O Lord, who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost
bring up in thy stedfast fear and love: Keep us, we beseech thee,
under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have
a perpetual fear and love of thy holy name; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. 1 St John iii. 13.
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we
have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.
He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth
his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal
life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because
he laid clown his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives
for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his
brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from
him; how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let
us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed, and in truth.
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our
hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater
than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart
condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God. And whatsoever
we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments,
and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is
his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son
Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And
he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him:
and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he
hath given us.
THE GOSPEL. St Luke xiv. 16.
A certain man made a great supper, and bade many; and sent his
servant at supper-time to say to them that were bidden, Come, for
all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to
make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of
ground, and I must needs go and see it; I pray thee have me
excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and
I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. And another said,
I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that
servant came and shewed his lord these things. Then the master
of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into
the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor,
and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said,
Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the high-ways and
hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall
taste of my supper.