Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

judgment also, because he is the Son of Man. That the Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand a; and that the counsel of peace is between them both b.

That he is thy servant, whom thou dost uphold, thine elect in whom thy soul delighteth c; thy beloved Son, in whom thou art well pleased d; that thou hast given him for a covenant of the people e; and that through him we are not under the law, but under grace g.

That God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life h.

(4.) For the early and ancient indication of the gracious design concerning fallen man.

We bless thee, that as soon as ever man had sinned, it was graciously promised that the seed of the woman should break the serpent's headi; and that in the Old Testament sacrifices, Jesus Christ was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world k.

And that by faith the elders, though they received not the promise, yet obtained a good report, for they obtained witness that they were righteous l.

We bless thee for the promise made to Abraham, that in his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed m, and to Jacob, that the Shiloh should come, and to him should the gathering of the people ben; and that the patriarchs rejoiced to see Christ's day, and they saw it and were glad o.

(5.) For many glorious instances of God's favour to the Old Testament church.

We adore that wisdom, peace, and goodness with which thou broughtest the vine out of Egypt, didst cast

a John iii. 25.
d Mat. xvii. 5.
h John iii. 16.
/ Heb. xi. 2.4. 39.
o John viii. 56.

b Zech. vi. 13.
e Isa. xlix. 8.
i Gen. iii. 15.
m Gen. xii. 3.

c Isa. xlii. 1.
g Rom. vi. 14.
Rev. xiii. 8.
n Gen. xlix. 10.

out the heathen and plant it, thou preparedst room before it and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land a.

And they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them, but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour to them b.

We bless thee that to the Jews were committed the oracles of God c, that they had the adoption and the glory, and the covenant, the giving of the law, and the service of God and the promises d: and that there did not fail one word of all thy good promise, which thou promisedst by the hand of Moses thy servante.

We bless thee for all that which thou didst at sundry times and in divers manner speak in time past unto the fathers, by the prophets g, these holy men of God, who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghosth, and prophesied of the grace that should come unto us, testifying beforehand the suffering of Christ, and the glory that should follow, and that not to themselves only, but to us they ministered those great things, things which the angels themselves desire to look into i.

And especially we bless thee, that thou hast provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect k.

(6.) For the wonderful and mysterious incarnation of the Son of God, and his coming into the world.

We bless thee, that when the fulness of 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 l.

That the eternal word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and there were those who saw his glory, the

a Psal. lxxx. 8, 9. d Rom. ix. 4.

h 2 Pet. i. 21. / Gal. iy. 4, 5.

b Psal. xliv. 3.
e 1 King's viii. 56.
i 1 Pet. i. 10, 11, 12.

c Rom. iii. 2. Heb. i. 1. Heb. xi. 40.

glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth a. And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, that God was manifested in the flesh.

We bless thee, that to this end he was born, and for this cause he came into the world, that he might bear witness of the truth b; and we believe, and are sure, that he is that Christ, the Son of the living God c; that it is he that should come, and we are to look for no other.

We bless thee, that the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lostd; that he is come that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly e, and that for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil g.

Lord, we receive it as a faithful saying, and well worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, even the chief h.

We bless thee, that forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that he took not on him the nature of angels, but our nature, and was in all things made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people: and that he is not ashamed to call them brethren i

And that the first begotten was brought into the world with a charge given to all the angels of God to worship him k.

(7.) For God's gracious owning of him in his undertaking, and in the carrying of it on.

We bless thee, that thou wast in Christ, reconciling the world to thyself, not imputing their trespasses unto

[blocks in formation]

them, and that thou hast committed unto us the word of reconciliation a.

That thou hast thyself given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. That he was sanctified and sealed and sent into the world, and that the Father who sent him did not leave him alone, for he always did those things that pleased him b. Glory be to God in the highest, for in and through Jesus Christ there is on earth peace, and good-will towards men c.

In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him d.

We thank thee for the power thou hast given him over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as were given him e.

(8.) For his holy life, his excellent doctrine, and the glorious miracles he wrought to confirm his doctrine.

We bless thee for the assurance we have, that he is a teacher come from God, since no man could do those miracles which he did, except God were with him g.

That thou hast in these last days spoken unto us by thy Son h, whose doctrine was not his i, but his that sent him, and he spake as one having authority k; and that We are encouraged to come and learn of him, because he is meek and lowly in heart, and in learning of him we shall find rest to our souls 1.

We bless thee that he hath left us an example, that we should follow his steps, in that he did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, and when he was reviled, he reviled not again m; and his meat and drink was to do the will of his Fathern; in that he was holy, harmless,

[blocks in formation]

undefiled, separate from sinners a. O that we may be armed with the same mind b, and that as he was, so we may be in this world; and that we may so walk even as he walked c.

We bless thee, that the works which he did, the same bore witness of him, that the Father had sent him d, that by his power the blind received their sight, the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, the deaf heard, the dead were raised up, and the poor had the gospel preached theme; and even the winds and the sea obeyed him g, for which we glorify the God of Israel h. Doubtless this was the Son of God i.

(9.) For the great encouragement Christ gave to poor

sinners to come to him.

We bless thee that Jesus Christ came to call not the righteous, but sinners (such as we are) to repentance, and had power on earth to forgive sin k; that he came to save his people from their sin l; and is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world m, and that he is (to his honour, not to his reproach) a friend to publicans and sinners n.

We thank thee for the gracious invitation he gave to those who are weary and heavy laden to come to him for resto and for the assurance he hath given, that whosoever comes unto him, he will in no wise cast him out p.

That he made a gracious offer, that whosoever thirsts might come unto him and drink

(10.) For the full satisfaction which he made to the justice of God for the sin of many by the blood of his cross, for the purchases, victories, and triumphs of the

a Heb. vii. 26.
d John v. 36.
h Matt. xv. 31.
Matt. i. 21.
o Matt. xi. 28.

b 1 Pet. iv. 1.

e Matt. xi. 5.
i Matt. xxvii. 54.
m John i. 29.
p John vii. 37.

c 1 John iv. 17.
g Matt. viii. 27.
k Matt. ix. 6. 13.
n Matt. xi. 19.
q John vii. 37.

« AnteriorContinuar »