concerning the saide seruice shall at the costes and charges of the Parishioners of euery parish and Cathedrall Church bee attayned and gotten before the feast of the said Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist next following and that all such Parish and Cathedrall Churches or other places where the saide bookes shall be attained and gotten before the saide feast of the Natiuite of S. Iohn Baptist shall within three weekes nert after the said bookes so attained and gotten vse the said seruice and put the same in vre according to this Act. And be it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaide that nopetson or persons shall be at any time hereafter impeached or otherwise molested of or for any of the offences aboue mentioned hereafter to bee committed or done contrary to this Act vnlesse he or they so offending be thereof indited at the next general Sessions to be holden before any such Iustices of Oier and Determiner or Iustices of Assise next after any offence committed or done contrary to the tenor of this Act Prouided alwayes and bee it ordeined and enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that all and singular Lords of the parliament for the third offence aboue mentioned shal be tried by their peeres Prouided also and be it ordeined and enacted by the authority aforesaid that the Maior of London and all other Maiors Bailifs and other head Officers of all and singular Cities Boroughs and Cownes corporate within this Realine Wales and the Marches of the same to the which Iustices of Assise do not commonly repaire shal haue full power authoritie by vertue of this Acte to inquire heare and determine the offences abouesaid and euery of them yeerely within fifteene dayes after the feastes of Easter and S. Michael the Archangel in like maner and forme as Iustices of Assise and Oyer and Determiner may doe Prouided alwayes and be it ordeined and enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that all and singular Archbishops and Brishops and euery of their Chancellors Commitraries Archdeacons and other Ordimaries hauing any peculiar Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction shall haue full power and authoritie by vertue of this Acte as well to inquire in their visitation synodes or elsewhere within their iurisdiction at any other time and place to take accusations and informations of all and euery the things aboue mentionned done committed or perpetrated within the limits of their iurisdiction and authoritie and to punish the fame by admonition excommunication sequessration or depriuation or other Censures processes in like forme as hereofore hath bene vsed in like cases by the Queenes Ecclesiasticall lawes Prouided alwayes and be it enaeted that whatfsoeuer petson offending in the premises shal for the offence first receiue punishment of the Ordinarie hauing a testimoniall thereof vnder the said Ordinaries seale shal not for the same offence eftsoones bee conuicted before the Iustice and likewise receining for the said first offence punishment by the Iustices he shal not for the same offence eftsoones receiue punishment of the Ordinarte any thing couteined in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding Prouided alwayes be it enacted that such ornaments of the Church and of the ministers thereof shal be reteined and be in vse as was in this Church of England by the authoritie of parliament in the second yeere of the reigne of king Edward the sirth vntill other order shall bee therein taken by authority of the Queenes Maiestie with the aduise of her Commissioners appointed and authorised vnder the great seale of England for causes Ecclesiastical or of the Metropolitane of this Realme And also that if there shall happen any contempt or irreuerence to be vsed in the Ceremonies or rites of the Church by the misusing of the orders appointed in this booke the Queenes maiesty may by the like aduise of the saide Commissioners or Metropolitane ordaine and publish such further Ceremonies or rites as may be most for the aduancement of Gods glory the edisying of his Church and the due reuerence of Christes holy mysteries and Sacraments And be it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that all lawes statutes and ordinances where in or where by any other seruice administration of Sacraments or Common prayer is limited established or set foorth to be vsed within this Realme or any other the Queenes dominions and countreys shall from henceforth vtterly be voyde and of none effect The Preface THere was neuer any thing by the wit of man so well deuised or so sure established which in continuance of time hath not bin corrupted as among other things it may plainly appeare by the cōmon prayers in the Church commonly called Diuine Seruice The first originall and ground whereof if a man woulde search out by the ancient Fathers hee shall find that the same was not ordained but of a good purpose and for a great aduancement of godlinesse For they soordered the matter that all the whole Bible or the greatest part thereof should be read ouer once euery yeere entending thereby that the Clergie and specially such as were ministers of the Congregation should by often reading and meditation of Gods word be stirred vp to godlinesse themselues and be more able to exhort other by wholesome doctrine and to confute them that were aduersarics to the trueth And further that the people by dayly hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church should continually profite more more in the knowledge of God and be the more inslamed with the loue of his true religion But these many yeres passed this godly and decent order of the ancient Fathers hath bene so altered broken neglected by planting in vncertaine stories Legends Responds Verses vaine Repetitions Cōmemorations and Synodalles that commonly when any booke of the Bible was begun before three or foure chapters were read out all the rest were vnread And in this sort the booke of Esay was begun in Aduent and the booke of Genesis in Septuagesima but they were onely begun and neuer read through After like sort were other bookes of holy Scripture vsed And moreouer whereas Saint Paul would haue such language spoken to the people in the Church as they might vnderstand and haue profit by hearing the same the seruice in this Church of England these many yeres hath bin read in Latine to the people which they vnderstood not so that they haue heard with their cares only and their heart spirit and mind haue not bene edif ied thereby And furthermore not with slanding that the ancient Fathers haue deuided the Psalmes into seuen portions wherof euery one was called a Nocturne now of late time a few of them haue bene dayly sayd and oft repeated and the rest vtterly omitted Moreouer the number and hardnesse of the rules called the Pie and the manisold changings of the seruice was the cause that to turne the booke onely was so hard and intricate a matter that many times there was more businesse to find out what should be read then to reade it when it was found out
sayd vnto them How hapned it that yee sought me wist ye not that I must go about my fathers businesse And they vnder stood not that saying which hee spake vnto them And he went downe with them came to Nazareth and was obedient vnto them But his mother kept all these sayings together in her heart And Iesus prospred in wisedome and age and in fauour with God and men The second Sunday after the Epiphanie The Collect. Almightie and euerlasting God which doest gouerne all things in heauen and earth mercifully heare the supplications of thy people and grant vs thy grace all the dayes of our life The Epistle SEeing that we haue diuers giftes according to the grace that is giuen vnto vs Rom. 12.6 if a man haue the gift of prophesie let him haue it that it bee agreeing to the faith Let him that hath an office waite on his office Let him that teacheth take heed to his doctrine Let him that exhorteth giue attendance to his exhortation If any man giue let him doe it with singlenesse Let him that ruleth doe it with diligence If any man shewe mercie let him doe it with cheerefulnesse Let loue be without dissimulation Hate that which is euill and cleaue vnto which is good Be kind one to another with brotherly loue In giuing honour goe one before another Be not slothfull in the businesse which ye haue in hand Be feruent in spirit Apply your selues to the time Reioice in hope Be patient in tribulation Continue in prayer Distribute vnto the necessitie of the Saints Be ready to harbour Blesse them which persente you Blesse I say and curse not Be mery with them that are mery weepe with them that weepe Bee of like affection one towards another Bee not high minded but make your selues equall to them of the lower sort The Gospel ANd the third day was there amariage in Cana a city of Galilee Iohn 2.1 and the mother of Iesus was there And Iesus was called and his disciples vnto the mariage And when the wine failed the mother of Iesus said vnto him They haue no wine Iesus said vnto her woman what haue I to doe with thee mine houre is not yet come His mother sayde vnto the ministers whatsoeuer he saieth vnto you do it And there were standing there fixe water pots of stone after the maner of purifying of the Iewes containing two or three firkins apiece Iesus said vnto them Fill the water pots with water And they filled them to the brim And he said vnto them Draw out now and beare vnto the gouernor of the feast And they bare it When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water turned into wine knew not whence it was but the ministers which drew the water knew he called the bridegrome and said vnto him Euery man at the beginning doeth fet foorth good wine and when men be drunk thē that which is worse but thou hast kept the good wine now This beginning of miracles did Iesus in Cana of Galilee and shewed his glorie and his disciples beleeued on him The third Sunday after the Epiphanie The Collect. Almighty and euerlasting God mercifully looke vpō our infirmities in al our dangers and uecessties stretch forth thy right hand to helpe and defend vs through Christ our Lord. The Epistle BE not wise in your owne opinions Rom. 12.16 Recompense to no man euil for euil Prouide aforehād things honest not onely before God but also in the sight of all men If it be possible as much as in you is liue peaceably with all men Dearely beloued auenge not your selues but rather give place vnto wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine I will reward sayeth the Lord. Therefore if thine enemie hunger feed him is he thirst giue him drink For inso doing thou shalt heape coales of fire on his head Be not ouercome of euil but ouercome euil with goodnesse The Gospel WHen hee was come downe from the mountaine Matt. 8.1 much people followed him And beholde there came a leper and worshipped him saying Master if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane And Iesus put foorth his hand and touched him saying I will bee thou cleane And immediatly his leprosie was cleansed And Iesus sayd vnto him Tell no man but goe and shewe thy selfe to the Priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded to bee offered for a witnesie vnto them And when Iesus was entred into Capernaum there came vnto him a Centuriō and besought him saying Master my seruant lyeth at home sicke of the palsie and is grieuoussly pained And Iesus sayd when I come vnto him I will heale him The Centuriom answered and sayd Sir I am not woorthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe but speake the word onely and my seruant shal be healed For I also my self am a man subiect to the auyhority of another and haue souldiers vnder me I say to this man Go he goeth to another man Come he commeth to my seruant Do this he doth it When Iesus heard these words he maruciled said to them that followed him Verily I say vnto you I haue not foūd so great faith in Israel I say vnto you that many shal come from the East West shal rest with Abraham Isahar Iacob in the kingdome of heauen But the children of the kingdome shal be cast out into vtter darkenes there shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth And Iesus said vnto the Centurion Go thy way and as thou beleeuest so be it vnto thee And his seruant was healed the selfe same hour The fourth Sunday after the Epiphanie The Collect. GOd which knowest vs to be set in the mids of so many and great dangers that for mans frailnesse we cannot alwayes stand vprightly grant to vs the health of body and soule that all those things which we suffer for sinne by thy helpe we may wel passe and ouercome through Christ our Lord. The Epistle LEt euery soule submit himself e vnto the authority of the higher power for there is nopower but of God Rom. 13.1 The powers that be are ordeined of god Whoesoeuer therefore resisteth power resisteth the ordinance of God but they that resist shall receiue to themselves damnation For rulers are not fearefull to them that doe good but to them that doe euil Wilt thou be without feare of the power do well then and so shalt thou be praised of the same for he is the minister of God for thy wealth But if thou doe that which is euill then feare for hee beareth not the sword of nought for hee is the minister of God to take vengeance on them that doe euill Wherefore yee must needes obey not onely for feare of vengeance but also because of conscience and euen for this cause pay yee tribute For they are Gods ministers seruing for the same purpose Giue to euery man therefore his dutie tribute to whom tribute belongeth longeth custome
railed on him wagging their heads and saying A wretch thou that destroyest the Temple and buildest it againe in three dayes saue thy selfe and come down from the crosse Likewise also mocked him the high Priestes among themselues with the Scribes and sayd He saued other men himselfe he cannot saue Let Christ the king of Israel descend now from the crosse that we may see beleeue And they that were crucified with him checked him also And when the sixt houre was come darkenesse arose ouer all the earth vntill the ninth houre And at the ninth houre Iesus cried with a loud voyce saying Eloi Eloi Iamasabachthani which is if one interpret it My God my God why hast thou forsaken me And some of them that stood by when they heard that said Behold he calleth for Elias And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar and put it on a reede and gaue him to drinke saying Let him alone let vs see whether Elias will come and take him downe But Iesus cried with a loude voyce and gaue vp the ghost And the vaile of the Temple rent in two pieces from the top to the bottome And when the Centurion which stoode before him saw that he so cryed and gaue by the ghost hee sayd Truely this man was the Sonne of GOD. There were also women a good way off beholding him Among whom was Marie Magdalene and Marie the mother of Iames the little and of Ioses and Marie Salome which also when hee was in Galilee had followed him and ministred vnto him and many other women which came vp with him to Hierusalam And now when the euen was come because it was the day of preparing that goeth before the Sabboth Ioseph of the citie of Arimathea a noble counsailour which also looked for the kingdome of God came and went in boldly vnto Pilate and begged of him the body of Iesus And Pilate marueiled that he was already dead and called vnto him the Centurion and asked of him whether hee had bene any while dead And when he knew the trueth of the Centurion hee gaue the body to Ioseph And he bought a linnen cloth and tooke him downe wrapped him in the linnen cloth and layd him in a sepulchre that was hewen out of a rocke and rolled a stone before the doore of the sepulchre And Mary Magdalene and Mary Ioses beheld where he was laid VVednesday before Easter The Epistle WHere as is a Testament Heb. 9.16 there must also of necessity be the death of him that maketh the Testament For the testament taketh authority when men are dead For it is yet of no value as long as he that maketh the Testament is aliue For which cause also neither the first Testament was ordeined without blood For when Moses had declared al the cōmandemēts to al the people according to the Law he took the blood of Calues of Goates with water purple wooll and hysoye sprinkled both the booke al the people saying This is the blood of the Testament which God hath appointed vnto you Moreouer he sprinkled the tabernacle with blood also and all the ministring vessels And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood and without shedding of blood is no remission It is need then that the similitudes of heauenly things bee purified with such things but that the heauenly things themselues be purified with better sacrifices then are those For Christ is not entered into the holy places that are made with handes which are similitudes of true things but is entered into very heauen for to appeare now in the sight of God for vs not to offer him selfe often as the high Priest entereth into the holy place euery yeere with strange blood for then he must haue often suffered since the world began but now in the ende of the world hath hee appeared once to put sinne to flight by the offring vp of himself And as it is appointed vnto all men that they shall once die and then commeth the iudgement euen so Christ was once offered to take away the sinnes of many and vnto them that looke for him shal he appeare againe without sinne vnto saluation The Gospel THe feast of sweet bread drew nigh Luk. 22.1 which is called Easter and the hie Priestes and Scribes sought how they might kill him for they feared the people Then entred Satan into Iudas whose surname was Iscariot which was of the number of the twelue and he went his way and communed with the hie priests and officers how he might betray him vnto them And they were glad and promised to giue him money And hee consented and sought opportunitie to betray him vnto them when the people were away Then came the day of sweete bread when of necessitie the Passeouer must be offered And he sent Peter and Iohn saying Goe and prepare vs the Passeouer that we may eate They sayde vnto him Where wilt thou that we prepare And hee sayde vnto them Behold when yee enter into the Citie there shall a man meete you bearing a pitcher of water him follow into the same house that hee entereth in and yee shall say vnto the goodman of the house The master sayeth vnto thee Where is the ghest chamber where I shall eate the Passeouer with my Disciples And hee shall shewe you a great parlour paued there make readie And they went and found as hee had sayd vnto them and they made ready the Passeouer And when the houre was come he fate downe and the twelue Apostles with him And hee sayde vnto them I haue inwardly desired to eate this Passeouer with you before that I suffer For I say vnto you hencefoorth will I not eate of it any more vntill it be fulfilled in the kingdome of God And hee tooke the cup and gaue thanks and sayd Take this and diuide it among you for I say vnto you I will not drinke of the fruit of the Vine vntill the kingdome of God come And hee tooke bread and when he had giuen thanks he brake it and gaue it vnto them saying This is my body which is giuen for you this doe in the remembrance of me Likewise also when he had supped hee tooke the cup saying This cup is the newe Testament in my blood which is shed for you Yet beholde the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table And truely the Sonne of man goeth as it is appointed but woe vnto that man by whom hee is betrayed And they began to enquire among themselues which of them it was that should doe it And there was a strife among them which of them should seeme to bee the greatest And hee sayde vnto them The kings of nations reigne ouer them and they that haue anthoritie vpon them are called gracious but ye shall not so be But hee that is greatest among you shall bee as the yonger and he that is chiefe shall be as hee that doth minister For whether is greater