O God, who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things
as pass man's under standing: Pour into our hearts such love
toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain
thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. Rom. vi. 3.
Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by
baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the
dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the
likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with
him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we
should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now
if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live
with him; knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth
no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he
died, he died unto sin once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto
God. Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto
sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. v. 20.
Jesus said unto his disciples, Except your righteousness shall
exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall
in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that
it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever
shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgement. But I say unto you,
that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be
in danger of the judgement: and whosoever shall say to his
brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever
shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire. Therefore
if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that
thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before
the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and
then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly,
whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary
deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the
officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee,
Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the
uttermost farthing.