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Jesus is 'the faithful and true Witness, as John calls Him, not without reminiscences of this passage, just because He is 'the First-begotten of the dead. As here He told Pilate that He was a 'king, because a 'witness, so John, in the passage referred to, bases His being 'Prince of the kings of the earth' on the same fact.
The winged Sun-disc appears over the former and the Crescent moon over the latter. Just as in modern Christianity we make a distinction without alleging much difference between the Father and the Son, even so in ancient times a distinction of a similarly vague kind was made between the All-Father Fire and His Image and First-begotten Son Light.
For to which of the angels ever said he, "My Son art thou, I have to-day begotten thee ?" And again, "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son ?" And again, when he introduces the first-begotten into the world, he saith, "Let all the angels of God also worship him ." And concerning the angels indeed he thus speaks: "Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministering servants a flame of fire ." But to the Son, "Thy throne, O God, is unto eternity; a sceptre of rectitude is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
For we know, that a first-begotten doth imply more sons, and that first-fruits do foreshew an after-crop; wherefore we conclude, that "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Fifth, There must be a resurrection of the body of the saints, because the body, as well as the mind, hath been a deep sharer in the afflictions that we meet with for the gospel's sake.
There is a famous instance of Christ "He is the first-begotten from the dead, he is the first-born from the dead;" unto which our regeneration alludeth, that is, if you be born again by seeking those things that are above, then there is a similitude betwixt Christ's resurrection and the new birth; which were born, which were restored out of this dark world, and translated out of the kingdom of this dark world into the kingdom of his dear Son, and made us live a new life; this is to be born again; and he that is delivered from the mother's womb, it is the help of the mother; so he that is born of God, it is by the Spirit of God.
Our Lady, in robe of red and veil of shadowed purple, is instinct with light despite the sombre colouring, as she stretches out hungering, awe-struck hands for her soul's delight. St Joseph, dignified guardian and servitor, stands behind, holding the Sacrifice of the Poor to redeem the First-begotten.
But we know that to those who love God all things work together for good, even to those who are called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, he predestinated also to a conformity with the image of his Son, that he might be the first-begotten among many brethren.
"Jesus Christ the faithful witness and the first-begotten of the dead and the Prince of the kings of the earth." In connexion with this, we will introduce 1 Cor. xv. 20. "But now is Christ risen from the dead and become first-fruits of them that slept." This also has reference to rank and not to first in the order of time.
"Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, and the first-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
This was accomplished by the exertions of naoi naoinear ciad ginealach mac the nine nines of first-begotten sons. From the neid-fire produced on the knoll the people of the parish obtained fire for their dwellings. Many cults and ceremonies were observed on the occasion, cults and ceremonies in which Pagan and Christian beliefs intermingled.
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