God, and Jesus standing on the right-hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him, and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, reAnd he kneeled down, and

ceive my Spirit.

cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.-St. Luke xxiii.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your's also. But all these things will they

do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.-St. John xv.

PART OF GOSPEL FOR THE DAY.

Behold I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify, and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.—O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.-St. Matthew xxiii.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. - St. Matthew v.

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.St. Matthew v.

LITANY.

That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts.

We beseech thee to hear us good Lord.

PRAYER. DR. SPARKE.

O infinitely wise Disposer of all things, give us grace spiritually to improve this great example of Thy holy Martyr St. Stephen, both into a Christian carriage and a Christian courage of our own; that our carriage may be inoffensive, and harmless towards all men, as becometh the servants of so meek a Master. -Deliver us from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou that art the God of our health, our sin prove greater than we can bear.And especially keep us from the number of those, that strive with the Priest, or of the

lest

killers of the Prophets, and stoners of them

that are sent unto us; but make us rather willing to suffer the greatest, than do the least injury to one of these. And in all our sufferings, which Thou shalt think good to call us unto, O Lord, give us Christian magnanimity both by word and deed, to own the great Master of our holy profession: that we may not shrink either at tortures or temptations; that we may not fear the face either of men or devils, looking steadily up to heaven, with St. Stephen, and seeing Jesus standing at the right-hand of God. Whom in like

case let us imitate both for true piety toward Thee, and for charity towards others, that we might never forget to put up that petition to Thee, Lord, Forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and turn their hearts; then shall our death indeed, like his, be but a sleep, so that the sound of the last trumpet shall awaken us to eternal Hallelujahs; which grant, O Father of mercies, for the Son of Thy love, Thy Christ, and our Jesus' sake. Amen, Amen.

H. AND A. HILL, TYP., STANDARD OFFICE, BRISTOL.

No. 6.

SCRIPTURE TRACTS

FOR THE

FASTS AND FESTIVALS.

ST. JOHN.

BY A LAYMAN.

"There are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written."-Part of Gospel of the Day.

"Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."-Proper Lesson of the Day.

LONDON:

J. G. F. AND J. RIVINGTON.

STRONG, BRISTOL; COMBE, LEICESTER.

PRINTED BY H. AND A. HILL, CASTLE GREEN, BRISTOL,

MDCCCXXXIX.

Price Three Half pence, or 10s. 6d.

per

Hundred.