when they were come into the ship, | them, Depart in peace, be ye warm the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God. ed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered 2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that 5 diligently seek Him. 3 Now we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. SATURDAY. Unity of Faith. From St. Paul's Epistle to the BR RETHREN, I beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, 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 4 For what doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto all. 1 Habak. ii. 4. 2 Heb. xi. 1. 3 Gal. v. 5. Second Week. MONDAY. Same subject continued. From St. Paul's Epistle to the 'BRETHREN, unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. THURSDAY. Baptism, the remembrance and ful filment of our profession therein. From the Holy Gospel according to St. John, and from St. Paul's Epistles to Titus and to the Romans. ESUS said to Nicodemus, Ve JE rily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. And He gave 31 some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, 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 God, unto a perfect man, unto 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 doctrine, 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. TUESDAY. Same subject continued. From the General Epistle of St. Jude. BELOVED, 4 Brethren, after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ His grace, we should be made heirs our Saviour; that being justified by according to the hope of eternal life. 5 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein ? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into His death? Therefore we are buried ELOVED, remember ye the with Him by baptism into death: words which were spoken that like as Christ was raised up before of the apostles of our Lord from the dead by the glory of the Jesus Christ; how that they told Father, even so we also should walk you there should be mockers in the in newness of life. For if we have last time, who should walk after been planted together in the liketheir own ungodly lusts. These beness of His death, we shall be also they who separate themselves, sen- in the likeness of His resurrection : sual, having not the Spirit. But knowing this, that our old man is ye, beloved, building up yourselves crucified with Him, that the body on your most holy faith, praying in of sin might be destroyed, that 1 Ephes. iv. 7. 2 St. Jude 17. 3 St. John iii. 5. henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. SATURDAY. Subjection of our reason to the revealed Word. From the Book of Proverbs, and from St. Paul's First and Second Epistle to the Corinthians. let the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Third Week. MONDAY. Good works: we shall be judged, and rewarded or punished, according as they are so, or not. Math for not mercy and From the Book of Ecclesiastes; about thy neck; write them upon the table of thy heart: so shalt thou find favour and good under from St. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians; and from the Revelations of St. John. OD will bring every work to standing in the sight of God and G judgment, with every secret man. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 2 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 3 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after 1 Prov. iii 3. 4 Eccles. xii. 14. thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 5 For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 6 And I John saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, accord 22 Cor x. 4. 31 Cor. i. 25. 6 Rev. xx. 11. ing to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. . . . And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 1 Jesus said by His angel, Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man accord ing as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. TUESDAY. Same subject continued. From the Book of the Prophet Daniel, and from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. tion of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink : I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink? when saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee? or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me. Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungred, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye 2 AND many of them that sleep in gave Me no drink: I was a stranger, the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that shall be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. : and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee? Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 3 At that time Jesus said, When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom 4 From THURSDAY. Same subject continued. (Parable of the Tares.) the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. that time prepared for you from the founda- A kingdom of heaven is likened 1 Rev. xxii. 12. 4 St. Matt. xiii, 24. 2 Dan. xii. 2. 3 St. Matt. xxv. 31. cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath SATURDAY. unto a man which sowed good seed He an Preparation for a future life, by good works, not to be delayed. From the Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes; from the Holy Gospel according to St. John; from St. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians; and the Second General Epistle of St. Peter. QOAST not thyself of to-morrow for thou knowest not 2 3BOAST swered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, 7 and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall 1 St. Matt. xiii. 36. what a day may bring forth. 3 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Jesus said, I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 6 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure. . . . Be diligent, that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. Fourth Week. MONDAY. Same subject continued. From the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. AT that time Jesus said, Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to 3 Eccles. ix. 10. 2 Prov. xxvii. 1. 62 Pet. i. 10, and iii. 14. |