Imatges de pàgina
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they be made like the image

begotten, and therefore Christ said that we must be born again of water and the Spirit. Also by his heavenly breathing on us, God the Father doth adopt us his children, and therefore he is worthily called the Spirit of adoption. Nowell, p. 63.

God hath freely through Christ made and adopted us his. children. The name of children by right of adoption is freely imparted to us through Christ. Nowell, p. 44.

Christ hath set himself for an exemplar for us to follow, to frame our life according thereunto. Where Christ died for sin and was buried, he but once suffered the same. Where he once rose again and ascended into heaven, he but once rose again, and but once ascended; he now dieth no more, but enjoyeth eternal life, and reigneth in most high and everlasting glory. So if we be once dead and buried to sin, how shall we hereafter live in the same? If we be risen again with Christ, if by assured faith and stedfast hope we be conversant with him in heaven, then ought we from henceforth to bend all our cares and thoughts upon heavenly, divine, and eternal things, not earthly, worldly, and transitory. And as we have heretofore borne the image of the earthly man, we ought from henceforth to put on the image of the heavenly man, quietly and patiently bearing, after his example, all sorrows and wrongs, and following and expressing his other divine virtues so far as mortal man be able. And whereas Christ our Lord never ceaseth to do us good, continually to intreat for and to crave his Father's mercy for us, to give us his holy Spirit, and wonderfully and continually to

then heirs: heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Rom. viii. 14-17. It shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Hos. i. 10.

Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Rom. viii. 29. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. And the glory which thou hast given me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and

thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. John xvii. 16, 19, 22, 23, 26. It pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me. Gal. i. 15, 16. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him:-that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made con

of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ:

garnish his church with most liberal gifts; it is meet that we in like manner, with our whole endeavour, should help our neighbour, and that we be bound to all men in most straight bonds of love, concord, and most near friendship, so much as shall lie in us, and so to be wholly framed after the manners of Christ as our only exemplar. Nowell, p. 59.

And there should be no greater comfort to Christian persons, than to be made like unto Christ, by suffering patiently adversities, troubles, and sicknesses. For he himself went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain; he entered not into his glory before he was crucified. So truly our way to eternal joy is to suffer here with Christ; and our door to enter into eternal life is gladly to die with Christ; that we may rise again from death, and dwell with him in everlasting life. Visitation of the Sick.

Almighty God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for the second Sunday after Easter.

formable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Phil. iii. 8-11. So many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be Idead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be

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dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. vi. 3-11. Col. ii. 1013. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. 2 Cor. v. 17. many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Gal. iii. 27. He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk even as he walked. 1 John ii. 6. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John i. 7. Righteousness shall go before him, and shall set us in the way of his steps. Ps. lxxxv. 13. Hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. 1 Pet. ii. 21. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Phil. ii. 5. Forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath

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Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections, we may be buried with him; and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass to our joyful resurrection, for his merits, who died and was buried, and rose again for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for Easter Even.

O God, whose blessed Son was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life; Grant us, we beseech thee, that having this hope, we may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom, where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen. Coll. for the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany.

" God of his mercy and special favour towards them, whom he hath appointed to everlasting salvation, hath so offered his grace especially, and they have so received it fruitfully, that al

suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 1 Pet. iv. 1, 2. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2 Cor. iv. 10. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. Eph. v. 1, 2. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matt. xi. 29. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John xiii. 34. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;-even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Col. iii. 12. As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the

image of the heavenly. 1 Cor. xv. 49. We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. iii. 18. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be ; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John iii. 2. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness. Ps. xvii. 15.

u The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous. Ps. i. 6. He hath chosen us in him that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Eph. i. 4. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go, and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. John xv. 16. Purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. Tit. ii. 14. We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph. ii. 10. That the man of God may be perfect,

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in good works,

though, by reason of their sinful living outwardly, they seemed before to have been the children of wrath and perdition; yet now, the Spirit of God mightily working in them, unto obedience to God's will and commandments, they declare by their outward deeds and life, in the shewing of mercy and charitywhich cannot come but of the Spirit of God, and his especial grace that they are the undoubted children of God, appointed to everlasting life. And so, as by their wickedness and ungodly living they shewed themselves, according to the judgment of men, which follow the outward appearance, to be reprobates and cast-aways; so now, by their obedience unto God's holy will, and by their mercifulness and tender pity-wherein they shew themselves to be like unto God, who is the fountain and spring of all mercy-they declare openly and manifestly unto the sight of men, that they are the sons of God, and elect of him unto salvation. Hom. xxiii. 2.

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By faith we receive Christ such as he delivereth himself unto But he doth not only set us at liberty from sins and death, and make us at one with God, but also with the divine inspiration and virtue of the Holy Ghost doth regenerate and newly form us, to the endeavour of innocency and holiness, which we call newness of life.- -Good works do stand upon faith as upon their root. It doth most vehemently stir us up to the endeavour of a good life; yea, and so far, that he is not truly faithful that doth not also to his power shun vices and embrace virtues, so living always as one that looketh to give an account. Nowell, p. 73, 74.

throughly furnished unto every good work. 2 Tim. iii. 17. This is a faithful saying, and these things (see ver. 4—7.) I will, that thou affirm constantly (va, in order) that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. Tit. iii. 8. Adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Tit. ii. 10. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Tit. ii. 12. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 1 Thess. ii. 12. Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Eph. iv.1. Let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ. Phil. i. 27. Our

conversation is in heaven. Phil. iii. 20. That ye might walk worthy of

the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work. Col. i. 10. This woman was full of good works, and almsdeeds, which she did. Acts ix. 36. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. v. 16. Charge them that are rich in this world-that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. 1 Tim. vi. 10. Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 2 Pet. i. 5—7. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,

" and at length,

And reason it is that we being redeemed with the blood of Christ the Son of God, and having beside received innumerable and infinite benefits of God, should live and wholly frame ourselves after the will and appointment of our Redeemer, and so shew ourselves mindful and thankful to the Author of our salvation, and by our example procure and win other unto him. Nowell, p. 76.

Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity.

Merciful Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church; that it being enlightened by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to the light of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for St. John the Evangelist's Day.

O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. for All Saints' Day.

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And, as while God reigneth by his Spirit in us, men have a certain community with God in this world, so we pray and wish that he will also by Christ communicate with us in heaven the joy of the most blessed kingdom, and the glory that in everlasting ages of worlds shall never be changed, that we may be not only children but also heirs of our heavenly Father; which desire also we verily nothing distrust or doubt, that our heavenly Father will one day grant us to enjoy. Nowell, p. 90.

He rose from death, and we also are risen again with him, being so made partakers of his resurrection and life, that from henceforth death hath no more dominion over us. For in us is the same Spirit which raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Beside that, since the ascension, we have most abundantly received the gifts of the holy Ghost, he hath also lifted and carried us up into heaven with him, that we might, as it were with our head, take possession thereof. These things indeed are not yet seen; but then shall they be brought abroad into light, when Christ

whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any

praise, think on these things. Phil. iv. 8.

w In due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Gal. vi. 9.

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