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Thou our ignorance informest,
And our wisdom shapest right;
In the hour of doubt and strife,
Thou beginnest, and Thou endest,
All that Christians count of life.

Thos. Burridge

XXIII

LITANY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

I

IN the hour of my distress,

When temptations me oppress,

And when I my sins confess,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me.

When I lie within my bed,

Sick in heart, and sick in head,
And with doubts disquieted,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me.

When the house doth sigh, and weep,
And the world is drowned in sleep,

Yet mine eyes the watch do keep,
Sweet Spirit, comfort me.

When God knows I'm tossed about
Either with despair or doubt,

Yet before the glass be out,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me.

When the tempter me pursueth
With the sins of all my youth,

And reproves me for untruth,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me.

When the judgment is revealed
And that opened which was sealed,
When to Thee I have appealed,
Sweet Spirit, comfort me.

R. Herrick

XXIV

VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS

COME

OME, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire;
Thou the Anointing Spirit art,
Who dost Thy sevenfold gifts impart.
Thy blessed unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
The dulness of our blinded sight;
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of Thy grace;

Keep far our foes; give peace at home;
Where Thou art guide, no ill can come.
Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And Thee of both, to be but One:
That, through the ages all along,
This may be our endless song:
"Praise to Thy eternal merit,
"Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!"

Ordination Service

XXV

H

THE HOLY TRINITY

OLY! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee,

Holy! Holy! Holy! Merciful and Mighty!

God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!

Holy! Holy! Holy! all the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy

sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

Holy! Holy! Holy! though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, Only Thou art Holy, there is none beside Thee Perfect in Power, in Love, and Purity!

Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy! Holy! Holy! Merciful and Mighty,

God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!

Bishop Reginald Heber

XXVI

SACRED MUSIC

Tour song of pure consent,

our high-raised fantasy present

Aye sung before the sapphire-colored throne,
To Him that sits thereon,

With saintly shout and solemn jubilee;
Where the bright seraphim in burning row,
Their loud uplifted angel trumpets blow;
And the cherubic host, in thousand choirs,
Touch their immortal harps of golden wires,
With those just spirits that wear victorious palms,
Hymns devout, and holy psalms,

Singing everlastingly :

That we on earth with undiscording voice,
May rightly answer that melodious noise;

As once we did, till disproportioned sin

Jarred against Nature's chime, and with harsh din Broke the fair music that all creatures made

To their great Lord, whose love their motion swayed In perfect diapason whilst they stood,

In first obedience and their state of good.

O, may we soon again renew that song

And keep in tune with Heaven, till God erelong
To His celestial concert us unite

To live with Him, and sing in endless morn of light!

John Milton

B

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UT let my due feet never fail

To walk the studious cloisters pale,

And love the high embowèd roof
With antique pillars massy proof,
And storied windows richly dight
Casting a dim religious light;
There let the pealing organ blow
To the full-voiced choir below
In service high, and anthem clear,

As may with sweetness, through mine ear,
Dissolve me into ecstasies

And bring all Heaven before mine eyes.

XXVIII

John Milton

EARTH AND HEAVEN

HE roseate hues of early dawn,

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The brightness of the day,
The crimson of the sunset sky,

How fast they fade away!
O for the pearly gates of heaven!

O for the golden floor!

O for the Sun of Righteousness
That setteth nevermore!

The highest hopes we cherish here,
How fast they tire and faint!

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