Hings hast ordained strength, and night, and departed into Egypt; madest infants to glorify thee by and was there until the death of their deaths; mortify and kill all Herod: that it might be fulfilled vices in us, and so strengthen us which was spoken of the Lord by by thy grace, that by the inno-the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt cency of our lives, and constan- have I called my Son. Then Hecy of our faith even unto death, rod, when he saw that he was we may glorify thy holy name, mocked of the wise men, was exthrough Jesus Christ our Lord. ceeding wroth, and sent forth, and Amen. slew all the children that were For the Epistle. Rev. xiv. 1. in Bethlehem, and in all the Looked, and lo, a Lamb stood coasts thereof, from two years on the mount Sion, and with old and under, according to the him an hundred forty and four time which he had diligently in thousand, having his Father's quired of the wise men. Ther name written in their foreheads. was fulfilled that which was spoAnd I heard a voice from heaven, ken by Jeremy the prophet, sayas the voice of many waters, and ing, In Rama was there a voice as the voice of a great thunder: heard, lamentation, and weeping, and I heard the voice of harpers and great mourning, Rachel harping with their harps and weeping for her children, and they sung as it were a new song would not be comforted, because before the throne, and before the they are not. four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed God, who, through the preachfrom the earth. These are they ing of the blessed Apostle Saint which were not defiled with wo-Paul, hast caused the light of the men, for they are virgins: these Gospel to shine throughout the are they which follow the Lamb world; grant, we beseech thee, whithersoever he goeth: these that we, having his wonderful were redeemed from among men, conversion in remembrance, may being the first-fruits unto God, show forth our thankfulness unto and to the Lamb. And in their thee for the same, by following mouth was found no guile; for the holy doctrine which he they are without fault before the taught, through Jesus Christ our throne of God. Lord. Amen. The Conversion of St. Paul. The Collect. The Gospel. St. Matt. ii. 13. For the Epistle. Acts, ix. THE angel of the Lord appear-A ND Saul, yet breathing out eth to Joseph in a dream, say- threatenings and slaughter ing, Arise, and take the young against the disciples of the Lord, child and his mother, and flee in- went unto the High Priest, and to Egypt, and be thou there until desired of him letters to DamasI bringthee word; for Herod will cus to the synagogues, that if he seek the young child to destroy found any of this way, whether him. When he arose, he took the they were men or women, he young child and his mother by might bring them bound unto de rusalem. And as he journeyed, sen vessel unto me, to bear my he came near Damascus and name before the Gentiles, and suddenly there shined round about kings, and the children of Israel : him a light from heaven. And he For I will show him how great fell to the earth, and heard a voice things he must suffer for my saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why name's sake. And Ananias went persecutest thou me? And he his way, and entered into the said, who art thou, Lord? And house; and putting his hands on the Lord said, I am Jesus whom him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord thou persecutest: It is hard for (even Jesus, that appeared unto thee to kick against the pricks. thee in the way as thou camest) And he, trembling and astonish- hath sent me, that thou mightest ed, said, Lord, what wilt thou have receive thy sight, and be filled me to do? And the Lord said with the Holy Ghost. And immeunto him, Arise, and go into the diately there fell from his eyes as city, and it shall be told thee what it had been scales; and he receivthou must do. And the men ed sight forthwith, and arose, and which journeyed with him stood was baptized. And when he had speechless, hearing a voice, but received meat, he was strengthenseeing no man. And Saul arose ed. Then was Saul certain days from the earth; and when his with the disciples which were at eyes were opened, he saw no Damascus. And straightway he man: but they led him by the preached Christ in the synahand, and brought him into Da- gogues, that he is the Son of God. mascus. And he was three days But all that heard him were without sight, and neither did eat amazed, and said, Is not this he nordrink. And there was a certain that destroyed them which calldiscipleat Damascus, named Ana-ed on this name in Jerusalem, nias, and to him said the Lord in and came hither for that intent, a vision, Ananias: And he said, that he might bring them bound Behold, I am here, Lord. And unto the chief priests? But Saul the Lord said unto him, Arise, increased the more in strength, and go into the street which is and confounded the Jews which called Straight, and inquire in the dwelt at Damascus, proving that house of Judas for one called Saul, this is very Christ. of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth, The Gospel. St. Matt. xix. 27. and hath seen in a vision a man PETER answered, and said unnamed Ananias, coming in, and to Jesus, Behold, we have forputting his hand on him, that he saken all, and followed thee; might receive his sight. Then what shall we have therefore? Ananias answered, Lord, I have And Jesus said unto them, Verily heard by many of this man, how I say unto you,that ye which have much evil he hath done to thy followed me, in the regeneration, saints Jerusalem and here he when the Son of man shall sit in hath authority from the chief the throne of his glory, ye also priests to bind all that call on thy shall sit upon twelve thrones, name. But the Lord said unto judging the twelve tribes of Israel. him, Go thy way: for he is a cho-And every one that bath forsaken : and rising again of many in Israel; Ghost by the mouth of David and for a sign which shall be spo- spake before concerning Judas, ken against, (yea, a sword shall who was guide to them that took pierce through thy own soul also,) Jesus. For he was numbered with that the thoughts of many hearts us, and had obtained part of this may be revealed. And there was ministry. Now this man purchasone Anna, a prophetess, the ed a field with the reward of inidaughter of Phanuel, of the tribe quity; and falling headlong, he of Aser; she was of a great age, burst asunder in the midst, and all and had lived with an husband se- his bowels gushed out. And it was ven years from her virginity; and known to all the dwellers at Jerushe was a widow of about four-salem; insomuch as that field is score and four years, which de- called in their proper tongue, parted not from the temple, but Aceldama, that is to say, The field served God with fastings and of blood. For it is written in the prayers night and day. And she book of Psalms, Let his habitation coming in that instant, gave thanks be desolate, and let no man dwell likewise unto the Lord, and spake therein and his Bishoprick let of him to all them that looked for another take. Wherefore of these redemption in Jerusalem. And men, which have companied with when they had performed all us all the time that the Lord Jethings according to the law of the sus went in and out among us, beLord, they returned into Galilee, ginning from the baptism of John, to their own city Nazareth. And unto that same day that he was the child grew, and waxed strong taken up from us, must one be orin spirit, filled with wisdom; and dained to be a witness with us of the grace of God was upon him. his resurrection. And they ap Saint Matthius's Day. The Collect. pointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, Almighty God, who into the and said, Thou, Lord, which place of the traitor Judas. knowest the hearts of all men, didst choose thy faithful servant show whether of these two thou Matthias, to be of the number of hast chosen; that he may take part the twelve Apostles; grant that of this ministry and apostleship, thy Church, being always preserv-from which Judas by transgresed from false Apostles, may be or- sion fell, that he might go to his dered and guided by faithful and own place. And they gave forth true pastors, through Jesus Christ their lots; and the lot fell upon our Lord. Amen. Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven Apostles. For the Epistle. Acts, i. 15. IN those days Peter stood up in The Gospel. St. Matt. xi 25. the midst of the disciples, and AT that time Jesus answered, said, (the number of the names and said, I thank thee, O Fatogether were about an hundred ther, Lord of heaven and earth, and twenty;) Men and brethren, because thou hast hid these things this Scripture must needs have from the wise and prudent, and been fulfilled, which the Holy hast revealed them unto babes |
