Then shall follow these special psalms.

Psalms xxi. lxxxv. cxxiiii.

The first Lesson, taken out of the xvii. xviii. xix. and xx. Chapters of the second Book of the Chronicles.

JEHOSAPHAT the son of Asa reigned over Juda. And the Lord was with him, because he walked in the former ways of his father David, and sought not Baalim: But sought the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. And the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand, and all Juda brought him presents, so that he had abundance of riches and honour. And he lift up his heart unto the ways of the Lord, and he put down yet more of the high places and groves out of Juda. In the third year of his reign, he sent to his Lords, even to Benhail, Obadia, Zacharia, Nethanel, and to Michaia, that they should teach in the cities of Juda: And with them he sent Levites, even Semeia, Nethania, Zebadia, Asael, Semiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonia, Tobia, and Tobadonia, Levites; and with them Elisama and Joram, Priests. And they taught in Juda, and had the book of the law of God with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Juda, and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Juda, and they fought not against Jehosaphat.

2 Chro. ch.

17. vers. a. 1.

3. &c.1

2 Chron. ch.

And when Jehosaphat, taking part with Achab in his wars against 18. vers. a. 3. the king of Syria, was in great danger to be slain, he cried unto the & e. 31. &c. Lord, and the Lord helped him, and chased his enemies away from

him but wicked Achab, king of Israel, was there slain.

:

lessons taken out of the old Testament, of which you may chuse anie one, as you thinke best, for the first lesson at this morning praier. And in Cathedrall Churches, the minister may vse either of the other two for the first lesson at euening praier.

¶ First the Minister shall, with a loude voyce, pronounce some one of these three sentences, as in the booke of common prayer.

At what time soeuer a sinner doeth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart, I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance, saith the Lord.

Ezech. 18.

Joel 2.

your

Rent your hearts and not your garments, and turne to the Lorde God, because hee is gentle and mercifull, he is pacient, and of much mercy, and such a one that is sorie for your afflictions.

If we say that we haue no sinne, we deceive ourselues, and there is no trueth in us.

Dearely beloued brethren, &c.]

[3 In 1578, when, as just mentioned, all the parts were given entire, this psalm had the Gloria Patri, but not the three others.]

[These references are to the Bishops' Bible, which, in its earlier editions, had always both letters and figures, whilst the Geneva version never had any thing but figures, to mark the divisions of chapters.]

2 Chron. ch.

19. vers. a. 1. 4. &c.

2 Chron. ch. 20. vers. a. 1. 2. 3.

a. 5. c. 18.

d. 22. &c.

And Jehosaphat came home again in peace to Hierusalem, and dwelt there. And Jehosaphat went out to the people from Beerseba to Mount Ephraim, and brought them again unto the Lord God of their fathers. And he set Judges in the Land, throughout all the strong cities of Juda, city by city, and said to the Judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye execute not the judgments of man, but of God, which is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you, and take heed, and be doing the thing that pleaseth him: for there is no unrighteousness with the Lord our God, that he should have any respect of persons, or take rewards. Moreover, in Hierusalem did Jehosaphat set of the Levites, and of the Priests, and of the ancient fathers over Israel, in the judgment and cause of the Lord, and they returned again to Hierusalem. And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully, and with a pure heart: What cause so ever come to you of your brethren, that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, between statutes and ordinances; ye shall warn them that they trespass not against the Lord, and so wrath come upon you, and your brethren: thus do, and ye shall not offend. And behold, Amaria the high priest is among you in all matters of the Lord, and Zebadia the son of Ismael, a ruler of the house of Juda, for all the king's matters: there be officers of the Levites also before you take courage to you therefore, and be doing manfully, and the Lord shall be with such as be good.

After this there came an exceeding great army of the Moabites and Ammonites against Jehosaphat. And Jehosaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed fasting throughout all Juda. And he, with all Juda and the inhabitants of Hierusalem, prayed, and fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. And the enemies fell out amongst themselves, and slew one another, until they were all destroyed. And Jehosaphat and his people had the spoil of goods, raiment, and jewels, more than they could carry away. And they blessed the Lord, and called the place the valley of blessing unto this day. And they returned to Hierusalem with great joy and gladness. And the fear of GOD fell on the kingdoms of all lands, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel. And so the Realm of Jehosaphat was in tranquillity, and his God gave him rest on every side.

Or this may The history of King Hezekia, taken out of the fourth book of Kings, the 18. 19. and 20. Chapters.

be the first Lesson.

4 Reg. ch. 18. vers. a. 1. 3.

4.

5.

HEZEKIAH the son of Ahaz, reigned over Juda, and he did that which is right in the sight of the Lord, according to all as did David his father. He put away the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and all-to1 brake the brasen serpent that Moses had made for unto those days the children of Israel did burn sacrifice to it, and he called it Nehustan. He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after

[all-to: completely, altogether.]

6.

B. 7.

C. 19.

E. 28.

29.

30.

32.

33.

34.

him was none like him among all the kings of Juda, neither were there any such before him. For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from him, but kept his commandments which the Lord commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him, so that he prospered in all things which he took in hand: and he resisted the king of Assyria, and served him not. Therefore in the fourteenth year of king B. 13. Hezekia, did Sennacherib king of Assyria, come up against all the strong cities of Juda, and took them. And he sent word to king Hezekia C. 17. 18. by his captain Rabsakeh, who said, Tell Hezekia, thus saith the great king, even the king of Assyria, What confidence is this thou hast? Or on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? If ye say, Ye trust in the Lord our God, is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekia hath put down? And Rabsakeh stood, and cried unto the Jews that stood upon the walls, with a loud voice, saying, Hear the words of the great King, even the King of Assyria, Thus saith the King, Let not Hezekia beguile you, for he shall not be able to deliver you out of my hands; neither let Hezekia make you to trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord shall surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given over into the hands of the king of Assyria. Hearken not unto Hezekia, for he beguileth you, saying, The Lord shall deliver us. Hath any one of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the King of Assyria? Where is the God of Hamath, of Arphad, and where is the God of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Iva? Did they deliver Samaria out of mine hands? And what god is among all the gods of the nations, that hath delivered his land out of mine hand? Shall the Lord deliver Hierusalem out of mine hand? When king Hezekia heard of these words, he rent his clothes, and 4 Reg. 19. ch. put on sackcloth, and came into the house of the Lord, and sent Eliakim, which was the Steward of the houshold, and Sobna the Scribe, and the Elders of the Priests clothed in sack, to Isai the Prophet, the son of Amos: And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekia: This day is a day of tribulation, and of rebuke and blasphemy. Peradventure the Lord thy God will hear all the words of Rabsakeh, whom the King of Assyria, his master, hath sent to rail on the living God, and to rebuke him with words which the Lord thy God hath heard: and lift thou up thy prayer for the remnant that are left. So the servants of King Hezekia came to Isai. And Isai said unto them, So shall you say to your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the young men of the King of Assyria have railed on me. Behold, I will put him in another mind, and he shall hear tidings, and so return to his own land, and I will bring to pass that he shall fall upon the sword, even in his own land. And when Sennacherib had word that Thirhaka, King of Ethiopia, was come out to fight against him, he departed, and sent messengers unto Hezekia, saying, Thus speak to Hezekia, king of Juda, saying, Let not thy God deceive thee, in whom thou trustest, saying, Hierusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the King of Assyria.

[All the editions have, euery.]

35.

vers. a. 1. 2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

B. 7.

9.

10.

ཌ

11.

14.

15.

16.

ඒ

17.

18.

19.

20.

E. 32.

33.

34.

35.

Behold, thou hast heard what the Kings of Assyria have done to all lands, how they have utterly destroyed them: and shalt thou escape? And Hezekia received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and laid it abroad before the Lord. And Hezekia prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the Cherubims, thou art God alone over all the kingdoms of the earth, thou hast made heaven and earth. Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, Lord, thine eyes (I beseech thee) and see, and hear the words of Sennacherib which hath sent (this man) to rail on the living God. Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed nations, and their lands, and have set fire on their gods: for they are no gods, but the work of the hands of man, even of wood and stone: and they destroyed them. Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou only art the Lord God. And Isai, the son of Amos, sent to Hezekia, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: That which thou hast prayed me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard it. Wherefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow into it, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it, but shall go back again the way he came, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord. For I will defend this city to save it, for mine own sake, and for David my servant's sake. And the self same night the Angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the host of the Assyrians an hundred four score and five thousand; and when the remnant were up early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corses. And so Sennacherib, king of Assyria, avoided and departed, and went again and dwelt at Ninive. And as he was in a temple worshipping Nisroch his God, Adramelech and Saresar, his own sons, smote him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Armenia, 4 Reg. 20. ch. and Asarhaddon his son reigned in his stead. About that time was Hezekia sick unto death; and the Prophet Isai, the son of Amos, came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Put thine house into an order, for thou shalt die, and not live. And Hezekia turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech thee (O Lord) remember now how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight: and Hezekia wept sore. And afore Esai was gone out into the middle of the court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again and tell Hezekia, the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord God of David, thy father, I have heard thy prayer, and seen thy tears, and behold, I will heal thee, so that on the third day thou shalt go up to the house of the Lord. And I will add unto thy days yet fifteen years, and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city, for mine own sake, and for David my servant's sake. And Esai said, Take a lump of dried figs: and they took and laid it on the sore, and he recovered, and had exceeding much honour and riches.

36.

37.

vers. a. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

be the first

The sum of the history of king Josia, taken out of the fourth or this may book of the Kings, the 22. and 23. Chapters, and the Lesson. 2. of the Chronicles, the 34. Chapter.

34. vers. a. 1.

3.

4.

JOSIA reigned in Hierusalem, and he did that which was right in 2 Chron. ch. the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, 2. and bowed neither to the right hand nor to the left. In the eight year of his reign, when he was yet a child, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Juda and Hierusalem from the high places, groves, carved images, and images of metal. And they brake down the altars of Baalim, even in his presence, and other images, that were in greater honour than they, he caused to be destroyed: and the groves, carved images, and images of metal, he brake, and made dust of them, and strawed it upon the graves of them that had offered to them. And he burnt the bones of the Priests upon the altars of them, and cleansed Juda and Hierusalem. And in 4 Reg. 22. ch. the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the temple, he sent Saphan the Scribe, to Helkia the high Priest, that he should see the decayed places of the temple repaired with such money as the keepers of the porch of the house of the Lord had gathered of the people.

5.

vers. a. 3. 4.

a. 5. 6.

[B. 13.]

And Helkia, as he was about the king's commandment, found in the B. 8. 9. 10. temple the book of the law of the Lord, and delivered it unto Saphan, who brought it unto the king, and read in it before him. When the [B. 11. 12.] king had heard the words of the book of the law, he rent his clothes, and commanded Helkia the priest, with certain others, saying, Go ye, and inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Juda, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written therein for us.

So Helkia, the high Priest, with others, went unto Hulda, the Prophetess, and they communed with her. And she answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and on the inhabiters thereof, even all the words of the book, which the king of Juda hath read, because they have forsaken me, and have burnt incense to other gods, to anger me with all the works of their hands: my wrath therefore is kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. But to the king of Juda, which sent you to ask counsel of the Lord, so shall ye say, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Because thine heart did melt, and because thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabiters of the same, how that they should be destroyed and accursed, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me, that I also have heard, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will receive thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be put into thy grave in peace, and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place: And they brought the king word again.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.