redeemed from the earth. Thefe The Sunday after Christmas-Day. are they which were not defiled The Collect. Wits: "Orele are they which fol. A given us thy only begott with women, for are vir- Lmighty God, who haft low theLamb whitherfoever he ten Son to take our nature upgoeth: thefe were redeemed on him, and as at this time to from among men, being the be born of a pureVirgin; 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 :throne of God. The Epiftle. Gal. 4. I. NOW ed by thy Holy Spirit, through the fame our Lord Jefus Chrift, who liveth and reigneth with The Gofpel. S. Matth. 2. 13. thee and the fame Spirit, ever He angel of the Lord ap- one God, world without end Tpeared to Jofeph in a Amen. dream, faying, Arife and takes the young child, and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee teretts nothing from a fervant, word; for Herod will feek the though he be lord of all; but young child to deftroy him. is under tutors and governors, When he arofe, he took the until the time appointed of the young child, and his mother by father. Even fo 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 fpoken of the of the time was come, God Lord by the prophet, faying, 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 coafts 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 fervant, but a fon; and which he had diligently enqui- if a fon, then an heir of God red of the wife-men. Then was through Chrift. fulfilled that which was fpoken by Jeremy the prophet, faying, The Gofpel. S. Matth. 1. 18. was In Rama was voice heard, lamentation, and weep- as his mother Mary was efpoused ing, and great mourning, Ra- to Jofeph (before they came chel weeping for her children, together) the was found with and would not be comforted, child of the Holy Ghoft. Then because they are not. Jofeph her husband being a just . juft man, and not willing to fin. Cometh this bleffedness 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- righteoufness. How was it then to him in a dream, faying, Jo- reckoned? when he was in cirfeph thou fon of David, fear cumcifion, or in uncircumcifinot to take unto thee Mary thy on? not în circumcifion, but in wife; for that which is con- uncircumcifion. And he recei ceived in her is of the Holy ved the fign of circumcifion, a Ghoft. And the fhall bring forth feal of the righteoufnefs of the a Son, and thou fhalt call his faith, which he had yet being name Jefus, for he fhall 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 fpoken of the Lord by the pro- might be imputed unto them phet, faying, Behold, a Virgin alfo: And the father of cirfhall be with child, and fhall cumcifion to them who are not bring forth a Son, and they of the circumcifion only, but fhall call his name Emmanuel, alfo walk in the fteps of that which being interpreted, is, faith of our father Abraham, God with us.) Then Jofeph being 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 Jefus. The Circumcifion of Chrift. A which he had being yet uncir The Gofpel. S. Luke 2. 15. thy bieffed Son to be cir- A angels were gone away cumcifed, and obedient to the B from them into heaven, the fhepherds faid one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and fee this thing which is come to pafs, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with hafte, and found Mary and Jofeph,and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had feen it, they made known abroad the faying which was told them concernC 5 ing ing this child. And all they and Prophets by the Spirit; that heard it, wondered at thofe That the Gentiles fhould be things which were told them fellow-heirs, and of the fame by the fhepherds. But Mary body, and partakers of his prokept all these things, and pon- mise in Chrift, by the Gospel : dered them in her heart. And whereof I was made a minister, the fhepherds returned,glorify- according to the gift of the ing and praifing God for all the grace of God given unto me things that they had heard and by the effectual working of his feen, as it was told unto them. power. Unto me, who am lefs And when eight days were ac- than the leaft of all faints, is complished for the circumcifing this grace given, that I fhould of the child, his name was called preach among the Gentiles the JESUS, which was so named unfearchable riches of Chrift; of the angel before he was con- and to make all men see, what ceived in the womb. The fame Collect, Epiftle and Goffel fhall ferve for every day after, unto the Epiphany. The Epiphany, or the Manifeftation of Chrift to the Gentiles. is the fellowship of thy myftery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jefus Chrift: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly The Collect. places, might be known by the God, who by the leading church the manifold wisdom of ofaffar didit manifeft thy God, according to the eternal only begotten Son to the Gen- purpofe which he purpofed in tiles; Mercifully grant, that Chrift Jefus our Lord. In we which know thee now by whom we have boldness and faith, may after this life have accefs with confidence by the the fruition of thy glorious faith of him. Godhead, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. The Goffel. S. Matth. 2. 1. The Epiftle. Ephef. 3. 1. W Bethlehem of Judea, F prifoner of Jefus Chrift for behold, there came wite-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- feen his ftar 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 ferufalem with knowledge in the myftery of him. And when he had gaChrift) which in other ages thered all the chief priests and was not made known unto the fcribes of the people together, fons of men, as it is now re- he demanded of them, where vealed unto his holy Apoftles Chrift fhould be born. And they 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 Jefus Chrift Juda, art not the leaft among our Lord. Amen. the princes of Juda: For out of thee fhall come a Governor The Epiftle. Rom. 12. 1. that fall rule my people befeech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of rael. Then Herod, when he God, that ye prefent your bohad privily called the wife dies a living facrifice, holy, ac men, enquired of them dili- ceptable unto God, which is gently what time the ftar ap- your reasonable service. And peared. And he fent them to be not conformed to this world Bethlehem, and faid, Go, and but be ye transformed by the fearch 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 fay, 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 faw not to think of himself more in the east, went before them, highly than he ought to think, till it came and food over but to think foberly, according where the young child was. as God hath dealt to every When they faw the ftar, 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 into the house, they faw the not the fame office; young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worfhipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they prefented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincenfe, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream, that they fhould not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. so we being many are one body in Chrift, and every one members one of another. The Gospel. S. Luke 2. 41. N Jerufalem every year at Ow his parents went to the feaft of the paffover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerufalem after the cuftom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the The first Sunday after the Epi- child Jefus tarried behind in . phang The Collet. Jerufalem, and Jofeph and his mother knew not of it. But they fuppofing him to have mercifully 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 he that giveth, let him do it with fimplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that fhew. eth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without diffimula found him not, they turned on our miniftring; 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 him in the temple, fitting in the midft of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them queftions. And all that heard 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, there not flothful in business; thy father and I have fought fervent in fpirit; 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 inftant in prayer; diftributing I must be about my Fathers to the neceffity of faints; gibufinefs? And they underftood ven to hofpitality. Bless them not the faying which he spake which perfecute you; blefs and unto them. And he went down curfe 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 a thefe fayings in her heart. And nother. Mind not high things, Jefus increased in wisdom and but condefcend to men of low ftature, and in favour with eftate. God and man. · The fecond Sunday after the E- A The Collect. things in heaven and earth The Epiftle. Rom. 12. 6. Aving then gifts, differing The Gospel. S. John 2. r. Nd the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Je fus was there. And both Jejus was called and his difciples to the marriages 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 unto the fervants, Whatfo ever he faith unto you, do it, Haccording to the grace And there were fet, there fix that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy ac cording to the proportion of faith; or miniftry, let us wait water-pots of ftone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jefus faith unto them, |
