2. now in the time of Life, in which thy Son Je this mortal sus Christ came to visit us in great humi lity, 3. that in when he shall in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Col. iii. 9, 10. 2. Behold, now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor. vi. 2. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. John xii. 46. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John viii. 12. Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. Matt. xxi. 5. Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Phil. ii. 5, 6, 7. The Day-spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke i. 78, 79. 3. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven the last day, with his mighty angels. 2 Thess. i. 7. When the come again Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the in his glori- holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the to judge both throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathe quick and thered all nations: and he shall separate them ous Majesty dead, 4. we may rise to the life immortal, one from another. Matt. xxv. 31, 32. Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 1 Peter iv. 5. The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John v. 28, 29. 4. I am he that liveth, and was dead: and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen. Rev. i. 18. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17. Thy brother 5. through him who liveth and thee and the now and ever. Amen : shall rise again: Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. John xi. 23 to 26. This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality : so when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Cor. xv. 53, 54. 5. Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept; for as in reigneth with Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made Holy Ghost, alive. 1 Cor. xv. 20. 22. 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. Rom. vi. 9, 10. He is LORD of lords, and KING of kings. Rev. xvii. 14. He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a Name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Rev. xix. 16. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. Heb. i. 8. 1. Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy be written ing; The Epistle, Rom. xiii. 8. to the end of the chapter. XL. The Second Sunday in Advent. A PRAYER BEFORE READING THE SCRIPTURE. 1. And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that Scriptures to bare thee; but he said, Yea rather, blessed are for our learn- they that hear the word of God, and keep it. Luke xi. 27, 28. The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. 2 Sam. xxiii. 2. Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Rom. xv. 4. All Scripture is given by inspiration 2. Grant that we may in sucb wise hear them, S. read, 4 mark, 6. learn, 6. and inwardly digest them, 7, that by of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. iii. 16. All these things happened unto them for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition. 1 Cor. x. 11.-See also, 1 Cor. ix. 9, 10. 2. Take heed therefore how ye hear; for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. Luke viii. 18. Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James i. 21. 3. Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me. John v. 39. Till I come, give attendance to reading. 1 Tim. iv. 13. 4. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts xvii. 11. And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day; for it is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life. Deut. xxxii. 46, 47. 5. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. Psal. cxix. 73. As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. 1 Peter ii. 2. Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter iii. 18. 6. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Josh. i. 8. We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Heb. ii. 1. 7. Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have patience, and done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. comfort of thy Holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of ever lasting life, which thou hast given as in our Sa viour Jesus Christ. Amen. who at thy Heb. x. 36. My soul fainteth for thy salvation, The Epistle, Rom. xv. 4 to 14. XLI. The Third Sunday in Advent. A PRAYER THAT THE LABOURS OF MINISTERS MAY BE SUCCESSFUL. 1. O Lord 1. Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Jesu Christ, which shall prepare thy way before thee; the voice first coming of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the messenger to way of the Lord, make his paths straight, Mark i. didst send thy prepare thy 2, 3. Thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of way before thee; the Highest, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways. Luke i. 76.-See also, Mal. iii. 1. 2. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Cor. iv. 1. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Pet. iv. 10. In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God. 2 Cor. vi. 4. 4. that at thy second coming to judge the world we may acceptable 3. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke i. 17. and Mal. iv. 5, 6. The Gentiles unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. Acts xxvi. 17, 18. Unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Job xxviii. 28.-See also, Luke x. 42. people in thy sight, who livest and the Father 4. Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the be found an counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Cor. iv. 5. We labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be acreignest with cepted of him; for we must all appear before the and the Holy judgment seat of Christ; that every one may reSpirit, ever ceive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Cor. v. 9, 10. I give thee charge in the sight of God, that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Tim. vi. 13, 14. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end. Heb. iii. 14. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Eph. i. 6. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without one God, world without end. Amen. |