5 Then shall he speak unto them | enemies upon the cheek-bone; thou in his wrath and vex them in his hast broken the teeth of the unsore displeasure. godly. 6 Yet have I set my King: upon my holy hill of Sion. 7 I will preach the law, whereof the LORD hath said unto me: Thou art my SoN, this day have I begotten thee. 8 Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron: and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, Oye kings be learned, ye that are judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD in fear : and rejoice unto Him with reverence. 12 Kiss the SON, lest He be angry, and so ye perish from the right way: if his wrath be kindled, (yea, but a little,) blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Ant. Preaching the law of the LORD, he was set upon His holy hill. Ant. I cried unto the LORD with my voice: and He heard me out of His holy hili. Ps. iii. Domine, quid multiplicati? LORD, how are they increased that trouble me many are they that rise against me. 2 Many one there be that say of my soul: There is no help for him in his GOD. 3 But thou, O LORD, art my defender: thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head. 4 I did call upon the LORD with my voice and he heard me out of His holy hill. 5 I laid me down and slept, and rose up again: for the LORD sustained me. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD and Thy blessing is upon Thy people. : Ant. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill. y. Thou hast crowned him, O LORD, with glory and honour. Ry. And hast set him over the works of Thy hands. Our FATHER. Abs. Hear, LORD. . Sir, pray. Ben. The FATHER Eternal. Nocturn are read on the Festivals of The following Lessons of the 1st But on the Martyrs and Bishops. Festivals of Martyrs not Bishops are read those set down hereafter in the Common of many Martyrs. Of the Acts of the Apostles. Lesson I. Chap. xx. AND from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward GOD, and faith toward our LORD JESUS CHRIST. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the HOLY GHOST witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide 6 I will not be afraid for ten thou-me. sands of the people that have set themselves against me round about. 7 Up, LORD, and help me, O my GOD for thou smitest all mine But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the LORD JESUS, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Ry. This Saint contended for the law of his GOD even to death, and feared not the words of the wicked for he was founded upon the Rock. V. This is he who despised the life of the world, and attained to the kingdom of heaven. For. Ben. The only Begotten. Lesson II. ΑΝ purchased with his own blood. For I your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Ry. The righteous shall blossom as a lily, * and shall flourish before the LORD for ever. y. Such as are planted in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the House of our GOD. Shall. Ben. The grace. Lesson III. all things, how that so labouring ye Ry. He had understanding of righteousness, and beheld great wonders, and made his supplication to the LORD,* and was found in the number of the Saints. y. This is he that despised the life of the world, and attained to the Kingdom of Heaven. And. Glory. And. SECOND NOCTURN. Ant. Know this also, that the LORD hath chosen to Himself the man that is godly. Ps. iv. Cum invocarem. HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour: and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing? 3 Know this also, that the LORD hath chosen to himself the man that is godly: when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart, and in AND now, brethren, I commend you your chamber, and be still. to GOD, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you 5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness: and put your trust in the LORD. 6 There be many that say: Who will shew us any good? 7 LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart: since the time that their corn, and wine, and oil increased. 9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest for it is thou, LORD, only, that makest me dwell in safety. Ant. Know this also, that the LORD hath chosen to Himself the man that is godly. Ant. With Thy favourable kindness* wilt Thou defend him, O LORD, as with a shield. Ps. v. Verba mea auribus. PONDER my words, O LORD: con sider my meditation. 2 O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my GOD: for unto thee will I make my prayer. 3 My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O LORD: early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art the GOD that hast no pleasure in wickedness: neither shall any evil dwell with thee. 5 Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight; for thou hatest all them that work vanity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into thine house, even upon the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies : make thy way plain before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in his mouth: their inward parts are very wickedness. 10 Their throat is an open sepulchre they flatter with their tongue. 13 For thou, LORD, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield. Ant. With Thy favourable kindness wilt Thou defend him, O LORD, as with a shield. Ant. In the whole world * Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour. Ps. viii. Domine, Dominus noster. O LORD our Governour, how excel lent is thy Name in all the world: thou that hast set thy glory above the heavens ! 2 Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies : that thou mightest still the enemy, and the avenger. 3 For I will consider thy heavens, even the works of thy fingers : the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained. 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him : and the son of man that thou visitest him? 5 Thou madest him lower than the angels: to crown him with glory and worship. minion of the works of thy hands: and 6 Thou makest him to have dothou hast put all things in subjection under his feet; 9 O LORD our Governour: how world! 11 Destroy thou them, O GOD; let excellent is thy Name in all the them perish through their own imaginations: cast them out in the multi tude of their ungodliness; for they have rebelled against thee. 12 And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice: they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee; Ant. In the whole world Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour. . Thou hast set upon his head, O LORD. Ry. A crown of pure gold. Our FATHER. Abs. His piety. Y. Sir, pray. Ben. GOD the FATHER. (c) A Sermon of S. Augustine the Bishop. | are not worthy to be compared with Lesson IV. 44th Sermon on the Saints. THE triumphal day of the blessed the glory which shall be revealed in us. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Weaned from this world by the love of such a promise, and unspeakably moved by the pleasant foretaste of heavenly sweetness, he said with the Psalmist, Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison with Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. Ry. Thou gavest him, O LORD, his heart's desire: and didst not deny him the request of his lips. y. For Thou didst prevent him with the blessings of goodness, and didst set a crown of pure gold upon his head. And. Ben. GoD kindle. Lesson VI. FOR he saw, as far as human weak ness can in a riddle fix the mind's eye on eternity, how great are the joys Ry. The LORD made him honour-of that heavenly city, and, unable to able, and guarded him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those that lay in wait, * and gave him eternal glory. y. He went down with him into the pit, and left him not in bonds. And. Lesson V. relate them, cried out with admiration: What have I in heaven! as much as to say, Beyond my power, beyond my faculties of speech, beyond the capacity of my understanding, is that beauty, that glory, that excellence, wherein, far from the provoking of men, in the secret of His presence THE patience therefore of the CHRIST JESUS Our LORD shall change blessed Martyr is crowned, and our vile body that it may be made like the ungoverned malice of the torturer unto His glorious body. Through the is given over to everlasting punish-contemplation of this perfect liberty ment. Awaiting this in his contest, he avoided no danger, he shrank from the glorious athlete of CHRIST dreaded no suffering: and if he could have not the dungeon. After the example died a thousand times, he did not of his Head, he endured reproaches, imagine that he could merit this bore up against derision, feared not liberty in any wise. the scourges, and as many sufferings as Ry. The LORD clothed him with the he endured for CHRIST before death, so garment of pleasantness, and set many sacrifices of himself did he offer upon his head the crown of beauty. to CHRIST. For he retained, deep. The LORD fed him with the bread within, that which he had drunk when of life and understanding, and gave the Apostle pledged him: I reckon him to drink of the water of wisdom. that the sufferings of this present time And. Glory. And. * 4 The LORD is in his holy temple : the LORD's seat is in heaven. 5 His eyes consider the poor and his eye-lids try the children of men. 6 The LORD alloweth the righteous: but the ungodly, and him that delighteth in wickedness doth his soul abhor. 7 Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest this shall be their portion to drink. 8 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness: his countenance will behold the thing that is just. Ant. The righteous LORD loveth righteousness: His countenance will behold the thing that is just. Ant. He shall dwell * in Thy tabernacle he shall rest upon Thy holy hill. Ps. xv. Domine, quis habitabit? LORD, who shall dwell in thy ta bernacle; or who shall rest upon thy holy hill? 2 Even he, that leadeth an uncorrupt life and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart. 3 He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour and hath not slandered his neighbour. thou lay upon him. 6 For thou shalt give him everlasting felicity and make him glad with the joy of thy countenance. 7 And why? because the King putteth his trust in the LORD and in the mercy of the most Highest he shall not miscarry. 8 All thine enemies shall feel thy hand thy right hand shall find out them that hate thee. 9 Thou shalt make them like a fiery oven in time of thy wrath the LORD shall destroy them in his displeasure, and the fire shall consume them. 10 Their fruit shalt thou root out of the earth and their seed from among the children of men. : 11 For they intended mischief 4 He that setteth not by himself, against thee and imagined such a |