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A69499 Devotions in the ancient way of offices with psalms, hymns, and prayers for every day in the week and every holiday in the year. Birchley, William, 1613-1669. 1668 (1668) Wing A4248A; ESTC R8861 220,254 576

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* and are opprest under the weight of your sins Come to me you that hunger after heav'n * and thirst to drink at the fountain of blyss Come to me and I will refresh you * with the wine of gladnes and the bread of life Come you that are weak that you may grow strong and you that are strong lest you become weak Come you that have leisure and here entertain your time come you that are busy and here learn to sanctify your imployment Come all and gather freely of this celestial Manna and fill your souls with the food of Angels Glory be c. Psal LVIII THus does our gracious Lord invite and shall we go shall sinners dare to sit down at his table Thus He invites and shall we not go shall wretches presume to refuse his Call Rise then my soul and take thy swiftest wings and fly to the presence of this great Mystery Soon as thou com'st bow low thy head and humbly adore our hidden God Our God who is come thus far to meet us and brings along with him a whole heav'n to entertain us Arise and leave the world behind thee and run with gladnes to salute thy Lord Enter the Palace of that admirable Tabernacle the house of his own most glorious Residence There we shall see the Eternal Word * that descended from heav'n to become man for us We shall see him still more wonderfully abridg'd * into a lesser space and lower shape There we shall see the Lord of glory * vested with the familiar forms of bread and wine There we shall see the Prince of Peace * sacrifice himself to reconcile us with his Father There we shall see O stupendious mercy the Son of God stoop even to the mouths of men Can we O dear Redeemer believe these Wonders and not be ravisht with admiration of thy love Can we acknowledg thy supream Veracity and not believe were they possible stil greater wonders What though our eys say ther 's nothing but bread our faith assures us there 's nothing but our Saviour Shall not the almighty Power that made our senses * exceed the operation of his own creatures Shall we refuse to believe our God because his mercys transcend our capacitys No no 't is thy very self we see O Blessed JESU 't is thine own light by which we see Thee None but an infinite Wisdom could ever have invented * so strange and high and prodigious a mystery None but a more then infinite Goodnes would ever have imparted * so dear and tender and rich a blessing Glory be c. Psal LIX LOrd who are we unworthy sinners that thus thou regardest our wretched dust What is all the world compar'd to Thee that thus thou seem'st to disregard thy self 'T is for our sakes and to draw us to thy love that thou personally vouchsafest to dwell among us 'T is for our sakes and to spare the infirmity of our nature that thy brightnes appears not in its proper luster Blessed O JESU are the eys that see thee in this kind disguise and the mouth that reverently receives Thee Blessed yet more is the hart that desires thy coming and longs to see thee in thy beauteous self O Thou eternal Lord of grace and glory * our joy and portion in the land of the Living What hast thou there prepar'd for thy servants who bestowest such pledges of thy bounty here What dost Thou there reserve in thine own Kingdom who giv'st us Thy self in this place of banishment How will thy open vision transport our souls when our dark faith yields such delight Nothing on earth so sweet as to kneel whole hours before thee and one by one consider thy innumerable mercys VVhat must it be in heaven to shine continually before Thee and all in one contemplate thy u●●speakable glorys O my ador'd Redeemer when will that happy day appear that mine eys may behold thee without a veil When will these clouds and shadows pass away that thy beams may shine on me in their full brightnes Object not against me dearest Lord that none can see thy face and live Those fears thy love has chang'd and all my hope * is now to live by seeing thee Say not O thou mild and gracious Majesty if I approach thy presence I must dy Rather instruct me so to dy that I may live for ever in thy presence Glory be c. Antiph How great is the multitude of thy sweetnes O Lord which Thou hast hidden for those that love Thee Capit. 7. Apoc. A Men Benediction and Glory and VVisdom and Thanksgiving Honor and Power and Strength be to our God for ever and ever Amen Hymn XVIII VVIth all the pow'rs my poor soul hath Of humble love and loyal faith Thus low my God I bow to Thee VVhom too much love bow'd low'r for me Down busy sense Discourses dy And all adore Faith's Mystery Faith is my skill Faith can believe As fast as Love new laws can give Faith is my ey Faith strength affords To keep pace with those pow'rful words And words more sure more sweet then they Love could not think Truth could not say O dear Memorial of that death VVhich still survives and gives us breath Live ever bread of Life and be My food my joy my all to me Come glorious Lord my hopes encrease And fill my portion in thy peace Come hidden life and that long day For which I languish come away When this dry soul those eys shal see And drink the unseald source of Thee When glory's Sun faith's shade shal chase And for thy veil give me thy face Antiph He feeds the young Ravens that call on Him and says He esteems us much better then them behold a full proof He feeds them and all things else but to feed us behold yet a fuller O Riddle of Bounty even out of the Feeder himself comes food for us V. The bread of life which came down from heav'n R. Feed us with the bread of science and understanding O Lord hear our pray'rs And let our supplications come to Thee Let us pray O Bounteous Lord the continual supplier of thy creatures with all convenient sustenance to advance our growth and strength fit to take heav'n by violence and rise at length eternal Injoyers of thy self Fix we beseech Thee our eys and adoration on that open Hand which thus graciously gives us our dayly bread and grant that the miraculous Feast of thy Sons Body and Blood may duly sanctify our tasts to all other thy bountys that they may relish as they are only thy great love to us and feed as they ought purely thy dear love in us through the same our Lord Commemorations as Page 29. Thursday Vespers OUr Father c. as Page 33. Antiph Whether O my God should we wander if left to our selvs where should we fix our harts if not directed by thee Psal LX. UNhappy man at first created just as every work comes fair from
the hands of God At first endow'd with dominion o're the Earth and which was more with dominion o're thy self At first not only made sole Lord of Paradise but heir apparent of the Heav'n of heav'ns All this thou lost by one rash act * disobeying the Law of thy wise Creator All this alas we lost by thy transgression which brought in sin and death and universal misery Our bodys were deprav'd by thy distemper and our souls made fit for such depraved bodys Our senses quickly rebel'd against reason and both together conspir'd against grace Dulnes and ignorance o'respred the world error and vice possest mankind The Law they observ'd was their own unruly appetites and the Deity they worship'd the work of their own hands Even the selected people of the true God the favourite Nation of the Almighty Providence They who were brought out of Egypt with so many wonders and seated in a Country flowing with Milk and Honey They who had seen the sea divide before them and stand on each side as a wall to defend them They who had tasted the quails and manna from heav●●n and drunk of the streams that came gushing from the Rock Even they forgot their great Deliverer and set up for their God a Golden Calf They could not worship what they did not see they must have Gods to go before them Thus lay the miserable world all cover'd with darknes and the thickest mists of gross Idolatry Thus had poor man quite lost his way and all he could do was to wander up and down a while Til when his few vain years were spent * he suddenly descended to everlasting sorrows This mov'd thy pity gracious Lord who often art found by those that seek thee not VVho never withdraw'st thy hand in time of need but constantly supply'st us in all our distresses This mov'd thy pity to undertake our relief and come down thy self and dwel among us That as our nature us'd to worship what it saw we now should see what we might safely worship But thou again dear Lord must leave our world and though it be good for us 't is hard to part from Thee Thou must again ascend into thy Fathers bosom to prepare a place for thy faithful Followers Yet even then O thou wise and infinite Goodnes thou didst not wholly forsake our earth Only thy usual cloaths and shape were chang'd but thy former Self stil dwels among us Stil thou art really here to move us by thy presence * and entertain our devotions without fear of excess VVe know 't is impossible to adore our God too much O that 't were possible to adore him enough Glory be c. Antiph VVhether O my God should we wander if left to our selvs where should we fix our harts if not directed by Thee Antiph Blessed be thy Providence O God that so tenderly nurses up the world stil growing on to new degrees of perfection Psal LXI LOrd what a happy change has thy coming wrought what glorious effects has thy Doctrin produced Narrow was once the gate and strait the path to bliss and few there were that found it Once in a populous City not ten that were just and on the whole earth but eight that were sav'd Now we see thousands with a strong and generous love * run swiftly after Thee in the ways of thy Counsels Now we see millions with a fair degree of hope * walk constantly towards Thee in the ways of thy Commands Now we see Kings and mighty Nations submit to Thee and hope all the world will ere long adore Thee Whence O my God could this strange improvement come but that JESUS ascending left himself on our Altars Whence could this blessing spring but from his holy life and the infinit merits of his painful death Both which are here miraculously united and the fruits of both abridg'd into this one Mystery This is the Mystery that gives life and spirit to the Church and works all the wonders that adorn the world This builds our great and sumptuous Temples to bestow on our God the best house we have This with our richest treasures beautifys our altars to entertain our Lord in the best way we can This breeds the reverence we pay to Priests and excellently disposes us to believe and obey them This keeps alive our dear Redeemers death and applies to our souls all the vertue of his Passion This fills our hearts with heroick courage * to do and suffer for the Name of JESUS This is in fine the food of faith and hope and love and these 3 fit us for eternal happines O blest memorial of my Saviours love and faithful Seal of all his promises If I forget to sing of thee * let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth If I forget to meditate on Thee * let my head forfeit its power to think All the short time I remain in thy presence * I will wholly employ to adore thy Majesty Thee will I bless for all thy mercys to Thee will I open all my necessitys Beging thy pardon for my past offences * and thy gracious assistance for the time to come Imploring thy peace for the souls departed and thy blessing for all the world O spotles Lamb once slain for us on the Cross and dayly sacrificed on the holy Altar Be thou our powerful Advocate with thy heav'nly Father and solicite by thy Merits his mercy for us Offer thy sacred Self before his Throne and turn away the wrath we deserve for our sins So slaves are rescu'd from their chains * and prisoners from the doom of death While they appease their offended King * with the pleasing remembrance of his beloved Son And so hope we and infinitely more from the infinitely greater Mediation of JESUS If Thou O Lord shalt thus restore our liberty and cloath thy servants in the robes of innocence Then shall we all delight to be still in thy presence and follow thee where're thou goest In thy Processions we 'l wait on thy triumph in thy visiting the sick we 'l attend thy charity When thou art lifted up we 'l bow before Thee when solemnly expos'd we 'l publickly adore thee Where e're Thou art we 'l never forsake Thee where e're we are our harts shall be with Thee Glory be c. Antiph Blessed be thy Providence O God that so tenderly nurses up the world still growing on to new degrees of perfection Antiph This is the greatest charity that God himself can bestow since God can bestow nothing greater then himself Psal LXII ANd does our glorious God not only visit but dwelt perpetually with us men upon earth He whom the heav'n of heav'ns cannot contain does he make his residence in our litle Tabernacles Where are you holy Angels that you fly not swiftly down and in your whitest robes attend your Lord Where are you careles men that you run not quickly hither and with your lowliest homage bow to your King Who though
tender care hast contriv'd such means * that nothing can undo us but our own perversnes How easie hast thou made the way to heav'n how light is the burthen thou lay'st on thy followers 'T is but to love Thee our greatest Benefactor and we perfectly fulfil every branch of thy Law 'T is but desiring to see Thee our supream Beatitude and we are sure to possess an eternity of joy Blessed O my God be the wisdom of thy Providence that alone knows the way to draw good out of evil That not only restores us to our first degree but makes even our fall rebound us to a greater hight Lord as thy goodnes turns all things to the advantage of thy Elect O may the Elect praise thy goodnes in all things Glory be c. Psal XXXII ADmirable wert thou O Lord in thy merciful promise but infinitely more in thy wonderful performance Thou deputedst not an Angel to supply thy place nor entrustedst so tender a work to the manage of a Seraphin But Thy self bow'dst the heav'ns and cam'st down and with thy own blest hands wroughtst our redemption Thy self took'st upon thee our frail nature and vouchsaf'dst to be born of an humble Virgin Thou condescendedst to the weaknesses of a child a child whose parents were poor and unesteem'd in the world Thou declinedst not the mean entertainment of a stable O how unfit for the birth of the King of Heav'n Thou contentedst thy self with the cradle of a manger and the uneasy lodging on a bed of straw Thou refusedst the soft accomodations of the rich to undergo the inconveniencies of a poor stranger Only the faithful Ioseph stood waiting on Thee and provided as he was able for his helples family Only thy pious Mother dearly embrac't Thee and wrapt thy tender limbs in litle clouts Wonder O heavens and be amaz'd O earth and every creature humbly bow your heads Bow and adore this incomprehensible mystery The VVORD was made flesh dwelt among us But most of all we who are most concern'd the banisht children of unfortunate Adam Let us bow down our faces to the dust and prostrate adore so unspeakable a mercy Behold thus low my Saviour stoopt for me * to check the pride of my corrupted nature Behold thus low He stoopt to take me from the ground and raise me to the felicitys of his own Kingdom Lift up thy voice with joy O my soul and sing Hosanna to the new born JESUS Call all the blessed Angels to celebrate his birth and repeat afresh that heav'nly Antheme Glory be to God on high * in earth peace towards men of good will Lift up thy voice aloud O my soul and to the Quires of heav'n ioyn the musick of the Church Glory be c. Psal XXXIII REjoyce all you faithful Nations of the earth * when you hear the sweet Name of our dear Redeemer Rejoyce and with your bended knees and harts * adore the blessed JESUS He is the Son of the everliving God equally participating the glorys of his Father He is that great Messias whom the Prophets foretold * and all the ancient Saints so long expected At length in the fulnes of time he came to visit in person our miserable world He came with his hands full of miracles and every miracle full of mercy He made the crooked become straight and the lame to walk and leap for joy He open'd the ears of the deaf to hear and gave sight to them that were born blind He loosen'd the tongues of the dumb to speak O may he govern ours to sing his praise He clens'd the leprous by the word of his mouth and heal'd their diseases who but toucht his garment To the poor he reveal'd the treasures of his Gospel and taught the simple the mysterys of his Kingdom He cast out Devils by the command of his Will and forc't them to confess and adore his Person He rais'd the dead from the grave to life the dead that were four days buryed and corrupted Nay even Himself being slain for us on the Cross * and his tomb made fast and secur'd with a guard He rais'd again by his own victorious power and carry'd up our nature into the highest heav'ns All these stupendious signs O glorious JESU were done by the hand of Thy Almighty mercy To witness thy truth with the seal of heav'n and endear thy precepts with obliging miracles That thus engag'd we might believe in Thee and obeying thy Law be eternally sav'd O Let not all this love dear Lord be lost be so many Tokens so kindly exprest One miracle more we humbly beg but one as strange and hard as any of the rest Soften our stony harts into a tender sense * of thy great goodnes and their own true duty Raise our dead spirits from this heavy earth to dwell with Thee in the land of the Living That as we here admire thy bounteous Power and daily sing the wonders of thy Grace We may herafter adore thy Blessed Self and sing eternally the wonders of thy Glory Glory be c. Antiph Praise our Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits Capit. Jude v. 24 25. TO Him who is able to preserve you without sin and set you immaculate before the sight of his glory in exultation at the coming of our Lord JESUS Christ to the only God our Saviour by JESUS Christ our Lord be glory and magnificence Empire and Power before all ages and now and to all ages for ever Amen Hymn X. LEt others take their course And sing what Name they please Let wealth or beauty be their Theme Such empty sounds as these For me I 'le ne're admire A lump of burnisht clay Howe're it shines it is but dust And shall to dust decay Sweet JESUS is the Name My song shall still adore Sweet JESUS is the charming word That does my life restore When I am dead in grief Or which is worse in sin I call on JESUS and he hears And I to live begin Wherefore to thee bright Name Behold thus low I bow And thus again yet is all this Far less then what I ow. Down then down both my knees Still lower to the ground While with mine eys and voice lift up Aloud these lines I sound Live glorious King of heav'n By all the heav'n ador'd Live gracious Saviour of the world Our chief and only Lord. Live and for ever may Thy throne establisht be For ever may all harts and tongues Sing hyms of praise to Thee Amen Antiph I saw the bright Sun shew his flaming eys and behold a thousand rays fill'd the ayr and beauteously guilded the earth his glorious face but maskt it self in a cloud and immediately they vanisht away and their place was to be found no more I said such O my God just such is the stability of every creature V. Even the line we now repeat must beg its breath of Thee R. And stop if Thou deny'st it O Lord hear our
her head with a diadem of Saints Thou hast given her the keys of all thy treasures and open'd to her the mysterys of heav'n it self Mysterys that free our souls from the dominion of sense and place them above the reach of reason These thy whole Church unanimously attests as deriv'd from Thee their original source And runing along through every age * have always maintain'd their constant chanel O may they still bear on their course and still spread wider their wholsom streams May all the world be water'd with this dew of heav'n and bring forth fruit to everlasting life But O unhappy you who seek new paths and blindly follow your misleading guides You who forsake the known Church-way to truth and charge the whole Christian world with malice and error Tell me can any reason considerately think * that so many witnesses should conspire in a falshood Such as must necessarily damn themselvs and desperately endanger all their posterity Such as by every ey may easily be discern'd and the credit of the forgers confounded with shame Stay till a thousand Mothers freely agree * to poyson themselvs and their beloved children Stay till a Nation solemnly vote * that a wave of the Sea is firmer then a rock When you have seen this done and the deluge of Antichrist himself invade the world Yet shall that holy Ark still float above and save the Just from the fury of the waves O the excessive goodnes of our merciful God who has made his Testimonys even too credible Too credible to be doubted by any thing but ignorance too credible to be deny'd by any thing but passion We are almost now constrain'd to believe Lord grant us grace but to hope and love Glory be c. Antiph Upon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Antiph How admirably O Lord has thy Wisdom contriv'd our salvation infusing even by our senses grace into our souls Psal LV. SAfe in this hand has our provident Lord * deposited the richest treasures of his Kingdom Commanding his Priests to conserve them with reverence * and dispense them to others with a prudent charity Soon as we 're born into this world of danger his vigilant Baptism stands ready to save us Ready to wipe out the guilt of our birth and write our new names in the book of life What all eternity could never have worn off * a litle sprinkling of water washes away When we are come to riper years and a fit capacity of professing our Faith His holy Bishops mysteriously anoint our foreheads to cherish and Confirm our growing beleef That we never be asham'd of the Cross of Christ but to the face of death freely confess him If in our spiritual combat we receive a wound he has appointed persons expresly to cure us Only he requires we should open our sores before them and hartily repent our wilful rashnes He requires we should satisfy the world and our own souls in repairing the damage they sustain by our trespas Heal'd by the bitter waters of Pennance we are imediatly invited to all the sweetnes of Paradise To tast the delicious bread of Angels to eat even the Flesh it self of the Son of God So to become intirely one with him while we feed on his Body and are govern'd by his Spirit That the world may continue in a blest succession he solemnly sanctify'd the rites of Marriage Exalting that state to the honour of a Sacrament that we might more regard the holines of its dutys To prevent the failing of Governours in the Church the Church for which this world continues Themselvs are impowr'd to kindle fresh lights who stil may shine on when the old ones are spent Yet is there one important period of our life the sicknes that summons us to the bar of death Nor has our gracious Lord forgotten this but carefully provided a holy Unction To allay our fears in that sad hour and strengthen our hopes of everlasting felicity That we may finish our course in peace and go up with joy to receive our crown Thus by thy wise indulgent care O Thou sweet Conductor of our Souls Every station of our pilgrimage has a fit entertainment and every defect a proper remedy Glory be c. Antiph How admirably O Lord has thy Wisdom contriv'd our Salvation infusing even by our senses grace into our souls Antiph We confess we are bound to do many things against our will why not believe some few above our understanding Psal LVI THese are the seven bright golden Candlesticks * set up to enlighten and adorn the Church But behold in the midst One like the son of man but is indeed the Son of God Behold One disguis'd in the shape of bread but is indeed the Son both of God and man He whom the Seraphims prostrate adore and fly with all their wings to perform his commands He who came down to dy for us sinners and ascended again above the highest heav'ns Himself is there and graciously stays our coming to receive our pray'rs and send us home with his blessing He 's there though not discern'd by sense nor the mysterys of his presence comprehended by reason Yet may a lively faith pass through the veil and confidently enter into the holy of holys A faith that works by love may enter and fill it self with celestial Manna But the uncharitable faith shall be cast into darkness among them that believe and tremble Behold O Lord we believe and hope perfect by thy vigorous grace our faint endeavours Quicken our half dead faith into a ready assent where ever thou art pleas'd to engage thy word Why should we doubt the Power of God can do somthing that the weaknes of man cannot understand Which of us knows how the common bread we eat * is naturally turn'd into our own substance And shall we dispute the supernatural conversion * of this blessed bread into the substance of our Saviour Shall we submit our reason to the secrets of nature and make it judg of the mysterys of grace Shall we rely on the reports of men where we do not see and distrust the word of God because we do not see No let us now believe that herafter we may see when our eys shall be open'd in the Kingdom of light Where our dark faith shall cease into vision and our hope expire into full enjoyment Where all our affections shall be contracted into love and love extended to eternity Glory be c. Antiph We confess we are bound to do many things against our will why not believe some few above our understanding Our Father c. First Lesson CHrist loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctify it cleansing it by the Laver of water in the word of life that he might present to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors
thou blest and holy Spirit to be guilty of those unpardonable sins against Thy self Suffer us not obstinatly to persist in any known wickednes nor maliciously impugn any known truth Suffer us not to dy in our sins without repentance but O have mercy on us in that serious hour Have mercy on us and govern us in our life have mercy on us and save us at our death Glory be c. Antiph Deliver us O gracious God from every evil spirit and vouchsafe to give us thine own good spirit Capit. Gal. 5. NOw the works of the flesh are manifest fornication uncleaness impudicity luxury serving of Idols witchcrafts enmityes contentions emulations angers brawles dissensions sects envies murders drunkeness banquetings and such like which I foretel you that they who do such things shal not obtain the Kingdom of God But the fruit of the Spirit is charity joy peace patience benignity goodnes long-suffering mildnes faith modesty continency chastity against such there is no law And they who are Christs have crucify'd their flesh with its vices and concupiscen●●es If we live in the spirit in the spirit let us walk Let us not be covetous of vain glory envying one another provoking one another Hymn XXXV COme holy Spirit send down those beams Which gently flow in silent streams From thy bright throne above Come Thou Enricher of the poor And bounteous source of all our store Come fill us with thy love Come thou our souls delicious guest The weary'd p●●lgrims sweetest Rest The sufferer's best Releef Come thou our passions cool Allay Whose comfort wips all tears away And turns to joy all grief Come bright Sun shoot home thy darts Peirce to the center of our harts And make our faith love Thee Without thy grace without thy light Our strength is weaknes our day night We can nor move nor see Lord wash our sinful stains away Water from heav'n our barren clay Our many bruses heal To thy sweet yoak our stiff necks bow Warm with thy fire our harts of snow Our wandring feet repeal O grant thy Faithful dearest Lord Whose only hope is thy sure word The seven gifts of thy Spirit Grant us in life t' obey thy grace Grant us at death to see thy face And endles joys inherit All glory to the sacred Three One ever-living Deity All pow'r and blyss and praise As at the first when time begun May the same homage stil be done Till time it self decays Antiph Blessed be thy name O holy spirit of God who dividest thy gifts to every one as thou pleasest and workest all in all in Thee our sorrows have a comforter to allay them and our sins an Advocate to plead for them in Thee our ignorances have a guid to direct them our frailties a Confirmer to strengthen them and all our wants a God to releeve them alleluja alleluja Magnificat c. as pag. 44. Repeat the Antiphon Then O Lord hear our pray'rs And let our supplications come to Thee Let us pray O God who by thy holy Spirit didst at first establish and sanctify thy Church and by the same Spirit dost still preserve and govern it hear we beseech Thee the pray'rs of thy servants and mercifully grant us the perpetual assistance of thy grace that we never be deceiv'd by any false spirit nor overcome by the vicious suggestions of flesh and blood but in all our doubts be directed into the way of truth and in all our actions guided by thy holy Spirit who with Thee and thy eternal Son lives and reigns One God world without end Amen O Lord hear c. as page 45. Then say the Complin of the day for this Office has none of its own Office of the SAINTS MATINS On some particular Sundays noted in the Proper of Festivals and on all Holidays of Obligation before and after every Psalm at Matins Lauds Vespers and Complin say one of the Three Antiphons set down in the Proper of Festivals that is each Antiphon eight times in the whole Office of the Day Say also the Antiphon where any proper one is prepar'd before and after Benedictus and Magnificat else say the common one as in the Office Then the Prayer as in the Proper of Festivals The rest of these particular Offices is to be ricited out of the common Offices as is noted in the Directions and Proper of Festivals Introduction as pag. 1. Invitatory Come let 's adore the King of Saints Come let 's adore the King of Saints Psal CXV GReat is the Majesty of the King we serve and rich the splendors of his Court o're all the world he sends his commands and none dare resist or dispute his power Come let 's adore the King of Saints Great is the clemency of our gracious Soveraign to pardon the offences of repenting sinners great is the bounty of our glorious Lord to crown with rewards his faithful servants Come let 's adore the King of Saints Thousands of Saints attend in his presence and millions of Angels wait on his Throne all beauteously rang'd in perfect order all joyfully singing the praises of their Creator Come let 's adore the King of Saints Thou art our King too blessed JESU and we alas thy unprofitable subjects we cannot praise Thee like those thine own bright Quires yet humbly offer our little tribute Come let 's adore the King of Saints Let us bow low our heads to Him before whom the Seraphins cover their faces let us bow low our harts to Him at whose fee●● the Saints lay down their crowns Come let 's adore the King of Saints Glory be c. As it was c. Come let 's adore the King of Saints Come let 's adore the King of Saints Hymn XXXVI AWake my soul chace from thine eys This drowsy sloth and quickly rise Up and to work apace No less then Kingdoms are prepar'd And endless blyss for their reward Who finish wel their race 'T is not so poor a thing to be Servants to heav'n dear Lord and Thee As this fond world believes Not even here where oft the Wise Are most expos'd to injurys And friendles vertue grieves Somtimes thy hand lets gently fall A litle drop that sweetens all The bitter of our Cup O what herafter shal we be When we shal have whole draughts of Thee Brim-ful and drink them up Say happy souls whose thirst now meets The fresh and living stream of sweets Which spring from that blest throne Did you not find this true ev'n here Do you not find it truer there Now heav'n is all your own O yes the sweets we tast exceed All we can say or you can read They fil and never cloy On earth our cup was sweet but mixt Here all is pure refin'd and fixt All Quintessence of joy Hear'st thou my soul what glorious things The Church of heav'n in triumph sings Of their blest life above Chear thy faint hopes and bid them live All these thy God to thee will give
your selvs also in the body Let your conversation be without covetousness contented with what you have for he has said I will not leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may confidently say our Lord is my help I will not fear what man can do to me And the God of Peace who brought again from the Dead the great Pastor of the Sheep in the blood of the eternal Testament our Lord Jesus Christ make you perfect in all goodness that you may do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight thorough Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen Resp Thither O my Soul let us still be going where once to arrive is always to be at rest there let us dwell already in hope where once to enjoy is always to be happy * Since whate're we desire we are sure to have and whate're we have can never be taken from us Let us believe and obey and suffer let us read and meditate and pray Heaven 's a reward worth all our pains * Since what e're we desire we are sure to have and whate're we have can never be taken from us Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost * Since whate're we desire we are sure to have and whate're we have can never be taken from us Te Deum WE praise thee our God we acknowledge thee our Lord All the Earth adores thee thou Father Eternal To Thee the blessed Angels to Thee the Heavens and all their Powers To Thee the Cherubims and Seraphims perpetually sing Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabaoth The heavens and the earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory The glorious Quire of Apostles praise Thee The renown'd society of Prophets bless Thee The noble Army of Martyrs glorify Thee The holy Church throughout the world confesses Thee Father of immense Majesty Thy adorable true and only Son Also the holy Spirit the Comforter Thou art the King of glory O Christ Thou art the eternal Son of the Father Thou being to undertake the delivery of Man did'st not disdain the Virgins Womb. Thou having overcom the sting of death opend'st to Believers the Kingdom of heav'n Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of thy Father We believe thou shalt com to be our Judg. Help therfore we beseech Thee thy servants whom thou hast redeem'd with thy precious blood Make them be numbred with thy Saints in glory everlasting Lord save thy People and bless thy Inheritance And govern them and raise them up even to eternity Every day we glorify Thee and praise thy Name for ever and ever Vouchsafe O Lord to keep us this day without sin Have mercy on us O Lord have mercy on us Let thy mercy O Lord be on us as our hope is in Thee In Thee O Lord have I plac't my hope let me not be confounded for ever Pause a while to reflect on what you have said and to renew your attention then begin Lauds Sunday Lauds O God incline unto our ayd O Lord make hast to help us Glory be to the Father and to the Son * and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning both now and ever world without end Amen Alleluia Antiph O how adorable are thy counsels O Lord how strangely indearing the ways of thy love Alleluia Psal V. SIng to our Lord a Psalm of Joy sing praises to the God of our Salvation Sing with a loud and chearful voice sing with a glad and thankful hart Say to the weak of Spirit be strong and to the sorrowful be of good comfort Tel all the world this soul-reviving truth and may their harts within them leap to hear it Tel them the Lord of life is risen again and has cloth'd himself with immortal glory He made the Angels messengers of his victory and vouchsaf't even himself to bring us the joyful news How many ways did thy mercy invent O Thou wise contriver of all our happines To convince thy followers into this blest belief and settle in their harts a firm ground of hope Thou appeard'st in the Garden to the holy women that sought Thee and open'dst their eys to know and adore Thee Thou overtook'st in the way the Two that discour'st of thee and mad'st their harts burn within them to hear thee Thou shewd'st thy self on the stedfast shore to thy weary Disciples labouring at Sea Labouring alas all night in vain without the blessing of their beloved JESUS Thou shew'dst thy self and told'st them who thou wert in the kind known token of a beneficial miracle Thorow the doors though shut thou swiftly passed'st to carry peace to thy comfortles friends To encourage their fears with thy powerful presence and secure their faith by thy charitable arguments How did'st thou condescend to eat before them and invite them to touch thy impassible body How didst thou sweetly constrain that incredulous servant to thrust his hand into thy wounded side Actions we know unfit for thy glorify'd state but absolutely necessary for our slow belief How often O my gracious Lord in those blessed forty days * did thy charity cast to meet with thy Disciples That thou might'st teach them stil some excellent truth and imprint still deeper thy love in their harts Discoursing perpetually of the Kingdom of heav'n and establishing means to bring us thither At last when all thy glorious task was done and thy parting hour from this earth approacht Thou tenderly gather'dst thy Children about thee and in their full sight wentst up into heaven Leaving thy dearest blessing on their heads and promising them a Comforter to supply thine absence O how adorable are thy counsels O Lord how strangely endearing the ways of thy love Say now my Soul is not this evidence clear enough * to answer all our darkest doubts Is not this hope abundantly sufficient to sweeten all our bitterst sorrows What though we mourn and be afflicted here and sigh under the miseries of this world for a time We 're sure our tears shal one day rejoyce and that joy none shal take from us What though our bodies be crumbled into dust and that dust blown about o're the face of the Earth Yet we undoubtedly know our Redeemer lives and shal appear in brightnes at the last great Day He shal appear in the midst of innumerable Angels and with these very eys we shal see Him We shal see him in whom we have so long believ'd we shal find him whom we have so often sought We shal possess him whom our souls have lov'd and be united to him for ever who is the only end of our Being Glory be c. Psal VI. RAise thy head O my soul and look up and behold the glory of thy crucify'd Saviour He that was dead and layd in the grave * low enough to prove himself Man Is risen again and ascended into heaven * high enough to prove himself God He is risen and
the glories prepar'd for us above All the few years we live shall spend themselvs to purchase that one eternal Day That Day whose brightness knows no night nor ever fears the least eclips Whose chearful brow no cloud o'recasts nor storm molests the passage of its rays But still shines on serene and clear and fills with splendors that spacious Palace It needs not the fading lustre of our Sun nor the borrow'd silver of the Moon The Sun that rises there is the Lamb and the Light that shines the Glory of God O how beauteous truths are sung of thee thou City of the King of Heav'n Thy walls are rais'd with precious stones and every gate is of one rich pearl Thy mansions are built with choicest jewels and the pavement of thy streets is transparent gold Down in the midst runs a crystal river perpetually flowing from the throne of God There all along those pleasant banks deliciously grows the tree of life Healing all wounds with its balmy leaves and making imortal all that tast but its fruit Thus is the holy City built thus is the new Jerusalem adorn'd O fortunate and glorious City how free and happy are thy glad Inhabitants Every head wears a royal Crown and every hand a palm of Victory Every ey overflows with joy and every tongue with Psalms of praise Behold O my soul the inheritance we seek and where can we find more riches to invite us Behold the felicities to which we are cal'd and where can we meet such pleasures to entertain us Away then all vain and worldly desires be banisht for ever from molesting my peace Descend thou blessed Heav'n into my hart or rather take up my hart to thee Thy joys are too great to enter into me O make me fit to enter into them Make me still think on my Country above and there establish my eternal home Where I shall dwell perpetually in the view of my God and be fill'd for ever with the sweetness of his presence Glory be c. Antiph Glorious things are said of thee thou City of the King of Heaven Alleluja Antiph If these imperfect shadows so sweetly please how will the real substance transport our harts Alleluja Psal IX BLest be thy gracious Wisdom O Lord that so mercifully stoops to our low conceits Under these veils thou hid'st those glorious mysteries too high and spiritual for our flesh and blood Thou hid'st or rather so reveal'st thy sublime rewards to take us with things we most admire Scepters and Crowns thou know'st are apt * to win the harts of us thy children Children alas too truly in useful knowledg O that we were so in love and duty What is a drop of water to the boundless Ocean or a grain of dust to this vast Globe Such O my God and infinitely less * are the richest Kingdoms here below Should we compare their most pompous state * to the meanest degree in the Court of Heav'n When thou hast fed us a while with milk thou invit'st our appetite to stronger meat Thou tel'st us of a sweet delicious life in the blest society of Saints and Angels With whom we shall dwell in perpetual friendship and be lov'd and esteemed by them all for ever Thou tel'st us of a pure soul-ravishing joy to behold the amiable face of JESUS Whose gracious smiles shine round about and fill the Heav'ns with holy gladnes Thou tel'st us still of incomparably higher delights harken O my soul and humbly adore thy God Whose bounty has provided thee large rewards Since they are no less then his very Self Himself he will clearly unveil before us and openly shew us that great Secret O happy Secret if once at last attain'd if once we but see the face of our God What is it glorious Lord to see thy face but to know Thee as thou art in thine own blest Being To know the immensity of thy self-subsisting Essence and the infinite excellence of all thy Attributes To know the Power of the Eternal Father and the Wisdom of the Increated Son To know the Goodnes of the Holy Ghost and the incomprehensible Glorys of the undivided Trinity This O my Soul is the top of happines this the supreme perfection of our nature This this alone is the aim of our Being the hope and end of all our labors When we are come to this we shall presently rest and our satisfyd desires reach no farther We shall be fill'd with overflowing bliss and our utmost capacities hold no more But in one Act of joy be eternally fixt and that one act spring fresh for ever Glory be c. Antiph If these imperfect shadows so sweetly please how will the real substance transport our harts Alleluja Antiph Never can we say too much of this glorious subject never can we think enough of the felicities of Heav'n Alleluja Psal X. ARise my soul to thee these joys belong arise and advance thy self on high Leave here below all earthly thoughts and fly away with the wings of thy Spirit Fly to that glorious Land of Promise and gladly salute those heav'nly regions Hail happy Paradise of pure delights thou beauteous Garden of never fading flowers Hail blest Society of beatify'd Spirits who perpetually contemplate the eternal Deity Hail and for ever may your glorys grow till they rise so high they can grow no more Hail and among your cheerful Hymns remember us who dwell below in this vale of tears We hope one day to come up to You and be plac't to sing in your holy Quires We hope to know that all-producing Cause we hope to know all it has produc't O what a fire of love will it kindle in our harts when we shall see those shining mysteries When our great God like a burning Mirroir shall strike his brightness on the eys of our soul O what excessive joy will that love produce a love so violently desiring and so fully satisfyed When our capacities shall be stretch't to the utmost and the rich abounding Object fill and overflow them O what profound repose will that joy beget a joy so infinitely high and so eternally secure When in an amorous languishment we shall sweetly dissolve into that blysful union with our first Begining When without losing what we are we shall become even what He is We shall take part in all his joys and share in the glorys of all his Heav'n O what divine and ravishing words are these how gently they enter and delight my ear How they diffuse themselvs over all my brain and strongly penetrate to my very soul Me thinks they turn to substance as they go and I feel them stir and work through all my powers Me thinks they ly as a Cordial at my hart and send forth spirits to quicken and refresh me There O my soul we shall rest from all our labors which are but the way to all that happines There we shall rest from sin and sorrow and no longer be troubled with our selvs or
Creation to its end Vouchsafing so to order all thy creatures about us by thy grace that they may attain their perfection in duly serving us and we Ours in eternally injoying Thee through our Lord JESUS Christ thy Son who with Thee and the holy Ghost lives and reigns One God world without end Amen Commemorations c. as pag. 29. Monday Vespers IN the Name of the Father c. as pag. 33. Antiph To know Thee O Lord is the highest learning and to be known of Thee the greatest happines Psal XXI LEt us now consider O Lord our God! let us thankfully remember what Thou art to us Thou art the great Begining of our nature and glorious end of all our actions Thou art the overflowing Source from whence we spring and the immense Ocean into which we tend Thou art the free Bestower of all we possess and faithful Promiser of all we hope Thou art the strong Sustainer of our lives and ready Deliverer from all our enemys Thou art the merciful Scourger of our sins and bounteous Rewarder of our obedience Thou art the safe Conducter of our pilgrimage and the eternal Rest of our wearied souls Such words alas our narrownes is constrain'd to use * when we endeavour to speak thy bountys Wider a litle can our thoughts extend yet infinitely less than the least of thy mercys Tell us thy self one word of thine expresses more * then all the eloquence of men and Angels Tell us Thy self O Thou mild instructer of the ignorant what thou art to us Say to our souls Thou art our salvation but say it so that we may hear Thee Gladly will we run after the sound of that voice and hope by following it to find out Thee When we have found Thee once O Thou joy of our harts never let us lose thy sight again Never let us turn our eys from Thee but steddily fix them on thy glorious face Suffer us not to go till thou hast given us thy blessing and then may thy blessing bind us faster to Thee Glory be c. Antiph To know Thee O Lord is the highest learning and to be known of Thee the greatest happines Antiph To know our selvs is the truest wisdom and to see our own poverty the safest riches Psal XXII LEt us now consider O Lord our God! let us humbly remember what we are to Thee We who alas are nothing in our selvs what can we be to thy Immensity Thou who art all things in thine own rich self what canst thou receive from our poverty This only we are to Thee O great Creator the unthankful object of all thy bountys This only we are to Thee O dear Redeemer the unworthy cause of all thy sufferings Guilty we committed the crime and thou with thine innocency undertookst the punishment We went astray from the path of life and thy mercy came down from heav'n to seek us To seek us in the wilderness where we had lost our selvs and bring us home to the discipline of thy love Lord what are we that thou shouldst thus regard * such poor and vile and inconsiderable wretches What can our good will avail thy Blyss that with so many charms thou woo'st us to love Thee What can our malice prejudice thy content that thou threatnest so violently if we love thee not Is there O my God not felicity enough * in the sweetness alone of loving Thee Is there perhaps not misery enough * in living depriv'd of thy blysful love Yes Yes dear Lord and that thou knew'st and that 's the only cause * which mov'd thy goodnes to court our affections Thou knew'st we else would cast away our selvs * by doating on the follys of this deceitful world Thou knew'st the danger of our wilful nature and therefore striv'st by greatest fears and greatest hopes And all the wisest arts of love and bounty * to draw us to thy self and endow us with thy kingdom Unhappy we whose frowardness requir'd so strange proceeding * to force upon us our own salvation Happy we whose wants have met so kind a hand that needed but our emptines to engage him to fill us Happy yet more that our Lord who thus favours us now * will at last even give us Himself Glory be c. Antiph To know our selvs is the truest wisdom and to see our own Poverty the safest riches Antiph Vanity of vanitys all is vanity but the love of God and hope to enioy Him Psal XXIII LOrd without Thee what 's all the world to us * but a flying dream of busie vanitys It promises indeed a Paradise of blyss but all it performs is an empty cloud Thine are the joys that shine fixt as the stars and make the only solid heav'n Lord without Thee what are we to our selvs but the wretched causes of our own ruin We till thou gav'st us Being were purely nothing more remov'd from happines then the miserablest of thy creatures Now thou hast made us we wholly depend on Thee and perish immediately if thou forsake us Thou without us art the same all-glorious Essence brim-ful of thy own eternal felicity Without us thy royal Throne stands firm for ever and all the Powers of heav'n obey thy pleasure Pity O gracious Lord our imperfect nature whose every circumstance is so contrary to Thine Thou dwel'st above in the Mansions of glory and we below in houses of clay Thou art immortal and thy day out-lives all time we every moment go downwards to our grave Thou art immense and thy presence fills the heav'ns but the Greatest of us alas how litle are we Two yards of air contain us while we live and a few spans of earth suffice us at our death When O my God shall these distances meet together when will these extremitys embrace each other We know they once were miraculously joyn'd * in the sacred Person of thy eternal Son When the King of heav'n stoopt down to earth and grafted into his own Person the nature of man We hope they once again shall be happily united * in the blysful vision of thy glorious Self When the children of the earth shall be exalted to heav'n and made partakers of thy divine nature But are there no means for us here below O Thou infinitely high and glorious God! Is there no way to approach towards Thee and diminish at least this uncomfortable distance None but the way of holy love which none can attain but by thy free gift Nor must we sinners dare to ask thy love being infinitely unworthy to be cal'd thy servants Rather let us humbly beg the grace to love Thee who art so many ways worthy of more than our harts And yet O dearest Lord unless thou first love us and sweetly draw us by thy gentle hand Never shal we be so happy as to love Thee nor ever happy unless we love Thee O bounteous God! to all thy favours add this one * of making us esteem Thee above them
art so much the more humble thy self and thou shalt find grace before God for the power of God only is great and he is honor'd of the humble Seek not the things that are too high for thee nor search into those that are above thy strength but the things which God has commanded thee think always on them and in many of his works be not curious since 't is not necessary for thee to see with thine eys those things that are hidden Place thy treasure in the precepts of the Highest and it shall profit thee more then gold Lay up thy alms in the hart of the poor and it shall obtain for thee against all evil above the shield of the mighty and above the spear it shall fight against the enemy In all thy gifts shew a chearful countenance and dedicate thy tyths with gladness give to the Highest according to what He has given thee and with a good ey do according to the ability of thy hands for our Lord is thy rewarder and he will repay thee seven times as much When the ways of a man please our Lord he will convert even his enemys to peace The hart of a man disposes his way but it pertains to our Lord to direct his steps He that is patient is better then the strong and he that rules over his mind then the Conqueror of Cities There is no wisdom there is no prudence there is no counsel against our Lord the horse is prepar'd for the day of batle but our Lord gives salvation R. Well may we give thee O Lord some part of what we have since we receiv'd of thee even all we have well may we give with gladness to Thee since thy bounty rewards us with so great advantage O make us still mistrust our selvs and with an humble confidence rely on Thee Without thy blessing our labors are in vain and against thy decrees no pollicy can succeed but if we humbly submit to thee thou wilt direct us if we keep thy commandments thou wilt defend us O make us Second Lesson WHen thou com'st to the service of God stand in justice and fear and prepare thy soul for tentation What ever is brought upon thee receive and in thy sorrow bear up and when thou art humbled have patience for gold and silver are try'd in the fire and acceptable men in the furnace of affliction Believe God and he will recover thee order thy way aright and hope in Him keep his fear and grow old therein You who fear our Lord expect his mercy decline not from him lest you fall believe him and your reward shall not miscarry You who fear our Lord hope in him and mercy shall come to you for your refreshment love him and your harts shall be illuminated Behold the generations of men and know that none has hop't in our Lord and been confounded Who ever continued in his commandments and was forsaken or cal'd upon him and he despised him God is compassionate and merciful and will pardon sins in the day of tribulation and protect all those that seek him in truth Wo to the double hart and wicked lips and the hands that work evil and the sinner that goes on the earth two ways Wo to them that are of dissolute hart who believe not God and therefore shall not be protected by him Wo to them that have lost patience and forsaken the right path and declin'd into perverse ways what will they do when our Lord shall begin to look into them R. Teach us O gracious Lord to begin our works with fear and go on with obedience and finish them with love and after all sit humbly down in hope and with a chearful confidence look up to thee * whose promises are faithful and rewards infinite All this we may do for men and yet they fail us we may fear and obey and they forget our service we may love and hope and they neglect our affections only Thou O Lord our God whom we no way can benefit dost every way oblige us * whose promises Third Lesson BEcause sentence is not speedily pronounc't against the wicked the children of men commit evil without fear but though a sinner offend a hundred times and be forborn by patience I know it shall be well with them that fear God There are just men to whom evil things happen as though they had done the works of the impious and there are impious who live secure as if they had the deeds of the just and this also I judg most vain The just and the wise and their works are in the hands of God yet no man knows whether he be worthy of love or hatred but all things are reserv'd incertain for the time to come because all things happen alike to the good and to the bad As is the vertuous so is the sinner and as the perjur'd so he that swears the truth by this the harts of men are fill'd with malice and contempt while they live and after are led away into hell I turn'd me to another thing and saw under the Sun that the race is not to the swift nor the batle to the strong nor bread to the wise nor riches to the learned nor favour to men of skill but time and chance in all things R. And sure 't is fittest so for what can an infinite Power and Wisdom and Goodnes do but that which is best Lord I submit and adore thy Providence which scatters these temporal things with a seeming negligence as trifles of so litle importance that they signifie neither love nor hatred * Nothing but heav'n is indeed considerable nothing but Eternity deservs our esteem Fix thou our steps O Lord that we stager not at the uneven motions of the world but steddily go on to our glorious home not censuring our journy by the weather we meet nor turning out of the way for any accident that befals us * Nothing but Glory be * Nothing but Pause as page 17. Tuesday Lauds O God incline c. as page 18. Antiph Praise our Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits Psal XXXI BE thou eternally ador'd O God of our salvation and may thy praises be sung by thy servants for ever When our first parents had disobey'd thy precepts to the ruine of themselvs and their whole posterity Thy mercy immediately provided a remedy and graciously promised a powerful Redeemer A Redeemer that should conquer sin and death and crush in pieces the serpents head A Redeemer that should fully repair the breaches of mankind and render our condition better then before Enlightning our eys with a clearer view * of those excellent truths that belong to our peace And supporting our nature with a stronger grace * to bear us safely on through all encounters Till we arrive at the land of rest and be receiv'd for ever into that glorious Kingdom O Blessed JESU our strength our guide who know'st and pittiest our weak capacitys Who in thy
prayers And let our supplications come to Thee Let us pray O God the eternal Source and Necessity of Being on whose free overflowing that of thy whole Creation every moment depends strike we beseech Thee our harts with a continual dread and reverence of thy absolute Dominion which should it but never so litle suspend thy Bounty resolvs us all instantly into nothing nothing and grant that as we know thou preservst still on this world to grow daily riper for the Other to which thou hast ordain'd it we may by thy grace so husband our time here as in the next life to possess thy Eternity through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son who c. Commemorations c. as page 29. Tuesday Vespers IN the Name c. As page 13. Antiph Who is like thee O Lord among the Gods who is like thee terrible in judgments Psal XXXIV SPeak no more proudly vain dust nor provoke any longer the living God Seal up thy lips in humble silence and tremblingly remember his dreadful judgments Remember how the earth open'd it self and swallow'd up alive so many thousands Remember how the clouds rain'd fire and brimstone and buried whole Cities in their own ashes Remember how the general deluge o'respred the world and swept away almost all mankind Remember and ask the cause of all this ruin and tell it aloud to the bold offender Tell him 't was sin and such as his * that drew upon them so swift destruction Sin threw the Angels down from heav'n and chain'd them up in eternal darknes Sin banisht Adam out of Paradise and turn'd that delicious garden into a field of weeds O God how terrible is thy mighty arm when Thou stretchest it forth to be aveng'd of thine enemys O sin how fatal is thy desperate malice that pulls on our heads all the thunder of heav'n O my soul how dull and sensles are we to sleep secure as if all were safe Can we repeat these amazing Truths and not tremble at the wrath of the divine justice Can we consider the deplorable end of sinners and still go on in the ways of sin Even while we sing thy praises O glorious Lord our very duty should fear before Thee What should corrupted nature then do when it sees its self ready to offend Thee What should a guilty Conscience do when it sees it self ruin'd by offending thee Strike thou our harts O Thou infinit Majesty with an awful reverence of thy great Name Correct our many levitys into a pious sadnes and break our proud spirits to bow to Thee Still may our consciences cry aloud within us dare you commit this evil and sin against your God Dare you commit this evil and undo your selvs and plunge your own souls in everlasting torments Forbid so rash a madness gracious Lord and make thy judgments on others mercys to us Glory be c. Antiph Who is like thee O Lord among the Gods who is like thee terrible in judgments Antiph Who is like thee O Lord among the Gods who is like thee amiable in mercys Psal XXXV WIpe away the tears from thine eys O my soul and clear thy hart from all clouds of despair He that 's thus infinite in power to punish * is full as infinite in goodness to save How often have we broken his divine Commands yet still his earth sustains and servs us How often have we abus'd our fulnes of bread yet still his clouds shower plenty upon us Himself with his own Almighty Word consin'd the waters and sharply reproacht their officiousnes to destroy Hitherto shall you come and no farther and here will I stay your proud waves Only the ambitious Angels find no forgivenes because their obstinacy refuses to seek it Else could those rebel-spirits disclaim their crimes and turn again to obey their Maker His clemency would soon revoke their sentence and restore them to shine in their first bright seats But O! the excess of mercy vouchsaft to Adam and to us dust and ashes his posterity For whom the soveraign King of heav'n * humbled Himself to descend upon earth Leading a poor laborious life and suffering a painful ignominious death Only to teach us how to live and how to dy and what in both to aim at Thy mercys Lord are above all thy works and this above all thy mercys Antiph Who is like thee O Lord among the Gods who is like thee amiable in mercys Antiph Dreadful art thou O Lord in the terror of thy Judgments but infinitely more amiable in the sweetnes of thy mercys Psal XXXVI STill let us sing the mercys of our God and hold and shake a litle longer this sweet key When we alas lay buried in the abyss of nothing his own free goodnes first cal'd us into Being He fashion'd our limbs in our mothers womb and fill'd our Nurses brest with milk He enlarg'd our litle steps when we began to go and carefully preserv'd our helpless infancy Commanding even his Angels to bear us in their hands lest we dash our feet against a stone How many dangers have we happily escapt and not one of them but was govern'd by his providence How many blessings do we dayly receive and not one of them but proceeds from his bounty He provided Tutors to instruct our youth and plant in our tender minds the seeds of vertue He appointed Pastors to feed our souls and safely guide them in the ways of Blyss He founded his Church on an immovable Rock and to render our faith firm and secure He seal'd his love with Sacraments of grace to breed and nourish in us the life of charity All this thou hast done O merciful Lord the wise Disposer of heav'n and earth All this thou hast done and still goest on * by infinite ways to gain us to thy love Thou command'st us to ask and promisest to grant thou invitest us to seek and assur'st us to find Thou vouchsaf'st even thy self to stand at the door and knock and if we open thou entrest and fill'st our harts with joy If we forget thee thou renew'st afresh our memory if we fly from thee thou still find'st some means to recal us If we defer our amendment thou patiently stay'st for us and when we return thou open'st thy arms to imbrace us Surely O my God! from all eternity * Thou hast cast thy gracious ey upon us Surely thy merciful hand has sign'd our lot and mark't us out for thy everlasting favors We know thy ways are in the deep abyss and none can sound the bottom of thy counsels Yet may we safely look on the flowing streams and gather this comfort from their gentle course When we were not thou freely lov'dst us Thou wilt nor forsake us now we strive to love thee When we had lost our way thou sought'st after us thou wilt not refuse us now we seek after thee Lord all we have is deriv'd from thee and all we expect can come from none but thy self Accomplish thine own
flesh are manifest which are fornication uncleanes wantonnes luxury serving of Idols witchcraft enmities contentions emulations angers brauls seditions sects envys murthers drunkennesses riots and such like and they who do such things shall not obtain the Kingdom of God But the fruit of the Spirit is charity joy peace patience benignity goodnes long-suffering mildnes faith modesty continency chastity against such there is no Law Hymn XV. LEt them go court what joys they please And gain what e're they court For me I find but litle ease In all their gayest sport Be thou alone but with my hart My God my only Blyss I shall not murmur at my part Nor envy their success They talk of pleasure talk of gain None must their humor cross But well I know their pleasure's pain Their greatest profit loss Let them talk on and have not we Our gains our pleasures too Pleasures that spring more sweet and free Gains that more fully flow Nay well endur'd our very pains To us a pleasure are And all our losses turn to gains If hopes may have their share And sure they may such hopes as chear The heav'n espoused brest Hopes that so strangely charm us here What will they be possest All Glory to the sacred Three All honor power and praise As 't was at first still may it be Beyond the end of days Antiph When O my soul did we ever follow our passions but they instantly wrought our disturbance and threatned at last our ruin when did we ever turn our thoughts to piety but it presently brought us peace and refresht our minds with new hopes of felicity V. The winds are often rough and our own weight presses us downwards R. Reach forth O Lord thy saving hand and speedily deliver us O Lord hear our prayers And let our supplications come to thee Let us pray O God whose infinite mercy has vouchsaft us the mighty Rescue of thy only Son from the desperate rebellion of our passions which utterly confound the government and peace of our souls Grant we humbly beseech Thee that our experience of the miserable effects of yielding to their allurements may make us ●●arier in observing and severer in repressing their first motions and thy grace so strongly fortify us against all their furious and repeated assaults that Reason may more and more recover its due force and calmly joyn with Faith to secure and exalt in our harts the blysful throne of thy Charity through the same our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son who c. O Lord hear c. as page 45. Wednesday Complin OUr help is in c. as page 46. Antiph Repent now my soul for the evils thou hast done and bless thy God for the goods thou hast receiv'd Psal L. VVEll we are so much nearer our grave and all the world is older by a day The portion of the wicked is so much less and their time of punishment so much approacht The sufferings of the Patient are so much diminisht and their hopes of delivery so much increast They who have spent this day in sin and folly * see all their thoughts now vanish like a dream They see all 's past but a fear of revenge and the best that can follow is a bitter repentance But such as have wisely bestow'd their time and made another new step towards heav'n They see their joys come to meet them in the way and stil grow bigger as they come Til by a holy death they joyn in one and dwel together for eternal ages O Thou blest Author of all our hopes * and perfect Satisfier of all our wishes Do Thou instruct us in this great wise truth and let every Evening renew it on our minds That the things of this world are of litle import since its joys and griefs last but for a time But the future state most infinitely concerns us where life and death endure for ever Glory be c. Psal LI. WE are nearer indeed the end of our life but what are we nearer the end for which we live What have we done my soul to day * that 's truly advancive to our last great home Have we encreast our esteem of heav'n and setled its love more strongly in our harts Have we avoided any known temptation or faithfully resisted when we could not avoid Have we interrupted our customary faults and checkt the vices we are most enclin'd to Have we embrac't the opportunitys of good * which the mercy of Providence has offered to our hands Have we industriously contriv'd occasions * to improve as we are able our selvs and others Alas dread Lord what do we see when seriously we look into our guilty selvs When we reflect on our former years nay even the follys but of this one day So many hours mispent in nothing so many abus'd in worse than nothing Pardon O meek Redeemer what our passions have done and favourably supply what our weaknes has omited Make us herafter more carefully watch * that our time unprofitably slide not away Make us select every day some fit retreat to study the knowledg of our selvs and Thee Our selvs to correct our many infirmitys and Thee to adore thy infinite perfections Glory be c. Psal LII LItle thou know'st O Lord is the good we do and every grain of it deriv'd from Thee Great we confess are the evils we commit and all to be charg'd entirely on our selvs Tell me my soul when first thou hast well examin'd * the innumerable circumstances that concern thy state Tell me and let not pride deny the truth nor any thing divert thy free confession Could we have sav'd our selvs from that dangerous tentation unles our God had powerfully sustain'd us Could we have carry'd on that pious purpose unles his hand had blest our endeavours No to thy self O Lord give all the praise if thy creatures have perform'd the least good work Give to thy self all the glory O Lord if they have not commited the worst of sins Thy hand alone directs us to do wel and the same blest hand restrains us from ill 'T is not in us to esteem those unseen joys and despise the flatterys of this deceitful world 'T is not the work of corrupted nature to mortify our senses and patiently bear the crosses we meet Of our selvs we are inclin'd to none of these but the grace of God enables us to all Grace gives us strength to overcom our passions and the world and the flesh shal be subject to us Grace gives us faith to fortify our reason and heav'n it self shal be conquer'd by us Glory be c. Antiph Repent now my soul for the evils thou hast done and bless thy God for the goods thou hast received Hymn XVI ANd do we then beleeve There is a world to come Where all this world shal summon'd be To take their final doom Is there a heav'n indeed To crown the innocent Is there a hell and horrid pains The
retire to Thee alone Grant we humbly beseech Thee that thy Providence's withdrawing every night all the world from our senses may efficaciously prompt us to clear our heads and harts of all its distractions and thy holy Spirit finding our minds happily vacant may fill them with acts of love and reverence and adoration of Thee as our only God and all things through our Lord Vouchsafe c. as page 54. Friday MATINS Introduction as page 1. Invitatory Come let 's adore our God that redeem'd us Come let 's adore our God that redeem'd us Psal LXVI VVHen we had sold our selvs to sin and were all become the slaves of Satan our blessed JESU descended from heav'n and brought a vast price to buy out our freedom Come let 's adore our God that redeem'd us The price was no less then his own dearest blood which he plenteously shed on the holy Cross depositing so his inestimable life to rescue us sinners from eternal death Come let 's adore our God that redeem'd us Let us consecrate this day to his sacred memory and tenderly compassionate his unparalleld sufferings repenting from our harts our many sins and thankfully admiring his infinite mercys Come let 's adore our God that redeem'd us Let us wean our minds from unbecoming delights and mortify our senses with a prudent restraint that carry'd on the wings of fasting and alms our prayers may mount up more swiftly to heav'n Come let 's adore our God that redeem'd us Glory be to the Father c. As it was c. Come let 's adore our God that redeem'd us Come let 's adore our God that redeem'd us Hymn XXI COme let 's adore the King of love And King of sufferings too For love it was that brought him down And set him here in wo. Love drew him from his Paradise Where flow'rs that fade not grow And planted Him in our poor dust Among us weeds below Here for a time this heav'nly Plant Fairly grew up and thriv'd Diffus'd its sweetnes all about And all in sweetnes liv'd But envious frosts and furious storms So long so fiercely chide This tender Flow'r at last bow'd down Its bruised head and dy'd O narrow thoughts and narrower speech Here your defects confess The life of Christ the death of God How faintly you express Help O thou blessed Virgin-root Whence this fair Flow'r did spring Help us to raise both hart and voice And with more spirit sing To Father Son and holy Ghost One undivided Three All highest praise all humblest thanks Now and for ever be Antiph Take up thy cross and follow thy Lord for his yoke is sweet and his burthen light Psal LXVII MY God who can complain of doing too much if they consider the labours of JESUS Those painful labours he so freely undertook and mildly stoopt to his humble task When he might have flown on the wings of Cherubims he chose to walk with us worms in the dust When he might have cal'd for Manna from heav'n in the sweat of his brows he would eat his bread When he might have made the Angels his footstool he rather became the servant of his Parents Living with Them in their litle cottage and readily obeying even their least command There in that humble privacy He increast in wisdom and grew in grace both with God and man Still by his pious candor gaining the love * of those happy few that saw his life That saw thy holy life O glorious JESU and heard with joy and wonder thy incomparable sayings That felt a gentle motion stir their harts * to love and imitate so blest a pattern O that the same sweet spirit of grace * might draw our minds dear Lord to thee O that we could in every passage of our life * still actually reflect on the example of Thine Thy retirements were fill'd with holy speculations and in the midst of busines thy mind was free for heav'n Thy converse with others mispent no time but bestow'd every moment in excellent charity To instruct the ignorant and reduce the deceiv'd to comfort the afflicted and heal the diseas'd To convince the froward and absolve the penitent and perswade all the world to be truly happy It was thy meat and drink to do thy Fathers will O make it ours to perform Thine Make us in every action still think on Thee what thou wouldst counsel us to do What Thou thy self wouldst do O Blessed JESU if thou again wert here among us And when we thus have learnt our duty Lord make us do what thou hast made us know Glory be c. Antiph Take up thy Cross and follow thy Lord for his yoke is sweet and his bruthen light Antiph He humbled himself for us and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross Psal LXVIII MY God who can repine at suffering too much if they remember the afflictions of JESUS Those many afflictions he so patiently endur'd and bore with silence all their weight Even from his humble cradle in the grot of Bethelem to his bitter Cross on the mount of Calvary How litle do we read of glad and prosperous how much of pains and grief and perpetual affronts Somtimes abandon'd by his nearest friends and left alone among all his discomforts Somtimes pursu'd by his fiercest enemys and made the common mark of all their spite Somtimes they plot to insnare Him in his words and enviously slander his miraculous deeds Somtimes tumultuously they gather about him to gaze at and abuse this Man of sorrows Somtimes they furiously seize on his Person and hale and drag him along the streets At last they all conspire to take away his life and condemn him to a sharp and cruel death Have you not seen a harmless Lamb * stand silent in the midst of ravenous wolves So stood the Prince of Peace and Innocence besieg'd with a ring of savage Jews When they blasphem'd Him he reply'd not again and when they injuriously struck him he only observ'd their rashnes When they provok't him with their utmost malice he pleaded their excuse and when they kill'd him he earnestly pray'd for their pardon O strange ingratitude of humane nature thus barbarously to crucify the worlds Redeemer O admirable love of the worlds Redeemer thus patiently to dy for humane nature Say now my soul for whom thy dearest Lord * indur'd all this and infinitely more Canst thou complain of thy litle troubles when the King of glory was thus afflicted Canst thou complain of a meanly furnisht house when the Son of God had not where to lay his head We wear the conisance of a crucify'd Lord and shall we shrink back at every cross we meet We believe in a God that was crown'd with thorns and shall we abide to tread on nothing but roses Before our eys O JESU we see thee humble and meek and shall thy servants be proud and insolent We see thee travail up and down poor and unregarded and shal thy
pattern and mad'st us free to work for our own profit Instruct our gratitude to consecrate all to Thee since all by thy bounty will redound to our selves Glory be c. Antiph We by a fond self love blame every thing but our selvs while nothing can hurt us but our own misplac't affections Antiph It is decreed for all men once to dy and after death Judgment Psal LXXXVIII THis life indeed is the way we must walk but this alone cannot bring us to our end Ere we arrive at our appointed home we must be led through the gates of death Where we shall absolutely be stript of all we have and carry nothing with us but what we are Where we not only must quit the whole world but leave behind us even part of our selvs Hast thou my soul seen som Neighbour dy and dost thou remember those circumstances of sorrow VVe are sure the case ere long will be our own and are not sure but it may be very soon Have we our selvs been dangerously sick and do we remember the thoughts we had then How we resolv'd to correct our passions and strive against the vices that particularly indanger us 'T will come to this again and no reprieve be found * stay one single minute the hand of death But he immediately will seize upon us and bear us away to the region of spirits There to be rang'd in our proper place as the course of our life has qualify'd us here Nor is this all to expire and dy and dwell for a time in a state of separation VVe must expect another Day a day of publick accounts and restiution of all things When the Archangel shal sound his trumpet and proclaim aloud this universal summons Arise you dead and come to Judgment arise and appear before the Throne of God Then shall the little heaps of dust immediately awake and every soul put on her proper body Immediately all the children of Adam shal be gather'd together from heav'n and hell and every corner of the earth There they must stand and all attend their doom but O with how sad and fatal a difference The Just shal look up with a cheerful confidence and in their new white robes triumph and sing Alleluia let us rejoyce for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his Bride has prepar'd her self Let us rejoyce for the Kingdom of the world is made our Lords and his Christs and He shal reign for ever and ever Let us rejoyce for now our Redeemer is nigh behold he comes quickly and his reward is with him Come come Lord JESU thou long Desire of our harts come quickly thou full Delight of our Souls Come and declare to all the world thy glory come and reward before all the world thy servants Lo where aloft he comes in power and Majesty attended with a train of innumerable Angels Behold where he sits inthron'd on the wings of Cherubins and takes at once a view of all mankind Soon he commands his Angels to sever his Sheep and gather them together on his right hand First then to them he turns his glorious face and shines upon them with these ravishing words Come you Blessed of my Father possess the Kingdom * prepared for you from the begining of the world O the joys their souls shal feel when those heav'nly words sound in their ears Joys that the wit of man cannot conceive joys that the tongues of Angels cannot express Let it suffize themselvs shal tast their own felicity and feed on its sweetnes for ever But O with what dejected eys and trembling harts * shal the wicked stand expecting their Judg What shal they do when where're they look * their ey can meet with nothing but despair Above the offended Judge ready to condemn them below the bottomless pit gaping to devour them Within the worm of conscience knawing their bowels and round about all the world in flames What shal they do when that terrible voice * shal strike them suddenly down to the bottom of hell Go you accursed into everlasting fire * prepar'd for the Devil and his Angels The day of man is past when siners did what they pleas'd and God seem'd to hold his peace 'T is now the day of God when his wrath shal speak in thunder and siners suffer what their wickednes deservs Then shal they sink immediately into the pit of sorrow and dwel in darknes and torments for ever While the Just shal go up in joy and triumph and reign with our Lord in his Kingdom for ever Thus shal the whole Creation be finally dispos'd and mercy and justice divide the world O my soul who now art here below and read'st these dreadful truths as things afar off Know thou shalt then be present and see them with thine eys and be thy self concern'd for all eternity Know as thou livest thou art like to dy and as thou dy'st thou art sure to be judg'd Think what a sad condition it will be * to find thy self on the wrong hand Think what thou then would'st give to have repented in time think what thou would'st give for a litle time to repent Watch therfore now and continually pray for we know not the hour when the Son of man will come O Son of God and man who cam'st in mercy to save us bring the same mercy with thee when thou com'st to judg us Mean while assist us with thy heav'nly grace to stand perpetually with our accounts prepar'd That we may dy in the peace of God and his holy Church and go to live with Him and his blessed Saints Glory be c. Antiph It is decreed for all men once to dy and after death judgment Capit. Tytus 2. SPeak thou the things which becom sound doctrin that the aged men be sober chast wise sound in faith in charity in patience likewise the aged women that they be in holy attire not speaking ill of others not given to much wine teaching good things that they may learn the young women wisdom to love their husbands to love their children to be prudent chast sober to have a care of the house to be gentle subject to their husbands that the word of God be not blasphem'd Young men also exhort to be sober Servants to be obedient to their Masters pleasing them in every thing not contradicting not defrauding but shewing good fidelity in all things that in all things they may adorn the doctrin of God our Saviour Hymn XXVII LOrd what a pleasant life were this If all did well their parts If all did one another love Sincerely with their harts No Suits of law no noise of war our quiet minds would fright No fear to lose no care to keep What justly is our right No envious thought no sland'ring tongue Would e're disturb our peace We should help them and they help us And all unkindnes cease But the All-wise chose other laws And thought it better so He made the world and
do what ever else we are doing This we can do even while we sit still and only move our thoughts towards Thee Nay then we best perform this best of works when all our powers are quiet in Thee Yet let not this thy facil sweetnes dearest Lord be abus'd by us to a wanton neglect But make us love Thee so much more as Thou more discover'st the excess of thy love Glory be c. Antiph Too often are we troubled about many things when the truly necessary is but One. Hymn XXVIII MY soul what 's all this world to thee This world of sin and wo Where only sense can tast its sweets And those unwholsom too Truth is thy food truth thy delight Which cannot here be free Thy mind was born to know and love What this life ne're can see Malicious world how dost thou lay and cover thy false baits Here those of pleasure there of gain Each for our ruine waits Unhappy we it is our fault 'T is we our life abuse The world presents a furnisht shop And we the tools misuse So have I seen a litle child If Nurse but turn her ey Instead of heft take hold o' th blade And cut it self and cry This litle child alas am I Self-will'd self-wounded too But Lord turn not thy face away Lest I my self undo O make me stil so use this world That I the other gain O make me so the other love That this its end attain It s end to breed up souls for heav'n Then be it self new drest No more corruption no more change But one perpetual rest To Father Son and holy Ghost The undivided Three One equal glory one same praise Now and for ever be Capit. Thessal 5. THe day of our Lord shall come as a thief in the night let us not therefore sleep as others but watch and be sober For God has not appointed us to wrath but to the purchasing salvation by our Lord JESVS Christ who dyed for us that whether we wake or sleep we may live together with Him Antiph We have here no permanent City but are bound in quest of Jerusalem above the eternal mansion of Blyss V. Jesus came down to give us a glimpse of it R. And made his own life the Card to direct us to it O Lord hear our prayers And let our supplications come to thee Let us pray O God whose eternal Providence has imbarkt our souls in the ship of our bodys not to expect any port or anchorage on the Sea of this world but steer directly through it to thy glorious Kingdom grant we beseech Thee that daily reflecting with what care and unwearied diligence the wretched Adventurers for all sorts of vanity pursue round about us their desperate courses we may hartily feel our selvs confounded with just reproach who knowing our ingagement on so important a voyage yet take so litle pains to perform it Preserve us O Lord from those dangerous winds that on all sides assault us and keep the sails of our affections still duly trim'd to receive thy holy inspirations that carried sweetly forward by the gales of thy Spirit we may happily arrive at last in the haven of eternal salvation through our Lord Vouchsafe c. as page 54. to the end The OFFICE of our B. SAVIOVR Matins Introduction as Page 1. Christmas Invitatory To day for us our Lord was born alleluia Come let 's adore Him Newyears-day Invit To day our Lord was Circumciz'd and receiv'd the sweet name of JESVS alleluia Come let 's adore Him Twelfth-day Invit To day the holy Kings brought their presents to our Lord●● alleluia Come let 's adore Him Candlemas-day Invit To day our Ble●●ed Lord was presented in the Temple alleluia Come let 's adore Him Lady-day Invit To day the Eternal WORD was made flesh Come let 's adore Him Passion-Sunday and Palm-Sunday Invit To day if you will hear the voice of our Lord harden not your harts Easter-day All as in the Office for Sunday except as in the Proper for Festivals Invention of the Cross Invit To day the miraculous Cross of our Lord was found alleluia Come let 's adore Him Ascension Invit To day our glorious JESVS ascended into heav'n alleluia Come let 's adore Him If this Office be said on any day that is not a feast of our Saviour let the Invitatory be To day let 's adore our God that redem'd us Psal XCII BRing to our Lord all you his servants bring to our Lord the sacrifice of praise bring to our Lord all you nations of the earth bring hymns of glory to his great Name To day c. He is our God and we his people created by his goodnes to be happy for ever he is our Redeemer and we his purchase restor'd by his death to a better eternity To day c. Let us learn of Him and he will teach us his ways let us follow Him and we shal walk in the light for the Law and its types were given by Moses but grace and truth came by JESVS Christ. To day c. O Come let 's ascend to the house of our Lord and celebrate this day with a holy joy imploring his mercy for all we need and blessing his bounty for all we have To day c. Glory be c. As it was To day c. To day c. Hymn XXIX JESU who from thy Fathers throne To this low vale of tears cam'st down In our poor nature drest O may the charms of that sweet love Draw up our souls to Thee above And fix them there to rest JESU who wert with joy Conceiv'd With joy wert born while no pain griev'd Thy Mothers Virgin-womb O may we breed and bring Thee forth In our glad harts for all is mirth Where Thou art pleas'd to come JESU whose high and humble birth In heav'n the Angels and on earth The faithful Shepherds sing O may our hymns which here run low Shoot up aloft and fruitful grow In that eternal Spring JESU how soon did'st Thou begin To bleed and suffer for our sin The Circumcizing knife O may thy grace by making good Our souls just caufe ' gainst flesh and blood Cut off that dangerous strife JESU who took'st that heav'nly Name Thy blessed Purpose to proclaim Of saving lost mankind O may we bow our hart and knee Bright King of Names to glorious Thee and thy hid sweetnes find JESU who thus began'st our Blyss Thus carry'dst on our happines To Thee all praise be paid O may the Great Mysterious Three For ever live and ever be Ador'd belov'd obey'd Antiph Blessed be the mercy of our God who has left no way untry'd that could possibly recover us Psal XCIII COme now and hear you that fear our Lord and I will tell you what he has done for my soul Hear and I wil tel you what he has done for yours and the wonders of his bounty towards all the world When we lay asleep
in the shades of nothing his mighty hand awak't us into Being Not That of stones or plants or beasts o're which he has made us absolute Lords But an accomplisht body and immortal spirit and litle inferiour to his glorious Angels He printed on our souls his own similitude and promis'd to our obedience his own feli●●ity He endued us with appetites to live well and happy and furnisht us with means to satisfie those appetites Creating a whole world to serve us here and providing a heav'n to glorify us her-after Thus didst thou favour us O infinite Goodness but we what return did we make to Thee Blush O my Soul for shame at so strange a weaknes and weep for grief at so extreme an ingratitude We childishly prefer'd a trivial apple * before the Law of our God and the safety of our own lives We fondly embrac't a litle present satisfaction * before the Pleasures of Paradise and the eternity of heav'n Behold the unhappy source of all our miserys which still increast it streams as they went farther on Till they exacted at last a deluge of justice * to drown their deluge of iniquity And here alas had been an end of Man a sad and fatal end of the whole world Had not our wise Creator foreseen the danger and in time prevented the extremity of the ru●●e Reserving for himself a few choice plants * to replenish the earth with more hopeful fruit Yet they grew quickly wilde and brought forth sowre grapes and their childrens teeth were set on edg Quickly they aspir'd to an intolerable pride * of fortifying their wickedness against the power of heav'n Justice was now provok't to a second deluge and to bring again a cloud o're the earth But mercy discover'd a bow in the cloud and our faithful God remembred his promise Allaying their punishment with a milder sentence and only scattering them from the place of their conspiracy Which yet his Providence turn'd into a blessing * by making it an occasion of peopling the world Stil their rebellious nature disobey'd again and neither fear'd his judgments nor valued his mercys But with a graceles emulation propagated sin * as far as his Goodnes propagated mankind Then he selected a private Family and increast and govern'd them with a particular tendernes Giving them a law by the hands of Angels and ingaging their obedience by a thousand favours But they neglected too their God and heav'n and fel in love with the ways of death When thou hadst thus O dearest Lord try'd every remedy and found our disease beyond all cure When the light of nature prov'd too weak a guide and the general flood too mild a correction When the miracles of Moses could not soften their harts nor the law of Angels bring any to perfection When all was reduc't to this desperate state and no imaginable hope left to recover us Behold the eternal Wisdom finds a strange expedient the last and highest instance of almighty love Himself he resolvs to cloath with our felsh and come down among us and dy to redeem us Wonder O my soul at the mercys of thy Lord how infinitely transcending ev'n our utmost wishes Wonder at the admirable providence of his counsels how exactly fitted to their great design Had he been less then God we could never have believ'd * the sublime Mysterys of his heav'nly Doctrin Had he been other then Man we must needs have wanted * the powerful motive of his holy Example Had He been only God he could never have suffer'd * the least of those afflictions he so gloriously overcame Had He been meerly Man he could never have o'recome those infinite afflictions he so patiently suffer'd O blessed JESU both these Thou art in thy self be Thou both these to us Be thou our God and make us adore Thee be thou our Leader and make us follow Thee Glory be c. Antiph Blessed be the mercy of our God who has left no means untry'd that could possibly recover us Antiph Lord thou not only offer'st us salvation but lay'st in means before hand to make us accept it Psal XCIV SOon as this blest decree was made * of sending the Son of God to redeem mankind Immediately his goodnes was ready to come among us had our ungracious world been ready to receive him But we as yet were too gross and sensual and utterly incapable of so pure a Law We were immerst in cares and pleasures and wholly indispos'd for so perfect an obedience While we were thus unfit for thee O thou God of pure and perfect holines Thou graciously wert pleas'd to stay for us and all that time prepare us for thy presence From the begining entertaining us with hope and through every age confirming our faith How early O my God didst thou engage to relieve us The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head How often didst thou repeat thy promise to Abraham In thy seed shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed How many ways did thy mercy invent * by unquestionable tokens to give notice of thy Coming Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and his name shall be called God with us A branch shall shoot out of the stock of Jesse and from the root of that branch shall spring a Flower The Spirit of our Lord shall rest upon him and the spirit of wisdom and piety and fortitude Our Lord shall raise up a Prophet like Moses and put his words in his mouth and he shall teach us And thou Bethelem who art litle among the thousands of Juda out of thee shall He come that 's to be the Ruler in Israel Whose goings forth are from the beginning even from the days of eternity Hark how the eternal Father introduces his Son commanding first all the Angels to adore Him Thou art my Son this day have I begotten Thee Thou art my Son and I will be thy Father I will give Thee the Gentiles for thine inheritance and the ends of the world for thy possession 'T is too litle that thou raise up the Tribes of Jacob and convert the dregs of Israel Thou art appointed a lght for the Gentiles and a Saviour to the utmost parts of the earth Hark how the antient Prophets rejoyce in the Messias and in soft and gentle words foretel his sweetness He shall come down as rain into a fleece of wool and as drops of dew distilling on the earth He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd and gently lead those that are with young He shall gather his lambs with his arms and carry them in his own bosom The bruised reed he shall not break nor quench the smoking flax Justice and peace shall flourish in his days and sin and death be destroy'd for ever Then shall the eys of the blind be open'd and the ears of the deaf be made to hear Then shall the tongues of the dumb be loosen'd and the lame man leap like a Back Thus did thy holy
these thy unspeakable mercys We search over all we have and find nothing to return thee but what thy self hast freely given us We search over all thou hast given us and find nothing thou expectest but that we use thy gifts to make our selvs happy O may our souls perpetually bless thee and every minute of our time be spent in thy service Let us not live O Lord but to love thee nor breath but to speake thy praise * nor be at all but to be all Thine Glory be c. Psal XCVII SIng on my soul the praises of the Lord sing on with fresh attention the mercys of thy God Whose wisdom has contriv'd ●●o compendious a method * to redeem mankind by one short word He saw the only cause of all our ruine * was our love misplac't on this present world He saw the only remedy of all our misery * was to fix our love on the world to come This therefore was his great intent and in this concentred all his merits To change the byass of our wrong-set harts by establishing among us new motives of charity Such as might strongly incline our affections and efficaciously draw us to love our true Good Such as might gain by degrees upon all mankind and render salvation easie and universal For this he came down from his Fathers bosom * to teach us the Rules of eternal life That we might firmly believe those sacred truths * which God himself with his own mouth had told us For this he converst so long on our earth * to encourage and provoke us by his own example That he might confidently imbrace those unquestionable vertues * which God himself in his own Person had practis'd For this he endur'd those sharp and many afflictions and became at last obedient even to death That we might patiently suffer whatever should befal us * when God himself was so treated by his creatures For this he so often preacht of the joys of heav'n and set them before us in so clear a light That seeing so rich a prize hang at the race's end we might run and strain our utmost force to gain it For this he ordain'd the Mysterys of grace and left us a Sacrifice made all of miracles That he might breed and nourish in us the life of charity and ravish our harts with the sweetnes of his presence For this he establisht a perpetual Church and sent the holy Ghost to inspire and govern it That it might flourish for ever in truth and sanctity and plant the same heav'nly seed over all the world For this he assum'd those strange endearing names * of friend and brother and spouse to us wretches Doing far more for us then all those names import * then all our harts can wish Blessed O glorious JESU be the wisdom of thy mercy * that has found so sweet and short away to save us Thou art O Lord the cause of our love and love the cause of our happiness By love we fulfil all thy commands and by making us love Thou fulfil'dst all thy Father's By love we are reconcil'd from enemys to friends by love we are translated from death to life By love we are deliver'd from the fear of hell by love we are adopted to be heirs of heav'n By love we are dispos'd for that blysful Vision by love we are secur'd of the enjoyment of our God Who by the sole perfection of his own free goodnes * can never deny Himself to any that love him Else would their very loving Him be the cause of their misery since the misery of a soul is the want of what it loves Thus Lord whate're thy holy Books record of Thee in words comporting with our low capacitys Whate're they say of thy Restoring all things and Repairing again the ruines of mankind All is exactly verify'd by this one line which may our thankful harts repeat with joy Heav'n is attain'd by love alone and love alone by Thee Glory be c. Psal XCVIII STil O my soul let us sing a few lines more * to Him whose mercys are no fewer then infinite To Him whose pity took us by the hand and kindly led us into his own light To thee O blessed JESU our Lord our God! who alone art the source of all our happines The world till thou cam'st sate wrapt in darknes and few discern'd so much as a shadow of Thee They follow'd the appetites of sense and humour and plac't their felicity in being prosperous here Litle considering the life to come and less the joys that entertain that life This was alas their miserable state and worse then this they had no power to help it How could they believe what they never heard or love what they never believ'd How could they desire what they never lov'd or be glad to receive what they never desir'd 'T was thou O Lord first taught us our true end * the blysful Vision of the eternal Deity 'T was thou first taught us the true means to attain that end by a harty love and desire to attain it O the blest changes which thy hand has wrought the happy improvements which thy coming has produc't Now every woman and illiterate man * can discourse familiarly of the highest truths The Creation of the world and the Fall of Adam the Incarnation of God and Redemption of man The Mystery of the Trinity and Miracle of the Resurrection the Day of Judgment and State of Eternity All these we know but 't was Thou O Lord who taught'st us and by thy holy Church first spred them o're the world Now thou hast open'd our eys we plainly see * what unassisted nature could ne're have reacht We see the framing right our affections here * is both cause and measure of our happines hereafter If we supremely esteem the Goods of the future life * we shall find them there and be happy If we love heav'n with our whole soul and press on strongly with all our force We shall enter into its glorys with a strange surprizing delight and possess them for ever in a perpetual extasy We see our souls are made to know and perfect themselvs by the worthiest objects We see their nature is free and unconfin'd and nothing can fill them but that which is infinite All other knowledges enlarge our facultys and breed new desire to know stil more Which if unsatisfy'd we yet are miserable since none can be happy who want their desire Only the sight of God fils us to the brim and infinitely overflows our utmost capacitys It fils and overflows all the powers of our souls * with joy and wonder and unconceivable sweetnes O blest and glorious Sight when wil the happy day appear * and open to my soul that beauteous prospect When dearest Lord shall I see Thee face to face when shall I hartily at least desire to see Thee Thou art my full and high felicity * and only and alone sufficient for me O make me
the true light of the world they who follow Thee walk not in darknes Psal C. RIse holy Spouse of the Son of God rise and put on thy robes of joy Rise and shine forth for thy glory is come and the splendor of our Lord strikes bright upon Thee The Gentils shal walk in the beams of thy light and Kings in the lustre of thy brightnes Lift up thine eys round about and behold they gather all together and flock to Thee Thy Sons shal come from far and thy Daughters be nurst at thy side Then thou shalt see and flow in abundance thy hart shal wonder and be enlarg'd with gladnes When the multitude of the Sea shal be converted to Thee and the strength of the Gentiles submit to thy Laws The sons of strangers shal build thy walls and Princes obey thy commands The Nation shal perish that will not serve thee and the Kingdom be utterly wasted that refuses thee The sons of thy afflicters shal bow before thee and they that despis'd thee kiss thy footsteps For our Lord shal be thy everlasting light and the days of thy mourning shall end in glory To thee shal be given the Keys of heav'n and thou shalt shut and open those eternal doors Thy foundation shal be laid on a firm rock and the gates of hell not prevail against thee A way shal be made so direct and plain that the Passengers though fools shal not err therin And the Earth shal be filled with the knowledg of our Lord * as the waters cover the sea All this we read all this we firmly beleeve for the mouth of our Lord has spoken it Heav'n and earth shal pass away but not a tittle of his Word be disappointed for ever Already these sacred Prophecys are in part fulfill'd abundantly sufficient to assure us of the rest Already a Virgin has brought forth a Son and given him the gracious Name of JESUS The Kings of the east have been led to him by a star and offer'd him gold and frankincense and myrth His holy Parents have presented him in the Temple and the devout Simeon was overjoy'd to see him In his tender infancy he fled into Egypt and the Idols fell down at the presence of a child He past his private life in peace and meeknes and taught a contradicting people in patience and humility He confirm'd his doctrin with innumerable miracles and defended the truth to the last drop of his blood He rose again victoriously from the grave and ascended in triumph to the right hand of his Father And there O glorious JESU mayst thou sit and reign till all thy enemys becom thy footstool Nor has thy judgment slept O dreadful Lord but with a swift and terrible vengeance crusht them into ruine Jerusalem long since was made a heap of stones and the children of thy Crucifyers run wandring o're the world While thou art thus severe in the predictions of thy justice thou did'st not forget those of thy mercy Thousands of that ingrateful City have acknowledg'd Thee their Lord thousands of that perverse generation have submitted to thy Scepter Whole Nations of the Gentiles have embrac't thy faith and remotest Islands received thy law Blessed for ever be thy Name O Lord and blessed be the sweetnes of thy mercy Who reveal'st thy self to those that knew thee not and art found of those that sought thee not Who often followest those that fly from thee and never refusest any that come to thee Thou stil exactly perform'st thy part but we ingrateful wretches how do we comply with ours Where is the profit thou mayst justly require to answer the care of thy providence over us Thou hast planted us O Lord in thine own Vineyard and fenc'd us about with thy holy discpline Where is the fruit we should always be bea●●ing since good works are never out of season Of our selvs alas we are dry and barren and our nature at best brings forth nothing but leaves O Thou in whom while we remain we live and from whom divided we instantly dy Curse not we humbly beg these fruitless branches lest they wither away and be cast into the fire Pronounce not against us that dreadfull sentence Cut them down why Cumber they the ground But mercifully Cut them off from their wild stock and graft them in Thy self the only true vine water O Lord our weeds with the dew of heav'n and bless our low shrubs with thy powerful influence So grapes shal grow on thorns and figs be gather'd on Thistles Glory be c. Antiph Thou art O Lord the true light of the world they who follow thee walk not in darkness Antiph In Thee O Lord is all our hope have mercy on the works of thine own hands Psal CI. REjoyce in our Lord all you children of Adam rejoyce in the bounty of his free grace No longer now confyn'd to a few choyce Favorites and the narrow compass of a private Family He has thrown down that partition wall and opened the way of life to all mankind That all may beleeve and love him here and all injoy and be happy in him herafter But O my God what do we see * when we look abroad into the wide world We see sad effects but cannot see the cause * why so many Kingdoms ly miserably wast We know O Lord thy ways are in the deep abyss and humbly adore thy secret Counsels Only we cannot think on their lamentable condition without pitying their misery and imploring thy mercy Some have not yet so much as heard of thee others who have heard refuse to entertain thee Some who have once acknowledg'd thee have quite faln away and others reject what they list and obey by halfs Many even of those who rightly beleeve * abuse their holy faith by a wicked life Thus the for greatst part of wretched mankind whom thy goodness created to thine own similitude Whom thou hast redeem'd with thy precious blood and design'd to so great and long a happiness Still fail alas of their true end and dy in their sins and eternally perish Look down O Lord and behold from heav'n behold from the Habitation of thy holines Where is thy Zeal and the bowels of thy mercy where are thy promises to thy beloved Son Hast thou not said all Nations shal adore Him and all the Tribes of the earth be blessed in him Hast thou not said Thy self O glorious JESU If I be exalted I wil draw all men to me Hast thou not given thy Disciples express Commision * to go into all the world and Preach to every Creature Remember O thou God of everlasting truth remember O thou Author and Finisher of our faith Remember these thy dear engagements and graciously acomplish what thou hast mercifully begun Visit O Lord thine own house first and thorowly redress what thou findst amiss Make our lives holy as thou hast made our faith and perfectly unite us in the bonds of love Kindle in the harts
came forward to the birth there wanted spirit to bring them forth But O send out thy spirit O Lord and they shal be created and from their nothing of sin rais'd to the life of holines Send out thy spirit and renew the face of the earth and our weeds and our thorns shal be turn'd into a Paradise Glory be c. Antiph In those days saith our Lord I will pour out my spirit upon all Flesh alleluia alleluia Antiph When He ascended on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men alleluia alleluia Psal CVII LOok up languishing world look up and see * how punctually thy faithful Lord performs his word When he had finisht here that glorious work * which his goodnes undertook for our redemption When he had told us what we ought to do and what to suffer for the Kingdom of heav'n When he himself had done more then he requir'd of us and suffer'd more then our boldest hopes could expect of Him When he had wrought our salvation so far that he saw his absence more expedient for us He first prepares the harts of his Disciples and comforts their sorrows with these sweet words Children I will not leave you Orphans * but will pray to my Father and he shal give you another Comforter Even the Spirit of truth who shal teach you all things and bring to your remembrance whatever I have said Peace I leave with you my peace I give you let not your hart be troubled nor let it be afraid I go to my Father and to your Father to my God and to your God I go to prepare a place for you that where I am there may my followers be This said He led them forth together and gave them his blessing and parting from them went away into heav'n So loving Mothers when the weaning time is come withdraw themselvs from their beloved Children But while they thus deprive their tender litle Ones * of their own most dear and all-supplying presence They stil depute some faithful friend to assist them for though they leave 'em they mean not to forsake 'em Such and far greater was the care of our God as his love is far greater then that of Mothers He saw it necessary for so mysterious a faith to be shewn in a clear and supernatural light to the first Beleevers That they might confidently recommend to others * what they knew so infallibly was certain to themselvs He saw it necessary for so perverse a world to infuse into its first Converters the fulnes of Charity That with an ardent zeal they might instruct their hearers and with a patient courage overcome their opposers He saw it necessary for such variety of Nations to furnish his Preachers with variety of Tongues That they might teach every one in their native speech and understand their doubts and satisfy their objections Wherefore when the appointed time was come as all the works of God go forth in their fittest season When the Disciples were gather'd together in one mind and place and so excellently dispos'd for the visits of heav'n When they had long continued in ardent Prayer and wrought 〈◊〉 their affections to the utmost point of desire Behold a sound rushes suddenly down from above whence every good and perfect gift descends Behold a vehement wind fills the whole house for the grace of God is strong and liberal Behold on the head of each sits a tongue as of fire the properest inablements to convert the world While they were all illuminated with a pure light and while they were inflam'd with a fervent heat And to communicate both to every Nation were all indued with the gift of languages Thus was the promise of our Lord fulfill'd thus were the Messengers of everlasting peace prepar'd Miraculously baptiz'd with the holy Ghost and with fire and perfectly qualify'd for their great commission To preach to every creature this happy Gospel he that beleevs and is baptiz'd shal be sav'd Glory be c. Antiph When he ascended on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men alleluia alleluia Antiph This is our Lords doing and it is wonderful in our eys alleluja alleluja Psal CVIII HOw glorious is thy grace O Lord over all the world how admirable the influence of thy holy spirit They who through dulnes so slowly understood * the often repeated Lessons of their divine Master Now with the first swist glance they see through all and no Mystery can pose them nor error deceive them They who through fear forsook their Lord and fled all away from the danger of being His Now they rejoyce in suffering for his Name and neither life nor death can forbid them to confess him They who knew only their Mother-tongue and that no better then as simple Fishermen Now speak to every Nation in their several language and with their powerful eloquence ravish their harts They who even after our Saviours resurrection * shut fast the dores for fear of the Jews Now in the open streets and publick Synagogs they confidently proclaim the Name of JESUS These were new bottles fill'd with new wine that made them quite forget their former selvs Wine that exalted them into a generous spirit * of despising all things for love of JESUS Wine that in the midst of racks and prisons * made 'em often break forth into that sweet extasy No joy like the pain of suffering for JESUS no life like the death indur'd for his love O were there now such tongues of fire to kindle in the world those divine flames O were there now such harts in the world to receive the holy sparks that fall from heav'n The Prince of the Apostles preacht but one Sermon and immediately converted three thousand souls He preacht again and wrought but one miracle and five thousand more were added to the Church Thus every day they increast in number and which was better their number increas'd in Vertue They were inebriated with the same heav'nly wine and fill'd with the same heroick spirit They sold all they had and brought the price * and laid it down at the Apostles feet They liv'd in common and cal'd nothing their own and even in their will and understanding they were all united Every one had enough and that 's to be rich none had too much and that 's to be free Free from the cares that perplex the welthy free from the tentations that wait on superfluity Hadst thou been there my soul to have seen * the flaming ardours of those first Converts Imagine at least and know thy utmost fancy * is far below what they really practis'd O how devoutly did they visit those holy places where our blessed Lord had shed his blood The garden where he pray'd and the hal●● where he was condemn'd the mountain where he suffer'd and the sepulcher where he was bury'd At every station they fel down on their knees and faces and ador'd meditated and pray'd They
in peace and go up to dwel among thy Saints and Angels bless us O Lord with a holy life and then our death cannot but be happy * O make Glory be c. O make Te Deum as Page 16. Lauds for Saints O God incline as Page 18. Antiph The Just shal be as lillys planted in Paradise Alleluja and flourish in the presence of God for ever Alleluja Psal CXIX COme le ts all bring forth our Psalms and go together to the house of Praise There let us meet in peace and love and joyn our harts and voices into one glad song Come let us sing but who shal be our theme what worthy subject shal our Musick chuse No 't is not Conquerours we mean to admire nor any of the Great Ones whom the world applauds But You Blest Spirits who bravely overcame your selvs and led in triumph your own passions Who either wisely us'd this world or to be safer us'd it not at all You are the illustrious worthies we desire to praise * and guild our hymus with your bright names Yours are the only Trophys we delight to set up and beautify our Churches with your holy Pictures Sing then aloud my Soul the glorys of the Saints and let their sacred memorys be always in thine Rejoyce thou who feelst these miserys here * and often complain'st of the dangers of this life Rejoyce at their glad delivery from all these sorrows and hartily congratulate their secure felicity Rejoyce and with thy best instructed thoughts admire * the exquisite wisdom of the divine Providence Who from such low beginings can raise so great effects yet every step thrust naturally on the next Behold a litle seed that 's buryed in the earth * shoot gently out its tender leav●● And nourisht on with the clouds and Sun * climb up by degrees into a tall stalk There it displays its full blown hope and crowns its own head with a silver lilly Such is the progres of immortal souls even those who shine now among the highest Seraphins At first shu●● up in their mothers womb where they ly confin'd close prisoners in the d●●rk Thence they come forth to see and h●●ar and slowly begin to walk and spek Next they advance to understand and discourse then learn to fly with the wings of grace Til they get up even beyond themselvs and believe and live above their own nature At last the kindly hand of death gives them a stroke and they instantly become like the glorious Angels Instantly their dark and narrow knowledg unfolds it self and spreads into a clear and spacious view Where they at once shal see all the glorys of heav'n at once possess and for ever injoy them Thus from the humble seed of grace connaturally spring the flowers of glory And from this life 's green stem of hope * grow just on the top of the Lillys of Paradise Lillys that never fade but stil shine on and fil the heav'ns with their beauteous sweetnes Lillys that even Salomon in all his glory * was not array'd like one of these Sing then my soul but stil among thy Hymns * mingle resolvs to imitate their lives Those are the Lauds most deligh●●ful to Them whose charity rejoyces at the conversion of a sinner Those are the Feasts most profitable to thee whose weaknes needs the impressions of example Learn but of them to be humble and meek to submit all thy wishes to the Will of heav●● To govern thy senses by a rule of reason and thy reason by the dictates of Religion To design thy whole life in order to thy end and establish for thy end the blyss of eternity These holy Lessons let thy life transcribe and never fear their acceptance of thy praise Saints like our service best when our honoring them * becomes an occa●●ion of benefiting our selvs Glory be c. Antiph The Just shal be as lillys planted in Paradise Alleluja and flourish for ever in the presence of God Alleluja Antiph Rejoyce O you Holy and Just Alleluja for our Lord has chosen you for his own inheritance Alleluja Psal CXX O Praise our Lord all you powers of my soul praise the immortal King of Saints and Angels Praise him as the Author of all their graces praise him as the Finisher of all their glorys Praise him in the admirable priviledges of his Virgin-Mother whom he obeyed on earth and assum'd into heav'n That he might give us hope our petitions will be heard presented by the hand of so powerful an Advocate Praise him in the mighty hosts of Angels whom he sets about us as the Guard of our lives That they may safely keep us in all our ways and carry us at last to their own home Praise him in the sacred Colledg of Apostles to whom he reveal'd the mysterys of his Kingdom That they might teach us too those heavenly truths and shew us the same best way to felicity Praise him in the generous fortitude of Martyrs whom he strengthen'd with courage to resist even to death That we might learn of them to hold fast our faith and rather lose this life then hazard the Other Praise him in the eminent fanctity of Confessors whose whole design was a course of heroick Vertue That we might raise our minds from our usual lazy flight and with a quick and active wing mount up towards heav'n Praise him in the Angelical purity of Virgins whose harts he enflam'd with his divine charity That they might kindle ours with the same chast fire the same fe●●vent love to the spouse of our souls Praise him in the perfect holines of all his Saints whose lives he moulded into so various shapes That every size of ours might readily be furnisht * with a pattern cut out and fitted for it self O praise our Lord all you powers of my soul praise the immortal King of Saints and Angels Praise every Person of the sacred Deity and give a harty joy to the whole court of heaven Blessed for ever be the Eternal Father who has fixt his Angels in so high a happines Triumph bright Angels on your radiant thrones and shine continually in the presence of your God Blessed for be ever the Eternal Son who has crown'd so gloriously his incomparable Mother Live most miraculous Mother of the King of heaven and dwel perpetually in the joys of thy Son Blessed for ever be the Eternal Spirit whose grace prefers all the Saints into glory Rejoyce every happy Saint in your own felicity rejoyce every one in the felicity of All. Blessed for ever be the undivided Trinity whose sight alone is the heaven of heaven Sing all you holy Citizens of heaven sing all together everlasting hymns Sing and among your highest fervours forget not us who thus in our low way remember you Still pray our dear Redeemer to save our souls and still we 'l praise his Name for saving yours Glory be c. Antiph Rejoyce O you Holy and Just Alleluja for our Lord
there and part with life it self to dy and go thither Alas how short are we of these perfections how slowly do we follow those excellent Guides O that we liv'd I dare not say blest Souls like you * whose aim was high and a generous heat bet in your brests But that our harts desire were to live like you and what you really did we really wisht to do O that we liv'd in some degree like you and lov'd to think and read and speak of you To sign and publish your heroick Acts and where we cannot imitate at least admire At least let us learn to humble our selvs and check the vanity of our proud conceits Let us mourn and blush at our many infirmitys and so much the louder call to heav'n for releef Hear us you blessed Saints who dwel secure above and turn your eys of pity towards us below Look down with tendernes on our world of miserys and bow your charitable knees to the God of mercys That what our own unworthines cannot obtain we may hope to receive by your holy prayers Glory be c. Antiph Help us you blessed Citizens of heav'n direct our way you who have attain'd your end Antiph Fear not my soul our God has a blessing too for us if we have a love and obedience for Him Psal CXXVI LEt us humble our selvs but not grow faint * at the sight of others so far before us Rather let us quicken our sloth by their swift pace and encourage our fears with their happy success We who profess the Religion of all these Saints who liv'd and dy'd in the same Church with us We who partake of the same holy Sacraments and eat the same celestial Food Why should we fear one day to shine above and rejoyce together with you glorious Saints Are we not all redeem'd by the same rich price the same eternal crowns propos'd to us all Are we not bred in the same Apostolick faith and nurst at the brests of the same Catholick Church The Lessons I see and Teacher is the same but the hand is dul and instrument out of tune You liv'd indeed in a dangerous world like this and were ty'd to bodys frail as ours But by a constant vigilance you o'recame the world and subdu'd your bodys to the service of your minds You overcame with a joyful hart * and we thus congratulate the triumph of your victorys You overcame but not by your own strong hand you now triumph but 't is by the bounty of your God Chear then thy self my soul raise thy head * and open thy bosom to the hopes of heaven Fear not our God has a blessing too for us if we have a love and obedience for Him If we delight in the ways of piety and diligently attend the Offices of devotion If we refrain from the libertys of the world and curb the loose suggestions of the flesh If we can look on gold and honor and their flaming beams not dazle our eys If we perform with them the part of faithful servants * we shal surely with them have the portion of children Glory be c. Antiph Fear not my soul our God has a blessing too for us if we have a love and obedience for Him Antiph Precious in thy sight O Lord is the death of thy Saints precious to thee and themselvs and us Psal CXXVII PRecious in thy fight O Lord is the death of thy Saints which finishes thy greatest work the perfecting of Souls Whom Thou esteem'st as the jewels of heav'n and choicely gather'st into thine own Treasury Precious to themselvs O Lord is the death of thy Saints which takes off the dusky cover that hides their brightnes Which shapes and polishes them to a beauteous luster and sets them as stars round about thy Throne Precious to us O Lord is the death of thy Saints which makes us heirs of so great a welth Which leaves us furnisht with so rich variety that every kind of want is abundantly supply'd Some teach us courage to encounter dangers and not for fear make Shipwrack of our conscience Others instruct us to converse with meeknes and patiently bear neglects and injurys From some we learn how wisely to use this world and make it serve us in our way to the next From others how more generously to renounce it and pass our time in peace and prayer From all we learn this best of arts to live and dy like Saints and in the best of methods their own example O gracious Lord whose love still looks about and searches every way to save us siners Who cam'st thy self bright Sun of glory * to inlighten our darknes and warm our frozen harts Who with thy fruitful beams stil kindlest others to burn as tapers in thy Churches hand And by their near proportionate distance stand fit to shine into every corner of our lives O make us bless thy Name for all these mercys and let not one be lost by our ingratitude Let us not see in vain the crown at the races end and sit down lazily in the shades of ease Let us not keep in vain these sacred memorys to be only a reproach to our unprofitable lives But let us stretch our selvs and pursue to the mark for the glorious prizeis that set before us Stil with our utmost speed let us follow Them whose travails ended in so sweet a rest And when our life's last day begins to fal and bids us hasten to prepare for night Then come you holy Angels and watch about 〈◊〉 and suffer not the enemy to disturb our ●●ssage Come and receive in peace our departing souls and bear them safely to the presence of our Lord. Then O Thou blessed Virgin-Mother protect us with thy favor and all you glorious Saints assist us with your pray'rs Then O Thou dear Redeemer of the world and Soveraign King of life and death Thou who despisest not the tears of the penitent nor turnest away from the sighs of the afflicted Thou who preserv'dst all that rely on Thee and fulfilst their desires that long to be with Thee Hear Thou our cryes and pardon our sins and graciously deliver us from all our fears Cal us to thy self with thine own blest voice cal us O dearest JESU in thine own sweet words Come you Blessed of my Father possess the kingdom * prepared for you from the foundation of the world Then O my happy soul immediately obey and go forth with gladnes to meet the Lord To live with Him and behold his glory to rejoyce with Him and sing his Praise Glory be c. Antiph Precious in thy sight O Lord is the death of thy Saints precious to Thee and themselvs and us Hymn XXXIX NIght forbear alas our Praise And our young begining hope Set to grow on these blest days Faint and dull requires more scope 'T will not hear but sullen flys Summons all the world to sleep Bids us close our books and eys What
have had sacrifice I verily had given it with burnt-offerings thou art not delighted R. A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit a contrite and an humbled hart O God thou wilt not despise V. Deal favorably O Lord in thy good will with Sion that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up R Give them eternal rest O merciful Lord and may thy glorious light shine upon them for ever V. Turn not thy face away from them O Lord R. Turn not thy face away in wrath from thy servants V. Behold their humiliation and their labor R. And forgive them all their sins V. Behold how their spirit is in anguish R. And their hart troubled within them V. Their iniquitys have overtaken them R. Innumerable evils have compast them about R. And now what is their expectation but thou O Lord R. And their substance is with Thee V. Before Thee is all their desire R. And their groans are not hid from Thee V. As the Hart pants after the water brooks R. So do their souls thirst after thee V. Their souls thirst after Thee the living fountain R. When shal they come and appear before thy face V. Their tears are their bread day and night R. While stil 't is said to them Where is your God V. Convert them O Lord thou God of strength R. Shew them thy face and they shal be safe V. Bring out their souls from prison to praise thy Name R. The Just stand expecting til thou rewardst them V. How long Lord wilt thou forget them for ever R. How long wilt thou hide thy face from them V. Turn thee O Lord and deliver their souls R. Save them for thy mercys sake V. Save thy People O Lord and bless thy Inheritance R. Govern them and raise them up to eternity V. That they may walk in the light of thy countenance R. And rejoyce in thy presence for ever V. That their souls may live and sing thy praise R. While even thy judgments lead them to their Blyss V. O Lord hear our pray'rs R. And let our supplications come to thee Let us pray O God who in thy mercy hast prepar'd immediate rewards for the Perfect and in thy justice immediate punishments for the wicked and mingling thy mercy and justice together hast ordain'd a middle state for those who depart in a true but weak degree of divine charity hear we beseech thee our prayers for these thy afflicted servants who look up to thee and sigh after the times of refreshment from thy glorious presence forgive them their sins and deliver them from their sorrows and bring them to the possession of all their wishes in rest and peace and everlasting joy through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son who with Thee and the holy Ghost lives and reigns One God world without end Amen A Prayer for any particular person departed BEhold with pity we beseech thee O Lord the soul of thy servant N. for whom we humbly offer our Pray'rs to thy Divine Majesty and grant that the offences which humane frailty has inconsiderably committed being by thy clemency mercifully forgiven and all impediments by a perfect cleansing from the strains of sin thorowly remov'd the happy effect of seeing Thee face to face for ever may immediately follow through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son who V. Give them eternal rest merciful Lord. R. And may thy glorious light shine upon them for ever V. May they rest in peace R. Amen Vespers for the Dead OUr Father Hail Mary Secretly and Kneeling then rise and say Antiph Blessed are the servants whom our Lord shal find watching he surely wil bestow on them all the mercys of heav'n Psal CXXXIV COme let us make our peace betimes with our God before the evening approach too near While it is cal'd to day let us faithfully labour for the night wil come wherein none can work Let us implore his favour first for our selvs and not til then presume to beg for others Let us look first into our own brests and strictly examine what passes there Lest while we pray for the salvation of others * our selvs becom everlasting reprobates Tel me my soul how stand our great account are all things even betwixt heav'n and us Are we prepared to go meet our Judg whose justice punishes every least defect Is there not stil some restitution to make which the love of this world tempts us to delay Is there not stil some mis-affection to rectify which our own false harts abuse us to connive at Not that we esteem O Lord any creature more then thee from which abhor'd ingratitude defend thy servants But that we esteem them more then they deserve serve and busy our thoughts too eagerly about them We love them in some degree for themselvs not purely as instruments to bring us to Thee Forgive O Soveraign Goodnes these our imperfections and fix our whole harts on nothing but Thy self Why are we thus at best but good by halfs for whom there 's a heav'n prepar'd worth all our labors Why do we mingle stil with thy pure grace * so much of our own corrupted nature Deliver us O Lord from the tentations of this world and mercifully save us from the wrath to come That dreadful wrath which we so justly fear and which so many terribly feel Justly they too confes and yet they hope * in the God of clemency to meet with pity Pity O Lord their miserys Thou who hear'st their crys releive their sorrows Thou who seest their tears Pity their fainting eys that perpetually wake * till the long expected day appear Pity their wearied hands stretch't out to Thee and send thy blessed Angels to unloose their bonds That they may pass away to those mansions of joy where holy Souls rest and weep no more Give them eternal rest O merciful Lord and may thy glorious light shine upon them for ever Antiph Blessed are the servants whom our Lord shal find watching he surely wil bestow on them all the mercys of heav'n Antiph Happy they who are pray'd for by others but far more happy they who pray for themselvs Psal CXXXV HEar these our Pray'rs O Lord for thy servants and favourably accept our humble charity Hear their own better pray'rs O Lord for themselvs and tenderly regard their doleful complaints Out of that dark and dismal prison behold they cry in the anguish of their harts O wretched we what do we feel what strange extremitys do we here endure How has the just Avenger of our crimes * severely pour'd his wrath into our souls Every thing afflicts us in this sad abode but nothing so much as our own iniquitys They like a heavy yoke oppress our necks and keep down our eys from looking into heaven Lord we confess we have follow'd vanity and negligently perform'd the work thou gav'st us We confess we have gone astray after the manner of men but our chief desires were towards thee In Thee we believed and
heads V. Thou art always near to relieve the afflicted R. And wilt save the humble of spirit V. Thou raisest those that are faln R. And bindest together the broken harts V. Shew them thy mercy O Lord who call on thy Name R. Make them rejoyce who lift up their souls to thee V. To thee O Lord they lift up their souls R. In thee is their confidence let them not be asham'd V. Let not their enemys triumph over them R. For all that expect thee shal not be confounded V. Though they walk in the midst of the shadow of death R. Let them not fear for thou art with them V. Thou art their God and their Deliverer R. O Lord delay not thy coming V. O Lord hear our prayers R. And let our supplications come to Thee Let us pray O God who in thy mercy hast prepar'd immediate rewards for the Perfect and in thy justice immediate punishments for the wicked and mingling thy mercy and justice together hast ordain'd a middle state for those who depart in a true but weak degree of divine charity Hear we beseech thee our prayers for these thy afflicted servants who look up to Thee and sigh after the times of refreshment from thy glorious presence forgive them their sins and deliver them from their sorrows and bring them to the possession of all their wishes in rest and peace and everlasting joy thorow our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son who with Thee and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns one God world without end A Prayer for any particular Person departed BEhold with pity we beseech thee O Lord the soul of thy servant N. for whom we humbly offer our prayers to thy divine Majesty and grant that the offences which humane frailty has inconsiderately committed being by thy clemency mercifully forgiven and all impediments by a perfect cleansing from the stains of sin thorowly remov'd the happy effect of seeing Thee face to face for ever may immediately follow through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son who with Thee and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns One God world without end Amen V. Give them eternal rest O merciful Lord R. And may thy glorious light shine upon them for ever V. May they rest in peace R. Amen Pause a while to reflect on what you have said and renew your attention then begin the Complin of the day Our help c. as page 46. PROPER of FESTIVALS c. Sundays in Advent All as in the Office of our Saviour except Invitatory Behold the day of our Lord draws nigh Come let 's adore him Then recite the Psalm Bring to our Lord. page 318. 1. Antiph Behold our Lord wil appear and not fail to make good his promises if he delay a while expect for he surely wil come and deliver us Alleluja 2. Antiph Come O thou Sun of righteousnes and Fountain of eternal light come and illuminate those that sit in darknes and in the shadow of death and guide our feet into the ways of peace Alleluja 3. Antiph Come O Thou hope of the Gentils and the desir'd of all Nations come and redeem us from the vassallage of sin into the only true liberty of serving Thee Alleluja Antiph for Benedictus and Magnificat Prepare now thy ways O my soul before our Lord make thy paths strait before the face of our God for he will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead and blessed all they who are ready to meet him Alleluja Alleluja At Lauds recite Benedictus page 27. and at Vespers Magnificat page 44. Then after each repeat the Antiphon Prepare c. O Lord hear our pray'rs And let our supplications come to thee Let us pray O God by whose providence thy Church has appointed the solemn time or Advent to fore-run the Commemoration of our Saviour's Nativity and prepare its way in our harts Grant us we humbly beseech thee so devoutly to imploy this holy season in meditating on the Prophecys and gracious preparations of the world for the coming of the Messias and on the infinitely greater mercys he brought along with him and has left behind him that our spirits may be rais'd to celebrate the great Feast with due joy and exaltation and thereby better dispos'd to expect his second coming who with Thee and the holy Ghost lives and reigns one God world without end Amen S. Andrew All as in the Office of Saints except 1. Antiph Soon as the holy Apostle S. Andrew saw afar off the Cross prepar'd for his Martyrdom he was transported with joy and triumphingly saluted it as the happy instrument of his approaching glory Alleluja 2. Antiph O blessed Cross dearly by me belov'd and earnestly desir'd and often sought and now at length ready to satisfy my longing soul take me up into thy arms the Disciple of Him who was crucify'd on thee Alleluja 3. Antiph Take me up into thy arms O blessed Cross and bear me to my glorious Master that by thee He may receive me who by thee has redeemed me Alleluja Alleluja 3. Antiph Take me up into thy arms O blessed Cross and bear me to my glorious Master that by thee He may receive me who by thee has redeemed me Alleluja Alleluja Antiphon for Benedictus and Magnificat as in the common Office of Saints O Lord hear our prayers And let our supplications come to thee Let us pray O God whose grace kindled in the B. Apostle S. Andrew so ardent a love of his Master that it flam'd out in vehement desires of his Cross Grant we beseech thee that our devout celebrating the Memory of his Course and Crown may quicken thy Charity in our harts and encourage us with confidence and joy to undergo whatever suffrings thy Providence casts in our way towards the glorifying Thee and advancing thy truth and secure attainment of our own eternal salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son who with thee and the H. Ghost lives and reigns one God world without end Amen S. Thomas Apostle All as in the Office of Saints except 1. Antiph The merciful and almighty JESUS came in the doors being shut and said to Thomas put in thy finger here and see my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be no longer faithles but beleeve 2. Antiph O admirable sweetnes of our Saviour's Spirit Thomas was absent and incredulous and peremptory and our Lord forgives him all and restores him to his favor with the easy penance of a gentle reproof 3. Because thou hast seen me Thomas thou hast believ'd blessed are they who have not seen and yet have believ'd Alleluja O Lord hear our prayers And let our supplications come to Thee Let us pray O God whose condescendence to convince the incredulity of thy Apostle S. Thomas has turn'd his hardnes to believe into a means of facilitating more the faith of thy Church Grant we beseech Thee that this festival Memory of his glorious Attestation to our