O God, who providest for thy people by thy power, and rulest
over them in love; Vouchsafe so to bless thy Servant our King,
that under him this nation may be wisely governed, and thy Church
may serve thee in all godly quietness; and grant that he being
devoted to thee with his whole heart, and persevering in good
works unto the end, may, by thy guidance, come to thine everlasting
kingdom; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and
reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without
end. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. 1 St Peter ii. 11.
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain
from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your
conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak
against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which
they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether
it be to the King, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that
are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise
of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well
doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free,
and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as
the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear
God. Honour the King.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xxii. 16.
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.
_If this day should fall on a Sunday or other holy day, the
Collect, Epistle, and Gospel of the day shall be used, and the
Collect_, O God, who providest, _shall be said after the Collect
of the day_.