Imatges de pàgina
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have contracted by partaking in other Men's Sins; Acts xxii. which St. Paul so fervently bewailed upon the Account of consenting to St. Stephen's Death.

10.

Q. Since partaking in other Men's Sins makes us liable to share in the Guilt and Punishment of them; pray. what is meant by partaking in other Men's Sins?

A. When, before any wicked Action is committed, we are any Ways knowingly aiding or abetting towards the committing of it: Or when, after it is committed, we are any Ways approving or justifying it; by either of which Means we partake in other Men's Sins, though we are not the immediate Actors of them.

Q. What are the usual Ways whereby we partake in Men's Sins, before they are committed?

A. Those that are Superiors, as Magistrates, Masters, and Parents, share in the Guilt by ordering or commanding any evil Thing; or by not using their Power to prevent and punish it; or by not expressly refusing to concur in such evil Things as are proposed to be enacted by mutual Consent. Those that are Ministers, by neglecting to teach others their Duty, or by forbearing to warn their Flock, as careful Watchmen should, against approaching Danger. Those that are in any subordinate Office, by ministering in any unlawful Business, helping it forward by Advice and Counsel, by furnishing Provisions, by wishing or praying for the Success of it. And all others, by the Influence of their own ill Example, which is powerful of itself, but more fatal when the Example is eminent for Power, Parts, and Learning.

Q. What are the usual Ways whereby we partake in Men's Sins after they are committed?

A. By approving a wicked Thing after it is acted, inwardly delighting in it, which is to take Part thereof in Will and Affection. By appearing to praise it; which sets off the Wickedness not only as innocent, but as worthy and honourable. By justifying and defending it; which in some Sense makes

a Man more guilty than he that committed it; for that might be through the Strength of Temptation, and through the Infirmity of Passion, the other is the Effect of Judgment and Consideration. Every Expression of Approbation, in Proportion to its Degree, puts the Approver into the Evil Doer's Case, and makes it his own.

THE PRAYERS.

I.

ness for

O GOD, who, through the Preaching of the For true blessed Apostle St. Paul, hast caused the Light of Thankfulthy Gospel to shine throughout the World; grant, St. Paul's I beseech thee, that I, having his wonderful Con- Conversion, version in Remembrance, may shew forth my Thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy Doctrine he taught, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II.

to resist

O LORD, raise up, I pray thee, thy Power, and For Power come among us, and with great Might succour us, Temptathat whereas, through my Sins and Wickedness, I tion. am sore let and hindered in running the Race that is set before me, thy bountiful Grace and Mercy may speedily help and deliver me, through the Satisfaction of thy Son our Lord; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be Honour and Glory, World without End. Amen.

III.

O GOD, who declarest thy Almighty Power For Ability most chiefly in shewing Mercy and Pity, merci- to live well. fully grant unto me such a Measure of thy Grace, that I, running the Way of thy Commandments, may obtain thy gracious Promises, and be made Partaker of thy heavenly Treasure, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

For the
Effects of

Repent-
ance.

IV.

I ADORE, O Lord, that miraculous Grace which
thou wert pleased to manifest to thy blessed
Apostle And I praise thy holy Name for that
powerful Assistance thou hast promised to all those
that follow the Example of his Piety. Send forth
thy Light into my Heart, and make me sensible of
all
my wicked Ways. Stir me up carefully to at-
tend to what thou requirest of me, and make me
ready to perform it. Let the Practice of thy holy
Laws bear Witness to the inward Change of my
Mind; that no Advantage of Nature or Grace may
make me proud and haughty; that no Plenty and
Abundance may make me sensual and carnal; that
when Riches increase, I may not set my Heart
upon them, but be ready to relieve thy poor dis-
tressed Members both in their Souls and Bodies.
Let no Danger or Difficulty deter me from a
zealous Prosecution of my Duty; let no Prospect
of Labour or Pains slacken my Industry, but make
me stedfast and immoveable, always abounding in
the Work of the Lord. Shew Mercy, O God, to
all those that are misled by Error, or seduced by
Vice; that, by thy heavenly Light, their Blind-
ness may be removed, and their Weakness cured,
through Jesus Christ, my only Lord and Saviour,

Amen.

CHAP. XII.

THE PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED
VIRGIN-FEBRUARY 2.

Q. WHAT Festival doth the Church celebrate
this Day?

A. The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, commonly called, The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

Q. What was the Law of Purification?

A. All the Women were obliged to separate Levit. xii. themselves from the public Congregation forty Days after the Birth of a male Child, and eighty Days after the Birth of a Female. And when the Days of their purifying were fulfilled, if they were rich, they brought a Lamb of the first Year for a Burnt-Offering, and a young Pigeon or a TurtleDove for a Sin-Offering; if poor, two Turtles, or two young Pigeons, which the Priest offered before the Lord, and made an Atonement for them.

Q. What doth this Purification import?

A. That since Adam's Fall we are conceived in Sin, that our Birth is impure, and that we derive from our Parents an hereditary Stain; whereby we are naturally unclean, and Children of Wrath; and to shew the Contagion thereof, not only the Child was circumcised, but the Mother also was cleansed by a Sacrifice for Sin.

Q. What did the Law require concerning the Presentation of the First-born?

A. That every Male that openeth the Womb should Exod. xi. be holy to the Lord; that is, consecrated and set 2, 15. apart for his immediate Service. For when God exempted the First-born of the Hebrews from that Destruction he brought upon the First-born of the Egyptians, he commanded that the First-born of the Hebrews should be dedicated to him, or redeemed Numb. at the Price of five Shekels. As therefore the First-xviii. 16. lings of clean Beasts were separated for the Use of the Altar, so the First-born of Men were for the Use of the Tabernacle, till the Levites were substi-Numb. viii tuted in their stead by God Almighty's particular 16, 17, 18. Direction. After which remained still the Footsteps of the old Law, that Mothers were obliged to present their First-born in the Temple, and to pay a Ransom to the Priest. The Price of the Redemption was the same both to Rich and Poor; as were the Charges of their Burials; admonishing us of that Equality Nature hath established between all Men in coming into the World, and going out.

Heb. xii.

23.

Luke ii.

25, 26.

Luke ii.

24.

2 Cor.

viii. 9.

Q. What doth the redeeming of the First-born signify to us?

A. The Redemption of God's People, called the Church of the First-born, which are written in Hea ven, and not redeemed with corruptible Things, as Silver and Gold, but with the precious Blood of Christ.

Q. Since there was no Impurity in the Birth of our Saviour, and that the Blessed Virgin contracted no Pollution by bringing him forth: why did they submit to these Laws?

A. Being born under the Law, it became our Saviour to fulfil all Righteousness, who came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfil it: And the blessed Virgin being exposed to the public Opinion and common Reputation of an ordinary Condition, thought it reasonable to comply with all the Obligations of such Circumstances; and hereby she expressed great Humility, Obedience, and Reverence to public Sanctions. Besides, there was thus an Occasion given for the first public Declaration of our Saviour by good old Simeon, and Anna the Prophetess.

Q. What may we learn from the Consequence of this Instance?

A. That the Injunctions of public Authority, whilst lawful, ought to be obeyed; though all the Ends of their first Institution should not be alike served by them: Obedience to Authority being a necessary Duty, even when the Rites it requireth are no otherwise necessary than as they are enjoined.

Q. What Offerings did the blessed Virgin make? A. The Offerings of the Poor, a Pair of Turtles, or two young Pigeons. Such mean and low Circumstances did our blessed Saviour chuse, when he came into the World upon the Work of our Redemption; such was his great Bounty and Kindness, that though he was rich, yet for our Sakes he became poor, that we, through his Poverty, might be rich.

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