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"Jesus, Master, have mercy on 14. " us." And when he saw them, he said unto them, "Go shew (d) "yourselves unto the priests." And it came to pass, that, as they 15. went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God; 16. and fell down on his face at his

feet, giving him thanks: and he 17. was a Samaritan (e). And Jesus

answering said, "Were there not "ten cleansed? but where are 18. the nine? There are not found "that returned to give glory to 19. God, save this stranger." And he said unto him, "Arise, go thy way thy faith hath made "thee whole."

v. 14.

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7.12.

9.12.

Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

KEEP, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy and because the frailty

of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead

(d) "Shew," &c. Whoever was cured of a leprosy, was bound to appear before the priest, to satisfy him of the cure, Levit. xiv. Our Saviour's command therefore, that they should go and shew themselves, &c. implied, that before they reached the priest, they should be cleansed.

(e) "A Samaritan." And therefore thought contemptuously of by the Jews.

(ƒ) “To make a fair shew," &c. To keep up appearances with the Jews; or to live in outward honour, worldly consequence.

(g)" Only," &c. This is their sole object, to avoid persecution; for according to verse 13. they do not keep or act up to the Mosaic law.

(b)" For the cross," &c. For preaching that alone as sufficient, and decrying

us to all things profitable to our salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Gal. vi. 11. YE see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as desire to make a fair shew (ƒ) in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only (g) lest they should suffer persecution for the cross (h) of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh (i). But God for bid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world (k) is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature (1). And as many 1 as walk according to this rule (m), peace be on them, and mercy, and upon (2) the Israel of God. From henceforth let no 17 man trouble me (0); for I bear

circumcision, and all the Mosaic institu tions; for professing a dependance upon Christ alone. See Gal. v. 11.

(i)" In your flesh," i. e. in having made you conform to the Mosaic rites. (k) The world," i. e. all worldly pursuits, advantages, &c.

(1)" A new creature," i. e. with " change of habits, dispositions, &c. according to John iii. 3. "born again." See ante 161. note on John iii. 3.

(m) “ This rule,” i. e. of glorying in v the cross of Christ, and in that only, and of becoming" a new creature."

(n) For" and upon," read, "as upon." . (0) “ Trouble me," i. e. by calling in v. question whether I do not tolerate and sanction a compliance with the Mosaic institutions; for I have upon my body the marks of what I have suffered for

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in my body the marks of the 18. Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit. Amen.

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The Gospel. Matt. vi. 24. (p)

No man (9) can serve two

66 masters: for either he will "hate the one, and love the "other; or else he will hold to "the one, and despise the other. "Ye cannot serve God and "Mammon (r). Therefore I say 66 unto you, Take no thought (s) "for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the "life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold "the fowls of the air for they

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sow not, neither do they reap,

standing up for the sufficiency of Christ, and the criminality of depending in any respect upon the Mosaic institutions. St. Paul was a fearless professor, in defiance of all danger and persecution, knowing that if he "confessed Christ "before men, Christ would confess him "also before God," Matt. x. 32. and he accordingly preached, what was likely to exasperate the unbelieving Jerus at least to the uttermost, that the Mosaic institutions were not only of no use, but that the placing any the least confidence in them, would take away all chance of assistance from the Gospel. "Behold, "I Paul say unto you, that if ye be "circumcised, Christ shall profit you "nothing," Gal. v. 2. The earnestness with which St. Paul presses this point, the extent to which he dwells upon it, and the manner in which he exhorts the converts to bear up against all persecutions, &c. affords very strong internal evidence that these Epistles were written whilst the Jews still continued in power, before the destruction of Jerusalem. This Epistle is supposed to have been written A. D. 52. eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem.

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(p) This is part of that discourse called "the Sermon on the Mount."

(9). "No man," &c. Our Saviour had v.24. just been exhorting them to lay up for themselves treasures, not upon earth, but in heaven; and the object here is to guard against their being too much engrossed by worldly pursuits.

(r) Mammon," i. e. wealth, riches, v. 24. called in the parable of the unjust steward, ante 186. Luke xvi. 9, 11. "the "Mammon of unrighteousness," "the "unrighteous Mammon."

(s) Take no thought," not lite- v. 25. rally, but comparatively; be not over anxious about it; let it not occupy so much of your time, &c. as to prevent your attention to weightier matters.

(t) "Can add," &c. The meaning is, v.27. can any thing, however unimportant, be done by man, without the sanction, or against the will of God? And if not, God, if he thinks fit, will frustrate all your worldly pursuits.

(u)" The lilies," &c. Many of our v.28. Saviour's expressions arose from objects in his view at the time: the sentiment would be brought back to the recollection of his hearers whenever the object again

occurred.

"Wherewithal shall we be 32. "clothed? (for after all these "things do the Gentiles seek :) "for your heavenly Father know"eth that ye have need of all 33.these things. But seek ye first "the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these "things shall be added unto you. 34. "Take therefore no thought "for the morrow: for the mor66 row shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto "the day is the evil thereof."

v. 13.

v.13.

v.1.4.

2.15.

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Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

O LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it ever.

(x)" For you." This Epistle is supposed to have been written by St. Paul whilst he was in confinement at Rome. It was owing to his exertions among the Gentiles, and to his preaching amongst them, "that the Jews were no longer God's "peculiar people, and that the Mosaic "institutions were no longer to be con"sidered essential," that the tumult was raised against him at Jerusalem, which led to his confinement at Cesarea, and afterwards at Rome. See Acts xxi. 28. -xxii. 22. he might well therefore describe his tribulations, as tribulations for them, as being Gentiles.

(y)" Your glory." Instead of fainting at them, you should glory in them. What I bear proves my sincerity, my conviction that I am right; it shews I am no impostor, and have no earthly views. It should therefore inspire you with confidence, not fear.

(z) "For this cause," i. e. (looking forward to verse 16.) that God would give you strength, &c.

(a) “ Whole family," i. e. all Christians. He calls them, Rom. viii. 17. " the

more by thy help and goodness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Ephes. iii. 13. I DESIRE that ye faint not at my tribulations for you (x), which is your glory (y). For this cause (z) 1 bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family (a) in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened (b) with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell (c) in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth (d), and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, 1 which passeth knowledge (e), that

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ye might be filled (f) with all the 20. fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power 21. that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

The Gospel. Luke vii. 11. AND it came to pass the day after, that Jesus went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples (g) went with him, and 12. much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out (b), the only son (i) of his mother, and she was a widow and much people of the 13. city was with her. And when

the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto 14. her," Weep not." And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, "Young man, I

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V. 11. (g)" His disciples, and much people." This miracle therefore was peculiarly public: many people were with our Saviour, and according to verse 12. many with the widow.

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(b) "Carried out." It was not lawful for the Jews to bury within their cities, because all dead bodies were by the law unclean.

(i) "Only Son," " and she was a "widow." These circumstances are noticed, to shew how proper a case our Saviour singled out, a case of peculiar distress to the mother, and therefore strongly calling for compassion. (k)" "Sat up." This miracle corresponds in character with the rest of our Saviour's miracles. It was public, a

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work of mercy, and typical, implying a power to raise the souls of men to life eternal.

(1) "A fear," &c. We are apt to v. 16. suppose that had we been witnesses of such miracles as these, they would have had such an influence upon us as to have made us perfect Christians; but before we flatter ourselves that a higher degree of evidence would have had so powerful an effect, let us carefully examine the evidence we have, and if that admits of no doubt, as it really does not, we have no right to think that further evidence would have made us better; if we hear not our Saviour and the Apostles, have we any right to say that we should be persuaded if one rose from the dead?

(m) "Of the Lord," i. e. for his ex- v. 1. ertions, &c. in the cause of Christianity. This Epistle is supposed to have been written whilst he was in confinement at Rome.

walk (n) worthy of the vocation 2. wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness (0) and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one 3. another in love; endeavouring

to keep the unity of the Spirit (p) 4. in the bond of peace. There is one body (q) and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope 5. of your calling; one Lord, one 6. faith, one baptism, one God and

Father of all, who is above all,
and through all, and in you all.

The Gospel. Luke xiv. 1.
Ir came to pass, as Jesus went

into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath-day, that they watched him. 2. And, behold, there was a certain

man before him which had the 3. dropsy. And Jesus answering, spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to "heal (r) on the sabbath-day?" 4. And they held their peace.

V. I.

V.2.

v.3.

And

(n) "Walk." It is observable how constantly St. Paul calls their attention to their conduc; to the necessity of shewing by their acts that they were Christians.

()" Lowliness," &c. The nature of the virtues St. Paul recommends also require attention: such as our Saviour had also prescribed: not such as the world usually admires, and were in high estimation until our Saviour's time, such as active courage, a quick sense of honour, impatience of injuries, &c.

(p) "The unity of the Spirit." In 1 Cor. xii. he endeavours to guard the converts against overvaluing those who had the more important gifts of the Spirit, and undervaluing those who had the less important, by reminding them that all the gifts, the more and the less important, proceeded from the same Spirit; that there was but one Spirit which conferred these gifts. And he here presses them to unanimity in all things, by the consideration that there is only one Spirit, not several; one Christ

he took him, and healed him, and let him go; and answered them, saying, "Which of you

"shall have an ass or an ox "fallen into a pit, and will no "straightway pull him out on "the sabbath-day?" And they could not answer him again to these things. And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, "When () "thou art bidden of any man to

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a wedding, sit not down in the "highest room; lest a more "honourable man than thou be "bidden of him; and he that "bade thee and him come and (c say to thee, "Give this man "place;" and thou begin with "shame to take the lowest room. "But when thou art bidden, go "and sit down in the lowest,

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