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TUESDAY.

Stedfastness of faith in God's
promises.

From St. Paul's Epistle to the
Hebrews.

sation be without covetous

only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continu-ness; and be content with such eth therein, he being not a forget things as ye have for He hath ful hearer, but a doer of the work, said, I will never leave thee, nor this man shall be blessed in his forsake thee. So that we may deed. If any man among you seem boldly say, The Lord is my helper, to be religious, and bridleth not his and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Remember them tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure which have the rule over you, who religion and undefiled before God have spoken unto you the word of and the Father is this, To visit the God: whose faith follow, considerfatherless and widows in their afflic-ing the end of their conversation : tion, and to keep himself unspotted and to day, and for ever. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday,

from the world.

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'JESUS spake this parable unto ESUS spake this parable unto

selves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican. The Pharisee stood and

3 And having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful that promised).

THURSDAY.

Stedfastness of faith in God's power and mercy amid trials and difficulties.

St. Mark.

prayed thus with himself, God, I From the Holy Gospel according to thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adul-4

terers, or even as this Publican: I AND when the even was come,

fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the Publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

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1 St. Luke xviii. 9. 2 Heb. xiii. 5.

Jesus saith unto His disciples, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou 3 Heb. x. 21. 4 St. Mark iv. 35.

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of God: but he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

3 If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Third Week.

MONDAY,

Government of the tongue and
temper.

From the Book of Proverbs; from
the Holy Gospel according to St.
Matthew; and from the General
Epistle of St. James.

'DEAT

EATH and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.

5 Jesus said, But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

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. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among

2 Jesus said, I say unto you My friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear Him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore ye are of more value than many sparrows. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels our members, that it defileth the

1 Isaiah li. 7.

4 Prov. xviii, 21.

2 St. Luke xii. 4.
5 St. Matt. xii. 36.

3 Rom. x. 9.
6 St. James iii. 14.

whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,

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first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered Him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked. And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed Himself away, a multitude being in that place.

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole : sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

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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.

SATURDAY.

Same subject continued. From the Book of Deuteronomy, and from the First General Epis

tle of St. Peter.

Fourth Week.

MONDAY.

Forgiveness of injuries. From the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.

PETE

said unto Jesus, Lord,

Low oft shall my brother sin

seven times? Jesus saith unto him, against me, and I forgive him? till I say not unto thee, until seven times; but until seventy times

EWARE that thou forget not seven. Therefore is the kingdom

keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I commanded thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and hast dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flock multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thy heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy Îatter end; and thou say in thy heart, My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

2 But ye, brethren, are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

1 Deut. viii. 11.

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 all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 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 fellow-servants, 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 fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not; but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee?

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And his lord was wroth, and deli- | likewise he that had received two, vered him to the tormentors, till he he also gained other two. But he should pay all that was due unto that had received one went and dighim. So likewise shall My hea-ged in the earth, and hid his lord's venly Father do also unto you, if money. After a long time the lord ye from your hearts forgive not of those servants cometh, and reckevery one his brother their tres- oneth with them. And so he that passes. 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.

TUESDAY.

Same subject concluded. From the Book of Proverbs; from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark; and from the First General Epistle of St. Peter. THE discretion of a man deferTreth his anger; and it is his

glory to pass over a transgression.

2

At that time Jesus said to His disciples, When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

His

lord said unto him, Well done, thou 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

ceived two talents came and said, thy lord. He also that had reLord, thou deliveredst 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 3 Brethren, be ye all of one mind, faithful over a few things, I will having compassion one of another, make thee ruler over many things: love as brethren, be pitiful, be cour-enter thou into the joy of thy lord. teous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

THURSDAY.

Diligence in our respective
callings.

From the Holy Gospel according

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to St. Matthew.

T that time Jesus said to His disciples, The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered 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 straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And 1 Prov. xix. 11. 31 St. Pet. iii. 8.

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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 my 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 shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofit

2 St. Mark xi. 25.
4 St. Matt. xxv. 14.

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