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

Saint Michael and all Angels.

The Collect.

EVerlasting God, which hast ordeined and constituted the feruices of all Angels, and men in a wonderfull order: Mercifully graunt that they which alway doe thee secuice in heaven, may by thy appointment succour and defend vs in earth, through Iesus Christ our Lord.

The Epistle.

THere was a great battell in heaven: Michael and his Angels fought with the Dragon, * 1.1 and the Dragon fought with his Angels, and preuailed not, neither was theri place found any more in heauen. And the great Dragon, that olde Serpent,

called the deuill and Satanas, was cast out, which deeciueth all the world. And he was cast into the earth, and his angels were cast out alst with him. And I heard a lowde voyce, saying, In heauen is now made s;aluation, and strength, and the kingdome of our God, and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our brethren is cast downe, which accused them before God day and night. And they ouercame him by the blood of the Lambe, and by the word of their testimonie, and they loued not their liues vnto the death. Therfore reioyce yee heavens, and yee that dwell in them. Woe vnto the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea, for the deuill is come downe vnto you, which hath great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

The Gospel.

AT the same time came the disciples vnto Iesus, * 1.2 saying, who is the greatest in the kindome of heauen: Iesus called a child vnto him, and set him in the middest of them, and said, Verely I say vnto you, except ye turne and become as children, yee shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen. Whoseuer this childe, that same is the greatest in the kingdome of heauen. And whoseuer receiueth such a childe in my name, receiueth me. But who so doeth offend one of these little ones which beleeue in mee, it were better for him that amilstone were hanged about his necke, and that hee were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe vnto the World because of offences. Necessarie it is that offences come: but wo vnto the man by whom the offence commeth. Wherefore, if thy hand or thy foote hinder thee, cut thm off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halte or maymed, rather then thou shouldest (hauing two hands, or two feete) be cast into euerlasting fire. And if thing eye offend thee, plucke it out, and cast it from thee: It is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather then (Having two eyes)

to be cast into hell fire. Take heede that ye despise not one of these little ones: For I say vnto you, that in heauen their Angels doe alwayes behold the face of my Father, which is in heauen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Apo. 12.7
• * 1.2

  Mat. 18.1