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HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.

(Bp. Jeremy Taylor.)

MYSTERIOUS truth! that the self-same should be A Lamb, a Shepherd, and a Lion too!

Yet such was He

Whom first the shepherds knew,

When they themselves became

Sheep to the Shepherd-Lamb.

Shepherd of men and angels! Lamb of God!
Lion of Judah!-by these titles keep
The wolf from Thy endanger'd sheep.
Bring all the world unto Thy fold;
Let Jews and Gentiles hither come

In numbers great, that can't be told,

And call thy Lambs, that wander, home. Glory be to God on high,

All glories be to th' glorious Deity.

CHRISTMAS.

COLLECT FOR THE BIRTHDAY OF CHRIST.

Almighty God, who hast given us thy onlybegotten 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.

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.-St. John iii.

SECOND LESSON, EVENING.

TITUS III. 4.

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

BAPTISMAL SERVICE.

We yield thee, hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased thee to regenerate this infant with thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own child by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy Church.

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Q. Who gave you this name?

A. My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism, wherein I was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.

I heartily thank our heavenly Father, that he hath called me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. And I unto God to give me his grace that I may continue in the same unto my life's end.

ST. LUKE XI. 13.

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If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.

Quench not the Spirit.-1 Thess. v.

TE DEUM.

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.

LITANY.

By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by thy holy Nativity.

Good Lord, deliver us.

IN THE FIRST LESSON, EVENING. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah vii.

IN THE FIRST LESSON, MORNING. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah ix.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.—Micah v.

PROPER LESSON. LUKE II.

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Joseph went up from Gallilee unto the City of David, which is called Bethlehem,— to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away

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