the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Golden Treasury
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a pure heart, Psalms 73:1. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. 1 Peter 2:11.
Therefore, says Luther on this passage, a constant conflict is required, to subdue not only the grosser sort of carnal lusts, but even the most subtle motions against the Spirit, which also war against the soul. He that yields his members instruments of sin, wounds and destroys himself with his own sword, Sirach 21:1. and fights at the same time against God with his own weapons. O the unnatural madness; consequently if we would not be killed by our lusts, we must kill them; though not by our own power or anger, but by the spirit of God. O Lord, make me sensible of their wills, and earnest in the conflict.
Thus shall we best proclaim abroad
The honours of our Saviour God:
When the salvation reigns within.
And grace subdues the power of sin.
Our flesh and sense must be denied,
Passion and envy, lust and pride;
While justice, temperance, truth, and love
Our inward piety approve.
Religion bears our spirits up,
While we expect that blessed hope,
The bright appearance of the Lord,
And faith stands leaning on his word
