November 8, 2022 :: Evening Prayer
Tuesday after the Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity
Here beginneth the 30th chapter of Sirach.
He that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the rod, that he may have joy of him in the end.
He that chastiseth his son shall have joy in him, and shall rejoice of him among his acquaintance.
He that teacheth his son grieveth the enemy: and before his friends he shall rejoice of him.
Though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.
While he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died, he was not sorrowful.
He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one that shall requite kindness to his friends.
He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; and his bowels will be troubled at every cry.
An horse not broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to himself will be wilful.
Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he will bring thee to heaviness.
Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end.
Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies.
Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the sides while he is a child, lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto thee, and so bring sorrow to thine heart.
Chastise thy son, and hold him to labour, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence unto thee.
Better is the poor, being sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man that is afflicted in his body.
Health and good estate of body are above all gold, and a strong body above infinite wealth.
There is no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the joy of the heart.
Death is better than a bitter life or continual sickness.
Here endeth the first lesson.
Here beginneth the 4th chapter of 1 Thessalonians.
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.