BEGINNING THE DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23395, 11 July 1939, Page 6

BEGINNING THE DAY

(Supplied by the Council of Christian Congregations.) Text. —You have heard that to our ancestors it was said, 'Thou shalt not commit miirdcf,' and 'Whosoever commits murder shall be liable to answer for it to the Court.' I, however, say to you that any one who cherishes anger against his brother shall be liable to answer for it to the Court; and whoever pours contempt upon his brother shall be liable to answer for it to the High Council, while whoever calls down curses upon him shall be liable to answer for it in the fiery pitMatthew 5; 21-22. Verse.— These things shall be; a loftier race * Than e'er the world hath known shall n 6 ® l With flame of freedom in their souls And light of knowledge in their eyes. Prayer.—.Merciful Saviour, who in the days of thy flesh did.st- shed tears of distress over Jerusalem, knowing that Thou could'st not avert the doom of its spiritual failure; make us to understand tlvnt Thy goodness and power can avail nothing when those who have been blessed choose to turn their light into darkness, and holiest things into instruments of unrighteousness; and so fill us with fea r lest our candlestick should be removed, and our task entrusted to others, that truly repenting of our sins, and yielding our hearts to Thy service, we may be to Tlice a cause, not of grief, but of eternal rejoicing, where with the . Father and the Holy Ghost Thou livcsf and lovest for ever. v .(August, 1U14.) >