The Versicle Lo, we adore Thee, Dread Lamb, and bow thus low before Thee. The Responsory 'Cause by the covenant of Thy Cross, Thou hast saved at once the whole World's loss. The Prayer O Lord JESU CHRIST, Son of the living God, interpose, I pray Thee, Thine Own precious Death, Thy Cross and Passion, betwixt my soul and Thy Judgment, now and in the hour of my death. And vouchsafe to grant unto me Thy grace and mercy; unto all quick and dead, remission and rest; to Thy Church, peace and concord; to us sinners, life and glory everlasting. Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. THE NINTH The Versicle LORD, by Thy sweet and saving Sign, The Responsory Defend us from our foes and Thine. V. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, R. And my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. V. O God, make speed to save me. R. O Lord, make haste to help me. V. Glory, etc. R. As it was, etc. THE HYMN The Ninth with awful horror hearkened to those groans Which taught attention even to rocks and stones. Hear, Father, hear! Thy Lamb (at last) complains Of some more painful thing than all His pains. Of The Antiphon O strange, mysterious strife When on the Cross my King did bleed, The Versicle Lo, we adore Thee, Dread Lamb, and fall Thus low before Thee. The Responsory 'Cause by the covenant of Thy cross Thou hast saved at once the whole World's loss. The Prayer O Lord JESU CHRIST, Son of the living God, interpose, I pray Thee, Thine Own precious Death, Thy Cross and Passion, betwixt my soul and Thy Judgment, now and in the hour of my death. And vouchsafe to grant unto me Thy grace and mercy; unto all quick and dead, remission and rest; to Thy Church, peace and concord; to us sinners, life and glory everlasting. Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. EVENSONG The Versicle LORD, by Thy sweet and saving Sign, The Responsory Defend us from our foes and Thine. V. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, R. And my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. VO God, make speed to save me. R. O Lord, make haste to help me. V. Glory, etc. R. As it was, etc. THE HYMN 1 But there were rocks 1 would not relent at this: Superfluous spear! but there's a heart stands by 1 The hearts of those who crucified Him, The Antiphon O sad, sweet Tree, Woeful and joyful we Both weep and sing in shade of thee. And graft into thy gracious stock The hope, the health, The worth, the wealth Of all the ransomed World, Thou hadst the power (In that propitious hour) To poise each precious limb, And prove how light the World was, when it weighed with Him. Wide mayest thou spread Thine arms, and with Thy bright and blissful head The Versicle Lo, we adore Thee, Dread Lamb, and bow thus low before Thee. The Responsory 'Cause by the covenant of Thy cross Thou hast saved at once the whole World's loss. 1 The mountains of Libanus are to the extreme north of Palestine, and famous for cedars. This probably 'means that the Cross having borne our Saviour is greater than all other trees. The Prayer O Lord JESU CHRIST, Son of the living God, etc. COMPLINE The Versicle LORD, by Thy sweet and saving Sign, The Responsory Defend us from our foes and Thine. R. O Lord, make haste to help me. R. As it was, etc. THE HYMN The Compline hour comes last, to call Ah, heartless task! yet Hope takes head, Pour on thy noblest sweets, which, when they touch But must Thy bed, Lord, be a borrowed grave, own. 1 Cf. "All the perfumes of Arabia "— Macbeth ; and John xii. 3. |