The Book of Common Prayer Part 20

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 city; that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, 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

_December_ 27.

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 handled of the word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew 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 fellows.h.i.+p with us; and truly our fellows.h.i.+p 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 G.o.d is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellows.h.i.+p 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 fellows.h.i.+p 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 betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, 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 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

_December_ 28.

THE COLLECT.

O almighty G.o.d, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants 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 an 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 G.o.d, and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of G.o.d. '1

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 diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, 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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d, world without end. _Amen_.

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 governors, 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, G.o.d 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, G.o.d hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of G.o.d 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 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, G.o.d 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 CIRc.u.mCISION OF CHRIST

_January_ 1.

THE COLLECT.

Almighty G.o.d, who madest thy blessed Son to be circ.u.mcised, and obedient to the law for man: Grant us the true circ.u.mcision of the Spirit; that, our hearts, and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal l.u.s.ts, 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 circ.u.mcision only, or upon the uncirc.u.mcision also? For we say, that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circ.u.mcision, or in uncirc.u.mcision? Not in circ.u.mcision, but in uncirc.u.mcision. And he received the sign of circ.u.mcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncirc.u.mcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circ.u.mcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circ.u.mcision to them who are not of the circ.u.mcision only, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncirc.u.mcised. 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 pa.s.s, 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 pa.s.s, 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, glorifying and praising G.o.d for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circ.u.mcising 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_.

| THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS | | _This Collect, Epistle, and Gospel may also be used on any day_ | _after the Circ.u.mcision unto the Epiphany_.

| | THE COLLECT.

| | O G.o.d, who hast given us grace at this time to celebrate the | birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ: We laud and magnify thy | glorious Name for the countless blessings which he hath brought | unto us; and we beseech thee to grant that we may ever set forth | thy praise in joyful obedience to thy will; through the same | Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

| | THE EPISTLE. t.i.tus iii. 4.

| | After that the kindness and love of G.o.d our Saviour toward man | appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, | but according to his mercy he saved us, by the was.h.i.+ng of | regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on | us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being | justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to | the hope of eternal life.

| | _Or_ 1 St John iv. 9.

| | In this was manifested the love of G.o.d toward us, because that | G.o.d sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might | live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved G.o.d, but | that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for | our sins. Beloved, if G.o.d so loved us, we ought also to love | one another. No man hath seen G.o.d at any time. If we love one | another, G.o.d dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

| Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he | hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify | that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

| Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of G.o.d, G.o.d | dwelleth in him, and he in G.o.d. And we have known and believed | the love that G.o.d hath to us. G.o.d is love; and he that dwelleth | in love dwelleth in G.o.d, and G.o.d in him.

| | THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xvi. 13.

| | When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked | his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man | am? and they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: | some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He | saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter | answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living | G.o.d. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, | Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto | thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee | that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; | and the gates of h.e.l.l shall not prevail against it. And I will | give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever | thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever | thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged | he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus | the Christ.

THE EPIPHANY,

OR THE MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST TO THE GENTILES

_January_ 6.

THE COLLECT.

O G.o.d, who by the leading of a star didst manifest 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 G.o.dhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

THE EPISTLE. Ephes. iii 1.

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles; if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of G.o.d, which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery (as I wrote afore in 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, according to the gift of the grace of G.o.d 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 Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellows.h.i.+p of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in G.o.d, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent, that now unto the princ.i.p.alities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of G.o.d, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.