redeemed from the earth. These The Sunday after Christmas-Day. : The Collect. Almighty God, who haft The Epistle. Gal. 4. 1. Now I fay, that the heir 14 are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins: these are they which folus thy only begotlow the Lamb whitherfoever he ten Son to take our nature upgoeth: these were redeemed on him, and as at this time to from among men, being the be born of a pure Virgin; Grant firft-fruits unto God, and to that we being regenerate, and the Lamb. And in their mouth made thy children by adoption was found no guile; for they and grace, may daily be reneware without fault before the ed by thy Holy Spirit, through throne of God. the fame our Lord Jesus Christ, -who liveth and reigneth with The Gospel. S. Matth. 2. 13. thee and the fame Spirit, ever He angel of the Lord ap- one God, world without entl peared to Jofeph in a Amen. dream, faying, Arife and take the young child, and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and long as he child, difbe thou there until I bring thee teretis nothing from a fervant, word; for Herod will feek the though he be lord of all; but young child to destroy him. is under tutors and governors, When he arose, he took the until the time appointed of the young child, and his mother by father. Even so we, when we night, and departed into Egypt, were children, were in bondage and was there until the death under the elements of the of Herod; that it might be ful- world: but when the fulness filled which was spoken of the of the time was come, God Lord by the prophet, saying, fent orth his Son, made of a Out of Egypt have I called my woman, made under the law, Son. Then Herod when he to redeem them that were unfaw that he was mocked of the der the law, that we might re. wife-men, was exceeding wroth, ceive the adoption of fons. And and fent forth, and flew all the because ye are fons, God hath children that were in Bethle- fent forth the Spirit of his Son hem, and in all the coasts there- into your hearts, crying, Abba, of, from two years old and un- Father. Wherefore thou art no der, according to the time more a servant, but a fon; and which he had diligently enqui- if a fon, then an heir of God red of the wife-men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, faying, through Christ. wife: In Rama was a voice heard, lamentation, and weep as his mother Marywas espoused ing, and great mourning, Ra- to Joseph (before they came chel weeping for her children, together) fhe was found with and would not be comforted, child of the Holy Ghoft. Then because they are not. + Joseph her husband being a قود just just man, and not willing to fin. Cometh this blessedness make her a publick example, then upon the circumcifion onwas minded to put her away ly, or upon the uncircumcifion privily. But while he thought alfo? For we fay, that faith on these things, behold, the was reckoned to Abraham for angel of the Lord appeared un- righteousness. How was it then to him in a dream, saying, Jo- reckoned? when he was in cirfeph thou son of David, fear cumcifion, or in uncircumcifinot to take unto thee Mary thy on? not in circumcifion, but in wife; for that which is con- uncircumcifion. And he receiceived in her is of the Holy ved the sign of circumcifion, a Ghoft. And the shall bring forth feal of the righteousness fness of the a Son, and thou shalt call his faith, which he had yet being name Jefus; for he shall fave uncircumcifed; that he might his people from their fins. be the father of all them that (Now all this was done that it believe, though they be not might be fulfilled which was circumcifed; that righteousness spoken of the Lord by the pro- might be imputed unto them phet, faying, Behold, a Virgin also: And the father of cirshall be with child, and shall cumcifion to them who are not bring forth a Son, and they of the circumcifion only, but shall call his name Emmanuel, also walk in the steps of that which being interpreted, is, faith of our father Abraham, God with us.) Then Joseph which he had being yet uncirbeing raised from fleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bid den him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till fhe had brought forth her firftborn Son; and he called his name Jesus. cumcifed. For the promife, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham or to his feed, 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 promife • The Circumcision of Chrift. made of none effect. The Collect. A Lighter God, who madeft bleffed Son ANd The Gofpel. S. Luke 2. 15. it came to pass, as the angels were gone away cumcifed, and obedient to the from them into heaven, the law for man; Grant us the true shepherds faid one to another, circumcifion of the Spirit, that Let us now go even unto Beth our hearts and all our members lehem, and see this thing which being mortified from all world is come to pass, which the Lord Iy and carnal lufts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will, through the fame thy Son Jesus Chrift our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Rom. 4. 8. Leffed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute B Us. hath made known - unto C5 ing ing this child. And all they and Prophets by the Spirit; that heard it, wondered at those That the Gentiles should be things which were told them fellow-heirs, and of the fame by the shepherds. But Mary body, and partakers of his prokept all these things, and pon- mife in Christ, hrift, by by the Gofpel: dered them in her heart. And whereof I was made a minister, the shepherds returned, glorify- according to the gift of the ing and praising God for all the grace of God given unto me things that they had heard and by the effectual working of his seen, as it was told unto them. power. Unto me, who am less And when eight days were ac- than the least of all saints, is complished for the circumcifing this grace given, that I should of the child, his name was called preach among the Gentiles the JESUS, which was so named unsearchable riches of Chrift; of the angel before he was con- and to make all men fee, what ceived in the womb. is the fellowsnip of thy mysteThe Same Collect, Epistle and ry, which from the beginning Gospel shall serve foreveryday of the world hath been hid in after, unto the Epiphany. God, who created all things by Jesus Chrift: To the intent The Epiphany, or the Manifesta- that now unto the principalition of Christ to the Gentiles. ties and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the God, who by the leading church the manifold wisdom of the eternal The Collect. : only begotten Son to the Gen- purpose which he purposed in tiles; Mercifully grant, that Christ Jesus our Lord. In we which know thee now by whom we have boldness and faith, may after this life have access with confidence by the the fruition of thy glorious faith of him. Godhead, through Jesus Chrift The Gospel. S. Matth. 2. 1. our Lord. Amen. Hen Jesus was born in The Epistle. Ephef. 3. 1. W Bethlehem of Judea, Or this cause, I Paul the in the days of Herod the king, of Jefus Chrift for behold, there came wife-men you Gentiles; if ye have heard from the eaft to Jerufalem, fayof the difpenfation of the grace ing, Where is he that is born of God, which is given me to King of the Jews? for we have you-ward: how that by revela- seen his star in the east, and tion he made known unto me are come to worship him. the mystery (as I wrote afore When Herod the king had in few words, whereby when heard these things, he was trouye read ye may understand my bled, and all Jerufalem with knowledge in the mystery of him. And when he had gaChrift) which in other ages thered all the chief priests and was not made known unto the scribes of the people together, fons of men, as it is now re- he demanded of them, where vealed unto his holy Apostles Christ should be born. And they こ they faid unto him, In Bethle- know what things they ought hem of Judea: For thus it is to do, and also may have grace written by the prophet, And and power faithfully to fulfil thou Bethlehem in the land of the fame, through Jesus Christ Juda, art not the least among our Lord. Amen. the princes of Juda: For out The Epistle. Rom. 12. 1. of thee shall come a Governor befeech you therefore, breIch you therefore that shall rule my people If rael. Then Herod, when he God, that ye present your bohad privily called the wife- dies a living facrifice, holy, acmen, enquired of them dili- ceptable unto God, which is gently what time the star ap- your reasonable service. And peared. And he sent them to be not conformed to this world, Bethlehem, and said, Go, and but be ye transformed by the search diligently for the young renewing of your mind, that ye child, and when ye have found may prove what is that good, him, bring me word again, that and acceptable, and perfect I may come and worship him will of God. For I say, through alfo. When they had heard the grace given unto me, to the king, they departed; and every man that is among you, lo, the itar which they saw not to think of himself more in the east, went before them, highly than he ought to think, till it came and stood over but to think soberly, according where the young child was. as God hath dealt to every When they saw the star, they man the measure of faith. For rejoyced with exceeding great as we have many members in joy. And when they were come one body, and all members have the fame office; not young child with Mary his mo- being many are one body in ther, and fell down and wor- Christ, and every one members shipped him: and when they one of another. had opened their treasures, they The Gospel. S. Luke 2. 41. Ow his parents went to prefented unto him gifts, gold, No and frankincenfe, and myrrh. Jerufalem every year at And being warned of God in the feast of the passover. And a dream, that they should not when he was twelve years old, return to Herod, they departed they went up to Jerufalem after into their own country another the custom of the feast. And into the way. faw the house, the fo we when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the The first Sunday after the Epi- child Jesus tarried behind in phany The Collest. Lord, は Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But we beleech thee they supposing him to have to receive the been in the company, went a prayers of thy people which days journey, and they fought call upon thee, and grant that him among their kinsfolk and they may both perceive and acquaintance. And when they C6 found found him not, they turned on our ministring; or he that back again to Jerufalem, feek- teacheth, on teaching; or he ing him. And it came to pass that exhorteth, on exhortation: that after three days they found he that giveth, let him do it him in the temple, fitting in with simplicity; he that ruleth, the midft of the doctors, both with diligence; he that shew. hearing them, and asking them eth mercy, with cheerfulness. questions. And all that heard Let love be without diffimula him were aftonished at his un- tion. Abhor that which is evil, derstanding and answers. And cleave to that which is good. when they faw him, they were Be kindly affectioned one to amazed: and his mother faid another with brotherly love, unto him, Son, why haft thou in honour preferring one ano thus dealt with us? behold, ther: not flothful in business ; thy father and I have fought fervent in spirit; ferving the thee forrowing. And he faid Lord; rejoycing in hope; paunto them, How is it that ye tient in tribulation; continuing fought me? wift ye not that instant in prayer; diftributing I must be about my Fathers to the neceffity of faints; gibusiness? And they understood ven to hofpitality. Bless them not the saying which he spake which perfecute you; bless and unto them. And he went down curse not. Rejoyce with them with them, and came to Na- that do rejoyce, and weep zareth, and was fubject unto with them that weep. Be of them: but his mother kept all the fame mind one towards al thefe fayings in her heart. And nother. Mind not high things, Jefus increased in wisdom and but condescend to men of low ftature, and in favour with estate. God and man. The Second Sunday after the Epiphany. A The Collect. Lmighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; Mercifully hear the fupplica tions of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Gospel. S. John 2. 1. A Nd the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jefus was there. And both Jerus was called and his disciples to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Je fus faith unto him, They have no wine. Jefus faith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother faith The Epistle. Rom. 12. 6. unto the fervants, Whatso Having then gifts, differing ever he faith unto you, do it. to the grace And there were fer there fix that is given to us, whether water-pots of ftone, after the prophecy, let us prophecy ac- manner of the purifying of the cording to the proportion of Jews, containing two or three faith; or ministry, let us wait firkins apiece. Jesus faith unto chem, |