FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. The Epistle. Romans 13. 8. 'VE no man any thing, but to love one O another: for he that loveth another THE hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, COLLECTS, EPISTLES, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if AND GOSPELS there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, TO BE USED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; there­ ~ Note, that the Collect appointed for every fore love is the fulfilling of the law. And Sunday, or for any Holy-day that hath a t~at, knowing the time, that now it is high Vigil or Eve, shall be said at the Evening time to awake out of sleep: for now is our Service next before. salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; ~ Note also, that the Collect, Epistle and Gospel appointed for the Sunday shall serve let us therefore cast off the works of dark­ all the week after unless there be other p1'0- ness, and let us put on the armour of light. ~et . us walk honestly as in the day; not in vision made in this Book or sanctioned by rlOtmg and drunkenness, not in chamberinO" the Ordinary. and wantonness, not in strife and envying~ But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the The Collect. lusts thereof. ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we .1i may cast away the works of darkness, The Gospel. St. Matthew 21. 1 . and put upon us the armour of light, now in HEN they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Wand were come to Bethphage, unto Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two that in the last day, when he shall come again disciples, saying unto them, Go into the vil­ in his glorious Majesty to judge both the lage over against you, and straightway ye quick and the dead, we may rise to the life im­ shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: mortal, through him who liveth and reigneth loose them, and bring them unto me. And with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, Amen. The Lord hath need of them; and straicrht­ way he will send them. All this was d~ne, ~ This Collect is to be repeated every day, with that it might be fulfilled which was spoken - the other Collects in Advent, until Christ- by the Prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter mas Eve. of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, 68 69 SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the ing; that we through patience, and comfort foal of an ass. And the disciples went and of the Scriptures, might have hope. Now did as Jesus commanded them; and bro'ught the God of patience and consolation grant the ass, and the colt, and put on them their you to be like minded one towards another clothes, and they set him thereon. And accord.ing to Christ Jesus: that ye may witl~ a very great multitude spread their garments one mmd, and one mouth, glorify God, even in the way; others cut down branches from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Where­ the trees, and strawed them in the way. fore receive ye one another as Christ also And the multitudes that went before, and received us, to ~he glory of G~d. Now I say, that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the that Jesus ChrIst was a minister of the cir­ son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in cumcision. for the truth of God, to confirm the Name of the Lord; Hosanna in the the promIses made unto the fathers: And highest. And when he was come into that the Gentiles might glorify God for his .Jerusalem all the city was moved, sayina, mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will Who is this? And the multitude said This confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of G~lilee. ~~to thy Nam~. And again he saith, Re­ And Jesus went into the temple of God, and JOIC~, ye ~entJles, with his people. And cast out all them that sold and bought in the agam, .PraIse the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and temple; and overthrew the tables of the la~d hIm, all ye people. And again, Esaias money-changers, and the seats of them that salth, There shall be a root of Jesse and he sold doves; and said unto them, It is t~at shall rise to reign over the Ge~tiIes, in written, My house shall be called the house hun shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of prayer; but ye have made it a den of of ~ol?e fill you with all joy and peace in thieves. belieVing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. The Collect. The Gospel. St. Luke 21. 25. LESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy ANI? there shall be signs in the sun, and B Scriptures to be written for our learn­ 1i m the moon, and in the stars; and ing; Grant that we may in such wise hear upo~ the earth distress of nations, with per­ them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest pleXIty, the sea and the waves roarinrr • them, that by patience, and comfort of thy men's hearts failing them for fear and i'o; holy ''Vord, we may embrace, and ever hold looking after those things which a;e comina fas~ the blessed hope of everlasting life, on the earth: for the powers of heaven shafi WhICh thou hast given us in our Saviour be shaken. And then shall they see the Son .Tesus Christ. Amen. of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to The Epistle. Romans 15. 4. come to pass, then look up, and lift up your YXTHATSOEVER things were written heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. V, aforetime, were written for our learn- And he spake to them a parable, Behold the 70 71 THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. fig-tree, and all the trees; when they now The Gospel. St. Matthew 11. 2. shoot forth, ye see and know of your own OW when John had heard in the prison selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 1N the works of Christ, he sent two of his So likewise ye, when ye see these things disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that come to pass, know ye that the Kingdom of should come, or do we look for another? God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and This generation shall not pass away, till all shew John again those things which ye be fulfilled: heaven and earth shall pass do hear and see: The blind receive their away; but my words shall not pass away. sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. raised up, and the poor have the Gospel The Collect. preached to them: And blessed Is he who· soever shall not be offended in me. And as LORD J esu Christ, who :;Lt thy first they departed, Jesus began to say unto the O coming didst send thy messenger to multitudes concerning John, What went ye prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the out into the wilderness to see? a reed shaken ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may with the wind? But what went ·ye out for likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? by turning the hearts of the disobedient to behold, they that wear soft clothing are in the wisdom of the just, that at thy second kings' houses. But what went ye out for to coming to judge the world we may be found see? a prophet? yea, I say unto you, and an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest more than a prophet. For this is he of whom and reign est with the Father and the Holy it is written, Behold, I send my messenger Spirit, ever one God, world without end. before thy face, which shall prepare thy way Amen. before thee. The Epistle. 1 Corinthians 4. 1. 1 ET a man so account of us, as of the THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 1....1 ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required The Collect. in stewards, that a man be found faithful. LORD, raise up (we pray thee) thy But with me it is a vcry small thing that O power, and come among us, and with I should be judged of you, or of man's judge­ great might succour us; that whereas, ment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For through our sins and wickedness, we are sore I know nothing by myself, yet am I not let and hindered in running the race that is hereby justified; but he that judgeth me is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy the Lord.