I go bound in the spirit unto Jeru- j the words of the LORD JESUS, how he salem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the HOLY GHOST witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the LORD JESUS, to testify the gospel of the grace of GOD.

Ry. The LORD JESUS. p. clxxxiv.

Lesson II.

A ND now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of GOD, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of GOD. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the HOLY GHOST hath made you overseers, to feed the church of GOD, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with

tears.

Ry. Purge out therefore. p. clxxxiv.

Lesson III.

said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him; sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship. Te Deum. p. 15.

THURSDAY.

Of the Acts of the Apostles.

Lesson I. Chap. xxiv.

THEN Paul, after that the governor

any man,

had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the GOD of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward GOD, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward GOD, and toward

AND now, brethren, I commend you men.

to GoD, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have

coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember

R. CHRIST being raised. p. cxcv.
Lesson II.

But

NOW after many years I came to

bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. Or else

let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

Ry. The good Shepherd. p. clxxxvii.

Lesson III.

AND when Felix heard these things,

shortly thither. Let them therefore,
said he, which among you are able, go
down with me, and accuse this man,
if there be any wickedness in him.

Ry. With great power. p. clxxxvii.
Lesson II.

AND when he had tarried among
them more than ten days, he went
down unto Cæsarea; and the next day
sitting on the judgment seat com-

having more perfect knowledge of manded. Paul to be brought. And that way, he deferred them, and said, when he was come, the Jews which When Lysias, the chief captain, shall came down from Jerusalem stood come down, I will know the uttermost round about, and laid many and of your matter. And he commanded grievous complaints against Paul, a centurion to keep Paul, and to which they could not prove. While he let him have liberty, and that he answered for himself, Neither against should forbid none of his acquaintance the law of the Jews, neither against to minister or come unto him. And the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, after certain days, when Felix came have I offended any thing at all. with his wife Drusilla, which was a Ry. From the mouth. p. clxxxviii. Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard Lesson III. him concerning the faith in CHRIST.

And as he reasoned of righteousness,BUT Festus, willing to do the Jews temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

Te Deum. p. 15

SATURDAY.

Of the Acts of the Apostles.

Lesson I. Chap. xxviii.

AND when we came to Rome, the

centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. And it came to pass, that after three days Paul

called the chief of the Jews together: closed; lest they should see with and when they were come together, | their eyes, and hear with their ears, he said unto them, Men and brethren, and understand with their heart, and though I have committed nothing should be converted, and I should against the people, or customs of our heal them. Be it known therefore fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner unto you, that the salvation of God is from Jerusalem into the hands of the sent unto the Gentiles, and that they Romans; who, when they had ex- will hear it. And when he had said amined me, would have let me go, these words, the Jews departed, and because there was no cause of death had great reasoning among themin me. But when the Jews spake selves. And Paul dwelt two whole against it, I was constrained to appeal years in his own hired house, and unto Cæsar; not that I had ought to received all that came in unto him, accuse my nation of. For this cause preaching the kingdom of GoD, and therefore have I called for you, to see teaching those things which concern you, and to speak with you: because the LORD JESUS CHRIST, with all conthat for the hope of Israel I am bound fidence, no man forbidding him. with this chain.

Ry. The LORD JESUS. p. clxxxiv.

Lesson II.

Te Deum. p. 15.

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
Inv., Hymn, and the rest until the

AND they said unto him, We Lessons, as in the Psalter.

neither received letters out of Judæa concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or

spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of GOD, persuading them concerning JESUS, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

Ry. Purge out. p. clxxxiv.

Lesson III.

FIRST NOCTurn.

Here beginneth the Book of the
Revelation of S. John the Apostle.

Lesson I. Chap. i.

THE Revelation of JESUS CHRIST,

which GOD gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: who bare record of the word of GOD, and of the testimony of JESUS CHRIST, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia:

AND when they agreed not among Grace be unto you, and peace, from

themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the HOLY GHOST by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they

him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; and from JESUS CHRIST, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto

GOD and his FATHER; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Ry. Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive the book, and to open the seals thereof, Alleluia; for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to GoD by Thy Blood. Al. y. And hast made us unto our GoD, kings and priests. By Thy.

Lesson II.

snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

I

am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be

hereafter.

BEHOLD, he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the LORD, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. I John, who also am your brother, and companion in 'tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of JESUS CHRIST, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of GOD, and for the testimony of JESUS CHRIST. I was in the Spirit on the LORD's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, A Sermon of S. Augustine the Bishop

and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Ry. I gave forth a sweet smell as a vine. Al. Come unto Me, all ye that desire Me, and be filled with My fruits. Al. Al. . In Me is all grace of the way, and of truth; in Me is all hope of life, and of strength. Come.

Al. *

Ry. I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of a mighty thunder. Al. Our GoD shall reign for ever. For salvation, and virtue, and power, are become His CHRIST'S. Al. Al. y. And a voice came out from the throne, saying, Praise our GoD, all ye His saints, and ye that fear Him, both small and great. For. Glory. For.

SECOND NOCTURN.

Lesson IV.

Serm. 147 on the Seasons.

IN these holy days dedicated to the

Resurrection of the LORD, let us teach, as far as He gives us power, of the resurrection of the body. For this is our faith; this gift was promised us in the flesh of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and in Him was the first proof of it. For that which He has promised to give us at last, He willed not only to foretell, but to prove. But they who then were, when they saw Him, and were afraid, fancying they saw a spirit, were quite sure of the real existence of His Body. For He spoke not only in words to their ears, but in form to their eyes: as if it had been little to shew Himself in sight, if He did not also

offer Himself to be felt.

touched and esteem because of their frequency. CHRIST arose: the whole thing is finished. He was a Body: He was Flesh: He hung on the cross, He gave up the ghost, His flesh was laid in the tomb. He shewed that flesh alive, Who lived in it. Why do we marvel? Why do we not believe? It is GOD Who did it.

Ry. One of the seven Angels talked with me, saying, Come hither I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And I saw Jerusalem descending out of heaven, decked with her jewels. . And he carried me in the Spirit into an exceeding high mountain. And.

Lesson V.

FOR He saith, Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? For they thought that they saw a spirit. Why are ye troubled, saith He, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My Hands and My Feet; handle Me and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have. Men have disputed against this evidence. And what

else should men do, who are wise

according to man's wisdom, than thus dispute of GoD against GOD? For He is GOD and they are men. But the LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vain.

Ry. I heard a voice in heaven of many angels, which said, * Fear GOD, and give glory to Him, and worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Al. Al. y. I saw a mighty angel of GOD flying through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice and saying. Fear.

Lesson VI.

R. Behold the smell of My Son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed, Al: * and the smell of

His raiment is sweeter than all spices. Al. Al. y. His lips are as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under His tongue. And. Glory. And.

THIRD NOCTurn. Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to S. John.

Lesson VII. Chap. xvi.

AT that time: JESUS said to His

disciples: A little while and ye shall not see Me; and again, a little while and ye shall see Me; because I go to the FATHER. And that which follows.

A Homily of S. Augustine the Bishop.

Tract 101 on S. John.

The little while, is that whole space through which this present world is flying. Whence the same Evangelist saith in his Epistle: It is the last time. Wherefore He addeth, Because I go to the FATHER; which is to be referred to the first sentence, where He saith: A little while and ye shall THE whole rule of understanding not see Me; and not to the latter, in the carnal man is the habit of where He saith: And again a little seeing. What they are accustomed while, and ye shall see Me. By to behold, they credit; that which going to the FATHER, He would they are not accustomed to behold, cause that they could not see Him. they credit not. GOD performeth And therefore this was not said bemiracles contrary to custom, because cause He was to die, and, until He He is GOD. It is a greater miracle should rise again, be withdrawn from that so many men who were not, their gaze, but because He was to go should be daily born, than that a to the FATHER; which He did after He few, who were already, should rise rose again; and when, after He had again and nevertheless, those mira-companied with them for forty days, cles of which I speak are not under- He went up into heaven.

stood by careful thought, but are of Ry. The people of Israel sang; Al.