We bless you that the Father now judges no man, but hath
the good pleasure of your will, to the praise of the glory of your grace. 2 Thessalonians 2:13. Romans 11:5. Ephesians 1:4, 5, 6.
Yours they were, and you gave them to Christ, and this is your will, that of all that you have given him he should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day. John 17:6. John 6:39.
2.3.1.3. For the appointing of the Redeemer, and Goa's gracious condescension to dealwith man upon new terms, recedingfrom the demands of the broken covenant of innocence.
We bless you that when sacrifice and offering you would not, and in it had no pleasure, that then the eternal Son of God said, Lo I come to do your will, O God, and a body have you prepared me:
And that as in the volume of the book it was written of him, he did delight to do your will, O God, yea, your law was within his heart.
Hebrews 10:5, 6, 7. Psalm 40:7, 8.
You have laid help upon one that is mighty, one chosen out of your people: You have found David your servant with your holy oil, you have anointed him, even with the oil ofgladness above his fellows, and didst promise that with him your hand should be established, and your arm should strengthen him, and that you would make him your first-born, higher than the kings of the earth. Psalm 89:19,
20. Psalm 45:7. Psalm 89:21, 27.
We bless you that the Father now judges no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son: That as he has life in himself, so he hath given to the Son to have life in himself, and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man: That the Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. And that the counsel ofpeace is between them both.
John 5:22, 26, 27. John 3:35. Zechariah 6:13.
That he is your servant whom you dost uphold, your elect in whom your soul delights: Your beloved Son in whom you are well pleased:
That you have given him for a covenant of the people, and that through him we are not under the law, but under grace. Isaiah 42:1.
Matthew 17:5. Isaiah 49:8. Romans 6:14.
That God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.
2.3.1.4. For the early andancient indications of this gracious design concerningfallen man.
We bless you, that as soon as ever man had sinned, it was graciously promised that the seed of the woman should break the serpent's head; and that in the Old Testament sacrifices Jesus Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
And that by faith the elders, though they received not the promise, yet obtained a good report, for they obtained witness that they were righteous. Hebrews 11:39, 2, 4.
We bless you for the promise made to Abraham, that in his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed, and to Jacob that the Shiloh should come, and to him should the gathering of the people be: And that the patriarchs rejoiced to see Christ's day, and they saw it and were glad. Genesis 12:3. Genesis 49:10. John 8:56.
2.3.1.5. For the many glorious instances of God's favor to the Old Testament church.
We adore that wisdom, power and goodness with which you brought the vine out of Egypt, didst cast out the heathen and plant it; you prepared room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. Psalm 80:8, 9.
And they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them, but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your countenance, because you hada favor to them.
Psalm 44.3. Psalm 136:10. & others.
We bless you that to the Jews were committed the oracles of God; that they had the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises: And that there did not fail one word of all your good promise, which you promised by the hand of Moses your servant. Romans 3:2.
Romans 9:4. 1 Kings 8:56.
We bless you for all that which you didst at sundry times and in divers manners speak in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, those holy men of God, who spoke as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost, and prophesied of the grace that should come unto us, testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow, and that not to themselves only, but to us they ministered those great things, things which the angels themselves desire to look into. Hebrews 1:1. 2 Peter 1:21. 1 Peter 1:10, 11, 12.
And especially we bless you that you have provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
2.3.1.6. For the wonderful and mysterious incarnation of the Son of God, and His coming into the world.
We bless you that when the fulness oftime had come, you didst send forth your Son made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4:4, 5.
That the eternal Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and there were those who saw his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness, that God was manifested in the flesh. John 1:14. 1 Timothy 3:16.
We bless you that to this end he was born, and for this cause he came into the world, that he might bear witness of the truth, and we believe and are sure, that he is that Christ, the Son of the living
God; that it is he that should come, and we are to look for no other.
John 18-37. John 6:69. Matthew 11:3.
We bless you that the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost; that he is come that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly, and that for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Luke 19:10. John 10:10. 1 John 3:8.
Lord, we receive it as a faithful saying, and well worthy of all acceptations, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, even the chief. 1 Timothy 1:15.
We bless you that forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took pare of the same: That he took not on him the nature of angels, but our nature, and was in all things made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people; and that he is not ashamed to call them brethren. Hebrews 2:14, 16, 17, 11.
And that the first begotten was brought into the world with a charge given to all the angels of God to worship him. Hebrews 1:6.
2.3.1.7. For God's gracious owningof Him in His undertaking, and in the carrying of it on.
We bless you that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and that you have committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
That you have yourself given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. That he was sanctified and sealed and sent into the world, and that the Father which sent him did not leave him alone, for he always did those things that pleased him. Isaiah 55-4. John 10:36. John 6:27. John 8:29.
Glory be to God in the highest, for in and through Jesus Christ there is on earth peace, and good-will towards men. Luke 2:14.
In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9.
We thank you for the power you have given him over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as were given him. John 17.2.
2.3.1.8. For His Holy life, His excellent doctrine, and the glorious miracles He wrought to confirm His doctrine.
We bless you for the assurance we have that he is a teacher come from God, since no man could do those miracles which he did, except God were with him. John 3:2.
That you have in these last days spoken unto us by your Son, whose doctrine was not his, but his that sent him, and he spoke as one having authority, and that we are encouraged to come and learn of him, because he is meek and lowly in heart, and in learning of him we shall find rest to our souls. Hebrews 1:2. John 7:16. Matthew 7
(v. 29). Matthew 11:29.
We bless you that he hath left us an example, that we should follow his steps, in that he did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, and when he was reviled, he reviled not again; and his meat and drink was to do the will of his Father; in that he was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. O that we may be armed with the same mind, and that as he was so we may be in this