O God, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee,
mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness
of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant
us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we
may please thee both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. 1 St John iv. 7.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God, and every
one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth
not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the
love of God towards us, because that God sent his only-begotten
Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love,
not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to
be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we
ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time.
If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is
perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in
us; because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen, and
do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the
world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God
dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the
love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love
dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect,
that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as he
is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect
love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment: he that feareth
is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved
us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a
liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how
can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have
we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.
THE GOSPEL. St Luke xvi. 19.
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine
linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain
beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of sores,
and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich
man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it
came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels
into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried: and
in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham
afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the
tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented
in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy
life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil
things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And
besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:
so that they who would pass from hence to you cannot; neither
can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said,
I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my
father's house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify
unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham
saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear
them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them
from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they
hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded,
though one rose from the dead.