V THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, AND A DM [NI STRATI ON OK THE SACRAMENTS, AND OTHER RITES AND CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH, ACCORDING TO THE USE OF THE mntte* Qtimtb of lEttslantf an* Xrtlantt : TOGETHER WITH THE PSALTER, OR PSALMS OF DAVID. WITH NOTES AND ILLUMINATED PLATES. LONDON : P1UBLI SHED BY R. RYLEY & Co. 8, REGENT STREET, PALL MALL; SIMFKIN, MARSHALL, AND Co. WHITTAKER AND Co. AND FISHER, SON, AND Co. NEWGATE STREET, AND AT No. 20, QUAI DE L'ECOLE, PARIS. M.DCCCXXXVIII. LlCVVIS AND Co., Printbrs, 15, Frith-street, Soho. THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK. THE Preface - - - - - iv. Concerning the Service of the Church - - - vii. i — i Ceremonies, why some be abolished and some retained - ix. The Order how the Psalter is appointed to be read - - xii. rest of the holy Scripture is appointed to be read - - - - - - ib. A Table of Proper Lessons > xiv. 1 Psalms - - - - xv. The Calendar, with the Table of Lessons - - - xvi. Tables and Rules for the Feasts and Fasts through the whole Year - - - - - xxviii. The Order for Morning Prayer - - - - 1 Evening Prayer - - - - 16 The Creed of Saint A thanasius - - - - 26 The Litany - - - - - - 29 Prayers upon several occasions - - 36 Thanksgivings upon several occasions - - - 41 The Collects, Epistles, and Gospels, to be used at the Ministration of the holy Communion, throughout the Year - 44 The Order of Ministration of the holy Communion - - 211 . Public Baptism of Infants - 228 Private Baptism of Infants - - 233 Baptism for those of Riper Years - - 237 The Catechism - - - - - 242 The Order of Confirmation - - - - - 246 The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony - - 248 The Order for the Visitation of the Sick - 253 Communion of the Sick - - 259 Burial of the Dead - - - 261 The Thanksgiving of Women after Child-birth - - - 265 A Commination, or denouncing of God's judgments against sinners 267 The Psalter, or Psalms of David - - - - 272 Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea - - - 453 The Form for the Ordaining of Deacons - - 462 Priests - - - 470 Consecration of Bishops - - - 478 A Form of Prayer for the Fifth Day of November - - 485 Thirtieth Day of January - - 490 ■ Twenty-ninth Day of May - 497 — Twentieth Day of June - - 502 Articles of Religion - 507 A Table of the Articles - - - - - 519 • — ~ of Kindred and Affinity - - - - 520 a 2 THE PREFACE. It hath been the wisdom of the Church of England, ever since the first compiling of her public Liturgy, to keep the mean between the two extremes, of too much stiffness in refusing, and of too much easiness in admitting, any variation from it. For, as, on the one side, common expe- rience showeth, that where a change hath been made of things advisedly established (no evident necessity so requiring) sundry inconveniences have thereupon ensued; and those many times more and greater than the evils that were intended to be remedied by such change; so, on the other side, the particular forms of divine worship, and the rites and ceremonies appointed to be used therein, being things in their own nature indifferent, and alterable, and so acknowledged, it is but reasonable, that upon weighty and important considerations, according to the various exigency of times and occasions, such changes and alterations should be made therein, as to those that are in place of Authority should, from time to time, seem either necessary or expedient. Accordingly we find, that in the reigns of several princes of blessed memory since the Reformation, the Church, upon just and weighty considerations her thereunto moving, hath yielded to make such alterations in some particulars, as, in their respective times, were thought convenient; yet so, as that the main body and essentials of it (as well in the chiefest materials, as in the frame and order thereof) have still continued the same unto this day, and do yet stand firm and unshaken, notwithstanding all the vain attempts and impetuous assaults made against it, by such men as are given to change, and have always discovered a greater regard to their own private fancies and interests, than to that duty they owe to the public. By what undue means, and for what mischievous purposes, the use of the Liturgy (though enjoined by the laws of the land, and those laws never yet repealed) came, during the late unhappy confusions, to be dis- continued, is too well known to the world, and we are not willing here to remember. But when, upon His Majesty's happy Restoration, it seemed probable, that, amongst other things, the use of the Liturgy would also return of course (the same having never been legally abolished) unless THE PREFACE. V some timely means were used to prevent it; those men, who, under the late usurped powers, had made it a great part of their business to render the people disaffected thereunto, saw themselves in point of reputation and interest concerned (unless they would freely acknowledge themselves to have erred, which such men are very hardly brought to do) with their utmost endeavours to hinder the restitution thereof. In order whereunto, divers pamphlets were published against the Book of Common Prayer, the old objections mustered up, with the addition of some new ones, more than formerly had been made, to make the number swell. In fine, great importunities were used to His Sacred Majesty, that the said Book might be revised, and such alterations therein, and additions thereunto, made, as should be thought requisite for the ease of tender consciences: whereunto His Majesty, out of his pious inclination to give satisfaction (so far as could be reasonably expected) to all his subjects, of what] persuasion soever, did graciously condescend. In which review we have endeavoured to observe the like moderation, as we find to have been used in the like case in former times. And, there- fore, of the sundry alterations proposed unto us, we have rejected all such as were either of dangerous consequence (as secretly striking at some established doctrine, or laudable practice, of the Church of England, or indeed of the whole Catholic Church of Christ) or else of no conse- quence at all, but utterly frivolous and vain. But such alterations as were tendered to us (by what persons, under what pretences, or to what purpose, soever tendered) as seemed to us in any degree requisite or expedient, we have willingly, and of our own accord, assented unto : not enforced so to do by any strength of argument, convincing us of the necessity of making the said alterations: For we are fully persuaded in our judgments (and we here profess it to the world) that the Book, as it stood before established by law, doth not contain in it any thing contrary to the word of God, or to sound doctrine, or which a godly man may not, with a good conscience, use and submit unto; or which is not fairly defensible against any that shall oppose the same, if it shall be allowed such just and favorable construction as, in common equity, ought to be allowed to all human writings, especially such as are set forth by authority ; and even to the very best translations of the holy Scripture itself. -Our general aim, therefore, in this undertaking was, not to gratify this vi THE PREFACE. or that party, in any their unreasonable demands; but to do that, which, to our best understandings, we conceived might most tend to the pre- servation of peace and unity in the Church; the procuring of reverence, and exciting of piety and devotion in the public worship of God; and the cutting off occasion, from them that seek occasion, of cavil or quarrel against the Liturgy of the Church. And, as to the several variations from the former Book, whether by alteration, addition, or otherwise, it shall suffice to give this general account ; that most of the alterations were made, either, first, for the better direction of them that are to officiate in any part of Divine service; which is chiefly done in the Calendars and Rubrics : or, secondly, for the more proper expressing of some words or phrases of ancient usage, in terms more suitable to the language of the present times; and the clearer explanation of some other words and phrases, that were either of doubtful signification, or otherwise liable to misconstruction : or, thirdly, for a more perfect rendering of such por- tions of holy Scripture, as are inserted into the Liturgy; which, in the Epistles and Gospels especially, and in sundry other places, are now ordered to be read according to the last Translation: and that it was thought convenient, that some Prayers and Thanksgivings, fitted to special occasions, should be added in their due places; particularly for those at Sea; together with an Office for the Baptism of such as are of Riper Years: which, although not so necessary when the former Book was compiled, yet, by the growth of Anabaptism, through the licentious- ness of the late times crept in amongst us, is now become necessary, and may be always useful for the baptizing of natives in our plantations, and others converted to the Faith. If any man, who shall desire a more particular account of the several alterations in any part of the Liturgy, shall take the pains to compare the present Book with the former, we doubt not but the reason of the change may easily appear. And having thus endeavoured to discharge our duties in this weighty affair, as in the sight of God, and to approve our sincerity therein (so far as lay in us) to the consciences of all men ; although we know it impos- sible (in such variety of apprehensions, humours, and interests, as are in the world) to please all; nor can expect that men of factious, peevish, and perverse spirits should be satisfied with any thing that can be done in this kind by any other than themselves, yet we have good hope, that what is here presented, and hath been by the Convocations of both Provinces with great diligence examined and approved, will be, also, well CONCERNING THE SERVICE OF THE CHURCH. VII accepted and approved by all sober, peaceable, and truly conscientious, sons of the Church of England. Concerning the Service of the Church. There was never any thing by the wit of man so well devised, or so sure established, which, in continuance of time, hath not been cor- rupted : as, among other things, it may plainly appear by the Common Prayers in the Church, commonly called Divine Service. The first original and ground whereof, if a man would search out by the ancient Fathers, he shall find, that the same was not ordained but of a good purpose, and for a great advancement of godliness. For they so ordered the matter, that all the whole Bible (or the greatest part thereof) should be read over once every year; intending thereby, that the Clergy, and especially such as were Ministers in the congregation, should (by often reading, and meditation in God's word) be stirred up to godliness them- selves, and be more able to exhort others by wholesome doctrine, and to confute them that were adversaries to the truth; and further, that the people (by daily hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church) might continually profit more and more in the knowledge of God, and be the more inflamed with the love of his true religion. But these many years passed, this godly and decent order of the ancient Fathers hath been so altered, broken, and neglected, by planting in uncertain stories and legends, with multitude of responds, verses, vain repetitions, commemorations, and synodals, that, commonly, when any book of the Bible was begun, after three or four chapters were read out, all the rest were unread. And, in this sort, the book of Isaiah was begun in Advent, and the book of Genesis in Septuagesima ; but they were only begun, and never read through: after like sort were other books of holy Scripture used. And moreover, whereas St. Paul would have such language spoken to the people in the Church as they might understand, and have profit by hearing the same; the service in this Church of England these many years hath been read in Latin to the people, which they understand not; so that they have heard with their ears only, and their heart, spirit, and mind, have not been edified thereby. And furthermore, notwithstanding that the ancient Fathers have divided the Psalms into seven portions, whereof every one was viii CONCERNING THE SERVICE OF THE CHURCH. called a Nocturn, now, of late time, a few of them have been daily said, and the rest utterly omitted. Moreover, the number and hardness of the rules called the Pie, and the manifold changings of the service, was the cause, that, to turn the book only, was so hard and intricate a matter, that many times there was more business to find out what should be read, than to read it when it was found out. These inconveniences therefore considered, here is set forth such an order, whereby the same shall be redressed. And for a readiness in this matter, here is drawn out a Calendar for that purpose, which is plain and easy to be understood ; wherein (so much as may be) the reading of holy Scripture is so set forth, that all things shall be done in order, without breaking one piece from another. For this cause be cut off anthems, responds, invitatories, and such like things as did break the continual course of the reading of the Scripture. Yet, because there is no remedy, but that of necessity there must be some rules, therefore certain rules are here set forth ; which, as they are few in number, so they are plain and easy to be understood. So that here you have an order for prayer, and for the reading of the holy Scrip- ture, much agreeable to the mind and purpose of the old Fathers, and a great deal more profitable and commodious than that which of late was used. It is more profitable, because here are left out many things whereof some are untrue, some uncertain, some vain and superstitious ; and nothing is ordained to be read, but the very pure word of God, the holy Scriptures, or that which is agreeable to the same; and that in such a language and order as is most easy and plain for the understanding both of the readers and hearers. It is also more commodious, both for the shortness thereof, and for the plainness of the order, and for that the rules be few and easy. And whereas, heretofore, there hath been great diversity in saying and singing in Churches within this Realm: some following Salisbury use, some Hereford use, and some the use of Bangor, some of York, some of Lincoln; now, from henceforth, all the whole Realm shall have but one use.* * This explains the title of the book. It is the " Book of Common Prayer," or " Prayer Common to the whole Realm." Very different explanations are to be met with, but they are obviously mistaken. OF CEREMONIES. ix And forasmuch as nothing can be so plainly set forth, but doubt may arise in the use and practice of the same; to appease all such diversity (if any arise) and for the resolution of all doubts, concerning the manner how to understand, do, and execute, the things contained in this Book, the parties that so doubt, or diversly take any thing, shall alway resort to the Bishop of the Diocese; who, by his discretion, shall take order foi the quieting and appeasing of the same; so that the same order be not contrary to any thing contained in this Book. And if the Bishop of the Diocese be in doubt, then he may send for the resolution thereof to the Archbishop. Though it be appointed, that all things shall be read and sung in the Church in the English Tongue, to the end that the congregation may be thereby edified, yet it is not meant, but that when men say Morning and Evening Prayer privately, they may say the same in any language that they themselves do understand. And all Priests and Deacons are to say daily the Morning and Evening Prayer either privately or openly, not being let by sickness, or some other urgent cause. And the Curate that ministereth in every Parish-church or Chapel, being at home, and not being otherwise reasonably hindered, shall say the same in the Parish-church or Chapel where he ministereth, and shall cause a bell to be tolled thereunto a convenient time before he begin, that the people may come to hear God's word, and to pray with him. Of CEREMONIES, why some be abolished, and some retained. Of such Ceremonies as be used in the Church, and have had their beginning by the institution of man, some, at the first, were of godly intent and purpose devised, and yet, at length, turned to vanity and superstition: some entered into the Church by undiscreet devotion, and such a zeal as was without knowledge ; and for because they were winked at in the beginning, they grew daily to more and more abuses, which not B X OF CEREMONIES. only for their unprofitableness, but, also, because .they have much blinded the people, and obscured the glory of God, are worthy to be cut away, and clean rejected: other there be, which, although they have been devised by man, yet it is thought good to reserve them still, as well for a decent order in the Church, (for the which they were first devised) as because they pertain to edification, whereunto all things done in the Church (as the Apostle teacheth) ought to be referred. And although the keeping or omitting of a ceremony, in itself consi- dered, is but a small thing, yet the wilful and contemptuous transgres- sion and breaking of a common order and discipline, is no small offence before God. " Let all things be done among you," saith St. Paul, " in a seemly and due order :" the appointment of the which order pertaineth not to private men ; therefore, no man ought to take in hand, nor pre- sume to appoint or alter, any public or common order in Christ's Church, except he be lawfully called and authorized thereunto. And whereas in this our time, the minds of men are so diverse, that some think it a great matter of conscience to depart from a piece of the least of their ceremonies, they be so addicted to their old customs; and again, on the other side, some be so new-fangled, that they would inno- vate all things, and so despise the old, that nothing can like them, but that is new; it was thought expedient, not so much to have respect how to please and satisfy either of these parties, as how to please God, and profit them both. And yet, lest any man should be offended whom good reason might satisfy, here be certain causes rendered, why some of the accustomed ceremonies be put away, and some retained and kept still. Some are put away, because the great excess and multitude of them hath so increased in these latter days, that the burden of them was into- lerable ; whereof St. Augustine in his time complained, that they were grown to such a number, that the estate of Christian people was in worse case concerning that matter, than were the Jews. And he counselled that such yoke and burden should be taken away, as time would serve quietly to do it. But what would St. Augustine have said, if he had seen the ceremonies of late days used among us; whereunto the multitude used in his time was not to be compared? This our excessive multitude of ceremonies was so great, and many of them so dark, that they did more confound and darken, than declare and set forth, Christ's benefits unto us. OF CEREMONIES. xi And besides this, Christ's Gospel is not a ceremonial law (as much of Moses' law was) but it is a religion to serve God, not in bondage of the figure or shadow, but in the freedom of the spirit; being content only with those ceremonies which do serve to a decent order and godly disci- pline, and such as be apt to stir up the dull mind of man to the remem- brance of his duty to God, by some notable and special signification, whereby he might be edified. Furthermore, the most weighty cause of the abolishment of certain ceremonies was, that they were so far abused, partly by the superstitious blindness of the rude and unlearned, and partly by the unsatiable avarice of such as sought more their own lucre, than the glory of God, that the abuses could not well be taken away, the thing remaining still. But now as concerning those persons, which, peradventure, will be offended, for that some of the old ceremonies are retained still, if they consider that without some ceremonies it is not possible to keep any order or quiet discipline in the Church, they shall easily perceive just cause to reform their judgments. And if they think much, that any of the old do remain, and would rather have all devised anew, then such men granting some ceremonies convenient to be had, surely where the old may be well used, there they cannot reasonably reprove the old only for their age, without bewraying of their own folly. For, in such a case, they ought rather to have reverence unto them for their antiquity, if they will declare themselves to be more studious of unity and concord, than of innovations and new-fangleness, which (as much as may be with true setting forth of Christ's religion) is always to be eschewed. Further- more, such shall have no just cause, with the ceremonies reserved, to be offended. For, as those be taken away which were most abused, and did burden men's consciences without any cause; so the other that remain, are retained for a discipline and order, which (upon just causes) may be altered and changed, and, therefore, are not to be esteemed equal with God's law. And moreover, they be neither dark nor dumb ceremonies; but are so set forth, that every man may understand what they do mean, and to what use they do serve. So that it is not like that they, in time to come, should be abused as other have been. And in these our doings we condemn no other nations, nor prescribe any thing but to our own people only: for we think it convenient that every country should use such ceremonies as they shall think best to the setting forth of God's honour and glory, and to the reducing of the people to a most perfect xii THE ORDER HOW THE PSALTER AND HOLY and godly living, without error or superstition; and that they should put away other things, which, from time to time, they perceive to be most abused, as in men's ordinances it often chanceth diversly in divers countries.* The Order how the Psalter is appointed to be read. The Psalter shall be read through once every month, as it is there appointed, both for Morning and Evening Prayer. But in February it shall be read only to the twenty-eighth, or twenty-ninth day of the month. And, whereas January, March, May, July, August, October, and December have one-and-thirty days apiece; It is ordered, that the same Psalms shall be read the last day of the said months, which were read the day before: so that the Psalter may begin again the first day of the next month ensuing. And, whereas the 1 19th Psalm is divided into twenty-two portions, and is over-long to be read at one time; It is so ordered, that at one time shall not be read above four or five of the said portions. And at the end of every Psalm, and of every such part of the 119th Psalm, shall be repeated this Hymn, * A perusal of the whole of the preceding pages at all times will repay the labour of such as are not yet acquainted with their contents, almost by heart. They aflbrd so many desirable explanations, there is such a sweetness of temper, and even so much sweetness of style, in the matter and the manner of their composition ; coming from the pen of authority, they yet breathe so great a moderation of sentiment; obliged to select and frame a single standard for the ordinances of public worship, they yet so freely abandon the defence of all unimportant particularities ; they are so tender of the con- sciences of such as differ upon these particularities ; there is such an absence of all stickling, all bigotry, all sectarian pertinacity and intolerance ; that few productions of the kind could be more hopefully appealed to by churchmen, whether to retain within the fold the congregations of the Establishment, or to bring back to it the discon- tented with its Liturgy; that Liturgy to the general beauty and general merits, of the highest cbiss, of which it is one of the strongest testimonials, That even those who reject its use, in the mode prescribed by law, and might seem to dispense with all employment of its formulas, are found constantly repeating from memory, and incorpo- rating into their own forms of devotion, the more prominent parts of all its seutiment and language. SCRIPTURE ARE APPOINTED TO BE READ. xiii Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Note, that the Psalter followeth trie division of the Hebrews, and the translation of the great English Bible, set forth and used in the time of King Henry the Eighth, and Edward the Sixth. The Order how the rest of holy Scripture is appointed to be read. The Old Testament is appointed for the first Lessons at Morning and Evening Prayer; so as the most part thereof will be read every year once, as in the Calendar is appointed. The New Testament is appointed for the second Lessons at Morning and Evening Prayer, and shall be read over, orderly, every year thrice, besides the Epistles and Gospels ; except the Apocalypse, out of which there are only certain Proper Lessons appointed upon divers Feasts. And to know what Lessons shall be read every day, look for the day of the month in the Calendar following, and there ye shall find the chapters that shall be read for the Lessons both at Morning and Evening Prayer; except only the Movable Feasts, which are not in the Calendar, and the Immovable, where there is a blank left in the column of Lessons ; the Proper Lessons for all which days are to be found in the Table of Proper Lessons. And note, that whensoever Proper Psalms or Lessons are appointed ; then the Psalms and Lessons of ordinary course appointed in the Psalter and Calendar (if they be different) shall be omitted for that time. Note also, that the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, appointed for the Sunday, shall serve all the week after, where it is not in this Book other- wise ordered. xiv PROPER LESSONS To be read at Morning and Evening Prayer, on the Sundays and other Holy- days throughout the Year. Lessons proper for Sundays. Sundays of Advent. 1 2- 3- 4- Sundays after Christmas. 1 2 Sundays after the Epiphany. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sepfuagesima. Sexagesima. Quinquagesima, Sundays in Lent. 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Easter Bay. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Sundays after Easter. 1 2 3 Mattins. Isaiah 1 5 25 30 Isaiah 37 41 fsaiah Genesis 44 51 55 57 59 65 1 3 —9 to v. 20 — 19tow.30 27 39 ■ 43 Exodus 3 . 9 Matth. 26 Exodus 12 Romans 6 Numb. 16 — 23, 24 Deuter- 4 Evensong. Isaiah Isaiah Isaiah Genesis Exodus 2 24 26 32 38 43 46 53 56 58 64 66 2 6 12 22 34 42 45 5 10 Heb. 5 to v. (11 Exodus 14 Acts 2 v. 22 Numb. 22 25 Deuter. 5 Sundays after Easter. 4 5 Sunday after Ascension- Day, Whit-Sunday. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Trinity. Sunday, 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Sundays after Trinity. 1 2 3 4 5 6 (v. 18 Deut. 16 to Acts 10 v. (34 Genesis 1 Matth. 3 Joshua Judges 1 Sam. 7- 8- 9- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 15- 16- 17- 18- 19- 20- 21- 22- 23- 24- 25- 26- Mattins. Deuter. 6 8 12 Evensong. Deuter. 7 9 13 Isaiah 1 1 Acts 19 to (v. 21 2 Sam. 1 Kings 2 Kings Jerem. Ezekiel Daniel Joel Habak. Prov. 10 4 2 12 15 12 21 13 18 21 5 10 19 5 35 2 14 20 3 2 2 2 11 13 15 17 Genesis 1 John Joshua J udges I Sam. 2 Sam. 1 Kings 2 Kings Jerem. Ezekiel Daniel Micah Prov. 18 5 23 5 3 13 17 19 24 17 19 22 9 18 23 22 36 13 18 24 6 6 1 3 12 14 16 19 Lessons proper for Holy-days. S. Andrew. S. Thomas the Apostle. Nativity of Christ. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Mattins. Prov. 20 23 (8 Isai. 9 to v. Luke 2 to (y.\5 Evensong. Prov. 21 . 24 (to v. 17 Isai. 7 v. 10 Titus 3t.4 (to v. 9 S. Stephen. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. S. John. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Innoc. Day. Mattins. Prov. 28 Acts 6 v. 8 (& ch. 7 to (v. 30 Eccles. 5 Revel. 1 Evensong. Eccles. 4 Acts 7 v. 30 (to v. 55 Eccles. 6 Revel. 22 Jer. 31 to v. Wisdom (If 1 XV Lessons proper for Holy-days. Circumcision. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Epiphany. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Conversion of S. Paid. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Purific. of the Virgin Mary. S. Matthias. Annunciation of our Lady. Wednesday be- fore Easter. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Thursday before Easter. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Good Friday. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Easter-Even. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Monday in Easter- W eek. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Tuesday in Easter- Week. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. S. Mark. Mattins. Genesis 17 itomans 2 [saiah 60 Luke 3 tow. (23 Wisdom 5 Acts 22 tow. (22 Wisdom 9 19 Ecclus. 2 Hosea 13 John 11 v. (45 Daniel 9 John 13 (20 Gen. 22 tov. John 18 Zechariah 9 Luke 23 v. (50 Exodus 16 Matth. 28 Exodus 2C Luke 24 tc (w. 13 Ecclus. 4 Evensong. 1 (12 Deut. 10 w. ^oloss. 2 [saiah 49 John 2 to v. (12 Wisdom 6 Acts 26 Wisdom 12 Ecclus. 1 3 Hosea 14 Jerem. 31 Isaiah 53 1 Peter 2 Exodus 13 Hebrews 4 Exodus 17 Acts 3 Exodus 32 1 Cor. 15 Ecclus. 5 S. Philip and S. James. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Ascension-day. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Monday in fVhitsun fVeek. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Tuesday in Whitsun- f-V eek. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. S. Barnabas. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. S. John Baptist. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. S. Peter. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. S. James. S. Barthol. S. Matthew. S. Michael. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. S. Luke. S. Simon and S. Jude. All Saints. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Mattins. 5cclus. 7 rohnl w.43 Deut. 10 Luke 24 v. (44 (10 Gen. 11 tow. 1 Cor. 12 (18 1 Sam. 19 w. 1 Thess.5 v. (12 tow. 24 Ecclus. 10 Acts 14 Malachi 3 Matthew 3 Ecclus. 15 Acts 3 Ecclus. 21 24 35 Genesis 32 Acts 12 to w. (20 Ecclus. 51 Job 24, 25 (w. 10 Wisd. 3 tc Hebr. 11 v (33 fych. li (to v. 1 Evensong. Scclus. 9 2 Kings 7 Eph. 4 to v. (17 (16tow.30 Num. 11 w. 1 Cor. 14 to (v. 26 Deut. 30 1 John 4 to (w.14 Ecclus. 12 Acts 15 tow. (36 Malachi 4 Matth. 14 to (w. 13 Ecclus. 19 Acts 4 Ecclus. 22 29 38 Dan. 10 w. 5 Jude w. 6 to (w.16 Job 1 42 (v. 17 Wisd. 5 to Rev. 19 to (i*15 Proper Psalms on certain Days. Christmas Day. Mattins. 19, 45, 85 Evensong. 89,110, 132 Easter Day. Mattins. 2, 57, 111 Evensong. 113,114,118 Ash Wednesday 6, 32, 38 102,130,143 Ascension- Day 8, 15, 21 24, 47, 108 Good Friday. 22, 40, 54 j 69, 88 Whit-Sunday. 48, 68 104, 145 THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. JANUARY hath XXXI. DAYS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A b c d e f g A b c d e f g A b c d e f' g A b c d e f g A b Circumcision. MORNING PRAYER. 1 Lesson, Epiphany. Lucian, P. & M. Hilary, B. & C. Gen. Prisca, V. & M. Fabian, B. & M Agnes, V. & M. Vincent, M. Conversion of S, [Paul, King Charles, (Mart, - 9 -13 -15 -17 -19 -21 -23 -25 -27 -29 -31 -33 -35 -38 -40 -42 -44 46 2 Lesson. Matth. 1 2 3 4 EVENING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. Gen. Exod. -48 -50 2 - 4 -t6 - 8 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 -17 -18 -19 -20 -21 -22 -23 -. 24 Exod 25 26 — —27 -28 2 Lesson. 2 Rom. 1 2 3 4 8 -12 -14 -16 -18 -20 -22 -24 -26 -28 -30 -32 -34 -37 -39 -41 -43 45 -47 49 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9 1 Cor. 5 6 7 8 9 — 10 — 11 12 — 13 — 14 — 15 — 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 — 8 — 9 —10 — 11 — 12 Note, that t Exodus 6, is to be read only to ver. 14. THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. FEBRUARY hath XXVIII. DAYS, And in every Leap- Year XXIX. Days. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 e f g A b c d e f g A b c d e f g A b c d e f g A b Fast. Purific. V. M. Blasius, Bp. & (Mart. Agatha, Virg. & (Mart. Valentine, Bp. & (Mart MORNING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. Exod. 10 -12 -14 -16 -18 -20 -22 -24 -33 Levit. 18 20 Fast. S. Matthias, A. Deut. 2 Lesson. Mark Num. 11 13 16 20 22 24 27 -31 -35 1 - 3 1 ■ 2 - 3 ■ 4 ■ 5 ■ 6 ■ 7 ■ 8 - 9 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 Lu.Uo39 — 1 v. 39 — 2 — 3 — 4 — 5 — 6 I Lesson. Exod. 11 LeVit. Num. - 5 - 7 - 9 -11 -13 8 9 — 10 11 Matth. 7 EVENING PRAYER. Deut. -13 -15 -17 -19 -21 -23 -32 -34 19 -26 12 -14 -17 -21 -23 -25 -30 -32 -36 2 - 4 2 Cor. • 6 - 8 -10 •12 -14 2 Lesson. 1 Cor. Galat. Ephes. Rom. 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■ 7 ■ 8 • 9 10 11 ■12 ■13 1 ■ 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 1 2 3 4 5 12 29]— There is a 29th day of February only once in four years. THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. MARCH hath XXXI. DAYS. MORNING PRAYER. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 1421 3 22 23 1124 25 1926 8 27 28 1629 530 31 e f g A b c d e f g A b c d e f g A b c d e f g A b c d e f David , Archb Chad, Bp. of L Perpetua, M. Gregory, M Ed. K.W. Sax Benedict, Ab Fast. A nrmrtciation (of V. Mary. 1 Lesson. Deut. 15 Luke 12Deut. 16 17 19 21 24 26 28 30 32 « 34 Joshua 2 4 6 8Joh 10 24 Judges 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Ruth 18 20 1 3 1 Sam. 1 3 2 Lesson. —13 —14 —15 — 16 —17 —18 —19 —20 —21 —22 —23 —24 in 1 - 2 EVENING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. 29 31 33 Joshua 1 3 5 7 9 23 Ephes. 6 18 Philip. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 Thess. 1 o -20 22 -25 -27 Coloss. 3 Jud - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 -10 -11 -12 13 -14 -15 Ruth. -16 •17 -18 ges 1 3 — 5 7 — 9 — 11 — 13 — 15 17 -19 -21 9 1 Sam. 2 Hebi 2 Lesson. 3 4 5 2 Thess. 1 3 1 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 1 1 Tim. 2, 2 Ti lm. Titus 2,3 4 Philem. 1 2 S3» The Numbers here prefixed to the several Days, between the Twenty-first Day of March and the Eighteenth Day of April, both inclusive, denote the Days upon which those Full Moons do fall, which happen upon, or next after, the Twenty-first Day of March, in those Years, of which they are respectively the Golden Numbers ; and the THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. APRIL hath XXX. DAYS. lo 1 g z CI 2 A A 3 b 10 A 4 c 5 j a 1 o lo 6 e 7 7 c I o g 1 c 15 9 A A 4 10 b 11 c 12 12 d 1 1 o 13 e 1 A 14 n i o y l ^ lo g if-; A 17 17 b a u 1 « lo c 19 cl 20 e 21 f 22 g 23 A 24 b 25 c 26 d 27 e 28 f 29 g 30 A Richard, Bp. S. Ambrose, B, Alph. Archb. S. George, M. S. Mark, Ev. MORNING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. 1 Sam. 5 John 7 9 2 Sam 22 24 1 Kings 2 4 6 2 Lesson. -11 Acts •13 ■15 -17 -19 -21 -23 -25 -27 -29 -31 2 - 4 - 6 - 8 -10 -12 -14 -16 -18 -20 19 -20 -21 1 - 2 - - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14 -15 ■ 16 -17 -18 -19 -20 -21 -22 -23 -24 -25 -26 -27 EVENING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. Sam. 6 Heb. 8 10 2 Sam -12 -14 -16 -18 -20 -22 -24 -26 -28 James -30 1 — : — 23 1 Kings 1 3 5 2 Lesson. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1 o 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 2, 3 John 1 Peter - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9 -1 1 -13 -15 -17 2 Peter •19 -21 1 John Sunday Letter next following any such Full Moon points out Easter-Day for that Year. All which holds until the Year of our Lord 1899 inclusive; after which Year the. Place of these Golden Numbers will be to be changed, as is hereafter expressed. ' * THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. MAY hath XXXI. DAYS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 b c d e f g A b c d e f g A b c d e f g A b c d e f g A b c d S. Philip and S, (James, Ap Invention of the (Cross S. John Ev. ante (Port. Lat Dunstan, A. B. Augustin, A. B. Ven. Bede, Pr. K. Charles II. (Nat. & R. MORNING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. 1 Kings 8 Acts 10 Matth -12 -14 -16 -]8 -20 -22 2 Kings 2 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 1 4 6 Ezra Neh. 9 2 5 8 10 Esther 1 2 Lesson. 28 1 • 2 • 3 - 4 - 5 ■ 6 - 7 ■ 8 ■ 9 ■10 ■ 11 ■12 ■ 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 3 Mark 1 EVENING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. Jude 1 Kings 9 Rom. 11 13 15 17 19 21 2 Kings 1 3 ■ 5 ■ 7 ■ 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 3 ■ 5 ■ 7 1 ■ 4 6 9 13 28 Esther 2 ■ 4 -20 Ezra -21 -22 -23 Neh. -24 -25 •26 -27 2 Lesson. 1 Cor. 1 - 2 - 3 ■ 4 . 5 - 6 - 7 ■ 8 ■ 9 ■10 •11 -12 •13 14 ■15 ■16 1 - 2 . 3 ■ 4 ■ 5 - 6 • 7 ■ 8 ■ 9 ■10 ■11 ■12 ■13 ■14 * THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. JUNE hath XXX. DAYS. 1 g 9 f c & 4 A b 6 c 7 A \X ft o Q f o* & 1 1 A A 1 9 u 13 c 14 d 15 e 16 f 17 g 18 A 19 b 20 c 21 d 22 e 23 f 24 g 25 A 26 b 27 c 28 d 29 e 30 f Nicomede, M. MORNING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. Esther Job Boniface, B. M. S. Barnabas, A. S. Alban, Mart. Tr. of Edw. K. — (of West-Sax. 2 Lesson. 5 Mark ■ 7 • 9 2 ■ 4 ■ 6 ■ 8 ■10 -12 -14 26. 4 Job 5 6 ■ 8 • 9 -10 -11 Fast. S. John Baptist. Fast. S. Peter, Apos. -16 -19 -21 -23 27 -29 Luke -31 -33 -35 -37 -39 -41 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 - 2 Prov. 9 -10 -1 -12 EVENING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Esther 6 1 Cor. 15 . 8 16 1 2 Cor. 1 ■ 3 ■ 5 - 7 - 9 -11 -13 -15 — 17, 18 20 22 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 — 24, 25 28 6 8 Prov. 9 -30 Galat. -32 -34 -36 -38 -40 42 Ephes. 9 10 11 12 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 -10 3 4 5 6 THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. JULY hath XXXI. DAYS. 1 g 2 A 3 b 4 c 5 d 6 e 7 f 8 g 9 A 10 b 11 c 12 d 13 e 14 f 15 g 16 A 17 b 18 c 19 d 20 e 21 f 22 g 23 A 24 b 25 c 26 d 27 e 28 f 29 g 30 A 31 b Visitat. of V. M. MORNING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. Prov. 11 Luke 13Prov. 12 Philip. 14 Tr. of Mart. B. 2 Lesson. Eccles Swithun, B. Tr. Marg V. & M. S. Mary Magd. . r ast . S. James, Apos. S. Anne 13 -15 -17 -19 -21 -23 -25 -27 -29 1 - 3 ■ 5 John ■ 7 EVEN ING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. Jer. — 9 -11 1 — 3 — 5 — 7 — 9 -11 -13 -15 -17 -19 -2 J -23 -25 -27 -14 -15 -16 -17 18 -19 24 -20 26 -21 28 -22— 31 -23 Eccles. 2 4 6 2 Lesson. -24 J - 2 - 3 - 4 -16 -18 -20 Coloss. -22 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 Thess. 1 2 3 4 5 8 2 Thess. ) 5 Jer. 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 -10 -II -12 -13 -14 -15 •16 -17 -18 -19 I Tim. -10 -12 2 - 4 - 6 - 8 -10 -12 2 Tim. -14 -16 2 3 1 2, 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 1 2 3 4 18 Titus 1 -20 % 3 -22 Philemon -24 Hebr. 1 -26 2 -28 3 THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. AUGUST hath XXXI. DAYS. 1 c o SI a o o e 4 r I o g A A 7 ■u D Q o C 9 J a 1 A e 1 "I 1 1 I 12 g 13 A A 14 b 15 c 16 d 17 e 18 f 19 g 20 A 21 b 22 c 23 d 24 e 25 f 26 g 27 A 28 b 29 c 30 d 31 e Lammas-Day. MORNING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. 2 Lesson. Jer. 29 John 20Jer. 30 Hebr. 4 Transfiguration. Name of Jesus. S. Lawrence, M Fast S. Bartholomew. S. Augustin, B. S. John Baptist (beheaded. -31 -33 Acts -35 -37 -39 -41 -43 45, 46 48 50 52 Lam. 2 ■ 4 Ezek. 2 6 13 18 34 Daniel 2 4 6 8 10 12 Hos. 2, 3 5, 6 8 10 -21 1 - 2 - 3 EVENING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. ■ 5 ■ 6 ■ 7 - 8 - 9 -10 Lam. -11 -12 •13 Ezek. ■14 ■15 -16 - 3 - 5 3 - 7 -14 -33 1 3 2 Lesson. -32 -34 -36 -38 -40 -42 -44 -47 -49 -51 James 1 - 1 7 Daniel -18 -19 -20 -21 -22 .23 1 1 -24Hosea 1 -25 4 -26 7 -27 -28 12Matth. 1 11 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1 2 3 4 5 1 Peter 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 5 2 Peter 7 9 1 John 9 2, 3 John Jude 13 Rom. 3 THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. SEPTEMBER hath XXX. DAYS. 1 f X o cr 8 Q O A A t: KJ ft O A Li 7 a C Q O f Q g 1U A i j 12 c 13 d 14 e 15 f 16 g 17 A 18 b 19 c 20 d 21 e 22 f 23 g 24 A 25 b 26 c 27 d 28 e 29 f 30 g Giles, Ab. & C. MORNING PRAYER. I Lesson. Hosea 14 Matth. 2 Joel Joel Amos 2 Lesson. EVENING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. Enurchus, B. Nativity of V. (Mary. Holy-Cross D. Lambert, B. M. Fast. S. Matthew, A. Jonah Micah 2 1 3 5 7 9 1 4 2 4 6 Nahum 1 3 2 1 3 2 3 6 Hab. Zeph. Haggai Zee. 2, S. Cyprian, M. Mai. Tobit S. Michael. S. Jerom, C. D. • 8 -10 -12 -14 2 - 4 2 Mark 1 3 2 4 6 8 8 Obadiah 9 Jon. 2, 3 -10 Micah 4 Amos 5 6 7 2 Lesson Rom. -11 -12 •13 -14 Nahum 2 -15 Hab. 1 - 3 46 -17 Zeph -18 Haggai 1 -19Zech. 1 -20 4, 5 -21 -22 -23 9 -24 11 -25 13 -26 Mai. -27 28 Tobit 1 1 2 3 1 Cor. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 ] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. OCTOBER hath XXXI. DAYS. 1 A 2 b 3 c 4 d 5 e 6 f 7 g 8 A 9 b 10 c 11 d 12 e 13 f 14 g 15 A 16 b 17 c 18 d 19 e 20 f 21 g 22 A 23 b 24 c 25 d 26 e 27 f 28 g 28 A 3C b 31 c Remigius, Bp. MORNING PRAYER. Faith, V. & M. S. Denys, B. M. Transl. of King (Edw.Conf. I Lesson. Tobit 7 9 11 13 Judith 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 2 Lesson Mark EVENING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. Etheldreda, V. S. Luke, Evan. Crispin, Mart. Fast S. Simon tkJude 4 Tobit 5 6 7 2 Lesson. 8 1 Cor. -10 2 Cor. 12 14 8 Judith 2 ■ 4 6 Wisd. 1 3 Lu.Ho39 - 1 v. 39 2 - 9 •10 -11 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 Wisd. Ecclus 13 17 15 19 , 2 4 6 • 8 Fast. -10 -12 -14 - 8 -10 -12 -14 -16 9 - 4 6 Galat, 8 3 ■ 4 5 ■ 6 ■ 7 ■ 8 - 9 Ecclus -10 ■11 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 -17 -10 -12 -14 -16 Ephes. -18 1 3 5 7 9 Philip. -11 -13 15 Coloss. 16 1 • 2 ■ 3 • 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 -10 -11 -12 -13 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 1 d THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. NOVEMBER hath XXX. DAYS. 1 d 2 e 3 f 4 g 5 A 6 b 7 c 8 d 9 e 10 f 11 g 12 A 13 b 14 c 15 d 16 e 17 f 18 g 19 A 20 b 21 c 22 d 23 e 24 f 25 g 26 A 27 b 28 c 29 d 30 e All Saints' Day, Papists' Conspi. Leonard, Conf. S. Martin, Bp. Britius, Bp. Machutus, Bp. Hugh, B. Line. Edm. K. & M. Cecilia, V. & M S. Clement, B. Catherine, V. Fast, S. Andrew, Ap. MORNING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. Ecclus.16 Luke 18 20 22 24 27 29 31John —33 —35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 Baruch 2 ■ 4 6 Bel. & D Isaiah 2 4 6 8 10 12 2 Lesson. 18Ecclus.l7 Coloss Acts EVENING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. ■19 -20 -21 -22 -23 -24 1 - 2 - a - 4 - 5 - 6 rj - / - 8 - 9 -10 -I 1 -12 -13 -14 -15 Isaiah -16 -17 -18 ■19 -20 -21 1 -19 -21 -23 *25 -28 - t30 32 - 34 36 38 40 —42 44 - £46 48 50 Baruch 1 3 5 Hist. Sus. 1 2 Lesson. 2 3 4 1 Thes. 1 2 3 4 5 2 Thes. 1 2 — 3 1 Tim. 1 2, 3 4 5 6 1 2 2 Tim. 3 Titus 1 — 2, 3 3 Philemon 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 Hebr 7 9 11 13 Note, That * Ecclus. 25, is to be read only to ver. 13 ; and t Ecclus. 30, only to ver. 18 ; and + Ecclus. 46, only to ver. 20. THE CALENDAR, WITH THE TABLE OF LESSONS. DECEMBER hath XXXI. DAYS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A b c d e f g A b c d e f g A b c d e f g A b c d e f g A Nicolas, Bp. MORNING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. Isaiah 14 Acts 2 Isaiah 15 Hebr. 7 Conception of (Vir. Mary. Lucy, V. & M. O Sapientia. Fast S. Thomas, Ap. Fast Christmas Day. S. Stephen, M. S.John, Evan. Innocents' Day. Silvester, Bp. 16 18 20, 21 23 25 7 to v. 30 27 7 v. 30 8 -29 -31 -33 -35 -37 -39 -41 -43 45 -47 -49 -51 -53 -55 -57 -59 2 Lesson. EVENING PRAYER. 1 Lesson. -61 -63 -65 - 9 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 -17 -18 -19 -20 -21 -22 -23 -24 -25 -26 -27 -28 2 Lesson. -17 -19 -22 -24 -26 -28 -30 James -32 -34 -36 -38 -40 -42 -56 -58 -60 ■ 8 - 9 -10 -11 -12 -13 1 2 3 4 5 1 Peter 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 -44 -46 48 -50 2 Peter -52 -54 1 John -62 2 John -64 3 John -66 Jude t XXVlll TABLES AND RULES For the Movable and Immovable Feasts; together with the Days of Fasting and Abstinence, through the whole Year. Rules to know when the Movable Feasts and Holy-days begin. TOASTER-DAY (on wbich the rest depend) is always the First Sunday after the Full Moon which happens upon, or next after, the Twenty-first Day of March; and if the Full Moon happens upon a Sunday, Easter-day is the Sunday after. Advent- Sunday is always the nearest Sunday to the Feast of Saint Andrew, whether before or after. Septuagesima C Ninel ~\ Sexagesima f s un d ai , \ s ) flight f vy ee k s before Easter. Qmnquagesima ( i Seven / Quadragesima j (. Six ' Rogation- Sunday"} C Five Weeks "\ Ascension- Day ( . J Forty Days ( ,, „ . Whit-Sunday ( ) Seven Weeks ( atter Jiaster ' Trinity- Sunday J ( Eight Weeks J A TABLE of all the Feasts that England, throu All Sundays in the Year. r The Circumcision of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. The Epiphany. The Conversion of St. Paul. The Purification of the Blessed Virgin. St. Matthias the Apostle. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. St. Murk the Evangelist. St. Philip & St. James the Apostles. The Ascension of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. ^St. Barnabas. Monday and Tuesday in Easler-JVtek. o CO as CD fa CD <— O I A CD H are to be observed in the Church of ghout the Year. ( The Nativity of St. John Baptist. St. Peter the Apostle. St. James the Apostle. St. Bartholomew the Apostle. St. Matthew the Apostle. St. Michael and all Angels. St. Luke the Evangelist. J St Si?nou and St. Jude the Apostles. All Saints. St. Andrew the Apostle. St. Thomas the Apostle. The Nativity of our Lord. St. Stephen the Martyr. St. John the Evangelist. The Holy Innocents. Monday and Tuesday in fFhitsun-Week. as CD fa a Q A TABLE of the Vigils, Fasts, and Days of Abstinence, to be observed in the Year. The Evens or Vigils <( ' The Nativity of our Lord. The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Annunciation of the before Blessed Virgin. Easter- Day. Ascension-Day. Pentecost. L. St. Matthias. The Evens or Vigils before St. John Baptist. St. Peter. St. James. St. Bartholomew. St. Matthew. St. Simon and St. St. Andrew. St. Thomas. ^ All Saints. Jude. Note, that if any of these Feast-Days fall upon a Monday, then the Vigil or Fast-Day shall be kept upon the Saturday, and not upon the Sunday next before it. C r. if. in. IV. XXIX Days of Fasting, or Abstinence. The Forty Days of Lent. C The First Sunday in Lent. The Ember-Days at the Four Seasons, beings The Feast of Pentecost. the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday afterv. September 14, & December 13. The Three Rogation- Days, being the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, before Holy Thursday, or the Ascension of our LORD. All the Fridays in the Year, except CHRISTMAS-DAY. Certain Solemn Days, for which particular Services are appointed. I. The Fifth Day of November; being the Day kept in Memory of the Papists' Conspiracy. II. The Thirtieth Day of January ; being the Day kept in Memory of the Martyrdom of King Charles the First. III. The Nine and Twentieth Day of May; being the Day kept in Memory of the Birth and Return of King Charles the Second. IV. The Twentieth Day of June; being the Day on which Her Majesty began her happy Reign. A TABLE TO FIND EASTER-DAY, From the present Time till the Year 1899 inclusive, according to the foregoing Calendar. Golden Number. 14 3 11 19 8 16 5 13 2 10 18 7 15 4 12 1 17 6 Days of the Sunday- Month. Letters. March 21 C 22 D 23 E 24 F 25 G 26 A 27 B . 28 C 29 D 30 E 31 F April 1 G 2 A 3 B 4 C 5 D 6 E 7 F 8 G 9 A 10 B 11 C 12 D 13 E 14 F ■ 15 G 16 A 17 B 18 C . 19 D 20 E 21 F 22 G 23 A 24 25 I THIS Table contains so much of the Calendar as is necessary for the determining of Easter; to find which, look for the Golden Number of the Year in the First Column of the Table, against which stands the Day of the Paschal Full Moon; then look in the Third Column for the Sunday Letter, next after the Day of the Full Moon, and the Day of the Month standing against that Sunday Letter is Easter-Day. If the Full Moon happens upon a Sunday, then (accord- ing to the First Rule) the next Sunday after is Easter-Hay . To find the Golden Number, or Prime, add 1 to the Year of our Lord, and then divide by 19; the Remainder, if any, is the Golden Number; but if nothing remaineth, then 19 is the Golden Number. To find the Dominical or Sunday Letter, ac- cording to the Calendar, until the Year 1799 inclusive, add to the Year of our Lord its Fourth Part, omitting Frac- tions ; and also the Number 1 : Divide the Sum by 7 ; and if there is no Re- mainder, then A is the Sunday Letter : But if any Number remaineth, then the Letter standing against that Num- ber in the small annexed Table is the Sunday Letter. For the next Century, that is, from the Year 1800 till the Year 1899 inclusive, add to the current Year only its Fourth Part, and then divide by 7, and proceed as in the last Rule. Note, that in all Bissextile or Leap- Years, the Letter found as above will be the Sunday Letter, from the intercalated Day exclusive to the End of the Year. A 1 G 2 F 3 E 4 D 5 C 6 B XXX ANOTHER TABLE TO FIND EASTER Till the Year 1899 inclusive. Golden Number. I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX SUNDAY LETTERS. A B C D E F G April lb 17 18 19 20 14 15 April y 6 4 5 b 7 8 Mar. 26 April 16 27 28 29 12 23 24 25 17 1J 13 14 15 April 2 3 4 5 6 Mar. 31 April 1 April 23 24 25 19 20 21 22 April 9 10 11 12 13 14 8 April 2 3 Mar. 28 29 30 31 April 1 April 16 17 . 18 19 20 2i 22 April 9 10 11 5 6 7 8 Mar. 26 27 28 29 30 31 25 April 16 17 18 19 13 14 J5 April 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mar. 26 27 28 22 23 24 25 April 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 April 2 3 4 5 Mar. 30 31 April 1 April 23 24 18 19 20 21 22 April 9 10 11 12 13 7 8 April 2 Mar. 27 28 29 30 31 April 1 rj^O make use of the preceding Table, find the Sunday Letter for the Year in the uppermost Line, and the Golden Number, or Prime, in the Column of Golden Numbers ; and against the Prime, in the same Line under the Sunday Letter, you have the Day of the Month on which Easter* falleth that Year. But Note, that the Name of the Month is set on the Left Hand, or just with the Figure, and followeth not, as in other Tables, by Descent, but Collateral. * Easter-Day, as observed at the head of a preceding Table, is always the first Sunday after the Full Moon, which happens upon, or next after, the 21st of March. XXXI A TABLE OF THE MOVABLE FEASTS FOR FIFTY-TWO YEARS, According to the foregoing Calendar. The Year of our LORD. Golden Number. The Epact. Sunday Letter. 1 Sund. after Epiphany. | Septuagesima Sunday. The First Day of Lent. Easter-Day. Rogation Sunday. Ascension-Day. 1811 7 6 F 4 Feb. 10 Feb. 27 Apr. 14 May 19 May 23 1812 8 17 ED 2 Jan. 26 . 12 Mar. 29 3 7 1813 n y 28 5 Feb. 14 Mar. 3 Apr. 18 23 27 1814 10 9 B 4 . 6 Feb. 23 10 15 19 1815 n 20 A 2 Jan. 22 8 Mar. 26 Apr. 30 4 1816 12 1 GF 5 Feb. 11 28 Apr. 14 May 19 . 23 1817 13 12 E 3 2 19 6 11 15 1818 14 23 D 1 Jan. 18 4 Mar. 22 Apr. 26 Apr. 30 1819 15 4 C 4 Feb. 7 .24 Apr. 11 May 16 May 20 1820 16 15 B A 3 Jan. 30 16 2 7 11 1821 17 26 G 6 Feb. 18 Mar. 7 22 27 31 1822 18 7 F 3 3 Feb. 20 — ■ 7 12 16 1823 19 18 E 2 Jan. 26 12 Mar. 30 4 8 1824 1 DC 5 Feb. 15 Mar. 3 Apr» 18 23 27 1825 2 11 B 3 Jan. 30 Feb. 16 3 8 12 1826 3 22 A 2 • , 22 8 Mar. 26 Apr. 30 — - — 4 1827 4 3 G 5 Feb. 11 28 Apr. 15 May 20 24 1828 5 14 FE 3 3 20 6 11 15 1829 6 25 D 5 15 Mar. 4 19 24 28 1830 7 6 C 4 7 Feb. 24 11 16 20 1831 8 17 B 3 Jan. 30 16 3 8 12 1832 9 28 AG 6 Feb. 19 Mar. 7 22 — 27 31 1833 10 9 F 3 3 Feb. 20 7 12 16 1834 11 20 E 2 Jan. 26 12 Mar. 30 4 8 1835 12 1 D 5 Feb. 15 Mar. 4 Apr. 19 24 28 1836 13 12 CB 3 Jan. 31 Feb. 17 3 8 12 1837 14 23 A 2 22 8 Mar. 26 Apr. 30 1838 15 A c on A nr 1 £ /\pr. io .54 1839 16 15 F 2 Ja . 27 13 Mar. 31 5 9 1840 17 26 ED 5 Feb. 16 , Mar. 4 Apr 1!) 24 28 1841 18 7 C 4 7 Feb. 24 11 16 ■ 20 1842 19 18 B 2 Jan. 23 9 Mar. 27 1 . 5 1843 1 A 5 Feb. 12 Mar. 1 Apr. 16 21 25 1844 2 11 GF 4 4 Feb. 21 7 — 12 16 1845 3 22 E 1 Jan. 19 5 Mar. 23 Apr. 27 1846 4 3 D 4 Feb. 8 25 Apr. 12 May 17 21 1847 5 14 C 3 Jan. 31 17 4 9 13 1848 6 25 BA 6 Feb. 20 Mar. 8 23 • 28 June 1 1849 7 6 G 4 4 Feb. 21 8 13 May 17 1850 8 17 F 2 Jan. 27 13 Mar. 31 5 9 1851 9 28 E 5 Feb. 16 Mar. 5 Apr. 20 25 29 1852 10 9 DC 4 ■ 8 Feb. 25 11 16 20 1853 11 20 B 2 Jan. 23 Mar. 27 5 1854 12 1 A 5 Feb. 12 Mar. 1 Apr. 16 21 25 1855 13 12 G 4 4 Feb. 21 8 13 17 1856 14 23 FE 1 Jan. 20 . . 6 Mar. 23 Apr. 27 1857 15 4 D 4 Feb. 8 25 Apr. 12 May 17 21 1858 16 15 C 3 Jan. 31 17 9 13 1859 17 26 B 6 Feb. 20 Mar. 9 24 29 June 2 1860 18 7 AG 4 5 Feb. 22 — 8 13 May 17 1861 19 18 F 2 Jan. 27 13 Mar. 31 5 9 1862 1 E 5 Feb. 16 Mar. 5 Apr. 20 25 29 3 en e B > P. 5 a THE GOLDEN NUMBERS. Moon. 5° •< 1 1 J o A *± R O ft *7 / O O 1 ft IV 1 1 11 1 9 1 1 IO i t 14 1 1 IO 1 7 xo 1Q March 21 C 8 19 11 22 3 14 25 6 17 28 9 20 1 12 23 -1 15 26 March 22 D 9 20 1 12 23 4 15 26 7 18 29 10 21 2 13 24 5 16 27 March 23 E 1 it _ 1 z 1 1 1 o 9.1 R 1 ft ID 97 O 10. iy A u i 1 1 1 99 ZZ a O 9* 1) a/ 28 March 24 F 1 1 J J o O 1 A 14 9*» 1 7 1/ 9H A y OA 1 1 1 91 4 1 D 9f? zo 7 1ft JO 90 zo March 25 Q 1 J Jo 4 1 R 13 Oft JO 7 1 Q lo OO jy 1U Ol Jl z 1 1 lo 9J. _ 4 1 ft 10 J/ 1Q A O March 26 A 13 24 5 16 27 8 19 11 22 3 14 25 6 17 28 9 20 1 March 27 B 14 25 6 17 28 9 20 1 12 23 4 15 26 7 18 29 10 21 2 March 28 V. 1 R lo Oft Ju 7 t 1 ft lo OQ i a Ol 9 1 1 J4 R i ft 10 9*7 ■<:/ O a 1 O iy A U 1 1 99 _ ~ 3 March 29 1 •» 1 / lo 07 o o iy V 11 oo ZZ Q O 1 A 14 OK ZO 1 7 >7 OQ y OA JU 1 1 1 9 91 ZO 4 March 30 E 17 oo 2d Q OA 1 1 12 OO zo 4 lo oft Jo 7 1 lo OA 1U Ol J 1 O Z- 1 't 10 9d 5 March 31 F 18 20 10 21 2 13 24 5 16 27 8 19 1 1 22 3 14 25 6 April 1 G 19 11 22 3 14 25 6 17 28 9 20 1 12 23 4 lis 26 7 April 2 A JV 20 1 19 I OQ ZO 4 15 Of! 1 lo OO 1 A 10 21 z 1 O 1 24 e 10 07 *i Q O April 3 Tl 13 21 2 la 04 J4 o 16 27 Q O 1 A lit A 1 1 22 3 1 4 OR Jo 1 7 Oft Jo O O April 4 22 3 14 25 17 28 y OA 20. 1 1 O 23 4 1 R Oft JO 7 1 if 00 jy 1 A April 5 D 23 4 15 26 7 18 29 10 21 2 13 24 5 16 27 8 1!) 11 April 6 E 24 5 16 27 8 IS) n 22 3 14 25 6 17 2s 9 20 1 12 April 7 OR zo Oft ZO Q on 1 1 Iz 91 -it A 4 i r 1 oa zo 9 1 13 April 8 G 26 7 18 29 10 21 2 13 24 5 16 27 8 19 11 22 3 14 April 9 A 27 8 19 (I 11 22 3 14 25 6 17 28 9 2(1 1 12 23 4 15 April 10 B 28 9 20 1 12 23 4 15 26 7 18 29 10 2! 2 13 24 5 16 April 11 C 29 10 21 2 13 24 5 16 27 8 19 11 2: 3 14 2,5 17 April 12 D 11 22 3 14 25 6 17 28 9 20 1 12 •2:) 4 15 26 7 18 April 13 E 1 12 23 4 15 26 7 18 29 10 21 2 13 24 5 16 27 8 19 April 14 F 2 13 24 5 16 27 8 19 11 22 3 14 25 6 17 28 9 20 April 15 G 3 14 25 6 17 28 9 20 1 12 23 4 15 26 7 18 29 10 21 April 16 A 4 15 20 7 18 29 10 21 2 13 24 5 16 27 8 19 11 22 April 17 B 5 16 27 8 19 11 22 3 14 25 6 17 28 9 20 1 12 23 April 17 B 7 18 29 10 21 2 13 24 April 18 C 6 17 28 9 20 1 12 23 4 15 26 April 18 C 7 18 29 10 21 2 13 24 5 16 27 8 19 11 22 3 14 25 The ORDER for MORNING and EVENING PRAYER . daily to be said and used throughout the Year. fJ^HE Morning and Evening Prayer shall be used in the accustomed Place of the Church, Chapel, or Chancel; except it shall be ether- wise determined by the Ordinary of the Place. And the Chancels shall remain as they have done in times past. And here is to be noted, that such Ornaments of the Church, and of the Ministers thereof, at all Times of their Ministration, shall be retained, and be in use, as were in this Church of England, by the Authority of Parliament, in the Second Year of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth. THE ORDER FOR MORNING PRAYER, DAILY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. jit the beginning of Morning Prayer the Minister shall read, with a loud voice, some one or more of these sentences of the Scriptures that follow, jlnd then he shall say that which is written after the said sentences. g HEN the wicked man tumeth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. JEzek. xviii. 27. I acknowledge my transgres- sions, and my sin is ever before me. Psal. li. 3. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Psal. li. 9. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psal. li. 17. Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God ; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel. ii. 13. To the Lord our God belong mercies and for- givenesses, though we have rebelled against him ; neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us. Dan. ix. 9, 10. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment ; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Jer. x, 24. Psal. vi. 1. 2 MORNING PRAYER. Repent ye, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. St. Matth. iii. 2. I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. St. Luke xv. 18, 19. Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord ; for, in thy sight, shall no man living be justified. Psal. cxliii. 2. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us ; but, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighte- ousness. 1 St. John i. 8, 9. DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness ; and that we should not dissemble nor cloke them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father, If we say that we have no sin.~\ — It should be observed in the use of the Book of Com- mon Prayer, that in the Order for Morning Prayer, and, equally, in the Order for Evening Prayer, the spirit of the composition intends a preparation for prayer, and even a pre- paration for praise and thanksgiving, before it permits the actual commencement of either. As the " Book of the Common Praier" was originally published by King Edward VI, in the year 1549, it contained no such preparation ; the service, both morning and evening, opening at once with prayer ; that is, with the Lord's Prayer; after which there immedi- ately followed, as now, the several formulas of praise and thanksgiving. The change, however, was early made ; and already, in the " Boke of Common Praier," as printed in the year 1552; those prepaiatory parts, along with other alterations and additions, had obtained their present place in the Liturgy. The fitness of the change appears to be indisputable. As the " Order" at present stands, the congregation is taught to feel and express the sentiment of contrition for sins, either great or small, and its sins are conditionally absolved and remitted, before it proceeds to address itself to God in prayer, or even in praise or thanksgiving. The Church of England and Ireland, in this arrangement of its Liturgy, has the example of the Primitive Christian Churches, as well as the natural recommendation of the practice, to justify its course. Tradition informs us that the first Christians uniformly began their worship with strong expressions of penitence for sin, and made these the indispensable preliminaries to all that followed ; and the same notions of penitence, and of a succeeding absolution or purification, are observable in the ancient Liturgy of Saint James, or of Jerusalem ; the celebration of which was begun by the washing of his hands by the Bishop, or other Minister, in a basin of water presented to him for that purpose ; and by his pronouncing, while in performance of the act, a part, if not the whole, of the sixth and seventh verses of the twenty-sixth Psalm : " I will wash mine hands in innocency, O Lord, and so will I go to thine altar ; that I may show the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works :" or as if, before prayer, thanks, or even praise, the Christian would say, (as in Psalm li. 2,) " wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin." But, from what has here preceded, we must be strucK with the departure (however inadvertent, or however well-intended) from the spirit of these general ordinances, ancient and modern, in foreign parts of Christendom. In the " Book of Common Prayer," &c. according to the " Use of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of MORNING PRAYER. 3 but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart ; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God, yet ought we most chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together, to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace ; saying after me, A General Confession, to he said of the whole congregation after the Minister, all kneeling. ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost America" put forth in the year 1789, and ever since continued, the " Sentences of the Scriptures," which begin the English Prayer Book, and all that follows, are retained ; but they are preceded by new " Sentences of the Scriptures," expressing praise; sentences which, however excellent in themselves, and in however pure a spirit Ihey may have been introduced, are yet violations of that spirit which pervades the English Book of Common. Prayer, and which pervaded all the Christian, and even Jewish Liturgies. Similar things occur, too, in England and Ireland, in places of worship not pertaining to the Establish- ment ; and even in the Establishment, a practice sometimes obtains, of opening the service with a psalm, obviously in the same variance with the spirit of the genuine ordinances of the Church ; which latter, while it is as earnest as any of its innovators not to omit praises and thanksgivings, yet makes these to follow, and not to precede, the Confession and the Absolution, or the expressions of penitence and purification ; and aims at enabling its congregations, not to " magnify" only, but " worthily to magnify" God's Holy Name. No Hymn, or Psalm, unless it should be one of the Penitential Psalms, or what resembles them, can precede or occupy the first place in the "Order," either for Morning or Evening Prayer, in consistence with the spirit of that " Order." Another inference (and one of still more general application) is the duty which, in consistence with the spirit of the Church's " Order," either for Morning or Evening Prayer, is imposed upon every member of the congregation to be present at the beginning of either service ; or, in other words, the inference, how unprepared (in consistence with the spirit of the " Order") are such as presume to join the subsequent prayer and praise, who have not previously partaken in the Confession and Absolution ; or in the acknow- ledgment of sin, and in the reception of its declared conditional remission. What is required, therefore, is, so early an attendance upon the service, as not to be absent at the very moment of its important beginning. A General Confession 8fc.~\ — It has been justly said, in commendation of the terms of this form of " general confession," that the terms of such a composition cannot be too general. If they were too particular, either the enumeration of all possible sins must be made scanty, or else thousands and tens of thousands of persons must be made to "confess" themselves guilty of sins which they never committed. The Church leaves it to the thoughts and consciences of individuals, to use this "general confession" in the manner suitable to their individual cases ; only expecting from each the general acknowledgement, " If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 4 MORNING PRAYER. sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done ; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done ; and there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may, hereafter, live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen. The Absolution, or Remission of Sins, to be pronounced by the Priest alone, standing ; the people still kneeling. ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but, rather, that he may turn from his wickedness and live ; and hath given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the abso- lution and remission of their sins : He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel ; wherefore, let us beseech him to grant us true repentance and his holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present, and that the rest of our life, hereafter, may be pure and holy ; so that, at the last, we may come to his eternal joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. The people shall answer here, and at the end of all other prayers, Amen. Then the Minister shall kneel, and say the Lord's Prayer with an audible voice ; the people also kneeling, and repeating it with him, both here, and wheresoever else it is used in Divine Service. MORNING PRAYER. 5 OUR Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil : For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Then likewise he shall say, O Lord, open thou our lips. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us. Here, all standing up, the Priest shall say, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Praise ye the Lord. The Lord's Name be praised. Then shall be said or sung this Psalm following : except on Easter- Day, upon which another Anthem is appointed; and on the nine- teenth day of every month it is not to be read here, but in the, ordinary course of the Psalms. Venite, exultemus Domino. Psal. xcv, OCome, let us sing unto the Lord, let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanks- giving, and show ourselves glad in him with psalms. Our Father which art, <^c] — " Our Father which," is perfectly good English, at least according to the usage at the time of the translation and compilation of the Book of Common Prayer ; and a similar employment of the pronoun " which" prevails throughout the English Bible. The false criticism, however, of later times, has led to repeated con- troversies, and different suggestions of change, as to the wording of the passage ; while the better informed remain content with the established phraseology. There is a difficulty in settling the radical meaning of the pronoun. 6 MORNING PRAYER, For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are all the corners of the earth ; and the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it ; and his hands prepared the dry land. O come, let us worship, and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker ; For he is the Lord our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness, When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works. Forty years long was I grieved with this gene- ration, and said, It is a people that do err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways ; Unto whom I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Then shall follow the Psalms in order as they are appointed. And at the end of every Psalm throughout the year, and likewise at the end of Benedicite, Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc dimittis, shall be repeated, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Then shall be read distinctly , with an audible voice, the First Lesson, taken out of the Old Testament, as is appointed in the Calendar, except there be proper Lessons assigned for that day : He that readeth so standing and turning himself, as he may best be heard of all such as are present. And after that shall be said or sung, in English, the Hymn called Te Deum Laudanrus, daily, throughout the year. MORNING PRAYER. 7 Note, That before every Lesson the Minister shall say, Here begin- neth such a Chapter, or Verse of such a Chapter, of such a Book : And after every Lesson, Here endeth the First, or the Second, Lesson. Te Deum Laudamus. E praise thee, O God ; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud, the Heavens, and all the Powers therein. To thee Cherubin and Seraphin continually do cry, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth ; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy Glory. The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs praise thee. The holy Church, throughout all the world, doth acknowledge thee, The Father, of an infinite Majesty ; Thine honourable, true, and only Son ; Also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the Glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our J udge. We therefore pray thee help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. 8 MORNING PRAYER. Make them to be numbered with thy Saints in glory everlasting. O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine heritage. Govern them, and lift them up for ever. Day by day we magnify thee ; And we worship thy Name ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day with- out sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded. Or this Canticle. JBenedicite, omnia opera. 0A11 ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Waters that be above the Firmament, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O all ye Powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Stars of Heaven, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Showers and Dew, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Winds of God, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. MORNING PRAYER. 9 O ye Fire and Heat, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Winter and Summer, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Dews and Frosts, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Frost and Cold, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Nights and Days, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Lightnings and Clouds, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O let the Earth bless the Lord ; yea, let it praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O all ye Green Things upon the Earth, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Whales, and all that move in the Waters, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O all ye Fowls of the Air, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O let Israel bless the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. 10 MORNING PRAYER. O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye holy and humble Men of heart, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord ; praise him, and magnify him for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Then shall be read in like manner the Second Lesson, taken out of the New Testament. And after that, the Hymn following ; except when that shall happen to be read in the Chapter for the Day, or for the Gospel on St. John Baptist's Day. Benedictus. St. Luke i. 68. BLESSED be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people ; And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us in the house of his servant David ; As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which have been since the world began ; That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us ; To perform the mercy promised to our fore- fathers, and to remember his holy Covenant ; To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, that he would give us ; That we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. O Ananias, Azarias, and MisaelJ] — These are the "Three Children," more commonly spoken of by their Babylonish names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, bestowed upon them under the captivity. The whole composition is sometimes called, " The Song of the Three Children." MORNING PRAYER. 11 And thou, Child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest : for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways ; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people, for the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us ; To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death ; and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Or this Psalm. Jubilate Deo. Psal. c. OBe joyful in the Lord, all ye lands ; serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God ; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves ; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise ; be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name. For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth from generation to generation. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Then shall be sung, or said, the Apostles' Creed, by the Minister and the People, standing : except only such days as the Creed of St. Athanasius is appointed to be read. 1 Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth : 12 MORNING PRAYER. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord ; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost ; born of the Virgin Mary ; suffered under Pontius Pilate ; was crucified, dead, and buried ; he descended into hell ; the third day he rose again from the dead ; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the holy Catholic Church ; the communion of saints ; the forgiveness of sins ; the resurrection of the body ; and the life everlasting. Amen. And after that, these prayers following, all devoutly kneeling ; the Minister first pronouncing with a loud voice, The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit. Minister. Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Then the Minister, Clerks, and People, shall say the Lord's Prayer with a loud voice. OUR Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil. Amen. Then the Priest, standing up, shall say, O Lord, show thy mercy upon us. And grant us thy salvation. Our Father which art in heaven.'] — A modern misconception of the meaning of these words, has led to the introduction, in recent editions of the Prayer Book, of a comma after the word "Father." The passage, "Our Father which art in heaven," signifies pre- cisely, " Our heavenly Father," as in the " Prayer for the Queen's Majesty," and else- where, (" O Lord our heavenly Father;") and is corrupted, and not improved, by the intrusion of the comma, which is to be found in no early copy. MORNING PRAYER. 13 O Lord, save the Queen. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee. Endue thy ministers with righteousness. And make thy chosen people joyful. O Lord, save thy people. And bless thine inheritance. Give peace in our time, O Lord. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God. O God, make clean our hearts within us. And take not thy holy Spirit from us. Then shall follow three Collects ; the first of the Pay, which shall be the same that is appointed at the Communion ; the second for Peace ; the third for Grace to live well. And the two last Collects shall never alter, but daily be said at Morning Prayer throughout all the year, as followeth ; all kneeling : The Second Collect, for Peace. OGod, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of . whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom ; defend us, thy humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies ; that we, surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Third Collect, for Grace. OLord our heavenly Father, almighty and ever- lasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same with thy mighty power ; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger ; Give peace in our time, Lord.'] — The reason assigned for this petition, in the "Answer" made by the congregation, may reasonably perplex such as do not look deep enough to discover the sentiment intended, though, certainly, but ill-expressed. Peace is obtained, or secured, only by war, or by a state of preparation for war ; and only he that fights for us, or that is ready to fight for us, can be the real giver of peace. It is "because there is none other that fighteth for us" thaii God, that we ask of God, and of none other than God, to " give peace." 14 MORNING PRAYER. but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. In Quires and Places where they sing, here followeth the JLnthem. Then these five prayers following are to he read here, except when the Litany is read ; and then only the two last are to be read, as they are there placed. A Prayer for the Queens Majesty. OLord our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes ; who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth : Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen VICTORIA ; and so replenish her with the grace of thy holy Spirit, that she may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way ; endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts ; grant her in health and wealth long to live ; strengthen her that she may vanquish and overcome all her enemies ; and finally, after this life, she may attain everlasting joy and felicity ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for the Royal Family. ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless Adelaide the Queen Dowager, and all the Royal Family ; endue them with thy holy Spirit ; enrich them with thy heavenly grace ; prosper them with all happiness ; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for the Clergy and People. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels, send down upon our Bishops and Curates, and all Congregations com- mitted to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy MORNING PRAYER. 15 grace ; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen. A Prayer of St. Chrysostom. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace, at this time, with one accord to make our com- mon supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests ; fulfil, now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen. 2 Cor. xiii. THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. Here endeth the Order of Morning Prayer throughout the Year. Almighty and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels."] — This is a prayer for the People and Clergy of the Church, and the petition is for spiritual gifts. God is there- fore addressed in it as thou " who alone workest great marvels; " "marvels" signifying in this place, " miracles," or divine or spiritual things, in distinction from natural things ; as rain, fair weather, plenty, peace, and similar objects of prayer. It is in the same sense of spiritual things, that, a little further on, we read in the " Cantate Domino," " O sing unto the Lord a new song, for lie hath done marvellous things." Bishops and Curates, and all Congregations.'] — In this passage, by "Curates," we are to understand the immediate Pastors of Congregations, however specially denominated. So, in the observations " Concerning the Service of the Church," to which the reader may here refer, we read, "And the Curate that ministereth in every Parish Church, or Chapel, &c. ;" while, in a subsequent page of the Liturgy, we shall find the word "Pastors," taking the place of " Curates." " Curate," from the Latin curator, was the Romish, and, therefore, elder term; and it is thus that in the French, "Cur(j" has still the same general interpretation. How it happens that the term Curates is used in one prayer, and Pastors in the other, appears from the circumstance that, at the revisal of the English Prayer Book, the latter was introduced from a different compilation ; namely, the Scotch Liturgy. THE ORDER FOR EVENING PRAYER, DAILY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. Jit the beginning of Evening Prayer the Minister shall read, with a loud voice, some one or more of these sentences of the Scriptures that follow. And then he shall say that which is written after the said sentences. WHEN the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Ezek. xviii. 27. I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Psal. li. 3. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Psal. li. 9. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psal. li. 17. Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel ii. 13. To the Lord our God belong mercies and for- givenesses, though we have rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws which he set before us. Dan. ix. 9, 10. EVENING PRAYER. 17 Lord, correct me, but with judgment ; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Jer. x, 24. Psal. vi. 1. Repent ye, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. St. Matth. iii. 2. 1 will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. St. Luke, xv. 18, 19. Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord ; for, in thy sight, shall no man living be justified. Psal. cxliii. 2. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us ; but, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- ness. 1 St. John, i. 8, 9. DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness ; and that we should not dissemble nor cloke them before the face of Almighty God, our heavenly Father, but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart ; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God, yet ought we most chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together, to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace ; saying after me, D 18 EVENING PRAYER. vf? General Confession, to be said of the whole Congregation after the Minister, all kneeling. ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done ; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done ; and there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may, hereafter, live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen. The Absolution, or Remission of Sins, to be pronounced by the Priest alone, standing ; the People still kneeling. ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but, rather, that he may turn from his wickedness and live ; and hath given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the abso- lution and remission of their sins : He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel ; wherefore, let us beseech him to grant us true repentance and his holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present, and that the rest of our life, hereafter, may be pure and holy ; so that, at the last, we may come to his eternal joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the Minister shall kneel, and say the Lord's Prayer ; the People also kneeling, and repeating it with him. EVENING PRAYER. 19 OUR Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil : For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Then likewise he shall say, O Lord, open thou our lips. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us. Here, all standing, the Priest shall say, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall he, world without end. Amen. Praise ye the Lord. The Lord's Name he praised. Then shall be said, or sung, the Psalms in order as they are appointed. Then a Lesson of the Old Testament, as is appointed. And after that, Magnificat for the Song of the blessed Virgin Mary) in English, as followeth. Magnificat. St. Luke, i. MY soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his hand- maiden. For, behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed ; Thy will be done in earth.'] — Among the errors of modern criticism upon the language of the English Lord's Prayer, fault has been found with the words, "Thy will be done inearth;" and we have been told that the sense requires " on earth." There is perfect propriety, however, in the words, exactly as we find them ; for, if the phrase " on earth" refers to the earth's surface, that of "in earth" equally refers to its circumference. " On an island," and "in an island," are phrases equally proper; according as we mean to speak of an island's surface or its circumference, or the space which it contains. 20 EVENING PRAYER. For he that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him, through- out all generations. He hath showed strength with his arm ; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. He, remembering his mercy, hath holpen his servant Israel ; as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Or else this Psalm ; except on the nineteenth dmj of the month, when it is read in the ordinary Course of the Psalms. Cantate Domino. Psal. xcviii. OSing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvellous things. With his own right hand, and with his holy arm, hath he gotten himself the victory. The Lord declared his salvation ; his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel ; and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God. Show yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye lands ; sing, rejoice, and give thanks. Praise the Lord upon the harp ; sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving. With trumpets also and shawms, O show your- selves joyful before the Lord the King. Shawms.]— Vipes ; other wind-instrumeuts than the " trumpets." EVENING PRAYER. 21 Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is ; the round world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for he cometh to judge the earth. With righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Then a Lesson of the JVew Testament, as it is appointed. And after that, Nunc dimittis (or the Song of Symeon) in English, as followeth. Nunc dimittis. St. Luke ii. 29. LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people ; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. i Or else this Psalm; except on the twelfth day of the month. Deus misereatur. Psal. Ixvii. GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us, and show us the light of his countenance, and be mer- ciful unto us : That thy way may be known upon earth ; thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God ; yea, let all the people praise thee. O let the nations rejoice and be glad, for thou 22 EVENING PRAYER. shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God ; yea, let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase ; and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the world shall fear him. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Then shall be said, or sung, the Apostles' 1 Creed by the Minister and People, standing. 1 Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth : And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord ; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost ; born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the holy Catholic Church ; the communion of saints ; the forgiveness of sins ; the resurrection of the body ; and the life everlasting. Amen. jlnd after that, these prayers following, all devoutly kneeling ; the Minister first pronouncing with a loud voice, The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit. Minister. Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. EVENING PRAYER. 23 Then the Minister, Clerks, and People, shall say the Lord's Prayer, with a loud voice. OUR Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen. Then the Priest, standing up, shall say, O Lord, show thy mercy upon us ; And grant us thy salvation. O Lord, save the Queen. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee. Endue thy ministers with righteousness. And make thy chosen people joyful. O Lord, save thy people. And bless thine inheritance. Give peace in our time, O Lord. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God. O God, make clean our hearts within us. And take not thy holy Spirit from us. Then slmll follow three Collects ; the first of the Day, the second for Peace, the third for Aid against all Perils, as hereafter fol- loweth: which two last Collects shall be daily said at Evening Prayer without alteration. The Second Collect, for Peace. OGod, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, do proceed ; give unto thy servants that peace which the world can- not give ; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness ; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 24 EVENING PRAYER. The Third Collect, for Aid against all Perils. LIGHTEN our darkness we beseech thee, O Lord ; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. In Quires and Places where they sing, here followeth the Anthem. A Prayer for the Queens Majesty. OLord, our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes ; who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth : Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen VICTORIA ; and so replenish her with the grace of thy holy Spirit, that she may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way ; endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts ; grant her in health and wealth long to live ; strengthen her that she may vanquish and over- come all her enemies ; and finally, after this life, she may attain everlasting joy and felicity ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for the Royal Family. ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless Adelaide the Lighten our Darkness.]— It is sometimes asked, concerning this Collect (very impro- perly headed, " for aid against all perils,") whether the " darkness," intended to be referred to, is the natural darkness of night, or a spiritual darkness of the mind ? It would be easy to show, both from the original words of the Collect, from its necessary meaning, and from the very words which it contains, that, in the first place, it is an evening prayer for the return of the light of morning ; and in the second, a prayer for defence " from all perils and dangers of this night." To be understood, it needs only to be read in connexion with what is called the " Collect for Grace," in the "Order for Morning Prayer," in which God is addressed as having now " safely brought us to the beginning of .this day," and asked to " defend us in the same." The one is a prayer for defence during the night, and the other for defence during the day ; and each appropriately concludes the General Order for Morning and Evening Prayers respectively. O Lord, our heavenly Father.']— The modern editions of the Prayer book, while they erroneously insert a comma in the midst of the words, " Our Father, which art in heaven, omit the placing of such a stop after the word " Lord," in the present instance, where it is obviously required. The same words occur, however, in the opening of the " Collect for Grace," and it is curious that we find them diversely pointed. Thus, in the "Collect for Grace," we find, " O Lord, our heavenly Father; but in this Prayer for the Queen s Majesty, — " O Lord our heavenly Father." EVENING PRAYER. 25 Queen Dowager, and all the Royal Family ; endue them with thy holy Spirit ; enrich them with thy heavenly grace ; prosper them with all happiness ; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for the Clergy and People. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels, send down upon our Bishops and Curates, and all Congregations com- mitted to their charge, the healthful spirit of thy grace ; and, that they may truly please thee, pour • upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen. A Prayer of St. Chrysostom. A LMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace, at jlJL this time, with one accord to make our com- mon supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name, thou wilt grant their requests ; fulfil, now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them ; grant- ing us, in this world, knowledge of thy truth, and, in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen. 2 Cor. xiii. THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. Here endeih the Order of Evening Prayer throughout the Year. Adelaide the Queen Dowager.']— There seem grounds for criticism in the terms in which Her Majesty the Queen Dowager is here directed to be prayed for ; but the considerations to be submitted will appear in a succeeding note. 26 AT MORNING PRAYER. Upon these Feasts ; Christmas-day, the Epiphany, Saint Matthias, Easter-day, Ascension-day, Whitsunday, Saint John Baptist, Saint James, Saint Bartholomew, Saint Matthew, Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Saint Andrew, and upon Trinity-Sunday, shall be sung, or said, at Morning Prayer, instead of the Apostles' Creed this Confession of our Christian Faith, commonly called The Creed of Saint Athanasius, by the Minister and People, standing. Quicunque vult. WHOSOEVER will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish ever- lastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this : That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity ; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one ; the Glory equal ; the Majesty co-eternal. . Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incom- prehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, The Father incomprehensible, SfC.~\ — We should very much misunderstand this clause of the Athanasian Creed, were we to take the word "incomprehensible" in the sense at present usually given to it, and which is alone taken notice of in most of our dictionaries. The primary meaning of the word, and that in which it is here used, is, that of being " not containable," or the condition of pervading all things; or, "without a limit." What, therefore, is really here asserted, is the ubiquity or omnipresence of the Father, and equally of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. AT MORNING PRAYER. 27 nor three uncreated ; but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God* And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For like as we are compelled, by the Christian verity, to acknowledge every Person, by himself, to be God and Lord ; So are we forbidden by the Catholic religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none : neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone : not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son : neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons ; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore or after other ; none is greater or less than another ; But the whole three Persons are co-eternal to- gether, and co-equal. So that, in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be wor- shipped. He, therefore, that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity. Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salva- tion, that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 28 AT MORNING PRAYER. For the right Faith is, that we believe and con- fess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man ; God, of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds ; and Man, of the Substance of his Mother, born in the world ; Perfect God, and perfect Man ; of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching his Godhead ; and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood. Who, although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ ; One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of the Manhood into God ; One altogether ; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ ; Who suffered for our salvation ; descended into hell ; rose again the third day from the dead ; He ascended into heaven ; he sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty ; from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead ; At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their own works ; And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting ; and they that have done evil into ever- lasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith : which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. THE LITANY. 29 Here follorveth the LITANY, or General Supplication, to be sung, or said, after Morning Prayer upon Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and at other times when it sliall be commanded by the Ordinary. OGod the Father of heaven, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O God the Father of heaven, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Per- sons and one God, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Per- sons and one God, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers, neither take thou vengeance of our sins : spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever. Spare us, good Lord. O God the Father of heaven.'] — A similar misconception, by the moderns, in this place, to that displayed upon the subject of the opening words of the Lord's Prayer, has pro- duced the innovation of placing a comma after the word "Father," in this opening clause of the Litany. But, here, the words "O God the Father of heaven," mean only, "O God the heavenly Father;" as in the Lord's Prayer, the words " Our Father which art in heaven," mean only, " Our heavenly Father." Illustrations and proofs of the correct- ness of these explanations are omitted, in order to preserve the brevity of the notes. There may be cited, however, the " Prayer for Rain," beginning, " O God, heavenly Father." The " Prayer in the Time of Dearth," beginning, " O God, heavenly Father ;" also, the prayer " In the Ember Weeks," " Almighty God, our heavenly Father ;" the "Thanksgiving for Rain," "O God, our heavenly Father;" and the "Thanksgiving for restoring Public Peace ;" in all of which the sense is the same as in the words above, namely, " O God the Father of heaven." 30 THE LITANY. From all evil and mischief ; from sin ; from the crafts and assaults of the devil ; from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation, Good Lord, deliver us. From all blindness of heart; from pride, vain- glory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness, Good Lord, deliver us. From fornication and all other deadly sin ; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil, Good Lord, deliver us. From lightning and tempest ; from plague, pesti- lence, and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, Good Lord, deliver us. From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion ; from all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word and C ommandment, Good Lord, deliver us. By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation ; by thy holy Nativity and Circumcision ; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation, Good Lord, deliver us. By thine Agony and bloody Sweat ; by thy Cross and Passion ; by thy precious Death and Burial ; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension ; and by the coming of the Holy Ghost, Good Lord, deliver us. In all time of our tribulation ; in all time of our wealth ; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, Good Lord, deliver us. We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God ; and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. THE LITANY. 31 That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee, in righteousness and holiness of life, thy Servant VICTORIA, our most gracious Queen and Governor; W e beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to rule her heart in thy faith, fear, and love; and that she may evermore have affiance in thee, and ever seek thy honour and glory ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper, giving her the victory over all her enemies ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to bless and preserve Adelaide the Queen Dowager, and all the Royal Family ; We beseech thee to Jiear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word ; and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth, and show it accordingly ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to bless and preserve Adelaide the Queen Dowager, and all the Royal Family.'] The comma after the name Adelaide, which, at a first view, might be thought requisite in this sentence, is here omitted, because the real sense of the words is, either, " The Queen Dowager Adelaide,'' or, " Adelaide the Queen Dowager." Nothing can be more awkward, or even barbarous, than the phraseology of the text, in which a clergyman, or ordinary reader, must find it difficult, or rather impossible, either to place the comma, or observe the pause which the comma intimates, without making the subjects of the prayer seem threefold; thus,— 1st. Adelaide; 2nd. The Queen Dowager; 3d. all the Royal Family. But this is only a part of what is to be here submitted as erroneous in the passage. To go further, why is Her Majesty the Queen Dowager appointed to be prayed for by name ? and why is she not styled Her Majesty ? In both of these particulars, as it is assumed in the present note, there are violations of propriety and precedent. The Queen Dowager is entitled to be styled in our prayers, as on all other occasions, Her Majesty. In the early part of the reign of King George III, the Royal Mother of the Majesty, no less than the Royal Consort, were appointed to be specifically prayed for, and the prayer now before us was thus : — " That it may please thee to bless and preserve our Gracious Queen Charlotte, Her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales, and all the Royal Family." (The Book of Common Prayer, &c. Cambridge, 1762.) At a later period of the same reign, and after considerable changes in the living mem- bers of the Royal Family, the order of prayer stood thus :— " Their Royal Highnesses George Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family." (The Book of Common Prayer, &c. London, 1820.) Again, in the latter part of the reign of King George II, when the Prince of Wales for the time being was Prince George, afterward King George III, we read, — " That it may please thee to bless and preserve their Royal Highnesses George Prince of Wales, the 32 THE LITANY. That it may please thee to endue the Lords of the Council, and all the Nobility, with grace, wis- dom, and understanding ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to bless and keep the Magistrates, giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to give us a heart to love and dread thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace, to hear meekly thy Word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. Princess Dowager of "Wales, &c. &c." (The Book of Common Prayer, &c., London, 1754.) It is thus obvious, that precedent demands for the Queen Dowager the prefix of her style, " Her Majesty," equivalent to the style of " Royal Highness," always observed in ana- logous cases ; and should an objection be thought tenable from the consideration that the Queen Regnant is nowhere spoken of, in the actual text of our prayers, by the style " Her Majesty," let it be at least remembered, that besides the sounding titles given to the Queen Regnant in the text of the express prayer for Her Majesty, that prayer is entitled, " A Prayer for the Queen's Majesty." But, while too little is given to the Queen Dowager by withholding the style, " Her Majesty," too much is given, upon the other hand, in the appointment that Her Majesty should now be named. It is here that the proper distinction should be observed, in the prayers of the Church, between the Queen Regnant and the Queen Dowager. The pre- cedent has been, to name the Sovereign upon the throne ; to name the Royal Consort ; to name the Heir or Heiress-apparent ; but not to name a Queen Dowager, or a Princess Dow- ager of Wales : and the reason for the observance of such a rule appears obvious ; namely, that of signalizing and presenting to the more particular affections of the people, the Royal Person or Persons actually upon the throne, and the Royal Person in absolute succession. It is presumed, then, that if even the present words of this petition were retained, a con- siderable improvement would be effected, were we but permitted to change their order as follows ; that is, " The Queen Dowager Adelaide;" but that still better would be the form — "The Queen Dowager," only; and best of all — and in agreement with the precedent " Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales,"— would be the form thus : " That it may please thee to bless and preserve Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, and all the Royal Family." These remarks apply in an equal manner to the corresponding terms of the ' ' Prayer for the Royal Family," where a preceding note has reference to the remarks now offered. THE LITANY. 33 That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand ; and to comfort and help the weak- hearted ; and to raise up them that fall ; and, finally, to beat down Satan under our feet ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to succour, help, and comfort, all that are in danger, necessity, and tribu- lation ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to preserve all that travel by land or by water; all women labouring of child ; all sick persons, and young children ; and to show thy pity upon all prisoners and cap- tives ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to defend and provide for the fatherless children, and widows; and all that are desolate and oppressed ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to have mercy upon all men ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so as, in due time, we may enjoy them ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to give us true repent- ance ; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances ; and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy Word; W e beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 34 THE LITANY. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Grant us thy peace. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy upon us. O Christ, hear us. O Christ, hear us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. TJien shall the Priest, and the People with him, say the Lord's Prayer. OUR Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil. Amen. O Lord, deal not with us after our sins. Neither reward us after our iniquities. Let us pray. OGOD, merciful Father, that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as be sorrowful ; mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and O Lord, deal not with us after our sins.~\— The use of the word " after," here and in the " Answer," which follows it, gives occasion to some persons strangely to imagine that the prayer is, that God will neither " deal with us," nor " reward us," after our iniquities ; that is, in point of time. But the word " after" has an additional sense in which it is very .commonly employed, and which is its sense on this occasion. The petition is, that God will not deal with us " according to our sins," or, in t!ae manner in which they deserve. Neither reward us after our iniquities.'] — The word "reward," in this "Answer," is another source of occasional misconstruction. To " reward," is sometimes to bestow bounty in return for good deeds ; but to visit evil deeds with commensurate punishment is equally the province of reward; and it is against this description of reward that these prayers are offered. THE LITANY. 35 adversities, whensoever they oppress us; and gra- ciously hear us, that those evils which the craft and subtility of the devil, or man, worketh against us, be brought to nought, and by the providence of thy goodness they may be dispersed ; that we, thy servants, being hurt by no persecutions, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord. O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thy name's sake. OGod, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared unto us, the noble works that thou didst in their days, and in the old time before them. O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thine honour. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. From our enemies defend us, O Christ. Graciously look upon our afflictions. Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts. Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people. Favourably, with mercy, hear our prayers. O Son of David, have mercy upon us. Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us, O Christ. Graciously hear us, O Christ ; graciously hear us, O Lord Christ. O Lord, let thy mercy be showed upon us ; As we do put our trust in thee. Let us pray. humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities, and, for the glory of thy Name, turn from us all those evils that we most righteously have deserved ; and grant, that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and 36 PRAYERS. confidence in thy mercy, and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honour and glory, through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer of St. Chrysostom. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace, at this time, with one accord to make our com- mon supplications unto thee ; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests ; fulfil, now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants as may be most expedient for them ; granting us, in this world, knowledge of thy truth, and, in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen. 2 Cor. xiii. THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. Here endeth the LITANY. PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS, UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, To be used before the two final Prayers of the Litany, or of Morning and Evening Prayer. PRAYERS. For Rain. OGod, heavenly Father, who, by thy Son Jesus Christ, hast promised to all them that seek thy kingdom and the righteousness thereof, all things necessary to their bodily sustenance ; send us, we beseech thee, in this our necessity, such moderate rain and showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our comfort and to thy honour, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PRAYERS. 37 For Fair Weather. Almighty Lord God, who, for the sin of man, didst once drown all the world except eight persons, and, afterward, of thy great mercy didst promise never to destroy it so again; we humbly beseech thee, that although we, for our iniquities, have worthily deserved a plague of rain and waters, yet, upon our true repentance, thou wilt send us such weather as that we may receive the fruits of the earth in due season ; and learn both by thy punish- ment to amend our lives, and for thy clemency to give thee praise and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. In the time of Dearth and Famine. OGod, heavenly Father, whose gift it is that the rain doth fall, the earth is fruitful, beasts in- crease, and fishes do multiply ; behold, we beseech thee, the afflictions of thy people ; and grant that the scarcity and dearth which we do now most justly suffer for our iniquity, may, through thy goodness, be mercifully turned into cheapness and plenty, for the love of Jesus Christ our Lord ; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Or this. OGod, merciful Father, who, in the time of Elisha the prophet, didst suddenly, in Samaria, turn great scarcity and dearth into plenty and cheap- ness ; have mercy upon us, that we, who are now for our sins punished with like adversity, may like- wise find a seasonable relief : increase the fruits of the earth by thy heavenly benediction ; and grant that we, receiving thy bountiful liberality, may use the same to thy glory, the relief of those that are needy, and our own comfort, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. £8 PRAYERS. In the time of War and Tumults. Almighty God, King of all kings, and Gover- nor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to them that truly repent ; save and deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the hands of our enemies ; abate their pride, assuage their malice, and con- found their devices ; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee who art the only giver of all victory ; through the merits of thy only Son, J esus Christ our Lord. Amen. In the time of any common Plague or Sickness. Almighty God, who, in thy wrath, didst send a plague upon thine own people, in the wilder- ness, for their obstinate rebellion against Moses and Aaron ; and also, in the time of king David, didst slay with the plague of Pestilence threescore and ten thousand, and yet, remembering thy mercy, didst save the rest ; have pity upon us miserable sinners who now are visited with great sickness and mortality ; that like as thou didst then accept of an atonement, and didst command the destroying Angel to cease from punishing, so it may now please thee to withdraw from us this plague and grievous sickness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. In the Ember Weeks ; to be said every day for those that are to be admitted into Holy Orders, ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who hast purchased to thyself an universal Church by the precious blood of thy dear Son, mercifully In the Ember Weeks.'] — Referring, in this place, to a preceding note, it may be observed, that it is in this prayer we find the words " Bishops and Pastors" exchanged for those of "Bishops and Curates;" while, in the words which here present themselves ("give thy grace and heavenly benediction,") we see the meaning of the " continual dew of thy PRAYERS. 39 look upon the same ; and, at this time, so guide and govern the minds of thy servants the Bishops and Pastors of thy flock, that they may lay hands suddenly on no man ; but faithfully and wisely make choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred Ministry of thy Church. And to those which shall be or- dained to any holy function give thy grace and heavenly benediction, that, both by their life and doctrine, they may set forth thy glory, and set for- ward the salvation of all men, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Or this. ALMIGHTY God, the giver of all good gifts, who, of thy divine providence, hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church ; give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are to be called to any office and administration in the same ; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doc- trine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer that maij he said after any of the former. OGod, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive, receive our humble petitions ; and though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins, yet let the pitifulness of thy great mercy loose us, for the honour of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate. Amen. blessing," employed in the previous instance; and further proof that the "marvels" there referred to consist in miracles, or spiritual acts and gifts. Ember, imber, or, ymber.~\ This is an Anglo-Saxon term, signifying periodical, or the returning of a thing inB circle, or at the end of sl period. In the ancient English Church the Ember Weeks were four in every year, and consisted of times of fasting and prayer, " for obtaining the fruits of the earth, and to give thanks for the same ; and also to obtain the grace of the Holy Ghost when Holy Orders are given, and Ministers made." At present, the principal Ember Week considered is that of Lent ; and in this, the Wed- nesday being called ^-Wednesday, the mistake has arisen, of confounding the term ember in the Ember Week with the term embers, or ashes. 40 PRAYERS. A Prayer for the High Court of Parliament, to be read during their Session. MOST gracious God, we humbly beseech thee as for this Kingdom in general, so especially for the High Court of Parliament, under our most religious and gracious Queen at this time assembled ; that thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honour, and welfare, of our Sovereign and her dominions ; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours upon the best and surest founda- tions, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations ; these and all other necessaries for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. A Collect, or Prayer, for all Conditions of Men, to be used at such times when the Litany is not appointed to be said. OGod, the Creator and Preserver of all man- kind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men, that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially, we pray for the good estate of the Catholic Church; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are any ways afflicted, or distressed, in mind, body, * This to be said or estate ; [* especially those for when any desire the wnom our p ra yers are desired ;] Prayers 01 the Con- . sr v x»7 gregation. that it may please thee to comtort THANKSGIVINGS. 41 and relieve them, according to their several neces- sities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions ; and this we beg for Jesus Christ his sake. Amen. THANKSGIVINGS. A General Thanksgiving. ALMIGHTY God, father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, and to all men ; [* particularly * This to be said to those who desire now to offer up btn%rayedfor h d V e! their P™ iseS ™ d thanksgivings for sire to return praise, thy late mercies vouchsafed unto themJ] We bless thee for our creation, preserva- tion, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thank- ful, and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips but in our lives, by giving up our- selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days, through J esus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. For Rain. OGod, our heavenly Father, who, by thy gra- cious providence, dost cause the former and the latter rain to descend upon the earth, that it may bring forth fruit for the use of man ; we give thee humble thanks that it hath pleased thee, in our great necessity, to send us, at the last, a G 42 THANKSGIVINGS. joyful rain upon thine inheritance, and to refresh it when it was dry, to the great comfort of us thy unworthy servants, and to the glory of thy holy Name, through thy mercies in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Fair Weather. OLord God, who hast justly humbled us by thy late plague of immoderate rain and waters, and in thy mercy hast relieved and comforted our souls by this seasonable and blessed change of weather ; we praise and glorify thy holy Name for this thy mercy, and will always declare thy loving- kindness from generation to generation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Plenty. OMost merciful Father, who, of thy gracious goodness, hast heard the devout prayers of thy Church, and turned our dearth and scarcity into cheapness and plenty ; we give thee humble thanks for this thy special bounty, beseeching thee to con- tinue thy loving-kindness unto us, that our land may yield us her fruits of increase, to thy glory and our comfort, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, For Peace and Deliverance from our Fnemies. Almighty God, who art a strong tower of de- fence unto thy servants against the face of their enemies ; we yield thee praise and thanksgiving for our deliverance from those great and apparent dan- gers wherewith we were compassed ; we acknow- ledge it thy goodness that we were not delivered over as a prey unto them ; beseeching thee still to continue such thy mercies towards us, that all the world may know that thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THANKSGIVINGS. 43 For restoring Public Peace at Home. Eternal God, our heavenly Father, who alone makest men to be of one mind in a house, and stillest the outrage of a violent and unruly people ; we bless thy holy Name that it hath pleased thee to appease the seditious tumults which have been lately raised up amongst us ; most humbly beseech- ing thee to grant to all of us grace, that we may henceforth obediently walk in thy holy command- ments, and leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, may continually offer unto thee our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for these thy mercies towards us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Deliverance from the Plague, or other common Sickness. OLord God, who hast wounded us for our sins, and consumed us for our transgressions, by thy late heavy and dreadful visitation, and now, in the midst of judgment remembering mercy, hast redeemed our souls from the jaws of death ; we offer unto thy fatherly goodness ourselves, our souls and bodies which thou hast delivered, to be a living sacrifice unto thee, always praising and magnifying thy mercies in the midst of thy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Or this. WE humbly acknowledge before thee, O most merciful Father, that all the punishments which are threatened in thy law might justly have fallen upon us, by reason of our manifold transgres- sions and hardness of heart; yet, seeing it hath pleased thee of thy tender mercy, upon our weak and unworthy humiliation, to assuage the contagious sickness wherewith we lately have been sore afflicted, 44 FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. and to restore the voice of joy and health into our dwellings, we offer unto thy Divine Majesty the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, lauding and magnifying thy glorious Name for such thy preser- vation and providence over us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE COLLECTS, EPISTLES, AND GOSPELS, TO BE USED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. Note, that the Collect appointed for every Sunday, or for any Holy- day that hath a Vigil or Eve, sliall be said at the Evening Service next before. FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. The Collect. ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness ; and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that, in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen. Collects.'] — With reference to all the numerous Prayers contained in the Liturgy under the name of " Collect's," the observations that follow occur in the valuable work entitled, " A Rational Illustration of the Book of Common Prayer, &c." By Charles Wheatley, M. A., &c. &c. " The reason why these Prayers are so often called Collects is differently represented. Some ritualists think, because the word Collect is sometimes used, both in the vulgar Latin Bible, (Lev. xxiii. 36. ; Heb. x. 25.) and by the ancient Fathers, to denote the gathering together of the people in religious assemblies, that, therefore, the Prayers are called Collects, as being repeated when the people are collected together. Others think that they are so named upon account of their comprehensive brevity ; the Minister collecting into short forms the petitions of the people, which had before been divided be- tween him and them, by versicles and responses ; and that, for this reason, God is desired in some of them, to hear the prayers and supplications of the people. Though I think it is very probable, that the Collects for the Sundays and Holy days bear that name upon account that a great many of them are collected out of the Epistles and Gospels." FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 45 litis Collect is to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas Eve. The Epistle. Rom. xiii. 8. OWE no man any thing, but to love one another : for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet ; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour ; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law : and that, knowing the time ; that now it is high time to awake out of sleep : for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand ; let us there- fore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day ; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envy- ing. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. The Gospel. St. Matth. xxi. 1. WHEN they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her ; loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them : and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples 46 SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. went, and did as Jesus commanded them; and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way ; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Ho- sanna to the Son of David; Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord ; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem all the city was moved, saying, Who is this ? And the multitude said, This is Jesus, the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple ; and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves ; and said unto them, it is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer ; but ye have made it a den of thieves. SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. The Collect. BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scrip- tures to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. The Epistle. Rom. xv. 4. WHATSOEVER things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we, through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 47 grant you to be like-minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus : that ye may with one mind, and one mouth, glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say, that J esus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to con- firm the promises made unto the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy ; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy Name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gen- tiles, and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, (that ye may abound in hope,) through the power of the Holy Ghost. The Gospel. St. Luke xxi. 25. AND there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity ; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth : for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory. And Now I say, that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for Ms mercy.] By the words, " fop the truth of God," is to he understood, the faithfulness of God to " the promises made unto the fathers ;" and in the whole passage is to be remarked the brief enunciation of the doctrines constantly insisted upon by Saint Paul ; namely, that salvation was to " come of the Jews," or of " the circumcision," " but to be extended to the Gentiles, that so Abraham might be " the heir of the world ;" and that these are really the " promises made unto the fathers," and especially to Abraham. For the powers of heaven shall be shaken.] —Read " For the powers of the heavens shall be shaken ;" the same as in the corresponding passage, in a subsequent Gospel from St. Matthew. In the original Greek, the words in both places are the same, and the transla- tions, also, are the same, in every language of Europe but the English. A proper under- standing of the meaning of the expression, " the powers of the heavens," would show the importance of the error in this part of the translation of St. Luke. 48 THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable : Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees ; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. The Collect. OLord Jesu Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee ; grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world, we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Epistle. I Cor. iv. 1. LET a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself, yet am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 49 things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts ; and then shall every man have praise of God. The Gospel. St. Matth. xi. 2. NOW when John had heard, in the prison, the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another ? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show J ohn again those things which ye do hear and see ; the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them ; and blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see ? a reed shaken with the wind ? But what went ye out for to see ? a man clothed in soft raiment ? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see ? a prophet ? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is writ- ten, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. The Collect. OLord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us : that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us, through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom, with thee h 50 FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen. The Epistle. Phil. iv. 4. REJOICE in the Lord alway, and again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing ; but in every thing, by prayer and sup- plication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The Gospel. St. John i. 19. THIS is the record of John, when the Jews sent Priests and Levites from J erusalem to ask him, Who art thou ? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then ? Art thou Elias ? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that Prophet ? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou ? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What say est thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wil- derness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that Prophet ? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not ; he it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was bap- tizing. CHRISTMAS DAY. 51 The Nativity of our Lord, or the Birth-Day of CHRIST, commonly called CHRISTMAS DAY. The Collect. LMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin ; grant that we, being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Epistle. Heb. i. 1. GOD, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the pro- phets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds ; who, being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high ; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begot- ten thee ? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son. And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever ; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre 52 CHRISTMAS DAY. of thy kingdom ; thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity ; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands : they shall perish, but thou remainest ; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed ; but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. The Gospel. St. John i. 1. IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him ; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John ; the same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light : that was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world : he was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not : he came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name ; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. The Light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.'}—" The Light shone or shiued in darkness." The same with the sentences which shortly follow :— " He was in the world, &c. and the world knew him not. He came to his own and his own received him not. SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY. 53 The Collect. GRANT, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of thy truth, we may steadfastly look up to heaven, and by faith be- hold the glory that shall be revealed ; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors by the example of thy first martyr Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those that suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. Then shall follow the Collect of the Nativity, which shall be said continually unto Mew-year 's Eve. For the Epistle. Acts vii. 55. STEPHEN, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him : and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge, And when he had said this, he fell asleep. The Gospel. St. Matth. xxiii. 34. BEHOLD, I send unto you prophets and wise- men and scribes ; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify ; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city' to cit y; that upon you may come all the righteous 54 ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY. blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righ- teous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Bara- chias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee ; how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not ! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate ; for I say unto you, ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY. The Collect. MERCIFUL Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that it, being enlightened by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to the light of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. 1 St. John i. 1. THAT which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have And our hands have handled of the Word of Life; for the Life was manifested, 8rc. ; that eternal Life which was with the Father, and was manifested to ««.]— By the words " that eternal Life which was with the Father," understand, " that Word of Life which was eternally with the Father ;" or, the same with St. John, i. 1. (see, above, the Gospel for Christmas Day,) " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God." " The same was in the beginning with God." " In him, [the Word]" continues the Gospel, „ Y? S T -/ e; and thus ' ln this E P istle > the same " Word" is called the « Word of Life,"— the Life which was manifested," and " that eternal Life which was with the Father." Again, in the Gospel referred to, we are told, that " the Life [which was in the Word] was the Light of men," and "was the true Light," and here, in this Epistle, we find a recurrence to the same imagery of Light, and perceive that in both portions of Scripture, the Word, the Life, and the Light, are always the same person ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY. 55 handled of the Word of Life ; (for the Life was mani- fested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal Life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us ;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us ; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, That God is Light, and in him is no darkness at all : if we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth ; but if we walk in the Light, as he is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin* we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us : if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness : if we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. The Gospel. St. John xxi. 19. JESUS said unto Peter, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved, following ; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that be- trayeth thee ? Peter, seeing him, saith to J esus, Lord, and what shall this man do ? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee ? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, That that disciple should not die : yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die ; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee ? This is the And walk in darkness.'] — " And yet walk in darkness." We have fellowship with one another.'] — " We have fellowship with God, as God with us." 56 THE INNOCENTS' DAY. disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. THE INNOCENTS' DAY. The Collect. Almighty God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest in- fants to glorify thee by their deaths ; mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith, even unto death, we may glorify thy holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For the Epistle. Rev. xiv. 1. I Looked, and lo ! a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder ; and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps ; and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders : and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins ; these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth ; these were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile ; for they are without fault before the throne of God. SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY. 57 The Gospel. St. Matth. ii. 13. THE angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word ; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother, by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod ; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under ; according to the time which he had dili- gently enquired of the wise-men. Then was ful- filled that which was spoken by Jeremy the pro- phet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning ; Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. THE SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY. The Collect. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only- begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin ; grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The wise-mew.]— In all the editions of the New Testament and Book of Common Prayer, •which are properly printed, we read wise-men, and not icise men. By wise-men is meant a professional denomination ; that is, the magi of the East, or professed astrologers, or astronomers; for so were the ancient astronomers denominated. 58 SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY. The Epistle. Gal. iv. 1. NOW I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all ; but is under tutors and gover- nors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world; but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father, Where- fore thou art no more a servant, but a son ; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. The Gospel. St. Matth. i. 18. THE birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise : When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife ; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost : and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus ; for he shall save his people from their sins. (Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts."] — The apostle tells us that Christians are sons, or children, of God, and therefore co-heirs with Christ ; and he argues, that when we cry " Ahba, Father," the very expression demonstrates, that God has sent into our hearts a spirit, or feeling, that we are such sons or children ; that is, a kindred spirit, or feeling, to the spirit, or feeling, of his actual " Son." And thou shalt call his name Jesus ; for he shall save his people from their sins.] — To understand the injunction, we must remember, that the name Jesus signifies " Saviour." Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled, 8{c. and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which, being interpreted, is, God with us.] — The name Jesus, then, is a synonyme of the name Emmanuel ; and the name Emmanuel, like the name Jesus, THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST. 59 prophet, saying, Behold, a Virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel ; which, being interpreted, is, God with us.) Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife ; and knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son : and he called his name Jesus. THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST. The Collect. ALMIGHTY God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man ; grant us the true circumcision of the spirit ; that our hearts, and all our members, being mor- tified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will, through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Rom. iv. 8. BLESSED is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness, then, upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircum- cision also ? For we say, that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it, then, reckoned ? When he was in circumcision, or in uncir- cumcision ? Not in circumcision, but in uncircum- cision ! And he received the sign of circumcision (a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised) that he might be the father of all them that believe though they be not circumcised, (that righteousness might be signifies Saviour; but how? By the interpretation, " God with us," is to be under- stood, not merely a " present God," but a "helping, aiding, serving, saving God." The name Emmanuel, "being interpreted," signifies " God the Saviour, 1 ' or, the "Saviour which is Christ the Lord ;" and, in the words, " Jesus Christ," we have the full sense of the words "the Saviour Christ',' or, of the words "Christ the Saviour." There is a repletion when we read " Our Saviour Jesus Christ ;" but not so in the words, " Our Saviour Christ." 60 THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST. imputed unto them also,) and the father of circum- cision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For, if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect. The Gospel. St. Luke ii. 15. AND it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child ; and all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorify- ing and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circum- cising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. The same Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, shall serve for every day after unto the Epiphany. For, if they which are of the Law he heirs.']—" They which are of the Law," are the Jews, or followers of the Law of Moses, or that which is here spoken of as the Law delivered unto Abraham ; and, in the passage now cited, " sole heirs" should be understood. The apostle does not deny that " salvation is of the Jews," but insists, that it is not " of the Jews" only. He argues that salvation is the general reward of righteousness, and that the righteousness "reckoned to Abraham," was a righteousness before or without the Law, and not after it, or with it. The Law, he contends, was a seal, or sign, or certificate, of the righteousness pre-existing to the Law ; and salvation comes, not partially of the Law, but universally of the righteousness. In a Gospel, a little further on, we shall see the doctrine of this Epistle yet further ex- tended ; and in a subsequent Epistle we shall learn the nature of the faith that was reckoned to Abraham for right eoxisness ; that is, as an equivalent to a fulfilment of the Law. THE EPIPHANY. 61 THE EPIPHANY, Or, the Manifestation of CHRIST to the Gentiles. The Collect. OGod, who, by the leading of a star, didst mani- fest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles ; mercifully grant, that we, which know thee now by faith, may, after this life, have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Ephes. hi. 1. FOR this cause, I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for your Gentiles ; if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me to you-ward : How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery (as I wrote afore in a few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit ; That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ, by the Gospel : whereof I was made a minister, accord- ing to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gen- tiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ : to the intent, that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he 62 THE EPIPHANY. purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. The Gospel. St. Matth. ii. 1. WHEN Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaga, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise-men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews ? for we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them, where Christ should be born ? And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judasa; for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda : for out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise-men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared ? And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go, and search diligently for the young child, and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed ; and lo ! the star which they saw in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the And lo ! the star which they saw in the East.] — That is, the star which they had seen in their own eastern country. Till it came and stood.] That is, till it no longer receded to the westward, in proportion as they advanced upon it from the East. And when they had opened their treasures.']— -That is, the wise-men made gifts to the " King of the Jews," according to the general custom of the East, in respect of kings and others. But the description of their " treasures," — and the " gold, and frankincense, and myrrh"— seems to have been among the sources of the extra-scriptural traditions, that these Eastern Magi were themselves kings, and that they were three in number. It is known, that throughout a large part of the Christian world, the Feast of the Epiphany is called the Feast of the Kings. FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 63 young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him : and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts ; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God, in a dream, that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. The Collect. OLord, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee ; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Rom. xii. i. I Beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mer- cies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world ; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think ; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many mem- bers in one body, and all members have not the same office ; so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. The Gospel, St. Luke ii. 41. 1VTOW his parents went to Jerusalem every year \_\ at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, 64 SECOND SUN. AFTER EPIPHANY. after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to J erusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions ; and all that heard him were astonished at his under- standing and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed : and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us ? behold, thy father and I have sought thee, sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me ? wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business ? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them : but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. The Collect. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth ; mer- cifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Rom. xii. 6. HAVING then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of SECOND SUN. AFTER EPIPHANY. 65 faith ; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering ; or he that teacheth, on teaching ; or he that ex- horteth, on exhortation : he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity ; he that ruleth, with diligence ; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love ; in honour preferring one another ; not slothful in business ; fervent in spirit ; serving the Lord ; re- joicing in hope ; patient in tribulation ; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints ; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you ; bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one towards another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. The Gospel. St. Johnii. 1. AND the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee ? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three fir- kins a-piece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water- pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants which drew the water K 66 THIRD SUN. AFTER EPIPHANY. knew,) the governor of the feast called the bride- groom, and saith unto him, Every man at the begin- ning doth set forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This begin- ning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory ; and his disciples believed on him. THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. The Collect. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dan- gers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Rom. xii. 16. BE not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath : for it is written, Vengeance is mine ; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thirst, give him drink ; for, in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. The Gospel. St. Matth. viii. 1. TY 7~HEN he was come down from the mountain, y y great multitudes followed him. And behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, say- ing, I will ; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, FOURTH SUN. AFTER EPIPHANY. 67 See thou tell no man ; but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses com- manded, for a testimony unto them. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion an- swered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof ; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me ; and I say unto this man, Go, and he goeth ; and to another, Come, and he cometh ; and to my ser- vant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven ; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness ; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the self-same hour. FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. The Collect. OGod, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that, by reason of the frailty of our nature, we cannot always stand upright ; grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 68 FOURTH SUN. AFTER EPIPHANY, The Epistle. Rom. xiii. 1. T ET every soul be subject unto the higher JLj powers ; for there is no power but of God ; the powers that be are ordained of God. Who- soever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God : and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power ? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same : for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid ; for he beareth not the sword in vain : for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For, for tlnV cause pay ye tribute also ; for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render, therefore, to all their dues ; tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. The Gospel. St. Matth. viii. 23. AND when he was entered into a ship, his dis- ciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves : but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us, we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful ? O ye of little faith ! Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. But the men mar- velled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him ! And when he was come to the other side, into the country of For they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.'] — Tribute is to be paid to civil governors, for the support of themselves and their station, because they are God's ministers, " continually attending" upon the good mau for his "good," and " to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." FIFTH SUN. AFTER EPIPHANY. 69 the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time ? And there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine, feeding. So the devils besought him, say- ing, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine : and behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus : and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. The Collect. £\ Lord, we beseech thee to keep thy Church \J and household continually in thy true religion ; that they who do lean only upon the hope of thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by thy mighty power, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Col. hi. 12. PUT on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble- ness of mind, meekness, long-suffering ; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any ; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And, above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 70 SIXTH SUN. AFTER EPIPHANY. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs ; singing, with grace in your hearts, to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus ; giving thanks to God and the Father by him. The Gospel. St. Matth. xiii. 24. THE kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field. But while men slept, his enemy came, and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came, and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field ? from whence then hath it tares ? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up ? But he said, Nay ; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest ; and in the time of har- vest I will say to the reapers, gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them ; but gather the wheat into my barn. SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. The Collect. OGod, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life ; Giving thanks to God and the Father. ,] — God the Father. The householder.] — The husbandman, or housebondman. SIXTH SUN. AFTER EPIPHANY. 71 grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves, even as he is pure ; that when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom, where, with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Epistle. 1 St. John iii. 1. BEHOLD, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God ! Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be ; but we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law ; for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins ; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abide th in him sinneth not ; whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you ; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous : he that com- mitteth sin is of the devil ; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, That he might destroy the works of the devil. Therefore the world knoweth us not, 8fc] — " For this reason the world knoweth us [the sons of God] not ;" namely, " because it knew him [the Son of God] not." We shall be like him.]—" We shall be like the Son of God." Even as he is pure. .] — " Even as the Son of God is pure." He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.'] — " The righteous man is he that is righteous, even as the Son of God is righteous." For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, That he might destroy the works of the devil.] — This is a repetition, in new words, of the text a little before : " He was mani- fested to take away our sinsj" and, as appears expressly from the context, to "destroy the works of the devil:" and, to "take away our sins," is here intended to signify, the prevention of the committing of sins; or prevention of (that is, the destruction of) the works of the devil. 72 SIXTH SUN. AFTER EPIPHANY. The Gospel. St. Matth. xxiv. 23. THEN, if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it not ; for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders ; insomuch that (if it were possible) they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth : behold, he is in the secret chambers, believe it not. For, as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west ; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For, where- soever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribula- tion of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light ; and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven ; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels, with a great sound of a trumpet ; and they shall gather to- gether his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. And then shall be seen the sign of the Son of Man in heaven.] — Rather, perhaps — " Then shall be seen the appearance of the Son of Man in heaven." All the tribes of the earth shall mourn.'] — Better, perhaps, shall tremble, or, be afraid. From the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.'] — " From the four points of the compass, or, from either side of the horizon; and from one end of the earth to the other." This is one of the passages of the New Testament of great importance as to the early controversy of the Gentile Christians with the Jewish converts. It agrees with the " re- velation" made to Saint Paul, concerning the " fellowship of the mystery," for righteous Gentiles and righteous Jews, in God's "promise in Christ," which has been the subject of a preceding Epistle. But the language of a former chapter of Saint Matthew (see, above, the Gospel for the- Third Sunday after the Epiphany) both illustrates the present passage, and carries the doctrine of this passage, and that of Saint Paul, still further than it is actually stated, either here or by the apostle. It is to the effect, that under the dispen- sation of the Gospel, not only many Gentiles shall be saved, (making part of the " elect,") but also that many Jews shall be lost : " And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the king- dom of heaven ; but [many of] the children of the kingdom [the Jews] shall be cast out into outer darkness." Yet after reading parts of the Gospels themselves, like the above, in which " the fellow- ship of the mystery," is already so fully taught, a question arises, as to the meaning of Saint Paul, when he seems to claim for himself the peculiar " dispensation" and "revelation ?" SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 73 SUNDAY CALLED SEPTUAGESIMA, Or the Third Sunday before Lent. The Collect. OLord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people, that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully deli- vered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Epistle. 1 Cor. ix. 24. KNOW ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receive th the prize ? So run that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things : now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incor- ruptible. I, therefore, so run, not as uncertainly ; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air : but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection ; lest that, by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away. That he does not mean, however, that which, at a first view, his words might seem to impart, is evident from the conclusion of his sentence. When he speaks of the " mystery," as in other ages not made known, he speaks of it also as being now revealed ; and when he speaks of the " mystery" as being made known by the revelation to himself, he speaks of it also, as now generally revealed " unto his holy Apostles and Prophets." Saint Paul, therefore, must appear more remarkable for the zeal with which he gave effect to the " revelation," than for being either its only, or its first, receiver. See above, the Epistle, appointed for the Feast of the Epiphany. When St. Paul says, of what he calls the " mystery of Christ," and the " fellowship of the mystery," which "in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his (God's) holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit," he must mean, by the word " Prophets," not the Prophets of the Old Testament, but his own contemporary prophets, preachers, or interpreters of the Ghristian Gospel ; and when he tells us, that this mystery, " in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now re- vealed, &c ;" and is what " from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God ;" we are again reminded, that this mystery, and this hiding, had no source but in the obstinate prepossessions of the Jews, through which that people could never learn, from " Moses and the Prophets" of their early history, the very doctrine which is here described as only " now revealed ;" that is, only now perceived and accepted by such Jewish Converts as Saint Paul himself. For much earlier revelations of the mystery, in fact, the Apostle has himself quoted (Rom. xv. 4) the Psalms and the ancient Prophets, and much might be added to his quotations ; while all that was really new, was the new discovery of the ancient meaning. L 74 SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. The Gospel. St. Matth. xx. 1. THE kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place, and said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you : and they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle ? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, say- ing, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong ; didst not thou agree with me for a penny ? take that thine is, and go thy way ; I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own ? Is thine eye A penny.'] — The coin intended in the original, is the Roman denarius, which was of greater value than the English penny. SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. 75 evil, because I am good ? So the last shall be first, and the first last : for many be called, but few- chosen. SUNDAY CALLED SEXAGESIMA, Or the Second Sunday before Lent. The Collect. OLord God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do, mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all ad- versity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. 2 Cor. xi. 19. YE suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak : howbeit, whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. Are they Hebrews ? so am I. Are they Israelites ? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham ? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ ? (I speak as a fool,) I am more : in labours more abundant ; in stripes above measure ; in prisons more frequent ; in deaths oft. Of the J ews five times received I forty stripes save one : thrice was I beaten with rods ; once was I stoned ; thrice I suffered shipwreck ; a night and a day I have been in the deep ; in journeying often ; in perils of waters ; in perils of robbers ; in perils by mine own countrymen ; in perils by the heathen ; in perils in the city ; in perils in the wilderness ; in perils in the sea ; in perils among false brethren ; in weariness and painfulness; in watchings often; Ye suffer fools gladly. ~] — Rather, cheerfully, willingly, patiently. 76 SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY, in hunger and thirst ; in fastings often ; in cold and nakedness ; besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak ? who is offended, and I burn not ? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. The Gospel. St. Luke viii. 4. WHEN much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable : A sower went out to sow his seed ; and, as he sowed, some fell by the way-side, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock, and as soon as it was sprung up it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit a hundred-fold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be ? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables ; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not under- stand. Now the parable is this : The seed is the Word of God. Those by the way-side are they that hear ; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe, and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root ; which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares, and QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. 77 riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. SUNDAY CALLED QUINQUAGESIMA, Or the next Sunday before Lent. The Collect. OLord, who hast taught us that all our doings, without charity, are nothing worth ; send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues ; without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee ; grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. The Epistle. 1 Cor. xiii. 1. rpHOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and J, of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have no charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind ; charity envieth not ; charity vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up ; doth not behave itself unseemly ; seeketh not her own ; is not easily pro- voked; thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth ; beareth all things ; be- lieveth all things ; hopeth all things ; endureth all things. Charity never faileth : but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be 78 QUINQUAQESIMA SUNDAY. tongues, they shall cease ; whether there be know- ledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part ; but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child ; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three ; but the greatest of these is charity. The Gospel. St. Luke xviii. 31. THEN Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets con- cerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on : and they shall scourge him, and put him to death ; and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things : and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging : and hearing the mul- titude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before re- buked him, that he should hold his peace : but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.'] — Tbat is, ' ' we know in part, and we believe conjecture, imagine, or (by a familiar term,) we guess in part, whether as to things past, present, or to come. Thus, prophecy is an inward state of the mind ; and to prophesy, (by which is sometimes understood, preaching, expounding, Sfc.) is to express our belief, con- jecture, tkc. Of Jesus it is said, (Mark xiv,) "And some began to spit on him, and to eover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy !" Now, in familiar language, this was asking him to guess who buffeted, &c? (See Luke, xxii.) ASH-WEDNESDAY. 79 him to be brought unto him : and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee ? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight ; thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God : and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. The first Day of Lent, commonly called ASH-WEDNESDAY. The Collect. LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent ; create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. This Collect is to be read every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day. For the Epistle. Joel ii. 12. TURN ye even to me, saith the Lord, with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weep- ing, and with mourning. And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God ; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness ; and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return, and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meat-offer- ing and a drink-offering unto the Lord your God ? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the 80 THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. congregation, assemble the elders, gather the chil- dren, and those that suck the breasts ; let the bride- groom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet ; let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them. Wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God ? The Gospel. St. Matth. vi. 16. TXHIEN ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a yf sad countenance ; for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret ; and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal : but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal : for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. The Collect. OLord, who, for our sake, didst fast forty days and forty nights ; give us grace to use such abstinence, that our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. 81 The Epistle. 2 Cor. vi. h WE, then, as workers together with him, be- seech you also, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain ; (for he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee : behold, now is the accepted time ; behold, now is the day of salvation;) giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed ; but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in neces- sities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings ; by pure- ness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report ; as deceivers, and yet true ; as unknown, and yet well known ; as dying, and behold, we live ; as chastened and not killed ; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing ; as poor, yet making many rich ; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. The Gospel. St. Matth. iv. 1. THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward a-hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concern- ing thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, M 82 SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them ; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith J esus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan ; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him. THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. The Collect. ALMIGHTY God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves ; keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls ; that we may be defended from all adver- sities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. 1 Thess. iv. I. WE beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk, and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord J esus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication ; that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour ; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles, which know For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.]- -Not, that " your sanctification is the will of God ;" but, that " this is the will of God, who is your sanctification ; or, by whom alone, through obedience to his will, you can be sanctified, or made holy. THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. 83 not God : that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter ; because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you, and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He, there- fore, that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. The Gospel. St. Matth. xv. 21. JESUS went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David ; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil : but he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away ; for she crieth after us : but he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me : but he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord ; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. The Collect. WE beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 84 THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. The Epistle. Ephes. v. 1. BE ye, therefore, followers of God, as dear children ; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetous- ness, let it not be once named amongst you, as becometh saints ; neither fllthiness, nor foolish- talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient ; but rather giving of thanks : for this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolator, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words : for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye, therefore, partakers with them : for ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord : walk as children of light ; (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth ;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them : for it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light : for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. The Gospel. St. Luke xi. 14. JESUS was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake ; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub, the chief of the devils. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. 85 unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation ; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan, also, be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand ? because ye say, that I cast out devils, through Beel- zebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out ? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man, armed, keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace; but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest ; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than him- self, and they enter in, and dwell there ; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lift up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it. THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. The Collect. GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who, for our evil deeds, do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may 86 FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. mercifully be relieved, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. The Epistle. Gal. iv. 21. TELL me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law ? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons ; the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free-woman. But he who was of the bond-woman was born after the flesh ; but he of the free-woman was by promise. Which things are an allegory ; for these are the two covenants ; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free; which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not ; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not ; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless, what saith the Scripture ? Cast out the bond-woman and her son ; for the son of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free. The Gospel. St. John vi. 1. JESUS went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. (And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.) When Jesus then lift up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT. 87 Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat ? (And this he said to prove him ; for he him- self knew what he would do.) Philip answered him, Two hundred penny-worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley-loaves and two small fishes : but what are they among so many ? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. (Now there was much grass in the place.) So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks he dis- tributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down ; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley-loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is, of a truth, that Pro- phet that should come into the world. THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT. The Collect. WE beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people ; that, by thy great good- ness, they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Heb. ix. 11. CHRIST being come a High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect taber- nacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of 88 FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT. this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemp- tion for us. For, if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifleth to the purifying of the flesh ; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God ? And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new testament, That by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. The Gospel. St. John viii. 46. JESUS said, Which of you convinceth me of sin ? and, if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me ? He that is of God heareth God's words ; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil ? Jesus answered, I have not a devil ; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me : and I seek not mine own glory ; there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Which of you convinceth me of sin <"] — In the older English, the word convince was always used where we now say, convict. The argument of the text is, " Which of you convicteth me of sin ?" (that is, proveth me guilty of falsehood ?) « and, if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me ?" This great difference, between the words convict and convince, as they are at present employed, and entire agreement at no very distant day, may possibly explain the seeming and well-known paradox, contained in the lines — " He that's convinced against his will, Is of the same opinion still ;" for, while to convince, as now understood, is to satisfy a man's own mind ; to convict implies no more than to satufy the minds of others. A man cannot be convinced against his will, " because his will is necessarily obedient to the dictates of his own conviction, or state of being convinced;" but he may easily be convicted (formerly convinced) of error, either in opinion or in conduct, quite to the satisfaction of others, and yet quite against his belief, or quite " against his will.'" Nothing, then, would be more intelligible, under the present view of the employment of the word convince, than that a man might be convicted of error of opinion by others, quite "against his will, or quite against his own conviction; and that, therefore, so convicted (formerly convinced) he might be " — Of the same opinion still." SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE EASTER. 89 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil : Abraham is dead, and the pro- phets ; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead ? and the prophets are dead : whom makest thou thyself ? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing : it is my Father that honoureth me, of whom ye say, that he is your God : yet ye have not known him ; but I know him : and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar, like unto you ; but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham ? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him : but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple. THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE EASTER. The Collect. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility ; mercifully grant that we may both fol- low the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection ; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Phil. ii. 5. LE T this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus : who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God ; but N 90 SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE EASTER. made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men : and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a Name which is above every name ; that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth ; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The Gospel. St. Matth. xxvii. 1. WHEN the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against J esus, to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned, in that I have be- trayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us ? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed ; and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the Potter's Field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The Field of Blood, unto this day. (Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value, and gave them for the Potter's Field, as the Lord appointed me.) And Jesus But made himself of no reputation.] — Read, " But yet made himself of no reputation." SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE EASTER. 91 stood before the governor ; and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews ? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee ? And he answered him to never a word, insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you ? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ ? for he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man ; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multi- tude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you ? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ ? They all say unto him, Let him be cru- cified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done ? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person ; see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them : and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the gover- nor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered 92 SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE EASTER, unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand : and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews ! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him ; and led him away to cru- cify him. And as they came out they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name ; him they com- pelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a Place of a Scull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall : and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots : that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down, they watched him there ; and set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him ; one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself : if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Like- wise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others, himself he cannot save : if he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God ; let him deliver him now, if he will have him : for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the MONDAY BEFORE EASTER. 93 ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with aloud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent, and the graves were opened, and many bodies of saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrec- tion, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earth- quake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the son of God ! MONDAY BEFORE EASTER. For the Epistle. Isaiah lxiii. 1. WHO is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah ? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength ? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine- fat ? I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the people there was none with me : for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury ; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my gar- ments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there 94 MONDAY BEFORE EASTER. was none to help ; and I wondered that there was none to uphold : therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me, and my fury it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness towards the house of Israel which he hath bestowed on them, accord- ing to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie : so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them ; in his love, and in his pity, he redeemed them ; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit ; there- fore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock ? where is he that put his Holy Spirit within him ? that led them by the right hand of Moses, with his glorious arm dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting Name ? that led them through the deep as a horse in the wilder- ness, that they should not stumble ? As a beast goeth down into the valley, the spirit of the Lord caused him to rest : so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious Name. Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holi- ness and of thy glory : where is thy zeal, and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels, and of thy mercies towards me ? are they restrained ? Doubt- less thou art our Father, though Abraham be igno- rant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not : Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer ; thy Name MONDAY BEFORE EASTER. 95 is from everlasting. O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways ? and hardened our hearts from thy fear ? Return, for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while : our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. We are thine : thou never barest rule over them ; they were not called by thy Name. The Gospel. St. Mark xiv. 1. AFTER two days was the feast of the Passover, and of unleavened bread : and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be an uproar of the people. And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious ; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said. Why was this waste of the ointment made ? for it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor : and they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone ; why trouble ye her ? she hath wrought a good work on me ; for ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good ; but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could ; she is come afore-hand, to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached, through- out the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests to betray him unto them. And when they heard it they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might 96 MONDAY BEFORE EASTER. conveniently betray him. And the first day of un- leavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare, that thou mayest eat the passover ? And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water ; follow him : and wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the good-man of the house, The Master saith, where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples ? And he will show you a large upper-room, furnished and prepared : there make ready for us. And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them; and they made ready the passover. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat, and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, one of you which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I ? and another said, Is it I ? And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve that dippeth with me in the dish. The Son of Man indeed goeth, as it is written of him ; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed : good were it for that man if he had never been born. And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat ; this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them : and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had sung a hymn they went out into the Mount of Olives. And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night : for it is written, MONDAY BEFORE EASTER. 97 I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But, after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all. And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane : and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter, and J ames, and J ohn, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy, and saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death ; tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, (Father) all things are possible unto thee ; take away this cup from me : nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou ? couldest not thou watch one hour ? watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation : the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words : and when he returned he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now and take your rest : it is enough, the hour is come ; behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners : rise up, let us go ; lo ! he that betrayeth me is at hand. And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders. And he that betrayed him had given o 98 MONDAY BEFORE EASTER. them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he ; take him, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come he goeth straitway to him, and saith, Master, master ; and kissed him. And they laid their hands on him, and took him. And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. And J esus answered, and said unto them, Are ye come out as against a thief, with swords and with staves, to take me ? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not : but the Scriptures must be fulfilled. And they all forsook him, and fled. And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body ; and the young men laid hold on him : and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them, naked. And they led Jesus away to the high priest : and with him were assembled all the chief priests, and the elders, and the scribes. And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest ; and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. And the chief priests, and all the coun- cil, sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death, and found none : for many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another, made with- out hands ! But neither so did their witness agree together. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee ? But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed ? And Jesus said, I am ; and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in TUESDAY BEFORE EASTER. 99 the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses ? ye have heard the blasphemy : what think ye ? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy : and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands. And as Peter was beneath, in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest ; and when she saw Peter warming himself she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I, what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch ; and the cock crew. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them ; for thou art a Gali- lean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. TUESDAY BEFORE EASTER. For the Epistle. Isaiah 1. 5. THE Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair : I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help me, there- fore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not 100 TUESDAY BEFORE EASTER. be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me ; who will contend with me ? let us stand together ; who is mine adversary ? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me ; who is he that shall condemn me ? Lo ! they all shall wax old as a garment : the moth shall eat them up. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled : this shall ye have of mine hand ; ye shall lie down in sorrow. The Gospel. St. Mark xv. 1. AND straitway in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders, and scribes, and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the J ews ? And he, answering, said unto him, Thou sayest it. And the chief priests accused him of many things : but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing ? behold how many things they witness against thee. But J esus yet an- swered nothing: so that Pilate marvelled. Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had com- mitted murder in the insurrection. And the multi- tude, crying aloud, began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews ? (For he knew that the chief That obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ?~] — " That obeyeth the voice of the servant of the Lord, and, at the same time, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ?" TUESDAY BEFORE EASTER. 101 priests had delivered him for envy.) But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather re- lease Barabbas unto them. And Pilate answered, and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews ? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done ? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered J esus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the hall called Prastorium ; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head : and began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews ! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And they compel one Simon a Cyre- nian, who passed by, coming out of the country, (the father of Alexander and Rufus,) to bear his cross. And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The Place of a Scull. And they gave him to drink, wine mingled with myrrh : but he received it not. And when they had crucified him they parted his garments, casting lots upon them what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS! And with him they crucify two thieves, the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah ! thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three 102 WEDNESDAY BEFORE EASTER. days, save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests, mocking, said among themselves, with the scribes, He saved others ; him- self he cannot save. Let Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe ! And they that were crucified with him reviled him. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, JEloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani f which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he call- eth Elias. And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone ; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son WHERE a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator : for a testament is of force after men are dead ; otherwise it is of no strength at all whilst the testator liveth. Where a testament is.] — Saint Paul occasionally employs the words testament and cove- nant indifferently, and occasionally the word testament in two yery different senses. What are also called " the two covenants, 1 ' are called, in a preceding Epistle, " the first testa- ment," and "the new testament;" and it is in this sense of the word " testament," or covenant, that we call the two parts of the Bible, the Books of the Old Testament, and of the New Testament. But in the instance before us, we find the Apostle speaking of a Testament, as if it were what lawyers call a will, or " last will and testament." of God ! WEDNESDAY BEFORE EASTER. The Epistle. Heb. ix. 16. WEDNESDAY BEFORE EASTER. 103 Whereupon, neither the first testament was dedi- cated without blood : for when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people, according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover, he sprinkled with blood both the taber- nacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood ; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was, therefore, necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these ; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us ; nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others, (for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world) but now, once, in the end of the world, hath he appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And, as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; so Christ was once offered, to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation. The Gospel. St. Luke xxii. 1. NOW the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him ; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and com- muned with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, 104 WEDNESDAY BEFORE EASTER. and covenanted to give him money. And he pro- mised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, say- ing, Go and prepare us the Passover that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare ? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water ; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the good-man of the house, The Master saith unto thee, where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples ? and he shall show you a large upper room, furnished ; there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them : and they made ready the Passover. And when the hour was come he sat down, and the twelve Apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer : for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves ; for I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you : this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testa- ment in my blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table : and truly the Son of Man goeth as it was determined ; but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed. And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. And there was also a strife among WEDNESDAY BEFORE EASTER. 105 them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them ; and they that exercise authority upon them are called bene- factors ; but ye shall not be so : but he that is great- est among you, let him be as the younger ; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth ? is not he that sitteth at meat ? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have con- tinued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me ; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat : but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee both into prison and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing ? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip : and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgres- sors : for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray, that ye enter not into temptation. And he was p 106 WEDNESDAY BEFORE EASTER. withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me : nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly ; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye ? rise and pray, lest ye enter into tempta- tion. And while he yet spake, behold, a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto J esus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss ? When they who were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword ? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus an- swered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. Then J esus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders who were come to him, Be ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves ? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me : but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house : and Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him, as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER. 107 of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, say- ing, Of a truth this fellow also was with him ; for he is a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter ; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy ! who is it that smote thee ? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, and the chief priests, and the scribes, came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe : and if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of Man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou, then, the Son of God ? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness ? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER. The Epistle. 1 Cor. xi. 17. IN this that I declare unto you, I praise you not ; that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For, first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they who are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat 108 THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER. the Lord's Supper : for, in eating, every one taketh before other his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What ! have ye not houses to eat and to drink in ? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not ? What shall I say to you ? shall I praise you in this ? I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread ; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat ; this is my body, which is broken for you : this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner, also, he took the cup when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testa- ment in my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, un- worthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup : for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged : but when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come to- gether to eat, tarry one for another : and if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily.'] — That is, unbecomingly, indecorously ; not with due solemnity ; in an unworthy manner. Not discerning the Lord's body.] — Not discerning, or, not distinguishing " the Lord's Supper!' from an ordinary meal ; and hence profaning it by the manner of partaking. THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER. 109 The Gospel. St. Luke xxiii. 1. THE whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate, And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying, that he himself is Christ, a King. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him, and said, Thou sayest it. Then said Pilate to the chief priests, and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean ? And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was also at J eru- salem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus he was exceeding glad ; for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him ; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words ; but he answered him no- thing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod, with his men of war, set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. (And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together ; for, before, they were at enmity between themselves.) And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, and And led him. unto Pilate.']— At this stage of the narrative (see the Gospel for the Sunday next before Easter) St. Matthew relates the incidents of the repentance of Judas, and the purchase of the Potter's field; for the prophecy concerning which, the text professes to quote Jeremiah: " It happens," says Bishop Porteus, " that this passage is not found in Jeremiah, to which the evangelist refers, but in the eleventh chapter of Zechariah." (Porteus's Lecture, vol. ii. p. 307, note.) The words to which the Bishop thus directs us are these : " And I took my staff, evenBeauty, &c. &c. And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not. forbear: so they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter : a goodly price that I was priced at of them ! And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord."— Zechariah, c. xi, 10 — 13. 110 THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER. the rulers, and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people : and behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touch- ing those things whereof ye accuse him : no, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and lo! nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas : (who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) Pilate, therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, say- ing, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done ? I have found no cause of death in him : I will there- fore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified : and the voices of them, and of the chief priests, prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired ; but he deli- vered J esus to their will. And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there fol- lowed him a great company of people, and of wo- men, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus, turning unto them, said, Daughters of Jeru- salem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us ; and to the hills, Cover us; for, if they do these things in a green tree, THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER. Ill what shall be done in the dry ? And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him ; and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding ; and the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others ; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscrip- tion also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS ! And one of the malefactors which were hanged, railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself, and us. But the other, an- swering, rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation ? And we indeed justly ; for we receive the due re- ward of our deeds, but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And J esus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour : and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the vail of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I com- mend my Spirit : and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things that were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And 112 GOOD FRIDAY. all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. GOOD FRIDAY. The Collects. LMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross, who now liveth and reigneth, with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified ; receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee ; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. merciful God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor wouldest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live ; have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Heretics, and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and con- tempt of thy Word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy flock, that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites, and be made one fold under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. GOOD FRIDAY. 113 The Epistle. Heb. x, 1. THE law, having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never, with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually, make the comers there- unto perfect : for then would they not have ceased to be offered ? because that the worshippers, once purged, should have had no more conscience of sins. But, in those sacrifices, there is a remem- brance again made of sins, every year : for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore, when He cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me : in burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure : then said I, Lo ! I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. Above, when he said, Sacrifice and offering, and burnt-offerings, and offering for sin, thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein, which are offered by the Law : then said he, Lo ! I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering, and offering often- times the same sacrifices, which can never take away i sins ; but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God ; ]from henceforth expecting, till his enemies be made 'his foot-stool : for, by one offering, he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us : for after that ]he had said before, This is the covenant that I will imake with them after those days, saith the Lord : No more conscience of sins. ,] — " No more consciousness of sin." The worshippers should 1 hfcve felt no longer the burden of their sins. The same sacrifices.'] — " A repetition of similar sacrifices." Q 114 GOOD FRIDAY. I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them ; and their sins and iniqui- ties will I remember no more. Now, where remis- sion of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh ; and having a High Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water; let us hold fast the profession of our faith, without wavering ; (for he is faithful that promised ;) and let us con- sider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works ; not forsaking the assembling of our- selves together, as the manner of some is, but ex- horting one another. And so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. The Gospel. St. John xix. 1. PILATE, therefore, took J esus, and scourged him : and the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the J ews ! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate, therefore, went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man. When the chief priests, therefore, and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him; for I find no fault in him. The J ews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God ! When Pilate, therefore, heard that saying, he was the more afraid ; GOOD FRIDAY. 115 and went again into the judgment-hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou ? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me ? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee ? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above : therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him : but the J ews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend : whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate, therefore, heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha : and it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour : and he saith unto the J ews, Be- hold your King ! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him ; crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King ? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then de- livered he him, therefore, unto them to be crucified : and they took Jesus, and led him away. And he, bearing his cross, went forth into a place called the Place of a Scull, (which is called in the Hebrew, Golgotha :) where they crucified him, and two other with him; on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross; and the writing was, JESUS OF NAZA- RETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS ! This title then read many of the Jews : for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city, and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews ; but that he said, I am the King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written. Then the soldiers, when 116 GOOD FRIDAY. they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part ; and also his coat : now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said, therefore, among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be : that the Scripture might be ful- filled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magda- - lene. When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son. Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother. And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that aM things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar : and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When J esus, therefore, had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished : and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews, therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath-day, (for that sabbath-day was a high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true : and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall EASTER EVEN. 117 not be broken. And again, another Scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. EASTER EVEN. The Collect. GRANT, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, so, by continual mortifying our corrupt affec- tions, we may be buried with him ; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, 1 St. Pet. iii. 17. IT is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God ; being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison ; which sometime were dis- obedient, when, once, the long-suffering of God waited, in the days of Noah, while the ark was a-preparing ; wherein few, (that is, eight souls,) were saved by water. The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us, (not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God,) by the resur- rection of Jesus Christ, who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God ; angels, and autho- rities, and powers, being made subject unto him. The Gospel. St. Matth. xxvii. 57. WHEN the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus's disciple. He went to Pilate, 118 EASTER DAY. and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate com- manded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock ; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command, therefore, that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead; so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as you can. So they went and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. EASTER DAY. At Morning Prayer, instead of the Psalm, come let us sing, fyc. these Anthems shall be sung, or said. HRIST our Passover is sacrificed for us : therefore let us keep the feast ; Not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wicked- ness ; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. v. 7. CHRIST being raised from the dead dieth no more ; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once ; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. So the last error shall be worse than the first.']— u So the delusion of the people shall be even stronger than before. EASTER DAY. 119 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through J esus Christ our Lord. Rom. vi. 9. CHRIST is risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor. xv. 20. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. The Collect ALMIGHTY God, who, through thine only-be- gotten Son Jesus Christ, hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; we humbly beseech thee, that as, by thy special grace preventing us, thou dost put into our minds good desires, so, by thy continual help, we may bring the same to good effect, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Epistle. Col. iii. 1. IF ye, then, be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth: for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth ; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry ; By thy special grace preventing us.] — " By thy especial grace guiding or assisting us." Literally, to prevent, is to go be/ore. 120 MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK. for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. The Gospel. St. Johnxx. 1. THE first day of the week cometh Mary Mag- dalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter, therefore, went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together; and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre ; and he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying ; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie ; and the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw and believed : for as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK. The Collect. ALMIGHTY God, who, through thy only-begot- ten Son J esus Christ, hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life ; we humbly beseech thee, that as, by thy special grace preventing us, thou dost put into our minds good desires, so, by thy continual help, we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 121 Lord, who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen, For the Epistle. Acts x. 34. PETER opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons ; but, in every nation, he that feareth him, and work- eth righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preach- ing peace by Jesus Christ; (he is Lord of all;) that word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power ; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil : for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem : whom they slew, and hanged on a tree, him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly: not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he who was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the Prophets witness, that, through his Name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. The Gospel. St. Luke xxiv. 13. BEHOLD, two of his disciples went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from. Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes R 122 MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK were holden, that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of com- munications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days ? And he said unto them, What things ? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word, before God and all the people : and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him ; but we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel : and besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us asto- nished, which were early at the sepulchre: and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive : and certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said ; but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools ! and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken : ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory ? And begin- ning at Moses, and all the Prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things con- cerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village whither they went ; and he made as though he would have gone further : but they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him, and he vanished TUESDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 123 out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures ? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gather- ed together, and them that were with them, saying, the Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in break- ing of bread. TUESDAY IN EASTER WEEK. The Collect. ALMIGHTY God, who, through thy only- begotten Son Jesus Christ, hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life ; we humbly beseech thee, that as, by thy special grace preventing us, thou dost put into our minds good desires, so, by thy continual help, we may bring the same to good effect ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. For the Epistle. Acts xiii. 26. MEN and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read every sabbath-day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre : but God raised him from the dead ; and 124 TUESDAY IN EASTER WEEK. he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his wit- nesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings ; how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again ; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another Psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation, by the will of God fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption ; but he whom God raised again saw no corruption. Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins ; and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware, there- fore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the Prophets : Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish ; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. The Gospel. St. Luke xxiv. 36. JESUS himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled ? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? behold my hands and my feet, that it That they had seen a spirit.]— By the more English term, " That they had seen a ghost." And why do thoughts arise in your hearts ?]— Fearful or fantastical "thoughts." For the rest, the heart was always spoken of by antiquity as the seat of the thoughts. FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 125 is I myself : handle me, and see ; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat ? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day ; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem : and ye are witnesses of these things. THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. The Collect. ALMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification ; grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may alway serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. 1 St. John v. 4. WHATSOEVER is born of God overcometh the world : and this is the victory that over- cometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Whatsoever is born of God.]—" Whatsoever person or thing that is born or produced of God." 126 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. Jesus is the Son of God ? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ ; not by water only, but by water and blood : and it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost : and these three are one. And there are three that bear wit- ness in earth ; the Spirit, and the water, and the blood ; and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater ; for this is the witness of God, which he hath testi- fied of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself ; he that believeth not God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record ; that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son : he that hath the Son hath life ; and he that hath not the Son hath not life. The Gospel. St. John xx. 19. THE same day, at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you : as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost : whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them ; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are re- tained. This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ.] — By water at his baptism, and by blood at his crucifixion : the water being typical of the cleansing, and the blood of the atonement. And in connection with this remark, we may refer to the fact recorded in John xix, 34. (see above, the Gospel for Good Friday). " But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water. " SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 127 THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. The Collect ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life ; give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his in- estimable benefit, and also daily endeavour our- selves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life ; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. 1 St. Pet. ii. 19. THIS is thank- worthy, if a man, for conscience toward God, endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently ? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps : who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth ; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again ; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously ; who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness : by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray ; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. The Gospel. St. John x. 11. JESUS said, I am the good shepherd : the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep ; but he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep and fleeth ; and the wolf catcheth them, 128 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. and scattereth the sheep : the hireling fleeth, be- cause he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father : and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold ; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice ; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. The Collect. ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that be in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness ; grant unto all them that are admitted into the fel- lowship of Christ's religion, that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The Epistle. 1 St. Peter ii. 11. DEARLY beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul ; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles : that, whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may, by your good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake ; whether it be to the King, as supreme ; or unto Governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do And other sheep I have.~] — Understanding the whole of this and the preceding sentences as addressed to Jewish auditors, we have here a very strong reference to the calling of the Gentiles. Among the Gentiles.~] — In this place, by " Gentiles," is to be understood the Heathens, or unconverted Gentiles ; or such as were neither Jews nor Christians. FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 129 well ; for so is the will of God : that, with well-doing, ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men ; as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the King. The Gospel. St. John xvi. 16. JESUS said to his disciples, A little while and ye shall not see me ; and again a little while and ye shall see me ; because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while and ye shall not see me ; and again a little while and ye shall see me ; and, Because I go to the Father ? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while ? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while and ye shall not see me ; and again a little while and ye shall see me ? Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice : and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in travail, hath sorrow, because her hour is come ; but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remem- bereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now, therefore, have sorrow ; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice ; and your joy no man taketh from you. THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. The Collect Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and an°ections of sinful men ; grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing 130 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise ; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. St. James i. 17. EVERY good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of first- fruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear ; slow to speak ; slow to wrath ; for the wrath of man work- eth not the righteousness of God. Wherefore, lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive, with meekness, the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls. The Gospel. St. John xvi. 5. JESUS said unto his disciples, Now I go my way to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou ? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart : nevertheless, I tell you the truth ; it is expedient for you that I go away ; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you ; but if I depart, I will send him unto you : and when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteous- ness and of judgment : of sin, because they believe not on me ; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more ; of judgment, be- cause the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth ; for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak : and he will show you FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 131 things to come. He shall glorify me ; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine ; therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. The Collect. OLord, from whom all good things do come ; grant to us, thy humble servants, that, by thy holy inspiration, we may think those things that be good, and, by thy merciful guiding, may perform the same ; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The Epistle. St. James i. 22. BE ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass ; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straitway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion, and under! led before God and the Father, is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. The Gospel. St. John xvi. 23. VERILY, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father, in my Name, he will give it you : hitherto have ye asked nothing in my Name ; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs ; the time cometh when I shall no more 132 THE ASCENSION DAY. speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my Name ; and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world ; again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His dis- ciples said unto him, Lo ! now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb; now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee : by this we believe that thou earnest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe ? behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone : and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace : in the world ye shall have tribulation ; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. THE ASCENSION DAY. The Collect. RANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also, in heart and mind, thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. For the Epistle. Acts i. 1. THE former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he, through the Holy Ghost, had given command- THE ASCENSION DAY. 133 riments unto the Apostles whom he had chosen : to \w/hom also he showed himself alive after his passion, I try many infallible proofs ; being seen of them forty cdiays, and speaking of the things pertaining to the 1 kingdom of God : and being assembled together \writh them, commanded them that they should not cdiepart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of t tine Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me : ffor John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be t baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence. ^When they, therefore, were come together, they masked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time r restore again the kingdom to Israel ? And he said iu:nto them, It is not for you to know the times or ttltie seasons, which the Father hath put in his own jpower: but ye shall receive power after that the IHoly Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be ^witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all JJiudasa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost ]p;art of the earth. And when he had spoken these t things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a ( cloud received him out of their sight. And while tthey looked stedfastly toward heaven, as he went nip, behold, two men stood by them in white sajpparel ; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why ssttand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, vwhich is taken up from you into heaven, shall so