It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory.

Daily Meditation
⁹  My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Today’s Reading

2 Corinthians
Chapter 12
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory.

¹  It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. ² I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. ³ And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) ⁴ how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵ Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. ⁶ For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. ⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. ⁸ For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. ⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. ¹¹ I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. ¹² Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. ¹³ For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

¹⁴ Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. ¹⁶ But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. ¹⁷ Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? ¹⁸ I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

¹⁹ Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. ²⁰ For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: ²¹ and lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel,. . .

Daily Meditation
²¹ and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Today’s Reading

Isaiah
Chapter 30
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel,. . .

¹  Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: ² that walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! ³ Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. ⁴ For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. ⁵ They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

⁶ The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them. ⁷ For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

⁸ Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: ⁹ that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: ¹⁰ which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: ¹¹ get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. ¹² Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: ¹³ therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. ¹⁴ And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. ¹⁵ For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. ¹⁶ But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. ¹⁷ One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

¹⁸ And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

¹⁹ For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. ²⁰ And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: ²¹ and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. ²² Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. ²³ Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. ²⁴ The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. ²⁵ And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. ²⁶ Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

²⁷ Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: is lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: ²⁸ and his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. ²⁹ Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel. ³⁰ And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. ³¹ For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. ³² And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. ³³ For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

Delight thyself also in the Lord;

Daily Meditation
⁵ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Today’s Reading

Psalm
Chapter 37
Delight thyself also in the Lord;

A Psalm of David. ¹ Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. ² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. ³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. ⁴ Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. ⁵ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. ⁶ And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. ⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. ⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. ¹⁰ For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. ¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. ¹² The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. ¹³ The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. ¹⁴ The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. ¹⁵ Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. ¹⁶ A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. ¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. ¹⁸ The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. ¹⁹ They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. ²⁰ But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
²¹ The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. ²² For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. ²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. ²⁵ I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. ²⁶ He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. ²⁷ Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. ²⁸ For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. ²⁹ The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. ³⁰ The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. ³¹ The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. ³² The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. ³³ The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
³⁴ Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. ³⁵ I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. ³⁶ Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. ³⁷ Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. ³⁸ But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. ³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. ⁴⁰ And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

Daily Meditation
⁸ Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

Today’s Reading

Psalm
Chapter 5
Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. ¹ Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. ² Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. ³ My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. ⁴ For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. ⁵ The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. ⁶ Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. ⁷ But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. ⁸ Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. ⁹ For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. ¹⁰ Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. ¹¹ But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. ¹² For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

Daily Meditation
²⁶ At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

Today’s Reading

The Gospel According To
St. John
Chapter Sixteen
These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. ² They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. ³ And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. ⁴ But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. ⁵ But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? ⁶ But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. ⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ⁸ And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ of sin, because they believe not on me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; ¹¹ of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

¹² I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. ¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. ¹⁴ He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. ¹⁵ All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. ¹⁶ 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.

¹⁷ Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? ¹⁸ They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

¹⁹ Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? ²⁰ Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. ²¹ A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. ²² And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. ²³ And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. ²⁴ Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

²⁵ These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. ²⁶ At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: ²⁷ for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. ²⁸ I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

²⁹ His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. ³⁰ Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. ³¹ Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? ³² Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. ³³ These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust;

Daily Meditation
¹⁵ My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

Today’s Reading

Psalm
Chapter 31
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust;

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. ¹ In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. ² Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. ³ For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. ⁴ Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. ⁵ Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. ⁶ I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the Lord. ⁷ I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; ⁸ and hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

⁹ Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. ¹⁰ For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. ¹¹ I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. ¹² I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. ¹³ For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

¹⁴ But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God. ¹⁵ My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. ¹⁶ Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake. ¹⁷ Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. ¹⁸ Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

¹⁹ Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! ²⁰ Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. ²¹ Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. ²² For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

²³ O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. ²⁴ Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Daily Meditation
³³  . . . and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.

Today’s Reading

Numbers
Chapter 10
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

¹  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ² Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. ³ And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. ⁴ And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. ⁵ When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. ⁶ When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. ⁷ But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. ⁸ And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. ⁹ And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. ¹⁰ Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God.

¹¹ And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. ¹² And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. ¹³ And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

¹⁴ In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. ¹⁵ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. ¹⁶ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. ¹⁷ And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.

¹⁸ And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. ¹⁹ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. ²⁰ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. ²¹ And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.

²² And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. ²³ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. ²⁴ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

²⁵ And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. ²⁶ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. ²⁷ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. ²⁸ Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.

²⁹ And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel. ³⁰ And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. ³¹ And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. ³² And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the Lord shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.

³³ And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. ³⁴ And the cloud of the Lord was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. ³⁵ And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. ³⁶ And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.

Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

Daily Meditation
¹  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Today’s Reading

2 Corinthians
Chapter 6
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

¹  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. ² (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) ³ Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: ⁴ but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, ⁵ in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; ⁶ by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, ⁷ by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸ by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

¹¹ O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. ¹² Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. ¹³ Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

¹⁴ Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ¹⁵ and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ¹⁶ and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, ¹⁸ and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,. . .

Daily Meditation
¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Today’s Reading

Colossians
Chapter 3
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,. . .

¹  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: ⁶ for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: ⁷ in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. ⁸ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. ⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; ¹⁰ and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. ¹⁴ And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. ²² Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: ²³ and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ²⁴ knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,. . .

Daily Meditation
⁶ Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Today’s Reading

Proverbs
Chapter 17
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,. . .

¹  Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

² A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

³ The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

⁴ A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

⁵ Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

⁶ Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

⁷ Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

⁸ A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

⁹ He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

¹⁰ A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

¹¹ An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹² Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³ Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

¹⁵ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

¹⁶ Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

¹⁷ A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸ A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

¹⁹ He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰ He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

²¹ He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

²² A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

²³ A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

²⁴ Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

²⁶ Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

²⁷ He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

²⁸ Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

The Lord is thy keeper:

Daily Meditation
⁵  The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

Today’s Reading

Psalm
Chapter 121
The Lord is thy keeper:

A Song of degrees. ¹ I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. ² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. ³ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. ⁴ Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. ⁶ The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. ⁷ The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. ⁸ The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Daily Meditation
²⁰ Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.

Today’s Reading

The Gospel According To
St. John
Chapter Fifteen
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

¹ I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ² Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ³ Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. ⁶ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. ⁸ Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. ¹⁰ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. ¹² This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. ¹⁵ Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. ¹⁶ Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, that ye love one another.

¹⁸ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. ²¹ But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. ²³ He that hateth me hateth my Father also. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. ²⁶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: ²⁷ and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Daily Meditation
²²  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience . . . and our bodies washed with pure water.

Today’s Reading

Hebrews
Chapter 10
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

¹  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. ² For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. ³ But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. ⁴ For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

⁵ Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: ⁶ in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. ⁷ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. ⁸ Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; ⁹ then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. ¹⁰ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: ¹² but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; ¹³ from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. ¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. ¹⁵ Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, ¹⁶ This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; ¹⁷ and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. ¹⁸ Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

¹⁹ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; ²¹ and having an high priest over the house of God; ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) ²⁴ and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

²⁶ For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. ²⁸ He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: ²⁹ of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; ³³ partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. ³⁴ For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. ³⁵ Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. ³⁶ For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. ³⁷ For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. ³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. ³⁹ But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?

Daily Meditation
⁴  Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

Today’s Reading

Proverbs
Chapter 6
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?

¹  My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, ² thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. ³ Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. ⁴ Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. ⁵ Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

⁶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: ⁷ which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, ⁸ provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. ⁹ How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? ¹⁰ Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: ¹¹ so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

¹² A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. ¹³ He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; ¹⁴ frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. ¹⁵ Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

¹⁶ These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: ¹⁷ a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, ¹⁹ a false itness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

²⁰ My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: ²¹ bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. ²² When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. ²³ For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: ²⁴ to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. ²⁵ Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. ²⁶ For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. ²⁷ Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? ²⁸ Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? ²⁹ So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. ³⁰ Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; ³¹ but if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. ³² But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. ³³ A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. ³⁴ For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. ³⁵ He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Blessed be the Lord, . . .

Daily Meditation
⁶  Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

Today’s Reading

Psalm
Chapter 124
Blessed be the Lord, . . .

A Song of degrees of David. ¹ If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say; ² If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: ³ then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: ⁴ then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: ⁵ then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

⁶ Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. ⁷ Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. ⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?

Daily Meditation
¹⁰  My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Today’s Reading

Proverbs
Chapter 1
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?

¹  The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; ² to know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; ³ to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; ⁴ to give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. ⁵ A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: ⁶ to understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. ⁸ My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: ⁹ for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. ¹¹ If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: ¹² let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: ¹³ we shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: ¹⁴ cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: ¹⁵ my son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: ¹⁶ for their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. ¹⁷ Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. ¹⁸ And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. ¹⁹ So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

²⁰ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: ²¹ she crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, ²² How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? ²³ Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; ²⁵ but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: ²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; ²⁷ when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. ²⁸ Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: ²⁹ for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: ³⁰ they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. ³¹ Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. ³² For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. ³³ But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.