William Hone

BY 234 hospitality and godliness was Lot saved out of Sodom, when all the country round about was 235destroyed by fire and brimstone:

2 The Lord thereby making it manifest, that he will not forsake those that trust in him; but 236 will bring the disobedient to punishment and correction.

240By faith and hospitality was Rahab the harlot saved. For when the spies were sent by Joshua the son of Nun, to search out Jericho and the king of Jericho knew that they were come to spy out his country; 241he sent men to take them, so that they might be put to death.

6 242Rahab therefore being hospitable, received them, and hid them under the stalks of flax, on the top of her house.

For if the Lord thus humbled himself, what should we do who are brought 278by him under the yoke of his grace ?

17 Let us be followers of those who went about in goat-skins and sheep-skins; preaching the coming of Christ.

18 279Such were Elias, and Elisæus, and Ezekiel the prophets. 280And let us add to these such others as have received the like testimony.

The spirit of the Lord is a candle, searching out the inward parts of the belly.

3 Let us therefore consider how near he is to us; and how that none of our thoughts, or reasonings which we frame within ourselves, are 309 hid from him.

Many are the troubles of the wicked; but they that trust in the Lord, mercy shall encompass them about.

O ye fools ! 322 consider the trees: take the vine for an example. First it sheds its leaves; then it buds; after that it spreads its leaves ; then it flowers ; then come the sour grapes; and after them follows the ripe fruit. Ye see how in a little time the fruit of the tree comes to maturity.

14 Of a truth, yet a little while and his will shall suddenly be accomplished.

15 The Holy Scripture itself bearing witness, That 5 He shall quickly come and not tarry, and that the Lord shall suddenly come to his temple, even the 323 holy ones whom ye look for.

By the word of his 332 power he made all things; and by 333the same word he is able (whenever he will), to destroy them.

When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations, according to the number of his angels; 343 his people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, and Israel the lot of his inheritance.

By his 361 Almighty power he fixed the heavens, and by his incomprehensible wisdom he adorned them.

4 He also divided the earth from the water, with which it is encompassed; and fixed it as a secure tower, upon the foundation of his own will.

5 He also by his appointment, commanded all the living creatures that are upon it, to exist.

And above all, he with his holy and pure hands, formed man, the most excellent, and, as to his understanding, truly the greatest of all other creatures, the character of his own image.