against itself is brought
to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If
Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom
stand? because ye say, that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast
them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the
finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come
upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods
are in peace; but when a stronger than he shall come upon him,
and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he
trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is
against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When
the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry
places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return
unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth
it swept and garnished. Then goeth he and taketh to him seven
other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and
dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the
first. And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain
woman of the company lift up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed
is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of
God, and keep it.

THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT

THE COLLECT.

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil
deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy
grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. _Amen_.

THE EPISTLE. Gal. iv. 21.

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the
law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a
bond-maid, the other by a free-woman. But he who was of the
bond-woman was born after the flesh; but he of the free-woman
was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the
two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to
bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia,
and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with
her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free; which is the
mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that
bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for
the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an
husband. Now we, brethren, as