October 14, 2022 :: Evening Prayer
Friday after the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
Here beginneth the 4th chapter of Wisdom of Solomon.
Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the memorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and with men.
When it is present, men take example at it; and when it is gone, they desire it: it weareth a crown, and triumpheth for ever, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards.
But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation.
For though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing not fast, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out.
The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing.
For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.
But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.
For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.
But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.
He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.
Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.
For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.
He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:
For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.
This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.
Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly which are living; and youth that is soon perfected the many years and old age of the unrighteous.
For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what God in his counsel hath decreed of him, and to what end the Lord hath set him in safety.
They shall see him, and despise him; but God shall laugh them to scorn: and they shall hereafter be a vile carcase, and a reproach among the dead for evermore.
For he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless; and he shall shake them from the foundation; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and be in sorrow; and their memorial shall perish.
And when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.
Here endeth the first lesson.
Here beginneth the 13th chapter of 2 Corinthians.
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Greet one another with an holy kiss.
All the saints salute you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.