'He hath enlightened a great part of the World with his Glory': a Tillotson sermon for the Epiphany

Appropriate for these days after the Epiphany, an extract from a Christmastide sermon on John 1:14, preached by John Tillotson in 1680. Here Tillotson sets forth what the Epiphany collect describes as "the fruition of thy glorious Godhead":

we have hereby full assurance of a blessed Immortality in another Life, because in our Nature Death and all the Powers of Darkness were baffled and overcome. The Death of Christ, which could not have been without his Incarnation; and so likewise his Resurrection from the dead and his Ascension into Heaven, are sensible Demonstrations to all Mankind of a blessed Immortality after Death; which is the most powerful motive in the world to Obedience and a holy Life ...

The Holy men of old were transported with Joy at the obscure and confused apprehension and remote foresight of so great a Blessing, at so great a distance: It is said of Abraham the Father of the faithful, that he saw His Day afar off and was glad: How should we then be affected with Joy and Thankfulness, to whom the Son of God and B. Saviour of Men is actually come? He is come many ages ago, and hath enlightened a great part of the World with his Glory. Yea, He is come to us, who were in a manner separated from the rest of the World: To Us is this great Light come, who had so long sat in Darkness and the shadow of Death: And this mighty Salvation which He hath wrought for us is near to every one of us that is willing to lay hold of it, and to accept it upon those gracious terms and conditions upon which it is offer'd to us in his H. Gospel.

(The photograph is of Canterbury Cathedral. Tillotson was Dean of Canterbury 1672-91.)

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