THE COLLECTS EPISTLES AND GOSPELS (continued 4)

SAINT BARNABAS THE APOSTLE June 11.

THE COLLECT.

O Lord God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost: Leave us not, we beseech thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them always to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts xi. 22.

Tidings of these things came unto the ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem; and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would 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 Tarsus, for to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church, and taught much people: and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit, that there should be great dearth throughout all the world; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

THE GOSPEL. St John xv. 12.

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

SAINT JOHN BAPTIST'S DAY June 24.

THE COLLECT. 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 repentance: 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. Amen.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Isaiah xl. 1.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a high-way for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for ever. O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain: O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid: say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God. Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

THE GOSPEL. St Luke i. 57.

Elisabeth's full 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 came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him 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 of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing-table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill-country of Judaea. And all they that had 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, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began; that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us; to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit; and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

SAINT PETER'S DAY June 29.

THE COLLECT.

Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock: Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts xii. 1.

About that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals: and so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them of his own accord; and they went out, and passed on through one street, and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xvi. 13.

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

SAINT JAMES THE APOSTLE July 25.

THE COLLECT.

Grant, O merciful God, that as thine holy Apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, without delay was obedient unto the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him; so we, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts xi. 27, and part of Chapter xii.

In those days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit, that there should be great dearth throughout all the world; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt at Judaea: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.

THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xx. 20.

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

| THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD | | August 6. | | THE COLLECT. | | O almighty and everlasting God, whose blessed Son revealed | himself to his chosen Apostles when he was transfigured on the | holy mount, and amidst the excellent glory spake with Moses and | Elias of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem: | Grant to us thy servants that beholding the brightness of thy | countenance we may be strengthened to bear the cross; through | the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. | | THE EPISTLE. 2 St Peter i. 16. | | We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known | unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were | eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father | honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the | excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. | And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with | him in the holy mount. | | THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xvii. 1. | | After six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, | and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was | transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, | and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there | appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then | answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us | to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; | one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet | spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a | voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in | whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples | heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And | Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. | And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save | Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus | charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son | of man be risen again from the dead.

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE August 24.

THE COLLECT.

O almighty and everlasting God, who didst give to thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach thy Word: Grant, we beseech thee, unto thy Church, to love that Word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts v. 12.

By the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people: (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch: and of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them: and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women:) insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed every one.

THE GOSPEL. St Luke xxii. 24.

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

SAINT MATTHEW THE APOSTLE September 21.

THE COLLECT.

O almighty God, who by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from the receipt of custom to be an Apostle and Evangelist: Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches, and to follow the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. 2 Cor. iv. 1.

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.

THE GOSPEL. St Matth. ix. 9.

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came, and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS September 29.

THE COLLECT.

O everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order: Mercifully grant that, as thy holy Angels alway do thee service in heaven, so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Rev. xii. 7.

There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea: for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xviii. 1.

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences: for it must needs be that offences come: but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh. Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST October 18.

THE COLLECT.

Almighty God, who calledst Luke the Physician, whose praise is in the Gospel, to be an Evangelist, and Physician of the soul: May it please thee that, by the wholesome medicines of the doctrine delivered by him, all the diseases of our souls may be healed; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. 2 Tim. iv. 5.

Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an Evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee; and the books, but especially the parchments. Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works. Of whom be thou ware also, for he hath greatly withstood our words.

THE GOSPEL. St Luke x. 1.

The Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes, and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.

SAINT SIMON AND SAINT JUDE, APOSTLES October 28.

THE COLLECT.

O almighty God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple acceptable unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. St Jude 1.

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation; ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

THE GOSPEL. St John xv. 17.

These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than the lord: if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin; but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

ALL SAINTS DAY November 1.

THE COLLECT.

O almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Rev. vii. 2.

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth, and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed; and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand, of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders, and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen; Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever: Amen.

THE GOSPEL. St Matth. v. 1.

Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain; and when he was set, his disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

| SAINT KENTIGERN, (January 13.) | | SAINT PATRICK,(March 17.) | | SAINT COLUMBA, (June 9.) AND | | SAINT NINIAN (September 16.) | | THE COLLECT. | | O God, who by the preaching of thy blessed servant Saint N. | didst cause the light of the Gospel to shine in this our land | [or in these islands]; Grant, we beseech thee, that having his | life and labours in remembrance, we may shew forth our thankfulness | unto thee for the same by following the example of his zeal and | patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. | | THE EPISTLE. 1 Thess. ii. 2. | | We were bold in, our God to speak unto you the gospel of God | with much contention. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor | of uncleanness, nor in guile; but as we were allowed of God to | be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as | pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither | at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke | of covetousness; God is witness: nor of men sought we glory, | neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been | burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among | you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: so being | affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted | unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, | because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our | labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we | would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you | the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily | and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that | believe: as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged | every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would | walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and | glory. | | THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xxviii. 16. | | Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain | where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they | worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake | unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in | earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them | in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy | Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have | commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end | of the world. Amen. | | SAINT MARGARET OF SCOTLAND November 16. | | THE COLLECT. | | O God, who didst call thy servant Queen Margaret to an earthly | throne that she might advance thy heavenly kingdom, and didst | endue her with zeal for thy Church and charity towards thy | people; Mercifully grant that we who commemorate her example | may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious | fellowship of thy Saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. | Amen. | | FOR THE EPISTLE. Proverbs xxxi. 10. | | Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above | rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, | so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good | and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and | flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the | merchants ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth | also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, | and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and | buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planeth a vineyard. | She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. | She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth | not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her | hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the | poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is | not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household | are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of | tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is | known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the | land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth | girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; | and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth | with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She | looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the | bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; | her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done | virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, | and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she | shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let | her own works praise her in the gates. | | THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xiii. 44. | | The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; | the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof | goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. | Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, | seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of | great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. | | AT THE DEDICATION FESTIVAL | | THE COLLECT. | | Almighty God, whom year by year we praise for the dedication | of this church, and who hast preserved us in safety to worship | therein; Hear, we beseech thee, the prayers of thy people, and | grant that whosoever in this place shall make his supplication | before thee, may by the granting of his petitions be filled | with joy to the glory of thy holy Name, through Jesus Christ | our Lord. Amen. | | THE EPISTLE. 1 St Peter ii. 1. | | Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, | and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire | the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so | be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as | unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, | and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual | house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, | acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained | in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, | elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be | confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: | but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders | disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a | stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which | stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they | were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal | priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should | shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of | darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were | not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not | obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. | | THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xxi. 12. | | Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that | sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the | money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and | said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the | house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the | blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed | them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful | things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and | saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, | and said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith | unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes | and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? | | AT THE THANKSGIVING FOR HARVEST | | THE COLLECTS. | | One or more of these Collects may be said. | | O almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us the | fruits of the earth in their season, and hast crowned the year | with thy goodness: Give us grateful hearts, that we may unfeignedly | thank thee for all thy loving-kindness, and worthily magnify thy | holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. | | Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful | people, that they who have freely received of thy bounty, may, | of thy bounty, freely give; through Jesus Christ our Lord. | Amen. | | O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast taught us that man doth not live | by bread alone: Feed us, we humbly beseech thee, with the true | Bread that cometh down from heaven, even thyself, O blessed | Saviour, who livest and reignest, with the Father and the Holy | Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. | | FOR THE EPISTLE. Deut. xvi. 13. | | Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after | that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: and thou | shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, | and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the | stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within | thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the | Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose: because | the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in | all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice. | | THE GOSPEL. St Matth. vi. 28. | | Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, | neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon | in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, | if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and | to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe | you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, | What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal | shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles | seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of | all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and | his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto | you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow | shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto | the day is the evil thereof. | | SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY | | THE COLLECT. | | O heavenly Father who didst join together in marriage our first | parents, Adam and Eve: Sanctify and bless these thy servants; | and grant that those whom thou by matrimony dost make one, may | stedfastly keep the covenant betwixt them made, and ever remain | in perfect love and peace together; through Jesus Christ our | Lord. Amen. | | THE EPISTLE. Ephes. v. 25. | | Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, | and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it | with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it | to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or | any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. | So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that | loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his | own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord | the Church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and | of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and | mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall | be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning | Christ and the Church. Nevertheless let every one of you in | particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see | that she reverence her husband. | | THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xix. 4. | | Jesus answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he | | which made them at the beginning made them male and female, | and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, | and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one | flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What | therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. | | BURIAL OF THE DEAD | | THE COLLECT. | | O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is | the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth | shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth, and believeth | in him, shall not die eternally; who also hath taught us (by | his holy Apostle Saint Paul) not to be sorry, as men without | hope, for them that sleep in him: We meekly beseech thee, O | Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of | righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may | rest in him, as our hope is this our brother doth; and that, | at the general resurrection in the last day, we may be found | acceptable in thy sight, and receive that blessing, which thy | well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear | thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive | the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world: | Grant this, we beseech thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus | Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. | | THE EPISTLE. 1 Thess. iv. 13. | | I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them | which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have | no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even | so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For | this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are | alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent | them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from | heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with | the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then | we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with | them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall | we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with | these words. | | THE GOSPEL. St John vi. 37. | | All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that | cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from | heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent | me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of | all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should | raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him | that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth | on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at | the last day. | | Or St John xi. 21. | | Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my | brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever | thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto | her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I | know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last | day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: | he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he | live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never | die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I | believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should | come into the world.