not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity. SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. All as in the Psalter, except that which follows. FIRST NOCTurn. Ry. GOD Who sittest upon Thy throne and judgest righteously, be the refuge of the poor in tribulation: * for Thou only considerest his labour and sorrow. . The poor committeth himself unto Thee, for Thou art the helper of the friendless. For. Lesson III. FOR we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were Here beginneth the 2nd Epistle of S. pressed out of measure, above strength, Paul to the Corinthians. Lesson I. Chap. i. PAUL, an apostle of JESUS CHRIST by the will of GOD, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of GOD which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: Grace be unto you and peace from GOD our FATHER, and from the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Blessed be GOD, even the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the FATHER of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of GOD. For as the sufferings of CHRIST abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by CHRIST. Ry. O LORD rebuke me not in Thine anger, neither chasten me in Thy heavy displeasure. * Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am weak. insomuch that we despaired even of life but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in GOD which raiseth the dead: who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. therefore I shall not fall. y. WhereRy. The LORD is on my right hand, fore my heart was glad, and my glory rejoiced. * The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. Wherefore. Glory. Wherefore. SECOND NOCTURN. A Sermon of S. John Chrysostom. Lesson IV. From the Pref. to the Epist. of S. Paul. y. Fearfulness and trembling are CONSTANTLY, while I listen to the come upon me, and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me. Have mercy. Lesson II. AND whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer, or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. reading of the Epistles of Blessed Paul, often twice and three or four times in a week, as often as we celebrate the memories of the holy martyrs, I leap for gladness, enjoying that spiritual trumpet, recognizing that friendly voice: and almost seem to look on him present and to hear him speaking. But yet I grieve and regret that all are not acquainted with this man as they ought to be; insomuch that some are so ignorant of him that they do not so much as know the number of his Epistles. It is not ignorance that is the cause, | ask no more attention from you than but that they do not choose to have just so much as this: nevertheless it constantly in their hands the writings will be very desirable that you should of this blessed man. give at least so much. Ry. Thou shalt shew me the path of life. In Thy presence is fulness of joy at Thy Right Hand there are pleasures for evermore. y. Thou shalt maintain my lot. In Thy. IT : Lesson V. Ry. The earth is the LORD's and all that therein is: * the compass of the world and they that dwell therein. V. For He hath founded it upon the seas, and prepared it upon the floods. The compass. Glory. The compass. THIRD NOCTURN. to S. John. Lesson VII. Chap. ii. AT that time: There was a marriage Mother of JESUS was there and both in Cana of Galilee; and the JESUS was called, and His disciples to the marriage. And that which follows. is not by the goodness or acuteness of our understanding that we know what we do, if we do know Lesson of the Holy Gospel according anything: but that, entertaining a deep affection for this Saint, we never give over reading him. For those who love, know more than all others of the deeds of those whom they love, from their very anxiety concerning them. And this Saint, as though pointing out this very fact to us, saith to the Philippians, Even as it is meet for me to think. this of you all, because I have you in my heart, forasmuch as in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. Ry. I will love Thee, O LORD my Strength the LORD is my strong Rock and my Defence. V. My Saviour, my God and my Might. And. Lesson VI. A Homily of S. Augustine the Bishop. The LORD's Coming to the marriage was intended, apart from the mystical signification, to certify that he was Himself the ordainer of marriage. For they were to come, of whom the Apostle spake, forbidding to marry, and saying that marriage was evil, and the work of the devil; whereas in the Gospels this same LORD, being asked if it was lawful for a man to put WHEREFORE if ye will give dili- away his wife for any cause, replied gent heed to reading, there will be nothing else for you to seek. For true is the word of CHRIST, who saith, Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. But although many of them who meet with us together in this place have taken on themselves the education of children, and the support of a wife, and the maintenance of a house, and therefore are unable to give themselves up altogether to this task: at all events rouse yourselves to take in that at least which others have collected, and give as much diligence to hear that which others say, as you do to the acquisition of money. For although it is a discreditable thing to that it was not lawful except for fornication. In which answer, as you may remember, He saith this: What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. R. Unto Thee, O LORD, will I lift trust in Thee, O let me not be conmy God, I have put my up my soul: * founded. у. O keep my soul and deliver me. My. Lesson VIII. AND they who are properly in structed in the Catholic faith know that God made marriage; and as union is of GOD, so is divorce of the devil. But on this account it is lawful to put away a wife for the Ry. O how plentiful is Thy goodness, O LORD,* which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee! V. And that Thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in Thee, even before the sons of men. Which. cause of fornication, because she herself has first refused to be a wife, by failing to keep wedded faith with her husband. Nor are those without marriage who vow virginity to GoD, although they hold a position of higher honour and sanctity in the Church. For they, together with the whole Church, belong to that marriage AND such trust have we through where the Bridegroom is CHRIST. Lesson II. CHRIST to GOD-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselvess to think anything of ourselves; but our suffiency is of GOD; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? Ry. Thou art my Helper, O GOD: * leave me not. V. Neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. Leave. Lesson III. FOR if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech and not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in CHRIST. Ry. I will bless the LORD at all times: * His praise shall ever be in my mouth. V. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. His. Glory. His. The ferial responses for this week serve till Septuagesima. TUESDAY. Of the 2nd Ep. to the Corinthians. Lesson I. Chap. v. K Lesson III. NOWING therefore the terror of the LORD, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer FOR we know that if our earthly them which glory in appearance, and house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of GOD, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Ry. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and with Thine ears consider my calling: hold not Thy peace at my tears: * for I am a stranger with Thee, and a sojourner. y. Let it be Thy pleasure to deliver me: make haste, O LORD, to help me. TE Lesson II. HEREFORE we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the LORD: (for we walk by faith, not by sight :) we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 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. not in heart. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to GoD: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of CHRIST constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again. Ry. I said, LORD be merciful unto me heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. y. Deliver me from all mine offences. Heal. Glory. Heal. WEDNESDAY. Of the 2nd Ep. to the Corinthians. Lesson I. Chap. vii. HAVING therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of GOD. Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. Ry. Destroy me not with mine unsins in Thy wrath for ever. . Enter and retain not my righteousness: not into judgment with Thy servant, O LORD. And. * Lesson II. GREAT is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless GOD, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent (FOR the weapons of our warfare are mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. Ry. My heart is fixed, O GOD, my heart is fixed: * I will sing and give praise unto the LORD. . Awake up; my glory awake lute and harp: I myself will awake right early. I will sing. Lesson III. FOR though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Ry. Unto Thee, O my Strength, will I sing; for Thou, O GOD, art my Refuge, * and my merciful GOD. V. I will be glad, and rejoice in Thee: yea, my songs will I make of Thy Name, O Thou Most Highest. And. Glory. And. THURSDAY. Of the 2nd Ep. to the Corinthians. Lesson I. Chap. x. NOW I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of CHRIST, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: but I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. not carnal, but mighty through GOD to the pulling down of strong and every high thing that exalteth holds;) casting down imaginations, itself against the knowledge of GOD, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of CHRIST; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is CHRIST'S, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is CHRIST's, even so are we CHRIST'S. * Rz. O let my mouth be filled with Thy praise, that I may sing of Thy glory and honour all the day long: cast me not away in the time of age, forsake me not when my strength faileth me. . My lips will be fain when I sing unto Thee. Forsake. Lesson III. FOR though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the LORD hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. Ry. My lips will be fain when I sing |
