coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. W Hen he was come down from the mountain, great mul titudes followed him. And behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, faying, I will, be thou 'clean. And immediately his leprofy was cleanfed. And Jesus faith unto him. § See thou tell no man, but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Mofes commanded for a teftimony unto them. And when Jefus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, befeeching him, and saying, Lord, my fervant lieth at home fick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and faid, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my fervant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having foldiers under me: and I say unto this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh ; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jefus heard it, he marvelled, and said unto them that followed, Verily, I fay unto you, || I have not found so great faith, no not in Ifrael. + And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall fit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, Charity to our Enemies in their neceffity, we shall take the most effectual means to melt them down into Repentance, Goodwill and Affection. A victory this far Tuperior to the conquest of Kingdoms. See thou tell no Man, &c. The general reason why our Lord on this, as well as several other occasions, gave fuch an order, might be left the fame of his Miracles being made too public, the People should take him by force, and make him a King; and their Rulers be there by provoked to cut him off, before he had fulfilled the course of his Ministry. But with respect to the Leper he might perhaps order him to keep his Cure private, till according to the Law, he had shewn himself to the Prieft. Because, had the Priest known by what means it was wrought, before he had passed Judgement upon it, he might have refused to pronounce the Man clean. || I have not found so great Faith, &c. The Centu rion's Faith was remarkable in that he supposed that Diseases of all kinds were as much subject to Chrift's command, tho' at a distance, as his Soldiers were to him. + And 1 say unto you, that many, &c. This is a Prophecy that the Gentiles should shortly be called to partake in the Blessings and Privileges of the Gofpel: whilst the Jews, who boasted themselves to be God's peculiar People, should through their Unbelief, be rejected. : in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be caft out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way, and as thou haft believed, fo be it done unto thee. And his fervant was healed in the self-fame hour. ‡ The fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of fo many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Rom. 13. 1. + ET every foul be subject unto the higher powers; for there ☑ is no power but of God: the powers that be, are ordained of God. Whofoever therefore resisteth the power, refifteth the ordinance of God: and they that refift, shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the fame: for he is the minifter of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minifter of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be fubject, not only for wrath, but alfo for confcience fake. For, for this caufe pay Paraphrafe on the Collet for the O God who knoweft how unable we are of our felves, through our natural Weakness, to refift the many powerful Temptations that furround us; give ‡ A proper knowledge of ourselves will always naturally lead us to seek the support and protection of Providence. + Let every Soul be subject, &c. To prevent the Jewish or Gentile Converts to Chriftianity from suppofing that by their profeffion of the Gospel they were released from their obedience to their earthly Gover : fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. 110 nors, St. Paul assures them that they were fo far from being loosed in this respect, that, on the contrary, their Religion laid upon them, a still stronger obligation than ever to obey, even their Heathen Rulers: because they were Ministers appointed by God for the welfare of Society; and that therefore they ought to be fubject to them not only for fear of incurring the punisliments you tribute also; for they are Gods minifters, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. A The Gospel. S. Matth. 8. 23. ND when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the fea, infomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was afleep. §And his disciples came to him, and awoke him saying, Lord, save us, we perish. And he faith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the fea, and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him? And when he was come to the other fide, into the country of the Gergesenes, * there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jefus thou Sonof God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? And there was a good way off from them an herd of many fwine feeding. So the devils befought him, faying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into of the Law, but likewife out of Conscience towards God: and that for the fame reason they ought alfo to shew obedience and reverence to them in all Things, where their command were not contrary to the divine Will. If subjection to Governors was so strongly infisted upon under the Reign of a Nero, and in Time of Perfecution, then how much more is it incumbent upon us whose Religion is supported and defended by the civil Government! And bis Difciples came to him, &c. From the example of these Disciples we may learn where to seek for fuccour in all our distresses, since tho' the forrows of Death encompass us, and the overflowings of Ungodliness make us afraid, yet the Lord of Hosts is with us, the : God of Jacob is our Refuge; who stillerb the Raging of the Sea, and the Noise of bis Waves, and the madness of the People. * There met him two possessed with Devils. St. Mark and Luke mention only one demoniac, probably because he whom they speak of, was a great deal more furious than the other: for he had been often bound with Fetters and Chains, but had as often broken them; so that no Man durft further attempt to restrain him. He too was perhaps a Person of more note than the other for his birth, or parts, or interest in the Country, and his Cure made more noise, and for that reason was mentioned by Mark and Luke, while they omitted the Cure of the other. the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. & And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the fea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they befought him that he would depart out of their coafts. The fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. The Collect. Lord, we beseech thee to keep thy Church and houshold continually in thy true religion, that they, who do lean only upon the hope of thy heavenly grace, may evermore be defended by thy mighty power, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Col. 3. 12. 10 1 : UT on therefore (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-fuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Chrift forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on * charity, which is the bond, of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in Paraphrafe on the Collect for the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. O Lord, preferve, we beseech thee, thy Church, the Houshold of God, in the profeffion of a true Faith; that they, who depend only upon thy powerful protection & And when they were come out, &c. Jesus permitted the Devils to enter into the Swine, probably, not only to shew the reality of the possession, but alfo how great the power and malice of evil Spirits are, if they are not restrained: and at the fame Time to punish the Gadarenes for keeping Swine, which were a snare to the Jews; and to try whether they would be more affected with the loss of their Cattle, than with the recovery of the Men, and his heavenly Doctrine. † That we may offer up an acceptable Service to God through Jesus Chrift it is necessary, that we have and fupport, may always be fafe from Calamities through the Merits of Chrift Jesus. us : a right Faith. For as are our Principles, such will be our Practice. * Charity, which is the Bond of Perfectness, i. e. If the principle of our actions be the Love of Mankind, founded upon the Love of God and his Love to us, it will make perfect in all manner of good Works. For no one loveth Mankind as he ought who doth not love God, and he who truly loveth God will love his Fellow-Creatures also. And he who is a Lover of Mankind will be fo far from injuring them, that he will be disposed on all occafions to do them every act of kindness and beneficence in his power. one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in pfalms, and hymns, and spiritual fongs, finging with grace in your hearts to the Lord. + And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, and the Father by him. * : The Gospel. S. Matth. 13. 24. HE kingdom of heaven is THE of heaven is likened unto a man which fowhis field. But while men flept, his enemy came and fowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the fervants of the houfholder came, and faid unto him, Sir, didft not thou sow good feed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares? He faid unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants faid unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? + But he faid, Nay; left while ye gather up the tares, ye root up alfo the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.. § The fixth Sunday after the Epiphany. :. The Collect. God, whose blessed Son was manifefted, that he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the fons of God, 02 † And whatsoever ye da in word or deed, &c. In all our Words and Actions, whether of solemn worship or others, we must address ourselves to God, and hope for his acceptance by Jesus Chrift; for he is the only Perfon, through whom all Mercies are derived to us, for which we pray to, or praise God. * The Kingdom of Heaven, signifies the fate of the Gofpel, the Sower is Christ, the Field is the World, as our Saviour interprets it at the 37th and following Verses of this Chapter, the Enemy is the Devil, and the Tares, the Children of the Wicked one. But be faid, Nay; &c. The reason why God disallows of the Tares being gatherd up, that is, of wicked Men being utterly rooted out of the World, may be, partly because it could hardly be effected without the Righteous being fufferers also-partly because they are a means of trial to the Righteous and partly also that by his goodness, forbearance and long fuffering towards the wicked he may lead them to Repentance. § It is evident from this Collect that one great end of Chrift's coming into the World, was to purify unto hintfelf a peculiar People, zealous of good Works; and that it is absolutely necessary for us to resemble him in Holinefs here, that we may be like him in Happines hereafter. |