O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten
Son to the Gentiles: Mercifully grant, that we, which know thee
now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy
glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. Ephes. iii 1.
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you
Gentiles; if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God,
which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known
unto me the mystery (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when
ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it
is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit;
That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body,
and partakers of his promise in Christ, by the Gospel: whereof I
was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God
given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who
am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I
should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who
created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent, that now unto
the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by
the Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal
purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we
have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. ii. 1.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod
the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have
seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod
the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and
scribes of the people together, he demanded of them, where Christ
should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea:
for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou, Bethlehem, in the
land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out
of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of
them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to
Bethlehem, and said, Go, and search diligently for the young child,
and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come
and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed;
and lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, till
it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw
the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were
come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother,
and fell down and worshipped him: and when they had opened their
treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense,
and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not
return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
| _The Collect, Epistle, and Gospel for the Epiphany may be used_
| _for seven days after, unless another Collect, Epistle, and_
| _Gospel are provided_.