scattered abroad, greeting: My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations, 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. If 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. 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. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tougue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 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."

Exhortation.

Pure

1. Let now the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted.

2. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

3. Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps.

4. For we were as sheep going astray, but now are we returned to the shepherd and bishop of our souls.

5. If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace. be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not of those things, which are needful to the body, what doth it profit?

6. To do good, and to communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

7. May he, who is able, send you forth into the world, thoroughly furnished for every good work, keep you from falling into vice and error, improve, strengthen, establish and perfect you.

Matt. xxvi. 14-25, and 36-49. "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. Now, the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, where wilt

thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the pas sover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. Now, when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say. unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The son of man goeth, as is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said; Master is it I; He said unto him, Thou hast said. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep; and saith unto Pe ter, What! could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again; for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners: Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake; lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude, with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail Master; and kissed him."

Matt. xxvii. 24-38. "When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his bands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it. Then answered all the people and said, His blood be upon us, and our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him him away to crucify him. And as they came out they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they came unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, A place of a scull, they gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And, sitting down, they watched him there; and set up over his head his accusation written, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

ANTIPHON.

Christ died, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. We have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God. If any man sin, (and there is no man that sinneth not) we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the atonement for our sins. By the blood of his cross he hath atoned for our offences; by the blood of his cross he hath redeemed us, and made us kings and priests to himself and his Father, for ever. By the blood of his cross he hath washed away the defilements of our sins, and the dishonours of the grave, and made us capable of being partakers of his glory.

Acts 1.-25. And in those days Peter* stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of the names

1. This is he, who, when he was young, girded himself, and walked whither he would; but when he was old, for the sake of his Master; stretch

་

together were about an hundred and twenty) men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fiulfilled, which the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of David, spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch that the field is called, in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, the field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein, and his bishoprick let another take. Wherefore, of these men which have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots: and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles."

Eph. vi. 10—17. "Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

ed forth his hands, whilst another bound him, and carried him whither he would not; yet bowed he his will, and glorified God by his death.

2. This is he, who, after the example of his blessed Lord and Master, and remembering his words, FOLLOW ME, by looking up steadfastly unto him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and so put off the earthly tabernacle, in the very same manner, as our Lord had shewed him, receiving for it a tabernacle of glory.

ANTIPHON.

This pattern hath the great Apostle of this day left us, of suffering for the doctrine he taught, and in the service of the same Lord who had thereunto appointed him. He both preaching the gospel, and dying for it, confirmed with his blood the truths he had delivered; and, not refusing to lay down his life for his MASTER'S Sheep committed to him, finished with joy the course of his Apostleship.

Versicle. He faithfully finished the office whereunto he had been ordained. Response. And went to receive his great reward.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world; against spiritual wickedness in high places.

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.

"Stand therefore with your loins girt about with truth. "And having on the breastplate of righteousness.

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of

peace.

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

"And take the helmet of salvation.

"And the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God."

CHAPTER XIX.

Knights of Malta.

The following passages of scripture are occasionally rehearsed in encampments of Knights of Malta.

Acts xxviii. 1-6. "And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly; but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god."

St John xix. 19. "And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS."