of vinegar, and put it on a reed, the heavenly things themselves and gave him to drink, saying, with better sacrifices than these. Let alone; let us see whether For CHRIST is not entered into Elias will come to take him the holy places made with down. And JESUS cried with hands, which are the figures of a loud voice, and gave up the the true; but into heaven itself, ghost. And the vail of the tem- now to appear in the presence ple was rent in twain, from the of Gon for us: nor yet that he top to the bottom. And when should offer himself often, as the Centurion, which stood over the high priest entereth into against him, saw that he so the holy place every year with cried out, and gave up the ghost, blood of others: (for then must he said, Truly this man was he often have suffered since the the Son of God. foundation of the world) but now once, in the end of the world, hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so CHRIST was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation.,

WEDNESDAY BEFORE EASTER.

The Epistle. Heb. ix. 16. WHERE a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator: for a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise it is of no strength at all, whilst the

testator liveth. Whereupon, The Gospel. St. Luke xxii. I

neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For NOW the feast of unleavenwhen Moses had spoken every ed bread drew nigh, which is precept to all the people, ac- called the Passover. And the cording to the law, he took the chief priests and scribes sought blood of calves and of goats, how they might kill him; for with water, and scarlet wool, they feared the people. Then and hyssop, and sprinkled both entered Satan into Judas, surthe book, and all the people, named Iscariot, being of the saying, This is the blood of number of the twelve. And he the testament which God hath went his way, and communed enjoined unto you. Moreover, with the chief priests and he sprinkled likewise with captains how he might betray blood both the tabernacle, and him unto them. And they were all the vessels of the ministry. glad, and covenanted to give And almost all things are by him money. And he promised, the law purged with blood; and sought opportunity to and without shedding of blood betray him unto them in the is no remission. It was there- absence of the multitude. Then fore necessary that the patterns came the day of unleavened of things in the heavens should bread, when the passover must be purified with these; but be killed. And he sent Peter

and John, saying, Go, and pre- Son of man goeth as it was pare us the passover, that we determined; but wo unto that may eat. And they said unto man by whom he is betrayed! him, Where wilt thou that we And they began to inquire prepare? And he said unto among themselves, which of them, Behold, when ye are en- them it was that should do this tered into the city, there shall thing. And there was also a a man meet you bearing a strife among them, which of pitcher of water; follow him them should be accounted the into the house where he enter-greatest. And he said unto eth in. And ye shall say unto them, The kings of the Genthe good man of the house, tiles exercise lordship over The Master saith unto thee, them; and they that exercise Where is the guest-chamber, authority upon them are called where I shall eat the passover benefactors. But ye shall not with my disciples? And he be so: but he that is greatest shall show you a large upper among you, let him be as the room furnished: there make younger; and he that is chief, ready. And they went and as he that doth serve. For found as he had said unto them; whether is greater, he that sitand they made ready the pass-teth at meat, or he that serveth? over. And when the hour was is not he that sitteth at meat? come, he sat down, and the But I am among you as he that twelve Apostles with him. And serveth. Ye are they which he said unto them, with desire have continued with me in my I have desired to eat this pass- temptations. And I appoint over with you before I suffer. unto you a kingdom, as my For I say unto you, I will not | Father hath appointed unto me: any more eat thereof, until it that ye may eat and drink at be fulfilled in the kingdom of my table in my kingdom, and GOD. And he took the cup, sit on thrones, judging the and gave thanks, and said, Take twelve tribes of Israel. And this, and divide it among your- the Lord said, Simon, Simon, selves. For I say unto you, I behold, Satan hath desired to will not drink of the fruit of the have you, that he may sift you vine, until the kingdom of GoD as wheat: but I have prayed shall come. And he took bread, for thee, that thy faith fail not; and gave thanks, and brake it, and when thou art converted, and gave unto them, saying, strengthen thy brethren. And This is my body, which is given he said unto him, Lord, I am for you this do in remem-ready to go with thee both into brance of me. Likewise also prison and to death. And he the cup after supper, saying, said, I tell thee, Peter, the This cup is the new testament cock shall not crow this day, in my blood, which is shed for before that thou shalt thrice you. But behold, the hand of deny that thou knowest me. him that betrayeth me is with And he said unto them, When me on the table. And truly the I sent you without purse, and

scrip, and shoes, lacked ye him, Judas, betrayest thou the any thing? And they said, Son of man with a kiss? When Nothing. Then said he unto they which were about him saw them, But now he that hath a what would follow, they said purse, let him take it, and like- unto him, Lord, shall we smite wise his scrip: and he that with the sword? and one of hath no sword, let him sell his them smote the servant of the garment and buy one. For I high priest, and cut off his right say unto you, that this that is ear. And JESUS answered and written must yet be accomplish-said, Suffer ye thus far. And ed in me, And he was reckoned he touched his ear, and healed among the transgressors: for him. Then JESUS said unto the things concerning me have the chief priests and captains. an end. And they said, Lord, of the temple, and the elders behold, here are two swords. which were come to him, Be And he said unto them, It is ye come out as against a thief, enough. And he came out, with swords and staves? When and went, as he was wont, to I was daily with you in the the mount of Olives; and his temple, ye stretched forth no disciples also followed him. hands against me: but this is And when he was at the place, your hour, and the power of he said unto them, Pray that ye darkness. Then took they him, enter not into temptation. And and led him, and brought him he was withdrawn from them into the high priest's house. about a stone's cast, and kneel- And Peter followed afar off. ed down, and prayed, saying, And when they had kindled a Father, if thou be willing, re- fire in the midst of the hall, and move this cup from me: never- were set down together, Peter theless, not my will, but thine sat down among them. But be done. And there appeared a certain maid beheld him, as an angel unto him from heaven, he sat by the fire, and earnestly strengthening him. And being looked upon him, and said, in an agony, he prayed more This man was also with him. earnestly; and his sweat was And he denied him, saying, as it were great drops of blood Woman, I know him not. And falling down to the ground. after a little while another saw And when he rose up from him, and said, Thou art also of prayer, and was come to his them. And Peter said, Man, I disciples, he found them sleep- am not. And about the space ing for sorrow; and said unto of one hour after, another conthem, Why sleep ye? rise and fidently affirmed, saying, Of a pray, lest ye enter into temp-truth, this fellow also was with tation. And while he yet spake, behold, a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto JESUS to kiss him. But JESUS said unto

him; for he is a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter;

and Peter remembered the word are approved may be made of the Lord, how he had said manifest among you. When unto him, Before the cock crow, ye come together therefore thou shalt deny me thrice. into one place, this is not to And Peter went out and wept | eat the Lord's Supper. For, in bitterly. And the men that eating, every one taketh before held JESUS, mocked him, and other his own supper: and one smote him. And when they is hungry, and another is had blindfolded him, they struck drunken. What, have ye not him on the face, and asked him, houses to eat and to drink in? saying, Prophesy, who is it or despise ye the Church of that smote thee? And many GOD, and shame them that have other things blasphemously not? What shall I say to you? spake they against him. And, shall I praise you in this? I as soon as it was day, the elders praise you not. For I have of the people, and the chief received of the LORD that priests, and the scribes, came which also I delivered unto together, and led him into their you, That the Lord JESUS, the council, saying, Art thou the Christ? Tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe and if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of GoD. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER.

same night in which he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the LORD's death till he come. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the LORD un

The Epistle. 1 Cor. xi. 17.worthily, shall be guilty of the

body and blood of the LORD. IN this that I declare unto But let a man examine himself, you, I praise you not; that and so let him eat of that bread, you come together not for the and drink of that cup. For he better, but for the worse. For that eateth and drinketh unfirst of all, when ye come together in the Church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which sleep. For if we would judge

worthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the LORD's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many

The Gospel. St. Luke xxiii. 1.

ourselves, we should not be questioned with him in many judged. But when we are words; but he answered him judged, we are chastened of the nothing. And the chief priests LORD, that we should not be and scribes stood and vehecondemned with the world. mently accused him. And Wherefore, my brethren, when Herod with his men of war set ye come together to eat, tarry him at naught, and mocked one for another. And if any him, and arrayed him in a man hunger, let him eat at gorgeous robe, and sent him home; that ye come not to- again to Pilate. And the same gether unto condemnation. And day Pilate and Herod were the rest will I set in order when made friends together; for I come. before, they were at enmity between themselves. And Pilate, when he had called toTHE whole multitude of gether the chief priests, and them arose, and led him unto the rulers, and the people, said Pilate. And they began to unto them, Ye have brought accuse him, saying, We found this man unto me, as one that this fellow perverting the na- perverteth the people : and tion, and forbidding to give behold, I, having examined him tribute to Cæsar, saying, that before you, have found no fault he himself is CHRIST a king.in this man, touching those And Pilate asked him, saying, things whereof ye accuse him: Art thou the King of the Jews? no, nor yet Herod: for I sent And he answered him, and said, you to him; and lo, nothing Thou sayest it. Then said worthy of death is done unto Pilate to the chief priests and him. I will therefore chastise to the people, I find no fault him, and release him. (For of in this man. And they were necessity he must release one the more fierce, saying, He unto them at the feast.) stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was also at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw JEsUs, he was exceeding glad; for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he

And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas ; (who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) Pilate, therefore, willing to release JESUS, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be cruci