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swered them, saying, I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; he it is, who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoes' latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara, beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

THE EPISTLE.

Phil. iv. 4-9.

REJOICE in the Lord alway; and again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have

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who hast given us thine only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a virgin; grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Spirit. And this we beg in the name of Jesus Christ, through whom we ascribe unto thee all honor and glory, now and Amen.

ever.

THE GOSPEL.

John i. 1 14.

IN the beginning was the the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not

any thing made, that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He

was not that

THE EPISTLE.

Hebr. i. 1- 12.

GOD, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. Who be

light, but was sent to bearing
witness of that light. That
was the true light which
lighteth every man that com-
eth into the world. He was
in the world, and the world
was made by him; and the
world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on his name; who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and

truth.

ing the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than For unto which of they. the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God

is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands. They shall perish, but thou remainest; > and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them

up, and they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

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to the unspeakable glories and felicities of thy heavenly kingdom; which we beg in the name of our Saviour, ascribing to thee everlasting praises. Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

Luke ii. 15 - 21.

AND it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to anothBethlehem, and er, Let us now go even unto see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found

Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told And all they that heard it them concerning this child. wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of

the child, his name was call

ed JESUS.

THE EPISTLE.

Gal. iv. 1-7.

NOW I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were in bondage under the ele

ments of the world. But when the fulness of the time

source of light and mercy, who hast brought us to the beginning of this year, and art sparing us to love thee, and to keep thy commandments; give us, we beseech thee, a solemn sense of the importance of time, and of diligence in improving the talents thou hast placed in our hands; and enable us so faithfully to discharge our duty in this life, that when we shall appear before thee at thy

was come, God sent forth his great tribunal, we may

Son, made of a

woman,

made under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God, through Christ.

The First Sunday in the
Year.

THE COLLECT.

be found worthy of that eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

Matth. xxv. 14―30.

FOR the the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then

O GOD, the unfailing he who had received the

more.

five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he who had received two, he also gained other two. But he who had received one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them. And so he who had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee,

at thou art an hard man,

reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed; and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered, and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed; thou oughtest, therefore, to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take,

therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him who hath ten talents. For unto every one who hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

THE EPISTle.

1 Pet. i. 13-25.

WHEREFORE gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As

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