The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Feast of
Richard Hooker
Priest, 1600 November 3

1 Corinthians 2:6-10, 13-16
John 17:18-23
Psalm 37:3-6,32-33
or 19:7-11(12-14)

O God of truth and peace, you raised up your servant Richard Hooker in a day of bitter controversy to defend with sound reasoning and great charity the catholic and reformed religion: Grant that we may maintain that middle way, not as a compromise for the sake of peace, but as a comprehension for the sake of truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:6-10, 13-16

Among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

nor the human heart conceived,

what God has prepared for those who love him" --

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual. Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny. "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Psalm 37:3-6,32-33 Page 633, BCP

Noli aemulari

3

Put your trust in the LORD and do good; *
dwell in the land and feed on its riches.

4

Take delight in the LORD, *
and he shall give you your heart's desire.

5

Commit your way to the LORD and put your trust in him, *
and he will bring it to pass.

6

He will make your righteousness as clear as the light *
and your just dealing as the noonday.

32

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, *
and their tongue speaks what is right.

33

The law of their God is in their heart, *
and their footsteps shall not falter.

or Psalm 19:7-11(12-14) Page 607, BCP

Caeli enarrant

7

The law of the LORD is perfect
and revives the soul; *
the testimony of the LORD is sure
and gives wisdom to the innocent.

8

The statutes of the LORD are just
and rejoice the heart; *
the commandment of the LORD is clear
and gives light to the eyes.

9

The fear of the LORD is clean
and endures for ever; *
the judgments of the LORD are true
and righteous altogether.

10

More to be desired are they than gold,
more than much fine gold, *
sweeter far than honey,
than honey in the comb.

11

By them also is your servant enlightened, *
and in keeping them there is great reward.

12

Who can tell how often he offends? *
cleanse me from my secret faults.

13

Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
let them not get dominion over me; *
then shall I be whole and sound,
and innocent of a great offense.

14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart be acceptable in your sight, *
O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.

John 17:18-23

Looking up to heaven, Jesus said, "As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

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