against, (yea, a sword shall pierce ward of iniquity; and falling headthrough thy own soul also,) that long, he burst asunder in the midst, the thoughts of many hearts may and all his bowels gushed out. And be revealed. And there was one it was known to all the dwellers at Anna, a prophetess, the daughter Jerusalem; insomuch as that field of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; is called in their proper tongue, she was of a great age, and had liv- Aceldama, that is to say, The field ed with an husband seven years of blood. For it is written in the from her virginity; and she was a book of Psalms, Let his habitation widow of about fourscore and four be desolate, and let no man dwell years, which departed not from the therein: and his Bishoprick let antemple, but served God with fast- other take. Wherefore of these ings and prayers night and day. men, which have companied with And she, coming in that instant, us all the time that the Lord Jesus gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, went in and out among us, beginand spake of him to all them that ning from the baptism of John, unto looked for redemption in Jerusa- that same day that he was taken up lem. And when they had perform- from us, must one be ordained to be ed all things according to the law a witness with us of his resurrection. of the Lord, they returned into And they appointed two, Joseph Galilee, to their own city Naza-called Barsabas, who was surnamed reth. And the child grew, and Justus, and Matthias. And they waxed strong in spirit, filled with prayed, andsaid, Thou, Lord, which wisdom; and the grace of God knowest the hearts of all men, show was upon him. Saint Matthias's Day. The Collect. whether of these two thou hast chosen; that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, ALMIGHTY God, who into that he might go to his own place. the place of the traitor Judas, And they gave forth their lots; and didst choose thy faithful servant the lot fell upon Matthias. And he Matthias, to be of the number of was numbered with the eleven the twelve Apostles; grant that thy Apostles. Church, being always preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true Pastors, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A The Gospel. St. Matt. xi. 25. T that time Jesus answered, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things For the Epistle. Acts i. 15. from the wise and prudent, and hast N those days Peter stood up in revealed them unto babes. Even so it seemed good in said, (the number of the names to- thy sight. All things are delivered gether were about an hundred and unto me of my Father; and no man twenty;) Men and brethren, this knoweth the Son, but the Father, Scripture must needs have been neither knoweth any man the Fafulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by ther, save the Son, and he to the mouth of David spake before whomsoever the Son will reveal concerning Judas, who was guide to him. Come unto me, all ye that lathem that took Jesus. For he was bour and are heavy laden, and I numbered with us, and had obtain- will give you rest. Take my yoke ed part of this ministry. Now this upon you, and learn of me; for I man purchased a field with the re-am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. behold thou shalt conceive in thy For my yoke is easy, and my bur- womb, and bring forth a son, and then is light. The Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary. 1 shalt call his name Jesus. Heshail be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall E beseech thee, O Lord, pour reign over the house of Jacob for W thy grace into our hearts; ever; and of his kingdom there shall that as we have known the incar- be no end. Then said Mary unto nion of thy Son Jesus Christ by the angel, How shall this be, seeing the message of an angel; so by I know not a man? And the angel his cross and passion we may be answered and said unto her, The brought unto the glory of his resur- Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, rection, through the same Jesus and the power of the Highest shall Christ our Lord. Amen. overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of For the Epistle. Isa. vii. 10. MOREOVER, the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask God. And behold, thy cousin Elithee a sign of the Lord thy God; sabeth, she hathalso conceived ason ask it either in the depth, or in the in her old age; and this is the sixth height above. But Ahaz said, I month with her, who was called will not ask, neither will I tempt barren. For with God nothing shall the Lord. And he said, Hear ye be impossible. And Mary said, Benow, O house of David; Is it a hold the handmaid of the Lord; be small thing for you to weary men, it unto me according to thy word. but will ye weary my God also? And the angel departed from her. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. But ter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. St. Mark's day. ALMIGHTY God, who hast instructed thy holy Church with the heavenly doctrine of thy Evangelist Saint Mark; give us grace, that being not like children The Gospel. St. Luke i. 26. AN ND in the sixth month, the carried away with every blast of angel Gabriel was sent from vain doctrine, we may be establishGod unto a city of Galilee, named ed in the truth of thy holy Gospel, Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to through Jesus Christ our Lord. a man whose name was Joseph, of Amen. the house of David; and the Vir The Epistle. Ephes. iv. 7. gin's name was Mary. And the UNTO every one of us is given angel came in unto her, and said, grace, according to the meaHail, thou that art highly favoured, sure of the gift of Christ. Wherethe Lord is with thee; Blessed art fore he saith, When he ascended thou among women. And when upon high, he led captivity captive, she saw him, she was troubled at and gave gifts unto men. (Now his saying, and cast in her mind that he ascended, what is it but that what manner of salutation this he also descended first into the should be. And the angel said un- lower parts of the earth? He that to her, Fear not, Mary; for thou descended is the same also that ashast found favour with God. And cended up far above all heavens, |