Page images
PDF
EPUB

us.

by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of CHRIST, who, through the eternal SPIRIT, offered himself without spot to GOD, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living GOD? And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inherit

blood of goats and calves; but shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? JESUS answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing; it is my Father that honoureth me, of whom ye say, that he is your GoD: yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you; but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? JESUS said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up hid himself, and went out of stones to cast at him; but JESUS the temple.

ance.

The Gospel. St. John viii. 46.

JESUS said, Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of GOD, heareth God's words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of GOD. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? JESUS answered, I have not a devil: but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and

THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE
EASTER.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting GOD, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Saviour JESUS CHRIST, and to suffer death upon the to take upon him our flesh, cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; mercifully grant that ple of his patience, and also be we may both follow the exammade partakers of his resurrecCHRIST our Lord. Amen. tion, through the same JESUS

judgeth. Verily, verily, I say
unto you, If a man keep my
saying, he shall never see death.
Then said the Jews unto him,
Now we know that thou hast a
devil: Abraham is dead, and
the prophets; and thou sayest,
If a man keep my saying, hel which

The Epistle. Phil. ii. 5. LET this mind be in you,

was also in CHRIST

JESUS; who being in the form | because it is the price of blood. of God, thought it not robbery And they took counsel, and to be equal with God; but made bought with them the potter's himself of no reputation, and field to bury strangers in. took upon him the form of a Wherefore that field was called, servant, and was made in the The field of blood, unto this likeness of men and being day. (Then was fulfilled that found in fashion as a man, he which was spoken by Jeremy humbled himself, and became the prophet, saying, And they obedient unto death, even the took the thirty pieces of silver, death of the cross. Wherefore the price of him that was valuGOD also hath highly exalted ed, whom they of the children him, and given him a name of Israel did value, and gave which is above every name; them for the potter's field, as that at the name of JESUS every the LORD appointed me.) And knee should bow, of things in JESUS stood before the governheaven, and things in earth, or; and the governor asked and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST is Lord, to the glory of GoD the Father.

The Gospel. St. Matt. xxvii. 1.

him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? And JESUS said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou WHEN the morning was not how many things they witcome, all the chief priests and ness against thee? And he anelders of the people took coun-swered him to never a word, sel against JEsUs to put him to insomuch that the governor death. And when they had marvelled greatly. Now at that bound him, they led him away, feast the governor was wont to and delivered him to Pontius release unto the people a priPilate the governor. Then soner, whom they would. And Judas, who had betrayed him, they had then a notable prisonwhen he saw that he was con-er, called Barabbas. Therefore, demned, repented himself, and when they were gathered tobrought again the thirty pieces gether, Pilate said unto them, of silver to the chief priests and Whom will ye that I release elders, saying, I have sinned, unto you? Barabbas, or JEsus, in that I have betrayed the in- which is called CHRIST? For nocent blood. And they said, he knew that for envy they had What is that to us? see thou delivered him. When he was to that. And he cast down the set down on the judgment-seat, pieces of silver in the temple, his wife sent unto him, saying, and departed, and went and Have thou nothing to do with hanged himself. And the chief that just man; for I have sufpriests took the silver pieces, fered many things this day in a and said, It is not lawful for to dream because of him. But put them into the treasury, the chief priests and elders

persuaded the multitude that they found a man of Cyrene, they should ask Barabbas, and Simon by name; him they destroy JESUS. The governor compelled to bear his cross. answered and said unto them, And when they were come unto Whether of the twain will ye a place called Golgotha, that is that I release unto you? They to say, a place of a skull, they said, Barabbas. Pilate saith gave him vinegar to drink minunto them, What shall I do gled with gall; and when he then with JESUS, which is called had tasted thereof, he would CHRIST? They all say unto not drink. And they crucified him, Let him be crucified. And him, and parted his garments, the governor said, Why, what casting lots: that it might be evil hath he done? But they fulfilled, which was spoken by cried out the more, saying, Let the prophet, They parted my him be crucified. When Pilate garments among them, and saw that he could prevail no- upon my vesture did they cast thing, but that rather a tumult lots. And sitting down, they was made, he took water, and watched him there; and set washed his hands before the up over his head his accusamultitude, saying, I am innocent tion written, THIS IS JESUS of the blood of this just person: THE KING OF THE JEWS. see ye to it. Then answered all Then were there two thieves the people, and said, His blood crucified with him, one on the be on us, and on our children. right hand, and another on the Then released he Barabbas left. And they that passed by unto them: and when he had reviled him, wagging their Scourged JESUs, he delivered heads, and saying, Thou that him to be crucified. Then destroyest the temple, and the soldiers of the governor buildest it in three days, save took JESUS into the common- thyself: if thou be the Son of hall, and gathered unto him the GOD, come down from the cross. whole band of soldiers. And Likewise also the chief priests, they stripped him, and put mocking him, with the scribes on him a scarlet robe. And and elders, said, He saved when they had platted a crown others, himself he cannot save: of thorns, they put it upon his if he be the King of Israel, let head, and a reed in his right him now come down from the hand; and they bowed the knee cross, and we will believe him. before him, and mocked him, He trusted in GoD; let him saying, Hail, King of the Jews! deliver him now, if he will And they spit upon him, and have him: for he said, I am took the reed and smote him the Son of GOD. The thieves on the head. And after that also which were crucified with they had mocked him, they him, cast the same in his teeth took the robe off from him, and Now from the sixth hour there put his own raiment on him, was darkness over all the land, and led him away to crucify unto the ninth hour. him. And as they came out, about the ninth hour, JESUS

And

cried with a loud voice, saying, | press alone, and of the people Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? there was none with me: for I that is to say, My God, my GOD, will tread them in mine anger, why hast thou forsaken me? and trample them in my fury, Some of them that stood there, and their blood shall be sprinkwhen they heard that, said, led upon my garments, and I This man calleth for Elias. will stain all my raiment. For And straightway one of them the day of vengeance is in mine ran, and took a spunge, and heart, and the year of my refilled it with vinegar, and put deemed is come. And I looked, it on a reed, and gave him to and there was none to help; drink. The rest said, Let be, and I wondered that there was let us see whether Elias will none to uphold: therefore mine come to save him. JESUS, own arm brought salvation unto when he had cried again with me; and my fury it upheld me. a loud voice, yielded up the And I will tread down the peoghost. And behold, the vail of ple in mine anger, and make the temple was rent in twain, them drunk in my fury, and I from the top to the bottom; will bring down their strength and the earth did quake, and to the earth. I will mention the the rocks rent; and the graves loving kindnesses of the Lord, were opened; and many bodies and the praises of the Lord, of saints which slept, arose, and according to all that the LORD came out of the graves after his hath bestowed on us, and the resurrection, and went into the great goodness towards the holy city, and appeared unto house of Israel, which he hath many. Now when the Centu- bestowed on them, according rion, and they that were with him watching JESUS, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

MONDAY BEFORE EASTER.

to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: So he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his For the Epistle. Isaiah Ixiii. 1. pity he redeemed them, and he WHO is this that cometh bare them, and carried them from Edom, with dyed gar- all the days of old. But they ments from Bozrah? this that rebelled, and vexed his HOLY is glorious in his apparel, SPIRIT: therefore he was turntravelling in the greatness of ed to be their enemy, and he his strength? I that speak in fought against them. Then he righteousness, mighty to save. remembered the days of old, Wherefore art thou red in thine Moses and his people, saying, apparel, and thy garments like Where is he that brought them him that treadeth in the wine-up out of the sea, with the fat? I have trodden the wine- shepherd of his flock? Where

is he that put his HOLY SPIRIT | the feast day, lest there be an within him? that led them by uproar of the people. And the right hand of Moses, with being in Bethany, in the house his glorious arm dividing the of Simon the leper, as he sat water before them, to make at meat, there came a woman himself an everlasting name? having an alabaster box of That led them through the deep ointment of spikenard, very as an horse in the wilderness, precious; and she brake the that they should not stumble ? box, and poured it on his head. As a beast goeth down into the And there were some that had valley, the SPIRIT of the LORD indignation within themselves, caused him to rest: so didst and said, Why was this waste thou lead thy people, to make of the ointment made? for it thyself a glorious name. Look might have been sold for more down from heaven, and behold than three hundred pence, and from the habitation of thy holi- have been given to the poor. ness, and of thy glory: where And they murmured against is thy zeal, and thy strength, her. And JESUS said, Let her the sounding of thy bowels, alone: why trouble ye her? and of thy mercies towards me? are they restrained? Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our Father, our Redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return, for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden twelve, went unto the chief down thy sanctuary. We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.

The Gospel. St. Mark xiv. 1. AFTER two days was the feast of the Passover, and of unleavened bread and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, Not on

She hath wrought a good work on me: for ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good; but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could; she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of, for a memorial of her. And Judas Iscariot, one of the

priests, to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him." And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare, that thou mayest eat the passover? And he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

« PreviousContinue »