ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, which, of thy tender love etoward man, hath sent our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we both follow the example of his patience, and be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Epistle. Philipp. ii.

LET the same mind be in you, that was also in Christ Jesu: which, when he was in the shape of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God; nevertheless he made himself of no reputation, taking on him the shape of a servant, and became like funto men, and was found in his apparel as a man: he humbled himself, and became obedient unto the death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath also exalted him on high, and given him a name which is above all names; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, both of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that all tongues should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, unto the praise of God the Father.

The Gospel. Matt. xxvi. xxvii.

AND it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days shall be Easter, and the Son of man shall be delivered over to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, (which was called Caiaphas,) and held a council that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the holy day, lest there be an uproar among the people. When Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there f unto man 1552.

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came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at the board. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, Whereto serveth this waste? This ointment might have been well sold, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood that, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me hshall ye not have always. And in that she hath cast this ointment on my body, she did it to bury me. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in all the world, there shall also this, that she hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Then one of the twelve (which was called Judas Iscariot) went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they appointed unto him thirty pieces of silver. And from that time forth he sought opportunity to betray him. The first day of sweet bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep my Easter by thee with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. When the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? He answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man truly goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. When they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and thanked, and gave it them, saying, Drink ye all of this; for this is my blood (which is of the new testament) that is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine tree, until m that day when I shall drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

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And when they had said grace, they went out unto mount Olivet. Then said Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men be offended because of thee, yet will not I be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That in this same night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Yea, though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. Then came Jesus with them unto a farm place, (which is called Gethsemane,) and said unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to wax sorrowful and heavy. Then said Jesus unto them, My soul is heavy even unto the death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell flat on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he came unto the disciples, and found them asleep, and said unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away once again, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink of it, thy will be fulfilled. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. While he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the number of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. But he that betrayed him gave them a token, saying, Whomsoever I kiss, the same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him,

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Put up thy sword into the sheath: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall give me even now more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled? for thus must it be. In that same hour said Jesus to the multitude, Ye be come out as it were to a thief with swords and staves for to take me. I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye took me not. But all this is done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. And they took Jesus, and led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. The chief priests, Pand the elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, (for to put him to death,) but found none: yea, when many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, and said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it again in three days. And the chief priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? why do these bear witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the chief priest answered and said unto him, I charge thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said; nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of the sky. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what need we of any more witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy to die. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him with fists; and other smote him on the face with the palm of their hands, saying, Tell us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came to him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I wot not what thou sayest. When he was gone out into the porch, another wench saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, saying, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said unto Peter, Surely thou art even one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, that he

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knew not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesu, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. When the morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people held a counsel against Jesus, to put him to death; and brought him bound, and delivered him unto Pontius Pilate the deputy. Then Judas (which had betrayed him) seeing that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty plates of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned, betraying the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the silver plates in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver plates, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasure, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them a potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore the field is called Haceldama, that is, the field of blood, until this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took thirty silver plates, the price of him that was valued, whom they bought of the children of Israel, and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. Jesus stood before the deputy; and the deputy asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many witnesses they lay against thee? And he answered him to never a word, insomuch that the deputy marvelled greatly. At that feast the deputy was wont to deliver unto the people a prisoner, whom they would desire. He had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said, Whether will ye that I give loose unto you, Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down to give judgment, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for "I have suffered many things this day in my sleep because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the people that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The deputy answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I let loose unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate said unto them, What shall I do then

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