SCHOLAR'S LEAFLET. FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. KEEPING THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT. 'Be thou faithful unto Death, and I will give thee a Crown of life.' To be read. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 'Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 'Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 'And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; 'Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints.' -Ephes. vi. 10-18. To be learnt. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered unto them.'-2 Peter ii. 20, 21. From strength to strength go on, [supplies Wrestle, and fight, and pray; Soldiers of Christ, arise, Tread all the powers of darkness down, Ye may obtain, through Christ alone, Jesu, Eternal Son, (Hymns Ancient and Modern, 270.) SCHOLAR'S LEAFLET. SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION DAY. THE GREAT FORTY DAYS. 'Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.' To be read. After that He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles.'1 Cor. xv. 6, 7. 45. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. 47. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 50. And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. 51. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into Heaven.'-St. Luke xxiv. 45, 47, 50, 51. 'Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. 'And when he had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 'Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.'-St. John xx. 21-23. To be learnt. The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the Apostles whom He had chosen : To whom also he shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.'-Acts i. 1-3. Hail the day that sees Him rise Alleluia ! Alluluia ! See, He lifts His hands above; Still for us He intercedes, Alleluia! (Hymns Ancient and Modern, 147.) SCHOLAR'S LEAFLET. WHIT-SUNDAY. THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST. Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' To be read. And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. 'For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.'-Acts i. 4, 5. 1. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place, 2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. 16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my spirit; and they shall prophesy: 31. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.'Acts ii. 1-4., 16-18., 31. To be learnt. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 'And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 'Then they that gladly received his word were baptised and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.'-Acts ii. 38-41. Thou, Whose Almighty Word, Chaos and darkness heard, And took their flight, Hear us, we humbly pray, And where the Gospel-day Sheds not its glorious ray, Thou, Who didst come to bring Health to the sick in mind, Let there be light! Spirit of truth and love, (Hymns Ancient and Modern, 360.) Blessed and Holy Three, Wisdom, Love, Might; Through the earth, far and wide, 1 |