did according to his will, fhall be beaten with many ftripes: But, he who knew not, and did things worthy of ftripes, fhall be beaten with few. For, to whom foever much is given, of him fhall much be required, and to whom men have committed much, of him they will demand the more.

Refp. Lord, we are all but as fellow-fervants to Thee our common Mafter, and dangerously forget our duty, if the pr fperous abufe their plenty, and the pow erful opprefs the weaks and every one think they may fafely fin, because Th art flaw to punish. For, Thy wh Shall come in a day when they look not for it, and their deftruction at an hour which they know not. Pardon O'Lord their in gratitude, who know thy will and neg lect its pity their unhappiness whose ig norance of Thee makes them ruine them " Selves: their licentious lives may per haps entertain them for a while, but they never can be aẞured to enjoy thems minute. For, Thy wrath.

Leffon 172.

I came to caft fire on the earth, and what will I but that it be kindled? I

have a babtifm to be baptized with, and how am I ftraitned till it be accomplisht? Do you think I come to give peace on carth? I tell you, No, but divifion. For from henceforth there fhall be five in one houfe divided; three against two, and two against three. The father fhall be divided against the Son, and the Son again the Father; the mother against the Daughter, and the Daughter againft the Mother; the Mother-in-law againft her Daughter-in-law, and the Daughter-in-law against her Mother-in-Law. Refp. Come Thou, O Lord, into our hearts; which feem by their dull coldness to bo nothing but earth; come, caft into them by boly fire, and enflame them with the fervors of Thy love. Thou, who for ardently defiredft to die for us, make us at least content to die for Thee, at least, to die to enjy Thee. Make us, O dearest JESU, esteem our peace with Thee above the friendship of our nearest Relations; and rather break with all the World, then be feperated one moment from Thee. *Thor, who

Leffor

Lesson 173.

There were prefent, at that very time, fome who told Him of the Galileans, whofe Blood Pilate mingled with their Sacrifices. And JESUS, answering, faid to them, Do you think thefe Galileans were finners more then all the Galileans, because they suffer'd fuch things? I tell you, No; but, except you repent, you fhall all likewife perish. Or thofe eigh teen, on whom the Tower in Siloe kell and flew them; Do you think they were finners above all that dwelt in Jerufalem? I tell you, No; but, except you do penance, you fhall all likewife perish. He spake alfo this fimilitude: A certain man had a Fig-tree planted in his Vine yard; and he came and fought fruit thereon, and found none. Then faid he to the dreffer of his Vineyard, Behold, these three years I come fecking fruit on this Fig-tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbers it the ground? And he anfweriug, faid to him, Lord, let it alone this year alfo, till I dig about it and manure it: and if it bear fruit, (well;) but, if not, thou shalt afterwards it cut down...

Refp.

Refp. Why should we bufie our thoughts to judge the lives of Others, when we have work enough to examine our own? why fhould we cenfure them on fome fad event, while perhaps our felves are more guilty then they. And, unlefs we repent,

we must likewife perish. We know, O Lord, and tremblingly remember Thy words, The Tree that's often dressed, and fill continues barren, fhall at last be cut down and caft into the fire. * AndLeffon 174.

And, He was teaching in the Synagogue on the Sabbath day. And, behold a Woman, who had a Spirit of inA firmity eighteen years, and was bow'd together, and could not look upwards at all. Whom when JESUS faw, He called her to Him, and faid, Woman, thou art deliver'd from thy infirmity. And He laid his hands on her, and immediately the was made ftraight, and G'orified God. And the Ruler of the Synagogue answered, (being moved with indignation, that JESUS had healed on the Sabbath) and faid to the people, Six days there are in which men ought to work in them therefore come and

be

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be heal'd, and not on the Sabbath. But, our Lord answered him and faid, Hypocrites! does not every one of you on the Sabbath loose his Oxe or his Afs from the ftall, and lead him to water? and ought not this Woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, thefe eighteen years, be loos'd from this bond on the Sabbath day? and, when He faid these things, all his adverfaries were afham'd: and all the people rejoyc'd for all the things that were gloriously done by Him.

Refp. O generous Mercy! that needs no more to move it but the fight of our mi fery! Behold, dear Lord, to The I come: when wilt Thou pity me? before Thy eyes I open my mounds. When wilt Thou fay to my afflicted Soul, B Thou deliver'd from all thy infirmities? Thou clearly convinceft me, and 1 fee my error; but my tubborn paffions will not yield: Thon fheweft me my duty, and I am aham'd of my disobedience but my corrupt nature trives not to mend. When

Lefor