23. He brought down my strength in my journey and shortened my days.

24. But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age: as for Thy years, they endure throughout all generations.

25. Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.

26. They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

27. And as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.

28. The children of Thy servants shall continue: and their seed shall stand fast in Thy sight.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

Against Envy.

Ps. cxxx. De profundis, p. clviii. Against Sloth.

Ps. cxliii. Domine, exaudi, p. cxli.

(4.) I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. Alleluia! -Cant. ii. 1.

(5.) Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thon among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb. Alleluia !-St. Luke i. 28, 42.

The Chapter, Gen. iii. 14, 15. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.

Ry. Thanks be to God.

Hymn.

VIRGIN-BORN! we bow before Thee!

Blessed was the womb that bore Thee!
Mary, mother meek and mild,
Blessed was she in her Child!

Blessed was the breast that fed Thee!
Blessed was the hand that led Thee!
Blessed was the parent's eye

the Lord the God of Israel hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. Alleluia !-Ezek. xliv. 2. In the Ry. to the Chapter, instead of Thou That sittest, &c., is said the V. Thou Who didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.

AT TERCE.

Antiphon (2). As the vine brought I forth pleasant Savour, and I am the mother of Fair Love. Alleluia! -Ecclus. xxiv. 17, 18.

The Chapter, Gen. iii. 14, 15. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.

Ry. As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. y. For He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet. Ry. In Christ shall all be made alive. V.

Virgin-born! we bow before Thee!
Blessed was the womb that bore Thee!
Mary, Virgin-Mother mild,
Blessed was she in her Child!

Honour, laud, and glory be,
JESU, Virgin-born, to Thee;
To the FATHER, as is meet,

And the Blessed PARACLETE. Amen.

V. And her Child was caught up unto God, and to His Throne.

Ry. And the dragon was wroth with the woman..-Rev. xii. 5, 16. Antiphon to Benedictus, (as in the

Proper Service of the Season). The Collect as at the First Vespers.

AT PRIME.

Antiphon (1). This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because

Son and to the Holy Ghost. R. As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.-1 Cor. xv. 22, 25.

men.

. Blessed art thou among wo

R. And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb. The Collect as at the First Vespers.

AT SEXT.

Antiphon (3). Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun? Alleluia!-Cant. vi. 10.

The Chapter, Exod. iii. 2. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Moses in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and behold the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

R. The Lord shall rehearse it when He_writeth up the people. . That He was born there. R. When He writeth up the people. Y. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. R. The Lord shall rehearse it when He writeth up the people. Ps. lxxxvii. 6.

y. While the King sitteth at His table.

R. My spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.-Cant. i. 12. The Collect as at the First Vespers.

AT NONE.

Antiphon (4). I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. Alleluia !-Cant. ii. 1.

The Chapter, Isa. vii. 14. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel.

R. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem,

and be glad with her all ye that love her. V. The Lord hath chosen Sion to be an Habitation for Himself. R. And be glad with her all ye that love her.. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost. R. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her.-Isa. lxvi. 10; Ps. cxxxii. 14.

y. Full of grace are thy lips.

R. Because God hath blessed thee for ever.

The Collect as at the First Vespers.

The Second Vespers as the First, except that with the Antiphons of Lauds are said,

Ps. cx. Dixit Dominus, p. cxlviii. Ps. cxiii. Laudate pueri, p. cxlix. Ps. cxxii. Lætatus sum, p. clv. Ps. cxxvii. Nisi Dominus, p. clvii. Ps. cxlvii. 10. Lauda Hierusalem, p. clxviii.

dows? . They were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies. R. And as the doves to their windows. Y. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost. R. Who are these that fly as clouds, and as the doves to their windows ?-Isa. lx. 8; Lam. iv. 7.

Hymn, Annue Christe.
O CHRIST, Thou Lord of worlds!
Thine ear to hear us bow
On this the festival
Of Thine Apostle now:
That all the weary load
Of many a foul offence
May, as we sing his praise,
Be lost in penitence.

Redeemer! save Thy work,
Thy noble work of grace,
Seal'd with the holy light
That beameth from Thy face:
Nor suffer them to fall
To Satan's wiles a prey,
For whom Thou didst on earth
Death's costly ransom pay.

Pity Thy flock, enthrall'd
By sin's captivity;
Forgive each guilty soul,
And set the bondmen free:
And those Thou hast redeem'd
With Thine own precious blood,
Grant to rejoice with Thee,
Thou Monarch kind and good.
O JESU, SAVIOUR blest
And gracious LORD, to Thee,
All glory, virtue, power,
And laud and empire be :
The FATHER with like praise,
And SPIRIT we adore;

With whom Thou reignest GOD,
For ages evermore. Amen.

y. Their sound is gone out into

all lands.

Ry. And their words unto the ends of the world.-Ps. xix. 4.

Antiphon to Magnificat, (if not in the Proper Service of the Season). Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for behold, your reward is great in heaven.-St. Luke vi. 22, 23.

Psalms as on Sundays and Feast-days.

(2.) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.-St. John xv. 13. (3.) Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. St. John xv. 14.

(4.) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.-St. Matt. v. 8.

(5.) In your patience possess ye your souls.-St. Luke xxi. 19.

The Chapter, Eph. ii. 19, 20.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets.

Ry. Thanks be to God.

Hymn, Eterna Christi munera. TH' ETERNAL gifts of CHRIST the KING,

Th' Apostles' glorious deeds, we sing; And while due hymns of praise we

of the Season.

AT LAUDS.

V. Thou hast given an heritage.
R. Unto those that fear Thy

Name, O Lord.-Ps. lxi. 5.

Th' unconquer'd hope that never faints,

The love of CHRIST that knows not shame,

The Prince of this world overcame.

In these the FATHER'S glory shone,
In these the will of GOD the SON;