whom we ascribe unto thee all honor and glory, now and ever.

Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

St. Matt. xi. 2.

Now

OW when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he who should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see; the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached unto them; and blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes, concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment ? Behold they who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

THE EPISTLE.

I Cor. iv. I.

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. For I know nothing 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 make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God.

The Fourth Sunday in Advent.

THE COLLECT.

LORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power,

O and come among us, and with great might

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

THE GOSPEL.

St. John, i. 19.

'HIS is the record of John when the Jews sent

THIS

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 answered 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 shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara, beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

RE

THE EPISTLE.

Phil. iv. 4.

EJOICE in the Lord alway; and again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at 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 both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.

Christmas Day.

The Nativity of our Lord.

THE COLLECT.

ALMIGHTY GOD, 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 Holy Spirit. And this we beg in the name of Jesus Christ, through whom we ascribe unto thee all honor and glory, now and ever. Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

St. John, i. I.

N the beginning was the Word, and the Word

IN

was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything 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 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 might believe.

not.

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 onlybegotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

THE EPISTLE.

Heb. i. I.

GOD, who at sundry times, and in divers man

ners, 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 being the brightness of his glory, and the express image 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 firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the