Holy Wednesday
being the Wednesday before Easter
Matins
The Psalms Appointed
74
The Antiphon for the Benedictus
I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, * and I
have power to take it again.
Holy Communion
The Collect.
ASSIST us mercifully with thy help, O Lord God of our salvation;
that we may enter with joy upon the medi-tation of those mighty acts, whereby
thou hast given unto us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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 while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first
testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept
to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of
goats, with water, and. scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book
and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath
enjoined unto you. Moreover, he sprinkled [likewise]* with blood both the
tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by
the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It
was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be
purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices
than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands,
which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the
presence of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high
priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then
must he often have suffered since the 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.
The Gospel. St. Luke xxii. 1.
NOW the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the
Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for
they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being
of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief
priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad,
and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray
him unto them in the absence of the multitude. Then came the day of unleavened
bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go
and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where
wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered
into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow
him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman of
the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest-chamber, where I
shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper
room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto
them: and they made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, he sat
down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I
have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you,
I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among
yourselves: for I say unto you I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until
the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake
it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do
in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is
the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. But, behold, the hand of
him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth,
as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! And they
began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this
thing. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be
accounted the greatest And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles
exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are
called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you,
let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For
whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that
sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have
continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my
Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my
kingdom. and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord
said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift
you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when
thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am
ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell
thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice
deny that thou knowest me. And he said unto them, When I sent you without
purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then
said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise
his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me,
And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have
an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto
them, It is enough. And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of
Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he
said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn
from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father,
if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but
thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening
him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it
were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from
prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and
said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. 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. Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? When they which were
about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with
the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off
his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched
his ear, and healed him. Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains
of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as
against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the
temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the
power of darkness. Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the
high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a
fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among
them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked
upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying,
Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou
art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one
hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also
was with 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 of the Lord, how
he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And
Peter went out, and wept bitterly. And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and
smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and
asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things
blasphemously spake they against him. And as soon as it was day the elders of
the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him
into their 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.
Evensong
The Psalms Appointed
94
The Antiphon for the Magnificat
Now is the
judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. * And
I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
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