O Lord, raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us, and
with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and
wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that
is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help
and deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to
whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world
without end. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. Philip, iv. 4.
Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, Rejoice. Let your
moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful
for nothing: but in every thing, 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.
THE GOSPEL. St John i. 19.
This is the record of John, when the Jews sent Priests and Levites
from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and
denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked
him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou
that Prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who
art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What
sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in
the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the
prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then,
if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that Prophet? John
answered 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 shoe's latchet I am not worthy to
unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where
John was baptizing.