kings, and the children of Ifrael. For I will fhew him how great things he must suffer for my Name's fake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the houfe; and putting his hands on him, faid, Brother Saul, the Lord (even Jefus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou cameft) hath fent me, that thou mighteft receive thy fight, and be filled with the Holy Ghoft. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been fcales; and he received fight forthwith, and arofe, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was ftrengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the difciples which were at Damafcus. And ftraightway he preached Chrift in the Synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and faid, Is not this he that deftroyed them which called on this Name in Jerufalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in ftrength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damafcus, proving that this is very Chrift. P The Gofpel. St Matth. xix. 27. Eter answered and faid unto Jefus, Behold, we have forfaken all, and followed thee, what fhall we have therefore? And Jefus faid unto them, Verily I fay unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man fhall fit in the throne of his glory, ye alfo fhall fit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Ifrael. And every one that hath forfaken houfes, or brethren, or filters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my Names fake, fhall receive an hundred-fold, and fhall inherit everlafting life. but many that are first shall be laft, and the laft fhall be firft. The Prefentation of Chrift in the Temple, commonly called, The Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin. The Collect. Almighty and everliving God, we humbly befeech thy Majefty, that as thy only begotten Son was this day pre prefented in the temple in fubftance of our flesh; fo we may be prefented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the fame thy Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. B For the Epiftle. Mal. iii. 1. Ehold, I will fend my meffenger, and he fhall prepare the way before me and the Lord whom ye feek, thall fuddenly come to his temple; even the meffenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he fhall come, faith the Lord of hofts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who fhall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiners fire, and like fullers fope. And he fhall fit as a refiner and purifier of filver; and he fhall purify the fons of Levi, and purge them as gold and filver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offerings of Judah and Jerufalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the forcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against thofe that opprefs the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherlefs, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me faith the Lord of hofts. A The Gospel. St Luke 2. 22. ND when the days of her purification, according to the law of Mofes, were accomplished, they brought him to Jerufalem, to prefent him to the Lord, (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb, shall be called holy to the Lord) and to offer a facrifice, ac PARA PHRASE. On the COLLECT for the Prefentation of Chrift. O almighty and everlafting God, we thy creatures do befeech thy infinite Majefty, that as thy eternal Son, having condefcended to take upon him our nature, was, according to the Mofaical inftitution, prefented in the temple, in like manner the fame Jefus, our bleffed Mediator, being now in heaven, may prefent us with pure and clean hearts to God the Father; and this we beg for the fake of the fame Jefus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. cording to that which is faid in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in Jerufalem, whofe name was Simeon; and the fame man was juft and devout, waiting for the confolation of Ifrael and the holy Ghoft was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had feen the Lords Chrift. And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jefus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and bleffed God, and faid, Lord, now lettest thou thy fervant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have feen thy falvation; which thou haft prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Ifrael. And Jofeph and his mother marvelled at thofe things which were fpoken of him. And Simeon bleffed them, and faid unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is fet for the fall and rifing again of many in Ifrael; and for a fign which fhall be fpoken against, (Yea, a fword fhall pierce through thy own foul alfe) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna a prophetefs, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Afer, the was of a great age, and had lived with an husband feven years from her virginity. And the was a widow of about fourfcore and four years; which departed not from the temple, but ferved God with faftings and prayers night and day. And fhe coming in that inftant, gave thanks likewife unto the Lord, and fpake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerufalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed ftrong in fpirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him. Saint Matthias's Day. The Collect. Almighty God, who into the place of the traitor Judas, didft choose thy faithful fervant Matthias to be of the number number of the twelve apostles; Grant that thy Church being alway preferved from falfe Apoftles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. I For the Epistle. Acts 1. 15. N thofe days Peter ftood up in the midst of the disciples, and faid, (The number of the names together were about an hundred and twenty) Men and brethren, this Scripture muft needs have been fulfilled, which the holy Ghoft by the mouth of David fpake before concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jefus : for he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this miniftry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity, and falling headlong he burst asunder in the midft, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem, infomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to fay, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Pfalms, Let his habitation be defolate, and let no man dwell therein; and his Bifhoprick let another take. Wherefore of thefe men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jefus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptifm of John unto that fame day that he was taken up from us, muft one be ordained to be a witnefs with us of his 'refurrection, And they appointed two, Jofeph called Barfabas, who was furnamed Juftus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and faid, Thou, Lord, which knoweft the hearts of all men, fhew whether of these two thou haft chosen : that he may take part of this miniftry and PARAPHRASE. On the COLLECT for St Matthias's Day O almighty God, who by thy divine power did direct the lot, whereby Matthias was elected one of the apostles, in the room of Judas Iscariot, who had forfeited it, by betraying his mafter; we humbly befeech thee, that thou wouldeft, by thy good Providence, order that all falfe teachers be kept out of the church, that they may not mislead the faithful by falfe doctrine, but that it may be always under the care of worthy and orthodox minifters; this we beg for the fake of our bleffed Saviour Jefus Chrift. Amen. PARA apostleship, from which Judas by tranfgreffion fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles. A The Gospel. St Matth. xi. 25, T that time Jefus anfwered and faid, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou haft hid these things from the wife and prudent, and haft revealed them unto babes. Even fo, Father, for so it seemed good in thy fight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, fave the Son, and he to whom foever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy leaden, and I will give you reft. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye fhall find rest unto your fouls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. WE The Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary. The Collect. FE befeech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts, that as we have known the Incarnation of thy Son Jefus Chrift by the meffage of an angel, fo by his crofs and paffion we may be brought unto the glory of his refurrection, through the fame Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. PARAPHRASE. On the COLLECT for the Annunciation of the bleed Virgin Mary. O Lord, we humbly pray that thou wouldest be pleased to pour such a portion of grace into our hearts, that whereas thou hast thought proper to make known the incarnation of thy Son Jefus Chrift, by fending an holy angel to the blessed Virgin, so we may yield fuch an obedience to thy commands, that we may, through the merits of his crofs and paflion, obtain that everlasting glory which his refurrection hath given us good grounds to hope for; which we ardently pray for the fake of the fame Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. For |