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

The third Sunday in Lent.

The Collect.

WE beseech thee almighty God, looke vpon the har∣tie desire of thy humble seruants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy maiestie, to bee our defence against all our enemies, through Iesus Christ our Lord.

The Epistle.

BE you the folowers of God as deere children, and walke in loue, euen as Christ loued vs, and gaue himselfe for vs, an offring and a sa∣crifice of a sweete sauour to God. As for forni∣cation, and al vncleannes or couetousnes, let it not bee once named among you, as it becom∣meth

saints, or filthinesse, or foolish talking, or icsting, which are not comely, but rather giuing of thankes. For this yee knowe, that no whoremonger, either vncleane person, or co∣uetous person (which is a worshipper of images) hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ, & of God. Let no man deceiue you with vaine words: For because of such things, commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedi∣ence. Be ye not therfore companions of them. Ye were some∣times darkenes, but now are ye light in the Lord: walke as children of light: for the fruit of the spirit consisteth in al good∣nes, and righteousnes, and trueth. Accept that which is plea∣sing vnto the Lord, and haue no felowship with the vnfruit∣full workes of darkenes but rather rebuke them. For it is a shame euen to name those things which are done of them in secret: but all things when they are brought foorth by the light, are manifest. For whatsoeuer is manifest, the same is light. Wherefore hee sayth, Awake thou that sleepest, and stand vp from death, and Christ shall giue thee light.

The Gospel.

IEsus was casting out a deuill that was dumbe. 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

• Eph. 5.1
• Lu. 11.14