(aa) Hymn, (bb) Antiphon. Psalm 54. (1) Save me, O God, for thy Name's sake: and avenge me in thy strength, Hear my prayer, O God: and hearken unto the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me: and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul. Behold, God is my helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: destroy thou them in thy truth. An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, O Lord: because it is so comfortable. Psalm 118. (2) For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies. Glory be, &c. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious: because his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now confess, that he is gracious: and that his mercy endureth for ever. : Let the house of Aaron now confess that his mercy endureth for ever. Yea, let them now that fear the Lord confess that his mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the Lord in trouble: and the Lord heard me at large. The Lord is on my side: I will not fear what man doeth unto me. The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies. It is better to trust in the Lord: than to put any confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord: than to put any confidence in princes. All nations compassed me round about: but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them. They kept me in on every side, they kept me in, I say, on every side but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them. They came about me like bees, and are extinct even as the fire among the thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall: but the Lord was my help. The Lord is my strength, and my song: and is become my salvation. The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass. The right hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence; the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass. I shall not die, but live: and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened and corrected me: but he hath not given me over unto death. Open me the gates of righteousness: that I may go into them, and give thanks unto the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter into it. Psalm 119. (3) 1-16. I will thank thee, for thou hast heard me: and art become my salvation. The same stone which the builders refused: is become the head-stone in the corner. This is the Lord's doing: and it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it. Help me now, O Lord: O Lord, send us now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord: we have wished you good luck, ye that are of the house of the Lord. God is the Lord who hath showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, yea, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will thank thee: thou art my God, and I will praise thee. O give thanks unto the mercy endureth for ever. Lord, for he is gracious: and his Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way: and walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies: and seek him with their whole heart. For they who do no wickedness: walk in his ways. Thou hast charged: that we shall diligently keep thy commandments. O that my ways were made so direct: that I might keep thy statutes! So shall I not be confounded: while I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart: when I shall have learned the judgments of thy righteousness. I will keep thy ceremonies: O forsake me not utterly. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way: even by ruling himself after thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments. Thy words have I hid within my heart: that I should not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: O teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I been telling: of all the judgments of thy mouth. I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies : as in all manner of riches. I will talk of thy commandments: and have respect unto thy ways. My delight shall be in thy statutes: and I will not forget thy word. Glory be, &c. Psalm 119. (4) 17-32. The Creed of St. Athanasius. O do well unto thy servant: that I may live and keep thy word. Open thou mine eyes: that I may see the wondrous things of thy law. I am a stranger upon earth: O hide not thy commandments from me, My soul breaketh out for the very fervent desire that it hath alway unto thy judgments. Thou hast rebuked the proud and cursed are they that do err from thy commandments. O turn from me shame and rebuke: for I have kept thy testimonies. Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant is occupied in thy statutes. For thy testimonies are my delight: and my counsellors. My soul cleaveth to the dust: O quicken thou me, according to thy word. I have acknowledged my ways, and thou heardest me: 0 teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy commandments : and so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. My soul melteth away for very heaviness; comfort thou me according unto thy word. Take from me the way of lying and cause thou me to make much of thy law. I have chosen the way of truth: and thy judgments have I laid before me. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, confound me not. I will run the way of thy commandments: when thou hast set my heart at liberty. Glory be, &c. Whosoever will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons: nor dividing the sub stance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son: and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son: and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate: and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible : and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal: and the Holy Ghost eternal; And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal. And also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated: but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty : and the Holy Ghost Almighty; And yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God: and the Holy Ghost is God; And yet they are not three Gods: but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord: and the Holy Ghost Lord; And yet not three Lords: but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity: to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So we are forbidden by the Catholic Religion: to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none: neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son : neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together: and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved: must thus think of the Trinity. Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation: that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds and Man, of the Substance of his Mother, born in the world; |