may count it goodly traffic to suffer somewhat, that ye may gain the more. 9. If earthly glory have such power, how much more the heavenly? Is the piece of glass so precious? How much more the true pearl? 10. In the world all things are shadowy, nothing real. II. He that is the Head of the man, and the beauty of the woman, and the Husband of the Church, Christ Jesus, what crown did He put on for both man and woman? Of thorns and briars, as a figure of those sins which the lusts of our flesh has brought to us, but the power of the cross has taken away. 12. The theatre is especially the shrine of Venus. The theatre of Venus is also the house of Bacchus. Christian, thou must hate these things! 13. On such sweets let the world's guests be fattened; the places, and the times, and the inviter to the feast are their own. Our feasts, our marriage, is not yet. We cannot sit down with the world, nor they with us. Things go by turns; now they are glad, and we are sorrowful. 14. But what spectacle is that near at hand? It is the coming of the Lord, manifest, glorious, and triumphant. What is that joy of the angels? what the glory of the rising saints? what the kingdom of the righteous? what the city of the new Jerusalem? And there remain other spectacles; that last and eternal judgment-day, when all the ancient things of earth, and things just rising into existence, shall be consumed in one fire. 15. It is prayer alone which overcometh God. 16. Prayer is the wall of faith, our armour and weapons. CYPRIAN. BORN (ABOUT) 200-MARTYRED 258. 1. Christ willed to become what man is, in order that man might become what Christ is. 2. Him therefore we accompany; Him we follow ; Him have we for guide of our journey; Source of light; Author of salvation, who promises heaven and the Father to them that believe. What Christ is shall we be, His imitators. 3. Gaudiness of ornament and apparel are fit for none but the immodest. They are really richest in dress who are poorest amid their modesty. 4. The foe flatters and misleads, transforms himself into an angel of light, and clothes his ministers as servants of righteousness. These are the maintainers of night for day, of death for life; giving despair while proffering hope-Antichrist under the name of Christ. 5. He cannot possess Christ's garment who splits and divides Christ's Church. 6. We need to be girded about, lest, when the day of march cometh, He find us hindered. Let us be awaiting the sudden advent of the Lord, that, when He knocketh, our faith may be on the watch, and win from the Lord the recompence of its watchfulness. 7. Does he think himself a Christian who is ashamed or afraid to be one? Can he be joined to Christ who may count it goodly traffic to suffer somewhat, that ye may gain the more. 9. If earthly glory have such power, how much more the heavenly? Is the piece of glass so precious? How much more the true pearl? 10. In the world all things are shadowy, nothing real. II. He that is the Head of the man, and the beauty of the woman, and the Husband of the Church, Christ Jesus, what crown did He put on for both man and woman? Of thorns and briars, as a figure of those sins which the lusts of our flesh has brought to us, but the power of the cross has taken away. 12. The theatre is especially the shrine of Venus. The theatre of Venus is also the house of Bacchus. Christian, thou must hate these things! 13. On such sweets let the world's guests be fattened ; the places, and the times, and the inviter to the feast are their own. Our feasts, our marriage, is not yet. We cannot sit down with the world, nor they with us. Things go by turns; now they are glad, and we are sorrowful. 14. But what spectacle is that near at hand? It is the coming of the Lord, manifest, glorious, and triumphant. What is that joy of the angels? what the glory of the rising saints? what the kingdom of the righteous? what the city of the new Jerusalem? And there remain other spectacles; that last and eternal judgment-day, when all the ancient things of earth, and things just rising into existence, shall be consumed in one fire. 15. It is prayer alone which overcomet man might become what Cor s 2. Him therefore we acc Him have we for gure of our fore Author of salvation. w ro to them that believe. imitators. but the immodest. They are Fair Is are poorest amic ther mouest 3. Gaudiness of omanen an 4. The for flatters aut music. trauster an angel of light and cote L righteousness. These ar tie day, of death for in hope Antichrist under the nat 5. He cannot posses divides Christ's Churc 6. We need ning march cometi. Et m the sudden adver, c feels either the disgrace or the danger of belonging to Him. 8. We pray for the coming of that our kingdom, which has been promised to us by God, and was gained by the blood and suffering of Christ, that we who have continued His subjects in the life below may reign in His kingdom according to His own word, 'Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom.' 9. Riches are not only to be despised, but full of danger; in them is the root of seductive evils, misleading the blindness of the human heart by a subtle deception. 10. If He prayed, who was without sin, how much more ought sinners to pray! If He offered continual prayer, the whole night long, how much more ought we to add prayer to prayer, and to watch thereunto by night! II. Let him fear to die who, not born of the Spirit, is the property of the eternal fire. Let him fear to die who is to pass from death here to the second death. 12. In persecution, earth is shut, but heaven opens; Antichrist threatens, but Christ protects; death enters, but immortality ensues; the world is taken from us, but Paradise is awarded; the life of time is quenched, but the life of eternity is accomplished. 13. Let us consider, beloved brethren, that we have renounced the world, and are passing our time here as strangers and pilgrims. We embrace the day which assigns each to his home, which restores to Paradise and a kingdom, us who have been plucked from the world. and set free from worldly snares. Who would not hasten home? Paradise we count our fatherland, and the patri |