him, and his work before him. He
shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs
with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead
those that are with young.

THE GOSPEL. St Luke i. 57.

Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she
brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard
how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced
with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came
to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the
name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but
he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of
thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to
his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a
writing-table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they
marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his
tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on
all that dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised
abroad throughout all the hill-country of Judaea. And all they
that had heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What
manner of child shall this be? And the hand of the Lord was with
him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and
prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he
hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn
of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake
by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the
world began; that we should be saved from our enemies, and from
the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our
fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware
to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we,
being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him
without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the
days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of
the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to
prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people,
by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our
God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us; to give
light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; to
guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew, and waxed
strong in spirit; and was in the deserts till the da