103 universe ARE FULL OF those manifestations of thy power and goodness, which declare THE MAJESTY OF THY GLORY. 7. Thus the angels sing, and (for our great comfort) many of our brethren now glorified bear a part with them. THE GLORIOUS COMPANY OF THE APOSTLES who preached Christ, and with unwearied diligence and patience, admirable courage and fidelity, shewed he was come to save the world; these are now in those regions of bliss, and there for ever PRAISE THEE. 8. As also all those harbingers of thy Son's coming, inspired at sundry times and in divers manners; these are now met in glory, and make up THE GOODLY FELLOWSHIP OF THE PROPHETS, whose words we read on earth, but they now are happy in beholding him of whom they foretold, and also continually PRAISE THEE. 9. To all which blessed numbers are added those undaunted legions, who sealed the truth of the prophets' predictions, and the apostles' preaching, with their blood, even THE NOBLE ARMY OF MARTYRS, who conquered infidelity and cruelty by faith and patience; these now are passed from torments to their reward, and they with all other saints and angels, with united hearts and voices, sweetly PRAISE THEE. O Lord, we long to be there, that we might see thee as clearly, and praise thee as heartily as they do. §. VII. 10. But since we can now know thee only by faith, we must glorify thee by agreeing with THE HOLY CHURCH even our faithful brethren THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD, in the confession of that true faith, whereby every good Christian DOTH ACKNOWLEDGE THEE to be what thou hast revealed thyself to be in thy holy word. 11. We believe in that Trinity which the angels worship, even in thee THE Father, who by creating and governing all the world, declarest thyself to be oF AN INFINITE MAJESTY. 12. And we believe in him that is equal in glory with thee, and one in nature, THINE HONOURABLE, TRUE, AND ONLY begotten Son, who hath redeemed us, that we of slaves of Satan might be thy adopted sons. 13. We do believe and acknowledge ALSO THE HOLY GHOST to be very God, (equal to and with the Father and the Son,) who is the advocate for us in heaven, and THE COM FORTER of us upon earth and these three persons are one God. : 14. Thy gracious condescension, O blessed Jesus, shall not eclipse thy Divine perfection, for though thou camest in our likeness to redeem us, yet we believe THOU ART equal with the Father, and THE KING OF GLORY, for thou ever wast most glorious in thyself, and thou, O CHRIST, art anointed of God, a King and Priest for ever. 15. From eternity thou art God, neither hadst thou thy beginning when thou wast made the Son of man; for THOU ART THE EVERLASTING SON, begotten oF THE FATHER before the world began. 16. Yet (blessed be thy name) thou didst change thy glory for misery, and sufferedst thy eternity to be measured by time; for WHEN THOU TOOKEST UPON THEE that glorious design To DELIVER MAN from eternal death, THOU DIDST NOT ABHOR the meanest condition, but wast conceived in THE VIRGIN'S WOMB, and born like unto us, only void of sin. 17. How cheerfully didst thou embrace a bitter and bloody passion, to satisfy the Divine justice provoked by our offences! And WHEN THOU HADST, by suffering the wrath due to us, OVERCOME THE SHARPNESS of that sting oF DEATH with which our sins had armed it, the whole world found the benefit of thy cross and by thy merits THOU DIDST OPEN those gates of mercy which iniquity had shut against all mankind, for hereby alone admittance into THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is granted To ALL BELIEVERS that are, or were, or ever shall be hereafter. 18. And no such can be excluded, for now THOU SITTEST as a glorious conqueror AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, to intercede that the faithful may have the benefit of thy purchase, to keep possession for them, and finally to receive them to partake with thee IN THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, which thou now enjoyest, and canst dispose it to whom thou pleasest. 19. To our great comfort therefore WE BELIEVE THAT THOU, who hast been our Redeemer and art our Advocate, SHALT COME, with millions of angels in great glory to try all the world, and particularly TO BE OUR JUDGE, with full power to condemn or acquit us. §. VIII. 20. WE THEREFORE knowing our guilt and re 104 membering thy justice, do beforehand beg thy mercy, and most humbly PRAY THEE to HELP THY SERVANTS with thy infinite merits and abundant grace; and to answer for them wнOм THOU HAST SO dearly bought, and REDEEMED WITH THY MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, that we may not lose the benefit, nor thou the glory of thy gracious purchase. 21. O do thou acquit all thy faithful ones, and by applying thy merits MAKE THEM TO BE NUMBERED WITH THY SAINTS, that being placed on thy right hand, they may have a part with thee and them IN GLORY unspeakable and EVERLAST ING. 22. And that thou mayest have mercy on them in thy kingdom, give them here all that may fit them for it, and bring them to it; O LORD, SAVE THY PEOPLE from all evil which might dishearten or defile them, AND BLESS thy church with all good things, which may make it flourish as THINE HERITAGE, and encourage it in well doing. 23. Be thou a Shepherd to watch over and feed thy servants, a King to defend and GOVERN THEM in all thy holy ways: and when Satan and his instruments design to cast them down, rescue AND LIFT THEM UP by thy grace, above their power and malice, that they may be safe FOR EVER. 24. Particularly, be mindful of us in this congregation, who will never forget thee; but as we daily taste of thy mercies, so DAY BY DAY we acknowledge them in thy house, and we MAGNIFY THEE for them with these sacred hymns. 25. Thou art an ever-flowing spring of comfort, therefore we ever praise thee, AND WE WORSHIP THY NAME both now in this world, and will glorify it in thy kingdom EVER WORLD WITHOUT END. 26. And as by our daily paying thee this tribute of praise, we declare ourselves thy servants; VOUCHSAFE, O LORD, to remember our frailty, and by thy grace TO KEEP US THIS DAY (which we have begun in thy service) holy, pure, and WITHOUT SIN, that our present sacrifice may be accepted, and our hearts fitly disposed against the next opportunity. 27. We have so often fallen into sin, and so sadly smarted for our folly, that we must now most earnestly beseech thee, O LORD, to forgive, and HAVE MERCY UPON US for all that is past; and again, to HAVE MERCY UPON US, the remaining part of our lives. and deliver us for 28. We beg compassion of thee in all humility; O LORD, LET THY MERCY come to us, and LIGHTEN UPON Us, not for our merits, nor after the proportion of our deserts, but of our faith; even LIKE AS WE, encouraged by thy promises, most readily and firmly DO PUT OUR TRUST IN THEE and hope for it. 29. And though we do not challenge it by desert, yet we believe thou wilt not frustrate any of our expectations; for every one of us renouncing all other helps, can say, O LORD, IN THEE alone HAVE I TRUSTED, because I know thy grace and bounty. Let me not now ask in vain; O LET ME NEVER be put to shame before the world or the Devil, nor BE CONFOUNDED by being sent away empty. SECTION XI. OF THE SECOND HYMN AFTER THE FIRST LESSON AT MORN ING PRAYER, OR THE BENEDICITE. §. I. WE shall the more briefly pass this hymn, because it is seldom used, and sufficiently plain: nor need we dispute about the original of it, there being no necessity that our hymns should always be taken out of the canonical scripture; yet Epiphanius quotes this in a matter of faitha, and many of the ancients mention it with great respect, particularly Ruffinus and St. Augustine, who, as Sixtus Senensis saith, do affirm it was used to be sung in all assemblies of the faithful from the beginning. And lest the council of Toledo should be thought to have first introduced it into the catholic church, they do plainly declare, that they only enjoined it in their country, as being already used in 105 all other parts of the worldf: besides, it is no other than a paraphrase upon the cxlviiith Psalm, agreeing so exactly with it both in words and sense, that we cannot despise this, but we must reproach that part of holy writ; and surely, if a clear method will recommend it, the following analysis will shew this hymn to be peculiarly excellent upon that account. 106 The Analysis of the Benedicite, or Song of the Three Chil dren. 1. In general to the whole creation,... 1. In the highest heavens,.. 2. In the starry heaven, 3. In the Meteors with §. II. This hymn is a summons to all creatures to praise God, II. In particular, to those 1. Above, 1. Land and its [ 1. Things 1. The sea,. do leguntur, 2. The air,. 1.Fresh,.. 12. Salt, ( 1. In general,. ... 2. Priests,.. IO. 0 ye fire and heat, &c. winter and summer, &c. ye dews and &c. 12. O ye 13. O ye frost and cold, &c. 14. ye ice and snow, &c. 15. O ye nights and days, &c. 16. O ye light and darkness, &c. 17. O ye lightnings, &c. 18. O let the earth &c. 19. O ye mountains and hills, &c. 20. O ye green things &c. 21. O ye wells, &c. 22. O ye seas, &c. 23. O ye whales, &c. 24. O all ye fowls &c. 25. O all ye beasts, &c. 26. O ye children of men, &c. 27. O let Israel &c. 28. O ye priests &c. 3. Levites,.. 29. O ye servants &c. 4. All good men, quomodo omnia laudant Deum, cœlestia et terrestria, angeli, homines, luminaria cœli, arbores terræ, &c. Augustin. Homil. 35. tom. 10. Hymnum quoque trium puerorum in quo universæ cœli et 30. O ye spirits &c. 31. O ye holy &c. 32. O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless &c. terræ creaturæ Deum collaudant, et quem ecclesia tota catholica per totum orbem diffusa celebrat, publice sanctum concilium decantari instituit. Concil. Toletan. IV. anno 633. canon 14. |