1 JUNE 9. Eben. Nov. 22. Morn. James I. I. thren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 for the wrath of man worketh not the righte21 Wherefore lay apart JAMES, a servant of God and of ousness of God. 2 II the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore, my beloved bre all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. JUNE 10. Even. Nov. 23. Morn. James II. 1. 2 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? "But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 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. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 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. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. JUNE II. ST. BARNABAS. JUNE 12. Even. Nov. 24. Morn. 3 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish, 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be in 9 treated, full of mercy and good fruits, JUNE 13. Eben. Nov. 25. Morn. now ye rejoice in your boastings: all JUNE 14. Eben. Nov. 26. Morn. 4 FROM whence come wars and fight- 5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and ings among you? come they not hence, howl for your miseries that shall come even of your lusts that war in your mem- upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, bers? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and your garments are motheaten. and desire to have, and cannot obtain: 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and ye fight and war, yet ye have not, be- the rust of them shall be a witness cause ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive against you, and shall eat your flesh as not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adul- together for the last days. 4 Behold, terers and adulteresses, know ye not the hire of the labourers who have reapthat the friendship of the world is en- ed down your fields, which is of you mity with God? whosoever therefore kept back by fraud, crieth: and the will be a friend of the world is the cries of them which have reaped are enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the entered into the ears of the Lord of scripture saith in vain, The spirit that sabaoth. 5 Ye have lived in pleasure dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But on the earth, and been wanton; ye have he giveth more grace. Wherefore he nourished your hearts, as in a day of saith, God resisteth the proud, but giv- slaughter. "Ye have condemned and eth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit killed the just; and he doth not resist yourselves therefore to God. Resist the you. 7 Be patient therefore, brethren, devil, and he will flee from you. Draw unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to the husbandman waiteth for the preyou. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; cious fruit of the earth, and hath long and purify your hearts, ye double mind- patience for it, until he receive the early ed. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and and latter rain. Be ye also patient; weep: let your laughter be turned to stablish your hearts: for the coming of mourning, and your joy to heaviness. the Lord draweth nigh. 9Grudge not 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the one against another, brethren, lest ye Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak be condemned: behold, the judge standnot evil one of another, brethren. He eth before the door. 10 Take, my brethat speaketh evil of his brother, and thren, the prophets, who have spoken judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the in the name of the Lord, for an examlaw, and judgeth the law: but if thou ple of suffering affliction, and of patience. judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But II Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall 13 Is any among into condemnation. over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed 1 earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 2olet him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JUNE 15. Eben. Nov. 27. Morn. I Peter I. I. prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching DETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, what, or what manner of time the Spirit to the strangers scattered through- of Christ which was in them did signify, out Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, when it testified beforehand the sufferand Bithynia, 2elect according to the ings of Christ, and the glory that should foreknowledge of God the Father, follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto that not unto themselves, but unto us obedience and sprinkling of the blood they did minister the things, which are of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and now reported unto you by them that peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the have preached the gospel unto you with God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; Christ, which according to his abundant which things the angels desire to look mercy hath begotten us again unto a into. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus your mind, be sober, and hope to the Christ from the dead, 4to an inherit- end for the grace that is to be brought ance incorruptible, and undefiled, and unto you at the revelation of Jesus that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven Christ; 14 as obedient children, not for you, 5who are kept by the power fashioning yourselves according to the of God through faith unto salvation former lusts in your ignorance: 15 but ready to be revealed in the last time. as he which hath called you is holy, so "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though be ye holy in all manner of conversanow for a season, if need be, ye are in tion; 16because it is written, Be ye heaviness through manifold temptations: holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call 7 that the trial of your faith, being much on the Father, who without respect of more precious than of gold that perish- persons judgeth according to every eth, though it be tried with fire, might man's work, pass the time of your sobe found unto praise and honour and journing here in fear: 18 forasmuch as glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: ye know that ye were not redeemed whom having not seen, ye love; in with corruptible things, as silver and whom, though now ye see him not, yet gold, from your vain conversation rebelieving, ye rejoice with joy unspeak-ceived by tradition from your fathers; able and full of glory: 9receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and with out spot: 20 who verily was foreordained. before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. JUNE 16. Even. Nov. 28. Morn. I Peter I. 22. God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. JUNE 17. Even. Nov. 29. Morn. 1 Peter II. II. II DEARLY beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 3 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without 22 SEEING ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 2 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of |