38

kingdom of God. Nicodemus weakness of our mortal natur
said unto him, How can a man we can do no good thing with
be born when he is old? can he out thee, grant us the help of th
enter the second time into his grace, that in kee ping thy com-
mother's womb, and be born? mandments we may please thee
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, both in will and deed, through
I say unto thee, except a man be Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
born of water, and of the Spirit, The Epistle. 1 John, iv. 7.
he cannot enter into the kingdom BELOVED, let us love one an
of God. That which is born of other: for love is of God, and
the flesh, is flesh; and that which every one that loveth is born of
is born of the Spirit, is spirit. God, and knoweth God. He that
Marvel not that I said unto thee, loveth: not, knoweth not God; for
ye must be born again. The God is love. In this was manifest-
wind bloweth where it listeth, and ed the love of God towards us, be-
thou hearest the sound thereof, cause that God sent his only be-
but canst not tell whence it com-gotten Son into the world, that we
eth, and whither it goeth; so is might live through him. Herein
every one that is born of the is love, not that we loved God,
Spirit. Nicodemus answered and but that he loved us, and sent
said unto him, How can these his Son to be the propitiation for
things be? Jesus answered and our sins. Beloved, if God so loved
said unto him, Art thou a master us, we ought also to love one an
of Israel, and knowest not these other. No man hath seen God
things? Verily, verily, I say unto at any time. If we love one an-
thee, we speak that we do know, other, God dwelleth in us, and
and testify that we have seen; his love is perfected in us. Here-
and ye receive not our witness. by know we that we dwell in him,
If I have told you earthly things, and he in us; because he hath
and ye believe not; how shall ye given us of his Spirit. And we
believe, if I tell you of heavenly have seen and do testify, tha
things? And no man hath as- the Father sent the Son to be the
cended up to heaven, but he that Saviour of the world. Whosoever
came down from heaven, even shall confess that Jesus is the Son
the Son of man, who is in heaven. of God, God dwelleth in him
And as Moses lifted up the ser- and he in God. And we have
pent in the wilderness, even so known and believed the love that
must the Son of man be lifted God hath to us. God is love; and
up; that whosoever believeth in he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth
him should not perish, but have in God, and God in him. Here
eternal life.
in is our love made perfect, that
we may have boldness in the day
of judgment: because as he is,
so are we in this world. There is

The first Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.

O God, the strength of all no fear in love; but perfect love those who put their trust in casteth out fear; beca use fea thee, mercifully accept our pray-hath torment: He that feareth, ers; and because, through the not made perfect in love. W

love him because he first loved us. may testify unto them, lest they If a man say, I love God, and ha-also come into this place of torteth bis brother, he is a liar: for he ment. Abraham saith unto him, that loveth not his brother, whom They have Moses and the Prohe hath seen, how can he love phets; let them hear them. And God, whom he hath not seen?he said, Nay, father Abraham; And this commandment have we but if one went unto them from from him, that he who loveth the dead, they will repent. And God, love his brother also. he said unto him, If they hear not The Gospel. St. Luke, xvi. 19. Moses and the Prophets, neither THERE was a certain rich man, will they be persuaded, though who was clothed in purple one rose from the dead. and fine linen, and fared sumptu

ously every day. And there was The second Sunday after Trim

The Collect.

a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of Lord, who never failest to sores; and desiring to be fed help and govern those whom with the crumbs which fell from thou dost bring up in thy steadfast the rich man's table: moreover, fear and love; keep us,we beseech the dogs came and licked his sores. thee, under the protection of thy And it came to pass that the beg-good providence, and make us to gar died, and was carried by the have a perpetual fear and love of angels into Abraham's bosom: thy holy name, through Jesus the rich man also died, and was Christ our Lord. Amen. buried: and in hell he lifted up The Epistle. 1 John, iii. 13. his eyes, being in torments, and MARVEL not, my brethren, seeth Abraham afar off, and La- if the world hate you. We zarus in his bosom. And he cried, know that we have passed from and said, Father Abraham, have death unto life, because we lova mercy on me, and send Lazarus, the brethren. He that loveth not that he may dip the tip of his fin- his brother, abideth in death. ger in water, and cool my tongue; Whosoever hateth his brother, for I am tormented in this flame. is a murderer: and ye know that But Abraham said, Son, remem-no murderer hath eternal life ber that thou in thy life-time re-abiding in him. Hereby perceive ceivedst thy good things, and like- we the love of God, because he wise Lazarus evil things; but now laid down his life for us; and we be is comforted, and thou art tor-qught to lay down our lives for mented. And besides all this, the brethren. But whoso hath between us and you there is a this world's good, and seeth his great gulph fixed; so that they brother have need, and shutteth who would pass from hence to up his bowels of compassion from you cannot; neither can they pass him; how dwelleth the love of tous that would come from thence. God in him? My little children, Then he said, I pray thee there- let us not love in word, neither in fore, father, that thon wouldest tongue; but in deed, and in truth. send him to my father's house: And hereby we know that we are for I have five brethren that he of the trath, and shall assure our

:

hearts before him. For if our ways and hedges, and compel
heart condemn us, God is great-them to come in, that my house
er than our heart, and knoweth may be filled: for I say unto you,
all things. Beloved, if our heart that none of those men which
condemn us not, then have we were bidden shall taste of my
confidence towards God. And supper.
whatsoever we ask, we receive of
him, because we keep his com-
mandments, and do those things
that are pleasing in his sight. And
this is his commandment, That cifully to hear us; and grant
we should believe on the name of that we, to whom thou hast given
his Son Jesus Christ, and love one an hearty desire to pray, may,
another, as he gave us command-by thy mighty aid, be defended
ment. And he that keepeth his and comforted in all dangers and
commandments, dwelleth in him, adversities, through Jesus Christ
and he in him and hereby we our Lord. Amen.
know that he abideth in us, by the
Spirit which he hath given us.

The third Sunday after Trinity.
Collect.
beseech thee mer-

O Lord, The

The Gospel. St. Luke, xiv. 16. A Certain man made a great

humility: For God resisteth the supper, and bade many; and proud, and giveth grace to the sent his servant at supper time, humble. Humble yourselves

to

The Epistle. 1 St. Peter, v. 5. ALL of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with

say to them that were bidden, therefore under the mighty hand Come, for all things are now ready of God, that he may exalt you in And they all with one consent be- due time: casting all your care gan to make excuse: The first upon him; for he careth for you. said unto him, I have bought a Be sober, be vigilant, because piece of ground, and I must needs your adversary the devil, as a go and see it; I pray thee have roaring lion, walketh about, seekme excused: And another said, Iing whom he may devour: whom have bought five yoke of oxen, resist, steadfast in the faith; knowand I go to prove them; I praying that the same afflictions are thee have me excused: And an- accomplished in your brethren other said, I have married a wife, that are in the world. But the and therefore I cannot come. So God of all grace, who hath called that servant came, and showed his us unto his eternal glory by Christ lord these things. Then the mas-Jesus, after that ye have suffered ter of the house, being angry, a while, make you perfect, stasaid to his servant, Go out quickly blish, strengthen, settle you. To into the streets and lanes of the him be glory and dominion for city, and bring in hither the poor, ever and ever. Amen. and the maimed, and the halt, The Gospel. St. Luke, xv. 1. and the blind. And the servant THEN drew near unto him all said, Lord, it is done as thou hast the publicans and sinners for commanded, and yet there is to hear him. And the Pharisees room. And the lord said unto and Scribes murmured, saying, the servant, Go out into the high-This man receiveth sinners, and

eateth with them. And he spake worthy to be compared with the this parable unto them, saying, glory which shall be revealed in What man of you having an hun-us. For the earnest expectation dred sheep, if he lose one of them, of the creature waiteth for the doth not leave the ninety and manifestation of the sons of God. nine in the wilderness, and go af- For the creature was made subter that which is lost, until he find ject to vanity, not willingly, but it? And when he hath found it, he by reason of him who hath sublayeth it on his shoulders, rejoic-jected the same in hope: because ing. And when he cometh home, the creature itself also shall be he calleth together his friends and delivered from the bondage of neighbours, saying unto them, corruption, into the glorious liRejoice with me, for I have found berty of the children of God. For my sheep which was lost. I say we know that the whole creation unto you, that likewise joy shall groaneth, and travaileth in pain be in heaven over one sinner that together until now: And not only repenteth, more than over ninety they, but ourselves also, which and nine just persons, which need have the first fruits of the Spirit, no repentance. Either what wo-leven we ourselves groan within man having ten pieces of silver, ourselves, waiting for the adopif she lose one piece, doth not tion, to wit, the redemption of light a candle, and sweep the our body.

house, and seek diligently till The Gospel. St. Luke, vi. 36.

she find it? And when she hath

found it, she calleth her friends Bye therefore merciful, as and her neighbours together, say- Judge not, and ye shall not be your Father also is merciful. ing, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost. judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, Likewise, I say unto you, there and ye shall be forgiven: give, is joy in the presence of the Anand it shall be given unto you; gels of God over one sinner that repenteth. good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running

The fourth Sunday after Trinity.over, shall men give into your

The Collect.

bosom. For with the same mea

O God, the protector of all that sure that ye mete withal, it shall trust in thee, without whom be measured to you again. And he nothing is strong, nothing is holy; spake a parable unto them: Can increase and multiply upon us the blind lead the blind? shall they thy mercy; that thou being our not both fall into the ditch? The ruler and guide, we may so disciple is not above his master; pass through things temporal, but every one that is perfect shall that we finally lose not the things be as his master. And why beholdeternal: Grant this, O heavenly est thou the mote that is in thy Father, for Jesus Christ's sake brother's eye, but perceivest not Our Lord. Amen. the beam that is in thine own eye? The Epistle. Rom. viii. 18. Either how canst thou say to thy Reckon that the sufferings brother, Brother, let me pull out of this present time are not the mote that is in thine eye,