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net" of inveigling temptations, "which they," my ghostly adversaries, "have privily laid for me," sug

of mercy, "and hear me," being bowed down in misery, and the proper object of mercy : "make haste to deliver me:" Come, holy Je-gesting evil, under the show sus my Redeemer, come quickly to deliver me, that I fail not in my temptations and troubles.

3. "And be Thou my strong rock," that I may stand firm against every shock of temptation, "and my house of defence," like a house built upon a rock; sure is my defence, whilst my sure trust is in Thee; "that Thou mayest save In no other do I seek

me.

for salvation,

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and pretence of what is good: for Thou art my strength," against which no powers of earth or hell can prevail.

6. "Into Thy hands I commend my spirit." So prayed my Blessed Redeemer, when He gave up the ghost; and so will I ever say to Him Who died for me, "Into Thy hands," Who art mighty to save, "I commend my spirit," in all the concerns of its health and salvation. "For Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, Thou God of truth." O suffer not that soul to perish, which Thou so dearly hast purchased.

Glory be to God the Father, Who hath created me and all the world: Glory be to God the Son,

Who hath redeemed me and all mankind : Glory be to God the Holy

Ghost, Who hath sanctified me, and all the elect people of God.

PSALM XCI.

To be used at this time by the direction of St. Basil.

Ver. 1. "Whoso dwelleth," and flitteth not, but continueth "under the defence of the Most High," in a holy and humble confidence of the protection of the most high God of Heaven, "shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty," be continually protected by Him Who hath all might and power to defend and therefore,

2. "I will say," not with my lips only, but with an affectionate heart "unto the Lord," Who seeth and inclineth to the secret desires of the soul; "Thou art my hope," even all the happiness I hope for: "and my strong-hold," against all my weaknesses and defects: "my God, in Him will I trust;" not presuming upon any power that is either in or from myself, or from any other. Doubt not then, O my soul;

3. "For He shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter," that great pursuer of souls into sin and death, the devil: "and from the noisome pestilence," the pestilential tongues of scoffers, detractors, slanderers, &c.

4. "He shall defend thee under His wings" of merciful protection, "and thou shalt be safe under His feathers;" as the hen gathereth her chickens under her feathered wings, when any storm or danger appears: "His faithfulness and truth" in keeping promise with His people, "shall be thy shield and buckler" against all the fiery darts of the devil.

5. "Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night," of any terrifying dreams, or black illusions suggested by the spirits of darkness: nor for the arrow that flieth by day," more open assaults of the devil.

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6. "For the pestilence that walketh in darkness," such diseases as secretly and in the night-season do unperceivably infect either the soul or body: nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day," which do more openly and in the daytime seize and consume this mortal life.

7. "A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand;"

many shall fall away into error and into sin, to their ruin, who presumed to be numbered among the sheep of Christ, on His right hand; "but it shall not come nigh thee," thou shalt not thus miserably fall either into sin or condemnation.

8. "Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the ungodly," to thine unspeakable consolation, not for their distress, but that thou hast escaped the same recompense of evil

works.

9. "For Thou, Lord, art my hope;" and whilst He is so, O my soul, "Thou hast set Thy house of defence very high," for it is settled in Him Who dwelleth in the high and holy Heavens: and therefore thou mayest be confident, that

10. "There shall no evil," either of sin that is mortal, or of punishment that is eternal," happen unto thee," casually befall thee, but through thine own fault: "neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling," any temporal evils to afflict thee, but for thy good.

11. "For He shall give His Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways:" are they not

b Heb. i. 14.

all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them that shall be heirs of salvation?

12. "They shall bear thee in their hands," be ready at hand powerfully to assist thee, "that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone," stumble and fall not upon any rock of offence.

13. "Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet." All the apostate crew of evil angels, with all their poisonous infusions, thou shalt overcome and subdue : so the Lord promises also, "behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions," &c. And the reason is added, saying,

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14. Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him :" all things work together for good to them that love Godd: "I will set him up" above his enemies round about: "because he hath known My Name," his knowledge being enspirited with love and obedience.

15. "He shall call upon Me" to have a heart to pray rightly and reverently, is a great blessing: "and I

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will hear him," so as to grant the request of such as call upon Me faithfully: yea, "I am with him in trouble;" and when his faith and patience, humility and obedience, are throughly tried, "I will deliver him" out of all his troubles, "and bring him to honour," promote him in the land of the living: For,

16. With long life will I satisfy him," a life replete with all fulness of satisfaction; "and shew him My salvation," or, manifest Myself unto him, in Whose

presence joy, &c.

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O remember me according to Thy favour Thou bearest unto Thy people: and visit me with Thy salvation.

That I may see the felicity of Thy chosen, and rejoice in the gladness of Thy people: and give thanks with Thine inheritance, who cease not, day and night, saying,

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

THE SONG OF SIMEON,

Which is said by the Church at this hour, as herein we commend ourselves unto the Lord, and desire we may both sleep and die in peace.

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1. Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace" peace, in life and death, sleeping and waking, is the portion of the Lord's servant alone; for there is no peace, saith the Lord, to the wicked; "according to Thy word." It was God's promise, he should not die, till he had seen the Messias in the flesh.

2. "For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." The Saviour of the world is seen,

as Man, only with the eyes of flesh; but as both God and Man, by the eye of faith.

3. "Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;" God was made Man, that the eyes of all flesh might see in Whom to believe, and Whom to follow as the Light of the world.

4. "To be a light to lighten the Gentiles," who sat in darkness, and in the shadow

e Isaiah xlviii. 22.

of death; "and to be the glory of Thy people Israel." The greatest of all the wonderful mercies shewed by God to His old people the Israelites, was, that of them Christ was born, and exhibited in the flesh.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

The Prayer.

Lighten my darkness, O Lord, Whose mysterious Incarnation and Nativity is the light of the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel; and by Thy great mercy defend me from all the perils and dangers of this night. O blessed Lamb of God, That takest away the sins of the world, grant me Thy peace, even peace with God, and peace with man; peace of conscience at home upon earth, and peace of the long home of Heaven: such a peace the world cannot give; it is only attainable from Thee, and by Thee, and through Thee, the Prince of Peace, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, &c.

In the order of our Church devotions, after this

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Song of Simeon follows the Creed; for since the end of our faith is the salvation of our souls, it is very fit then that we both begin and end the day in the confession of the faith: and as the Church in public, so every devout Christian in private, who resolves to die in the true faith, will not go to sleep without it, but will say, before he go to bed, not slightly and customarily, but reverently and understandingly,

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son, &c.

All this I stedfastly believe; into this faith I was baptized, and in this faith it is the hearty desire of my soul, and shall be my constant endeavour, to continue unto my life's end.

Grant me, blessed Lord, in the profession of this faith, " to war a good warfare, and to finish my course;" that after this mortal life is ended, "I may receive from the Author and Finisher of our faith, the crown of righteousness, which is laid up," I believe and hope, "for me," as "for all those that love His appearing."

12 Tim. iv. 7, 8.

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