THE EPISTLE OF SAINT VELIUS TO THE KINGDOM OF LIONEL: CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

¹And now, O Radras, King of Lionel, chosen by the Lord to govern in wisdom and to judge with righteousness, hearken unto the voice of thy servant Velius, who was witness to the light of Saint Ajora.
²For I bear record of the wonders that He wrought in the days of His walking among men, and my soul is filled with the remembrance thereof.
³He went unto the meek and the sorrowful, and He did lift them up with words sweeter than honey, and with truth that burneth brighter than the noonday sun.
⁴He did cause the blind to see, and they beheld the glory of the Lord; He touched the tongue of the dumb, and they spake praises.
⁵He laid His hand upon the leper, and his skin was made clean as the babe’s flesh, and no defilement remained.
⁶The lame did rise at His word, and walked straightway; yea, they leapt as the hart among the lilies.
⁷He taught in parables, that even the lowliest might understand, and He spake with the authority of Him that sent Him.
⁸The scribes were astonished, and the elders held their peace, for His wisdom was not of this world.
⁹He walked with fishermen, and He supped with sinners; He broke not the bruised reed, nor quenched the smoking flax.
¹⁰He wept with those who wept, and rejoiced with those who rejoiced; His heart was full of mercy and His hands were full of healing.
¹¹Behold, when the storm raged, He rebuked the winds, and there was a great calm, and the sea obeyed Him.
¹²When the multitudes hungered, He brake the loaf, and they were filled, and baskets yet remained.
¹³He stood in the temple, and cried, saying, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give thee rest.”
¹⁴Yet the proud hardened their hearts, and the mighty conspired against Him, for His light exposed their darkness.
¹⁵And He was delivered unto death, and the just was condemned as a malefactor, and the righteous was numbered among transgressors.
¹⁶But this was the will of the Most High, that by the blood of the Son, many should be saved, and that by His sorrow, joy should be made full.
¹⁷On the third day, He arose, and the tomb was found empty; the stone was rolled away.
¹⁸He appeared unto His chosen, and their hearts burned within them; He blessed them, and gave them peace, and sent them forth.
¹⁹These things I, Velius, do testify, for they were not done in secret, but before many witnesses, and the truth of them abideth forever.
²⁰O Radras, if thou wouldst rule well thy kingdom, look to the example of Saint Ajora, for He is the image of righteousness, and the pattern of a perfect king.
²¹As a shepherd guideth his flock with rod and staff, so must thou watch over the churches that are within thy realm.
²²Let them not be troubled by the tumult of politics, nor bound by the snares of greed, but grant them peace, that they may flourish as gardens in spring.
²³Let the word of the Lord be proclaimed without hinderance; let the poor be fed, the naked clothed, the stranger welcomed.
²⁴Set not thy heart upon gold, nor take delight in the praises of men, but glory in this only: that thou servest the will of God.
²⁵If there rise murmurers or accusers against the brethren, hear them with justice, and judge not with the hearing of thine ears alone, but seek wisdom from above.
²⁶Rebuke the proud, but lift up the humble; smite not in wrath, but reprove in love, for thus did Saint Ajora in all His dealings.
²⁷Let not envy dwell within thy court, nor the voice of the scoffer sit in council; for such things bring ruin to a people.
²⁸But let the wise speak plainly, and let the godly have thy favour, for by them is a kingdom strengthened.
²⁹Consider the vineyard, how it is hedged and watered, how the vines are pruned and trained, that it bring forth goodly fruit.
³⁰Even so, let thy churches be hedged by law, and watered by doctrine, and pruned by correction, that they may bear much fruit.
³¹For the Lord delighteth in the offering of pure hearts and clean hands, and He inhabiteth the praises of His people.
³²If thou guardest the flock, the wolf shall not prevail; if thou buildest up the house, the storm shall not destroy it.
³³These things, beloved King, I lay before thee as an elder unto a ruler, as a servant unto his lord.
³⁴Take heed, and let not the fire of the Spirit be quenched; for the days are full of peril, and the adversary walketh as a lion.
³⁵Yet the Lord shall keep His own, and Saint Ajora shall guide them, if they abide in Him and walk in His statutes.
³⁶And great shall be thy reward, if thou keepest these sayings; thy throne shall be established in righteousness.
³⁷Thy name shall be as ointment poured forth, and thy remembrance as the dew upon the mount.
³⁸Thy children shall be as olive plants round about thy table, and peace shall dwell within thy borders.
³⁹The poor shall bless thee, and the widow shall call thee her refuge; the stranger shall give thanks for thy kindness.
⁴⁰And the Lord shall look upon thee from His holy place, and the voice of Ajora shall be heard in thy defense.
⁴¹Be thou strong, therefore, and of good courage; let thy heart be steadfast, and thy hands diligent in all things.
⁴²Commit thy path unto the Lord, and lean not on thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy steps.
⁴³Remember the miracles and mercies of old, and teach thy children to walk therein, that they forget not the Lord their God.
⁴⁴Let the holy days be kept in reverence, and the songs of the saints be heard in the assemblies of thy people.
⁴⁵And let the scrolls of Ajora be read, and His words be written upon the hearts of the faithful.
⁴⁶For whosoever shall walk in His ways shall not stumble, but shall be upheld by His right hand.
⁴⁷And the light of His countenance shall be as the morning, and the joy of His salvation as rivers that overflow.
⁴⁸This is my petition, O King Radras, from one who hath laboured many years and borne many trials for the Gospel’s sake.
⁴⁹Give ear to these words, and let them not fall to the ground; write them upon the tables of thine heart.
⁵⁰For the time is short, and the harvest draweth near, and blessed is he who is found faithful in that day.

▷THE SEVEN SCRIPTURES OF THE CHURCH OF GLABADOS
    ▷THE EPISTLES OF SAINT VELIUS TO THE NEW KINGDOMS
        ▷THE EPISTLE OF SAINT VELIUS TO THE KINGDOM OF LIONEL
            ▶1—2—3—4

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