GOSPELS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

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The Gospel of John, for the Corban of every day.

At that time Jesus said to His disciples, and to the multitude of the Jews, (For) My Body is meat indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed. Whoso eateth My Body and drinketh My Blood abideth in Me, and I in him as the living Father hath sent Me, and I live because of the Father. And whosoever shall eat Me, he shall also live for ever. This is the bread that came down from heaven. It is not like that manna which your fathers eat, and died: whosoever eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

The Gospel of Mark', for the Commemoration of the Mother of God.

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And there came His mother and His brethren stand- 143 ing without, and they sent and called Him unto them. Now the multitude sat about Him, and they said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren without seek for Thee. And He answered and said unto them, Who is My mother, and who are My brethren? And He looked on them that sat by Him, and said, Behold My mother, and behold My brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and My mother. And And peace to you all. Chap. vi. 55-58.

b Chap. iii. 31-35.

d

The Gospel of Luke: the Vocation of Bishops. Jesus said unto him, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his service, to give the portion of meat in its season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you that he will set him over all his goods. But if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth to come; and begin to beat 144 the servants and handmaidens of his lord; and begin

to eat and to drink and to be drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day that he expecteth not, and in an hour that he knoweth not, and shall separate him, and appoint his portion with them that do not believe. And that servant who knoweth his lord's will, and prepareth not himself according to his will, shall be beaten with many (stripes); but he that knoweth not, and doth things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom much hath been committed, at his hand will men ask the

more.

The Gospel of Mark, for the Commemoration of Martyrs.

And Jesus called the multitude with His disciples and said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, 145 let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For every man that will save his life shall lose it: and every one that shall lose his life for My sake and for the sake of My gospel, shall save it. For what Chap. viii. 34-38.

C

Chap. xii. 42-48. a Syr., ;0.

GOSPELS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

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is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this sinful and adulterous generation, of him shall the Son of Man also be ashamed when He cometh in the glory of His Father, with His holy angels. And Peace.

g

When Jesus had called His twelve Apostles o, He gave them power and authority over all devils, and to heal diseases; and sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal them that were sick. And He said unto them, Take nothing for (your) journey, neither 146 balance 1, nor bread; nor let there be unto you two coats apiece. And into whatsoever city or house ye enter, there abide, and from thence depart. And they that will not receive you, (and ) when ye go out from that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. When they were gone forth, they went about the country, preaching and healing in every place.

f In the MS. one line is left blank, apparently for the insertion of the Rubric, which has been forgotten. The gospel that follows is taken from St. Luke ix. 1-6.

In all these places the expression differs from that of the Peshito version.

DEDICATION OF ALTAR VESSELS, &c.

The Prayer over new vessels that are offered for the Altar.

O Lord God Almighty, holy and giver of holiness, who art ever holy, and dwellest in light that no man 147 can approach unto; whose glory and holiness filleth all things, and who hast not left Thyself without some to praise Thee, but didst create multitudes of fiery (hosts), that they might glorify and hallow Thy majesty not as though Thou needest hymns of praise, but that they who hallow Thee might be magnified by Thee. Yea, Thou didst create the world in Thy goodness; and didst appoint chief priests for Thine honour; and didst accept the temporary tabernacle for Thine abode; and didst adorn it with glorious vessels; with plates and with censers, and candlesticks and cups, together with the rest of all the Mosaic service, which he commanded. Now also, O Lord, we Thy servants, saved by the cross of Thy Only-begotten, do entreat Thy mercy, that Thou wouldst hallow these vessels which are placed on our hands; which are offered for the service of Thy altar; that they may be for the honour of Thy temple, and for the praise of Thy holy name. And receive, O my Lord, the freewill offering 148 of those who present them, and of all that have partaken and are partaking in them: by the prayer of Mary the Mother of God; and of Mar Such an one; and of all the saints, now and at all times for ever and ever. Amen.

THE ORDER OF BLESSING A CHURCH. 315

Again. The Prayer over an Altar or Church which has been polluted by the heathen or by heretics.

The Bishop first signs the Altar with a cross without chrism, and says,

Sealed, and purified, and blessed be this altar and this table, and the holy church, and all its ornaments and appurtenances, and its vessels, and vestments, and pillars, from all heretical stain, and from pollution of the heathen, and from all noisomeness of the wicked, and from every fornicator that transgresseth law: In the name of the Father. Amen. And of the Son. Amen. And of the living and Holy Ghost. 149 For hallowed sanctification and renovation from above. Amen.

And he goes down to the west of the church, and then to the north and to the south, and signs in like manner (as before) crosses without chrism, saying,

Cleansed be this church from every stain and abomination, and uncleanness, and pollution, heathenish and heretical; and let it be blessed and renewed. In the name of the Father. Amen. And of the Son. Amen. And of the Holy Ghost: for renovation and perfect cleansing. Amen.