June 11, 2022 :: Morning Prayer
Saint Barnabas the Apostle
Here beginneth the 10th chapter of Sirach.
A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a prudent man is well ordered.
As the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers; and what manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all they that dwell therein.
An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.
The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due time he will set over it one that is profitable.
In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.
Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices.
Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity.
Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.
Why is earth and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked thing than a covetous man: for such an one setteth his own soul to sale; because while he liveth he casteth away his bowels.
The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die.
For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, beasts, and worms.
The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.
For pride is the beginning of sin, and he that hath it shall pour out abomination: and therefore the Lord brought upon them strange calamities, and overthrew them utterly.
The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead.
The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place.
The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.
He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.
Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are born of a woman.
They that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love him an honourable plant: they that regard not the law are a dishonourable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed.
Among brethren he that is chief is honourable; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.
The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing thereof.
Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of the Lord.
It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.
Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.
Unto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do service: and he that hath knowledge will not grudge when he is reformed.
Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy distress.
Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.
My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity thereof.
Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?
The poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.
He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?
Here endeth the first lesson.
Here beginneth the 14th chapter of Acts.
And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
And there they preached the gospel.
And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:
And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
And there they abode long time with the disciples.