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former sins. Flee from sin as from | down. And when thou hast done all the face of a serpent: for if thou thy office, take thy place, that thou comest too near it, it will bite thee: mayest be merry with them, and rethe teeth thereof are as the teeth of a ceive a crown for thy well ordering of lion, slaying the souls of men. All the feast. Speak, thou that art the iniquity is as a two edged sword, the elder, for it becometh thee, but with wounds whereof cannot be healed. sound judgment; and hinder not To terrify and do wrong will waste musick. riches thus the house of proud men shall be made desolate.

Ry. Give me. p. lxxiii.

Lesson II.

Ry. O LORD, FATHER. p. lxxiv.
Lesson II.

POUR not out words where there is

signet of an emerald set in a work of
gold, so is the melody of music with
pleasant wine. Speak, young man,
if there be need of thee: and yet
scarcely when thou art twice asked.
Ry. Great are. p. lxxiv.

a musician, and shew not forth A PRAYER out of a poor man's wisdom out of time. A concert of mouth reacheth to the ears of musick in a banquet. of wine is as a GOD, and his judgment cometh speed-signet of carbuncle set in gold. As a ily. He that hateth to be reproved is in the way of sinners: but he that feareth the LORD will repent from his heart. An eloquent man is known far and near but a man of understanding knoweth when he slippeth. He that buildeth his house with other men's money is like one that gathereth himself stones for the tomb of his burial. The congregation of the wicked is like tow wrapped together: and the end of them is a flame of fire to destroy

them.

Ry. The fear. p. lxxiii.

Lesson III.

Lesson III.

E ET thy speech be short, comprehending much in few words; be as one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue. If thou be among great

men, make not thyself equal with them; and when ancient men are in place, use not many words. Before the thunder goeth lightning; and THE way of sinners is made plain before a shamefaced man shall go with stones, but at the end there- favour. Rise up betimes, and be not of is the pit of hell. He that keepeth the last; but get thee home without the law of the LORD getteth the under-delay. There take thy pastime, and standing thereof: and the perfection do what thou wilt: but sin not by proud speech. And for these things bless him that made thee, and hath replenished thee with his good things. Ry. Thine eyes. p. lxxiv.

of the fear of the LORD is wisdom. He that is not wise will not be taught: but there is a wisdom which multiplieth bitterness. The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood: and his counsel is like a pure fountain of life.

Ry. Remove. p. lxxiv.

SATURDAY.

Of the Book of Ecclesiasticus.

Lesson I. Chap. xxxii. IF thou be made the master of a feast, lift not thyself up, but be among them as one of the rest: take diligent care for them, and so sit

FIRST SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER. Here beginneth the Book of Job Lesson I. Chap. i. THERE was a man in the land of

Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared GOD, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and

five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Ry. Shall we receive good at the hand of GoD, and shall we not receive evil? The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away: as it pleased the LORD, So is it done; blessed be the name of the LORD. Y. Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither. The LORD.

A

Lesson II.

ND his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and

cursed GoD in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Ry. My sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters; for the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet: yet trouble came. y. Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from

me? Yet.

Lesson III.

NOW there was a day when the

sons of GOD came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth GOD, and escheweth evil? Then Satan

|

answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear GOD for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Ry. How forcible are right words! ye imagine to reprove words, and ye dig a pit for your friend. Now therefore, be content, look upon me. y. Yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. Is there iniquity in my tongue? Now. Glory. Now.

SECOND NOCTURN.

From the book of the Morals of S. Gregory the Pope.

Lesson IV.

Book 2. Chap. I.

HOLY Scripture is set before our

mind's eyes as a kind of mirror, that we may see our inward countenance there. For there we take note of

what is foul in us, and what is fair: there we perceive what progress we are making, there, how far we still are from perfection; for it relates the acts of the saints, and calls on weak hearts to imitate them; and while it commemorates their victorious deeds, it against sin, and through its words it encourages our weakness to battle comes to pass that the mind, when engaged in conflict, is the less fearful,

because it sees the triumphs of so many mighty men set before it.

Ry. My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust, my skin is broken, and become loathsome: * O remember that my life is wind. y. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. O remember.

Lesson V.

BUT sometimes it not only declares

their virtues to us, but also makes known their falls; to the end that, in the victory of those mighty

ones, we may find something to grasp | me afraid. Y. O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in Thine anger, lest Thou bring me to nothing. And. Glory. And.

at by imitation; and again, in their falls, we may see what we ought to fear for ourselves. For see how Job is described as profiting, but David is overcome, by temptation; that the virtue of our forefathers may cherish our hope, while the falls of our forefathers may gird us for watchful humility to the end that while we rejoice and are elevated by the one, we may be kept humble, and may fear, through the other; and the soul of the hearer, instructed on the one hand by the confidence of hope, on the other by the humility of fear, may neither grow rash and presume, in that it is weighed down by dread: nor yet be depressed and despair, because it is stablished in confidence of hope by the example of virtue.

*

R. vii. O that Thou wouldest hide me in the grave that Thou wouldst keep me secret until Thy wrath be past! O LORD, save Thee, who only art GOD? That Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! Y. Are Thy days as the days of man, that Thou inquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin? and there is none that can deliver out of Thine hand. That.

Rz. viii. Two Seraphim. p. xxviii.
MONDAY.

Of the Book of Job..

Lesson I. Chap. i.

Ry. My days are few; cease then, AND there was a day when his sons

O LORD, that I may take comfort a little before I go to the land of darkness and the shadow of death. . Thy hands have made me and fashioned me together round about, yet dost Thou destroy me. Before. Lesson VI.

Book 1. Mor. c. i.

THERE was a man in the land of

Uz, whose name was Job. The place where this holy man dwelt is written, that the merit of his virtue may be expressed. For is there any one who knows not that Uz is in the land of the Gentiles? The Gentiles were so tied and bound with sin, that they had not the knowledge of their Creator. It is therefore written where Job dwelt, that it may be counted in addition to his praises, that he was good among the bad. For it is no very praiseworthy thing to be good among the good, but to be good among the bad. For, as it is a heavier fault not to be good among the good, so it is boundless praise to be good among the evil.

Ry. Then will I not hide myself from thee. Withdraw Thine hand far from me: and let not Thy dread make

and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: and there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of GOD is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Ry. My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep: * Let me alone, for my days are vanity. y. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. Let.

Lesson II.

WHILE he was yet speaking, there

came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking,

there came also another, and said, I touch his bone and his flesh, and he Thy sons and thy daughters were will curse thee to thy face.

eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: and, behold. there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

R. My flesh. p. xiv.

Lesson II.

AND the LORD said unto Satan,
Bebold, he is in thine hand; but
So went Satan forth
save his life.
from the presence of the LORD, and
sole of his foot unto his crown. And
smote Job with sore boils from the
he took him a potsherd to scrape
himself withal; and he sat down

R. O that my grief were throughly weighed, * and my calamity laid in the balance together. y. For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swal-among the ashes. Then said his wife lowed up. And.

Lesson III.

unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse Gop, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest, as THEN Job arose, and rent his one of the foolish women speaketh: mantle, and shaved his head, and What? shall we receive good at the fell down upon the ground, and wor-hand of GoD, and shall we not receive shipped; and said, Naked came I out evil? In all this did not Job sin with of my mother's womb, and naked shall his lips. I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Ry. How forcible. p. xciv. TUESDAY.

Of the Book of Job.
Lesson I. Chap. ii.

AGAIN there was a day when the
sons of GoD came to present
themselves before the LORD, and
Satan came also among them to pre-
sent himself before the LORD. And
the LORD said unto Satan, From
whence comest thou? And Satan
answered the LORD, and said, From
going to and fro in the earth, and
from walking up and down in it.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast
thou considered my servant Job, that
there is none like him in the earth, a
perfect and an upright man, one that
feareth GoD, and escheweth evil? and
still he holdeth fast his integrity,
although thou movedst me against
him to destroy him without cause.
And Satan answered the LORD, and
said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a
man hath will he give for his life.
But put forth thine hand now, and

Ry. My days are few. p. xcv.
Lesson III.

NOW when Job's three friends
heard of all this evil that was
come upon him, they came every one
from his own place; Eliphaz the
Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite,
and Zophar the Naamathite: for they

had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

Ry. Then will I. p. xcv.

WEDNESDAY.

Of the Book of Job.
Lesson I. Chap. iii.

AFTER this opened Job his mouth,

and cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man

child conceived. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify

it.

Ry. O that Thou. p. xcv.
Lesson II.

AS for that night, let darkness seize

upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning. Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark: let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

Ry. O that my. p. xcvi.

WHY

Lesson III.

died I not from the womb?

why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, with kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves; or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

Ry. How forcible. p. xciv.
THURSDAY.

Of the Book of Job.

Lesson I. Chap. iv. THEN Eliphaz the Temanite an

swered and said, If we essay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold him

self from speaking? Behold, thou

hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands; thy

VOL. II.

words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees; but now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope and the uprightness of thy ways?

Ry. Shall we. p. xciv.

Lesson II.

REMEMBER, I pray thee, who

ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of GOD they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

Ry. My sighing. p. xciv.
Lesson III.

NOW a thing was secretly brought

to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: it stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, Shall mortal man be more just than GOD? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly.

Ry. How forcible. p. xciv.

FRIDAY.

Of the Book of Job.
Lesson I. Chap. vi.

BUT Job answered and said, Oh

that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the

h

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