Considerations For FRIDAY Why The Gospel Of DOOMBS-DAY Is Read Upon The First Sunday in Advent: A Plaine Path-way To Heaven Thomas Hill 1634

GOSPEL Luke 21. 25-33 

 At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men withering away for fear and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved; and then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand." And He spoke to them a similitude: "See the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh; so you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen I say to you, this generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."

 

Friday Meditation

Yet another comfort in this great danger. 

 If a man were come to a trial of judgement in case of life and death; and the pitiful judge should give him notice of all his adversaries accusations against him, what he were to be examined in, and how he might safely prepare himself to answer pertinently and safely would he not account this as an inestimable favor? would it not be a wonderful comfort unto him?

Why thus our blessed savior. our merciful judge dealeth with us.

When the son of man, (sayth he. Math. 25.v.31.l shall come in judgment, he will like a shepherd place his sheep on his fight hand, & the goats in the left; & say unto his sheep, come ye blessed of my Father, possess the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world: For I was hungry,and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was destitute of lodging , and you harbored me; I was naked, and you clothed me; sick and you visited me; in prison, & you came to comfort me.

Unto the goats he said he said the quite contrary.

Lo, here be the articles upon which we shall be examined at the day of judgement, before our judge; and of these doth he give us most graciously an advice before hand, that we may betimes provide our answers.

If any demand whether there be no greater interrogations then these to be laid against us: and why Christ Jesus giveth us such particular notice of these, more then of any other points: Let it suffice that of these we shall undoubtedly be examined; and that these well exercised for Christ his sake in true faith, humble hope, and hearty charity, will secure us at that day.

Let us then carefully exercise these holy works of mercy, and peculiarly at this time according to the laudable customs of our country in which Christmas is the poor-mans festivity; when Christ himself is considered to come unto us in form of a poor babe; wanting all worldly comforts: and be sure that if we help our poor distressed brethren that stand in need of our comfort, Christ, this blessed bade, will account it as done to himself, and keep it in his mind & in hi book for the last day according as he sayth in the place of Saint Mathew now mentioned, what you did for the least of my poor servants, that you did to me myself.