The compleat office of the Holy Week with notes and explications / translated out of Latin and French ; published with allowance.

THE NIGHT-OFFICE ON Holy-Friday, FOR SATURDAY AT MATTINS.

FIRST NOCTƲRN.

PSALM 4.

This Psalm declares unto us, that we cannot raise up our selves to love and seek after the true good, whilst our Hearts are load∣ed with the weight and cares of this World; and that being but once enlightened with the Grace of God, we then begin to afflict our selves in the secret of our Soul, and being touch'd to the very bottom of our Hearts, we then offer to his Majesty all our past life, and for the future resolve by his assistance entirely to change it. Then our Lord begins to make us relish his Sweets ad De∣lights,

and to heap on us all Joys: Then we find in that Sove∣reign Good, another Wine, and another Oyl than they below do; so as we neither repine at the prosperity of the Wicked, nor fear their Malice, having all our confidence in God.

Ant. In peace, in the self-same I will sleep and rest.

WHen I invocated, the God of my ju∣stice heard me: in tribulation thou hast enlarged to me.

Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

Ye sons of men, how long are you of heavy heart? why love you vanity, and seek lying?

And know ye that our Lord hath made his holy one merveilous: our Lord will hear me when I shall cry to him.

Be ye angry, and sin not: the things that you say in your hearts, in your chambers be you sorry for.

Sacrifice ye the sacrifice of justice, and hope in our Lord. Many say, Who sheweth us good things?

The light of thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us: thou hast given gladness in my heart.

By the fruit of their corn, and wine, and oyl they are multiplied.

In peace, in the self-same I will sleep and rest.

Because thou, Lord, hast singularly setled my hope.

Ant. In peace, in the self-same I will sleep and rest.

PSALM 14.

In this Psalm the Prophet teacheth us how the life of a Reli∣gious Christian that pretends to the Kingdom of Heaven, con∣sists in a strict observance of Gods Commandments, and in keep∣ing the Laws of Fraternal Charity.

Ant. He shall dwell in thy tabernacle, and shall rest in thy holy hill.

LOrd, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? who shall rest in thy holy hill?

He that walketh without spot, and work∣eth justice.

He that speaketh truth in his heart, that hath not done guile in his tongue.

Nor hath done evil to his neighbor: and hath not taken reproach against his neighbor.

The malignant is brought to nothing in his sight: but them that fear our Lord, he glo∣rifieth.

He that sweareth to his neighbor, and de∣ceiveth not: that hath not given his money to usury, and hath not taken gifts upon the innocent.

He that doth these things, shall not be mo∣ved for ever.

Ant. He shall dwell in thy tabernacle, and shall rest in thy holy hill.

PSALM 15.

According as the Apostles have explicated this Psalm in the Second Chapter of their Acts it contains the Prayer which JE∣SUS CHRIST made unto God his Father for the establishment and preservation of his Church, as being our Head, and ac∣cording to his Humanity, giving him thanks for the wonderful work of our Redemption, which was to be effected by his Incar∣nation, Preaching, Passion, Resurrection and Ascension. It al∣so makes us acknowledge, that there could be no Creature so perfect, as in any manner to be able to make a suitable return either by Deeds or Services for the favors they received from their Creator, for he being Omnipotent, and Infinite, fully satis∣fies in himself: And that 'tis sufficient for a Creature loaded with such infinite benefits, to promise to give unto God all Testimo∣nies of a profound acknowledgment in all the instancesof this life.

Ant. My flesh shall rest in hope.

PReserve me, O Lord, because I have ho∣ped in thee: I have said to our Lord, Thou art my God, because thou needest not my goods.

To the saints, that are in his land, he hath made all my wills merveilous in them.

Their infirmities were multiplied: after∣ward they made haste.

I will not assemble their conventicles of blood: neither will I be mindful of their names by my lips.

Our Lord the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou art he that will restore mine inheritance unto me.

Cords are fallen to me in goodly pla∣ces:

for mine inheritance is goodly unto me.

I will bless our Lord, who hath given me understanding: moreover also even till night, my veins have rebuked me.

I soresaw our Lord in my sight always: because he is at my right hand, that I be not moved.

For this thing my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoyced: moreover al∣so my flesh shall rest in hope.

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: neither wilt thou give thy holy One to see corruption.

Tho hast made the ways of life known to me, thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance: delectations on thy right hand, even to the end.

Ant. My flesh shall rest in hope.

The Church represents unto us that maugre all the Power of the Jews; Yet JESUS CHRIST triumphed over that Death they had inflicted on him, and raised himself from that Sepulcher where∣in they had inclosed him, confirming us in the Resurrection of our Bodies, by the Example and Power of his own Resurrecti∣on.

V. In peace, in the self-same,

R. I will sleep and rest.

LESSON I. Out of the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremy, Chap. 3.

The Prophet Jeremy shews us, That in all our Miseries and Afflictions we must ever have recourse unto God with a true and hearty Repentance. We must also support those Persecutions that befal us with all patience and submission to the Divine Will, setting all our confidence and trust in his Mercy.

TETH.

THe mercies of our Lord that we are not consumed: because his commise∣rations have not failed.

HETH.

New in the morning, great is thy fidelity.

HETH.

Our Lord is my portion, said my soul: therefore will I expect him.

HETH.

Our Lord is good to them that hope in him, to the soul that seeketh him.

TETH.

It is good to wait with silence for the sal∣vation of God.

TETH.

It is good for a man, when he beareth the yoke from his youth.

JOD.

He shall sit solitary, and hold his peace: because he hath lifted himself above himself.

JOD.

He shall put his mouth in the dust, if per∣haps there be hope.

JOD.

He shall give the cheek to him that stri∣keth him: he shall be filled with reproaches.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Convert unto the Lord thy God.

RESP.

The Church shews us, That JESUS CHRIST has himself un∣dergon out of his meer Love towards us, whatever hath been taught us by his Prophet.

As a sheep he was led to slaughter; and whilst they ill treated him, he opened not his mouth: he was delivered to death, that he might give life to his people.

V. He delivered up his soul to death, and was reputed among the wicked, that he might give life to his people.

LESSON II. Taken out of the Fourth Chapter.

The Prophet describes unto us the destruction of the Temple and City of Jerusalem, foretelling the Jews, that the enormities of their Crimes should bring a Desolation on them.

ALEPH.

HOw is the gold darkned, the best colour changed, the stones of the Sanctuary dispersed in the head of all streets?

BETH.

The noble children of Sion, and they that were clothed with the principal gold: how are they reputed as earthen vessels, the work of the potters hands?

GHIMEL.

Yea, even the Lamiaes have opened their breast they have given suck to their young: the daughter of my people is cruel, as the Ostrich in the desert.

DALETH.

The tongue of the suckling hath cloven to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the little ones have asked bread, and there was none that brake it unto them.

HE.

They that fed voluptuously, have died in the ways: they that were brought up in scarlet, have embraced the dung.

VAU.

And the iniquity of the daughter of my people is become greater than the sin of So∣dom: which was overthrown in a moment, and hands took nothing in her.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Convert unto the Lord thy God.

RESP.

The Church represents to the Jews, That the miseries which befel them, was occasioned by their putting to death the Re∣deemer of the World. She also admonisheth them to acknow∣ledge their Sins, and to beg Gods pardon for them.

Jerusalem, arise, and put off thy garments of mirth; cover thy self with ashes and haircloth: For in thee is slain the Saviour of Israel.

V. Draw forth tears as a torrent day and night, and let not the apple of thine eye be∣silent: Because in thee was slain the Saviour of Israel.

LESSON III. Taken out of the Fifth Chapter.

The beginning of the Prayer of the Prophet JEREMY.

The Prophet prays unto God to have mercy on his People.

REmember, O Lord, what is fallen to us: behold, and regard our reproach. Our inheritance is turned to aliens; our houses to strangers. We are made pupils without fa∣ther: our mothers are as it were widows. Our water we have drunk for money: our wood we have bought for a price. We were led by our necks; no rest was given to the weary. We have given our hand to Egypt, and to the Assyrians, that we might be filled with bread. Our fathers have sinned, and they are not, and we have born their iniqui∣ties. Servants have ruled over us: there was none that would redeem us out of their hand. In peril of our lives did we fetch us bread, at the face of the sword in the desert. Our skin was burnt as an oven, by reason of the tempests of famin. They humbled the women in Sion, and the Virgins in the cities of Juda.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Convert unto the Lord thy God.

VERSICLE, taken out of the First Chapter of the Prophet Joel.

The Church having represented unto us the Prayer which the Prophet Jeremy offered unto God, to endeavor to avert those Miseries which threatned the City of Jerusalem; she likewise shews us in the following Versicles the admonition God gave unto the Jews, to do Penance by the Month of the Prophet Joel, that they might avoid those Miseries their Sins would draw upon them.

Mourn as a virgin, my people, girded with sackcloth upon the husband of her youth: Because the day of our Lord is at hand, a very great and bitter day.

V. Gird your selves and mourn, ye priests; howl ye ministers of the altar, lie ye in sack∣cloth: Because the great day of our Lord is at hand.

Mourn as a virgin, &c.

SECOND NOCTƲRN.

PSALM 23.

The Church yearly commemorating on this Day the Sepulcher of JESUS CHRIST, represents unto us, That this Sovereign Lord and Creator of all things, was that amiable Saviour, who out of his Love to us, voluntarily suffered Death and Burial; that by his Death having delivered us from the Tyranny of the Devil and Slavery of Sin; might also by his Resurrection and Ascensi∣on open Heaven unto those that lead a Vertuous, Humble, Inno∣cent and Chast Life.

Ant. Be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the king of glory shall enter in.

THe earth is our Lords, and the fulnest thereof: the round world, and all that dwell therein.

Because he hath founded it upon the seas, and upon the rivers hath prepared it.

Who shall ascend into the mount of our Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

The innocent of hands, and of clean heart, that hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn to his neighbor in guile.

He shall receive blessing of our Lord, and mercy of God his Saviour.

This is the generation of them that seek him, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Lift up your gates, ye princes; and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the king of glory shall enter in.

Who is this king of glory? Our Lord strong and mighty, our Lord mighty in battel.

Lift up your gates, ye princes; and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the king of glory shall enter in.

Who is this king of glory? The Lord of powers he is the king of glory.

Ant. Be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the king of glory shall enter in.

PSALM 26.

The Church declares unto us, That we should not fear the Accidents and Miseries of this Life, since God is our Safety and Salvation, and what help are we nor to expect from him, whose only Son was Sacrificed for us? And what should we fear, since by his Death he has overcome all things that might hurt us; and since he has ascended into Heaven, there to give us refuge, and which now is open to us in all our Miseries and Afflictions; since from his Throne of Glory he pours forth upon us his Graces to puri∣fie us, conduct us and make us surmount all difficulties and ob∣stacles to our Salvation, and to convert our Patience to the shame and confusion of our Enenlies? Therefore let us be care∣ful not to render our selves unworthy his Protection, and take heed lest the fear of trouble make us commit unlawful Actions. We must also most strictly observe his Commandments, and wholly apply our selves to his service in hopes of attaining to that Eternal Felicity he has promised us.

Ant. I believe to see the good things of our Lord, in the land of the living.

OUr Lord is my illumination, and my salvation: whom shall I fear?

Our Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I he afraid?

Whilst the shameful approach upon me, to eat my flesh.

Mine enemies that trouble me, themselves are weakned and are fallen.

If camps stand together against me, my heart shall not fear.

If battel rise up against me, in this will I hope.

One thing I have asked of our Lord, this

will I seek for: that I may dwell in the house of our Lord all the days of my life.

That I may see the pleasantness of our Lord, and visit his temple.

Because he hath hid me in his tabernacle: in the day of evils he hath protected me in the secret of his tabernacle.

In a rock he hath exalted me: and now he hath exalted my head over mine enemies.

I have gone round about, and have immo∣lated in his tabernacle an host of jubilation: I will sing and say a psalm to our Lord.

Hear, O Lord, my voice, wherewith I have cried to thee: have mercy on me, and hear me.

My heart hath said to thee, my face hath sought thee out: thy face, O Lord, I will seek.

Turn not away thy face from me: decline not in wrath from thy servant.

Be thou my helper: forsake me not, nei∣ther despise me, O God, my Saviour.

Because my father and my mother have forsaken me: but our Lord hath taken me.

Give me a law, O Lord, in thy way: and direct me in the right path, because of mine enemies.

Deliver me not into the souls of them that trouble me: because unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and iniquity hath lied to it self.

I believe to see the good things of our Lord, in the land of the living.

Expect our Lord, do manfully: and let thy heart take courage, and expect thou our Lord.

Ant. I believe to see the good things of our Lord, in the land of the living.

PSALM 29.

In this Psalm the Church tells us, that altho' the Wicked think they can do much, because they can kill those who love and fear God; yet they cannot utterly destroy them; for in spite of them they will rise again and triumph over Death and their Persecutions; as JESUS CHRIST has assured them by his Resur∣rection, who brought his Enemies to that condition, as they had no reason to rejoyce in the Death they had inflicted on him.

Ant. Lord, thou hast brought forth my soul out of hell.

I Will exalt thee, O Lord, because thou hast received me: neither hast delighted mine enemies over me.

O Lord my God, I have cried to thee, and thou hast healed me.

Lord, thou hast brought forth my soul out of hell: thou hast saved me from them that go down into the lake.

Sing to our Lord, ye his saints: and con∣fess to the memory of his holiness.

Because wrath is in his indignation: and life in his will.

At evening shall weeping abide: and in the morning gladness.

And I said in my abundance, I will not be moved for ever.

O Lord, in thy will thou hast given strength to my beauty.

Thou hast turned away thy face from me, and I became troubled:

To thee, O Lord, I will cry: and I will pray to my God.

What profit is in my blood, whilst I descend into corruption?

Shall dust confess to thee, or declare thy truth?

Our Lord hath heard, and had mercy on me: our Lord is become my helper.

Thou hast turned my mourning into joy unto me: thou hast cut my sackcloth, and hast compassed me with gladness.

That my glory may sing to thee: and I be not compunct: Lord my God, for ever will I confess to thee.

Ant. Lord, thou hast brought forth my soul out of hell.

VERSICLE, taken out of Psalm 63.

The Church proposes unto us, 1. That altho' JESUS CHRIST had power to raise his one Body from Death to Life, yet he begged that favor from God his Father, thereby to give us an Ex∣ample of perfect Submission and Obedience. 2. That as JESUS CHRIST by his Resurrection and Ascension was made the source of all Grace and Salvation to those who rendred him a punctual

obedience; so was he confirm'd the Sovereign Judge to condemn those to Eternal Flames, who should die in their Iniquities.

V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy on me.

R. And raise me, that I may be thankful for them.

LESSON IV. Taken out of the Treatise of St. Augustin upon the Sixty third Psalm.

In this Lesson St. Augustin teacheth us; That Jesus being both God and Man suffered only as he was Man. It was necessa∣ry he should be God that he might reconcile us to God his Fa∣ther, being in the quality of a Mediator between God and Man. It was needful he should be Man, to the end he might be able to satisfie in all rigor, the Justice of God his Father for the Sins of Mankind.

MAn shall penetrate into the depth of his heart; and God shall be exalted. They have said, Who shall see us? They are wea∣ried in searching after wicked Councils. Man has penetrated into the wicked Councils, and has suffered himself to be taken like a Man; for unless he had been a Man, he could not have been taken, seen, whipp'd, crucified, or died: Therefore it was a Man that under∣went all these Passions; which unless he had been Man, could have had no effect upon him. For had he not been Man, Man had never been delivered. Man then penetrated into the depth of the heart, that is to say, into the Secret of the Heart, presenting his

Humanity to their sight; but concealing his Divinity from them, and hiding from them his form of God, wherein he was equal to his Father; and only permitting to their sight the form of a Servant, wherein he was less than his Father.

RESP.

The Church represents unto us, That JESUS CHRIST de∣clared his Divinity, even in his Death, by those Miracles he then did, and by his descent into Hell, by destroying the Empire of Death and the Devil.

R. Our Pastor is retired; the Fountain of living Water is vanished, and the Sun lost its Light at his passage: For he is now taken, who led the First Man Captive. To day our Saviour hath broke both the Locks and Gates of Hell.

V. He hath destroyed the prisons of Hell, and overthrown the Powers of the Devil.

For he himself was taken, who led Captive the First Man.

LESSON V.

In this Lesson St. Augustin declares the Iniquity of the Jews, who persecuted JESUS CHRIST even to his Grave.

TO what excess did their Search and Care transport them? and how they fainted in their Searchings! That our Lord being dead and buried, they should set a Guard

over his Sepulcher; for they said unto Pilate, That Seducer. By that name they called our Lord Jesus Christ, to the comfort of his Ser∣vants, when they are called Seducers. There∣fore they said to Pilate, That Seducer said, yet living, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore the Sepulcher to be kept till the third day, lest perhaps his Disciples come and steal him, and say to the People, He is risen from the dead: And the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said to them, You have a Guard; go, guard it, as you know. And they departing, made the Sepulcher sure, sealing up the Stone with Watchmen.

RESP.

The Church proposes unto us all the Sufferings of JESUS CHRIST.

O all ye that pass by this way, behold, and see, if there be any grief like mine.

V. All ye people, behold, and see my grief; if there be any grief like mine.

LESSON VI.

St. Augustin represents unto us the malice and obstinacy of the Jews, who instead of owning the truth of Christs Resurrecti∣on, whereof they had such certain Testimonies; yet they still persisted in their Infidelity, running headlong on their own ruin and destruction.

THey set a Guard of Soldiers to keep the Sepulcher. In the mean time the Earth trembled, and our Lord arose, signali∣zing his Resurrection by so many Miracles, that the very Soldiers who guarded his Body became Witnesses, and could have declared it, if they had willed to have spoken truth. But Avarice, which had possessed that Com∣panion-Disciple of Christ, had likewise en∣tred the Hearts of those Soldiers who kept the Sepulcher. We will give you Money, said they, and say, That whilst ye were asleep, his Disciples came and stole him away. Truly they failed in their vain Searches. Un∣happy as ye are, What have ye said? Where is your Subtleness and Cunning? Are ye so blind? Have ye so little Sense? Are ye so wicked and malicious, to utter such Words? O unhappy Craft! What hast thou said? Dost thou forsake so much the Light of Coun∣sel and Piety? And art thou so much drown∣ed in Cunning and Wickedness, as to say this? Do ye say, That whilst ye slept, his Disciples came and stole him away? You produce sleeping Witnesses; but rather you have slept your self, since you are lost in your vain Search.

RESP.

By the following Versicles taken out of the Fifty seventh and Fifty third Chapter of the Prophet Isay; the Church represents

unto us, That if the Jews were unhappy in having so ill treated and not acknowledged the Saviour of the World; we who be∣lieve in him are not less faulty and unhappy, unless we consider what this Divine Saviour suffered for us, and thence draw some benefit to our selves.

Behold, how the Just perisheth, and there is none that considereth in his heart; and men of mercy are gathered away, because there is none that understandeth: for at the face of malice is the Just gathered away.

V. As a Lamb before his shearer, he shall be dumb, and shall not open his mouth. From distress and from judgment he was taken up: And his memory shall be in peace.

Behold, how the just perisheth, &c.

THIRD NOCTƲRN.

PSALM 53.

This Day, the Church commermorating CHRIST in his Se∣pulcher, makes the words in the Fifty third Psalm to express the Prayer this Divine Saviour made unto his Father, as being our Chief and Mediator; thereby begging of him a quick Resurrecti∣on to triumph over Death, and destroy the Empire of Sin.

Ant. God helpeth me, and our Lord is the receiver of my soul.

O God, save me in thy name: and in thy strength judge me.

O God, hear my prayers with thine ears: receive the words of my mouth.

Because strangers have risen up against me,

and the strong have sought my soul: and they have not set God before their eyes.

For behold, God helpeth me: and our Lord is the receiver of my soul.

Turn away the evils to mine enemies: and in thy truth destroy them.

I will voluntarily sacrifice to thee: and will confess to thy name, O Lord, because it is good.

Because thou hast delivered me out of all tribulation: and mine eye hath looked down upon mine enemies.

Ant. God helpeth me: and our Lord is the receiver of my soul.

PSALM 75.

The Church represents unto the Faithful, (who are figured by the People of Israel) how JESUS CHRIST dying for us in Jerusalem, was there buried, there he arose again, and there he established his Church; calling thither all the Nations of the Earth to the knowledge of the true God, and there reconciling us to his Eternal Father, and uniting us by the tie of Charity, that we might not be at Variance with any, but in Peace with every one. It is from thence that he began to enlighten us with the Light of his Grace to make us contemn the transitory Goods of this World, which the Wicked enjoy but as in a Dream, and which must vanish when they die. The Church represents us this Divine Saviour triumphing over the Wicked; and proposes unto us the severity of his Justice in the last Judgment when he shall come to judge the living and the dead with such Majesty and irresistible Power that all the Heavens and Elements shall be filled with horror and despair; to the end, that the terror of the threats of that last Judgment might not only prevent the stubbornness and boldness of Sinners, and secure the innocency of the Just, even amongst the Wicked, but also, that the Wicked, (fearing the Torments wherewith

God punisheth Offences) might at the same time, as they dread the punishment for their Sins be restrain'd from sinning, and by an internal motion be incited to call upon the goodness of God, who changes their Mind, and by an admirable effect of his pow∣erful Grace cleanses the corruption and malice of their Will, and reduces them not only to fear but also to love him.

Ant. And his place is made in peace: and his habitation in Sion.

GOd is known in Jewry: in Israel his name is great.

And his place is made in peace: and his habitation in Sion.

There he brake the powers of bows: the shield, the sword, and the battel.

Thou dost illuminate merveilously from the eternal mountains: all the foolish of heart were troubled.

They slept their sleep: and all the men of riches found nothing in their hands.

At thy reprehension, O God of Jacob, they have slumbred that mounted on horses.

Thou art terrible, and who shall resist thee? from that time thy wrath.

From heaven thou hast made thy judgment heard: the earth trembled, and was quiet.

When God arose unto judgment, that he might save all the meek of the earth.

Because the cogitation of man shall confess to thee: and the remains of the cogitation shall keep festival day to thee.

Vow ye, and tender to our Lord your

God: all ye that round about him bring gifts.

To the terrible, and him that taketh away the spirit of princes, terrible to the kings of the earth.

Ant. His place is made in peace: and his habitation in Sion.

PSALM 87.

This Psalm is a Prophecy of the Passion, Burial, and Resur∣rection of JESUS CHRIST; wherein the Royal Prophet repre∣sents unto us, the Sufferings which this Divine Saviour was to undergo to satisfie the rigor of the Justice of his Father; and that, for the Sins of Man wherewith he had loaded himself: Then having described his Burial; he proposes unto us the Pray∣er he was to offer to his Eternal Father, to demand from him his Resurrection, not only for himself (for being equal to his Fa∣ther he had no need of Prayers) that he might not be left in the power of Death (who alone was free among the Dead, and had power to leave his Soul and take her again) but for us, that he might make us partners with him of his new Life, and give us an Example of perfect patience and submission to the Will of God. Moreover it shews us the advantage we receive from the Re∣surrection of our Saviour, making us to acknowledge, that our Faith had been fruitless if he had continued in his Sepulcher, for then our Sins had not been taken away. Death is an effect of Sin; so that, had not our Saviour vanquished Death, it could not have been said, he had triumphed over Sin.

Ant. I am become as a man without help: free among the dead.

O Lord, the God of my salvation: in the day have I cried, and in the night be∣fore thee.

Let my prayer enter in thy sight: incline thine ear to my petition.

Because my soul is replenished with evils: and my life hath approached to hell.

I am accounted with them that descend in∣to the lake: I am become as a man without help, free among the dead.

As the wounded sleeping in the sepulchers, of whom thou art mindful no more: and they are cast off from thy hand.

They have put me in the lower lake: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death.

Thy fury is confirmed upon me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me.

Thou hast made my familiars far from me: they have put me abomination to themselves.

I was delivered, and came not forth: mine eyes languished for poverty.

I cried to thee, O Lord, all the day: I stretched out my hands to thee.

Wilt thou do merveils to the dead: or shall physicians raise to life, and they confess to thee?

Shall any in the sepulcher d••••••e thy mer∣cy: and thy truth in perdition?

Shall thy merveilous works be known in darkness: and thy justice in the land of obli∣vion?

And I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.

Why dost thou, O Lord, reject my prayer: turnest away thy face from me?

I am poor, and in labors from my youth: and being exalted, humbled and troubled.

Thy wraths have passed upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me.

They have compassed me as water all the day: they compassed me together.

Thou hast made friend and neighbor far from me: and my familiar, because of mi∣sery.

Ant. I am become as a man without help: free among the dead.

V. His place is made in peace,

R. And his habitation in Sion.

LESSON VII. Taken out of the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews, Chap. 9.

The Church teacheth us by those words of the Apostle, That the Mediator of the Old Testament, who was the High-priest, was not able to cleanse Mens Souls from their Sins, nor to open Heaven for them, either by the quality of his Priesthood of the Old Law, or by the nature of the Sacrifice and Testament: The High-Priest of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was a Sinner like other Men, he entred only into the ma•••••••• Sanctuary, and into a Tabernacle built by the Hands of Men; he only offered Calves and other lawful Victims unto God, and they could only receive from him Tem∣poral Blessings. It was therefore needful to have a Mediator of the New Testament, and that was JESUS CHRIST, who being both God and Man, could not sin, and was the Source and Foun∣tain of all Sanctity. Who by Sacrificing himself purified us by his one Blood with an Interior and Spiritual Purity; delivering us from our Sins to make us in a condition to render God a tru∣ly faithful Service, and entring into the true Sanctuary (that is, into Heaven, and into the Bosom of God his Father) he profered

us to him, and made us by his Will and Testament, Partakers and Heirs of his Heavenly Inheritance.

CHrist assisting an high priest of the good things to come, by a more ample and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, that is, not of this creation: neither by the blood of goats or of calves, but by his own blood, entred in once into the holies, eternal redemption being found. For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer being sprinkled, sanctifieth the polluted to the cleansing of the flesh: How much more hath the blood of Christ, who by the Holy Ghost offered himself unspotted unto God, cleansed our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?

RESP.

The Church minds to give thanks unto JESUS CHRIST for vouchsafing us his Mercy, and Sacrificing himself on the Cross for our Salvation. We must also abhor the Wickedness of the Jews, who to satisfie their Malice, put to Death this Divine Sa∣viour.

R. The kings of the earth have risen up, and the princes are assembled together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.

V. Why have the nations raged, and the people meditated vain things?

Against the Lord, and against his Christ.

LESSON VIII.

The Apostle instructs us, That the Death which our Mediator was willing to suffer, was to repair those Prevarications commit∣ted during the Old Testament, and to render us capable of the effects of the Divine Promises of the New Testament, and this founded on the natuere of the Testament. For in the first place, JE∣SUS CHRIST being willing to give unto Man a New Testament, it was also but requisit that it should be firm and unalterable, the which to render it, 'twas necessary he should die; for the Wills and Testaments of Men take no effect till after their Death; for whilst they live they may either change or absolutely cancel them. Secondly, The New Testament was to correspond with the first; neither was the Fire given without the effusion of Blood, as ap∣pears in Exod. chap. 24.

ANd therefore he is the mediator of the new testament: that death being a mean unto the redemption of these prevarications which were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, the death of the testator must of necessity come between: for a testament is confirmed in the dead: otherwise it is yet of no value whilst the testator liveth. Where∣upon neither was the first certes dedicated without blood.

RESP.

The Faithful consider, that the Jews put this Divine Testator to a most Ignominious Death, who came to give them by his last Will and Testament a Heavenly Inheritance; if by their Impiety and Ingratitude they had not made themselves unworthy it. They likewise consider, that as the Jews had no power to put our Savi∣our to Death, but because he would himself, so in voluntarily dying he triumphed over Death.

R. I am accounted with them that descend into the lake. I am become as a man with∣out help, free among the dead.

V. They have put me in the lower lake: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death.

I am become as, &c.

LESSON IX.

In this Lesson the Apostle represents unto us, That in the Old Testament the Purifications were made by the shedding of Blood, without which the Remission of Sins had not been given, since it is that which is the confirmation of all Alliance.

FOr all the commandment of the law be∣ing read of Moyses to all the people, he taking the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet-wooll and hyssop, sprinkled the very book also it self, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament, which God hath commanded unto you. The tabernacle also, and all the vessel of the mini∣stery, he in like manner sprinkled with blood. And all things almost according to the law are cleansed with blood: and without shed∣ding of blood there is not remission.

RESP.

In the Old Law in the Seventeenth Chapter of Leviticus; God Commanded, that the Blood of Victims should be covered, to shew unto us, that it was an effect of his Bounty, that he vouchsafed to receive the lives of Innocent Beasts instead of that of Sinners. But on the contrary, the Jews instead of covering

the Blood of JESUS CHRIST; that is, instead of acknowledg∣ing the excess of his Bounty wherewith God would that his Son (who was the God of Man) should die for them who deserved Death, and that he should die on the Cross even for their Salva∣tion who nailed him thereon. But they instead of repenting themselves, or being confounded for having put to Death their Saviour; they moreover persecuted him even in his Sepulcher. And this it is which the Faithful consider in the following Ver∣sicles.

R. Our Lord being buried, his monument was sealed, rolling a stone against the mouth of the monument, setting soldiers who might guard it.

V. The chief priests came unto Pilate, and asked of him, setting soldiers who might keep him.

R. Our Lord being buried.

AT LAUDS.

The Church tells us, That to receive benefit from CHRIST's Death, we must have a hearty and true Repentance.

ANTHYMN, taken out of the Thirteenth Chapter of the Prophet Osee.

Ant. I Will be thy death, O death: thy bit will I be, O hell.

PSALM 50.

Miserere mei Deus, &c. as before, p. 65.

ANTHYMN, taken out of the Twelfth Chapter of the Prophet Zachary.

The Church having declared unto us, That JESUS CHRIST suffered Death to fulfill the Commands of his Father, and to accomplish the Predictions of the Prophets. She now repre∣sents us the grief the Converted and Penitent Jews had for ha∣ving been of the number of those who put him to Death. She also minds us to acknowledge the obligation we have to mortifie our selves, to sigh and weep for having by our Sins contributed to his Death.

They shall lament him with lamentation as it were upon an only begotten, because our innocent Lord is slain.

PSALM 42.

The Church offers us the Prayer JESUS CHRIST made un∣to God his Father, which declares the difference 'twixt his Suf∣ferings and Death, and 'tw•••• the Death and Sufferings of Men. Their Deaths and Sufferings are the Punishments due to their Sins: But JESUS CHRIST, who is Sanctity it self, and the Fountain of all good, he only suffered Death because himself would, and charged himself with our Iniquities, that he might deliver us, and satisfie the rigorous Justice of God his Father. Then the Church shews us, That God made his Light and Truth shine in this Divine Saviour by making his Innocency appear by the Wonders and Miracles that happened at his Death, and by his glorious Resurrection from his Tomb, and afterwards by his destroying of Jerusalem, and by casting the reprobate Jews in everlasting Perdition.

JUdge me, O God, and discern my cause from the nation not holy, from the unjust and deceitful man deliver me.

Because thou art God my strength: why hast thou repelled me? and why go I sorrow∣ful, whilst the enemy afflicteth me?

Send forth thy light and thy truth: they have conducted me, and brought me into thy holy hill, and into thy tabernacles.

And I will go into the altar of God: to God, which maketh my youth joyful.

I will confess to thee on the harp, O God, my God: Why art thou sorrowful, O my soul? and dost thou trouble me?

Hope in God, because yet I will confess to him: the salvation of my countenance, and my God.

Ant. They shall lament him with lamen∣tation, as it were upon an only begotten: be∣cause our innocent Lord is slain.

Ant. Behold, all ye people, and see my grief.

The Psalm Deus, De••••••eus, as before, p. 69.

Ant. From the gate of hell deliver my soul, O Lord.

The Canticle of Ezechias, Isa. 38.

Under the Figure of Ezekias's Malady, from which he was deliverd by God at the intercession of the Prophet Isay, which signifies the health of God. The Church represents unto us the deplorable condition whereinto Human Nature was reduced through Sin, from which we are freed through the Grace of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. She also admonisheth us to render our humble Thanks to the Divine Majesty.

I Have said, In the midst of my days shall I go to the gates of hell.

I have sought the residue of my years: I have said, I shall not see our Lord God in the land of the living.

I shall behold man no more, and the inha∣biter of rest.

My generation is taken away, and is wrap∣ped together from me, as the tent of shep∣herds.

My life is cut off as by a weaver: whilst I yet began, he cut me off: from morning until night thou wilt make an end of me.

I hoped until morning: as a lion so hath he broken all my bones.

From morning until evening thou wilt make an end of me. As a young swallow, so will I cry, I will meditate as a dove.

Mine eyes are weakned, looking on high.

Lord, I suffer violence, answer for me. What shall I say, or what shall he answer me? whereas himself hath done it.

I will recount to thee all my years, in the bitterness of my soul.

Lord, if mans life be such, and the life of my spirit in such things, thou shalt chastise me, and shalt quicken me. Behold, in peace is my bitterness most bitter.

But thou hast delivered my soul that it should not perish: thou hast cast all my sins behind my back.

Because hell shall not confess to thee, nei∣ther shall death praise thee: they that go down into the lake, shall not expect thy truth.

The living, the living, he shall confess to thee, as I also this day: the father shall make the truth known to the children.

O Lord, save me, and we shall sing our psalms all the days of our life in the house of our Lord.

Ant. From the gate of hell deliver my soul, O Lord.

Ant. O all ye that pass by this way, be∣hold and see, if there be any grief like unto mine.

Psalm, Laudate Dominum de coelis, &c. as before, p. 74.

V. My flesh shall rest in hope.

R. And thou shalt not give thy holy One to see corruption.

AT BENEDICTUS.

ANTHYMN.

THe women sitting at the monument, lamented, weeping for our Lord.

THE CANTICLE OF ZACHARY.

Benedictus, &c. as before, p. 78.

V. Christ was made obedient for us unto death, even the death of the cross.

R. Wherefore God hath exalted him, and given him a name above all names.

Pater noster, &c. Miserere mei Deus, &c. as before, p. 13. & 65.

THE PRAYER.

Respice Quoesumus, &c. as before, p. 80.