Newman Reader - Tracts for the Times - Tract 75

§ 6. Matin Service for March 21.

{135} Bishop Ken's day

[For Social or Private Devotion.]

O Lord, open Thou my lips.
    And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
O God, make speed to save me.
    O Lord make haste to help me.
        Glory be, &c.
        As it was, &c. Amen.
Praise to Thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory.

(a) Invitatory with
Psalm 95.
Vide pp. 17 & 21.

O come, let us worship the Lord, the King of Confessors.
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us heartily re-
joice, &c.

(b) Hymn

    In witness of his Lord,
        In humble following of his Saviour dear,
    This is the man to wield the unearthly sword,
        Warring unharmed with sin and fear.

    Who, Lord, uncalled by Thee,
        Dare touch Thy Spouse, Thy very self below?
    Or who dare count him summoned worthily,
        Except Thine hand and seal he show?

    Where can Thy seal be found,
        But on the chosen seed from age to age,
    By Thine anointed heralds duly crowned,
        As kings and priests, Thy war to wage?

Or this.

    Lord, and what shall this man do?
        Ask'st thou, Christian, for thy friend?
    If his love for Christ be true,
        Christ hath told thee of his end:
    This is he whom God approves,
    This is he whom Jesus loves. {136}

    Ask not of Him more than this,
        Leave it to his Saviour's breast,
    Whether early called to bliss,
        He in youth shall find his rest,
    Or armed at his station wait,
        Till his Lord be at the gate.

    Gales from heaven, if so He will,
        Sweeter melodies can wake,
    On the lonely mountain rill,
        Than the meeting waters make,
    Who hath the Father and the Son,
        May be left, but not alone.

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NOCTURN I.

(c) Antiphon	Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord.
Psalm 1. (1)	Blessed is the man that, &c.
(c) Antiphon	Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.
(d) Antiphon	Desire of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance.
Psalm 2. (2)	Why do the heathen, &c.
(d) Antiphon	Desire of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy pos- session. Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron.
(e) Antiphon	Thou, O Lord, art my worship.
Psalm 3. (3)	Lord, how are they, &c.
(e) Antiphon	Thou, O Lord, art my worship, and the lifter up of my head. I did call upon the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill.
(1) Verse and Response	The Lord loved him and adorned him. And clothed him in a robe of glory.
The Lord's Prayer (privately.)	Our Father, &c. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. {137}
Absolution 1.	O Lord Jesus Christ, mercifully hear the supplications of Thy people, and grant us Thy peace all the days of our life, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Benediction 1.	Reader.—Sir, be pleased to bless us. Minister.—The Lord bless us and keep us. Amen.
Lesson 1. 1 Tim. iii. 1-6.	This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work. A Bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous: One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Thanks be to God.
Response 1.	Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Lord, Thou deliveredst unto me five talents, behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Benediction 2.	Reader.—Sir, be pleased to bless us. Minister.—The Lord make His face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us. Amen.
Lesson 2. Tit. i. 7-11.	For a Bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to con- vince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision. {138} Whose mouth must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Thanks be to God.
Response 2.	Let Thy Thummim and Thy Urim be with Thy holy one, whom Thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom Thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; they shall put incense before Thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon Thine altar. Bless, Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again: They shall put incense before Thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon Thine altar.
Benediction 3.	Reader.—Sir, be pleased to bless us. Minister.—The Lord lift up His countenance upon us, and give us peace. Amen.
Lesson 3. Tit. ii. 1-8.	But speak thou the things which become sound doc- trine. That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. In all things showing thyself pattern of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Thanks be to God.
Response 3.	Let the saints be joyful with glory, let them rejoice in their beds, let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a two- edged sword in their hands: to bind their kings in chains, and their nobles with links of iron. {139} That they may be avenged of them, as it is written, Such honour have all His saints. To bind their kings in chains, and their nobles with links of iron. Glory be, &c. To bind their kings in chains, and their nobles with links of iron.

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NOCTURN II.

(g) Antiphon	Thou hast put gladness in my heart.
Psalm 4. (4)	Hear me when I call, &c.
(g) Antiphon	Thou hast put gladness in my heart, since the time that their corn, and wine, and oil increased.
(h) Antiphon	Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness.
Psalm 5. (5)	Ponder my words, &c.
(h) Antiphon	Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness, because of mine enemies; make Thy way plain before my face.
(i) Antiphon	Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength.
Psalm 8. (6)	O Lord, our Governor, &c.
(i) Antiphon	Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength, because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
(j) Verse and Response	The Lord hath chosen Him as a priest unto Himself. To sacrifice to Him the offering of praise.
The Lord's Prayer (privately.)	Our Father, &c. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
Absolution 2.	Grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the com- fort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Benediction 4.	Reader.—Sir, be pleased to bless us. Minister. —The love of God be upon us now and for ever.
Lesson 4.	Thomas Ken, the son of an ancient family, was born at Berkhamstead, in Hertfordshire, in the year of grace, 1637, {140} and educated at Winton and Oxford, on the foundation of William of Wykeham, of famous memory, some time Bishop of Winton. Admitted into holy orders, he commenced a course of preaching at St. John's church, near Winton, where there was no preacher, with so blessed an effect, that many Anabaptists came over to the Church, and received baptism at his hands. That he might have time for these active duties, for study also, and for prayer, he restricted himself to but one sleep, rising at one or two of the clock in the morning, and sometimes sooner; which practice grew into a habit, and continued with him almost till his last illness. After a while he was made chaplain to the king's niece, the Princess of Orange, and passed over to Holland; where, after gaining her entire esteem for his most prudent behaviour and strict piety, he fell under the displeasure of the Prince, for inter- fering with one of his courtiers, who had seduced a young English gentlewoman, and was eventually obliged to leave the royal service. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Thanks be to God.
Response 4.	Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of Thy word. I will speak of Thy testimonies also, even before kings, and will not be ashamed. But my heart standeth in awe of Thy word.
Benediction 5.	Reader.—Sir, be pleased to bless us. Minister.—The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon us, now and for ever. Amen.
Lesson 5.	Afterwards, when he was at Winton, in his Prebendal house, the king came thither with his court and mistress, whom his harbingers ordered to be lodged where Ken dwelt; but fearing God more than the face of the king, he refused her admittance, and obliged her to seek another lodging. And herein was seen how winning is holy severity, even with those who suffer for it; for a vacancy soon occur- ring in the see of Bath and Wells, the king himself, as his own especial act, named Ken to fill it; and he was con- secrated thereunto out St. Paul's day, in the year 1684. Moreover, during the king's last illness, he was admitted to his chamber, and gave close attendance at his bedside for at least three whole days and nights, without any in- termission, watching at proper intervals to suggest pious {141} thoughts and prayers; in which time one of the King's mistresses coming in, the Bishop prevailed with him to have her removed, and induced him further to send for the Queen, and ask her forgiveness for his long infidelity. And though he was not able to do all he had wished for his dying Sovereign, he did all that was allowed him. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Thanks be to God.
Response 5.	Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried: and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.
Benediction 6.	Reader.—Sir, be pleased to bless us. Minister.—The fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us now and for ever. Amen.
Lesson 6.	When the King's brother succeeded to the throne, Ken showed his loyalty to him indeed, but in word was free spoken. At length, when the King advanced in daring, the Bishop refusing to submit the conduct of the Church to his pleasure, and mindful of the rights of Christ's heritage, was in consequence committed, together with six of his brethren, to the Tower, on a charge of treason. Afterwards, when the King and his family were dethroned for arbitrary doings, he showed his true loyalty to him by refusing to acknowledge the new dynasty, and lost his station in the state rather than violate his allegiance. Being driven from his see by the civil power, he died in obscurity in the year 1710. Thus he gave to Cæsar the things that be Cæsar's, and to God the things that be God's. He was as meek, gentle, and affectionate in his bearing, as he was bold in the cause of the Gospel; and he took his troubles cheerfully and lightly. He possessed, in an especial way, that most excellent gift of charity. Once, when four thousand pounds fell to his see, he gave great part of it to the French Protestants then under persecution; and, when he was deprived, all his means, after the sale of goods at his palace and elsewhere, was not more than seven hundred pounds. When state interests interfered with the prosperity of the Church in Scotland, he said, he conceived great hopes that God would have compassion on the English branch of it, if she did but compassionate and support her sister: and he gave {142} testimony concerning his belief shortly before his death, saying that he died in the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith, professed by the whole Church before the disunion of east and west. Such was Ken, a burning and shining light, bringing back primitive times. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Thanks be to God.
Response 6.	I said I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and in vain; yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword: in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me. Surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. Glory be, &c. Surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

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NOCTURN III.

(k) Antiphon	Lord, he shall dwell in Thy tabernacle.
Psalm 15. (7)	Lord, who shall dwell, &c.
(k) Antiphon	Lord, he shall dwell in Thy tabernacle: he hath led an uncorrupt life, he hath done the thing that is right.
(l) Antiphon	He asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest him a long life.
Psalm 21. (8)	The king shall rejoice, &c.
(l) Antiphon	He asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest him a long life: glory and great worship shalt Thou lay upon him: Thou shalt set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
(m) Antiphon	He shall receive the blessing from the Lord.
Psalm 24. (9)	The earth is the Lord's, &c.
(m) Antiphon	He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righte- ousness from the God of his salvation; for this is the generation of them that seek him.
(n) Verse and Response	The key of David will I lay upon his shoulder. He shall open and none shall shut, and He shall shut and none shall open.
The Lord's Prayer (privately.)	Our Father, &c. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. {143}
Absolution 3.	Grant to us, merciful Lord, that, whereas we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, Thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Benediction 7.	Reader.—Sir, be pleased to bless us. Minister.—The reading of the Gospel be to us salvation and a defence. Amen.
Lesson 7. Luke xxii. 25-30.	And he said unto them, The Kings of the Gentiles exer- cise lordship over them: and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger: and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temp- tations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
(From the works of Jeremy Taylor, Bishop.)	The nature of honour is to be a reward of virtue; and by how much greater the reward is, by so much the greater is the honour which is conferred. What honour shall it then be, when God shall give unto those who served Him, not only to tread upon the stars, to inhabit the palaces of honour, to be lords of the world, but, transcending all that is created, and finding nothing among his riches sufficient to reward them, shall give then His own Infinite Essence, to enjoy, as a recompence of their holiness, not for a day, but to all eternity. O happy labour of the victorious, and glo- rious combat of the just, against the vices and temptations of the world, when victory deserves so inestimable a crown! How great shall be that glory, when a just soul shall, in the presence of an infinite number of angels, sit in the same throne with Christ: and shall, by the just sentence of God, be praised for a conqueror over the world, and the invisible powers of hell! What can it desire more, than to be par- taker of all those Divine goods, and even to accompany Christ in the same throne? How cheerfully do they bear {144} all afflictions for Christ, who with a lively faith and certain hope apprehend so sublime honours. Thou, then, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Thanks be to God.
Response 7.	Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the Angels of God. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne. Him shall the Son of man also confess before the Angels of God.
Benediction 8.	Reader.—Sir, be pleased to bless us. Minister.—Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Lesson 8.	If the applause of men, and the good opinion which they have from others, be esteemed an honour, what shall be the applause of heaven, and the good opinion not only of Saints and Angels, but of God himself, whose judgment cannot err? David took it for a great honour, that the daughter of his king was judged a reward of his valour; God surpasses this, and honours so much the service of his elect, that He pays their merits with no less a reward than Himself. Be- sides this, he who is most known, and is praised and cele- brated for good and virtuous by the greatest multitude, is esteemed the most glorious and honourable person: but all this world is a solitude in respect of the citizens of heaven, where innumerable angels approve and praise the virtuous actions of the just; and they likewise are nothing: and all creatures, men, and angels, are but a solitary wilderness, in respect of the Creator. What man so glorious upon earth, whose worth and valour hath been known to all? Those who were born before him could not know him; but the just in heaven shall be known by all, past and to come, and by all the angels, and by the King of men and angels. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Thanks be to God.
Response 8.	In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, and their de- parture is taken for misery, but they are in peace. Though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. But they are in peace. Glory be to the Father, &c. But they are in peace. {145}
Benediction 9.	Reader.—Sir, be pleased to bless us. Minister.—The Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. Amen.
Lesson 9.	The honour of the just in heaven depends not, like that of the earth, upon accidents and reports, nor is exposed to dangers, or measured by the discourse of others; but in itself contains its own glory and dignity. The Romans erected statues unto those whom they intended to honour; because, being mortal, there should something remain after death, to make their persons and services, which they had done to the common weal, known to posterity; but in heaven there is no need of this artifice, because those, which are there honoured, are immortal, and shall have in themselves some character engraved, as an evident and clear token of their noble victories and achievements; what greater honour than to be friends of God, sons, heirs, and kings in the realm of heaven?
Te Deum	We praise Thee, O God; we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship Thee: the Father everlasting. To Thee all angels cry aloud; the heavens, and all the Powers therein, &c.

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