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CHAPTER 2.

EXTRACTS FROM THE WISDOM OF JESUS, THE SON OF SIRACH.

1 MY son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth. And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength.

2 Add not more trouble to a heart that is vexed, and defer not to give to him that is in need. Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantic among thy servants. Sweet language will multiply friends, and a fair speaking tongue will increase kind greetings.

3 Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee. Be not slow to visit the sick for that shall make thee to be beloved. Reproach not a man that turneth from sin, but remember that we are all worthy of punishment.

4 When a rich man speaketh, every man holdeth his tongue; and look what he saith, they extol it to the clouds but if the poor man speak, they say, what fellow is this? and if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.

5 Blessed is he whose conscience has not condemned him. My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask pardon for thy former sins. Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent for if thou comest too near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of

men.

6 Be faithful unto thy neighbor in his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in` the time of his trouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage for a mean estate is not always to be contemned; nor the rich that is foolish to be had in admiration.

7 If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst thou find any thing in thine age?

8 Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbor again in due season. Keep thy word faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee. Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them. Till he hath received he will kiss a man's hand for his neighbor's money he will speak submissly when he should repay he will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the time.

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9 Many therefore have refused to lend for other men's ill

man in

dealing, fearing to be defrauded. Yet have patience with a poor estate, and delay not to show him mercy. Forget not the friendship of thy surety; for he hath given his life for thee.

CHAPTER 3.

SELECTIONS FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT.

SECTION I.

Instructions of Jesus Christ.

1 BLESSED are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.

2 Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

3 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black: but let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

4 Ye have heard that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

5 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.

6 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you: that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.

7 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute

all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

18 And he said unto him, thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, and who is my neighbor?

19 And Jesus answering, said, a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

20 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

21 And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

22 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, he that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, go, and do thou likewise.

23 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.

24 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, this man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

25 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, what man of you having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it?

26 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing: And when he cometh home he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.

27 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, who need no repentance.

28 And he said, a certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, father give me the por

your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

8 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

9 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

10 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

11 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

12 Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

13 For I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

14 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

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15 And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily inasmuch as ye unto you, have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

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16 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, what is written in the law? how readest thou?

17 And he answering, said, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with