Benediction 8. Reader.-Sir, be pleased to bless us. Minister. The help of God abide with us for ever. Amen. And see what He does, after discoursing of His kingdom (Homily continued.) and of hell. For in that He said, "He who finds his life, shall lose it, and whoever will lose it for my sake, the same shall find it ;" and in that He said, "He shall render to every one according to his works," He has pointed out both His kingdom and hell. When then He had discoursed concerning both, of His kingdom He granted the sight to human eyes, but not of hell; since, needful as that might have been for the uninstructed and unready, yet upright and clearsighted men, as the Apostles, needed but to be confirmed by the better part. This part indeed it was far more fitting He should mention, yet He did not altogether pass over the other, placing at times the terribleness of hell as if before the eyes, as in His description of Lazarus, and of him who demanded back the hundred pence. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Response. Benediction 9. Lesson 9. God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts: to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness; he is merciful, loving, and righteous. To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Glory be to the Father, &c. To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Reader.-Sir, be pleased to bless us. Minister. The King of Angels bring us through to the society of the inhabitants of heaven. Amen. Think upon the greatness of mind in St. Matthew, who has (Homily continued.) not concealed the names of those who were preferred over the rest which St. John also shows often, when he notes down the special praises of Peter so accurately and carefully. In this fellowship of Apostles there was no place for envy or for vain-glory. Therefore He took apart with him the chief ones of the Apostles. Why took He those only? for this reason, because they were superior to the rest. But why did He not do so at once, but after six days? lest His other disciples, or others generally should be troubled; for which reason neither did He name those whom He was alone to take with Him. VOL. III. -75. I Te Deum. Vide p. 47. Thou, then, O Lord, have mercy upon us. We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud: the Heavens, and all the Powers therein, &c. (0) Antiphon. Psalm 93. (1) Vide p. 38. (0) Antiphon. (p) Antiphon. Psalm 100, (2) Vide p. 48. (p) Antiphon. (4) Antiphon. Psalm 63 and 67 (3) Vide p. 48. (q) Antiphon. LAUDS. O God, make speed to save me. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be, &c. As it was, &c. Amen. Hallelujah. Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them. The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel: the Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength. He hath made the round world so sure: that it cannot be moved. Ever since the world began, hath thy seat been prepared: thou art from everlasting, &c. Glory be, &c. Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them. His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as snow. O be joyful, &c. Glory be, &c. His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white And behold there appeared unto them Moses and Elias, speaking with Jesus. O God, thou art my God, &c. God be merciful unto us, &c. And behold there appeared unto them Moses and Elias, speaking with Jesus. (r) Antiphon. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good to be here. Song of the Three (4) O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, Children, vide p. 50. and magnify him for ever. (r) Antiphon. (s) Antiphon. Psalm 148, 149 and 150. Vide p. 52. (5) (s) Antiphon. (t) Text. Phil. iii. 20, 21. (u) Hymn. Lux alma Jesu.] (v) Verse and Response. (w) Ant. O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever. O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever, &c. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good to be here. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. O praise ye the Lord of heaven, &c. O sing unto the Lord, &c. O praise God, &c. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Minister. We look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto His glorious body. Thanks be to God. Light of the anxious heart, Jesu, Thy suppliants cheer; Happy the man, whose breast Thou mak'st Thy residence; From God's right hand a radiant guest, Brightness of God above! Unfathomable grace! Vouchsafe a present fount of love, To cleanse Thy chosen place. To Thee, whom children see, The Holy Spirit, One and Three, A crown of pure gold is on His forehead. And lo, a voice from the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Benedictus. (w) Antiphon. (x) Collect. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, &c. Glory be, &c. And lo, a voice from the clouds, saying, This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, Hear ye Him— Hallelujah. The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. O God, who in the glorious transfiguration of Thine Only begotten hast sealed the treasure of the faith by the witness of the ancient fathers, and by the voice coming down in a cloud of light hast wonderfully shadowed forth the perfect adoption of Thy sons, mercifully grant, that we may be made fellow heirs and partners in the glory of our King, through the same our Lord. Amen. &c. &c. &c. (So on to the end of Lauds, in the Service for Sunday.) § 5. PART OF THE SERVICE FOR AUGUST 10TH. The Feast of St. Laurence, Deacon and Martyr. [In order to understand parts of the following Service, it may be necessary for the reader to have some knowledge of St. Laurence's history; which may fitly be conveyed in the following translation from St. Ambrose's Offices, as found in the British Magazine, for January, 1834. "We must not omit mention of the blessed Laurence, who, on the sight of Sextus, his Bishop, going to martyrdom, began to weep, not so much at his passion, as his own orphanhood. So he called out to him, Whither goest thou, O my father, without thy son? Whither can a Priest be hurrying without his Deacon? Never as yet didst thou offer sacrifice without an attendant. How have I displeased thee? Hast thou found me a degenerate son? Peter let Stephen suffer before him. Thou, too, O my Father, show thine own graces in my person, offer up to God him whom thou hast begotten, nor seize the crown of martyrdom without a noble company to answer your good thoughts concerning them.' ་ "The Prelate answered, Nay, son, I leave thee not, neither forsake thee; a fiercer combat is in store for thee. We, as the old, are allotted the lighter skirmish, but youth must bear off a more glorious triumph over tyranny. Thou wilt soon be called upon; cease thy tears; in three days thou shalt follow me. Ill would it seem for me who hold the third rank in the sacred ministry, to press into the first. I leave to thee the legacy of my own constancy.'" In consequence, three days after, Laurence was arrested, and, after other tortures, broiled to death on a gridiron. St. Ambrose adds, "when he was stretched upon the scorching gridiron, he did but say, 'The meat is done; turn it over, and eat it.'" This happened A.D. 258. Other particulars of his Martyrdom will be found in the Service itself. It may be added, by way of explaining an allusion in the above account, that "Priest," in the language of antiquity, means one who has the power of consecrating the Eucharist, i. e. Bishop and Presbyter, Aɛtrovрyòs, or as our Service seems sometimes to express it, Minister; and that the Deacon was the usual attendant on the Minister in the celebration.] |