a very

of the stewards, that a man be found faithful. With me it is but small thing that I should be judged of you, either of man's judgment: no, I judge not mine own self. For I know nought by myself, yet am I not thereby justified; it is the Lord that judgeth me. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, which will lighten things that are hid in darkness, and open the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God.

The Gospel. Matt. xi.

WHEN John being in prison heard the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that shall come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again what ye have heard and seen: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor receive the glad tidings of the Gospel: And happy is he that is not offended by me. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed that is shaken with the wind? Or what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? verily 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.

neither shall any evil dwell with thee.

Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight for thou hatest all them that work vanity.

Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.

But as for me, I will come into thy house, even upon the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies make thy way plain before my face.

For there is no faithfulness in his mouth their inward parts are very wickedness.

Their throat is an open sepulchre they flatter with their tongue.

Destroy thou them, O God; let them perish through their own imaginations : cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness; for they have rebelled against thee.

And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice: they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee.

For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous : and with thy favourable kind

ness wilt thou defend him as

with a shield.

Glory be to the Father, and

to the Son, &c.

As it was in the beginning, is

now, and ever &c.

The Collect.

LORD, raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we be sore let and hindered, thy bountiful grace and mercy, through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, may speedily deliver us; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end.

The Epistle. Philipp. iv.

REJOICE in the Lord alway, and again I say, Rejoice. Let your softness be known bunto all men. The Lord is even at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in all prayer and supplication, let your petitions be manifest unto God, with giving of thanks. And the peace of God (which passeth all understanding) keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesu.

The Gospel. John i.

THIS is the record of John, when the Jews sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, What art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; and said plainly, I am not 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, What art thou? that we may give an answer unto them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of a crier in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esay. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not 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 which though he came after me was before me, whose shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done at Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John did bap

tize.

b to 1552.

c the 1552.

Shew yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye lands: sing, rejoice, and give thanks.

Praise the Lord upon the harp sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving.

With trumpets also and shawms: O shew yourselves joyful before the Lord the King.

Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is the round world, and they that dwell therein.

Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord : for he is come to judge the earth.

The Epistle. Tit. ii.

THE grace of God that bringeth salvation unto all men hath appeared, and teacheth us that we should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly, and righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and appearing of the glory of the great God and of our Saviour Jesu Christ; which gave himself for us, to redeem us from all unrighteousness, and to purge us a peculiar people unto himself, fervently given unto good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all ferventness of commanding. See that no man despise thee.