we bring oiu' years to an end, as it were a tale that is told. 90 LESSORS. Ps. xxxii. — For Tliv liand is heav^^ upon me day and niglit : and my moisture is like the drought in summer. I will acknowledge my sin unto Thee : and mine unrighteousness have I not hid. I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord : and so Thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin. Lam. iii. — AYherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins ? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. IsA. Iv. — Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near : let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts ; and let him return unto the Lord, and He Avill have mercy upon him ; and to our God, for He will abun- dantly pardon. Peov. xxviii. — He that covereth his sins shall not prosper : but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. IsA. xxix. — Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us 'r and who knoweth us? Jee. v. — Lord, are not Thine eyes upon the truth r Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved : Thou hast consumed them, but they have re- fused to receive correction : they have made their faces harder than a rock : they have refused to return. Therefore I said, Surely these are poor ; they are foolish : for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God. LESSOX II. Heb. xii. WHEEEFOEE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set LESSONS. 91 before us, looking imto Jesus the author and finisher of our fiiith ; AAlio for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endureth such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Te have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him : for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He re- ceiveth. If ye endure chastening, Grod dealeth with you as with sons ; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not ? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Farthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection imto the Father of spirits, and live ? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure ; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His Holiness. Kow no chastening for the present seemeth to be joy- ous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yield*eth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. LESSORS' III. 1 St. Pet. iv. FOEASIMUCH then as Christ hath suifered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind : for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin ; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the vnll of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the ^-ill of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of "SNine, revel- 92 LESSORS. lings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries : wberein tbey think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of jou: who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live ac- cording to Grod in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand : be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves : for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fier}' trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Chi'ist's sufferings ; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the Spirit of glory and of Grod rest- eth upon you : on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you sufi'er as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed ; but let him glorify Grod on this behalf For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of Grod : and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of Grod ? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ? Wherefore let them that sufier ac- cording to the will of Grod commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. LESSO:^ lY. Rom. viii. FOE I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory LESSO>'S. 93 whicli shall be revealed in us. For the earnest ex- pectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made sub- ject to vanity, not vrillingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of cor^ ruption into the glorious liberty of the children of Grod. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope : but hope that is seen is not hope : for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for ? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities : for we know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the Spirit Itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of Grod. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love G-od, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow. He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did pre- destinate, them He also called : and whom He called, them He also justified : and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things ? If God be for us, who can be against us ? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things ? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect ? It is God that justifieth. "Who is he that condemneth ? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that i& risen again. Who is even at the rigrht hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for 94 LESSORS. us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? As it is written. For Thy sake we are killed all the day long ; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Tor I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor tilings present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. LESSON Y. 2 Cor. iv. v. WE are troubled on every side, yet not distressed ; we are perplexed, but not in despair ; persecuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, but not destroyed ; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. Eor we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also beheve, and therefore speak ; knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. Eor all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of Grod. Eor which cause we faint not ; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. Eor our light affliction, which is but for a mo- ment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory ; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen : for the LESSORS. 95 things whicli are seen are temporal; but tlie things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this taber- nacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven : if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Xow He that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God, "VYho also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord : (for we walk by faith, not by sight :) we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. "Where- fore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Know- ing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. LESSO^^ YI. EccLus. ii. MT son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation. Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in the time of trouble. Cleave unto Him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end. Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate. For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. Beheve in Him, and He will help Thee ; order thy way aright and trust in Him. Ye that feai* the Lord, wait for His mercy ; and go not aside, lest 96 LESSONS. ye fall. Ye that fear the Lord, believe Him : and yoiir reward shall not fail. Te that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy. Look at the generations of old, and see : did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded ? or did any abide in His fear, and was forsaken r or whom did He ever despise, that called upon Him ? For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, long-suffering, and ver^- pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of afflic- tion. "Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two ways ! Woe unto him that is fainthearted ! for he believeth not ; therefore shall he not be defended. Woe unto you that have lost patience ! and what will ye do when the Lord shall "sisit you. They that fear the Lord will not disobey His word : and they that love Him will keep His ways. They that fear the Lord Avill seek that which is well- pleasing unto Him : and they that love Him shall be filled with the law. They that fear the Lord will pre- pare theii' hearts, and humble their souls in His sight, saying. We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men : for as His majesty is, so is His mercv. LESSOX YIL St. Jas. i. V. MY brethren, count it aU joy when ye fall into divers temptations ; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Lf any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, That giveth to aU men hberaUy, and up- braideth not ; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing waveriug. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his wavs. Let the brother of low LESSONS. 97 degree rejoice in tliat lie is exalted : but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass awaj. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth : so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temp- tation : for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of Grod : for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin : and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient ; stabhsh your hearts : for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grrudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned : behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suftering aj93iction, and of pa- tience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Te have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord ; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. LESSOiS^ YIII. ECCLUS. V. SET not thy heart upon thy goods : and say not, I have enough for my life. Eollow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the ways of thy heart : and say not, Who shall control me for my works ? for the Lord will surely revenge thy pride. Say not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me ? H 98 LESSOIfS for the Lord is longsuffering, He will in no wise let thee go. Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin : and say not, His mercy is great : He will be pacified for the multitude of my sins : for mercy and wrath come from Him, and His indignation resteth upon sinners. Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not oif from day to day : for sud- denly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance. LESSON IX. Heb. ii. iii. and iv. THEEEFOEE we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip, Eor if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward ; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him ; Grod also bearing them witness, both with signs and won- ders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will ? Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living Grod. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day ; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Eor we are made partakers of Clu-ist, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end ; while it is said. To day if ye ^vill hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Eor some, when they had heard, did provoke : howbeit not all that came out of Eg>^t by Moses. But with whom was He grieved forty years ? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness ? And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not ? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Oy PATIENCE, &c. 99 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of tou should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them : but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Tor the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing eyen to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and mar- row, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. jSTeither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight : but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we haye to do. LESSOX X. Jer. xvii. THUS saith the Loed ; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Loed. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good Cometh ; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Loed, and whose hope the Loed is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the riyer, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drouojht, neither shall cease from yielding^ fruit. The heart is deceitful aboye all things, and desperately wicked : who can know it ? I the Loed search the heart, I try the reins, even to give to every man ac- cording to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. H 2 100 LESSOXS LESSOJS^ XI. • 1 Cor. X. MOEEOVEE, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed thi'ough the sea ; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea ; and did all eat the same spiritual meat ; and did all drink the same spiritual drink : for they drank of the spiri- tual Eock that followed them: and that Eock was Christ. But with many of them Grod was not well pleased : for they were overthrown in the wilderness. iVow these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. JSTeither be ye idolaters, as were some of them ; as it is written. The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Xeither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. IVeither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of ser- pents. JS'either murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. JSTow all these things happened unto them for eusamples : and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. AYherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man : but God is faithful, "Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able ; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. LESSOX XII. Rom. ii. THEEEEOEE thou art inexcusable, man, who- soever thou art that judgest : for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself ; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judg- ox PATIENCE, &C. 101 ment of Grod is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of Grod? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and for- bearance and longsuffering ; not knowing that the goodness of Grod leadeth thee to repentance ? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and reve- lation of the righteous judgment of Grod ; Who will render to every man according to his deeds : to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life : but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Grentile ; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Grentile : for there is no respect of persons with Grod. LESSON XIII. 2 St. Pet. ii. FOE if Grod spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment ; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly ; and tiu-ning the cities of Sodom and Gromorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly ; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked : (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds ;) the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished : but 102 LESSO]!fS chiefly tliem that walk after the flesh in the lust of un- cleanness, and despise government. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Clnist, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment dehvered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again ; and the sow that was washed to her wallovring in the mire. LESSON XIY. 2 St. Pet. iii. THIS second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you ; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance : that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour : kno^ving this first, that there shall come in the last days scoflers, walking after their own lusts, and sa^-ing, "Where is the promise of His commg ? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water : whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished : but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved uuto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness ; but is longsufi'ering to us-ward, not ^iLhng that any ox PATIEIS'CE, &C. 103 should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Eut the day of the Lord mil come as a thief in the night ; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat ? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. AYherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And accoiint that the longsnffering of our Lord is salvation. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savioiu- Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 104 LESSORS LESSONS ON THE CREED. LESSOIS" I. St. John iii. AND no man liatli ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man AYhich is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the ser- pent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man 136 lifted up : That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world ; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned : but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Xame of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the hght, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the hght, that his deeds may be made manifest, that thev are wrought in God. LESSON II. 1 St. Johx iv. IX this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sms. Be- loved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we ox THE CREED. 105 love one another, God dwelletli in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit. And we have seen, and do testify that the rather sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of Grod, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and beheved the love that God hath to us. God is love ; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made per- fect, that we may have boldness in the day of judg- ment : because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love ; but perfect love casteth out fear : because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. AYe love Him, because He first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar : for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God "VYhom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. LESSOR III. 1 St. John iii. BEHOLD, what manner of love the Eather hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God : therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shaU appear, we shall be like Him ; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him piu'ifieth himself, even as He is pure. AVhosoever committeth sin transgress- eth also the law : for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins ; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not : whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you : he that doeth righteousness 106 LESSONS is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that com- mitteth sin is of the de^-il ; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of Grod was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of Grod doth not commit sin ; for his seed remaineth in him : and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of Grod are manifest, and the children of the devil : whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that je heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, LESSORS' lY. 1 St. Pet. i. BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the re- surrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an in- heritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. "WHierein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations : that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried T\-ith fire, might be found unto praise and honour and gloiy at the appear- ing of Jesus Christ : Whom having not seen, ye love ; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice vdth joy unspeakable and full of glory : re- ceiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the gi'ace that shoidd come unto you : searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when It testified beforehand the sufi*erings of Christ, and the glory that should foUow. L^nto whom it was revealed, that not unto Q-S THE CEEED. 107 themselves, but unto us tliej did minister tlie things, which are now reported unto jou hj them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven ; which things the angels desire to look into. "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance : but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation ; because it is written, Be ye holy ; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, "Who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear : forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers ; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot : Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in Grod, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory ; that your faith and hope might be in Grod. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently : being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of Grod, which liveth and abideth for ever. Por all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof faUeth away : but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. LESSON V. St. John i. TN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in 108 LESSOT^S the beginning with God. All things were made by Him ; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life ; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness ; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, Which lighteth every man that Cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: whicli were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the AYord was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of gi^ace and truth. LESSON YI. Heb. i. GOD, "Who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by AVliom also He made the worlds ; "Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high ; being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said He at any time. Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee ? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son? And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into ox THE CEEED. 109 the world. He saith, And let all the angels of Grod worship Him. And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son He saith, Thv throne, O God, is for ever and ever : a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity ; therefore Grod, even Thy Grod, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the begin- ning hast laid the foundation of the earth ; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands : they shall perish ; but Thou remainest ; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment ; and as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed : but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail. But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool ? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ? LESSOX YII. St. Luke i. AXD in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent jfrom God unto a city of Galilee, named Xazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee : blessed art thou araono: women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, ^lary : for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest : and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David : and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever ; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. Then said 110 LESSORS Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man ? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee : therefore also that holy tiling which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age : and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. Eor with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord ; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. LESSOX yiii. St. Luke ii. AXD it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when C}Tenius was governor of S^rria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of jN'azareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem ; (because he was of the house and lineage of David :) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first- bom son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger ; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them : and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Eear not : for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Eor unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shaU be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped ox THE CEEED. Ill in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And sud- denly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising Grod, and saying, Grlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another. Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made kno^\Ti unto us. And they came with liaste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them con- cerning this child. And all they that heard it won- dered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pon- dered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the cir- cumcising of the child, His name was called JESL^S, which was so named of the angel before he was con- ceived in the womb. LESSON IX. St. Matt. iv. THEN was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wil- derness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights. He was after- ward an hungred. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, K Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But He answered and said. It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written. He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee : and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou 112 LESSORS dash Thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh Hira up into an exceed- ing higli moimtain, and shevreth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them ; and saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the de^il leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him. LESSON X. St, Mark viii. AXD Jesus went out, and His disciples, into the towns of Cesarea Philippi : and by the way He asked His disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am ? And they answered, John the Baptist : but some say, Elias ; and others, One of the prophets. And He saith unto them. But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto Him, Thou art the Christ. And He charged them that they should tell no man of Him. And He began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He spake that saying openly. And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned about and looked on His disciples. He rebuked Peter, saying. Get thee behind Me, Satan : for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said uuto them, A\Tiosoever will come after jNIe, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it ; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. Por what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ? Or what ox THE CEEED. 118 shall a man give iu exchange for his soul ? AVliosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. LESSO^^ XI. St. Matt. xxvi. THEN Cometh Jesus Avith them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ve here, while I go and pray yonder. And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavv. Then saith He unto them. My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tari-y ye here, and watch with Me. And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me : nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou Tsilt. And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, A\Tiat, could ye not watch with Me one hour ? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation : the spirit mdeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it. Thy will be done. 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, saying the same words. 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 be- trayed into the hands of sinners. Eise, let us be going : behold, he is at hand that doth betray Me. LESSON XII. St. John xix. THEX PHate therefore took Jesus, and scoursjed Him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and I 114 LESSORS put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews ! and thej smote Him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring Him forth to YOU, that ye may know that I find no fault in Him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man ! "When the chief priests therefore and ofiicers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Cinicify Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them. Take ye Him, and crucify Him : for I find no fault in Him. The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of Grod. When Pilate therefore heard that say- ing, he was the more afraid ; and went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, "WHience art Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto Him, Speakest Thou not unto me? knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and have power to release Thee ? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above : therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him : but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. "When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour : and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them. Shall I crucify your King ? The chief priests answered, AYe have no king but Csesar. Then delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away. ox THE CEEED. 115 St. Luke xxii. AXD as tliey led Hini away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cvrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus tm-ning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for your- selves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, FaU on us ; and to the hills. Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry ? And there were also two other, malefactors, led with Him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do. And they parted His raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood behold- ing. And the rulers also with them derided Him, say- ing, He saved others ; let Him save Himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of Grod. And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vine- gar, and saying, If Thou be the king of the Jews, save Thyself. And a superscription also was written over Him in letters of G-reek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KlXa OF THE JEAYS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying. If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked Him, saying. Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemna- tion ? xind we indeed justly ; for we receive the due reward of our deeds : but this man hath done nothing- amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember .me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Yerily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise. I 2 116 L£SSo:n's St. Matt, xxvii. NOAY from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say. My God, My Grod, why hast Thou forsaken Me ? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and fihed it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink. The rest said. Let be, let us see whether EHas will come to save Him. Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, jdelded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom ; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent ; and the graves were opened ; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watchmg Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying. Truly This was the Son of God. St. John xix. THE Jews therefore, because it was the prepara- tion, that the body should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead abeady, they brake not His legs : but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out 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. Eor these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, ox THE CKEED. 117 They shall look on Him whom they pierced. And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus : and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also ]S"ico- demus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hun- dred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. !N'ow in the place where He was crucified there was a garden ; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. St. Matt, xxvii. :^0W the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came to- gether unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, Al'ter three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepul- chre be made sure until the third day, lest His dis- ciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say unto the people. He is risen from the dead : so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Te have a watch : go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. LESSON XIII. IsA. liii. WHO hath believed our report ? and to whom is the arm of the Loed revealed ? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground : He hath no form nor comeliness ; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we 118 LESSORS sliould desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men ; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief : and we hid as it were our faces from Him ; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surelj He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows : yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray ; we have turned every one to his own way ; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth : He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment : and who shall declare His generation r for He was cut off out of the land of the living : for the transgression of ]\Iy people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin. He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasui-e of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shaU be satis- fied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many ; for He shall bear their iniquities. There- fore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong ; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors ; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the trans- gressors. ox THE CEEED. 119 LESSON XIY. ' Rom. vi. IvXOW ye not, tHat so many of us as -^ere baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, eyen so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we haye been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the Kkeness of His resurrection : knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serye sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Xow if we be dead with Christ, we belieye that we shall also live with Him : knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more ; death hath no more dominion oyer Him. For in that He died. He died unto sin once: but in that He liyeth, He liyeth unto Grod. Likewise reckon ye also yourselyes to be dead indeed unto sin, but aliye unto G-od through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instalments of un- righteousuess unto sin : but yield yourselyes unto God, as those that are aliye from the dead, and your mem- .bers as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not haye dominion over you : for ye are not under the law, but under grace. "What then ? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace ? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey ; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness ? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was de- livered you. Being then made free from sin, ye be- came the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh : 120 LESSO>^S for as ye have pelded voiir members servants to un- cleanness, and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to rigliteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye Avere free from righteousness. "What fr^iit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed ? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death ; but the gift of Grod is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. LESSOX XY. Phil. ii. IF there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or Aainglory ; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on tlie things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus : Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God : but made Him- self of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men : and being found in fashion as a man. He Immbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. AVherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name : that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth ; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, ' work out your o^tl salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God vrhich worketh in you both Oy THE CREED. 121 to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things -without murmurings and disputings : that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without re- buke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as Lights in the world ; holding forth the word of hfe ; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. LESSON xat:. Acts ii. YE men of Israel, hear these words ; Jesus of Xazareth, a man approved of Grod among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which Grod did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know : Him, being dehvered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain : "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death : because it was not possible that He should be holden of it. Eor David speaketh concerning Him, I foresaw the Lord always before My face, for He is on My right hand, that I shoidd not be moved : therefore did My heart rejoice, and My tongue was glad ; moreover also My flesh shall rest in hope : because Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell, neither wilt Thou sufier Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to Me the ways of life ; Thou shalt make Me fiiU of joy with Thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loiQS, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in heU, neither His flesh did see con-uption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 122 LESSORS LESSOR XYII. St. Mark xvi. AXD when tlie sabbath was past, IMary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, AYho shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepul- chre ? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away : for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment ; and they were aftrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not afirighted: Ye seek Jesus of Xazareth, "Which was crucified : He is risen ; He is not here : behold the place wliere they laid Him. But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee : there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepul- chre ; for they trembled and were amazed : neither said they any thing to any man ; for they were afraid. Xow when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with Hun, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that He was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that He appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue : neither believed they them. Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they be- lieved not them which had seen Him after He was risen. And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he ON THE CEEED. 123 that believetli not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe ; In ]My name shall they cast out devils ; they shall speak with new tongues ; they shall take up serpents ; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them ; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. LESSOX XYIII. St. John xx. THEX the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the dis- ciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them. Peace be unto you. And when He had so said. He shewed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the dis- ciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again. Peace* be unto you : as My Eather hath sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Ee- ceive ye the Holy Grhost : whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them ; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. But Thomas, one of the twelve, caUedDidymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, AVe 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, Eeach hither thy finger, and behold My hands ; and reach liither thy hand, and thrust it into My side : and be not faithless, 124 LESSORS but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto Him, ]My Lord and my Grod. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen ]Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have be- lieved. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book : but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of Grod ; and that believing ye might have life through His Xame. LESSOR XIX. Col. iii. IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ve are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ' AYlien Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth ; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry : for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience : in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these ; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds ; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him : where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free : but Christ is all and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble- ness of mind, meekness, longsuffering ; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any : even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace Oy THE CREED. 125 of God rule in vour liearts, to the whicli also ve are called in one body ; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom ; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoeyer ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giying thanks to Grod and the father by ELim. LESSOR XX. Acts i. THE former treatise haye I made, Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Grhost had giyen commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: to whom also He shewed Himself aliye after His passion by many infal- lible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speak- ing of the things pertaining to the kingdom of Grod : and being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye haye heard of Me. For John tridy baptized with water ; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy G-host not many days hence. ^Yhen they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying. Lord, "^-ilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receiye power, after that the Holy Grhost is come upon you: and ye shall be •witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up ; and a cloud re- ceiyed Him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heayen, as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel ; which also said, Te men of Gralilee, why stand ye gazing up into hea- 126 LESSORS ven ? this same Jesus, Which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven. LESSOX XXI. St. Matt. xxiv. BUT of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Xoe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Eor as in the days that were be- fore the flood they were eating and drinking, mar- rying and giving in marriage, until the day that Xoe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill ; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore : for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suflered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready : for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season ? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Yerily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart. My lord delayeth his coming ; and shall begin to smite his fel- lowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken ; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion ^^ith the hypocrites : there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Oy THE CEEED. 12' LESSOX XXII. St. ^Iatt. XXV. THEX sball tlie kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten vii'gins, wliieh took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them : but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bride- groom Cometh ; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise. Give us of your oil ; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Xot so ; lest there be not enough for us and you : but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came ; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage : and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he an- swered and said, A^erily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. LESSOX XXIIL St. Matt. xxv. EOE< the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and dehvered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one ; to every man according to his several ability; and straight- way took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had re- ceived two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those 128 LESSONS servants cometli, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents : behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant : thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make tliee ruler over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said. Lord, thou de- liveredst unto me two talents : behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, "Well done, good and faithful servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said. Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed : and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth : lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed : thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at ray coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he sliall liave abundance : but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness : there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. LESSOX XXIY. St. Matt. xxv. AYHEX the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory : and before Him shall be gathered all nations : and He shall separate them ox THE CREED. 129 one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats : and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, hut the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world : for I was an hungred, and je gave Me meat : I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink : I was a stranger, and ye took Me in : naked, and ye clothed Me : I was sick, and ye visited Me : I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying. Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee ? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink ? "WHien saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in ? or naked, and clothed Thee ? Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee ? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, }'e have done it unto Me. Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand. Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, pre- pared for the devil and his angels : for I was an hungred, and ye gave Me no meat : I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink : I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in : naked, and ye clothed Me not : sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not. Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee ? Then shall He an- swer them, saying, Yerily I say unto you. Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment : but the righteous into life eternal. LESSOR XXV. Acts ii. AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were aU with one accord in one place. And sud- denly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they 130 LESSONS were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, say- ing one to another, AYhat meaneth this ? Others mocking said. These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them. Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known imto you, and hearken to my words : for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel ; and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith Grod, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all fiesh : and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream di^ams : and on My servants and on My hand- maidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit ; and they shall prophesy : and I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath ; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke : the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come : and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Te men of Israel, hear these words ; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of Grod among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which Grod did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know : Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of Grod, ye have taken, and by -wicked hands have crucified and slain : Whom Grod hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death : be- cause it was not possible that He should be holden of it. This Jesus hath Grod raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of Grod exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye ON THE CEEED. 131 now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens : but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on ]Mv right hand, until I make Thv foes Thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that Grod hath made that same Jesus, AYhom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. ]S'ow when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apos- tles, Men and brethren, what shall we do ? Then Peter said unto them, Eepent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remis- sion of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Grhost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our Grod shaU caU. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save your- selves from this untoward generation. LESSOX XXYL St. John xiv. LET not your heart be troubled : ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions : if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and pre- pare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you imto Myself ; that where I am, there ye may be also. And 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, the truth, and the life : no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I wiU pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever ; even the Spii-it of truth ; ^^hom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him : but ye know Him ; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in vou. I will not leave vou comfortless : I will come k 2 132 LESSORS to you. Yet a little while, and tlie world seetli Me no more ; but ye see Me : because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in My ^Father, and ye in ^^le, and I in you. He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me : and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love Him, and will manifest Myself to Him. Judas saith unto Him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world ? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words : and My Father will love him, and AYe will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings : and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's ^Hiich sent Me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present Tsith you. But the Comforter, Which is the Holy Ghost, AYhom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you : not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. LESSOX XXYII. Rom. viii. THEEE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak thi-ough the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh : that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh ; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the ox THE CREED. 133 Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death ; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God : for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Xow if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead be- cause of sin ; but the Spirit is life because of righte- ousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die : but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear ; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit Itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God : and if children, then heirs : heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ ; if so be that we sufier with Him, that we may be also glorified together. LESSON XXATLII. Gal. v. and vi. FOE, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty ; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this ; Thou shalt love thy neigh- bour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh : and these are contrary the one to the other : so that ve cannot 134 LESSOXS do the things that ve woiild. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ]S"ow the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these ; Adulter\% fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatiw, witch- craft, hatred, yariauce, emulations, wrath, strife, sedi- tions, heresies, emwings, murders, drunkenness, rerel- lings, and such like : of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuifering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance : against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the afi'ections and lusts. K we live in the Spii-it, let us also walk in the Spirit. Be not deceived ; God is not mocked : for what- soever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corrup- tion; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing : for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the houshold of faith. LESSOX XXIX. Eph. iv. I THEBEFOEE, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long- sufiering, forbearing one another in love ; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling ; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. AYherefore he saith, When He as- cended up on high, He led capti^'ity captive, and gave ox THE CEEED. 135 gifts unto men. (?s'ow that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth ? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave some, apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, evangelists ; and some, pastors and teachers ; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministrv, for the edifying of the body of Christ : till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of Grod, unto a perfect man, imto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ : that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doc- trine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive ; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things. Which is the head, even Christ: from Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love, LESSOX XXX. St. John xv. I AM the true vine, and My Father is the husband- man. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away : and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Xow ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine ; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches : he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit : for without Me ye can do nothing. H a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered ; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye vrill, and it shall be done 136 LESSOl^'S unto Tou. Herein is My Fafher glorified, fhat ye bear much fruit ; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loyed Me, so haye I loyed you : continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My loye; eyen as I haye kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His loye. These things haye I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye loye one another, as I haye'loyed you. G-reater loye hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do yhatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants ; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth : but I have called you friends ; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. Te have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain : that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. LESSOX XXXI. St. John* xvii. THESE words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said. Father, the hour is come ; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorifs' Thee : as Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true Grod, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do. And now, Father, glorify Thou Me Tvith Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. I have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world : Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me ; and they have kept Thy word. Now they have known that all things ox THE CEEED. 137 whatsoever Tliou hast given Me are of Thee. For I have given irnto them the words which Thou gavest Me ; and they have received them, and have known siu^ely that I came out from Thee, and they have be- lieved that Thou didst send Me. I pray for them : I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me ; for they are Thine. And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine ; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as "We are. "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy Name: those that Thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition ; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to Thee ; and these tilings I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Thy word ; and the world hath hated them, be- cause they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth : Thy word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word ; that they all may be one ; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in L^s : that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them ; that they may be one, even as "We are one : I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one ; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am ; that they may behold My glory, 138 LESSOXS which Thou hast given ]Me : for Thou lovedst Me be- fore the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee : but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy Xame, and will declare it : that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them. LESSON XXXII. 1 Cor, i. and iii. XOYv" I beseech you, brethren, by the Xame of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you ; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Xow this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul ; and I of Apollos ; and I of Cephas ; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you ? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul ? For ye are yet carnal : for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and di^-isions, are ye not car- nal, and walk as men r For while one saith, I am of Paul ; and another, I am of Apollos ; are ye not car- nal ? AVho then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye beHeved, even as the Lord gave to every man ? I have planted, Apollos watered ; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth ; but God that giveth the increase. Rom. xvi. XOW I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause di^-isions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly ; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 0>' THE CEEED. 139 LESSOR XXXIII. Rom. xiv. and xv. FOE none of us liveth to himself, and no man dietli to himself. Eor whether we live, we live unto the Lord ; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord : whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother ? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother ? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is wi'itten, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to Grod. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more : but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to faU in his brother's way. We then that are strong ought to bear the infir- mities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written. The reproaches of them that reproach- ed Thee fell on Me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the Grod of patience and con- solation grant you to be likeminded one toward an- other according to Christ Jesus : that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify Grod, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. LESSON xxxiy. 2 Pet. i. SIMON PETEE, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our 140 LESSORS Saviour Jesus Christ : grace and peace be multiplied unto you througli the knowledge of Grod, and of Jesus oui' Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue : whereby are given unto us exceed- ing great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the Avorld through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith vir- tue ; and to virtue knowledge ; and to knowledge tem- perance ; and to temperance patience ; and to patience godliness ; and to godliness brotherly kindness ; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall nei- ther be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. AATierefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure : for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall : for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. LESSON xxxy. St. Matt. v. AXD seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain : and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him : and He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit : for their' s is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn :• for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness : for they shall be fUled. Blessed are the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart : for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace- makers : for they shall be called the children of Grod. ON THE CEEED. 141 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteous- ness' sake : for theii^'s is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, wlien men shall revile you, and perse- cute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Eejoice, and be exceeding glad : for great is yoiu" reward in heaven : for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Te are the salt of the earth : but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted ? it is thenceforth good for notliing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick ; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father AYhich is in heaven. LESSO^^ XXXYI. Acts x. THEN Peter opened his mouth, and said. Of a truth I perceive that Grod is no respecter of persons : but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ : (He is Lord of all :) that word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Gralilee, after the baptism which John preached ; how God anointed Jesus of Xazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power : "WTio went about doing good, and healing all that were op- pressed of the devil ; for God was vdtli Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem ; AYhom they slew and hanged on a tree : Him God raised up the third day, and shewed Him openly ; not to all the peo- ple, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose 142 LESSORS from the dead. And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He ^liieh was or- dained of Grod to be the Judge of quick and dead. To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Xame whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. LESSOIS" XXXYII. Col. i. "WE give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, pra^^ng always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel ; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world ; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth : as ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ ; who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. Eor this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding ; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleas- ing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God ; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and loDgsufiering with joyfulness ; giving thanks unto the Eather, "Which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light : "Who hath de- livered us from the power of darkness, and hath trans- lated us into the kingdom of His dear Son : in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the for- giveness of sins. 0>' THE CKEED. 143 LESSON XXXYIII. Phil. iii. BUT what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord : for ^Hiom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith : that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death ; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Xot as though I had already attained, either were already perfect : but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended : but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Grod in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, Grod shall reveal even this unto you. jS'evertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers to- gether of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ : whose end is destruction, whose Grod is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven ; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ : "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. 144! LESSORS LESSOX XXXIX. 1 Thess. iv. and v. BUT I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we beheve that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will Grod bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we wliich are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shaU descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of Grod: and the dead in Christ shall rise first : then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air : and so shaU we ever be with the Lord. AYherefore com- fort one another with these words. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say. Peace and safety ; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a wo- man with child ; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Te are all the children of light, and the children of the day : we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others ; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night ; and they that be drunken are driinken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love ; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For Grod hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain sal- vation by our Lord Jesus Christ, AYho died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. Oy THE CEEED. 145 LESSON XL. St. John v. YEEILT, rerily, I say unto you, He that lieareth My word, and beLieveth on Him that sent Me, hath eyerhisting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Yerily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and noyr is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God : and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself ; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man. Mar- vel not at this : for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth ; they that have done good, unto the resur- rection of life ; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. LESSOX XLI. Rev. XX. and xxi. AXD I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from "Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away ; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God ; and the books were opened : and another book was opened, which is the book of life : and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it ; and death and hell dehvered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged evers' man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth : for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away ; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new L 146 LESSONS ON THE CKEED. Jerusalem, coming doT\Ti from God out of heaven, pre- pared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He ^-ill dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crving, neither shall there be any more pain : for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make aU things new. And He said unto me, Write : for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me. It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit aU things ; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and mui'derers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone : which is the second death. LESSONS EXAMINATION OF REPENTANCE AND CHARITY. LESSON I. EzEK. xviii. BEHOLD, all souls are mine ; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine : the soul that sinneth, it shall die. Yet say ye, Why ? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father ? "When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept aU my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely Hve. The soul that sinneth, it shaU die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son : the righte- ousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the ^Yicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall sui-ely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath com- mitted, they shall not be mentioned unto him : in his righteousness that he hath done he shaU Hve. Have I any pleasure at aU that the wicked should die ? saith the Lord God : and not that he should retin^n from his ways, and Hve ? L 2 148 LESSORS ox But when the righteous turneth away from his righte- ousness, and committeth iuiquitv, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live ? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned : in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Yet ye say. The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, house of Israel ; Is not My way equal ? ai'e not your ways unequal ? "When a righte- ous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them ; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is la'\\'ful and right, he shall save his soul ahve. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. house of Israel, are not My ways equal ? are not your ways unequal ? Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord Grod. Ke- pent and tmm yourselves from all your transgressions ; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have trans- gressed ; and make you a new heart and a new spirit : for why will ye die, O house of Israel ? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord Grod : wherefore turn youi^selves, and live ye. LESSOX II. St. Ldke iii. IN those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Eepent ye : for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come ? Brino- forth therefore fruits EEPEyiAXCE AXD CHAEITT. 149 wortliY of repentance, and begin not to say Avitliin yourselves, AYe have Abraham to our father : for I say unto you. That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees : every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked him, saying, VThut shall we do then ? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none ; and he that hath meat, let him do likoAvise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him. Master, what shall we do ? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers likevrise demanded of him, saying. And what shall we do ? And he said unto them. Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely ; and be content with your wages. And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not ; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water ; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose : He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire : Whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner ; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquench- able. LESSOX III. St. Luke xiii. THEEE were present at that season some that told Him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them. Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things ? I tell you, Nay : but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think 150 LESSORS oy ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem ? I tell you, ISTay : but, except je repent, ye shall all likewise perish. He spake also this para- ble ; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vine- yard ; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the di'esser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none : cut it down ; why cumbereth it the ground ? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it : and if it bear fruit, well : and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved ? And He said unto them. Strive to enter in at the strait gate : for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying. Lord, Lord, open unto us ; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are : Then shall ye begin to say, AYe have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Ja- cob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of G-od, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of Grod. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. LESSON lY. St. Luke xv. THEX drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, EEPEyTA:S-CE ATs'D CHAEITT. 151 and eateth \vith them. And He spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of jou, having an hun- dred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the Trilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it ? And when he hath found it, he lajeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Eejoice ^vith me ; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shaR be in heaven over one sin- ner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not hght a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it ? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Eejoice with me ; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of Grod over one sin- ner that repenteth. And He said, A certain man had two sons : and the younger of them said to his father, rather, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. Atid not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land ; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country ; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he woidd fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat : and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger ! I ^ill arise and go to my father, and wiU say unto him. Father, I have sinned against hea- ven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son : make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off", his father saw him, and had 152 LESSONS ON compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed liiin. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sin- ned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him ; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet : and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it ; and let us eat, and be merry : for this my son vras dead, and is alive again ; he vras lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. LESSOX Y. St. Luke vii. AXD one of the Pharisees desired Him that He would eat with liim. And He went into the Phari- see's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them vdth the oint- ment. Xow when the Pharisee which had bidden Him saw it, he spake within himself, saying. This man, if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth Him : for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, ]\Iaster, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors ; the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fil\y. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me there- fore, which of them will love him most ? Simon an- swered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And He said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And He turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman ? I entered into thine house, thou savest Me no water for Mv feet ; but she EEPEXTANCE A2sD CHAEITT. 153 hath washed Mj feet with tears, and wiped them with the haii's of her head. Thou gavest Me no kiss : hut this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet. Mj head with oil thou didst not anoint : hut this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven ; for she loved much : hut to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with Him hegan to say within them- selves. Who is This That forgiveth sins also ? And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee ; go in peace. LESSON YI. 1 St. John i. and ii. THIS then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that Grod is Hght, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Hun, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth : but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from aU sin. If we say that we have no sin, we de- ceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we con- fess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from aU unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an ad- vocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : and He is the propitiation for our sins : and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, 154 LESSORS Olf in Mm verily is the love of Grod perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. LESSOiN" yii. Lam. iii. and v. IT is of the Lord's mercies that we are not con- sumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning ; great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul ; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because He hath borne it upon him. He putteth his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope. He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. For the Lord will not cast oif for ever : but though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the midti- tude of His mercies. Tor He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. To crush under His feet all the prisoners of the earth, to turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High, to subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not ? Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good ? Where- fore doth a living man complain, a man for the punish- ment of his sins ? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart Avith our hands unto Grod in the heavens. We have trangressed and have rebelled: Thou hast not par- doned. Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us : Thou hast slain and hast not pitied. Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should EEPEXTAXCE A^T) CHAEITT. 155 not pass through. Thou hast made us as the off- scouring and refuse in the midst of the people. All our enemies have opened their mouths- against us. Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and de- struction. Mine eve runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughters of my peo- ple. Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, with- out any intermission, till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven. Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city. Mine ene- mies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. Waters flowed over my head ; then I said, I am cut off. I called upon Thy Xame, Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice ; hide not Thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee : Thou saidst, Fear not. Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; Thou hast redeemed my life. O Lord, Thou hast seen my wrong : judge Thou my cause. Thou, O Lord, remainest for ever ; Thy throne from generation to generation. Wherefore dost Thou for- get us for ever, and forsake us so long time ? Turn Thou us unto Thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned ; renew our days as of old. But Thou hast utterly rejected us ; Thou art very wroth against us. LESSOR yiii. St. Mark xii. AND one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and percei^dng that He had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all ? And Jesus answered liim. The first of all the commandments is. Hear, O Israel ; The Lord our Grod is one Lord : and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength : this 156 LESSONS ox is tlie first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto Him, Well, Master, Thou hast said the truth : for there is one Grod ; and there is none other but He : and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and ^vith all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neigh- bour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, He said unto him. Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. LESSOX IX. St. Matt. vi. NO man can serve two masters : for either he will hate the one, and love the other ; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment ? Behold the fowls of the air : for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns ; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they ? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature ? And why take ye thought for raiment ? Consider the lilies of the field, liow they grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin : and yet I say unto you. That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. AVherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, ye of little faith ? Therefore take no thought, saying, AYhat shall we eat ? or. What shall we drink ? or, "VVTierewithal shall we be clothed ? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek :) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of EEPE^^TA^'CE A^D CHAEITT. 157 God, and His righteousness ; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow : for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. LESSON X. St. Matt. vii. EXTER ye in at the strait gate : for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat : because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit ; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, nei- ther can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. jN'ot every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will of My Eather Which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Xame ? and in Thy ]S'ame have cast out de^nls ? and in Thy Xame done many wonderful works ? And then will I pro- fess unto them, I never knew you : depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock : and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house ; and it fell not : for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built 158 LESSORS oy his house upon the sand : and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house ; and it fell ; and great was the fall of it. LESSOX XI. St. Luke x. NOW it came to pass, as they went, that He en- tered into a certain village : and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said. Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone r bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about mauv tilings : but one thing is needful : and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away fi^om her. 1 St. Johx ii. LOTE not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Eather is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eves, and the pride of life, is not of the Eather, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof : but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. LESSOX XII. St. Matt. xix. AXD, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life ? And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good ? there is none good but one, that is, God : but if Thou wilt enter into life, keep the com- mandments. He saith unto Him, Which? Jesus EEPEXTAKCE AXD CHAEITT. 159 said, Tliou shalt do no mui^der, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother : and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Rom. xiii. OWE no man any thing, but to love one another : for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness. Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy- self. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour : therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand : let us there- fore cast off" the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day ; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. LESSON XIII. Eph. iv. THIS I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, ha^'ing the understanding dark- ened, being alienated from the life of Grod through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart : who being past feeling have given them- selves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ ; If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus : that ye put oflE* con- cerning the former conversation the old man, which is 160 LESSONS ox corrupt according to the deceitful lusts ; and be re- newed in the spirit of your mind ; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteous- ness and true holiness. "Wlierefore putting away lying, speak eyery man truth with his neighbour : for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not : let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither giye place to the deyil. Let him that stole steal no more : but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may haye to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communi- cation proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieye not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemp- tion. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and eyil speaking, be put away from you, with. all mahce : and be ye kind one to another, tender- hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. LESSOR XIV. St. Matt. v. TE have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill ; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment : but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry AMith his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment : and whosoever shall say to his brother, Eaca, shall be in danger of the council : but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy bro- ther hath ought against thee ; leave there thy gift be- fore the altar, and go thy way ; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and ofier thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him ; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say EEPEXTA>'CE A^'D CHAEITY. 161 unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth : but I say unto you, That ye resist not eyil : but whosoeyer shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him haye thy cloke also. And whosoeyer shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Grive to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye haye heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt loye thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Loye your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefuUy use you, and persecute you ; that ye may be the chil- dren of your Father AYhich is in heayen : for He maketh His sun to rise on the eyil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye loye them which loye you, what reward haye ye ? do not eyen the publicans the same ? And if ye sa- lute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not eyen the publicans so ? Be ye therefore per- fect, eyen as your Father Yrhich is in heayen is perfect. LESSOX XY. Eph. v. BE ye therefore followers of God, as dear children ; and walk in loye, as Christ also hath loyed us, and hath giyen Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to Grod for a sweet-smelling sayour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or coyetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints ; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not conyenient : but rather giying of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor coyetous man, who is an idolater, hath any iriheritance m the kingdom of Christ and of Grod. Let no man deceive M 162 LESSORS OS you with vain words : for because of these things coineth the wrath of God upon the children of diso- bedience. Ee not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord : walk as children of light : (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light : for whatsoever doth make mani- fest is light. Wherefore he saith. Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee Hght. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but un- derstanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess ; but be filled with the Spirit ; speaking to yourselves in psalms and h\Tims and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord ; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. LESSOX XYI. St. Jas. iii. MY brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Eehold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us ; and we turn about their whole body. Eehold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they tui'ned about with a very small helm, whither- soever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a EEPE^TAXCE A?s'D CHAEITT. 163 little member, and boasteth great tbings. Beliold, bow great a matter a little fire kindletb ! And tbe tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity : so is tbe tongue among our members, tbat it defiletb tbe wbole bodv, and set- tetb on fire tbe course of natrn-e ; and it is set on fire of bell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of tbings in tbe sea, is tamed, and batb been tamed of mankind : but tbe tongue can no man tame ; it is an imruly evil, full of deadly poison. Tberewitb bless we Grod, even tbe Fatber ; and tbere- witb curse we men, wbicb are made after tbe similitude of Grod. Out of tbe same moutb proceedetb blessing and cursing. My bretbren, tbese tbings ougbt not so to be. Dotb a fountain send fortb at tbe same place sweet water and bitter ? Can tbe fig tree, my bretbren, bear olive berries ? eitber a vine, figs ? so can no foun- tain botb yield salt water and fresb. AYbo is a wise man and endued witb knowledge among you ? let bim sbew out of a good conversation bis works witb meek- ness of wisdom. But if ye bave bitter envying and strife in your bearts, glory not, and lie not against tbe trutb. Tbis wisdom descendetb not from above, but is eartbly, sensual, devilisb. For wbere envy and strife is, tbere is confusion and every evil work. But tbe wisdom tbat is from above is first pure, tben peace- able, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, witbout partiality, and witbout b^-pocrisy. And tbe fruit of rigbteousness is so^tl in peace of tbem tbat make peace. LESSOR XYII. St. Luke xii. AXD one of tbe company said unto Him, Master, speak to my brotber, tbat be divide tbe inberitance witb me. And He said unto bim, Man, wbo made Me a judge or a divider over you ? And He said unto tbem. Take beed, and beware of covetousness : for a man's life consistetb not in tbe abundance of tbe M 2 164! LESSONS ON^ tilings which he possesseth. Aiid He spake a parable unto them, sajdug, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully : and he thought within him- self, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits ? And he said, This will I do : I will pull down my barns, and build greater ; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years ; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. ButGrod said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee : then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided ? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich to- ward Grod. LESSON XYIII. St. !Matt. xviii. THEX came Peter to Him, and said. Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him ? till seven tunes ? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto 1>hee, Until seven times : but. Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and aU that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, say- ing, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee aU. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his feUowser- vant feU down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee aU. And EEPEXTAXCE AZs'D CHAEITT. 165 he Tvoiild not : but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, thej were very sorrv, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, be- cause thou desiredst me : shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee ? And his lord was wroth, and dehvered liim to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall ]My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. LESSOIS" XIX. St. Luke xix. AND Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus AVho He was ; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see Him : for He was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place. He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down ; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, sapng. That He was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord ; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor ; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him. This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 166 LESSOXS OS LESSON XX. 1 Tim. vi. BUT godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and rai- ment let us be therewith content. But thev that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruc- tion and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all e\il : which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, man of God, flee these things ; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth us richly aU things to enjoy ; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate ; laj-ing up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal hfe. 2 Cor. ix. BUT this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly ; and he wliich soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give ; not grudg- ingly, or of necessity : for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all gi'ace abound toward you ; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work : as it is written. He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. EEPEXTAXCE AND CHAEITT. 167 LESSOX XXI. St. Mark x. AXD when He was gone fortli into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Grood Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ? And Jesus said unto him, AYhy callest thou Me good ? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not com- mit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Defraud not. Honour thy father and mother. Ajid he answered and said unto Him, Master, aU these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him. One thing thou lackest : go thy way, seU whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure iu heaven : and come, take up the cross, and follow Me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved : for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples. How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of Grod ! And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God ! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were asto- nished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved ? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God : for with God all things are possible. Then Peter be- gan to say unto Him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee. And Jesus answered and said, Yerily I say unto you. There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or ^-ife, or children, or lands, for My sake, and the gospel's, but he shaU receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and 168 LESSONS ox cliildren, and lands, with persecutions ; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last ; and the last first. LESSOX XXII. St. Matt. xv. THEX Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of T^^Te and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of Da^id ; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped Him, saying. Lord, Help me. But He answered and said. It is not meet to take the cliildren' s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord : yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that verv hour. LESSOX XXIII. St. Mark v. AXD, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name ; and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet, and besought Him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death : I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed ; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people foUowed Him, and thronged Him. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suftered many things of many EEPE:S'TAyCE AXD CHAEITT. 1G9 physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said. If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up ; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that yirtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, "Who touched Mj clothes ? And His disciples said imto Him, Thou seest the multitude thronging Thee, and sayest Thou, AVho touched Me ? And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth. And He said unto her. Daugh- ter, thy faith hath made thee whole ; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. LESSON XXIY. St. Luke xviii. AXD He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint ; say- ing, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man : and there was a widow in that city ; and she came unto him, saying, Ayenge me of mine adyersary. And he would not for a while : but afterward he said within himself. Though I fear not Grod, nor regard man ; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said. Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God ayenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them ? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth ? 170 LESSOR'S ox EEPE>'TA>XE AXD CHAKITT. LESSOX XXY. St. Luke xi. AisD He said unto them, "WTiich of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves ; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him ? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not : the door is now shut, and my childi'en are with me in bed ; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you. Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you. Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh re- ceiveth ; and he that seeketh findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone ? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent ? Or if he shall ask an egg, -will he ofter him a scorpion ? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children : how much more shall your hea- venly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? LESSONS ON SUBJECTS OF INSTEUCTIOIS^ SUBSEaUENT TO THE EXAMINATION OF REPENTANCE AND CHARITY. LESSON I. 1 Cor. X. and si. I SPEAK as to wise men ; judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the com- munion of the Blood of Christ ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the Body of Christ ? Eor we being many are one bread, and one body : for we are all partakers of that one bread. Eor I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread : and when He had given thanks. He brake it, and said, Take eat : this is My Body, which is broken for you : this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying. This cup is the new testament in My Blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. Eor as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come. Wherefore whosoever 172 LESSORS OS shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. Tor he that eateth and drink eth unworthily, eateth and drink- eth damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's Body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. LESSON 11. St. John vi. LABOUE not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you : for Him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God ? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. They said therefore unto Him, "What sign shewest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee ? what dost Thou work ? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert ; as it is written, He gave them bread from beaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, A^erily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven ; but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He which Cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life : he that cometh to Me shall never hunger ; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said. Is not This Jesus, the son of Joseph, AVhose SrBSEQrEXT SUBJECTS. 173 father and motlier we know ? how is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven ? Jesus therefore an- swered and said unto them, Murmur not among your- selves. Xo man can come to 3Ie, except the Father Which liath sent Me draw him : and I will raise him up at the last day. Yerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Tour fathers did eat manna in the wil- derness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven : if any man eat of this bread, he sliall live for ever : and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews there- fore strove among themselves, saying. How can this man give us His llesh to eat ? Then Jesus said unto them. Verily, verily, I say unto you. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life ; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh ]\Iy blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father : so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven : not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead : he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. LESSOX III. St. Luke xiv. AXD when one of them that sat at meat with Him heard these things, he said unto Him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many : and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden. Come ; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began 174 LESSONS oy to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it : I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them : I pray thee have me excused. And ano- ther said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant. Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said. Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you. That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. LESSOX ly. St. 3Iatt. xi. — C0]ME unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I vrill give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. St. Johns' iii. — For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever be- lieveth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world ; but that the world through Him might be saved. 1 Tim. i. — This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ; of whom I am chief. St. Johx v. — Yerily, verily. I say unto you, He that heareth ^ly word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into con- demnation ; but is passed from death unto life. St. Joh^' X. — I am the good shepherd, and know SrBSEQrEXT SUBJECTS. 175 My sheep, and am known of ]\Iine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father : and I lay- down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold : them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice ; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me : and I give unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all ; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. St. JoH:^r xiv. — Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in God, beheve also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions : if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself ; that where I am, there ye may be also. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you : not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. St. Joh^' xi. — Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever Thou wilt ask of Grod, Grod will give it Thee. Jesus saith unto her. Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrec- tion, and the life : he that belie veth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live : and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Eelievest thou this ? She saith unto Him, Tea, Lord : I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of Grod, A^Hiich should come into the world. Phil. iv. — Kejoice in the Lord alway : and again I say, Eejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing ; but in every thing by prayer and supplication vritli thanksgi\Tng let your requests be made known unto 176 LESSORS ON God. And the peace of God, wliicli passetli all iinder- stauding, shall keep toiu' hearts and minds through Cluist Jesus. 1 Tiii. ^i. — Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, "Wlio quicken- eth all things, and before Christ Jesus, "Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession : that thou keep this commandment without spot, imi'ebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ : "WTiich in His times He shall shew, AVho is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords ; Who only hath immortahty, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto ; AYhom no man hath seen, nor can see : to AYhom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 2 Tim. iv. — For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, 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. 1 John iv. — In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we love God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. EoM. viii. — K God be for us, who can be against us ? He that spared not His own Son, but dehvered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things ? "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect r It is God that justi- fieth. Who is he that condemneth ? It is Christ That died, yea rather. That is risen again, AATio is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us. SrESEQUE^T SUBJECTS. 177 LESSOX Y. IsA. xxxviii. THE ^ni-iting of Hezekiali king of Judah, Tvlien lie had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness : I said in the cutting off of mv days, I shall go to the gates of the grave : I am deprived of the residue of my years. I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord, in the land of the living : I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world. Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent : I have cut off like a weaver my life : He will cut me off with pining sickness : from day even to night wilt Thou make an end of me. I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will He break all my bones : from day even to night wilt Thou make an end of me. Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter : I did mourn as a dove : mine eyes fail with looking upward : Lord, I am oppressed ; undertake for me. AVhat shaU I say ? He hath both spoken unto me, and Himself hath done it : I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. O Lord, by these things men live, and in aU these things is the life of my spirit : so ^^ilt Thou re- cover me, and make me to live. Behold, for peace I had great bitterness : but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption : for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back. Eor the grave can- not praise Thee, death cannot celebrate Thee : they that go down into the pit cannot hope for Thy truth. The li^dng, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day : the father to the children shall make known Thy truth. The Lord was ready to save me ; there- fore we win sing my songs to the stringed instnnnents aU the days of our life in the house of the Lord. LESSOX VL St. Luke xvii. AXD it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem, that He passed through the midst of Samaria and 178 LESso^'s ON Galilee. And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when He saw them, He said unto them. Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks : and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed ? but where are the nine ? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And He said unto him, Arise, go thy way : thy faith hath made thee whole. LESSOX Til. St. Luke viii. A]S'D when much people were gathered together, and were come to Him out of every city. He spake by a parable : A sower went out to sow his seed : and as he sowed, some fell by the way side ; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock ; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moistiu^e. And some fell among thorns ; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good gi^ound, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when He had said these things, He cried. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And His disciples asked Him, saying, What might this pai-able be ? And He said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God : but to others in parables ; that seeing they might not see, and heariag they might not understand. Xow the parable is this : The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear ; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest thev should believe and be SUBSEQUENT SUEJECTS. 170 saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of tempta- tion fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Xo man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed ; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest ; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given ; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. LESSOX YIII. Heb. X. HAYIXGr therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and \[ymg way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say. His flesh : and having an high priest over the house of God ; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, ha\ing our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profes- sion of our faith without wavering ; (for He is faithful that promised ;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works : not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery IS' 2 180 LESSOJ^^S ON indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under tw^o or three witnesses : of how much sorer punish- ment, suppose je, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? Tor we know Him that hath said. Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again. The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. LESSON IX. St. Luke xii. LET your loins be girded about, and your lights burning ; and ye yourselves like unto men that M^ait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding ; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 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. And if He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also : for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Then Peter said unto Him, Lord, speakest Thou this parable unto us, or even to aU ? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season ? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord wdien he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he SUBSEQUENT SUBJECTS. 181 hatli. But and if tliat servant say in his heart, ]My lord delaveth his coming ; and shall begin to beat the nienservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken ; the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shaU be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and chd commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required : and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. lesso:n' X. Eph. vi. FIX ALLY, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of G-od, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. AYherefore take imto you the whole armour of Grod, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done aU, to stand. Stand therefore, having yoiu" loins girt about with truth, and ha^dng on the breastplate of righteousness ; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace ; above aU, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shaU be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of Grod : praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with aU perseverance and supplication for all saints. 182 LESSONS ojf subseque:n't subjects. LESSON XI. EccLES. XI. and xii. TEULY the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun : but if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all : yet let him re- member the days of darkness ; for they shall be many. AH that Cometh is vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth ; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh : for childhood and youth are vanity. E-emember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter : Eear God, and keep His commandments : for this is the whole duty of man. For God shah bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. THE END. 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