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E fee how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as defire to make a fair fhew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only left they should' fuffer perfecution for the cross of Chrift. For neither they themselves who are circumcifed keep the law; but defire to have you circumcifed, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I fhould glory, fave in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. *For in Christ Jesus neither circumcifion availeth any thing, nor uncircumcifion, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Ifrael of God." From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jefus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jefus Christ be with your fpirit. Amen.

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The Gospel. S. Matth. 6, 24.

O man can ferve two mafters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or elfe he will hold to the one, and defpife the other. Ye cannot ferve God and +Mammon. Therefore I fay unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye fhall eat, or what ye fhall drink? nor yet for your body, what ye fhall put on: Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold, the fowls of the air; for they fow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them: Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his ftature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Confider the lilies of the field how they D d

For in Chrift Jefus neither Circumcifion, &c. Under the Gofpel Covenant it is not of any confequence, whether a Man be circumcifed or not, but all depends upon the renewal of his Heart, and the reformation of his Life.

+ Mammon. Is a Syriac Word fignifying Riches.

Take no thought for your Life, &c. We are not here by to fuppofe fuch a thought is forbidden as pru

dent Men ufe in providing fuftenance for themselves and their Relatives: but fuch an anxious care as makes us diftruftful of God's Providence, fretful and repining under his Difpenfations, fordid and niggardly, griping and uncharitable. For otherwise the Scripture inculcates diligence in Bufinefs; that instead of being useless loads upon Earth, we may be enabled to discharge the feveral duties of Life with decency. Titus iii. 14.

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grow: they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I fay unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arayed like one of thefe. Wherefore if God fo clothe the grafs of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is caft into the oven; fhall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, faying, What shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or wherewithal fhall we be clothed? (for after all these things do the Gentiles feek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But feek ye firft the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow fhall take thought for the things of itself: fufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

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The fixteenth Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.

Take

Lord, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without thy fuccour, preferve it evermore by thy help and goodnefs, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

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The Epiftle. Ephef. 3. 13.

Defire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. *For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthned with might by his Spirit in

Paraphrafe on the Collect for the fixteenth Sunday after Trinity.

O Lord, we beseech thee, of thine infinite Mercy to purify the Chriftian Church from all Corruptions, and to protect it from all dangers; and because thy help is

* For this cause I bow my Knees, &c. The meaning of St. Paul's Prayer here is that God would convey into the Minds of the Ephefians fuch addition of divine Grace, as might be a fufficient prefervation against Temptations and Infirmities; that he would increase their abilities to refift and overcome, in proportion as their conflicts and neceffities increased; and that this might be in fuch abundance, as was answer

its only fecurity, let thine all gracious power contină. ally defend it, through Jefus Christ our Lord.

able to the exceeding greatness of that power which enables, and of that goodness which difpofes God to liberality, in fupplying all the wants of his faith'ul Ser vants. Hence we should learn that our conftancy under Afflictions, and our Virtue in all cafes are God's gift; and that the strength by which we ftand is not our own, but his.

the inner man: That Chrift may dwell in your hearts by faith} that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all faints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Chrift, which paffeth know ledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we afk or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jefus, throughout all ages, world

without end. Amen.

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The Gospel. S. Luke 7. 11.

ND it came to pass the day after, that Jefus went into a city called Nain, and many of his difciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only fon of his mother, and she was a widow; and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord faw her, he had compaffion on her, and faid unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier, (and they that bare him ftood ftill) and he said, Young man, I fay unto thee, Arife. And he that was dead, fat up, and began to speak: and he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all, and they glorified God, faying, That a great Prophet is rifen up among us, and that God hath vifited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about.

The feventeenth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

ORD, we pray thee, that thy grace may always prevent and follow us; and make us continually to be given to all good works, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Paraphrafe on the Collea for the feventeenth Sunday after Trinity.

Lord, we beseech thee to let thy fpiritual help attend us on all occafions; and make us to be always And it came to pass the Day after, &c. The follow

fruitful in every good Work, through Jefus Chrift our Lord.

ing Miracle, as it was a wonderful proof of our Lord's

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The Epistle. Ephef. 4. 1.

Therefore the prifoner of the Lord, befeech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowlinefs and meeknefs, with long- fuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the fpirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptifm, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

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The Gofpel. S. Luke 14. 1.

T came to pafs, as Jefus went into the houfe of one of the chief Pharifees to eat bread on the fabbath-day, that they watched him. And behold, there was à certain man before him who had the dropfy. And Jefus anfwering, fpake unto the lawyers, and Pharifees, faying, Is it lawful to heal on the fabbath-day? and they held their peace. And he And he took him, and healed him, and let him go, and answered them, faying, Which of you fhall have an afs, or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the fabbath-day? And they could not answer him again to these things. And he put forth a parable to those who were bidden, when he marked how they chofe out the chief rooms, faying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, fit not down in the highest room, left a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him: and he that bade thee and him, come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to

Mercy and Compaffion for the afflicted; fo it was an inftance of God's Wisdom in fometimes fuffering his Servants to be driven to extremities beyond human help-and of his goodness in comforting and reheving them when reduced to fuch a fituation.

SI therefore the Prisoner of the Lord befeech you, &c. This Epiftle confifts first of an Exhortation to fuch difpofitions and behaviour as becomes Chriftians and Secondly of a defcription of that Unity in the Church, which is the great enforcement of St. Paul's Exhortation.

Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Day?. In this Question our Saviour has given us an example of pru,

dent caution not to give offence to them, who, we know, are apt and willing to take it. But in his following Conduct we have a, pattern too of resolution in doing good when we have power and a fit opportunity; though fenfible that offence is likely to be taken, or that fuch good may bring us into fome danger. And laftly, in the apology which he makes for himself, we have a fhining inftance of condefcenfion and Meekness; which fhould teach us not to infift too rigoroufly upon being in the right, nor fatisfying ourselves always with that; but taking all fit occafions to vindicate our ac tions from offence, though never so unreasonable, never, fo unjustly taken.

take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and fit down in the lowest room, that when he that bade thee cometh, he may fay unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then fhalt thou have worship in the prefence of them that fit at meat with thee. For whofoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himfelf fhall be exalted.

The eighteenth Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.

Ord, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace

to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds, to follow thee the only God, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen..

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The Epiftle. 1 Cor. 1. 4..

Thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jefus Chrift; that in every thing ye are enriched by him in all utterance, and in all knowledge, even as the teftimony of Chrift was confirmed in you; So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who fhall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blamelefs in the day of our Lord Jefus Chrift..

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The Gospel. S. Matth. 22. 34.

HEN the Pharifees had heard that Jefus had put the Sadducees, to filence, they were gathered together. Then one of them who was a lawyer, asked him a queftion, tempting him and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in, the law? Jefus faid unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all

Paraphrafe on the Collect for the eighteenth Sunday after Trinity.. O Lord, we in treat thee to give all Chriftians Grace to refift the allurements of this wicked World,-of diforderly paffions and defires,and of Satan the great

I thank my God always, &c. The principal defign of this portion of Scripture is to inftruct us by St. Paul's example, to be highly pleased with, and truly thankful for the fpiritual advantages which the bounty of God beftows upon any of our Brethren.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, &c. This does

Enemy of Mankind-and with holy difpofitions to abey, thee the only true God, through Jefus Chrit our Lord.

not fignify that he only is to beloved, but that we ought to love him with a fincere and prevailing Love. So that tho' our Friends or Relatives may have a share of our affection, yet that nothing ought to be loved above, nothing equally with God, much lefs contrary: to, or against him..

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