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fure that thou knoweft all things, and needeft not that any man fhould ask thee; by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jefus anfwered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye fhall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: * and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. The Afcenfion-day.

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The Collett.

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Rant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only begotten Son our Lord Jefus Chrift to have afcended into the heavens; fo we may alfo in heart and mind thither afcend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee, and the Holy Ghoft, one God, world without end, Amen.

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For the Epiftle. Acts. I. 1.

HE former treatife have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jefus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghoft had given commandments unto the Apoftles whom hehad chofen. To whom

Paraphrafe on the Collett for Afcenfion-Day.

Moft mighty God, as we believe thy Son Jefus Chrift is gone up into Heaven; give us Grace, we befeech thee fo to fet our Affections on things above, and fo to purify our Hearts and Difpofitions here, that

And yet I am not alone, because the Father, &c. As if he had faid, "" though I know that all ye my Difciples will defert me: yet I fhall not be forfaken, for "God will stand by me, and affift my Truth and In"nocence." This alfo is the comfort of every fincere Christian amidst all the Troubles and Afflictions of human Life. For tho the World frowns around him, Calamities opprefs him, and all his worthy Friends for fake him yet the Lord of Hofts is ftil with him, the God of Jacob is his Refuge: who will comfort, and help, and relieve him when and in what manner he fees

it beft for him.

↑ Be of good cheer I have overcome the World. Chrift hath overcome the Wickedness, the Malice, the Temp

we may one Day be admitted to dwell with him for ever, who reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, to all Eternity.

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tations, and the Troubles of this World; by his holy Life, his precious Death and by the powerful afflances of his Grace, enabling all the faithful to conquer irregular Patious and Defires. So that we have rea fon to be of good cheer on account of his glorious ex ample, his meritorious expiation, and the strength whereby he has promifed he will enable us to follow his steps.

t The former Treatise bave I made, Sc. By the former Treatife is meant the Gofpel by St. Luke. For he is generally allowed to have been the Writer of the Acts of the Apostles. For which, indeed, he was well qualified, on account of his being the Col panion of St., Paul in his Travels.

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also he fhewed himself alive after his paffion, by many infallible proofs, being feen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and being affembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerufalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, faith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, *but ye fhall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, faying, Lord, wilt thou at this time reftore again the kingdom to Ifrael? And he faid unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the feafons which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye fhail receive power after that the Holy Ghoft is come upon you; and ye fhall be witneffes unto me, both in Jerufalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and untò the uttermoft part of the earth. And when he had spoken thefe things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their fight. And while they looked ftedfaftly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men ftood by them in white apparel; which also faid, Ye men of Galilee, why ftand ye gazing up into heaven? This fame Jefus which is taken up from you into heaven, fhall fo come in like manner, as ye have seen him go into heaven.

The Gospel. S. Mark 16. 14.

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Efus appeared unto the eleven as they fat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardnefs of heart, be

* But ye foall be baptized with the Holy Ghoft not many Days, e. This happened about ten Days after at the Feast of Pentecoft. And the Holy Spirit was thus given to the Apofiles, to render them powerful Witneffes of our Lord's Refurrection-to qualify them to give an exact account, as far as divine Wifdom faw it neceffary, of what our Saviour did and taught and that they might be enabled to acquaint all Christians with all fuch Truths as were neceffary to Salvation; and to declare unto them by the Spirit of prophecy what hould be hereafter.

Wils shoy at this time reffore, c. It is plain fom this pallage that our Lord's Difciples had ftill

carnal notions of their Master's Kingdom-till fuppofed that he would take upon him the authority of a temporal Prince; and now avenge himself upon his Adverfaries for their late cruelties towards him. Nor were thefetalfe notions fully rectified till the Holy Spirit by its miraculous defcent guided the Apostles into all Truth.

Shall fo come in like manner, &c. As he was taken up into Heaven in a bright fhining Cloud, attended by Angels-fo we are told that he thall come again at the laft Day with his mighty Angels in a flame of Fire and Snatch the Righteous up into the Clouds, 2 Thef. 8. 1 The£. iv. 16. 17.

cause they believed not them which had feen him after he was rifen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. *He that believeth and is baptized, hall be faved; but he that believeth not, fhall be damned. "And thefe figns shall follow them that believe: in my Name fhall they caft out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up ferpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it fhall not hurt them; they fhall lay hands on the fick, and they hall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and fat on the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with figns following.

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Sunday after Afcenfion-day.
The Collect..

God the King of glory, who haft exalted thine only Son Jefus Chrift with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We befeech thee, leave us not comfortless; but fend to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the fame place whither our Saviour Chrift is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee, and the Holy Ghoft, one God, world without end. Amen.

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The Epiftle. IS. Pet. 4. 7. bonusy on c HE end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore fober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent

Paraphrafe on the Collect for O infinitely glorious God, who haft highly exalted hy Son Jefus Christ in Heaven, and rendered him victorious over all his Enemies: leave us not deftitute we befeech thee of thy help and support; but grant us the

He that believeth and is baptized, &c. That is, he that believeth in the Gofpel and is baptized, fhall, by virtue of that Faith and Baptifm, be put into a fare of Salvation; fo that if he continue in that Faith, and do not wilfully recede from his baptifmal Covenant; the fhall actually be faved. But he that perverfely and contemptuously rejects the Gofpel, even when he is convinced of its truth, and divine authority; he fhall not partake in the benefits of Chrift's Redemption-ball not fee Lij-but the Wrath of God abideth on him. John iii. 36.

the Sunday after Afcenfion day.

comfort of thy Holy Spirit under all our diftreffes, and advance us to thofe heavenly Manfions where thy Son our Forerunner is entered before us, who reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.

↑ And fat on the right hand of God. This fignifies that Chrift, in his human nature, is exalted to the pof feffion of all that glory and blits which he had with the Father before the World was: and that all power is given unto him in Heaven and Earth. This confidera tion, as it ought to be a continual motive to Chriftian obedience, and heavenly Mindedness, fo it affords a powerful confolation under all worldly Afflictions: be caufe we know that our Lord is gone before 10 prepare place for us that where he is we may be alps

charity among yourselves: § for charity fhall cover the multitude of fins. Ufe hofpitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even fo minifter the fame one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man fpeak, let him fpeak as the oracles of God: If any man minister, let him do it, as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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The Gospel. S. John 15. 26. and part of the 16 Chapter.

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WHEN the Comforter is come, whom I will fend unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceed. eth from the Father, he fhall testify of me. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. These things have I fpoken unto you, that ye fhould not be offended. They fhall put you out of the fynagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whofoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me; but these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. Whitfunday.

The Collect.

YOD, who as at this time didft teach the hearts of thy faithful

Gpeople, by the fending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit;

Grant us by the fame Spirit to have a right judgment in all things,

The end of all Things, &c. That is, the end of the Jewish Church and State are at hand, fee Luke xxi. 9. 34.35.36.

For Charity hall cover, &c. That is, where a Ferfon is poffeffed of real Charity it will induce him to treat his fellow Creatures with Gentleness, Meeknefs, and Forbearance, will engage him to draw a Veil ever their failing and infirmities, and mercifuly to over look fuch injuries and offences done to him as call not for publick juftice. See Prov. x.

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And thefe Things will they do, c. It may be ob

ferved here that tho' Chriftianity is at prefent countenanced and fupported by the civil Government: yet that faying of St. Paul's fill in fome measure holds good (viz.) that all that will live godly in Chrift Jefus, fhall juffer perfecution. For as the conduct of a truly good Man is a continual reproach to the wicked, and therefore as offenfive to them as the light to fore Eyes; fo 'tis no wonder if they endeavour by calumny and detraction to reduce him as much as poffible to their own level; and to harafs and distress him according as they have power and opportunity.

and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort, through the merits of Chrift Jefus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the fame Spirit, one God, world without end, Amen. For the Epiftle. Acts 2. 1.

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HEN the day of Pentecoft was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And fuddenly there came a found from heaven, as of a rufhing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were fitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it fat upon each of them: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerufalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noifed abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, becaufe that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed, and marvelled, faying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mefopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Afia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya, about Cyrene, and ftrangers of Rome, Jews and Profelytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them fpeak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

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The Gospel. S. John 14. 15.

Efus faid unto his difciples, If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he fhall give you

Paraphrafe on the O God, who as at this Time didit enlighten and in ftruct the Apoftles by the miraculous defcent of the Holy Spirit upon them. Grant that we alfo, by the influence of the fame Spirit may gain a right under

When the Day of Pentecoft. It was fo called from its being the fiftieth Day after the fecond Day of the Feaft of the Paflover. It was obferved by the Jews as a Feaft of Thanksgiving for the gathering in their Harvest, and reaping it in freedom from Egyptian fervitude. This Feftival of Whitfunday which is kept

Collect for Whitsunday.

fanding of the Things that pertain to Salvation, and be filled with all joy in believing, through the Merits of Jefus Chrift, who reigreth with thee, and the fame Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

at the fame time by Chriftians, is fuppofed to have been fo called from the white Garments which the Perfons baptized in the antient Church at this season, were used to wear as an emblem of that Purity which became their profeffion.

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