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SERMON I

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.

JOHN ii. 11.

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory.

THE whole season of the year from Christmas Day until now is called Epi

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Q. What Festival does the Church celebrate this day?

A. The Epiphany, or the Manifestation (as the word signifies in the Greek) of our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

Q. What other signification has the word Epiphany ?

A. It signifies Christ's Appearance in the world, the Nativity of our Saviour, which among the ancients is commonly styled, the Appearance simply, or, the Appearing of God. And the Feast of the

B

phany, or Manifestation, because at it the Church celebrates and sets forth, for our meditation, the various ways in which

b

Nativity being celebrated twelve days, of which the first and the last, according to the custom of the Jews in their Feasts, were high or chief days of solemnity, each of these might fitly be called Epiphany in that sense, and not only referring to the star; though not excluding but containing it also, as a special circumstance belonging to the Nativity. Besides, the word has been further made use of to express the glorious Manifestation at our Saviour's Baptism, and His miraculous power at the marriage in Cana of Galilee by turning water into wine.-Nelson's Fasts and Festivals, chap. x. The Epiphany.

b Three of these are introduced into the special Services for the Feast of the Epiphany; viz. in the Second Lesson for the morning, the Manifestation of our Lord by the descent of the Holy Ghost and Voice from Heaven at His Baptism. In the Gospel, His Manifestation to the Gentiles, represented by the wise men from the East. In the Second Lesson for the evening, the Miracle of the change of water into wine at the marriage in Cana of Galilee. is worthy of remark, that this Miracle is thrice introduced into the special Services of our Church ; and that of the miraculous feeding of the five

It

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