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"There is more fullness in this season than any other"

From Lancelot Andrewes's Christmas sermon of 1623, on the text "That in the dispensations of the fulness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven and which are on earth even in Him", Ephesians 1:10.

But this I may, that the Christian world hath ever observed divers good congruities of this feast with this text ...

The text is of gathering, and that falls fit with the season, and giveth us great cause to admire the high wisdom of God in the dispensation of seasons; that now at this season, when we gather nothing, when nothing grows to be gathered, there should be a gathering yet and a great one; no, the greatest gathering that ever was or will be; and so by that means, the poorest and emptiest season in nature become the fullest and richest in grace. 

Now we do ourselves in effect express as much as this comes to. For we also make it a season of gathering together, of neighbourly meetings and invitations. Wherein we come together, and both ourselves have, and we make each other partakers of, what we have gathered all the year before.

In which sense also we may call it the season of dispensation; in that we then dispense the blessings God hath sent us, and that is in good house-keeping and hospitality.

And if you will, of fullness too. For the most part do then use to be better filled, and with better fare that are not so full again all the year beside. That one may truly say, there is more fullness in this season than any other. And so it is the season of fullness then; for the hungry are then filled with good things, then of all the season of the year.

Merry Christmas.

Comments

  1. Clint26 December 2018 at 04:24

    Merry Christmas, Brian. I cannot be grateful enough for the many blessings you bestow on us every day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. laudable Practice27 December 2018 at 16:57

      Clinton, many thanks for your kind comment. Merry Christmas!

      Brian.

      Delete

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