THANKSGIVING FOR THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST. THANKS be to thy name, O Lord, that to us a Son has been born, to us a Saviour has been given, that the government is upon his shoulders, and that his name is Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Blessed be thy name, that thou hast thus fulfilled the promise, that a virgin should conceive and bear a son, and that when the fulness of the time was come, thou didst send forth thy Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. * Our souls do magnify the Lord, and our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour. For he hath regarded * Gal. iv. 4. the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, all generations shall call her blessed. For he that is mighty hath done great things for her, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to the fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.* We desire, with grateful hearts, to join the song of those heavenly hosts who appeared, on that night on which the Saviour was born, to the shepherds who kept watch over their flocks; and with them we would exclaim, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will to men.+ Lord, now lettest thou thy servants depart in peace, for our eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; * Luke i. 46-56. + Luke ii. 14. a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.* Draw near, O our souls, and behold this great sight. The eternal Word has been made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we have beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifested in the flesh.+ Blessed be God, that he who came in the name of the Lord to save us, took not on him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham; that forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that in all things he was made like unto us, and that he is thus qualified to be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.+ We believe, O Lord, and are sure, that this is indeed the Christ, the son of the living God; that * Luke ii. 29–33. Heb. ii. 11. 14. 16, 17. † John i. 14. John xviii. 37. it is he that should come, and that we are to look for no other.* Hosannah to the Son of David, blessed be he who came in the name of the Lord to save us, hosannah in the highest. * John vi. 69. THANKSGIVING FOR CHRIST'S HOLY LIFE, EXCELLENT DOCTRINE, AND WONDERFUL WORKS, AND FOR THE GREAT TESTIMONIES BORNE TO HIS DIGNITY BY THE FATHER. It is our consolation, O Lord, to be assured, that he who came from the Father to save us, was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners ;* that in him there was no guile, neither was any deceit found in his mouth; that he was meek and lowly in heart; that he considered it to be his meat and drink to do the will of him who sent him, and to finish his work; that he humbled himself for the salvation of his brethren of the flesh; and that when he was reviled, he reviled not again, * Heb. vii. 26. + Matt. xi. 29. + John iv. 34. |