Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help
ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in
our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may
happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault
and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. 1 Thess. iv. 1.
We beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that
as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk, and to please God,
so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments
we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even
your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication;
that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in
sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even
as the Gentiles which know not God; that no man go beyond and
defraud his brother in any matter; because that the Lord is the
avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man, but God, who hath
also given unto us his Holy Spirit.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xv. 21.
Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and
Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts,
and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son
of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he
answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought
him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he
answered and said, I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of
the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying,
Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take
the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said,
Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their
masters table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman,
great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her
daughter was made whole from that very hour.