Page images
PDF
EPUB

therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of fins: And by him all that believe are juftified from all things from which ye could not be juftified by the law of Mofes. Beware therefore, let that come upon you which is fpoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye defpifers, and wonder and perifh: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wife believe, though a man declare it unto you,

JES

The Gospel. St Luke xxiv. 36.

ESUS himself stood in the midst of them, and faith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and fuppofed that they had feen a fpirit. And he faid unto them, Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts arife in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myfelf: handle me, and fee; for a fpirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye fee me have. And when he had thus fpoken, he fhewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he faid unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he faid unto them, Thefe are the words which I fpake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Mofes, and in the Prophets, and in the Palms concerning me. Then opened he their underftanding, that they might understand the Scriptures; and faid unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to fuffer, and to rife from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remiffion of fins fhould be preached in his Name among all nations, beginning at Jerufalem, And ye are witneffes of these things.

The first Sunday after Eafter.

The Collect.

Almighty Father, who haft given thine only Son to die

for our fins, and to rife again for our juftification; Grant us fo to put away the leaven of malice and wicked

nefs,

nefs, that we may alway ferve thee in pureness of living and truth, through the merits of the fame thy Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

WH

The Epiftle. 1 St John v. 4.

Hatfoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jefus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jefus Chrift; not by water only, but by water and blood: and it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoft: and thefe three are one. And there are three that bear witnefs in Earth, the fpirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witnefs of God is greater: for this is the witnefs of God which he hath teftified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witnefs in himself: he that believeth not God, hath made him. a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given t to us eternal life and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son, hath not life.

TH

The Gospel. St John xx. 19.

[ocr errors]

HE fame day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were fhut where the difciples were affembled, for fear of the Jews, came Jefus and stood in the midft, and faith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had fo faid, he fhewed unto them his hands and

PARAPHRASE.

On the COLLECT for the first Sunday after Eafter,

O almighty God, who didft deliver thy only Son to die for our offences, and to be raised again for our juftification, (Rom. iv. 25.) grant that we may putaway the leaven of malice and wickednefs, and may persevere, in fervingthee with fincerity and truth; and this we beseech thee to grant for the merits of our bleffed Saviour Jefus Chrift, Amen,

PARA

his fide. Then were the difciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then faid Jefus to them again, Peace be unto you: As my Father hath fent me, even fo fend I you. And when he had faid this, he breathed on them, and faith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghoft. Whofe foever fins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whofe foever fins ye retain, they are retained.

The fecond Sunday after Eafter.

The Collect:

[ocr errors]

unto us both a facrifice for fin, and alto an enfample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and alfo daily endeavour ourselves to follow the bleffed fteps of his moft holy life, through the fame Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

TH

The Epiftle. 1 St Pet. ii. 19.

HIS is thank-worthy, if a man for confcience toward God endure grief, fuffering wrongfully. For what glory is it if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye fhall take it patiently but if when ye do well, and fuffer for it, ye take it patiently: this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: becaufe Chrift alfo fuffered for us. leaving us an example, that ye fhould follow his fteps: Who

PARAPHRASE.

On the COLLECT for the fecond Sunday after Eafter.

O almighty God, who out of thy great mercy, didit fend thy only Son into the world, to make attonement and fatisfaction for fin, by bearing our fins in his body on the tree, (1 Pet. ii. 24.) and by fuffering for us, (ver 21.) as alfo to leave us an example that we might follow his fteps in meeknefs and patience, (ver. 23.) we beseech thee to afford us thy grace, that our minds may always retain the profoundest fense of so extraordinary a favour as the Son of God dying for our fins; and that we may likewise, with the utmoft diligence, endeavour to copy his example, and imitate that life of unblemished holiness and purity, which he has fet before us; and this we beg for the fake of our bleffed Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Amen.

PARA

did no fin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he fuffered, he threatened not; but committed himfelf to him that judg eth righteously: Who his own felf bare our fins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to fin, fhould live unto righteoufnefs; by whofe ftripes ye were healed. For ye were as fheep going aftray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your fouls.

The Gofpel. St John x. 11.

ESUS faid, I am the good fhepherd: the good fhepherd giveth his life for the fheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the fhepherd, whofe own the fheep are not, feeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the fheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the fheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the fheep. I am the good fhepherd, and know my fheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even fo know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the fheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them alfo I must bring, and they fhall hear my voice; and there fhall be one fold, and one fhepherd.

A

The Third Sunday after Easter.

The Collect.

Lmighty God, who fhewest to them that be in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteoufnefs; Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may efchew those things that are contrary to their profeffion, and follow all fuch things as are agreeable to the fame, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. Amen.

PARAPHRASE.

On the COLLECT for the third Sunday after Eafter.

O Almighty, who didft caufe the gofpel to be preached, to the end that thou mighteft reduce to fobriety of life and purity of doctrine, thofe who were plunged into Pagan ignorance and immorality, and misled by

DE

The Epistle. 1 St Pet. ii. 11.

EARLY beloved, I befeech you as ftrangers and pil grims, absftain from fleshly lufts, which war against the foul, having your converfation honeft among the Gentiles that whereas they fpeak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works which they fhall behold, glority God in the day of vifitation. Submit yourfelves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's fake: whether it be to the king, as fupreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him, for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well. For fo is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to filence the ignorance of foolish men as free, and not ufing your liberty for a cloke of malicioufnefs: but as the fervants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

JE

The Gospel. St John xvi. 16.

ESUS faid to his difciples, A little while, and ye fhall not fee me and again, a little while, and ye fhall fee me, because I go to the Father. Then faid fome of his difciples among themselves, What is this that he faith unto us, A little while, and ye fhall not fee me: and again, a little while, and ye fhall fee me: and, Because I go to the Father; They faid therefore, What is this that he faith. A little while; we cannot tell what he faith. Now Jefus knew that they were defirous to afk him, and faid unto them, Do ye enquire among yourfelves, of that I faid, A little while, and ye fhall not fee me; and again, a little while, and ye fhall fee me: Verily, verily, I fay unto you, that ye fhall weep and lament, but the world fhall rejoice: and ye fhall be forrowful, but your forrow fhall be turned into joy. A woman, when he is in travail, hath forrow, because her

PARAPHRASE.

Jewish fuperftition; we beseech thee to grant that all they who are fo happy as to be received members of the church of Chrift, may fhun all thofe things which are condemned by their holy religion, all things with which their adverfaries might reproach them, and that they may alfo practife all thofe admirable duties which are recommended by the gofpel; and this we pray for the fake of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Amen.

PARA

« PreviousContinue »