LESSON XXVIII. CHRISTIAN LOVE. S. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. P. No man hath seen God at any time: if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. S. He that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen? P. And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also. S. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: P. To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. S. Recompense to no man evil for evil. S. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. P. If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. S. Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak; slow to wrath, for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. P. Let all bitterness and wrath and clamor and evil-speaking be put away from you, with all malice: S. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, through Christ, hath forgiven you. P. Be ye, therefore, followers of God, as dear children. S. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. P. Now unto him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; S. Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think; P. Unto him be glory in the church, through Christ Jesus, world without end. Amen. LESSON XXIX. THE FUTURE LIFE. S. In my Father's house, said Jesus, are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you: P. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. S. Yet a little while, the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: P. Because I live, ye shall live also. S. I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: P. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. S. He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life; P. And shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. S. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. P. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. S. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. P. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. S. And, as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. P. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. S. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, P. Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. S. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? P. The sting of death is sin; but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. |