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TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER

TRINITY.

A

MERCY.

PARAPHRASE OF PSALM IV.

NSWER me when I call,
God of my righteousness;
In straits and in distress,
Thou did'st me disenthrall

And set at large; now spare,

Now pity me, and hear, my earnest prayer.

In peace at once will I

Both lay me down and sleep;

For Thou alone dost keep

Me safe where'er I lie;

As in a rocky cell

Thou Lord, alone, in safety mak'st me dwell.

Milton.

T

HE quality of Mercy is not strain'd;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd; It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown: His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But Mercy is above this scepter'd sway:
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings:
It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's,
When mercy season's justice. Therefore,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,—
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for Mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of Mercy.

Shakspeare.

"Be ye merciful, even as your Father which is in Heaven is merciful."

WH

HY, all the souls that were, were forfeit once,
And He that might the 'vantage best have
took,

Found out the remedy. How would
you be,
If He, who is the top of judgment, should
But judge you as you are? O, think on that;
And Mercy then will breathe within your lips
Like man new made.

Shakspeare.

PARAPHRASE

OF

JEREMIAH, CHAP. IX., VEKSES 23, 24.

ET not the wise man glory in his wisdom,Let not the rich man glory in his riches,Let not the mighty glory in his might But in only this: let him that glorieth, glory That he knoweth the Lord, the Lord of infinite Mercy,

Who executeth on the earth

His loving-kindness and His righteousness.

Southey.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

THOU

HOU to whom all power is given,
Here on earth, above in heaven;

Jesus! Saviour! mighty Lord!
Be Thy holy name adored.

In our hearts all sovereign reign;
All the world be Thy domain !
May redeemed man, we pray Thee,
Like th' angelic hosts, obey Thee!

Thou who dost the ravens feed,
Grant us all our bodies need ;
Thou in whom we move and live,
Daily grace sustaining give.

Pardon us our sins confessing,
Keep us from afresh transgressing;

220

SUNDAY READINGS.

May we pardon one another,
As becomes a sinning brother.
In temptation's dreadful hour,
Shield us with Thy gracious power;
From Satan's wiles our hearts defend,
Saviour! Comforter! and Friend!
Glory to Thee on earth be given,
Christ our King, the Lord of Heaven!
Glory to Thee, great First and Last,
When this world and time are past!

Archbishop Whately.

GOD,

EVENING HYMN.

IOD, that madest earth and heaven,
Darkness and light,

Who the day for toil hast given,
For rest the night;

May Thine angel-guards defend us;
Slumber sweet Thy mercy send us;
Holy dreams and hopes attend us,
This livelong night!

Guard us waking, guard us sleeping;
And when we die,

May we, in Thy mighty keeping,

All peaceful lie.

When the last dread trump shall wake us,
Do not Thou, our Lord, forsake us,

But to reign in glory take us

With Thee on high.

FINIS.

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