Old Lutherans

360. Friday after Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity.

Holy Father, sanctify us
through thy truth. Amen.

1 Peter 1, 14-19. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

❦

The least taint of leprosy made an Israelite unclean, and caused his exclusion from the people. The least of sins which rules over you excludes you from God’s Israel; and every one who is to enter the perfect sanctuary of heaven must be wholly cleansed from all sin. The Father is holy; and the children must be holy. The Son is holy; and the blood wherewith he cleanses you is that of a lamb without blemish and without spot. The Spirit who dwells in the faithful is none other than the very Holy Ghost. You have been bought with a great price; and precious and pure you must be. The evil from which you were delivered was something terrible; and “a burned child fears the fire.” He is righteous; and you call upon him as your Father; he does not, as did Eli, wink at the wickedness of his children. If, then, you be one of Christ’s believers, you live no more in sin; for you have been washed, justified, and sanctified by the blood of Jesus and by the Spirit of God. But as you for all that, while you are in the flesh, have sin and evil desires, you must continually mortify them, that you may become ever more holy in all your conversation. God will give you both the desire and the strength to do this. When he says, “Be ye holy; for I am holy,” your heart makes reply: “Cleanse me, O Lord; sanctify me wholly, merciful God!” And your prayer is answered; so that the power of sanctification is given you. Use it, and increase in purity and piety day by day. Your hatred of sin and your love of God should be stronger today than yesterday; your patience greater, your mercy more tender, your gratitude more warm, all your conduct more like that of the Lord Jesus. If you be a child of God, let it be seen of angels and men. See that you be distinguished from the world by a truly saintly life. “Come out from among them, and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God!” (2 Cor. 6, 17-7, 1).

Lord God, who dost work in thy saints both to will and to do of thy good pleasure; grant us grace; grace to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, and to receive the desire and the power of holiness from thee in the word and sacrament; so that we may increase daily in the likeness of thy image. Holy Lord God, sanctify us wholly in spirit and soul and body. Amen.*

By the baptismal stream,
Which made me thine,
By the dear flesh and blood,
Thy love made mine,
Purge thou all sin from me,
That I may nearer be,
Nearer to thee!

Surely it matters not
What earth may bring,
Death is of no account,
Grace will I sing.
Nothing remains for me,
Save to be nearer thee,
Nearer to thee!

[The Hymnal and Order of Service 449; listen here]

* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.