O Lord, we beseech thee to keep thy Church and household continually
in thy true religion; that they who do lean only upon the hope of
thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by thy mighty power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. Coloss. iii. 12.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of
mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also
do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the
bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching
and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever
ye do, in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xiii. 24.
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in
his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among
the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and
brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants
of the householder came, and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow
good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said
unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him,
Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay;
lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with
them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of
harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the
tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat
into my barn.