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

The Gospel.

IEsus was casting out a deuill that was dumbe. * 1.1 And when he had cast out the deuil, the dumbe spake, and the people wondred. But some of them sayde, He casteth out deuils through Beelzebub the cheefe of the Deuiles. And other tempted him, and required of him a signe from heauen. But hee, knowing their thoughtes, sayde vnto them, Euery kingdome deuided against it selfe, is desolate, and one house doth fall vpon another. If Satan also be diuided against himselfe, how shall his king∣dome endure? Because yee say I cast out deuiles through Beelzebub. If I by the helpe of Beelzebub cast out deuils, by whose helpe doe your children cast them out? There∣fore shall they bee your Iudges. But if I by the finger

of God cast out deuiles, no doubt the kingdome of God is come vpon you. When a strong man armed watcheth his house, the things that he possesseth are in peace: But when a stronger them hee commeth vpon him, and ouercommeth him, he taketh from him al his harnesse, wherein he trusted, and dimdeth his goodes. He that is not with me, is against mee: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad. When the vncleane spirit is gone out of a man, hee walketh thorowe drie places, seeking rest: and when he findeth none, he saith, I wil returne againe into my house whence I came out. And when he commeth, he findeth it swept and garni∣shed. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seuen other spirits worse then himselfe, and they enter in, and dwell there: and the ende of that man is worse then the beginning. And it for∣tuned, that as hee spake these things, a certaine woman of the company lift vp her voyce, and sayde vnto him, Happy is the wombe that bare thee, and the pappes which gaue thee sucke. But he sayd, Yea, happie are they that heare the word of God, and keepe it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lu. 11.14