yet is there no end of all his labour; | GOD. If thou seest the oppression of neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. Ry. Great are Thy. p. lxxiv. Lesson III. TWO are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. Ry. Thine eyes. p. lxxiv. THURSDAY. Of the Book of Ecclesiastes. Lesson I. Chap. v. the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. Ry. I alone. p. lxxiii. Lesson III. HE that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a BE not rash with thy mouth, and let son, and there is nothing in his hand. Ry. Send, O LORD. p. lxxiii. not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before GOD: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Ry. The LORD possessed. p. lxxii. SUFFER not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should GOD be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou departeth in darkness, and his name | end of a thing than the beginning shall be covered in darkness. More- thereof: and the patient in spirit is over he hath not seen the sun, nor better than the proud in spirit. known any thing: this hath more Ry. Great are. p. lxxiv. rest than the other. Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good. Of the Book of Ecclesiastes. Lesson I. Chaps. vi. and vii. FOR who knoweth what is good for Lesson III. SAY not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. Consider the work of GoD: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? Ry. Thine eyes. p. lxxiv. THIRD SUNDAY IN AUGUST. Here beginneth the Book of Wisdom. For man in this life, all the days ofOVE righteousness, ye that be his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? A good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of one's birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Ry. O LORD, Father. p. lxxiv. SORROW is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the counte nance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. Better is the VOL. II. judges of the earth: think of the Ry. The LORD possessed. p. lxxii. FOR the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in. For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for GOD is witness of his sins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue. For the Spirit of the LORD filleth the world: and 1 that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice. Therefore he that speaketh unrighteous things cannot be hid: neither shall vengeance, when it punisheth, pass by him. Ry. I alone. p. lxxiii. FOR Lesson III. OR inquisition shall be made into the counsels of the ungodly; and the sound of his words shall come unto the LORD for the manifestation of his wicked deeds. For the ear of jealousy heareth all things: and the noise of murmurings is not hid. Therefore beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and refrain your tongue from backbiting; for there is no word so secret, that shall go for nought and the mouth that belieth slayeth the soul. Ry. Send, O LORD. p. lxxiii. SECOND NOCTURN. Book 1. Chap. 28. tion to its laws; that it extends even to enemies, so that if a place or time of battle be appointed with an enemy, it is esteemed contrary to justice to be beforehand with either time or place. For it makes an important difference, whether one is overcome in any fight where there is a sharp conflict, or by some inferior advantage, or, again, by any chance. Therefore, if justice has such a power in war, how much more ought it to be observed in peace? GREAT is the splendour of justice, which, born rather for others than for itself, aids our society and fellowship, holds so high a place, that it keeps all things under its rule, gives help to others, bestows wealth, shrinks not from duties, takes upon it the risks of others. Who would not desire to hold this citadel of virtue, unless covetousness had first enfeebled or distorted the strength of such a virtue ? For while we are anxious to increase our wealth, to heap up money, to occupy estates as owners, to excel in riches, we strip off the semblance of justice, and lose our share in promoting the common weal. Ry. Give me. p. lxxiii. Lesson V. Ry. The fear. p. lxxiii. T Lesson VI. THEREFORE the foundation of justice is faith, for the hearts of the just ponder on faith, and the just man who accuses himself places justice above faith. For his justice is evident, when he acknowledges the truth. Further, the LORD saith by Isaiah: Behold, I lay in Sion a tried Corner-stone, that is, CHRIST, as the Foundation of the Church. Now CHRIST is the Faith of all; but the Church is a kind of type of justice; she is the common right of all, she prays for all, she works for all, she is tempted in all. In short, whoever denies himself, he is just, he is worthy of CHRIST. Therefore Paul also laid CHRIST as the Foundation, in order that upon Him we may build the works of righteousness; because faith is the foundation. HOW great justice is, we may learn from this, that neither place, nor person, nor time, can form any excep Ry. Remove. p. lxxiv. Ry. vii. O LORD, Father. p. lxxiv. Of the Book of Wisdom. Lesson I. Chap. iii. BUT the souls of the righteous are in the hand of GoD, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery; and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded for GoD proved them, and found them worthy for himself. As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering. A Ry. Leave. p. lxxiv. Lesson II. ND in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their LORD shall reign for ever. They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect. But the ungodly shall be punished according to their own imaginations, which have neglected the righteous, and forsaken the LORD. For whoso despiseth wisdom and nurture, he is miserable, and their hope is vain, their labours unfruitful, and their works unprofitable. Rz. Great are. p. lxxiv. Lesson III. Chap. v. TUESDAY. Of the Book of Wisdom. Lesson I. Chap. vi. HEAR therefore, O ye kings, and understand learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. For power is given you of the LORD, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search. out your counsels. Because, being ministers of his kingdom, ye have not judged aright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of GOD. Ry. My son. p. lxxv. Lesson II. HORRIBLY and speedily shall he come upon you for a sharp judgment shall be to them that be in high places. For mercy will soon pardon the meanest: but mighty men shall be mightily tormented. For he which is LORD over all shall fear no man's person, neither shall he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he hath made the small and great, and careth for all alike. But a sore trial shall come upon the mighty. Ry. The fear. p. lxxiii. Lesson III. speak, that ye may learn wisdom, and not fall away. For they that keep holiness holily shall be judged holy: and they that have learned such things shall find what to answer. Wherefore set your affection upon my words; desire them, and ye shall be instructed. Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away: yea, she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her. BUT the righteous live for ever-UNTO you therefore, O kings, do I more; their reward also is with the LORD, and the care of them is with the most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the LORD's hand for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them. He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies. He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of a helmet. He shall take holiness for an invincible shield. His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with him against the unwise. Ry. Thine eyes. p. lxxiv. Ry. Remove. p. lxxiv. WEDNESDAY. Of the Book of Wisdom. Lesson I. Chap. vii. MYSELF also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth, and that which containeth all things |tion to its laws; that it extends even hath knowledge of the voice. There- to enemies, so that if a place or time fore he that speaketh unrighteous things cannot be hid: neither shall vengeance, when it punisheth, pass by him. Ry. I alone. p. lxxiii. Lesson III. FOR inquisition shall be made into the counsels of the ungodly; and the sound of his words shall come unto the LORD for the manifestation of his wicked deeds. For the ear of jealousy heareth all things: and the noise of murmurings is not hid. Therefore beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and refrain your tongue from backbiting; for there is no word so secret, that shall go for nought and the mouth that belieth slayeth the soul. Rz. Send, O LORD. p. lxxiii. SECOND NOCTURN. From the Book of Duties, by Book 1. Chap. 28. GR REAT is the splendour of justice, which, born rather for others than for itself, aids our society and fellowship, holds so high a place, that it keeps all things under its rule, gives help to others, bestows wealth, shrinks not from duties, takes upon it the risks of others. Who would not desire to hold this citadel of virtue, unless covetousness had first enfeebled or distorted the strength of such a virtue ? For while we are anxious to increase our wealth, to heap up money, to occupy estates as owners, to excel in riches, we strip off the semblance of justice, and lose our share in promoting the common weal. Ry. Give me. p. lxxiii. Lesson V. How great justice is, we may learn from this, that neither place, nor person, nor time, can form any excep of battle be appointed with an enemy, it is esteemed contrary to justice to be beforehand with either time or place. For it makes an important difference, whether one is overcome in any fight where there is a sharp conflict, or by some inferior advan tage, or, again, by any chance. Therefore, if justice has such a power in war, how much more ought it to be observed in peace? Ry. The fear. p. lxxiii. Lesson VI. THEREFORE the foundation of justice is faith, for the hearts of the just ponder on faith, and the just man who accuses himself places justice above faith. For his justice is evident, when he acknowledges the truth. Further, the LORD saith by Isaiah: Behold, I lay in Sion a tried Corner-stone, that is, CHRIST, as the Foundation of the Church. Now CHRIST is the Faith of all; but the Church is a kind of type of justice; she is the common right of all, she prays for all, she works for all, she is tempted in all. In short, whoever denies himself, he is just, he is worthy of CHRIST. Therefore Paul also laid CHRIST as the Foundation, in order that upon Him we may build the works of righteousness; because faith is the foundation. Ry. Remove. p. lxxiv. Ry. vii. O LORD, Father. p. lxxiv. Of the Book of Wisdom. Lesson I. Chap. iii. BUT the souls of the righteous are in the hand of GoD, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery; and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope |
