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the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together for the mouth of the 6. Lord hath spoken it. The voice said, "Cry.' And he said, "What shall I ?" "All cry "flesh (x) is grass, and all the "goodliness thereof is as the 7. "flower of the field: the grass "withereth, the flower fadeth : "because the Spirit of the Lord "bloweth upon it: surely the 8. " people is grass. The grass "withereth, the flower fadeth ; "but the word of our God shall 9. "stand for ever." O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength: lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, "Behold

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how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to 59. pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his 60. mother answered and said, "Not 66 so; but he shall be called "John." And they said unto 61. her, "There is none of thy kin"dred that is called by this "name." And they made signs 62. to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a 63. writing-table, and wrote, saying, "His name is John." And they marvelled all. And his mouth 64. was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on 65. all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hillcountry of Judea and all they 66. that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What "manner of child shall this be?" And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Za- 67. charias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of 68. "Israel; for he hath visited and "redeemed his people, and hath 69. "raised up an horn of salvation "for us in the house of his ser

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(y)" Shepherd " Shepherd" The Messiah is v. 11. elsewhere spoken of under the name of a shepherd. See ante 52. note on Matt. ii. 5. and ante 137. on John x. II.

(2) "Shall gather," &c. i. e. shall be to his followers what a shepherd who so gathers his lambs, &c. is to his flock: full of tender care and attention.

(a) See ante p. 7. where this passage occurs, and is commented upon.

"mouth of his holy prophets, "which have been since the 7. "world began: that we should "be saved from our enemies, "and from the hand of all that 72. "hate us; to perform the mercy

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"promised to our fathers, and 66 to remember his holy cove73. nant, the oath which he sware 66 to our father Abraham, that 74." he would grant unto us, that

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“ we, being delivered out of the "hand of our enemies, might 75. serve him without fear, in ho"liness and righteousness before "him, all the days of our life. "And thou, Child, shalt be "called The Prophet of the "Highest for thou shalt go "before the face of the Lord to 77. prepare his ways; to give "knowledge of salvation unto "his people, by the remission of "their sins, through the tender "mercy of our God; whereby "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 80. "peace." And the child grew,

78.

79.

v. 9.

and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

(a)" Evil for evil." St. Paul gives the same advice to the Roman converts, Rom. xii. 17. 66 Recompence to no man " evil for evil ;" and to the Thessalonians, 1 Thess. v. 15. "See that none render "evil for evil unto any one." Christianity does not sanction retaliation; on the contrary, it inculcates forgiveness of injuries as an essential duty, and treats the right to avenge as the peculiar privilege of God. Vengeance is "mine, I will repay, saith the Lord," Rom. xii. 19. The example in this respect is furnished by our Saviour, who

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Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.

GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. 1 Peter iii. 8. Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil (a) for 9. evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For (b)" he that will love life, 10. " and see good days, let him re"frain his tongue from evil, and "his lips that they speak no "guile: let him eschew evil, 11. " and do good; let him seek "peace, and ensue it. For the 12. 66 eyes of the Lord are over the "righteous, and his ears are "open unto their prayers: but "the face of the Lord is against "them that do evil." And who is (c) he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is

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according to Pet. ii. 23. "When he was reviled, reviled not again; when "he suffered, he threatened not."

13.

(b) "For," &c. What follows to .10. the end of verse 12. is transcribed from Ps. xxxiv. 12. &c. St. Peter therefore uses that authority to inforce the duty of the moderation he was recommending.

(c) "Who is he," &c. To follow. 13. good, is the surest way to avoid persecution; but even if the good are persecuted, they have this for their comfort, their persecutors are not " of God," and have not God's sanction.

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0.14. v. 14.

v. 14.

2. I.

The Gospel. Luke v. 1. IT came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by

(d) For "suffer read" do suffer." (e) "Happy." Our Saviour has given this assurance in his Sermon on the mount, Matt. v. 10. 11. post. "Blessed 66 are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; blessed are ye "when men shall revile you, and perse"cute you, and shall say all manner of "evil against you, falsely, for my sake:

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rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven." So 1 Pet. iv. 14. "If ye be reproached for "the name of Chirst, happy are ye." (ƒ) "Be not afraid," &c. This passage is transcribed from Is. viii. 12. 13. God said unto Isaiah," say ye not a con"federacy, to all them to whom this "people shall say a confederacy, neither "" fear their fear, nor be afraid; sanc"tify the Lord of hosts himself, and "let him be your fear, and let him be 66 your dread, and he shall be for a sanc"tuary." The meaning therefore here is, that they should disregard all earthly persecutions, should have no fear or dread but of God, and that they should. find him a sanctuary against all evils.

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(g) "The Lake of Gennesareth." The same as the sea of Galilee or Tiberias. It was in and near Galilee that Jesus chiefly lived, appointed his disciples, and performed his miracles, he also appeared there after his resurrection: So that he eminently fulfilled the prophecy Is. ix. 2. "The people that walketh in "darkness (alluding to the people of "Galilee) have seen a great light; they "that dwell in the land of the shadow "of death, upon them hath the light "shined." As the beginning of Is. ix. is not very clear in our translation, and as Bishop Lowth has done away the obscurity, it may be of service to introduce his translation. "But there shall

the lake of (g) Gennesaret, and 2. saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered 3. into one of the ships, which was (b) Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left 4.

"not hereafter be darkness in the land "which was distressed; in the former time "he debased the land of Zebulun and "the land of Naphtali; but in the latter "time he hath made it glorious; even "the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, "Galilee of the nations. The people "that walketh in darkness, have seen a

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great light, they that dwelt in the

land of the shadow of death, unto "them hath the light shined. Thou "hast multiplied the nation, thou hast "increased their joy, they rejoice before "thee, as with the joy of harvest, as "they rejoice, who divide the spoil. For "the yoke of his burthen, the staff laid on his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor

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hast thou broken, as in the day of "Midian. For the greaves of the armed "warrior in the conflict. and the gar "ment rolled in much blood shall be for

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a burning, even fuel for the fire, for "unto us, &c." Mr. Mede had before improved the translation, (Mede on Revel. 77. 78.) and he refers the debase. ment of the land of Zebulun, &c. to the times of Tiglathpileser, and notices that there was a highway called "the way of the sea," leading from Syria through the middle of Capernaum to Jordan, and thence by the sea of Galilee into Egypt. He observes also that our Saviour spent the greatest part of his time during his ministry in Galilee, of which Capernaum was the capital, not being in Judea, but at the time of the feasts, whereas he went through all Galilee with his apostles over and over, teaching the Gospel in all the synagogues and villages, and doing miracles, so that as this land had been eminently afflicted, he made it eminently glorious by his presence. See also Kidder 95.

(b) "Simon's," i. e. St. Peter's.

v. 3.

speaking, he said unto Simon,

Launch out into the deep, "and let down your nets for a 5. "draught." And Simon answer

ing said unto him, "Master, we "have toiled all the night, and "have taken nothing: neverthe"less at thy word I will let down 6. "the net." And when they had

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this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their 7. net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, 8. so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart "from me; for I am a sinful 9. man, O Lord." For he (i) was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes 10. which they had taken: and so was also (k) James and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, "Fear not; "from henceforth thou shalt 11. "catch men." And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Saint Peter's Day. The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, who by thy

Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock; Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same; that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle. Acts xii. 1. ABOUT that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to vex certain of the Church. And he killed (/) James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Then were the days of unleavened (m) bread. And when 4 he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in pri 5. son; but prayer was made with out ceasing of the Church unto God for him. And when Herod 6. would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two (n) chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

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not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought 10. he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed 11. from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, "Now "I(p) know of a surety that the "Lord hath sent his angel, and "hath delivered me out of the

"hand of Herod, and from all "the expectation of the people "of the Jews."

The Gospel. Matt. xvi. 13. (9) WHEN Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Whom do "men say that I, the Son of man, "am?" ?" And they said, "Some 14. "say that thou art John the "Baptist; some, (s) Elias; and "others, Jeremias, or one of the

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prophets." He saith unto them, 15. "But whom say ye that I am?" And Simon Peter answered and 16. said, "Thou art the Christ, the "Son of the living God." And 17. Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed art thou, Simon "Barjona (t): for flesh (u) and "blood hath not revealed it unto "thee, but my Father which is "in heaven. And I say also unto 18. "thee, That thou art (x) Peter; "and upon (y) this rock I will "build my Church; and the gates (z) of hell shall not pre

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0.7.

2.11

0.13.

9.14.

v. 17.

(0) For the angel," the reading should be "an angel."

(p)" I know," &c. This miraculous deliverance was calculated to confirm Peter's faith (if it could have required confirmation), was a reward to him for his former intrepidity, and an assurance that God could deliver by supernatural means.

(9) See Clarke's 18th Sermon, 213. (s)" Elias." Why Elias? The reason is obvious: the Jews were expecting the Messiah, from the prophecy, Dan. ix. 15. ante 63. and from taking the prophecy in Mal iv. 5. (" Behold "I will send you Elijah the prophet, "before the coming of the great and "dreadful day of the Lord") in a literal sense, they supposed that Elias must first come.

(t) "Barjona," i. e. the son of Jona;

he is called the son of Jona or Jonas," John i. 42.-xxi. 15, 16, 17.

(u)"Flesh and blood," &c. i. e. you v.17. have collected it not from human testimony, but from the miracles I have wrought, which are the testimony of God.

(x)" Peter," i. e. a rock, or foun- v. 18. dation stone: he was at first called Simon only (see Matt. x. 4.-John i. 42.) and when Jesus saw him, he said unto him, thou shalt be called Cephas, which is, by interpretation, a stone. John i. 42.

(y)" Upon this rock," i. e. upon v.18. such faith, courage, constancy, &c. as thine. In Eph. ii. 20. the church is considered as" built upon the founda"tion of the apostles and prophets, "Jesus Christ himself being the chief

corner-stone, in whom all the building "fitly framed together, groweth unto a "holy temple in the Lord."

(x)

"Gates of hell," i. e, the coun- v.18.

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