O Lord God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas
with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost: Leave us not, we beseech
thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use
them always to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
_Amen_.
FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts xi. 22.
Tidings of these things came unto the ears of the Church which
was in Jerusalem; and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should
go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace
of God, was glad; and exhorted them all, that with purpose of
heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man,
and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was
added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to
seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch.
And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves
with the Church, and taught much people: and the disciples were
called Christians first in Antioch. And in these days came prophets
from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named
Agabus, and signified by the Spirit, that there should be great
dearth throughout all the world; which came to pass in the days
of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to
his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which
dwelt in Judaea: which also they did, and sent it to the elders
by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
THE GOSPEL. St John xv. 12.
This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved
you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I
command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant
knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends;
for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known
unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and
ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that
your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the
Father in my name, he may give it you.
SAINT JOHN BAPTIST'S DAY _June_ 24.
THE COLLECT. Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John
Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy
Son our Saviour, by preaching of repentance: Make us so to follow
his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to
his preaching, and after his example constantly speak the truth,
boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
FOR THE EPISTLE. Isaiah xl. 1.
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye
comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare
is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath
received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. The voice
of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the
Lord, make straight in the desert a high-way for our God. Every
valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be
made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough
places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and
all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath
spoken it. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?
All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the
flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth,
because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people
is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of
our God shall stand for ever. O Zion, that bringest good tidings,
get thee up into the high mountain: O Jerusalem, that bringest
good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not
afraid: say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God. Behold, the
Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for
him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He
shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs
with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead
those that are with young.
THE GOSPEL. St Luke i. 57.
Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she
brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard
how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced
with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came
to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the
name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but
he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of
thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to
his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a
writing-table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they
marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his
tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on
all that dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised
abroad throughout all the hill-country of Judaea. And all they
that had heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What
manner of child shall this be? And the hand of the Lord was with
him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and
prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he
hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn
of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake
by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the
world began; that we should be saved from our enemies, and from
the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our
fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware
to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we,
being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him
without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the
days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of
the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to
prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people,
by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our
God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us; to give
light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; to
guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew, and waxed
strong in spirit; and was in the deserts till the day of his
shewing unto Israel.
SAINT PETER'S DAY _June_ 29.