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"fulfilled that is written in their | have told you often, and now tell

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"law," law, "They hated me without a cause.' 26. But when the "Comforter (s) is come, whom I (t) will send unto you from the "Father, even the Spirit of truth, "which proceedeth from the Fa"ther, he shall testify of me: "27. and ye also shall bear wit"ness, because ye have been with have been with "me from the beginning." (u)

Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

O GOD, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness; Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy church; and grant, that those things which we ask faithfully, we may obtain effectually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Phil. iii. 17. BRETHREN, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so, as ye have us for an ensample. 18. (For many walk, of whom I

might not triumph over him. And it is impossible to suppose that the opposers of Christianity should have been constrained to persecute its professors, that some words,

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passage which referred to quite a different thing, should be also applicable to

them.

(s) v. 26. "The Comforter," i. e. " the "Holy Ghost or Spirit." Ante. 159. note on John xvi. 7. and ante, 164. note (m). (t) "I will send," intimating that the sending was to be his act. See ante, 164. note (n) on John xv. 26.

(u) See ante, 165. note (o).

(*) v. 20. "For, &c." This is the reason why, as he exhorts them in verse 17. they should be followers of him, &c.

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(y)" Conversation," rather "establishment," or "home." The Greek is "We look to heaven as our home, the place "where we are to settle, and have an "establishment, and this is a reason why "ye should walk, as ye have us for an

you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19. whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things). 20. For (a) our conversation (y) is in heaven; from whence also we look (2) for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21. who shall change (a) our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself,

THEN went the Pharisees, and took The Gospel. Matt. xxii. 15. counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16. And they sent out unto him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, "Master, "we know that thou art true, " and teachest the way of God in "truth, neither carest thou for "any man; for thou regardest not "the person of men. 17. Tell us "therefore, What thinkest thou? "Is (b) it lawful to give tribute

"example, according to the exhortation "in verse 17. Instead of minding earthly things, (as they in verses 18,19.) our hearts "and minds and all our thoughts are set on heaven." See 1. Tillots. 71.

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(z) "Look, &c." probably referring to the period so often alluded to, under the expression of " the day," or "coming of "the Lord." See ante, 28. note on Rom, xiii. 11.

(a) v. 21. "Shall change, &c." "And "does not this imply divine power ?" See ante, 73. note on 1 John iii. 2.

(b) v. 17. "Is it lawful, &c." The object was to induce him to deny submission to the Roman power, and so to expose him to punishment by the Roman governor, The Messiah, according to their notions, was to be a temporal king- they did not expect, therefore, that he would encourage obedience to any other power: if he did, they would draw the inference that he was not the Messiah: if he forbade it, the power

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"unto Cesar, or not?" 18. But | able joys, which thou hast preparJesus perceived their wickedness, ed for them that unfeignedly love and said, "Why tempt ye me, thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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penny.

ye hypocrites? 19. shew me "the tribute-money." And they brought unto him a 20. And he saith unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription ?" 21. They say unto him,

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"Cesar's." Then

saith he unto them, "Render (c) "therefore unto Cesar the things "which are Cesar's, and unto "God the things that are God's." 22. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

All Saints' Day.

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeak

of the Roman governor would be raised against him. They did not know, that though he were a king, his kingdom was not of this world.

(c) v. 21. "Render, &c." This answer is from the determination of the schools, where this doctrine was taught, that whereever the coin of any king was current, the inhabitants were to consider that king as their sovereign. St. Paul also recommends submission to the temporal powers, Rom. iii. 1. 7. "Let every soul be subject to the "higher powers; for there is no power but "of God, &c." "Render therefore to all "their dues; tribute to whom tribute, &c."

(d) v. 3. "Sealed, &c." "To protect "from the four angels; that they might "be preserved from the destruction." In Exod. xii. 23. when the first-born of the Egyptians were slain, the lintels and door

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Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

7. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

8. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

9. After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb (g), clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10. and cried with a loud voice, saying," Salvation to our "God which sitteth upon the

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throne, and (h) unto "Lamb." 11. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped

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(g) v. 9. "The Lamb," i. e. "our Saviour Jesus Christ."

(h) v. 10. "And unto the Lamb;" so that he is associated with God in this address. See ante, 92. note (s).

(i) v. 3. "Blessed, &c." The beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. It is supposed to have been delivered A. D. 31. about two years before the Crucifixion. The peculiar character of our Saviour's precepts, and their decided tendency to promote the comfort of individuals, and the welfare of society, has been already noticed. They forward no worldly views, and therefore are not the doctrines of an impostor: they advance only God's glory, and peace and good-will upon earth; and would correct the mistaken notion, that

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spirit: for theirs is the kingdom "of heaven. 4. Blessed are they "that mourn: for they shall be "comforted. 5. Blessed are the "meek for they shall inherit "the earth. 6. Blessed are they "which do hunger and thirst "after righteousness: for they "shall be filled. 7. Blessed are "the merciful: for they shall ob"tain mercy.

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8. Blessed are the

pure in heart for they shall "see God. 9. Blessed are the "peace-makers: for they shall be "called the children of God. "10. Blessed are they which are "persecuted for righteousness' "sake: for theirs is the kingdom

the Messiah's kingdom would be attended with temporal honours, and national distinction. They correspond also with what had been foretold of the Messiah. According to Isaiah ix. 6. he was to be "the "Prince of Peace." According to Isaiah xi. 6." the wolf was to dwell with the "lamb, &c. ;"" and they were not to hurt "or destroy in all his holy mountain, be66 cause the earth was to be full of the "knowledge of the Lord, as the waters

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cover the sea." There are many other prophecies which refer to the peaceable character of the Messiah's religion.-Is. ii. 4.-ix. 6.-lxv. 25.-Ps. lxxii. 7.-Zech. ix. 10. See Bishop Porteus's Sermons, Maltby, 210. and post, 235. note on Jer. xxiii. 5.

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"even," or "the The same phrase is xi. 31. and 1 Pet.

(k) v. 3. "And" or "God and Father." so rendered, 2 Cor. i. 3. (See ante, 212. note on Eph. iii. 14.)

(1) v. 5. "For the hope, &c." This is the subject of his thanks in verse 3.

(m) v. 6. "In all the world." In our Saviour's prophecy as to the destruction of Jerusalem, (Matt. xxiv.) when he was asked what should be the sign of his coming, he stated, (among others), " This gos"pel of the kingdom shall be preached "in all the world, for a witness unto all "nations, and then shall the end come, "Matt. xxiv. 14." The gospel was accordingly preached before the destruction of Jerusalem in Asia Minor, Greece, and

5. for the hope (1) which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel; 6. which is come unto you, as it is in (m) all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God (n) in truth: 7. as ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ: 8. who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 9. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his (0) will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10. that ye might walk (p) worthy of (q) the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11. strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; 12. giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

Italy, as far north as Scythia, south as Æthiopia, east as Parthia and India, and west as Spain and Britain, 2. Newt. on the Prophecies, 156. If this does not prove God's assistance to the cause, it shews the zeal of the apostles, and their conviction of the truth of what they preached. Our Saviour's prophecy was delivered A. D. 33. This Epistle is supposed to have been written A. D. 59; and Jerusalem was destroyed A. D. 70.

(n)" The grace of God in truth, "i. e. "the doctrines of the gospel." 2. Clarke's Sermons, 273.

(o) v. 9." His," i. e. " God's."

(p) v. 10. "Walk, &c." pressing upon them the necessity of good conduct. (9)" Of the Lord,"18 Kupie, i. e." Christ."

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The Gospel. Matt. ix. 18.

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WHILE Jesus spake these things unto John's (r) disciples, behold, there came a certain ruler (s) and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: "but come and lay thy hand upon "her, and she shall live." 19. Ând Jesus arose and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20. (And behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his

garment: 21. for she said within herself," If I may but touch his gar"ment, I shall be whole." 22. But Jesus turned him about; and when hesaw her, he said, "Daughter, be "of good comfort; thy faith (t) "hath made thee whole." And the woman was made whole from that hour). 23. And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24. he said unto

(r) v. 18. " John's," i. e. " the Baptist's." They had been to ask him why his disciples did not fast. Our Saviour was sitting at meat at this time in St. Matthew's house; so that Matthew had good means of knowing what he here states.

(s) "Ruler," a ruler of the synagogue, Jairus by name, Mark v. 22. Luke viii.

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(t) v. 22. "Thy faith," i. e. thy con"fidence in my power; thy belief that the "touching my garment would cure thee."

(u) v. 25. Put forth." According to Luke viii. 51. "he suffered no man to go "in, save Peter and James, and John, "and the father and mother of the "maiden."

(x) v. 26. "That land." He was at Capernaum, in Galilee, when he performed this miracle.

(3) Jeremiah lived about 600 years before our Saviour's time.

(z) v. 5. "Behold, &c." This prophecy, to the end of verse 6. is again repeated in nearly the same words, Jer. xxxiii. 14—17. "Behold, the days come," saith the Lord, "that I will perform that good thing

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For the Epistle. Jer. xxiii. 5. (y)

BEHOLD (2), the days come," saith the (a) Lord, "that I will "raise unto David (b) a righteous

"which I have promised unto the house "of Israel, and to the house of Judah. "In those days, and at that time will I

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cause the branch of righteousness to " grow up unto David, and he shall exe"cute judgment and righteousness in the "land. In those days shall Judah be "saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; "and this is the name wherewith he shall "be called, "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUS"NESS." For thus saith the Lord, “ David "shall never want a man to sit upon the "throne of the house of Israel." These prophecies were delivered about the time of the commencement of the Babylonish captivity, when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took Jerusalem, and carried the Jews captive to Babylon. The object probably was, in that time of debasement and distress, to assure those who still looked up to God that he had not forgotten his promise, and would assuredly bring it to pass. (a) v. 5. "The Lord," Hebr. "Jehovah," Greek, Κύριος.

(b) "Unto David." It was the settled understanding of the Jews that the Messiah was to be of the lineage of

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