Gospel-Lessons to be Ponder'd at Leisure by Every Christian

(1) NTER ye by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there are that go in thereat:: how narrow is the gate, and strait the way, that leadeth to life, and few there are that find it! St. Matt. vii. 13, 14. (2) Many are call’d, but few chosen, St. Matt. xx. 16, xxii. 14. (3) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. But he that doth the will of my Father that is in heaven, St. Matt. vii. 21. (4) What doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? St. Matt. xvi. 26. (5) One thing is necessary, St. Luke x. 42. (6) He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth me, is not worthy of me, St. Matt. x. 37, 38. (7) He that shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father that is in heaven, St. Matt. x. 33. Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels, St. Mark viii. 38. (8) Fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell, St. Matt. x. 28.

(9) He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal, St. John Kil. 25. (10) tf any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me, St. Matt. xvi. 24.

11. Every one of you that doth not renounc all that he possesseth, cannot be my disciple, St. Luke xiv. 33.

(12) If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple, St. Luke xiv. 26, 27.

13. The friendship of this world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, is made the enemy of God, St. James iv. 4.

(14) Love not the world, nor the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever, 1 St. John ii. 15, 16, 17. (15) Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, St. Matt. xviii. 4. (16) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted, St. Matt. v. 3, 45. 5. (17) Wo to you that are rich, because you have your consolation—Wo to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep, St. Luke vi. 24, 25. (18) Come to me all you that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest to your souls, For my Hoke is sweet, and my burthen light, St. att, xi. 28, 29, 30. (19) Whosoever exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted, St. Matt. xxiii. 12.

(20) God resisteth the proud, and to the humble he giveth grace, St. Peter v. 5.

(21) Take heed that you do not your justice before men, that you may be seen by them; otherwise you shall have no reward of your Father who is in heaven, St. Matt. vi. 1.

(22) No man can serve two masters.— You cannot serve God and mammon, St. Matt. vi. 24.

(23) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, &c., St. Matt. vi. 19, 20.

(24) Seek first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you, V. 33.

(25) If you live according to the flesh, you shall die; but if by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live, Rom. viii. 13.

(26) Neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind; nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10.

(27) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are, 1 Cor. iii, 17.

(28) Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart, St. Matt. vi. 28.

(29) If thy right eye be a scandal [a stumbling-block] to thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee.—And if thy right-hand be a scandal to thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is better for thee that one of thy members should perish, than that thy whole body should go to hell, St. Matt. v. 29, 30. ` (30) If you forgive not men their trespasses; neither will your Father forgive your trespasses, St. Matt. vi. 15.

(31) Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that persecute you and calumniate you; that you may be children of your Father that is in heaven, St. Matt. v. 44, 45.

(32) A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, St. John xiii. 34.

(33) Tho’ I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal: and tho’ I have prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and tho’ I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing: and tho’ I should bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and tho’ I should give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing, 1 Cor. xiii. I, 2, 3- (34) Render to no man evil for evil. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, have peace with all men. Not revenging yourselves, &c. Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good, Rom. xii. 17, 18, FO; 21.

(35) Let not the sun go down upon your anger, Eph. iv. 26.

(36) Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of heaven, Acts xiv. 21.

(37) All that will live godlily in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution, 2 Tim. iii. 12.

(38) In your patience you shall possess your souls, St. Luke xxi. 19.

(39) Whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them, St. Matt. vii. 12. (40) Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares, St. Luke xxi. 34.

(41) Be you perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect, St. Matt. v. 48.

(42) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you, St. Matt, vii. 7. Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you, St. John xvi. 23.

(43) Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall, 1 Cor. x. 12.

B (44) Watch; for you know not at what hour your Lord will come.—Be ready, for the Son of Man will come at the hour that you know not, St. Matt. xxiv. 44.

(45) Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, St. Matt. xxvi. 41.

(46) Whether ye eat or drink, or whatever else you do, do all to the glory of God, Oar. gE:

(47) We brought nothing into this world, and ’tis certain we can carry nothing out. Having therefore food and raiment, let us be content therewith. But they that will be rich, fall into temptation, and the snare of the devil, and many useless and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Tim. vi. 7, 8, 9, 10.

(48) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire, St. Matt" vil. 19.

(49) Except you do penance, you shall all perish, St. Luke xiii. 3, 5- (50) He that shall persevere to the end, the same shall be saved, St. Matt. xxiv. 13.

(51) Be faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life, Kev. ii. 10.

(52) It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, Heb. x. 31.

(53) Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according to his works, Rev. xxii. 12.