Newman Reader - Tracts for the Times - Tract 75

§ 7. Service in Commemoration of the Dead in Christ.

{146} [It is perhaps scarcely necessary to observe, that the complaints and supplications contained in the Psalms and Lessons selected, are introduced in memory of those temporal miseries, especially in sickness and dying, from which death opens an escape. On the subject of the state of the Dead, vide No. 5 of Mr. Dodsworth's recent Sermons.]

FIRST VESPERS

Antiphon	Behold, O Lord, how that I am Thy servant.
Psalm 116. (l) (Instead of Glory be, &c.)	I am well pleased, &c. With thee is the well of life. And in Thy light they shall see light.
Antiphon	Behold, O Lord, how that I am Thy servant; Thou hast broken my bonds in sunder.
Antiphon	My soul hath long dwelt among.
Psalm 120. (2)	When I was in trouble, &c. With Thee, &c. And in Thy, &c.
Antiphon	My soul hath long dwelt among them that are enemies unto peace.
Antiphon	The Lord shall preserve Thee from all evil.
Psalm 121. (3)	I will lift up mine eyes, &c. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	The Lord shall preserve Thee from all evil; yea, it is even He that shall keep Thy soul.
Antiphon	I look for the Lord.
Psalm 130. (4)	Out of the deep, &c. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	I look for the Lord, my soul doth wait for Him.
Antiphon	Though I walk in the midst of trouble.
Psalm 138. (5)	I will give thanks unto Thee, &c. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt Thou refresh me. {147}
(fff) Verse and Response	I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.
(ggg) Ant.	All that the Father giveth Me.
Magnificat	My soul doth magnify, &c. Glory be, &c.
Ant.	All that the Father giveth Me, shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.
The Lord's Prayer (privately.)	Our Father, &c. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
Psalm 146.	Praise the Lord, O my soul, &c. With Thee is the well of life. And in Thy light shall they see light. In the valley of the shadow of death. They shall fear no evil. Into Thy hands we commend their spirit. For Thou hast redeemed them, O Lord, Thou God of truth. Lord hear our prayer. And let our cry come unto Thee. The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit.
	Let us pray. O God, the Maker and Redeemer of all believers, grant to all Thy servants a merciful judgment at the last day, that they, in the face of all creatures, may then be acknowledged as Thy true children, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son Christ our Lord, grant us grace to follow Thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity, we give Thee hearty thanks for that it pleased Thee, as on this day, to deliver our dear brother out of the miseries of this sinful world; beseeching Thee that it may please Thee of Thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of Thine elect, and to hasten Thy kingdom, that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith of Thy holy name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in Thy eternal and ever- lasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. {148} O God, merciful and faithful, the aid of all that trust in Thee, keep safely under the shadow of thy wings our- selves, our relations, and friends, and all believers, even Thy whole Church, that we may enjoy Thy presence alway, and increase in Thy Holy Spirit more and more, till we come to Thine everlasting kingdom, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. With Thee is the well of life. And in Thy light shall they see light. May their souls rest in peace. Amen.

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MATINS

	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. Amen. Hallelujah.
(a) Invitatory	Let us worship the Lord of spirits: for all live unto Him.
Psalm 95.	O come, let us sing, &c. With Thee is the well of life. And in Thy light shall they see light.

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NOCTURN I.

Antiphon	In Thy fear will I worship.
Psalm 5.	Ponder my words, &c.
Antiphon	With Thee, &c. In Thy fear will I worship towards Thy Holy Temple.
Antiphon	The Lord hath heard my petition.
Psalm 6.	O Lord, rebuke me not, &c. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	The Lord hath heard my petition, the Lord will receive my prayer. {149}
Antiphon	We will rejoice.
Psalm 20.	The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble, &c. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	We will rejoice in Thy salvation, and triumph in the name of the Lord our God.
(f) Verse and Response	In the valley of the shadow of death. They shall fear no evil.
The Lord's Prayer (privately.)	Our Father, &c.
Lesson 1. Job ix. 11-20.	Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Response 1.	I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand on the latter day upon the earth; and in my flesh shall I see God. Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. And in my flesh shall I see God.
Lesson 2. Job x. 1-7.	My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; show me wherefore thou contendest with me. Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? {150} Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth? Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days? That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin? Thou knowest that I am not wicked: and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.
Response 2.	I should utterly have fainted, but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. O tarry thou the Lord's leisure: be strong and He shall comfort thine heart, and put thou thy trust in the Lord. I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Lesson 3. Job x. 14-22.	If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity. If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction; For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion; and again thou showest thyself marvellous upon me. Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me! Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me! I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little. Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
Response 3.	The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. {151} With thee is the well of life, And in thy light shall we see light. They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

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NOCTURN II.

Antiphon	He shall feed me.
Psalm 23. (4)	The Lord is my shepherd, &c. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	He shall feed me in a green pasture.
Antiphon	Mine eyes are ever looking.
Psalm 25. (5)	Unto Thee, O Lord, will I lift up my soul. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	Mine eyes are ever looking unto the Lord, for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Antiphon	In the time of trouble.
Psalm 27. (6)	The Lord is my light, &c. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His tabernacle.
(j) Verse and Response	Let the Saints be joyful with glory. Let them rejoice in their beds.
The Lord's Prayer (privately.)	Our Father, &c.
Lesson 4. Job xiii. 20-28.	Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide my- self from thee. Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid. Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me. How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. {152} Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest nar- rowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth-eaten.
Response 4.	Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plagued us, and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity. Show Thy servants Thy work, and their children Thy glory. For the years wherein we have suffered adversity.
Lesson 5. Job xvi. 7-22.	But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company. And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me, beareth wit- ness to my face. He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. They have gaped upon me with their mouth, they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully, they have gathered themselves together against me. God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark. His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground. He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant. I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. My face is foul with weeping, and on my eye-lids is the shadow of death; Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure. O earth, cover thou not my blood, and let my cry have no place. Also, now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. {153} Oh that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
Response 5.	My God hath sent his Angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths that they have not hurt me. Forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; He hath shut the lions' mouths that they have not hurt me.
Lesson 6. Job xiv. 1-10.	Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one. Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass. Turn from him that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
Response	Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light. And the days of thy mourning shall be ended. For the Lord shall be thine everlasting light. With thee is the well of life, &c. For the Lord shall be thine everlasting light. {154}

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NOCTURN III.

Antiphon	He brought me out.
Psalm 40. (7)	I waited patiently, &c.—With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	He brought me out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay.
Antiphon	Heal my soul.
Psalm 41. (8)	Blessed is he, &c.—With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	Heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.
Antiphon	My soul is athirst.
Psalm 42. (9)	Like as the hart, &c.—With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God; when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
(n) Verse and Response	O deliver not the soul of Thy turtledove unto the multi- tude of the enemies. And forget not the congregation of the poor for ever.
The Lord's Prayer (privately.)	Our Father, &c.
Lesson 7. Job xvii. 11-16.	My days are passed, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. They change the night into day: the light is short be- cause of darkness. If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother and my sister. And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
Response 7.	Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Together with my dead body shall they come.
Lesson 8. Job xix. 20-27.	My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for God hath touched me. Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? {155} Oh that my words were now written, oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead, in the rock for ever! For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Response 8.	If Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it? but there is mercy with Thee, Wash me throughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. But there is mercy with Thee.
Lesson 9. Jonah ii. 2-10.	I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heard- est my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul; the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapt about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains: the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities, forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanks- giving; I will pay that that I have vowed: salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
Response 9.	I am the Resurrection and the Life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Though he were dead, yet shall he live. {156} With Thee is the well of life, &c. Though he were dead, yet shall he live.

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LAUDS

Antiphon	Cast me not away.
Psalm 51. (1)	Have mercy upon me, &c. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Antiphon	Have I not remembered Thee?
Psalm 63. (2)	O God, Thou art my God, &c. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	Have I not remembered Thee in say bed, and thought upon Thee when I was waking?
Antiphon	I am like a green olive tree.
Psalm 52. (3)	O God, thou art my God, &c. With Thee, &c. I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; my trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever.
Antiphon	The living, the living, he shall praise Thee.
Song of Ezekias (4) Is. xxxviii. 10-20.	I said, in the cutting off of my days I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years, &c. I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world. Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shep- herd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me. I reckoned till morning, that as a lion so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me. Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove; mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me. What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. {157} Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life, in the house of the Lord. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day.
Antiphon	Let every thing that hath breath.
Ps. 148, 149, & 150. (5)	O praise the Lord of heaven. With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.
(v) Verse and Response	I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Blessed are they that die in the Lord.
(w) Antiphon	I am the Resurrection and the life.
Benedictus	Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, &c With Thee, &c.
Antiphon	I am the Resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me, shall never die.
The Lord's Prayer (privately.)	Our Father, &c.
Psalm 126.	When the Lord turned again, &c. The Service terminates with the Collects and Sentences used at Vespers, p. 147, 148.
	With Thee is the well, &c. May their souls rest in peace. Amen.

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