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
| shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they
| shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God
| with us.) Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel
| of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife; and knew
| her not till she had brought forth her first-born son: and he
| called his name JESUS.
|
| _An Additional Collect for Christmastide_.
|
| O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the
| birth of thy only Son Jesus Christ; Grant that as we joyfully
| receive him for our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence
| behold him when he shall come to be our Judge; who liveth and
| reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without
| end. _Amen_.
|
| _The Collect, Epistle, and Gospel for Christmas-day may be used_
| _for six days after, unless another Collect, Epistle, and_
| _Gospel are provided_.

SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY

_December_ 26.

THE COLLECT.

Grant, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth, for the
testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and
by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being
filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our
persecutors, by the example of thy first Martyr Saint Stephen,
who prayed for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who
standest at the right hand of God to succour all those that
suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. _Amen_.

_Then shall follow the Co