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In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Bleffed be the Holy, and Undivided Trinity,
now and for evermore. Amen.
Our Father, &c.

V. O God, make speed to fave us.
R. O Lord, make hafte to help us.

Ant. Glorious Things are faid of thee, thou City of the King of Heaven. Alleluja.

L'

PSALM VIII.

ET them, O Lord, feek other Delights, who expect no Felicity from Thee. Let them fill up their Time with other Employments, who think thy Rewards not worth their Labour.

As for thy Servants, our chief Content fhall be to meditate the Glories prepared for us above.

All the few Years we live, fhall fpend themselves to purchase that One Eternal Day.

That Day, whofe Brightness knows no Night; nor ever fears the leaft Eclipfe.

Whofe chearful Brow no Cloud o'recafts; nor Storm molefts the Paffage of its Rays.

But ftill fhines on ferene and clear; and fills with Splendor that fpacious Place.

It needs not the fading Luftre of our Sun; nor the borrow'd Silver of the Moon.

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The Sun that rifes there,is the Lamb; and the Light that fhines, is the Glory of God. O how beauteous Truths are fung of thee, thou City of the King of Heaven! Thy Walls are rais'd with precious Stones; and every Gate is of one rich Pearl.

Thy Manfions are built with choicest Jewels; and the Pavement of thy Streets is tranfparent Gold.

Down in the midft runs a Chrystal River, perpetually flowing from the Throne of God.

There all along thofe pleasant Banks, deliciously grows the Tree of Life;

Healing all Wounds with its balmy. Leaves; and making immortal all that but taste its Fruit.

Thus is the holy City built; thus is the New Jerufalem adorn'd.

O fortunate and glorious City! How free and happy are thy glad Inhabitants! Every Head wears a Royal Crown; and every Hand a Palm of Victory.

Every Eye o'reflows with Joy; and every Tongue with Pfalms of Praife.

Behold, O my Soul, the Inheritance we feek; and where can we find more Riches to invite us?

Behold the Felicities to which we are call'd; and where can we meet fuch Pleafures to entertain us?

Away then, all vain and worldly Desires; be banish'd for ever from molesting my Peace.

De

Defcend thou bleffed Heaven into my Heart ; or rather take up my Heart unto Thee.

Thy Joys are too great to enter into me; O make me fit to enter into them.

Make me ftill think on my Country above; and there establish my eternal Home. Where I fhall dwell perpetually in the View of my God; and be filled for ever with the Sweetness of his Prefence. Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the Beginning, &c.

Ant. Glorious Things are faid of Thee, thou City of the King of Heaven!

Alleluja.

Ant. If these imperfect Shadows fo fweetly please, how will the real Substance transport our Hearts! Alleluja.

B

HYMN IX.

Left be thy gracious Wisdom, O Lord, that fo mercifully ftoops to our low Conceits.

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Under these Veils thou hideft those glorious Mysteries; too high and spiritual for our Flesh and Blood,

Thou hideft, or rather, fo revealeft thy fublime Rewards; to take us with Things we most admire.

Septers and Crowns thou knowest are apt to win the Hearts of us thy Children:

Children, alas, too truly in ufeful Knowledge; O that we were fo in Love and Duty!

What is a Drop of Water to the boundlefs Ocean; or a Grain of Duft to this vaft Globe?

Such, O my God, and infinitely less, are the richest Kingdoms here below;

Should we compare their most pompous State, to the meaneft Degree in the Court of Heaven.

When thou haft fed us a while with Milk; thou inviteft our Appetite to stronger Meat.

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Thon telleft us of a fweet delicious Life in the bleft Society of Saints and Angels. With whom we fhall dwell in perpetual Friendship; and be loved and esteemed of them all for ever.

Thou telleft us of a pure Soul-ravishing Joy, to behold the amiable Face of Jesus; Whofe gracious Smiles fhine round about; and fill the Heavens with holy Gladnefs.

Thou telleft us ftill of incomparably higher Delights; hearken, O my Soul, and humbly adore thy God;

Whofe Bounty has provided thee large Rewards, fince they are no less than his very felf.

Himself he will clearly unvail before us; and openly fhew us that great Secret.

Ο

O happy Secret, if once at last attained; if once we but fee the Face of our God!

What is it, Lord, to fee thy glorious Face; but to know Thee as thou art in thine own Being?

To know the Immensity of thy Self-fubfifting Effence; and the infinite Excellence of all thy Attributes.

To know the Power of the eternal Father; and the Wisdom of the increated Son.

To know the Goodnefs of the Holy Ghoft; and the incomprehenfible Glories of the undivided Trinity.

This, O my Soul, is the Top of Happinefs; this is the fupreme Perfection of our Nature.

This, is alone the Aim of our Being; the Hope and End of all our Labours.

When we are come to this, we shall prefently reft; and our fatisfy'd Defires reach no farther.

We shall be filled with overflowing Bliss; and our utmost Capacities hold no more. But in one Act of Joy will be eternally fix'd; and that one Act fpring fresh for ever. Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the Beginning, &c.

Antiphon.

If these imperfect Shadows fo fweetly please, how will the real Subftance tranfport our Hearts! Alleluja.

D 2

Ant,

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