*

Gilead is mine, and Manasses is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of my head.

Judah is my law-giver, Moab is my wash-pot; " over Edom will I cast out my shoe; upon Philistia will I triumph.

Who will lead me into the strong city?* and who will bring me into Edom?

Hast not Thou forsaken us, O God?* and wilt not Thou, O God, go forth with our hosts ?

*

O help us against the enemy; for vain is the help

of man.

Through God we shall do great acts; and it is He that shall tread down our enemies.

ANTHEM. O Thou that tellest good tidings to Sion, get thee up into the high mountain. O thou that bringest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength: Lift it up; be not afraid: say unto the cities of Judah, BEHOLD YOUR GOD.

IT

THE LESSON.

LUKE, II. 1—14.

Alleluia.

T came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the

inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, Which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And Thou.

Or, 1 S. JOHN, v. 20.

E know that the Son of God is come, and hath

W given us an understanding, that we may know

Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. And Thou.

A

THE COLLECT.

LMIGHTY God, Who hast given us Thy onlybegotten Son to take our nature upon Him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made Thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by Thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

At Terce.

ANTHEM. This day, a chaste virgin brought forth the Incarnate Word, and yet remained a virgin; whom

all generations shall call blessed, saying, Blessed art thou among women.

Alleluia.

THE LESSON.

HEBREWS, I. 1-5.

GOD, Who at sundry times and in divers manners

spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son? And Thou.

V. He cometh forth, as a bridegroom out of his chamber;

R. And rejoiceth as a giant to run his course.

At Sert.

ANTHEM. Rejoice all ye faithful: our Saviour is born

into the world.

a mighty race.

This day hath appeared the Seed of Alleluia.

THE LESSON.

HEBREWS, I. 6—12.

HEN He bringeth in the First-begotten into the

M

worship Him. And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: they shall perish, but Thou remainest ; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed; but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail. And Thou.

V. The Word was made flesh;
R. And dwelt among us.

At None.

ANTHEM. This day, Christ is born; this day the Saviour appeareth; this day the angels sing on earth, and archangels rejoice; this day the saints exulting say, Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia.

T

THE LESSON.

HEBREWS, I. 13, 14, AND II, 1—3.

10 which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? But Thou.

V. He shall call Me;

R. Thou art My Father.

At Compline.

ANTHEM. Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. And of His kingdom there shall be no end. Alleluia.

THE LESSON.

JOHN, I. 1-14.

Iwith God, and the Word was God. The same was

N the beginning was the Word, and the Word was

in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the Light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. And Thou.