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

On good Friday.

The Collect.

ALmightie God, we beseech thee graciously to be∣hold this thy family, for the which our Lord Ie∣sus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and giuen vp into the hands of wicked men, & to suffer death vpon the crosse, who liueth, and reigneth, &c.

ALmightie and euerlasting God, by whose spirite the whole bodie of the Church is gouerned and sanctified: Receiue our supplications and praiers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy congregation, that euerie member of the same in his vocation and ministerie, may truely and godly serue thee, through our Lord Iesus Christ.

MErcifull God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor wouldest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be con∣uerted and liue, haue mercie vpon all Iewes, Turkes, Infidels, and Heretikes, and take from them all ig∣norance, hardnesse of heart, and contempt of thy word: and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy flocke, that they may be saued among the remnant of the true Israelites, and bee made one sold vnder one shepheard, Iesus Christ our Lord, who liueth and reigneth, &c.

The Epistle.

THe Law (which hath but a shadow of good things to come, * 1.1 and not the verie fashion of things themselues) can neuer with those sacrifices which they offer yere by yere continually, make the com∣mers thereunto perfect. For would not then those sacrifices haue ceased to haue beene offered, because that the offerers once purged, should haue had no more conscience of sinnes? Neuerthelesse, in those sacrifices is there mention made of sinnes euerie yeere. For the blood of Oxen and Goates cannot take away sinnes. Wherefore when hee commeth into the world, hee sayth, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not haue, but a bodie hast thou ordeined mee, Burnt offering also for sinne hast thou not allowed. Then said I Loe, I am here. In the beginning of the booke it is written of mee, that I should doe thy will, O God. Aboue, when hee saith, Sacrifice and offering, and burnt sacrifices, and sinne offerings thou wouldest not haue, neither hast thou allowed them (which yet are offered by the Lawe:) Then said hee, Loe, I am here to doe thy will, O God: he ta∣keth away the first, to establish the latter, By the which will wee are made holy, euen by the offering of the bodie of Iesu Christ once for all. And euerie Priest is readie dayly ministring, and offering oftentimes one maner of obla∣tion,

which can neuer take away sinnes. But this man, after hee had offered one sacrifice for sinnes, is set downe for euer on the right hand of God, and from hencefoorth tarieth till his foes bee made his footestoole. For with one offering hath hee made perfect for euer them that are santified. The holy Ghost himselfe also beareth vs record, euen when he told be∣fore, This is the Testament that I will make vnto them: After those dayes (sayeth the Lord) I will put my lawes in their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their sinnes and iniquities will I remember no more. And where remission of these things is, there is no more offering for sinnes. Seeing therefore brethren, that by the meanes of the blood of Iesu, we haue libertie so enter into the holy place, by the new & liuing way, which he hath prepared for vs through the vaile (that is to say) by his flesh: And seeing also that wee haue an high Priest, which is ruler ouer the house of GOD, let vs draw nigh with a true heart in sure faith, sprinkled in our hearts from an euil conscience, and washed in our bodies with pure water. Let vs keepe the profession of our hope without wauering (for hee is faithfull that promised) and let vs consider one another, to the intent that we may prouoke vnto loue, and to good workes, not forsaking the fellowship that we haue among our selues, as the maner of some is: but let vs exhort one another, and that so much the more, because ye see that the day draweth nigh.

The Gospel.

WHen Iesus had spoken these words, * 1.2 he went forth with his dis∣ciples ouer the brooke Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he then entred with his dis∣ciples. Iudas also which betraied him, knew the place. For Iesus oftimes resorted thither with his disciples. Iudas then (after he had receiued a band of men, and mini∣sters of the high Priests and Pha∣risees)

came thither with lanternes, and firebrands, and weapons. And Iesus knowing all things that should come on him, went foorth, and said vnto them, Whome seeke yee? They ansswered him, Iesus of Nazareth. Iesus said vnto them, I am he. Iudas also which betrayed him, stood with them. Assoone then as he had said vnto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them againe, Whome seeke yee? They said, Iesus of Nazareth. Iesus answered, I haue told you that I am he: if yee seeke mee therefore, let these goe their way, that the saying might be fulfilled which he spake, Of them which thou gauest mee, haue I not lost one. Then Simon Peter hauing a sword, drewe it, and smote the high Priests seruant, and cut off his right eare. The seruants name was Malchus. Therefore saith Iesus vnto Peter, Put vp thy sword into the sheath: shall I not drinke of the cup which my father hath giuen me? Then the companie, and the captaine, and the ministers of the Iewes tooke Iesus and bound him, and led him away to Annas first, for hee was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high Priest the same yeere. Caiaphas was hee that gaue counsell to the Iewes, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Iesus, and so did another disciple: That disciple was know∣en to the high Priest, and went in with Iesus into the pa∣lace of the high Priest. But Peter stood at the doore with∣out. Then went out that other Disciple (which was knowen to the high Priest) and spake to the Damosell that kept the doore, and brought in Peter. Then sayd the Damosell that kept the doore, vnto Peter, Art not thou also one of this mans Disciples? Hee sayde, I am not. The seruaunts and ministers stoode there, which had made a fire of coales, for it was colde, and they warmed themselues. Peter also stoode among them, and warmed himselfe. The high Priest then asked Iesus of his Disciples, and of his doctrine. Ie∣sus answered him, I spake openly in the world, I euer taught in the Synagogue, and in the Temple, whither all the Iewes haue resorted, and in secret haue I spoken no∣thing. Why askest thou mee? Aske them which heared mee,

What I saide vnto them: Beholde, they can tell what I said. When hee had thus spoken, one of the ministers which stoode by, smote Iesus on the face, saying, Answerest thou the high Priest so? Iesus answered him, If I haue euill spoken, beare witnesse of the euill: but if I haue well spo∣ken, why smitest thou mee? And Annas sent him bound vn∣to Caiaphas the high Priest. Simon Peter stoode and war∣med himselfe. Then sayde they vnto him, Art not thou also one of his Disciples? Hee denied it, and sayd, I am not. One of the seruants of the high Priest (his cousin whose eare Peter smote off) saide vnto him, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter therefore denied againe, and immediately the Cocke crewe. Then led they Iesus from Caiaphas, into the hall of iudgement: It was in the mor∣ning, and they themselues went not into the iudgement hall, least they should bee defiled, but that they might eate the Passeouer. Pilate then went out to them, and sayde, What accusation bring you against this man? They an∣swered and sayd vnto him, If he were not an euill doer, we would not haue deliuered him vnto thee. Then sayde Pilate vnto them, Take yee him, and iudge him after your owne lawe. The Iewes therefore sayd vnto him, It is not law∣full for vs to put any man to death: that the wordes of Ie∣sus might bee fulfilled which he spake, signifying what death hee should die. Then Pilate entred into the iudgement hall againe, and called Iesus, and sayde vnto him, Art thou the King of the Iewes? Iesus answered, Sayest thou that of thy selfe, or did other tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Iewe? Thine owne nation, and high Priestes haue de∣liuered thee vnto me: what hast thou done? Iesus answered, My kingdome is not of this world. If my kingdome were of this world, then would my ministers surely fight, that I should not bee deliuered to the Iewes: but now is my king∣dome not from hence. Pilate therefore sayde vnto him, Art thou a king then? Iesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. For this cause was I borne, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should be are witnesse vnto the trueth: And all that are of the trueth, heare my voyce. Pilate sayd

vnto him, What thing is trueth? And when hee had sayde this, hee went out againe vnto the Iewes, and sayde vnto them, I find in him no cause at all. Yee haue a custome that I should deliuer you one loose at Easter: will ye that I loose vnto you the king of the Iewes: Then cried they all againe, saying, Not him, but Barabbas: The same Barabbas was a murderer, Then Pilate tooke Iesus therefore, and scour∣ged him: and the souldiers wound a crowne of thornes, and put it on his head. And they did on him a purple garment, and came vnto him, and sayde, Haile King of the Iewes: and they smote him on the face. Pilate went foorth againe and sayde vnto them, Behold, I bring him foorth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Iesus forth, wearing a crowne of thorne, and a robe of purple. And he sayth vnto them, Behold the man. When the high Priests therefore and the ministers sawe him, they cryed, Crucifie him, crucifie him. Pilate sayeth vnto them, Take yee him, and crucifie him. for I finde no cause in him. The Iewes answered him, Wee haue a lawe, and by our law he ought to die, because hee made himselfe the Sonne of God. When Pilate heard that saying; hee was the more afrayd, and went againe into the Iudgement hall, and sayd vnto Iesus, Whence art thou? But Iesus gaue him none answere. Then sayd Pilate vnto him, Speakest thou not vnto mee? Knowest thou not that I haue power to crucifie thee, and haue power to loose thee? Iesus answered, Thou couldest haue no power at all against me, except it were giuen thee from aboue. Therefore he that deliuered me vnto thee, hath the more sinne. And from thencefoorth sought Pilate meanes to loose him. But the Iewes cried, saying, If thou let him goe, thou art not Cesars friend: for whosoeuer maketh himselfe a King, is against Cesar. When Pilate heard that saying, hee brought Iesus foorth, and sate downe to giue sentence, in a place that is called the pauement, but in the Hebrewe tongue,Gabbatha. It was the preparing day of Easter, about the sixt houre. And hee sayeth vnto the Iewes, Beholde your King. They cryed, saying, Away with him, away with him, crucifie him. Pilate sayeth

vnto them, Shall I crucifie your king? The high Priestes answered, We haue no king but Ceasar. Then deliuered. he him to them to bee crucified. And they tooke Iesus, and led him away. And he bare his crosse, and went forth into a place which is called the place of dead mens skuls, but in Hebrewe Golgotha, where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Iesus in the middest. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it vpon the crosse. The writing was, Iesus of Nazareth, King of the Iewes. This title read many of the Iewes: for the place where Iesus was crucified, was neere to the citie. And it was written in Hebrew, Greeke, and Latin. Then said the high priestes of the Iewes to Pilate, Write not, King of the Iewes: but that he said, I am king of the Iewes. Pilate answered, What I haue written, that I haue written. Then the souldiers, when they had crucified Iesus, tooke his garments, and made foure partes, to euery souldiers a part, and also his coate. The coate was without seame, wrought vpon throughout. They sayd therefore a∣mong themselues, Let vs not diuide it, but cast lots for it, who shall haue it, that the Scripture might bee fulfilled, say∣ing, They haue parted my rayment among them, and for my coate did they cast lots. And the souldiers did such things in deede. There stoode by the crosse of Iesus his mother, and his mothers sister, Marie the wife of Cleophas, and Marie Magdalene. When Iesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple whome he loued standing, hee saieth vnto his mother, Woman, behold thy sonne. Then sayd he to the dis∣ciple, Bhold mother. And from that houre, the disciple tooke her for his owne. After these things, Iesus knowing that all things were nowe performed, that the Scrip∣ture might bee fulfilled, he sayeth, I thirst. So there stood a vessell by, full of vineger: therefore they filled a spunge with vineger, and wound it about with hysope, and put it to his mouth. Assoone as Iesus then receiued the vi∣neger, hee sayde, It is finished, and bowed his head, and gaue vp the ghost. The Iewes therefore, because it was the preparing of the Sabboth, that the bodies should not remaine vpon the crosse on the Sabboth day (for that

Sabbath day was an high day) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken downe. Then came the souldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Iesus, and sawe that hee was dead alreadie, they brake not his legs: but one of the souldiers with a speare thrust him into the side, and foorthwith there came out blood and water. And he that saw it, bare record, and his record is true. And he knoweth that he sayeth true, that ye might be∣leeue also. For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, Ye shall not breake a bone of him. And a∣gaine another Scripture saieth, They shall looke vpon him whom they haue pearced. After this, Ioseph of Arumathea (which was a Disciple of Iesus, but secretly for feare of the Iewes) besought Pilate that he might take downe the body of Iesus. And Pilate gaue him licence. He came therefore and tooke the bodie of Iesus. And there came also Nicodemus (which at the beginning came to Iesus by night) & brought of myrrhe and aloes mingled together, about an hundreth pound weight. Then tooke they the bodie of Iesus, and wound it in linnen clothes with the odours, as the maner of the Iewes is to burie. And in the place where he was cruci∣fied there was agarden, and in the garden a newe sepulchre, wherein was neuer man laid. There laid they Iesus there∣fore, because of the preparing of the Sabboth of the Iewes, for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb. 10.1.
• * 1.2

  Ioh. 18.1.