word of this salvation sent. For they be unto you. But they were terrified that dwell at Jerusalem, and their and affrighted, and supposed that they rulers, because they knew him not, had seen a spirit. And he said unto nor yet the voices of the prophets them, Why are ye troubled, and why which are read every sabbath-day, do thoughts arise in your hearts1 they have fulfilled them in condemn- Behold my hands and my feet, that it ing him. And though they found no is I myself: handle me, and see; for cause of death in him, yet desired a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as they Pilate that he should be slain. ye see me have. And when he had And when they had fulfilled all that thus spoken, he showed them his was written of him, they took him hands and his feet. And while they down' from the tree, and laid him in yet believed not for joy, and wonthe sepulchre. But GoD raised him dered, he said unto them, Have ye from the dead: And he was seen here any meat? And they gave him many days of thein which came up a piece of a broiled fish, and of an with him from Galilce to Jerusalem, honey-comb. And he took it, and who are his witnesses unto the peo- did eat before them. And he said ple. And we declare unto you glad unto them, These are the words tidings, how that the promise which which I spake unto you, while I was was made unto the fathers, GOD hath yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled the same unto us their child-fulfilled which were written in the ren, 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, therefore, 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 you 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 law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scrip. tures; 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 The Collect. ALMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our cation; grant us so to put away the sins, and to rise again for our justifileaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in puremerits of the same thy Son JESUS ness of living and truth, through the CHRIST our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. 1 John v. 4. WHATSOEVER is born of GOD, overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that JESUS is the SON OF GOD? This is he that came by wa-sacrifice for sin, and also an ensam. ter and blood, even JESUS CHRIST; ple of godly life; give us grace that not by water only, but by water and we may always most thankfully re blood and it is the SPIRIT that ceive that his inestimable benefit, and beareth witness, because the SPIRIT also daily endeavor ourselves to folis truth. For there are three that low the blessed steps of his most holy bear record in heaven, the FATHER, life, through the same JESUS CHRIST the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: our Lord. Amen. and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness 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 testified of his Son. He that be lieveth 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 re cord 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 Epistle. 1 St. Peter ii. 19. THIS is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward GOD endure For what glory is it, if when ye be bufgrief, suffering wrongfully. feted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patienily, this is acceptable with GOD. For even CHRIST also suffered for us, leaving hereunto were ye called; because his steps: who did no sin, neither was us an example, that ye should follow 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 sin, 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 souls. your 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, The Gospel. St. John x. 11. he showed unto them his hands and JESUS said, I am the good shep. his side. Then were the disciples herd: the good shepherd giveth his glad when they saw the Lord. life for the sheep. But he that is an Then said JESUS to them again, hireling, and not the shepherd, whose Peace be unto you: as my own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf ther hath sent me, even so send I coming, and leaveth the sheep, and you. And when he had said this, fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, he breathed on them, and saith unto and scattereth the sheep. The hirethem, Receive ye the HOLY GHOST:ling fleeth because he is an hireling, whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER Fa 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 ALMIGHTY GOD, who hast given they shall hear my voice; and there hine only Son to be unto us both ashall be one fold and one shepherd. EASTER. The Collect. THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. The Collect. ALMIGHTY GOD, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of CHRIST's religion, that they may avoid 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. what he saith. Now JESUS knew THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER The Collect. 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. O ALMIGHTY GOD, who alone Submit yourselves to every ordinance canst order the unruly wills and affecof man for the LORD'S sake; whether tions of sinful men; grant unto thy it be to the king, as supreme; or un- people, that they may love the thing to governors, as unto them that are which thou commandest, and desire sent by him, for the punishment of that which thou dost promise; that evil-doers, and for the praise of them so, among the sundry and manifold that do well. For so is the will of changes of the world, our hearts may GOD, that with well-doing ye may surely there be fixed, where true joys put to silence the ignorance of foolish are to be found, through JESUG men: as free, and not using your CHRIST our Lord. Amen. liberty for a cloak of maliciousness; but as the servants of GOD. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear GOD. Honor 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 aith. A little while? we cannot tell The Epistle. St. James i. 17. EVERY good gift, and every per fect 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 or 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 worketh not the righteousness of GOD. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the The Gospel. St. John xvi. 5. JESUS said unto his disciples, Now I go my way to him that sen me, and none of you asketh me, Whi.perfect law of liberty, and continueth herein; he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If ther 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 righteousness, 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, because 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 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. O LORD, from whom all good things do come; grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that are 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, any man among you seem to be reli but deceiveth his own heart, this gious, and bridleth not his tongue, man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before GOD and the Father, is this, To visit the fatherless keep himself unspotted from the and widows in their affliction, and to world. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my my name, he will give it you. name: ask, and ye shall receive, that have I spoken unto you in proverbs: your joy may be full. These things the time cometh, when I shall no more 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 disciples 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 camest forth from GOD. JESUS answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that I shall be scattered every man ye 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. GRANT, 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 with out end. Amen. Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same JESUS, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. The Gospel. St. Mark xvi. 14. JESUS appeared unto the eleven, as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen hin after he was risen. And he said unto them, For the Epistle. Acts i. 1. .Go ye into all the world, and preach THE former treatise have I made, the Gospel to every creature. He O Theophilus, of all that JESUS be- that believeth, and is baptized, shall gan both to do and teach, until the be saved; but he that believeth not, day in which he was taken up, after shall be damned. And these signs that he, through the HOLY GHOST, shall follow them that believe: in my had given commandments unto the name shall they cast out devils; they apostles whom he had chosen: to shall speak with new tongues; they whom also he showed himself alive shall take up serpents; and if they after his passion, by many infallible drink any deadly thing, it shall not proofs, being seen of them forty days, hurt them; they shall lay hands on and speaking of the things pertaining the sick, and they shall recover. to the kingdom of GOD; and being then, after the LORD had spoken unassembled together with them, com- to them, he was received up into manded them that they should not heaven, and sat on the right hand of depart from Jerusalem, but wait for GOD. And they went forth, and the promise of the Father, which, preached every where, the LORD saith he, ye have heard of me. For working with them, and confirming John truly baptized with water; but the word with signs following. ye shall be baptized with the HOLY The Collect. So O GOD, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son JESUS CHRIST with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; we beseech thee leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine HOLY GHOST to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour CHRIST is gone before; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the HOLY GHOST, one GOD, world without end. Amen. GHOST, not many days hence. When SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION-DAY. they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the HOLY GHOST is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a THE end of all things is at hand: cloud received him out of their sight. be ye therefore sober, and watch unto And while they looked steadfastly prayer. And above all things have toward heaven, as he went up, behold, fervent charity among yourselves: two men stood by them in white ap- for charity shall cover the multitude Darel; which also said, Ye men of of sins. Use hospitality one to an. The Epistle. 1 St. Peter iv. 7. |