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another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another: not flothful in bufinefs; fervent in fpirit; ferving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; ‡ continuing inftant in prayer; diftributing to the neceffity of faints; given to hofpitality. Blefs them which perfecute you; blefs, and curfe not. +Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep! Be of the fame mind one towards another. Mind not high things, but condefcend to men of low eftate.

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The Gospel. S. John 2. 1.

ND the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jefus was there. And both Jefus was called and his disciples to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jefus faith unto him, They have no wine. Jefus faith unto her, Woman what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother faith unto the fervants, Whatsoever he faith unto you, do it. And there were fet there fix water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apicce. Jefus faith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he faith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the Governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tafted the waterthat was made wine, and knew not

Continuing inftant in Prayer, &c. This does not fignify that we must be continually praying, fo as to neglect every other employment: but that according to our Saviour's parable of the importunate Widow, we are not to be difcouraged if our Petitions are not heard fo foon as we might defire; but conftantly to perfevere in our fupplications to God for affiftance; he being fometimes pleafed to defer anfwering our Requests, in erder to increase in us a fenfe of his benefits, and of our dependence upon him.

t Rejoice with them, &c. This is one inftance among many, how excellently Christianity is adapted to human Nature: fince it is not defigned to root out the paffions, but to regulate them; it does not recommend to us a torical infenfibility, and unconcern about the affairs of others, but fuch a benevolent fympathy and regard

for cur Fellow Creatures, as will make us partake in fome measure in their Joys and Sorrows, and induce us, according to our abilities to promote their welfare.

‡ Woman what have I to do with thee? The word, Woman feems to be a very harsh expreffion, according to our Tranflation: But the word in the Original appears to have been made ufe of amongst the Greeks as a term of honour and respect. And What have I to do with thee might have been tranflated in a milder manner, What haft thou to do with me? which carries in it a gentle Reproof indeed, and fignifies that the acted improperly, in attempting to direct him in the duties of his Miniftry: but it is plain, from the or der which fhe gave to the Servants, that he did not interpret it as a mark of disrespect.

whence it was, (but the fervants which drew the water knew) the governor of the feaft called the bridegroom, and faith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth fet forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worfe: but thou haft kept the good wine until now. *This beginning of miracles did Jefus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory, and his difciples believed on him.

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The third Sunday after the Epiphany.

The Collect.

Lmighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and neceffities ftretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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The Epiftle. Rom. 12. 16.

E not wife in your own conceits. Recompenfe to no man evil for evil. Provide things honeft in the fight of all men. If it be poffible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, faith the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: || for in fo doing thou shalt heap

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Paraphrafe on the Collet for the Moft mighty and eternal God, have pity upon the Infirmities and Weakness of our Nature; and aflift and preferve us by thy power in all the wants and dan

*This beginning of Miracles, &c. Tho' our Lord's furnishing Wine on this occafion by Miracle fhews that a chearful ufe of God's Creatures, within the bounds of reafon and moderation, is lawful; yet we are by no means to fuppofe, from the quantity, that it was intended to promote intemperance; but probably as a provifion for the future occafions of the new married couple: Jefus thus modeftly, tho' miraculously making them a prefent.

We are hence taught to truft that God will deal mercifully with fuch Infirmities as cleave to our Nature; and to look upon him as our only Refuge and Pro

tection.

+ Provide Things honeft, &c. We are not to fuppofe

third Sunday after the Epiphany..
gers to which we are expofed; for the fake of Jefus
Christ our Lord.

that we have fulfilled this Precept merely by performing the duties of justice in our dealings with Mankind : but we must be careful also to act with fuch decency and difcretion in general, (as the original fignifies) that they who are no Friends to Religion, may not take occafion from our Conduct to fpeak evil of our profeflion.

For in fo doing thou shalt heap, &c. This expreffion is evidently taken from Prov. xxv. 21. 22. and is an allufion to the practice of Artificers in preparing their Metals. For as by heaping Coals of Fire upon them they make them yield and relent, and thereby render them more apt to be formed for the purposes they are defigned for: fo by fhewing acts of Kindness and

coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

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The Gofpel. S. Matth. 8. 1.

Hen he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, faying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canft make me clean. And Jefus put forth his hand, and touched him, faying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately his leprofy was cleanfed. And Jefus faith unto him. § See thou tell no man, but go thy way, fhew thyfelf 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 faying, Lord, my fervant lieth at home fick of the palfy, grievoufly tormented. And Jefus faith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion anfwered and faid, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my fervant fhall 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 fervant, Do this, and he doeth it. Jefus heard it, he marvelled, and faid unto them that followed, Verily, I fay unto you, I have not found fo great faith, no not in Ifrael. + And I fay unto you, that many fhall come from the east and west, and shall fit down with Abraham, and Ifaac, and Jacob,

Charity to our Enemies in their neceffity, we fhall take the most effectual means to melt them down into Repentance, Goodwill and Affection. A victory this far fuperior to the conqueft of Kingdoms.

See thou tell no Man, &c. The general reason why our Lord on this, as well as feveral other occafions, gave fuch an order, might be left the fame of his Miracles being made too public, the People fhould 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 courfe of his Ministry. But with refpect to the Leper he might perhaps order him to keep his Cure private, till according to the Law, he had fhewn himself to the Prieft. Because, had the Priest known by what means

When

it was wrought, before he had paffed Judgement upon it, he might have refused to pronounce the Man clean.

|| I have not found so great Faith, &c. The Centurion's Faith was remarkable in that he fuppofed that Difeafes of all kinds were as much subject to Christ's command, tho' at a distance, as his Soldiers were to him.

+ And I fay unto you, that many, &c. This is Prophecy that the Gentiles fhould fhortly.be called to partake in the Bloffings and Privileges of the Gofpel: whilft the Jews, who boafted themselves to be God's peculiar People, fhould through their Unbelief, be rejected.

in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be caft out into outer darkness: there fhall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jefus faid unto the centurion, Go thy way, and as thou haft believed, fo be it done unto thee. his fervant was healed in the felf-fame hour.

The fourth Sunday after the Epiphany.

The Collect.:

And

God, who knoweft us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reafon of the frailty of our nature we cannot always ftand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may fupport us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen:

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The Epifle. 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 refifteth the power, refifteth the ordinance of God: and they that refift, fhall receive to themfelves 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 fword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye muft needs be fubject, not only for wrath, but also for confcience fake. For, for this caufe pay

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Paraphrafe on the Collect for the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. O God who knoweft how unable we are of ourfelves, through our natural Weaknefs, to refift the many powerful Temptations that furround us; give

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us, we beseech thee, fuch help and defence as may effectually uphold and preferve us against the affaults of all our Enemies, through Jefus Christ our Lord.

nors, St. Paul affures them that they were fo far from being loofed in this refpect, that, on the contrary, their Religion laid upon them, a ftill ftronger obligation than ever to obey, even their Heathen Rulers: becaufe they were Ministers appointed by God for the welfare of Society; and that therefore they ought to be fubje&t to them not only for fear of incurring, the puniments

you tribute alfo; for they are Gods minifters, attending continu-ally upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due, cuftom to whom cuftom, fear 10 whom fear, honour to whom honour.

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The Gofpel. S. Matth. 8. 23.

ND when he was entered into a fhip, his difciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempeft in the fea, infomuch that the fhip was covered with the waves: but he was afleep. § And his difciples came to him, and awoke him saying, Lord, fave us, we perish. And he faith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then hé 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 Gergefenes, there met him two poffeffed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, fo that no man might pafs by that way. And behold, they cried out, faying, 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, fuffer us to go away into

of the Law, but likewife out of Confcience towards God: and that for the fame reason they ought alfo to fhew obedience and reverence to them in all Things, where their command were not contrary to the divine Will. If fubjection to Governors was fo ftrongly infifted upon under the Reign of a Nero, and in Time of Perfecution, then how much more is it incumbent upon us whofe Religion is fapported and defended by the civil Government!

And bis Difciples came to him, &c. From the example of thefe Difciples we may learn where to feek for fuccour in all our diftreffes, fince tho' the forrows of Death encompfs us, and the overflowings of Ungodliness make us afraid, yet the Lord of Hofts is with us, the

God of Jacob is our Refuge; who fillerb the Raging of the Sea, and the Noife of his 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; fo that no Man durft further attempt to reftrain him. He too was perhaps a Perfon of more note than the other for his birth, or parts, or intereft in the Country, and his Cure made more noife, and for that reafon was mentioned by Mark and Luke, while they omitted the Cure of the other.

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