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

The Sunday next before Easter.

The Collect.

ALmightie and euerlasting God, which of thy ten∣der loue towards man, hast sent our sauiour Ie∣sus Christ, to take vpon him our flesh, and to suffer death vpon the crosse, that all mankinde shoulde

follow the example of his great humilitie: mercifully grant, that we both follow the example of his patience, and be made partakers of his resurrection, through the same Iesus Christ our Lord.

The Epistle.

LEt the same minde be in you, * 1.1 that was also in Christ Iesus, which when he was in the shape of God: thought it no robberie to bee equall with God: Neuerthelesse hee made himsselfe of no reputation, taking on him the shape of a seruant, and became like vnto men, and was found in his apparell as a man. Hee humbled himselfe, and became obedient vnto the death, euen the death of the crosse. Wherefore God hath also exalted him on high, and giuen him a name, which is aboue al names, that in the name of Iesus euery knee should bow, both of things in heauen, and things in earth, and things vnder the earth, and that all tongues should confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord, vnto the praise of God the father.

The Gospel.

AND it came to passe, * 1.2 when Iesus had finished all these sayings, he sayd vnto his disciples, Yee know that after two dayes shall be Easter, and the sonne of man shall bee deliuered ouer to bee cru∣cified. Then assembled together the thiefe Priests, and the Scribes, and the Elders of the people, vnto the palace of the high Priest (which was called Caiaphas) and helde a counsell, that they might take Iesus by subtiltie, and kill him. But they sayd, Not on the holy day, least there be an vprore among the people. When Iesus was in Bethanie, in the house of Simon the Leyer, there came vnto him a woman, hauing an Ala∣baster boxe of precious oyntment, and powred it on his head as he sate at the boord. But when his disciples sawe it, they

had indignation, sayig, Whereto serueth this waste? This oyntment might haue bene welsolde, and giuen to the poore. When Iesus vnderstoode that, hee sayd vnto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for shee hath wrought a good worke vpon me. For ye haue the poore alwayes with you, but me ye shall not haue alwayes. And in that shee hath cast this oynt∣ment on my body, she did it to burie mee. Verely I say vnto you, Wheresoeuer this gospel shal be preached in al the world, there shal also this be told that she hath done, for a memorial of her. Then one of the twelue (which was called Iudas Iscariot) went vnto the chiefe Priestes, and sayd vnto them, What will ye giue me, and I will deliuer him vnto you? And they appointed vnto him thirtie pieces of siluer. And from that time foorth, hee sought opportunite to betray him. The first day of sweet bread, the disciples came to Iesus, saying to him, Where wilt thou that wee prepare for thee to eate the Passeouer? And he said, Goe into the citie to such a man, and say vnto him, The master saieth, My time is at hand: I wil keepe my Easter by thee with my disciples. And the disciples did as Iesus had appointed them, and they made readie the Passeouer. When the euen was come, he sate downe with the twelue: and as they did eate, he sayd, Verily I say vnto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding so∣rowfull, and began euery one of them to say vnto him, Lord, is it I? He answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray mee. The sonne of man truely goeth as it is written of him: but wo vnto that man by whom the sonne of man is betrayed: it had bene good for that man if he had not bene borne. Then Iudas which betrayed him, answered and sayd, Master, Is it I? He sayd vnto him, Thou hast sayd. And when they were eating, Iesus tooke bread, and when he had giuen thankes, he brake it, and gaue it to the disciples, and sayd, Take, eate, this is my body. And hee tooke the cuppe, and thanked, and gaue it to them, saying, Drinke ye all of this: for this is my blood (which is of the newe Testament) that is shed for many, for the remission of sinnes. But I say vnto you, I will not drinke henceforth of this fruite of the vine tree, vntil that day when I shall

drinke it new with you in my fathers kingdome. And when they had said grace, they went out vnto mount Oliuet. Then said Iesus vnto them, All yee shall be offended because of me this night: For it is written, I will smite the Sheepehearde, and the sheepe of the flocke shalbe scattered abroad: but after I am risen againe, I willl goe before you into Galile. Peter answered and sayd vnto him, Though all men be offended because of thee, yet will not I be offended. Iesus sayd vnto him, Verily I say vnto thee, that in this same night, before the Cocke crowe thou shalt denie me thrise. Peter sayd vnto him, Yea, though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the Disciples. Then came Iesus with them vnto a Farme place (which is called Gethsemane) and sayd vnto the disciples, Sit ye here while I goe and pray yonder. And he tooke with him Peter and the two sonnes of Zebedee, and beganne to waxe sorowfull and heauie. Then saide Iesus vnto them, My soule is heauie, euen vnto the death: tary ye here, and watch with me. And he went a litle further, and fell flat on his face, and prayed, saying O my Fa∣ther, if it be possible, let this cup passe from me: neuerthelesse not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he came vnto the Disci∣ples, and found them asleepe, and sayd vnto Peter, What, could yee not watch with mee one houre: Watch and pray, that yee enter not into temptation: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weake. Hee went away once againe, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not passe away from mee, except I drinke of it, thy will be fulfilled. And hee came and found them asleepe againe, for their eyes were heauie. And he left them, and went againe, and praied the third time, saying the same words. Then commeth he to his Disciples, and sayd vnto them, Sleepe on now, and take your rest. Be∣hold, the houre is at hand, and the Sonne of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let vs be going, behold, he is at hand that doeth betray me. While he yet spake, loe, Iu∣das one of the number of the twelue, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staues sent from the chiefe Priests and Elders of the people. But hee that betrayed him, gaue them a token, saying, Whomsoeuer I kisse, the

same is hee, hold him fast. And foorthwith hee came to Ie∣sus, and sayd, Haile Master, and kissed him. And Iesus sayd vnto him, Friende, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and layd hands on Iesus, and tooke him. And behold, one of them which were with Iesus, stretched out his hand, and drew his sworde, and strooke a seruant of hie Priest, and smote off his eare. Then sayd Iesus vnto him, Put vp thy sworde into the sheath: for all they that take the sworde, shall perish with the sworde. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to ny Father, and he shall giue me euen now more then twelue legions of Angels? But howe then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled? For thus must it be. In that same houre sayd Iesus to the multitude, Ye be come out as it were to a thiefe, with swords and staues for to take me. I sate daily with you teaching in the Temple, & ye tooke me not. But all this was done, that the Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfiled. Then all the disciples forsooke him and fled. And they tooke Iesus, and led him to Caiaphas the high Priest, where the Scribes & the Elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afarre off vnto the hie Priests palace, and went in, and sate with the seruantes, to see the ende. The chiefe Priests and Elders, and all the counsaile sought false witnesse against Iesus, for to put him to death, but found none: yea, when many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, and said, This follow said I am able to destroy the Temple of GOD, and, to build it againe in three dayes. And the chiefe Priest arose, and sayd vnto him, Answerest thou nothing? Why doe these beare witnesse against thee? But Iesus held his peace. And the chiefe Priest answered, and sayd vnto him, I charge thee by the liuing God, that thou tell vs whether thou bee Christ the Sonne of God. Iesus sayd vnto him, Thou hast sayde. Neuerthelesse I say vnto you, Hereafter shall yee see the Sonne of man sitting on the right hand of power, and com∣ming in the cloudes of the skie. Then the high Priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemie, what need we of any more witnesses? Beholde nowe yee haue heard his blasphemie, what thinke ye? They answered, and sayd, Hee

is worthy to die. Then did they spit in his face, and buffe∣ted him with fists. And other smote him on the face with the palme of their handes, saying, Tell vs, thou Christ, who is hee that smote thee? Peter sate without in the Court, and a Damosell came to him, saying, Thou also wast with Ie∣sus of Galilee. But hee denied before them all, saying, I wote not what thou sayest. When he was gone out into the porch, another wench sawe him, and sayde vnto them that were there, This fellowe was also with Iesus of Naza∣reth. And againe hee denyed with an othe, saying, I doe not know the man. After a while came vnto him they that stoode by, and sayde vnto Peter, Surely thou art euen one of them, for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began hee to curse and to sweare that he knew not the man. And imme∣diatly the Cocke crewe. And Peter remembred the worde of Iesu, which sayd vnto him, Before the Cocke crowe, thou shalt deny mee thrise: and hee went out and wept bitterly. When the morning was come, all the chiefe Priestes and El∣ders of the people held a counsell against Iesus to put him to death, and brought him bound, and deliuered him vnto Pontius Pilate the Deputie. Then Iudas which had be∣trayed him (seeing that he was condemned) repented him∣selfe, and brought againe the xxx. plates of siluer to the chiefe Priestes and Elders, saying, I haue sinned, betraying the innocent blood. And they sayd, What is that to vs? see thou to that. And he cast downe the siluer plates in the Temple, and departed, and went and hanged himselfe. And the chiefe Priestes tooke the siluer plates, & said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasurie, because it is the price of blood. And they tooke counsaile, and bought with them a potters field to bury strangers in. Wherefore y^e field is called Acheldama, that is, The field of blood, vntil this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Ieremie the Prophet, saying, And they tooke xxx. siluer plates, the price of him that was valued, whō they bought of the children of Israel, & gaue them for the pot∣ters field, as the Lord appointed me. Iesus stood before the Deputie, & the Deputie asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Iewes? Iesus said vnto him Thou sayest. And when

he was accused of the chiefe, Priestes and Elders, hee answe∣red nothing. Then sayd Pilate vnto him, Hearest thou not how many witnesses they lay against thee? And hee answe∣red him to neuer a worde, insomuch that the Deputie mar∣ueiled greatly. At that feast, the Deputie was woont to deli∣ure vnto people a prisoner, whom they would desire. He had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate sayd, Whether wil ye that I giue loose vnto you Barabbas, or Iesus which is called Christ? For hee knew that for enuie they had deliue∣red him. When he was set downe to giue iudgement, his wife sent vnto him, saying, Haue thou nothing to doe with that iust man, for I haue suffered this day many things in my sleepe, because of him. But the chiefe Priestes and Elders perswa∣ded the people that they should aske Barabbas, and destroy Iesus. The Deputie answered, and sayd vnto them, Whe∣ther of the twaine will yee that I let loose vnto you? They sayd, Barabbas. Pilate sayd vnto them, What shall I doe then with Iesus, which is called Christ? They all sayd vnto him, Let him be crucified. The Deputie sayde, What euill hath he done? But they cryed more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate sawe that hee could preuaile nothing, but that more businesse was made, he tooke water, and wa∣shed his handes before the pepple, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this iust person, see ye. Then answered all the people, and sayde, His blood be on vs and on our children. Then let hee Barabbas loose vnto them, and scourged Ie∣sus and deliuered him to be crucified. Then the souldiers of the Deputie tooke Iesus into the common Hall, and gathe∣red vnto him all the company, and they stripped him, and put on him a purple robe, and platted a crowne of thornes, and put it vpon his head, and a reede in his right hand, and bow∣ed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Haile King of the Iewes. And when they had spit vpon him, they tooke the reede, and smote him on the head, and after that they had mocked him, they tooke the robe off him againe, and put his owne rayment on him, and led him away to crucifie him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene

(named Simon) him they compelled to beare his crosse. And the came vnto the place which is called Golgotha, (that is to say, a place of dead mens skuls) and gaue him vineger mingled with gall, to drink: and when hee had tasted there∣of, he would not drinke. When they had crucified him, they parted his garments, and did cast lots, that it might be fulfil∣led which was spoken by the Prophet, They parted my garmentes among them, and vpon my vesture did they cast lots. And they sate and watched him there, and set vp ouer his head the cause of his death written,This is Iesus the King of the Iewes. Then were there two thieues crucified with him, one on the right hand, & the other on the left. They that pas∣sed by, reueiled him, wagging their heades, and saying, Thou that destroyedst the Temple of God, and diddest build it in three dayes, saue thy selfe. If thou be the Sonne of GOD, come downe from the crosse. Likewise also the high Priests mocking him, with the Scribes and Elders, sayd, Hee sa∣ued other, himselfe he cannot saue. If he be the King of Is∣rael, let him now come downe from the crosse, and wee will beleeue him. He trusted in God, let him deliuer him nowe if he will haue him: For he sayd, I am the sonne of God. The thieues also which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. From the sixth houre was there darkenesse ouer all the land, vntil the ninth houre. And about the ninth houre Iesus cryed with a loud voyce, saying,Eli, Eli, lama sabachtha∣ni, that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stoode there, when they heard that, sayd, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ranne, and tooke a spunge, and when hee had filled it full of vineger, hee put it on a reede, and gaue him to drinke. Other sayd, Let bee, let vs see whether Elias wil come, and deliuer him. Iesus when he had cryed againe with a loude voyce yeelded vp the Ghost. And beholde, the vaile of the Temple did rent in two partes from the top to the bottome, and the earth did quake, and the stones rent, and graues did open, and many bodies of Saintes which slept, arose, and went out of the graues after his resurretion, and came into the holy Citie, and appeared vnto many. When the Centu∣rion,

and they that were with him watching Iesus, saw the earthquake, and those things which happened, they feared greatly, saying, Truely this was the sonne of God. And ma∣ny women were there (beholding him afarre off) which fo∣lowed Iesus from Galilee, ministring vnto him: among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Iames and Ioses, and the mother of Zebedees children.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Phil. 2.5.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 26.1.