If any man be devout and loves God,

Let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast!

If any man be a wise servant,

Let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord.

If any have laboured long in fasting,

Let him now receive his recompense.

If any have wrought from the first hour,

Let him today receive his just reward.

If any have come at the third hour,

Let him with thankfulness keep the feast.

If any have arrived at the sixth hour,

Let him have no misgivings;

Because he shall in nowise be deprived therefore.

If any have delayed until the ninth hour,

Let him draw near, fearing nothing.

And if any have tarried even until the eleventh hour,

Let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness.

For the Lord, who is jealous of his honour,

Will accept the last even as the first.

He gives rest unto him who cometh at the eleventh hour,

Even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.

And He shows mercy upon the last,

And cares for the first;

And to the one He gives,

And upon the other He bestowes gifts.

And He both accepts the deeds,

And welcomes the intention,

And honours the acts and praises the offering.

Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord;

Receive your reward,

Both the first, and likewise the second.

You rich and poor together, hold high festival!

You sober and you heedless, honour the day!

Rejoice today, both you who have fasted

And you who have disregarded the fast.

The table is full-laden; feast you all sumptuously.

The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.

Enjoy you all the feast of faith:

Receive you all the riches of loving-kindness.

Let no one bewail his poverty,

For the universal Kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one weep for his iniquities,

For pardon has shown forth from the grave.

Let no one fear death,

For the Saviour's death has set us free.

He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.

By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive.

He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh.

And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry:

Hell, said he, was embittered

When it encountered You in the lower regions.

It was embittered, for it was abolished.

It was embittered, for it was mocked.

It was embittered, for it was slain.

It was embittered, for it was overthrown.

It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains.

It took a body, and met God face to face.

It took earth, and encountered Heaven.

It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is your sting?

O Hell, where is your victory?

Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!

Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!

Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!

Christ is risen, and life reigns!

Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.

For Christ, being risen from the dead,

Is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be glory and dominion

Unto ages of ages.

Amen.

-- St. John Chrysostom

Hello to everyone!  Like I indicated in my first post, I don't intend to update my Xanga much, so why am I writing?

Occasionally I intend to post something here that might direct some of you to my other blog where I will have posted something of note that I have written and about which I would covet your comments and ideas.  This is one of those times.

I have written some theses on Christian worship and its relationship to Old Testament worship, stemming out of some conversations that I've had here at Westminster.  And as is the purpose of theses, it would be smashing to get some feedback/criticism on them.

The link is at http://etincarnatusest.blogspot.com/2007/03/theses-on-old-and-new-testament-worship.html.

I really do appreciate your patient reading and meticulous comments about this.  I'm sure there will be more in this arena coming ... :o)

Peace,

Dave