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but committed himself to him who judgeth righteously.*

To all thy dispensations also he was resigned. Father, said the beloved Son, when his sweat fell like drops of blood to the ground, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.+ O Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.‡

May the same mind be in us that was also in Christ; who, being in the form of God, and thinking it not robbery to be equal with God, yet made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. him, may we be meek and lowly in heart, ever going about doing good, bearing all things,-believing all things,-hoping all things,-enduring all things,§-and thinking it our highest honour to be fellow-workers with God, for the good of his chosen.

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* 1 Pet. ii. 21-23.

‡ Luke xxiii. 46. || Phil. ii. 5.

+ Matt. xxvi. 39.

§ 1 Cor. xiii. 7.

May we be transformed into the image of Christ, from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord;* and though now we see him not, yet, believing, may we rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.+

We give thee thanks, O Father, for the gracious words which thou gavest unto thy Son to deliver unto us. We bless thee that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and that he was thereby anointed to preach the gospel to the poor; he was sent to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bound, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Surely never man spake like this man. He came preaching repentance and remission of sins; and the great message which thou gavest unto him was, that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Blessed also be thy name, that no man could have done such works as he did, except God had been with him. The blind received their sight, the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, the deaf

*2 Cor. iii. 18.

+ 1 Pet. i. 8.

Luke iv. 18.

heard, the dead were raised up, and the poor had the gospel preached unto them.* Truly this man was the Son of God.

Thou also, O God, didst make bare thy holy arm for the glory of thy Son. For when Jesus also was baptized of John in Jordan, and went up straightway out of the water, behold, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost, like a dove, alighted upon him; and a voice from heaven was heard, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.+

And he took Peter, and James, and John, unto a mountain apart to pray; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment became white as the light and Moses and Elias talked with him; and a voice from a bright cloud was heard, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.‡

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And he took with him his three disciples into a garden, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy ;

* Matt. xi. 5.

+ Matt. iii. 16, 17.

Matt. xvii. 2, 3, 4, 5.

and there appeared unto him an angel of God strengthening him.*

Lord, we believe that this is indeed the Christ that should come into the world. Increase our faith, and grant us all peace and joy in believing, for thy name's sake.

* Matt. xxvi. 38.

THANKSGIVING

FOR THE DEATH OF CHRIST.

WORTHY is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing; for he was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by his blood.*

Herein, indeed, God commendeth his love to us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us, that we might be reconciled to him by the death of his Son. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. But he tasted death for every man, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.§

* Rev. v.
9. 12.

+1 John iv. 10.

+ John ii. 2.

§ Heb. ii. 9. 14.

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