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I

THE

Four Golpels in One.

Broken into

LESSONS,

WITH

RESPONSORIES.

F

LESSON 1.

OR as much as many have

endeavoured to compile a

Narration of thofe Things which are moft furely believed among us; according as they delivered them to us, who from the Beginning were themfelves Eye-witneffes and Minifters of the Word: It feemed good to me alfo, having diligently attained to all Things from the Beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus ; that thou mightest know the Verity of

B

thofe

thofe Words, wherein thou haft been in ftru&ted.

*

Refp. Bleed for ever be thy Name, O Lord Who pitying our Ignorance, haft reveal to us thefe heavenly Myfteries, and for Seeing our Weakness, haft built our Fai on fo firm a Certainty. Juftly, O God! Doft thou require our abfolute Affe to thy Word, Since thou graciously provia fuch Grounds to affure us. Thyself w thy own blefs'd Mouth haft taught it, t Apoftles with their dearest Blood have co firmed it, thy Church in all Ages ha faitfully delivered it. * Justly, O

Lesson 2.

In the Beginning was the Word, a the Word was with God, and the Wo was God: This was in the Beginni with God. All Things were made by hi and without him was made Nothing th was made. In him was Life, and the L was the Light of Men: And the Lig fhines in Darkness, and the Darkn comprehended it not.

Refp. This, O my Soul! Is he, who tho he were pleased to become Man for was yet, in his glorious Self, the only beg

ten Son of God, confubftantial and coomnipotent with his Eternal Father. * O great and admirable Mystery! Thus bumby I adore thee: Be thou the chief Foundation of my Faith for ever. This is he, who, though he vouchfafed even to die for us Sinners, was no less then the only beloved Son of the living God, of equal Glory, and co-eterhal Majefty with his Father. *0 great 5

Leffon 3.

There was a Man fent from God, whofe Name was John, he came for a Witness to give Teftimony of the Light, that all Men through him might believe. He was not the Light, but to bear Witnefs of the Light: It was the true Light which inlightens every Man that comes into the World. He was in the World, and the World was made by him, and the World knew him not. He came to his own, and his own received him not: But as ma ny as received him, to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God, to them that believe on his Name. Who are born not of Blood, nor of the Will of the Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God. And the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt

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among us, (and we beheld his Glor Glory as it were of the Only-begotten the Father) full of Grace and Truth.

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Refp. This, O my Soul! Is be, who, thou in his glorious Self the Only-begotten S of God, confubftantial and co-omnipote with bis Eternal Father, yet was pleaf to become Man for us. O sweet as admirable Charity! Thus thankfully I dore thee: Be thou the chief Foundati of my Hope for ever. This is he, who thou no less than the only beloved Son of the ving God, of equal Glory, and co-etern Majefty with his Father, yet vouchfafed die for us Sinners. *0 sweet

Lesson 4.

There was in the Days of Herod Kin of Judea a certain Priest named Zachar of the Courfe of Abia: And his Wife wa of the Daughters of Aron, and her Nam Elizabeth; and they were both just b fore God, walking in all the Command ments and Juftifications of our Lo without blame; and they had no Child Becaufe Elizabeth was barren; and the both were well ftriken in Years. And came to pafs, while he executed the Prief ly Function before God, in the order

his Courfe, according to the Cuftom of the Priefts Office, he went forth by Lot to offer Incenfe, entering into the Temple of our Lord. And all the Multitude of the People praying without, at the Hour of Incense.

Refp. 'Tis not, O Lord! The leaft of thy Mercies to make us happy in our Parents and Kindred, whofe Quality may enable them to improve our Education, and their Credit ingage us to follow their Example. O make us blefs thy wife and gracious Providence, which fitly difpofes to every one his proper Part. Teach us to be fatisfied in whatever Condition, and faithfully attend to our particular Duties ; whether we be honoured to approach thy Atars, or bumbled to stand below at a Distance: O make

Lesson 5.

And there appeared to him an Angel of our Lord, ftanding on the right Side of the Altar of Incenfe. And Zachary feeing him was troubled, and Fear fell upon him. But the Angel faid to him, fear not Zachary, for thy Prayer is heard, and thy Wife Elizabeth fhall bear thee a Son; and thou fhalt call his Name John: And thou B 3

fhalt

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