LORD Almighty, which hast endued thy holy apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of thy Holy Ghost; let us not be destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them alway to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Epistle. Acts xi.

TIDINGS of these things came unto the ears of the congregation which was in Jerusalem; and they sent forth Barnabas, that

he should go unto Antioch. Which, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would continually cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to yTarsus, for to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced, that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people, insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian. In those days came prophets from the city of Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them, name Agabus, and signified by the Spirit, that there should be great dearth throughout all the world, which came to pass in the emperor Claudius' days. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send succour unto the brethren which dwelt in Jewry: which thing they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

The Gospel. John xv.

THIS is my commandment, that ye love together, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man bestow his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth call I you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but you have I called friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father have I opened to you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, to go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

At Evensong.

The Second Lesson, Acts xv. (unto)

"After certain days."

y Tarsus, to seek Saul 1552.

z call I not you 1552.

Saint John Baptist.

Proper Lessons at Matins.

The First Lesson, Malachi iii. unto the

end.

The Second Lesson, Matt. iii. unto the

end.

At the Communion.

Domine, exaudi. Psalm cxliii.

HEAR my prayer, O Lord, and consider my desire: hearken unto me for thy truth and righteousness' sake.

And enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground: he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men that have been long dead.

Therefore is my spirit vexed within me and my heart within me is desolate.

Yet do I remember the time past; I muse upon all thy works yea, I exercise myself in the works of thy hands.

:

I stretch forth my hands unto thee my soul gaspeth unto thee as a thirsty land.

Hear me, O Lord, and that soon, formy spirit waxeth faint : hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

O let me hear thy lovingkindness betimes in the morning, for in thee is my trust:

ALMIGHTY God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour, by preaching of penance; Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Epistle. Esai. xl.

BE of good cheer, my people: O ye prophets, comfort my people, saith your God; comfort Jerusalem at the heart, and tell her, that her travail is at an end, that her offence is pardoned, that she hath received of the Lord's hand sufficient correction for all her sins. A voice acrieth in wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness, make straight the path for our God in the desert. Let all valleys be exalted, and every mountain and hill be laid low: whatso is crooked, let it be made

a cried 1552.

R

straight, and let the rough be made plain fields.

For the glory once see it: for

of the Lord shall appear, and all flesh shall at why? The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The same voice spake, Now cry. And the prophet answered, What shall I cry? That all flesh is grass, and that all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass is withered, the flower falleth away: even so is the people as grass, when the breath of the Lord bloweth upon them. Nevertheless, whether the grass wither, or that the flower fade away, yet the word of our God endureth for ever. Go up unto the high hill, (O Sion,) thou that bringest good tidings; lift up thy voice with power, O thou preacher, Jerusalem; lift it up without fear, and say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God: behold, the Lord God shall come with power, and bear rule with his arm: behold, he bringeth his treasure with him, and his works go before him. He shall feed his flock like an herdman; he shall gather the lambs together with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall kindly entreat those that bear young.

The Gospel. Luke i.

ELIZABETH'S time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it fortuned, that in the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and called his name Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none in thy kindred that is named with this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for writing tables, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue also, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all them that dwelt nigh unto them; and all these dsayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Jewry. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Praised be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation unto us in the

a and rejoiced with her 1552.

d sayings was noised abroad 1552.

b but his name shall 1552. e unto him 1552. e the high country 1552. f And they that 1552.