The booke of common prayer, and administration of the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies of the Church of England.

The third Sunday after the Epiphanie.

The Collect.

Almighty and euerlasting God, mercifully looke vpō our infirmities, & in al our dangers and ueces∣sties stretch forth thy right hand to helpe and de∣fend vs, through Christ our Lord.

The Epistle.

BE not wise in your owne opinions. * 1.1 Recompense to no man euil for euil. Prouide aforehād things honest not onely before God, but also in the sight of all men. If it be possible (as much as in you is) liue peaceably with all men. Dearely beloued, a∣uenge not your selues, but rather give place vnto wrath. for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will reward, sayeth the Lord. Therefore if thine enemie hunger, feed him, is he thirst, giue him drink: For inso doing, thou shalt heape coales of fire on his head. Be not ouercome of euil, but ouercome euil with goodnesse.

The Gospel.

WHen hee was come downe from the mountaine, * 1.2 much people fol∣lowed him. And beholde, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Master, if thou wilt, thou canst make me cleane. And Iesus put foorth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will, bee thou cleane. And immediatly his lepro∣sie was cleansed. And Iesus sayd vnto him. Tell no man, but goe and shewe thy selfe to the Priest, and offer the gift (that Mo∣ses commanded to bee offered) for a witnesie vnto them. And when Iesus was entred into Capernaum, there came vnto him a Centuriō and besought him, saying, Master, my seruant lyeth at home sicke of the palsie, and is grieuoussly pained. And Iesus sayd, when I come vnto him, I will heale him. The Centuriom answered and sayd, Sir, I am not woorthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe: but

speake the word onely, and my seruant shal be healed. For I also my self am a man subiect to the auyhority of another, and haue souldiers vnder me: & I say to this man, Go & he goeth: & to another man, Come, & he commeth: & to my seruant, Do this, & he doth it. When Iesus heard these words, he maruci∣led, & said to them that followed him, Verily I say vnto you: I haue not foūd so great faith in Israel. I say vnto you, that many shal come from the East & West, & shal rest with Abra∣ham Isahar, & Iacob in the kingdome of heauen: But the children of the kingdome shal be cast out into vtter darkenes, there shalbe weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Iesus said vnto the Centurion, Go thy way, and as thou beleeuest so be it vnto thee. And his seruant was healed the selfe same hour.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 12.16.
• * 1.2

  Matt. 8.1.