great thunder: and I heard
the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as
it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts,
and the elders; and no man could learn that song, but the hundred
and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
These are they which were not defiled with women, for they are
virgins: these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he
goeth: these were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits
unto God, and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile;
for they are without fault before the throne of God. `1

THE GOSPEL. St Matth. ii. 13.

The Angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying,
Arise, and take the young child, and his mother, and flee into
Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will
seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the
young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and
was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt
have I called my Son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked
of the wise men, was exceeding wroth; and sent forth, and slew
all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts
thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which
he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that
which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there
a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel
weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because
they are not.

THE SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY

THE COLLECT.

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take
our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure
Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children
by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit;
through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth
with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without
end. _Amen_.

THE EPISTLE. Gal. iv. 1.

Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth
nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under
tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the
elements of the world: but when the fulness of the time was come,
God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the l