Devotions in the ancient way of offices. With psalms, hymns, and prayers for every day of the week and every holiday in the year. / Reformed by A person of quality, ; and published by George Hickes, D.D.

Psalm 44.

LET them neglect thy Praises, O God; who never consider thy Mer∣cies.

Let them be silent to thee, O gracious God; whose Mouths are full of them∣selves.

But as for us who subsist by thy Gifts; and thankfully acknowledge the Riches of thy Goodness:

Our Hearts shall continually meditate on thee; and our Lips shall delight to sing thy Glory.

Blessed for ever be thy Name, O Je∣su; and blessed be the sweetness of thy Wisdom.

Whose infinite Charity has vouchsaft our Earth, such excellent Rules to guide us to Heaven.

Thou taughtest us the happy Skill of finding our Lives; by a generous losing them, to follow thee.

Thou taughtest us to love our true selves best; by wisely hating our mistaken selves.

Thou taughtest us to trample this World under our Feet; and use it as a Step to climb up into Heaven.

From thee we learn those glorious My∣steries; that exalt our Faith so high above Reason.

From thee we derive those Heroick Counsels; that raise our Souls so far above Nature.

From thee alone, and from thy School of Grace; all we know we learn, and all we do we receive.

How long, alas! might we have wan∣dered here, in the midst of Darkness and Errors;

Had not thy Love and Pity, O merci∣ful Lord! brought down thy self to be∣come our Light?

Never shou'd we else have learnt to de∣ny our selves; and take up our Cross, and follow thee.

Never shou'd we have known that great Secret; to forgive our Enemies, and do good to those that despitefully use us.

On the unsatisfying things of this low Earth; shou'd we blindly have set our whole Affections:

Hadst thou not told us of the Kingdom of Heaven; and bid us lay up our Trea∣sures there:

Hadst thou not terrify'd us to fear thy Wrath; by declaring the Miseries that attend our Sins:

Hadst not thou invited us to obey thy Commands; by proposing the Felicities of a pious Life.

What hast thou promised Lord to the Weepers here; to those that hunger and thirst after Holiness?

How many Joys have thy Bounty pre∣pared; for the Lovers of Mercy and Ma∣kers of Peace?

How many Blessings for the pure of Heart; and those who with patience bear their Crosses?

O thou All-seeing Wisdom of the E∣ternal Father; and soveraign King of Men and Angels!

Who from thy glorious Throne didst descend on our Earth; familiarly to teach us the Oracles of Heaven.

Write thou these sacred Words in the Tables of our Hearts; and suffer not at any time our Passions to break them.

Make us still study thee our Heavenly Master; and continually admire the beau∣ty of thy Law.

A Law, that so clearly shews us our End; and so plenteously furnishes us with means to attain it.

A Law, that so safely cures our Infir∣mities; and so fitly supplies all our De∣fects.

A Law, so exactly conformable to Rea∣son; and so highly perfective of Hu∣mane Nature.

A blessed Law, that makes even here our Life more sweet; and leads us here∣after to everlasting Felicity.

Glory be to the Father, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c.