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

VVednesday before Easter.

The Epistle.

WHere as is a Testament, there must also (of necessity) be the death of him that maketh the Testament. For the testament taketh authority when men are dead: For it is yet of no value, as long as he that maketh the Testament is aliue. For which cause also, neither the first Testa∣ment was ordeined without blood. For when Moses had declared al y^e cōmandemēts to al the people, according to the Law, he took the blood of Calues & of Goates, with water & purple wooll, and hysoye, & sprinkled both the booke & al the people, saying, This is the blood of the Testament which God hath appoin∣ted vnto you. Moreouer, he sprinkled the tabernacle w^t blood also, and all the ministring vessels. And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission. It is need then that the similitudes of heauenly things bee purified with such things, but that the heauenly things themselues be purified with better sacrifices then are those. For Christ is not entered into the holy places that are made with handes, (which are similitudes of true things) but is entered into very heauen, for to appeare now in the sight of God for vs, not to offer him selfe often, as the high Priest entereth into the holy place euery yeere with strange blood, (for then he must haue often suffered since the world began) but now in the ende of the world hath hee ap∣peared once, to put sinne to flight, by the offring vp of himself. And as it is appointed vnto all men that they shall once die, and then commeth the iudgement: euen so Christ was once

offered to take away the sinnes of many, and vnto them that looke for him, shal he appeare againe without sinne, vnto sal∣uation.

The Gospel.

THe feast of sweet bread drew nigh, which is called Easter, and the hie Priestes and Scribes sought how they might kill him, for they feared the people. Then entred Satan into Iudas, whose surname was Iscariot, which was of the num∣ber of the twelue, and he went his way, and communed with the hie priests and officers, how he might betray him vnto them. And they were glad, and promised to giue him money. And hee consen∣ted, and sought opportunitie to betray him vnto them, when the people were away. Then came the day of sweete bread, when of necessitie the Passeouer must be offered. And he sent Peter and Iohn, saying, Goe and prepare vs the Passeouer, that we may eate. They sayde vnto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And hee sayde vnto them, Behold, when yee enter into the Citie, there shall a man meete you, bearing a pitcher of water, him follow into the same house that hee entereth in, and yee shall say vnto the goodman of the house, The master sayeth vnto thee, Where is the ghest chamber, where I shall eate the Passeouer with my Disciples? And hee shall shewe you a great parlour paued, there make rea∣die. And they went, and found as hee had sayd vnto them. and they made ready the Passeouer. And when the houre was come, he fate downe, and the twelue Apostles with him. And hee sayde vnto them, I haue inwardly desired to eate this Passeouer with you before that I suffer. For I say vnto you, hencefoorth will I not eate of it any more, vntill it be ful∣filled in the kingdome of God. And hee tooke the cup, and gaue thanks, and sayd. Take this, and diuide it among you: for I say vnto you, I will not drinke of the fruit of the Vine,

vntill the kingdome of God come. And hee tooke bread, and when he had giuen thanks, he brake it, and gaue it vnto them, saying, This is my body which is giuen for you: this doe in the remembrance of me. Likewise also when he had supped, hee tooke the cup, saying, This cup is the newe Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Yet beholde, the hand of him that betrayeth me, is with me on the table. And truely the Sonne of man goeth as it is appointed: but woe vnto that man by whom hee is betrayed. And they began to en∣quire among themselues, which of them it was that should doe it. And there was a strife among them, which of them should seeme to bee the greatest. And hee sayde vnto them, The kings of nations reigne ouer them, and they that haue anthoritie vpon them, are called gracious: but ye shall not so be. But hee that is greatest among you, shall bee as the yon∣ger: and he that is chiefe, shall be as hee that doth minister. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meate? or hee that serueth: Is not hee that sitteth at meate? But I am a∣mong you as hee that ministreth. Yee are they which haue abidden with me in my temptations. And I appoint vnto you a kingdome, as my father hath appointed to mee, that yee may eate and drinke at my table in my kingdome, and sit on seates iudging the twelue tribes of Israel. And the Lord sayde, Simon, Simon, beholde, Satan hath desired to sift you, as it were wheate: but I haue prayed for thee, that thy faith faile not. And when thou art conuerted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said vnto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee into prison, and to death. And he sayd, I tell thee Peter, the Cocke shal not crowe this day, till thou haue denied thrise that thou knowest me. And he sayd vnto them, When I sent you without wallet, & scrip, and shoes, lacked you any thing? And they sayd, No. Then sayd he vnto them, But now he that hath a wallet, let him take it vp, and likewise his scrip, and he that hath no sword, let him sell his coate and buy one. For I say vnto you, that yet the same which is written, must be performed in me, Euen among the wicked was hee repu∣ted: for those things which are written of mee, haue an ende. And they sayde, Lorde, beholde, here are two swordes.

And hee sayd vnto them, It is enough. And he came out, and went (as hee was woont) to mount Oliuet. And the Disci∣ples followed him: and when hee came to the place, hee sayd vnto them, Pray, left ye fall into temptation. And hee gate himselfe from them about a stones cast, and kneeled downe, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou wilt, remooue this cup from mee: neuerthelesse, not my will, but thine be fulfilled. And there appeared an Angel vnto him from heauen, com∣forting him. And hee was in an agonie, and prayed the lon∣ger, and his sweate was like droppes of blood, trickling downe to the ground. And when hee arose from prayer, and was come to his disciples, hee found them sleeping for heaui∣nesse, and he sayd vnto them, Why sleepe ye? Rise, and pray, left yee fall into temptation. While he yet spake, behold, there came a company and he that was called Iudas, oue of the twelue, went before them, and preassed nigh vnto Iesus to kisse him. But Iesus sayd vnto him, Iudas, betrayest thou the sonne of man with a kisse? When they which were about him, sawe what would follow, they sayde vnto him, Lorde, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote a ser∣uant of the high Priests, and strooke off his right eare. Iesus answered, and sayd, Suffer ye thus farre foorth. And when he touched his eare, he healed him. Then Iesus sayd vnto the high Priestes and Rulers of the Temple, and the Elders which were come to him. Yee be come out as vnto a thiefe, with swordes and staues. When I was daily with you in the Temple, yee stretched foorth no hands against mee: But this is euen your very houre, and the power of darkenesse. Then tooke they him, and led him, and brought him to the high Priestes house. But Peter followed a farre off. And when they had kindled a fire in the middes of the palace, and were set downe together, Peter also sate downe among them. But when one of the wenches beheld him, as he sate by the fire, and looked vpon him, she said, This same fellow was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while, another saw him, and sayd, Thou art also of them. And Peter sayde, Man, I am not. And about the space of an houre after, another affirmed,

saying, Verily this fellow was with him also, for he is of Ga∣lilee. And Peter said, Man, I wot not what thou sayest. And immediately while hee yet spake, the Cocke crewe. And the Lorde turned backe and looked vpon Peter, and Peter re∣membred the word of the Lord, how hee had sayd vnto him, Before the Cocke crow, thou shalt deny me thrise: And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. And the men that tooke Iesus, mocked him, and smote him: And when they had blindfol∣ded him, they strooke him on the face, and asked him, saying Areede, who is he that smote thee? And many other things despitefully said they against him. And assoone as it was day, the Elders of the people, and the high Priestes, and Scribes came together, ahd led him into their councill, saying, Art thou very Christ? Tell vs. And he sayd vnto them, If I tell you, yee will not beleeue me: and if I aske you, you will not answere, nor let me goe. Hereafter shall the sonne of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then sayd they all, Art thou then the sonne of God? He sayd, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we of any further witnesse? for we our selues haue heard of his owne mouth.

Notes

• Heb. 9.16.
• Luk. 22.1.