N grant that we, being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy holy Spirit, through the fame our Lord Jesus Chrift, who liveth and reigneth withthee and the fame Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Epistle. Gal. iv. 1. OW I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a fervant, 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 children, were in bondage under the elements 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 redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of fons. And, because ye are fons, God hath fent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a fervant, but a fon; and if a son, then an heir of God, through Chrift. The Gospel. St. Matth. i. 18. HE birth of Jesus Christ was on this wife: When as his mother Mary was efpoused to Jofeph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. T Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost: And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a Virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted, is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from fleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born Son; and he called his name Jesus.. The Circumcifion of Christ. Almighty God who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man; grant us the true circumcifion of the the Spirit, that, our hearts For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made B whom the Lord will not impute fin. Cometh this bleffedness then upon the circum. cifion only, or upon the uncircumcifion also? For we say, that faith was reckoned to A ND it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the Shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came Abraham for righteousness. with haste, and found Mary How was it then reckoned ? and Joseph, and the babe when he was in circumcifion, lying in a manger. And when or in uncircumcifion? Not they had feen it, they made in circumcifion, but in uncir- known abroad the saying cumcifion. And he received be the father of all them that which was told them con the fign of circumcifion, a feal cerning this child. And all of the righteousness of the they that heard it wondered faith which he had, yet being told them by the shepherds. at those things which were uncircumcifed; that he might But Mary kept all these things, believe, though they be not and pondered them in her circumcised; that righteous returned, glorifying and praifness might be imputed unto them alfo: And the father of ing God for all the things that circumcifion to them who are they had heard and feen, as it not of the circumcifion only, heart. And the shepherds wastolduntothem. And when but alfo walk in the steps of eight days were accomplished that faith of our father Abra for the circumcifing of the child, his name was called ham, which he had, being yet JESUS, which was fo named uncircumcised. For the pro- of the angel before he was mise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his feed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. conceived in the womb. The same Collect, Epistle, and The The Epiphany, or the Manifest- the Gentiles the unsearchable ation of Christ to the Gentiles. The Collect. God, who by the lead ing of a Star didst manifest thy only begotten Son to the Gentiles; mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead, through Jesus Chrift our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Ephef. iii. 1. OR this cause, I Paul, the Jefus Christ Frisoner of for you Gentiles; if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which-in other ages was not made known unto the fons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ, by the Gofpel: whereof I was made a minifter, according to the gift of the grace of God, given untomeby the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all faints, is this grace given, that I should preach among riches of Chrift; and to make all men fee what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Chrift: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known, by the Church, the manifold wifdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord; in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. The Gospel. St. Matth. ii. 1. HEN Jesus was born Win Bethlehem of Ju dea, in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wife men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the 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 Jerufalem 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, In Bethlehem of Judea : For thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem in the land of Juda, art not the Ke Γ I the least among the princes of Juda; for out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Ifrael. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wife men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he fent them to Bethlehem, and faid, Go, and search diligently for the young 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 ftar which they saw in the eaft went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they faw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him: And when they had opened their treafures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincenfe, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to He-ny, are one body in Chrift, rod, they departed into their own country another way. prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Rom. xii. 1. Beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living facrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as Godhath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we, being ma and every one members one of another. The First Sunday after the The Gospel. St. Luke ii. 41. Epiphany. Lord, we beseech thee to receive the Epiphany. A mighty i and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; mercifully hear the fupplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life, through Jesus Chrift our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Rom. xii. 6. Hfering accedit the ter the custom of the feast. The Second Sunday after the And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerufalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey, and they fought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerufalem seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, fitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have fought thee for- diffimulation. Abhor that rowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye fought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jefus increased in wifdom, and stature, and in favour with God and man. grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without which is evil, cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another: not flothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the neceffity of saints; given to hofpitality. Bless them which persecute you; bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do |