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

The second Sunday in Aduent.

The Collect.

BLessed Lorde, which hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for learning: Grant vs that wee may in such wise heare them, reade, marke, learne, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy word, wee may embrace and euer hold fast the blessed hope of euerlasting life, which thou hast giuen vs in our Sauiour Iesus Christ.

The Epistle.

WHatsoeuer things are written a∣foretime, * 1.1 they are written for our learning, that wee, through pati∣ence and comfort of the Scrip∣tures, might haue hope. The God of patience and consolation, graunt you to bee like minded one towards another, after the en∣sample of Christ Iesus: that yee all agreeing together, may with one mouth praysse GOD the Fa∣ther of our Lord Iesus Christ. Wherefore recciue yee one another, as Christ receiued vs, to the prayse of God. And this I say, that Iesus Christ was a minister of the Circunicision for the trueth of God, to confirme the promises made vnto the fathers, and that the Gentiles might praise God for his mercy, as it is written, For this cause I will praise thee a∣mong the Gentiles, and sing vnto thy Name. And againe hee sayeth, Reioyce ye Gentiles with his people. And againe, Praise the Lord all ye Gentiles, and laud him all ye nations together. And againe Esai sayth, There shalbe the roote of Iesle, and hee that shall rise to reigne ouer the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust. The god of hope fill you with an ioy and peace in beleeuing, that yee may be rich in hope, though the power of the holy Ghost.

The Gospel.

THere shall be signes in the Sunne, * 1.2 and in the Moone, & in the Stars: and in the earth the people shall be at their wits and through despaire. The Sea and the waters shall roare, and mens hearts shall faile them for feare, and for looking af∣ter those things which shall come on the earth: for the powers of heauen shall moue. And then shall mey ••ee the Sonne of man come in a cloude, With power and great glory. When these things begin to come to passe, then looke vp, and lift vp your heads, for your redemption draw∣eth nigh. And hee shewed them a similitude: Beholde the sigge tree, and all other trees, when they shoote foorth their buddes, ye see and know of your owne selues that Summer is then high at hand. So like wise ye also (when ye see these things come to passe) bee sure that the kingdome of God is high. Verely I say vnto you, this generation shal not passe, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all be fulfilled, Heauen and earth shal passe, but my words shal not passe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 15.4.
• * 1.2

  Luke 21.25.