Rampolli by George MacDonald (a book to read TXT) 📖

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THE LITANY.

1. Chorus: Kyrie, 2. Chorus: Eleison.
1. Christe, 2. Eleison.
1. Kyrie, 2. Eleison.
1. O Christ, 2. Hear us! 1. Lord God, the Father in heaven, 1. Lord God, the Son, Saviour of the world, 1. Lord God, the Holy Ghost, 2. Have pity upon us. 1. Be gracious unto us. 2. Spare us, dear Lord God. 1. Be gracious unto us. 2. Help us, dear Lord God. 1. From all sins,
From all error,
From all evil, 2. Defend us, dear Lord God. 1. From the deceit and wiles of the devil,
From violent, sudden death,
From pestilence and famine,
From war and bloodshed,
From uproar and discord,
From fire and flood,
From hail and tempest,
From the eternal death, 2. Defend us, dear Lord God. 1. Through thy holy birth,
Through thy death-struggle and bloody sweat,
Through thy cross and death, 2. Help us, dear Lord God. 1. Through thy holy resurrection and ascension,
In our final distress,
At the last judgement, 2. Help us, dear Lord God. 1. We poor sinners pray 2. That thou wouldst hear us, dear Lord God! 1. And thy holy Church govern and lead.
All bishops, parsons, and clerks, keep in the wholesome word and holy life.
All factions and offences prevent.
All that wander and all that are led astray, bring back.
Tread Satan under our feet.
Into thy harvest send forth true labourers.
Give to the word thy spirit and power.
All that are troubled and faint-hearted help and comfort them.
To all kings and princes give peace and concord.
To our emperor grant constant victory over his enemies.
Our governors, and all their mighty ones, guide and defend.
Our council, school, and congregation, bless and protect.
To all in distress and on a journey, appear with help.
To all that are with child and that give suck, grant happy result and good success.
All children and sick persons foster and tend.
All prisoners loose and unburden.
All widows and orphans defend and provide for.
Take pity upon all men.
Our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, forgive and convert.
The fruits of the earth give and preserve;
And graciously hear us. 2. Hear us, dear Lord God. 1. O Jesus Christ, God's Son, 2. Have pity upon us. 1. O thou Lamb of God, that bearest the sins of the world, 2. Have pity upon us. 1. O thou Lamb of God, that bearest the sins of the world, 2. Have pity upon us. 1. O thou Lamb of God, that bearest the sins of the world, 2. Grant us lasting peace.
1. Christ, 2. Hear us.
1. Lord, 2. Have pity,
1. Christ, 2. Have pity,
1. 2. Lord, have pity. Amen.


III.

Peach to us in thy mercy grant;
In our times, Lord, it settle; Sure there is not another one
Able to fight our battle
Except thee, our Lord God, only.


XII. BAPTISM .

A SPIRITUAL SONG, CONCERNING OUR HOLY BAPTISM, WHEREIN IS BRIEFLY CONTAINED WHAT IT IS, WHO HAS INSTITUTED IT, WHERETO IT SERVES, &C.

To Jordan when our Lord had gone, His Father's pleasure willing, He took his baptism of St. John, His work and charge fulfilling; Therein he did appoint a bath To wash us from defilement, And there to drown that cruel Death In his blood of assoilment: 'Twas no less than a new life.

Let all then hear and right receive The baptism of the Father; And learn what Christians must believe, Shunning where heretics gather. Water indeed, not water mere Therein can work his pleasure: His holy Word is also there With Spirit rich, unmeasured: He is the one baptizer.

This clearly showed He by his word Of open recognition; The Father's voice men plainly heard At Jordan claim his mission. God said, This is my own dear Son In whom I am well contented; To you I send him, every one- That all may hear I have sent him, And follow what he teaches.

Also God's Son himself here stands In human presentation; On him the Holy Ghost descends In dove-like shape and fashion, That not a doubt should ever rise That, when we are baptized, All the three Persons do baptize; And they be recognized Themselves come to dwell with us.

Christ to his scholars says: Go forth, Give to all men acquaintance That lost in sin lies the whole earth, And must turn to repentance. Believe, and be baptized, and then Each man is blest for ever; From that hour he's a new-born man, And thenceforth, dying never, The kingdom shall inherit.

But who in this grace puts no faith Abides in sin, life misses; He is condemned to endless death Deep down in hell's abysses. Nothing avails his righteousness, And lost are all his merits; Sin original holds its place- The sin which he inherits; And help himself he cannot.

The eye but water doth behold As from man's hand it floweth; But inward faith the power untold Of Jesus Christ's blood knoweth: Faith sees therein a red flood roll, With Christ's blood dyed and blended, Which hurt of every kind makes whole, Whether from Adam heired Or by ourselves committed.


XIII. REPENTANCE .

THE HUNDRED AND THIRTIETH PSALM.

From trouble deep I cry to thee; Lord God, hear thou my crying; Thy gracious ear oh turn to me, Open it to thy sighing. For if thou mean'st to look upon The wrong and evil that is done, Who, Lord, can stand before thee?

With thee availeth nought but grace To cover trespass mortal; Our good deeds cannot show their face, In best life they come short all. Before thee no one glory can, And so must tremble every man, And live by thy grace only.

Hope therefore in my God will I, On my deserts nought founding; Upon him shall my heart rely, All on his goodness grounding. What his true word doth promise me My comfort shall and refuge be; That will I always wait for.

And if it last into the night, And last again till morning, Yet shall my heart hope in God's might, Despair and foresight scorning. Thus Israel must keep his post, For he was born of the Holy Ghost, And for his God must tarry.

Although our sin be great; God's grace Is greater to relieve us; His hand from helping nothing stays, Howe'er the hurt be grievous. The shepherd good alone is He, Who will at last set Israel free, From all and every trespass.


XIV. THE LORD'S SUPPER .

I.

A SONG OF ST. JOHN HUSS, IMPROVED BY DR. MARTIN LUTHER.

Christ Jesus, our Redeemer born, Who from us did God's anger turn Through his sufferings sore and main Help he us all out of hell-pain!

That we never should forget it, Gave he us his flesh, to eat it, Hid in poor bread, gift divine, And, to drink, his blood in the wine.

Who will draw near to that table, Must take heed, all he is able! Who unworthy thither goes, Thence death instead of life he sows.

God the Father praise thou duly, That he thee would feed so truly, And for ill deeds by thee done Up unto death has given his son.

Have this faith, and do not waver, 'Tis a food for every craver Who, his heart with sin opprest, Can no more for its anguish rest.

Such kindness and such grace to get Seeks a heart with labour great. Is it well with thee? take care Lest at last thou shouldst evil fare.

He doth say, Come hither, O ye Poor, that I may pity show ye: From the leech the sound will start, And make a mockery of his art.

Hadst thou any skill to offer Why for thee should I then suffer? Table this is not for thee If saviour thou thine own canst be.

If such faith thy heart possesses And the same thy mouth confesses, Fit guest then thou art indeed And so this food thy soul will feed.

But bear fruit, or lose thy labour: Take thou heed thou love thy neighbour, That thou food to him mayst be As thy God makes himself to thee.


II.

A SONG OF PRAISE.

Let God be blest, be praised, and be thanked, Who to us himself hath granted This his own flesh and blood to feed and save us! May we take right what he gave us:
Lord, be merciful to us. By thy holy body dead in shame, Lord, which from thy mother, Mary, came, And by thy holy blood Ease us, Lord, from all our load:
Lord, be merciful to us.

The holy body is for us laid lowly Down in death, that we live holy; No greater goodness he to us could render Than make us mind his love tender.
Lord, be merciful to us. Lord, thy love so great was, it hath driven Thee to death, and us great gifts hath given Our old debt it has paid, And God has gracious made:
Lord, be merciful to us.

God on us all his blessing free bestow now That we in his ways may go now, Right-hearted love and brother-truth ensuing, Never the Lord's supper ruing!
Lord, be merciful to us. Let thy good Ghost us not forsake, Let him make us the just way take That thy poor Christendom Into peace and union come!
Lord, be merciful to us.


XV. DEATH .

I.

In the midst of life, we are Aye in Death's embraces. Who is there who help us can And in safety place us? Lord, thou art he, thou only. From our ill deeds we sorrowing turn That have made thy anger burn. Holy, holy Lord God, Holy, mighty Lord God, Holy Saviour with the tender heart, Everlasting God,