| _If there be two or more celebrations of the Holy Communion in_ | _any church on Christmas-day, the following Epistle and Gospel_ | _may be used at one of them_. | | THE EPISTLE. Titus ii. 11. | | The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all | men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, | we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present | world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing | of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself | for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify | unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. | | THE GOSPEL. St Luke ii. 1. | | It came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree | from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And | this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) | And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And | Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, | into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, | (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) to be taxed | with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it | was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished | that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn | son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a | manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there | were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping | watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord | came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: | and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear | not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which | shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the | city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this | shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in | swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was | with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, | and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, | good will toward men. | | _Or_ St Matth. i. 18. | | The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother | Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was | found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, | being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, | was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these | things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a | dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto | thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the | Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call | his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins. | (Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was | spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a Virgin