k down. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they come to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear thrust him into the side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe also. For these things were done that the scripture should be fulfilled, Ye shall not break a bone of him. And again another scripture saith, They shall look upon him whom they have pierced. After this Joseph of Aramathæa (which was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take down the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him license. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, (which at the beginning came to Jesus by night,) and brought of myrrh and aloes mingled together, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesu, and wound it in linen clothes with the odours, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. And in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the preparing of the sabbath of the Jews; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. that go down unto the pit : and I have been even as a man that hath no strength. Free among the dead, like unto them that be wounded, and lie in the grave which be out of remembrance, and are cut away from thy hand. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit in a place of darkness, and in the deep. Thine indignation lieth hard upon me and thou hast vexed me with all thy storms. Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me and made me to be abhorred of them. I am so fast in prison that I cannot get forth. My sight faileth for very trouble Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretch : ed out my hands unto thee. Dost thou shew wonders among the dead or shall the dead rise up again, and praise thee? Shall thy lovingkindness be shewed in the grave or thy faithfulness in destruction? Shall thy wondrous works be known in the dark and thy righteousness in the land where all things are forgotten? Unto thee have I cried, O Lord and early shall my prayer come before thee. It is better (if the will of God be so) that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing. Forasmuch as Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God; and was killed as pertaining to the flesh, but was quickened in the Spirit. In which Spirit he also went and preached to the spirits that were in prison; which sometime had been disobedient, when the long-suffering of God was once looked for in the days of Noe, while the ark was a preparing; wherein a few, that is to say, eight souls, were saved by the water; like as baptism also now saveth us; not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but in that a good conscience consenteth to God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: which is on the right hand of God, and is gone into heaven, angels, powers, and might subdued unto him. The Gospel. Matt xxvii. WHEN the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathæa, named Joseph, which also was Jesus' disciple. He went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out even in the rock; and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. The next day that followed the day of preparing, the high priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that this deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have m the watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went and made the sepulchre sure with the watchmen, and sealed the stone. Easter Day. In the morning, afore Matins, the people being assembled in the church, these Anthems shall be first solemnly sung or said. At Morning Prayer, instead of the CHRIST rising again from the dead, now dieth not: death from henceforth hath no power upon him. For in that he died, he died but once to put away sin: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. And so likewise count yourselves dead unto sin : but living unto God in Christ Jesus our Lord. "Hallelujah, hallelujah. CHRIST is risen again the firstfruits of them that sleep. For seeing that by man came death by man also cometh the resurrection of the dead. For as by Adam all men do die, so by Christ all men shall be restored to life. The Priest. Shew forth to all nations the glory of God. Hallelujah. m a watch 1552. n Hallelujah, hallelujah om. 1552. The Answer. ¶ And among all people his wonderful works. Let us pray. O God, who for our redemption didst give thine only begotten Son to the death of the cross; and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily from sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Proper Psalms and Lessons. At Matins. The First Lesson, Exod. xii. unto the end. Psalms ii. lvii. cxi. The Second Lesson, Romans vi. unto the end. At the first Communion. Conserva me, Domine. Psalm xvi. PRESERVE me, O God for in thee have I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord: Thou art my God, my goods are nothing unto thee. All my delight is upon the saints that are in the earth: and upon such as excel in virtue. But they that run after another god shall have great trouble. Their drink-offerings of blood will not I offer: neither make mention of their names within my lips. |