O God, who declarest thy almighty power most chiefly in shewing
mercy and pity: Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy
grace, that we, running the way of thy commandments, may obtain
thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of thy heavenly
treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. 1 Cor. xv. 1.
Brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto
you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand: by which
also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,
unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first
of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died for our
sins, according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and
that he rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures; and
that he was seen of Cephas; then of the twelve: after that, he
was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the
greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep:
after that, he was seen of James; then of all the Apostles: and
last of all, he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due
time. For I am the least of the Apostles, that am not meet to be
called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by
the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed
upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they
all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore
whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
THE GOSPEL. St Luke xviii. 9.
Jesus spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves
that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into
the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee
that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers,
or even as this publican: I fast twice in the week, I give tithes
of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would
not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his
breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this
man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for
every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted.