M. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. P. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

M. O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

P. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

M. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,

P. In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

THE TWENTY-FOURTH SELECTION

Psalms 100, 33

Minister. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

People. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. M. Know ye that the LORD he is God:

P. It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

M. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

P. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

M. Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. P. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

M. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

P. For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

M. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

P. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

M. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

P. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

M. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

P. The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

M. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

P. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;

M. And the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

P. The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

M. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

P. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

M. A horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

P. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy:

M. To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

P. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

M. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. P. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

THE TWENTY-FIFTH SELECTION

Psalms 148, 93, 97

Minister. Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

People. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

M. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

P. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

M. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

P. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

M. Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

P. Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

M. Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars :

P. Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

M. Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: P. Both young men, and maidens, old men, and children:

M. Let them praise the name of the LORD:

P. For his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. M. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints;

P. Even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him.

Praise ye the LORD.

M. The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself:

P. The world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

M. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

P. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

M. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

P. Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for

ever.

M. The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice.
P. Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
M. Clouds and darkness are round about him:

P. Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

M. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

P. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
M. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD,

P. At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

M. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

P. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols worship him, all ye gods.

M. Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.

P. For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

M. Ye that love the LORD, hate evil :

P. He preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

M. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

P. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

The Plymouth Hymnal

I

MATINS 11, 10

The Call to Worship

John Stainer

Now, when the dusky shades of night, re-treat-ing Before the sun's red ban-ner, swift-ly flee;

Now, when the terrors of the dark are fleeting, O Lord, we lift our thankful hearts to Thee,— AMEN.

2 To Thee, whose word, the fount of life unsealing,
When hill and dale in thickest darkness lay,
Awoke bright rays across the dim earth stealing,
And bade the eve and morn complete the day.

3 Look from the tower of heaven, and send to cheer us
Thy light and truth to guide us onward still;
Still let Thy mercy, as of old, be near us,
And lead us safely to Thy holy hill.

4 So, when that morn of endless light is waking,
And shades of evil from its splendors flee,

Safe may we rise, the earth's dark breast forsaking,
Through all the long bright day to dwell with Thee.

5

Gregory the Great

Crown Him with ma-ny crowns, The Lamb up-on His throne; Hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns