THE EPISTLE.

1 Cor. iv. 1—5.

LET a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing, that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment; because I do not condemn mine own self. against myself: yet am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me, is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will

sins and wickedness, we are hindered in running the race which is set before us, thy bountiful and mercy may grace speedily help and deliver us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

John i. 19-28.

make

manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God.

The Fourth Sunday in Advent.

THE COLLECT.

O LORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succor us; that whereas, through our

Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am

not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us; what sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah. And they who were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John an

swered them, saying, I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; he it is, who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoes' latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara, beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

THE EPISTLE.

Phil. iv. 4-9.

REJOICE in the Lord alway; and again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have

who hast given us thine only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a virgin; grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Spirit. And this we beg in the name of Jesus Christ, through whom we ascribe unto thee all honor and glory, now and Amen.

ever.

any thing made, that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him; and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on his name; who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and

truth.

THE EPISTLE.

Hebr. i. 112.

GOD, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he

made the worlds. Who be

ing the brightness of his glory, and the express im-. age of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God

is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands. They shall perish, but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them

up, and they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

The Sunday after Christmas Day.

THE COLLECT.

SOURCE of all light and truth, who didst send thy Son Jesus Christ into the world, that the world through him might be saved, grant, we bethee, that the light of his doctrine and life may shine into our hearts, and dispel our darkness, and direct our steps, and lead us at last

seech

to the unspeakable glories and felicities of thy heavenly kingdom; which we beg in the name of our Saviour, ascribing to thee everlasting praises. Amen.

THE GOSPel.

Luke ii. 15-21.

AND it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to anothBethlehem, and er, Let us now go even unto see this thing which is come to pass,

which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found

Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of

the child, his name was called JESUS.

THE EPISTLE.

Gal. iv. 1-7.

NOW I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were in bondage under the ele

ments of the world.

But

when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to re-. deem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God, through Christ.

source of light and mercy, who hast brought us to the beginning of this year, and art sparing us to love thee, and to keep thy commandments; give us, we beseech thee, a solemn sense of the importance of time, and of diligence in improving the talents thou hast placed in our hands; and enable us so faithfully to discharge our duty in this life, that when we shall appear before thee at thy great tribunal, we may be found worthy of that eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

Matth. xxv. 14―30.

FOR the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he

Year.

THE COLLECT.