A The Epifile. Acts. 9. I... ND Saul yet breathing out threatenings and flaughter against the difciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and defired of him letters to Damafcus to the fynagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerufalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damafcus, and fuddenly there fhined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice faying unto him, Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou me? And he faid, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord faid, I am Jefus whom thou perfecuteft: *It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and aftonished, faid, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord faid unto him, Arife, and go into the city, and it fhall be told thee what thou muft do. And the men which journeyed with him ftood fpeechlefs, hearing a voice, but feeing no man. And Saul arofe from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he faw no man; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damafcus. And he was three days without fight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain difciple at Damafcus; named Ananias, and to him faid the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he faid, Behold, I am here Lord. And the Lord faid unto him, Arife, and go into the ftreet which is called Straight, and enquire in the houfe of Judas for one called Saul of Tarfus: for behold he prayeth, and hath feen in a vision, a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his fight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy faints at Jerufalem; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy Name. But the Lord faid unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chofen veffel unto me, to bear my It is hard for thee to kick againft, &c. This is a thofe who are fuperior to them, and especially against Proverbial expreffon, fignifying the damage and hurt God. they are like to receive who refift and fight again name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Ifrael. For I will fhew him how great things he muft fuffer for my Names fake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him, faid, Brother Saul, the Lord (even Jefus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou cameft) hath fent me, that thou mighteft receive thy fight, and be filled with the holy Ghoft. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been fcales; and he received fight forthwith, and arofe, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was ftrengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the difciples which were at Damafcus. And straightway he preached Chrift in the fynagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and faid, Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this Name in Jerufalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in ftrength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damafcus, proving that this is very Christ. The Gospel. S. Matth. 19. 27. Eter anfwered and faid unto Jefus, Behold, we have forfaken all, and followed thee, what fhall we have therefore? And Jefus faid unto them, Verily I fay unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man. fhall fit in the throne of his glory, tye alfo fhall fit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Ifrael. And every one that hath forfaken houses, or brethren, or fifters, or father, or mother, or wife, ↑ Is not this he that deftroyed them, The advan, tages which the Chriftian Religion received by the Converfion of St. Paul, juftly call for our admiration, and shankfulness to God the wife Author. For who was this Paul? Once a Perfecutor, but afterwards a Preacher of Christ. And what made this change? Was he bought over? No body was difpofed to bribe him to it. No, it was because he faw Chrift, was caught up into Heaven, and fully convinced. And what can be a ftronger evidence of this than that he was an Enemy to the cause, he afterwards embraced, even till the very: time of his Converfion. So that tho' the Teftimony of Peter and John is of great weight: yet the evidence of Paul feems to carry an almoft irrefiftible conviction along with it. + Ye also shall fit upon twelve Thrones, &c. By this is fignified, that they should rule the Chriftian Church by the Laws of the Gospel, which their Maller would infpire them to Preach, and by the infallible decifions relative to Faith and Manners which he would enable them to give in all difficult cafes, or children or lands, for my Names fake, fhall receive an hundred fold, and fhall inherit, everlafting life. But many that are first fhall be laft, and the laft fhall be firft. A The purification of the Virgin Mary. The Collect. Lmighty and everliving God, we humbly befeech thy Majefty, that as thy only begotten Son was this day prefented in the temple in fubftance of our flesh; fo we may be prefented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the fame thy Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. For the Epiftle. Mal. 3. .. Ehold, I will fend my meffenger, and he fhall prepare the way before me; and the Lord whom ye feek fhall fuddenly come to his temple; even the meffenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he fhall come, faith the Lord of hofts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiners fire, and like fullers fope, And he shall fit as a refiner, and purifier of filver; and he shall purify the fons of Levi, and purge them as gold and filver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness, Then fhall the offerings of Judah and Jerufalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. will come near to you to judgment, and I will be a fwift witnefs against the forcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false fwearers, and againft thofe that opprefs the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and that turn afide the ftranger from his right, and fear not me, faith the Lord of hofts. Paraphrafe on the Collect for the Purification of the Virgin Mary.. ↑ Bebord I will find my Mejenger, &c. This fignifed John the Baptift. ↑ The Mellenger of the Covenant. This means the, Meiab who is justly ftyled the Mesenger of the Cove And I in token of thy right to the Firft-born; fo we alfo may be prefented unto thee with pure and holy Difpofitions, by the fame Jefus Christ our Lord. nant because as St. Paul fays he was the Mediator of a new, and better Covenant than that of Moses, becaufe: it was established upon better Promises, Heb. viii, 6. A * The Gospel. S. Luke 2. 22. ND when the days of her purification, according to the law of Mofes, were accomplished, they brought him to Jerufalem, to prefent him to the Lord, (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb, fhall be called holy to the Lord) and to offer a facrifice according to that which is faid in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in Jerufalem, whose name was Simeon; and the fame man was just and devout, waiting for the confolation of Ifrael: and the holy Ghoft was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghoft, that he should not see death before he had feen the Lords Chrift. And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jefus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and bleffed God, and faid, Lord, now letteft thou thy fervant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have feen thy falvation; which thou haft prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Ifrael. And Jofeph and his mother marvelled at thofe things which were fpoken of him. And Simeon bleffed them, and faid unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is fet for the fall and rifing again of many in Ifrael; and for a fign, which fhall be fpoken againft, (Yea, a fword fhall pierce through thy own foul alfo) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna a Prophetefs, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Afer; fhe was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity. And fhe was a widow of To prefent him to the Lord, &c. As the First-born, under the Law of Mofes, was claimed by God as his property, in memory of his fparing the Firft-born of Ifrael when thofe of the Egyptians were deftroyed, fo fhould we learn from hence, as Chriftians, to confecrate to him the beginning and choice of all our Time, and Labour, and Substance to dedicate the prime of our Years, the fprightlinefs of our Youth, the flower of our Wit, the vigour of our Bodies and Minds, to his ho nour: to spend our Labours, our Wealth, upon fach Things efpecially, as promote Religion, and are agree able to his good pleafure; to begin every Day, every Work with him; and to take care that he be firfty and uppermoft, in all our Thoughts and Designs.. about fourscore and four years; which departed not from the temple, but ferved God with faftings and prayers night and day. And the coming in that inftant, gave thanks likewife unto the Lord, and fpake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed ftrong in spirit, filled with wifdom; and the grace of God was upon him. Ο Saint Matthias's Day. Almighty God, who into the place of the traitor Judas, didft choose thy faithful fervant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve Apoftles; Grant that thy Church being alway preferved from falfe Apoftles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true Paftors, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. For the Epifle. Acts 1. 15. 'N thofe days Peter stood up in the midst of the difciples, and faid, (The number of the names together, were about an hundred and twenty) Men and brethren, this Scripture muft needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghoft by the mouth of David fpake before concerning *Judas, who was guide to them that took Jefus: for he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity, and falling headlong he burft afunder in the midft, and all his bowels gufhed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerufalem, Gg Paraphrafe on the Colle for St. Matthias Day. Judas, who was guide to them, &c. Obferve here in what foft Language St. Peter fpeaks of the Treachery of his fallen Brother. And tho' we cannot fuppofe that he was wanting in a juft indignation at Judas's crime: yet we should learn from his exam tinually guarded against the corrupt Doctrines of falfe Teachers, may be governed and inftructed by wife and worthy Minifters through Jefus Christ our Lord. ple, not, with a barbarous and wicked pleasure, to upbraid, expofe, and infult over the faults of our Brethren, but rather to pity, and be forry for them even, when we must condemn and deteft their practices. |