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 54.

HE who made the Sun to enlighten our Steps, in the Pilgrimage of this short Life:

Has he ordained no Guide to conduct our Souls, in the difficult way to their E∣ternal Home?

He who feeds the Ravens that call up∣on him; has he not provided Bread for his Children?

He has; and still his Mercy furnishes us with Means to perform whatever his Justice commands.

Long since he espoused to himself an unspotted Church; and promis'd it His Presence to the End of the World.

Establishing his Truth on a firm Pil∣lar; a solid Foundation to sustain our Faith.

That we waver no longer as Children; nor be carry'd away with every Wind of Doctrine:

Nor consume all our Days with study∣ing to believe; without ever proceeding to Life and Action.

This Spouse, O thou glorious King of Heaven, and admirable Lover of poor ruin'd Man!

This humble Spouse, thou camest down to wooe, and dearly purchase with thine own Blood.

Thou hast endow'd her with eminent Prerogatives; above the rest of the Daugh∣ters of the Earth.

Preserving her in the midst of Pagans and Jews; and the subtiler Enemies, Po∣liticians, and Hereticks.

Preserving thy Truth in her, bright and conspicuous as the Sun; that every open willing Eye may see her Light.

Preserving the Professors of thy saving Truths in perfect unity; while all that di∣vide from Truth are divided among them∣selves.

Thou hast adorn'd her with the Beauty of Order, when thy Church is in splen∣dor; and with Peace and Patience under an Eclypse.

Thou didst introduce her with the Pow∣êr of Miracles; and cemented her with the Blood of Martyrs.

Thou hast given her the Keys of thy Treasures; and open'd unto her the My∣steries of Heaven it self.

Mysteries that free our Souls from the Dominion of Sense; and place them a∣bove the reach of Reason.

These thy whole Church unanimously confesses and attests; as deriv'd from thee their Original Source.

Whence running along through every Age; they have always maintain'd their constant Channel.

O may they still bear on their Course; and still spread wider their wholsome Streams.

May all the World be water'd with this Dew of Heaven; and bring forth Fruit to everlasting Life.

We are almost now constrain'd to be∣lieve; Lord grant us Grace to hope and Love.

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