ALMIGHTY God, which madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man; Grant us the true circumcision of bthy Spirit; that our hearts, and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, may in all things obey thy blessed will; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Epistle. Rom. iv.

BLESSED is that man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Came this blessedness then upon the uncircumcision, or upon the circumcision also? For we say, that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in the circumcision, or when he was in the uncircumcision? Not in the time of circumcision, but when he was yet uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of faith, which he had yet being uncircumcised; that he should be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed to them also and that he might be the father of circumcision, not unto them only which came of the circumcised, but unto them also that walk in the steps of the faith that was in our father Abraham, before the time of circumcision. For the promise (that he should be the heir of the world) happened not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, then is faith but vain, and the promise of none effect.

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The Gospel. Luke ii.

AND it fortuned, as soon as the angels were gone away from the shepherds into heaven, they said one to another, Let us go

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now even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that we hear say is happened, which the Lord hath shewed unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe laid in a manger. And when they had seen it, they published abroad the saying which was told them of that child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them of the shepherds. But Mary kept all those sayings, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, praising and lauding God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was told unto them. And when the eighth day was come that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The First Lesson, Isa. Ix. unto the end. The Second Lesson, Luke iii. "And it fortuned," unto the end.

At the Communion.

Cantate Domino. Psalm xcvi.

O SING unto the Lord a new song sing unto the Lord all the whole earth.

Sing unto the Lord, and praise his name: be telling of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his honour unto the heathen and his wonders unto all people.

For the Lord is great, and cannot worthily be praised he is more to be feared than all gods.

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As for all the gods of the heathen, they be but idols: but it is the Lord that made the heavens.

Glory and worship are before him power and honour are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people: ascribe unto the Lord worship and power.

Ascribe unto the Lord the honour due unto his Name : bring presents, and come into his courts.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: let the whole earth stand in awe of him.

Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King: and that it is he which hath made the round world so fast that it cannot be moved; and how that he shall judge the people righteously.

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is.

Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord.

The Collect.

O GOD, which by the leading of a star didst manifest thy onlybegotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant, that we, which know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through Christ our Lord.

The Epistle. Ephes. iii.

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For this cause, I Paul am a prisoner of Jesus Christ for you heathen; if ye have heard of the ministration of the grace of God, which is given me to you-ward: for by revelation shewed he the mystery unto me, as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ; which mystery in times past was not opened unto the sons of men, as it is now declared unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be inheritors also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise fin Christ, by the means of the gospel whereof I am made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God which is given unto me after the working of his power. Unto me, the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what the fellowship of the mystery is, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, which made all things through Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the rulers and powers in heavenly things, might be known by the congregation the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he wrought in Christ Jesu our Lord: by whom we have boldness and entrance with the confidence which is by the faith of him.

The Gospel. Matt. ij.

WHEN Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a city of Jewry, in the time of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King sof Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all the city of Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them, where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, At Bethlehem in Jewry: for thus it is writ ten by the prophet, And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Jewry, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee there

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shall come unto me the Captain that shall govern my people Israel. Then Herod (when he had privily called the wise men) he inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he bade them go to Bethlehem, and said, Go your way thither, and search diligently for the child, and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over the place wherein the child was. When they saw the star, they were exceeding glad; and went into the house, and found the child with Mary his mother, and fell down flat, and worshipped him; and opened their treasures, and offered unto him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And after they were warned of God in sleep, (that they should not go again to Herod,) they returned into their own country another way.

At Evensong.

The First Lesson, Isa. xlix. unto the end. The Second Lesson, John ii." After this he went down to Capernaum," unto the end.

The first Sunday after the Epiphany.

Usquequo, Domine? Psalm xiii.

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for ever: how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

How long shall I seek counsel in my soul, and be so vexed in my heart how long shall mine enemy triumph over me?

Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death. Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him for if I be cast down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it.

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But my trust is in thy mercy and my heart is joyful in thy salvation.