IN THE FIRST NOCTURN." [A Pfalm of Doctrine and Virtue for meditation. This Pfalm relates to the person of Chrift: for He is perfect who hath never erred in the way of finners.] * * [The Conductor of the Choir, fitting on the After the Hymn cometh Antempnes and Psalms. Antempne is as much to Jay as a founding before, for it is begun before the Pfalms. It is as much to say as a founding against, -the Antempne is begun before the Pfalm, and the Pfalm is tuned after the Antempne, in token that these may indeed be good, but if it be begun of charity and ruled by charity in the doing." " By Hymns is understood the life of them that praise GOD in contemplation; and by Pfalms is understood the conversation of them that praise GOD in deeds of actual life. Therefore at Matins, which are faid in the night, which is a time most apt to contemplation, the Hymn is faid before the Pfalms, in token that contemplative people prefer the exercise of contemplation before all other things; and at Lauds that are faid nearer day, which is a time of working, the Psalms are faid before the Hymn, in token that people of active life are most occupied in outward deeds, and less in ghoftly exercise. And alfo at Prime, Terce, Sext, and None, which are faid before meat, when better difpofition is to contemplation than after meat, the Hymns are faid before the Pfalms; and at Even-fong and Compline, which are faid in the afternoon, the Pfalms are faid before the Hymns, in token of the same thing-and for the most part of people of all this world are occupied most with deeds of actual Life; therefore the Service of the Holy Church, that is common to all, beginneth at Even-fong, when the Pfalms are faid before the Hymn." - Myrroure, fol. xlvi. b. * * "The Pfalm is sung sometimes on the one fide and sometime on the other, in token that the gifts of The Holy Ghoft, whereby men do good deeds, are given fome to one and some to another. But in finging of Pfalms, the Choir ftandeth turned either to other, and fingeth face to face, in token that the gifts of GOD which each one hath received, ought to be used to the helping each of other ** and then are the Pfalms well fung Choir to Choir. In Pfalmody Sometimes ye stand, for ye ought to be ready and strong to do good deeds; and Sometimes ye fit, for ye ought to see that all your deeds be done reftfully, with peace of the other, as in you. Though this be true after the spiritual meaning, yet after the letter the changing that is in GOD's fervice from one thing to another, is ordained to let it drive away your dulness, that ye should not wax tedious and weary, but gladly and joyfully, not in vain joy, but in joy of spiritual devotion, continue in GOD's fervice. Therefore Sometime ye fing, sometime ye read, sometime ye hear; now one alone, now twain together, now all. Sometime ye fit, fometime ye stand, sometime ye incline, fometime ye kneel, now toward the Altar, now toward the Choir; now in ftalls, now in the midst. And in all this, middle Hymns with Pfalms, and Pfalms with Antempnes, and Antempnes with Verficles, and Lessons with Refponfes, and Responses with Verses, and so forth of many such other. And all to the praising of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of His most reverend Mother, our Lady; and fo to exercise the body to the quickening of the foul, that all fuch bodily obfervances should not be found without cause of ghoftly understanding. Now join to all this the fruit of that thing that is fung and read, and thereto the fellowship of Angels among you in time of GOD's service, and most of all the marvellous and unspeakable presence of GOD Himself, from Whom Our Lady is not far, and see whether it be not nigh another Heaven to serve and praise GOD in the Choir." - Myrroure, fol. 1. • From the Arlyngham MS. These Rubrics are flightly varied in the other MSS. Beatus vir qui non abiit. LESSED is the man that hath not strayed in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of finners: and hath not sate in the feat ofscorning. But his delight is in the law of The Lord: and in his law will he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-courses: that will bring forth its fruit in due season. His leaf also shall not fall: and all whatsoever he doeth shall profper. Not so the ungodly, not so: but they are like the duft which the wind scattereth away from the face of the Earth. Therefore the ungodly shall not rise up in the judgment: neither finners in the council of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: and the way of the ungodly shall perish. [O Lord! make us as a very fruitful tree before the prefence of thy Glory: so that, watered by thy showers, we may be worthy to please Thee by the abundance of our most pleasant fruit, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.] PSALM II. [A Pfalm of David. A Prophetical Pfalm for Meditation. This Pfalm relates to the Nativity of Chrift.] Quare fremuerunt gentes. WHY raged the heathen: and the people imagined vain things? The Kings of the Earth stood up, and the rulers assembled together: against The Lord, and against His Christ. Let us break their bonds asunder: and cast away their yoke from us. He that dwelleth in the Heavens shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord shall have them in derifion. Then shall He speak unto them in his wrath: and in his fury shall He vex them. But I am appointed King by Him over Syon, his holy mountain: preaching his law. The Lord said unto Me, Thou art My Son: this day have I begotten Thee. Defire of Me and I will give Thee the heathen for thine inheritance: and the utmost parts of the Earth for thy poffeffion. Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron: and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Understand now therefore, O ye Kings: be learned, ye that judge the Earth. Serve ye The Lord in fear: and rejoice unto Him with trembling. Learn discipline left The Lord be wroth: and so ye perish from the right way. If his wrath be kindled even for a short time: blessed are all they that put their trust in Him. [O Lord, we beseech Thee, break the chains of our fins: so that, bound to the yoke of thy service, we may be able to serve Thee in fear and reverence, though our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.] PSALM III. [A Pfalm of David when he fled from Abfalom his fon. A Pfalm for prayer. This Pfalm relates to the Paffion of our Lord Jesus Chrift.] Domine, quid multiplicati. LORD, why are they increased that trouble me?: many are they that rife up against me. Many say to my foul: there is no help for him in his God. But Thou, O Lord, art my upholder: my glory and the lifter up of my head. I did call upon The Lord with my voice: and He heard me out of his holy mountain. I flept, and was in slumber, and rose up again: for The Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid for thousands of the people that have set themselves round about me: arife, O Lord, save me, O my God. For Thou hast smitten all who are mine adverfaries without cause : Thou haft broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto The Lord: and thy bleffing is upon thy people. [Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, thy bleffings upon thy people, and protected by thy Refurrection, may we not fear the thousands of our fins which have set themselves round about against us, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.] PSALM IV. put your trust in The Lord: many say, who sheweth us good? There is shewn forth upon us the light of thy countenance, O Lord: Thou hast put gladness in my heart. In the fruit of their corn, wine, and oil: they are multiplied. In peace in the very fame: I will fleep and take my rest. For Thou, Lord: hast specially stablished me in hope. PSALM V. This Psalm is not faid at Nocturns. [Is the second Pfalm in Lauds on Monday.] [A Pfalm for her who obtains the inheritance. A Pfalm of David: a Pfalm for prayer. Pertains to the Church which follows the heirship of the New Testament, as the title proves.] Verba mea auribus. GIVE ear unto my words, O Lord: confider my cry. Hearken unto the voice of my prayer: my King and my God. For unto Thee will I make my prayer, This Psalm is not faid at Nocturns. [See O Lord: early in the morning shalt Thou Compline I.] WHEN I called, The God of my righteousness heard me: in my tribula tion Thou hast enlarged me. Have mercy upon me : and hearken unto my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye be dull of heart: why do ye love vanity and seek after lies? Know ye that The Lord hath made wondrous His Holy One: The Lord will hear me when I cry unto Him. Be angry and fin not: be ye forry for what ye say in your hearts, and in your chambers. Offer the facrifice of righteousness and hear my voice. Early in the morning will I stand before Thee and will look: for Thou art not a God that haft pleasure in wickedness. Neither shall any evil man dwell nigh Thee: nor shall the unrighteous abide in thy fight. Thou hast hated all them that work iniquity: Thou shalt destroy all them that speak leafing. The Lord will abhor the blood-thirsty and deceitful man: but as for me, in the multitude of thy mercy, I will come into thy house and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. O Lord, lead me in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies: direct my way before thy face. For there is no truth in their mouth : their heart is vain. F Their throat is an open fepulchre, with their tongues they have behaved deceitfully: judge Thou them, O God. Let them perish through their own imaginations; caft them out in the multitude of their impieties: for they have angered Thee, O Lord. And let all them that put their trust in Thee rejoice: they shall ever be giving of thanks, and Thou shalt dwell in them. All they that love Thy Name shall glory in Thee: for Thou wilt bless the righteous. O Lord, as with the shield of thy good pleasure: Thou hast crowned us. PSALM VI. [To the end in Verses: a Pfalm of David for the octave. A Penitential Pfalm for fupplication. For a Penitent.] Domine ne in furore. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine indignation: neither chaften me in thy difpleasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord, for my bones are vexed. My foul, also, is fore troubled: but Thou, Lord, how long! Turn Thee, O Lord, and deliver my foul: O fave me, for thy mercy's fake. For in death there is no man who remembereth Thee: and in Hell who will give Thee thanks ? I am weary in my groaning; every night shall I wash my bed: with my tears shall I water my couch. Mine eye is vexed with fury: I have grown old among all mine enemies. Away from me all ye that work vanity: for The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath hearkened to my petition: The Lord hath received my prayer. All mine enemies shall be ashamed and be fore vexed: they shall be turned back and put to shame very speedily. [And all the Clerks who have fung the Pfalms standing up, turning to the Altar, shall each of them say the Gloria, in bis station, which shall be observed throughout the whole year.] Glory be to The Father, and to The Son, and to The Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.P Then in all Sundays during Advent, up to The Nativity of The Lord, in the First Nocturn, the Antiphon. P The Rubric for the First Sunday in Advent, directs that throughout the whole year, whenever more Pfalms than one are faid under one "Gloria Patri" at Nocturns, or at the Hours, none of them shall be said with an exalted voice, (nullus eorum debet exaltari,) i. e., none shall be begun with an Intonation before arriving at the verfe "Gloria Patri." 9 The ANTIPHONS or Anthems, on Sundays, Week-days, and Simple Feasts, and on Double Feafts, where not otherwise directed, are fung entire after the Pfalms. But before the Pfalms are begun, as by way of preface, the first two or three words only of the Antiphon, which is to follow after them, are first repeated. In the Salisbury Use they were never fung entire before the Pfalms, but were so doubled before the "Magnificat" and "Benedictus" only, in Lauds and Second Vespers in Double Feasts; and alfo in First Vespers at the Feasts of the Nativity, Epiphany, Purification, Afcenfion, Pentecoft, Trinity, Corpus Chrifti, Relics, The Vifitation, Affumption of the Blessed Virgin, The Dedication of the Church, and All Saints. The MSS. Arlyngham and Arundel, 130, fo. 1, Speak thus: "It is to be understood that all the Antiphons before the Pfalms, which are to be begun before the intonation of the Pfalms, should always be begun according to the various differences which are explained in the Tonale, and that the Pfalm ought not to be begun before that intonation be completed. When the Pfalm is finished with Gloria Patri and Sicut Erat, let the Antiphon be begun again by the Precentor or Sub-Precentor, and fung through by the Choir, which is to be observed throughout the whole year." OF ANTIPHONS there were three kinds: 1. Those which are taken from the Pfalms without any special application. 2. Those which are taken from the fame Pfalms, but flightly altered, if neceffary, to adapt them to the office which is in use. 3. Those taken from other sources. The first kind are found in the ordinary office, |