the Blessed Virgin and the Apostles in Vespers and Lauds. Such, too, are the Antiphons to the Blessed Virgin placed at the end of Compline, to which especial attention was above directed (p. 11), on the ground of their objectionable nature. They shall be here given, in order to show clearly, as a simple inspection of them will suffice to do, the utter contrariety between the Roman system, as actually existing, and our own; which, however similar in certain respects, are in others so at variance, as to make any attempt to reconcile them together in their present state perfectly nugatory. Till Rome moves towards us, it is quite impossible that we should move towards Rome; however closely we may approximate to her in particular doctrines, principles, or views. In reading the following, it should be recollected, indeed, that Antiphons are not, strictly speaking, Prayers, but Sentences applied to the particular purpose of meditation, thanksgiving, &c. ; yet the following, taken together, are quite beyond the power of any defence which might thence be available for less explicit compositions. From Easter to the First Week complete after Pentecost. These Antiphons have already been shown to be of comparatively modern origin; which, indeed, is sufficiently clear from their composition, independently of the question of doctrine. The Absolutions and Benedictions on the other hand seem, from their doctrinal character, to come from high antiquity. Wheatly remarks, that the precise indicative Absolution, such as it occurs in our Visitation for the Sick, though altogether justifiable and edifying, did not come into use till the twelfth century; that is, about the time of the above innovations in commemorating the Blessed Virgin. Now the Absolutions and Benedictions in the Breviary happen, on the contrary, to be of a remarkably simple character; they are uniformly in the shape of petitions to ALMIGHTY GOD, and they include the minister using them, being worded in the first, not the second person. Again, in the quasi Absolution, after the stated Confession at Prime and Compline, it is to be noticed, that the People absolve the Priest, before, and in the same words in which the Priest absolves the People, as if vindicating to the body of Christians that sacramental power, (whatever may be its degree,) which might have seemed inconsistent with the special stress laid by Romanism on Sacerdotal gifts. An Absolution occurs in each Nocturn between the Psalms and Lessons: a short Benediction is pronounced before the reading of each of the latter, being first asked for by the Reader. § 2. SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 1801. Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. (a) Invitatory. Psalm 95. come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving: and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms. Let us worship the Lord our Maker. For the Lord is a great God: and a great King above all gods. In his hand are all the corners of the earth: and the strength of the hills is his also. Our Maker. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands prepared the dry land. O come, let us worship and fall down: and kneel before the Lord our Maker; For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Let us worship the Lord our Maker. To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts: as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness. When your fathers tempted me: proved me, and saw my works. Our Maker. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said: It is a people that do err in their hearts; for they have not known my ways. Unto whom I sware in my wrath: that they should not enter into my rest. Let us worship the Lord our Maker. [Nocte surgentes.] And chant, as in our Maker's sight, United hymns of praise. So, singing with the Saints in bliss, With them we may attain Life everlasting after this, And heaven for earthly pain. Grant it to us, O Father, Son, To whom all worship shall be done (c) Antiphon. Psalm 1. (1) NOCTURN 1. Serve ye the Lord. BLESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners: and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in his law will he exercise himself day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side: that will bring forth his fruit in due season. His leaf also shall not wither: and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper. As for the ungodly, it is not so with them: but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth. |