The Forbidden Gospels and Epistles Part 42

31 Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

32 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart O G.o.d; and renew a right spirit within me.

34 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me.

35 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit.

36 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

37 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O G.o.d, thou G.o.d of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

38 O Lord open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

39 For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it; thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.

40 The sacrifices of G.o.d are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O G.o.d, thou wilt not despise.

CHAPTER IX.

He again persuades them to compose their divisions.

THUS has the humility and G.o.dly fear of these great and excellent men recorded in the Scriptures, through obedience, made not only us, but also the generations before us better; even as many as have received his holy oracles with fear and truth.

2 Having therefore so many, and such great and glorious examples, let us return to that peace which was the mark that from the beginning was set before us;

3 Let us look up to the Father and Creator of the whole world; and let us hold fast to his glorious and exceeding gifts and benefits of peace.

4 Let us consider and behold with the eyes of our understanding his long suffering will; and think how gentle and patient he is towards his whole creation.

5 The heavens moving by his appointment, are subject to him in peace.

6 Day and night accomplish the courses that he has allotted unto them, not disturbing one another.

7 The sun and moon, and all the several companies and constellations of the stars, run the courses that he has appointed to them in concord, without departing in the least from them.

8 The fruitful earth yields its food plentifully in due season both to man and beast, and to all animals that are upon it, according to his will; not disputing, nor altering any thing of what was ordered by him.

9 So also the unfathomable and unsearchable floods of the deep, are kept in by his command;

10 And the conflux of the vast sea, being brought together by his order into its several collections, pa.s.ses not the bounds that he has set to it;

11 But as he appointed it, so it remains. For he said, Hitherto shalt then come, and thy floods shall be broken within thee.

12 The ocean impa.s.sable to mankind, and the worlds that are beyond it are governed by the same commands of their great master.

13 Spring and summer, autumn and winter, give place peaceably to each other.

14 The several quarters of the winds fulfil their work in their seasons, without offending one another.

15 The ever-flowing fountains, made both for pleasure and health, never fail to reach out their b.r.e.a.s.t.s to support the life of men.

16 Even the smallest creatures live together in peace and concord with each other.

17 All these has the Great Creator and Lord of all, commanded to observe peace and concord; being good to all.

18 But especially to us who flee to his mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom be glory and majesty for ever and ever.

Amen.

CHAPTER X.

He exhorts them to obedience, from the consideration of the goodness of G.o.d, and of his presence in every place.

TAKE heed, beloved, that his many blessings be not to our condemnation; except we shall walk worthy of him, doing with one consent what is good and pleasing in his sight.

2 The spirit of the Lord is a candle, searching out the inward parts of the belly.

3 Let us therefore consider how near he is to us; and how that none of our thoughts, or reasonings which we frame within ourselves, are hid from him,

4 It is therefore just that we should not forsake our rank, by doing contrary to his will.

5 Let us choose to offend a few foolish and inconsiderate men, lifted up and glorying in their own pride, rather than G.o.d.

6 Let us reverence our Lord Jesus Christ whose blood was given for us.

7 Let us honour those who are set over us; let us respect the aged that are amongst us; and let us instruct the younger men, in the discipline and fear of the LORD.

8 Our wives let us direct, to do that which is good.

9 Let them show forth a lovely habit of purity, in all their conversation; with a sincere affection of meekness.

10 Let the government of their tongues be made manifest by their silence.

11 Let their charity be without respect of persons, alike towards all such as religiously fear G.o.d.

12 Let your children be bred up in the instruction of Christ:

13 And especially let them learn how great a power humility has with G.o.d; how much a pure and holy charity avails with him; how excellent and great his fear is; and how it will save all such as turn to him with holiness in a pure mind.

14 For he is the searcher of the thoughts and counsels of the heart; whose breath is in us, and when he pleases he can take it from us.