O God, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness:
Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy
Church; and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we
may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. Philip, iii. 17.
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk
so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have
told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the
enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose
god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind
earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence
also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall
change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his
glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even
to subdue all things unto himself.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xxii. 15.
Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might entangle
him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples, with
the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and
teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man:
for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, what
thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me,
ye hypocrites? shew me the tribute-money. And they brought unto
him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and
superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto
them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's;
and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these
words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.