TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.

born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

The Gospel. St. Luke, xviii. 9.

JESUS spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were right­eous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extor­tioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this pub­lican. I fast. twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, stand­ing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.