GOD, which declarest thy almighty power most chiefly in shewing mercy and pity; Give unto us abundantly thy grace, that we, running to thy promises, may be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Epistle. 1 Cor. xv.

BRETHREN, as pertaining to the gospel which I preached unto you, which ye have also accepted, and in the which ye continue, by the which also ye are saved; I do you to wit after what manner I preached unto you, if ye keep it, except ye have believed in vain. For first of all I delivered unto you that which I received, how that Christ died for our sins, agreeing to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he arose again the third day, according to the scriptures; and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that was he seen of more than five hundred brethren at once; of which many remain unto this day; and many are fallen asleep after that appeared he to James; then to all the apostles and last of all, he was seen of me, as of one that was born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, which am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I have persecuted the congregation of God. But by the grace of God I am that I am and his grace which is in me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which is with me. Therefore, whether it were I or they, so we preached, and so ye have believed.

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ye are also saved 1552.

b he was seen 1552.

The Gospel. Luke xviii.

CHRIST told this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were perfect, and despised other: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as this Publican: I fast twice in the week, I give tithe of all that I possess. And the Publican, standing afar off, would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man departed home to his house justified more than the other: for every man that exalteth himself shall be brought low; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, which art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving unto us that that our prayer dare not presume to ask; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Epistle. 2 Cor. iii.

SUCH trust have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but if we be able unto any thing, the same cometh of God; which hath made us able to minister the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. If the ministration of death, through the letters figured in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; (which glory is done away ;) why shall not the ministration of the Spirit be much more glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glorious, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

The Gospel. Mark vii.

JESUS departed from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, and came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of the ten cities. And they brought unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they prayed him to put his hand upon him. And when he had taken him aside from the people, he put his fingers into his ears, and did spit, and touched his tongue, and looked up to heaven, and sighed, and said unto him, Ephphatha, that is to say, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And he commanded them that they should tell no man: but the more he forbade them, so much the more a great

deal they published, saying, He hath done all things well; he hath made both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

ALMIGHTY and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so run to thy heavenly promises, that we fail not finally to attain the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Epistle. Gal. iii.

To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, e In the seeds, as many; but, In thy seed, as of one, which is Christ. This I say, That the law which began afterward, beyond four hundred and thirty years, doth not disannul the testament that was confirmed afore of God unto Christ-ward, to make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance come of the law, it cometh not now of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? The law was added because of transgression, (till the seed came, to whom the promise was made,) and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. A mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is Is the law then against the promise of God? God forbid : for if there had been a law given which could have given life, then no doubt righteousness should have come by the law. But the scripture concludeth all things under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ should be given funto them that believe.

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The Gospel. Luke x.

HAPPY are the eyes which see the things that ye see. For I tell you, That many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. And behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answered and said, Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? Jesus answered and said, A certain man descended from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which robbed him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And it chanced that there came down a certain priest that same way, and when he saw him, he passed by. And likewise a Levite, when he went nigh to the place, came and looked on him, and passed by. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came unto him; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

e In his seeds 1552.

to them 1552.