The song of S. Ambrose, called Te Deum.
WE praise thee, God, we knowledge thee
the onely Lord to be;
And as eternal Father, all
the earth doth worship thee.
To thee all Angels cry, the heavens
and all the powers therein:
To thee Cherub and Seraphin
to cry they do not sin,
O holy, holy, holy Lord,
of Sabaoth Lord the God;
Through heaven & earth thy praise is spread
and glory all abroad.
Th' Apostles glorious company
yeeld praises unto thee:
The prophets goodly fellowship
praise thee continually.
The noble and victorious host
of Martyrs sound thy praise:
The holy Church throughout the world
doth knowledge thee always.
Father of endless Majesty
they do acknowledge thee:
Thy Christ thine honourable, true,
and onely Son to be,
The holy Ghost the comforter.
Of glory thou art King,
O Christ, and of the Father art
the Son everlasting.
When sinful mans decay in hand
thou tookest to restore,
To be in clos'd in virgins womb
thou diddest not abhor.
When thou hadst overcome of death
the sharp and cruel might,
Thou heavens kingdom didst set ope
to each believing wight.
In glory of the Father thou
dost ••it on Gods right hand:
We trust that thou shalt come our Judge
our cause to understand.
Lord, help thy servants whom thou hast
bought with thy precious bloud,
And in eternal glory set
them with thy Saints so good.
O Lord, do thou thy people save,
bless thine inheritance:
Lord, govern them, and, Lord, do thou
for ever them advance.
We magnifie thee day by day,
and world without an end
Adore thy holy name: O Lord,
vouchsafe us to defend
From sin this day: have mercy, Lord,
have mercy on us all:
And on us, as we trust in thee,
Lord, let thy mercy fall.
O Lord, I have reposed all
my confidence in thee:
Put to confounding shame therefore
Lord, let me never be.