For the Epistle. Acts vii. 55. Saint John the Evangelist's Day. STEPHEN, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadTERCIFUL Lord, we beseech M fastly into heaven, and saw the thee to cast thy bright beams glory of God, and Jesus standing of light upon thy Church, that it on the right hand of God; and being instructed by the doctrine of said, Behold, I see the heavens thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist opened, and the Son of man stand- St. John, may so walk in the light ing on the right hand of God. of thy truth, that it may at length Then they cried out with a loud attain to everlasting life, through voice, and stopped their ears, and Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ran upon him with one accord, and The Epistle. 1 John i. 1. cast him out of the city, and sto- NHAT which was from the ned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young heard, which we have seen with man's feet, whose name was Saul. our eyes, which we have looked And they stoned Stephen, calling upon, and our hands have handled God, and Lord Je- of the saying, e word of life; (for the life sus, receive my spirit. And he was manifested, and we have seen kneeled down, and cried with a it, and bear witness, and show unloud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to you that eternal life which was to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. upon The Gospel. St. Matt. xxiii. 34. BEHOLD, and send unto you T we have 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 prophets and wise men, and fellowship is with the Father, and scribes; and some of them ye shall with his Son Jesus Christ. And kill and crucify; and some of these things write we unto you, them shall ye scourge in your sy-that your joy may be full. This nagogues, and persecute them from then is the message which we have city to city; that upon you may heard of him, and declare unto you, come all the righteous blood shed that God is light, and in him is no upon the earth, from the blood of darkness at all. If we say that we righteous Abel, unto the blood of have fellowship with him, and Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom walk in darkness, we lie, and do ye slew between the temple and not the truth: But if we walk in the altar. Verily I say unto you, the light, as he is in the light, we All these things shall come upon have fellowship one with another, this generation. O Jerusalem, Je- and the blood of Jesus Christ his rusalem, thou that killest the pro- Son cleanseth us from all sin. If phets, and stonest them which are we say that we have no sin, we sent unto thee; how often would deceive ourselves, and the truth is I have gathered thy children to- not in us. If we confess our sins, gether, even as a hen gathereth he is faithful and just to forgive us her chickens under her wings, and our sins, and to cleanse us from all ye would not! Behold, your house unrighteousness. If we say that is left unto you desolate. For I we have not sinned, we make him say unto you, Ye shall not see me a liar, and his Word is not in us. henceforth, till ye shall say, Bless- The Gospel. St. John xxi. 19. ed is he that cometh in the name HESUS said unto Peter, Folof the Lord. low me. Then Peter turning J about, seeth the disciple whom Je- four beasts, and the elders: and no sus loved, following, (which also man could learn that song, but the leaned on his breast at supper, and hundred and forty and four thousaid, Lord, which is he that be- sand, which were redeemed from trayeth thee?) Peter seeing him, the earth. These are they which saith to Jesus, Lord, and what were not defiled with women, for shall this man do? Jesus saith un- they are virgins: these are they to him, If I will that he tarry till I which follow the Lamb whithercome, what is that to thee? Fol-soever he goeth: these were relow thou me. Then went this say- deemed from among men, being ing abroad among the brethren, the first-fruits unto God, and to the that that disciple should not die: Lamb. And in their mouth was yet Jesus said not unto him, He found no guile; for they are withshall not die: but, If I will that he out fault before the throne of God. tarry till I come, what is that to The Gospel. St. Matt. ii. 13. thee? This is the disciple which HE angel of the Lord appeartestifieth of these things, and wrote eth to Joseph in a dream, these things, and we know that his saying, Arise, and take the young testimony is true. And there are child and his mother, and flee into also many other things which Je- Egypt, and be thou there until I sus did, the which, if they should bring thee word; for Herod will be written every one, I suppose seek the young child to destroy that even the world itself could not him. When he arose, he took the contain the books that should be young child and his mother by written. 0 The Innocents Day. THE 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 Collect. ALMIGHTY God, who out the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt of the mouths of babes and have I called my Son. Then Hesucklings hast ordained strength, rod, when he saw that he was and madest infants to glorify thee mocked of the wise men, was exby their deaths: mortify and kill ceeding wroth, and sent forth, and all vices in us, and so strengthen slew all the children that were us by thy grace, that by the inno-in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts cency of our lives, and constancy thereof, from two years old and of our faith even unto death, we under, according to the time which may glorify thy holy name, through he had diligently inquired of the Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. wise men. Then was fulfilled that For the Epistle. Rev. xiv. 1. which was spoken by Jeremy the a Lamb prophet, saying, In Rama was I LOOKED, and lo, stood on the mount Sion, and there a voice heard, lamentation, with him an hundred forty and and weeping, and great mourning, four thousand, having his Father's Rachel weeping for her children, name written in their foreheads. and would not be comforted, beAnd I heard a voice from heaven, cause they are not. as the voice of many waters, and The Conversion of St. Paul. 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 preaching of the blessed before the throne, and before the Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused O GOD, who, through the the light of the Gospel to shine of Judas for one called Saul, of throughout the world; grant, we Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth, beseech thee, that we, having his and hath seen in a vision a man wonderful conversion in remem-named Ananias, coming in, and brance, may show forth our thank-putting his hand on him, that he fulness unto thee for the same, by might receive his sight. Then following the holy doctrine which Ananias answered, Lord, I have he taught, through Jesus Christ our heard by many of this man, how Lord. Amen. much evil he hath done to thy saints A For the Epistle. Acts ix. 1. at Jerusalem: and here he hath ND Saul, yet breathing out authority from the chief priests to threatenings and slaughter bind all that call on thy name. But against the disciples of the Lord, the Lord said unto him, Go thy went unto the High Priest, and de-way: for he is a chosen vessel unsired of him letters to Damascus to me, to bear my name before the to the synagogues, that if he found Gentiles, and kings, and the chilany of this way, whether they were dren of Israel: For I will show men or women, he might bring him how great things he must sufthem bound unto Jerusalem. And fer for my name's sake. And Anaas he journeyed, he came near Da- nias went his way, and entered mascus: and suddenly there shined into the house; and putting his round about him a light from hea- hands on him, said, Brother Saul, ven. And he fell to the earth, and the Lord (even Jesus, that appearheard a voice saying unto him, ed unto thee in the way as thou Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou camest) hath sent me, that thou me? And he said, Who art thou, mightest receive thy sight, and be Lord? And the Lord said, I am filled with the Holy Ghost. And Jesus whom thou persecutest: It immediately there fell from his is hard for thee to kick against the eyes as it had been scales; and pricks. And he, trembling and he received sight forthwith, and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt arose, and was baptized. And thou have me to do? And the when he had received meat, he Lord said unto him, Arise, and go was strengthened. Then was Saul into the city, and it shall be told certain days with the disciples thee what thou must do. And the which were at Damascus. And men which journeyed with him straightway he preached Christ in stood speechless, hearing a voice, the synagogues, that he is the Son but seeing no man. And Saul of God. But all that heard him arose from the earth; and when were amazed, and said, Is not this his eyes were opened, he saw no he that destroyed them which callman: but they led him by the ed on this name in Jerusalem, and hand, and brought him into Da- came hither for that intent, that he mascus. And he was three days might bring them bound unto the without sight, and neither did eat chief priests? But Saul increased nor drink. And there was a cer- the more in strength, and contain disciple at Damascus, named founded the Jews which dwelt at Ananias, and to him said the Lord Damascus, proving that this is in a vision, Ananias: And he said, very Christ. Behold, I am here, Lord. And The Gospel. St. Matt. xix. 27. the Lord said unto him, Arise, and ETER answered, and said PET go into the street which is called to Jesus, Behold, we have forStraight, and inquire in the house saken all, and followed thee; what un shall we have therefore? And Je- and as in former years. And I will sus said unto them, Verily I say come near to you to judgment; and unto you, that ye which have fol- I will be a swift witness against the lowed me, in the regeneration, sorcerers, and against the adulterwhen the Son of man shall sit in ers, and against false swearers, and the throne of his glory, ye also shall against those that oppress the hiresit upon twelve thrones, judging ling in his wages, the widow, and the twelve tribes of Israel. Andeve- the fatherless, and that turn aside ry one that hath forsaken houses, the stranger from his right, and or brethren, or sisters, or father, fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. or mother, or wife, or children, or The Gospel. St. Luke ii. 22. lands, for my name's sake, shall ND when the days of her pureceive an hundred fold, and shall A rification, according to the law inherit everlasting life. But many of Moses, were accomplished, they that are first shall be last, and the brought him to Jerusalem to pre last shall be first. sent him to the Lord, (as it is writ ten in the law of the Lord, Every The Presentation of Christ in the male that openeth the womb shall Temple, commonly called The be called holy to the Lord,) and to Purification of Saint Mary the offer a sacrifice, according to that Virgin. The Collect. which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two young A LMIGHTY and everliving pigeons. And behold, there was a A God, we humbly beseech thy man in Jerusalem, whose name was Majesty, that as thy only begotten Simeon; and the same man was Son was this day presented in the just and devout, waiting for the conTemple in substance of our flesh; solation of Israel: and the Holy so we may be presented unto thee Ghost was upon him. And it was with pure and clean hearts, by the revealed unto him by the Holy same thy Son Jesus Christ our Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord. Amen. For the Epistle. Mal. iii. 1. Lord's Christ. And he came by BEHOLD, I will send my mes- the Spirit into the temple and senger, and he shall prepare when the parents brought in the the way before me: and the Lord, child Jesus, to do for him after the whom ye seek, shall suddenly come custom of the law, then took he to his temple; even the messenger him up in his arms, and blessed of the covenant, whom ye delight God, and said, Lord, now lettest in: behold, he shall come, saith thou thy servant depart in peace, the Lord of hosts. But who may according to thy word: For mine abide the day of his coming? and eyes have seen thy salvation; who shall stand when he appear-which thou hast prepared before eth? for he is like a refiner's fire, the face of all people; a light to and like fuller's soap. And he lighten the Gentiles, and the glory shall sit as a refiner and purifier of of thy people Israel. And Joseph silver: and he shall purify the sons and his mother marvelled at those of Levi, and purge them as gold things which were spoken of him. and silver, that they may offer un- And Simeon blessed them, and to the Lord an offering in righteous- said unto Mary his mother, Beness. Then shall the offerings of hold, this child is set for the fall and Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant rising again of many in Israel; and unto the Lord, as in the days of old, for a sign which shall be spoken against, (yea, a sword shall pierce ward of iniquity; and falling headthrough thy own soul also,) that long, he burst asunder in the midst, the thoughts of many hearts may and all his bowels gushed out. And be revealed. And there was one it was known to all the dwellers at Anna, a prophetess, the daughter Jerusalem; insomuch as that field of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; is called in their proper tongue, she was of a great age, and had liv- Aceldama, that is to say, The field ed with an husband seven years of blood. For it is written in the from her virginity; and she was a book of Psalms, Let his habitation widow of about fourscore and four be desolate, and let no man dwell years, which departed not from the therein: and his Bishoprick let antemple, but served God with fast- other take. Wherefore of these ings and prayers night and day. men, which have companied with And she, coming in that instant, us all the time that the Lord Jesus gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, went in and out among us, beginand spake of him to all them that ning from the baptism of John, unto looked for redemption in Jerusa- that same day that he was taken up lem. And when they had perform- from us, must one be ordained to be ed all things according to the law a witness with us of his resurrection. of the Lord, they returned into And they appointed two, Joseph Galilee, to their own city Naza-called Barsabas, who was surnamed reth. And the child grew, and Justus, and Matthias. And they waxed strong in spirit, filled with prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which wisdom; and the grace of God knowest the hearts of all men, show was upon him. whether of these two thou hast chosen; that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, Saint Matthias's Day. 0 ALMIGHTY God, who into that he might go to his own place. the place of the traitor Judas, And they gave forth their lots; and didst choose thy faithful servant the lot fell upon Matthias. And he Matthias, to be of the number of was numbered with the eleven the twelve Apostles; grant that thy Apostles. The Gospel. St. Matt. xi. 25. AT that time Church, being always preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true and said, I thank thee, Pastors, through Jesus Christ our ther, Lord of heaven and earth, beLord. Amen. IN cause thou hast hid these things For the Epistle. Acts i. 15. from the wise and prudent, and hast [N those days Peter stood up in revealed them unto babes. Even the midst of the disciples, and so, Father, for so it seemed good in said, (the number of the names to- thy sight. All things are delivered gether were about an hundred and unto me of my Father; and no man twenty;) Men and brethren, this knoweth the Son, but the Father; Scripture must needs have been neither knoweth any man the Fafulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by ther, save the Son, and he to the mouth of David spake before whomsoever the Son will reveal concerning Judas, who was guide to him. Come unto me, all ye that lathem that took Jesus. For he was bour, and are heavy laden, and I numbered with us, and had obtain- will give you rest. Take my yoke ed part of this ministry. Now this upon you, and learn of me; for I man purchased a field with the re-lam meek and lowly in heart: and |