gent searchers out of evil counsels have failed.' A Man came to these very counsels, and suffered himself to be laid hold upon, as Man. For he could not have been held had he not been Man: neither could he have been seen, had he not been Man; nor been scourged, had he not been Man; nor been crucified, nor died, had he not been Man. As Man therefore, he came to all these sufferings, which would have availed naught against him, had he not been Man. But had he not been Man, man could nowise have been redeemed. He came, as Man, 'to a deep mind,' that is, to a secret mind; showing the Manhood to the eyes of men, and keeping the Godhead hidden within: concealing the form of God, wherein he is equal to the Father, and presenting the form of a servant, wherein he is inferior to the Father.

was

R. Our Shepherd hath withdrawn himself, the Fountain of living water at whose departure the sun darkened: * For he also is led captive, who had taken captive our first parent: to-day hath our Saviour broken the gates of death, and burst the bars thereof asunder. V. He hath destroyed the bonds of hell, and hath overthrown him that had the power of death. For he also.

Lesson V.

HOW far did they carry those dili

gent searchings, wherein they

failed so much, that even after the Lord was dead and buried, they set a watch over the sepulchre ? For they said to Pilate, 'That deceiver' (by the which name the Lord Jesus Christ was called, to the comfort of his servants when they are called deceivers), 'that deceiver,' say they to Pilate, 'said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch."

R. Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see, * If there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. V. Behold, and consider my reproach, O all ye people. If there be.

T

Lesson VI.

HEY set a watch of soldiers over the sepulchre. The earth shook : the Lord rose again. Such wonders were wrought about the sepulchre

that the very soldiers who kept watch might be witnesses thereto, would they declare the truth. But the same covetousness that led captive a disciple and fellow of Christ enslaved also the guard set to watch his tomb. 'We will give you money,' said the chief priests, and say ye, that his disciples came and stole him away while ye slept.' Verily 'the diligent searchers out have failed.' What is this thou sayest, O sterile cunning? Dost thou so far forsake the light of prudence and justice, and plunge thyself so deep in guile, as to speak thus: 'Say ye that his disciples came and stole him away while ye slept?' Thou callest upon sleeping witnesses: surely thou hast fallen asleep thyself, seeing thou hast 'failed in searching out' so notable a

matter.

R. Behold how the righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and godly men are taken away, and no man considereth: the righteous is taken away from that which is evil, * And he shall enter into peace. V. As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth: he was taken from prison and from judgment. And he. Behold.

Nocturn III.

Antiphon. Behold, + God is my helper the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

Psalm 54. Deus, in Nomine. AVE me, O God, for thy Name's sake, and avenge me in thy strength.

SAVE

Hear my prayer, O God; * and hearken unto the words of my mouth.

For strangers are risen up against me, and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul.

Behold, God is my helper: * the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

He shall reward evil unto mine enemies : * destroy thou them in thy truth.

An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, O Lord: because it is so comfortable.

For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble: * and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

Antiphon. Behold, God is my helper the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

Antiphon. At Salem + is his tabernacle, and his dwelling in Sion.

Psalm 76. Notus in Judaea.

IN Jewry is God known : * his Name is great in Israel.

At Salem is his tabernacle, * and his dwelling in Sion.

There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, the sword, and the battle.

Thou art of more honor and might* than the hills of the robbers.

The proud are robbed, they have slept their sleep: * and all the men whose hands were mighty have found nothing.

At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, * both the chariot and horse are fallen. Thou, even thou art to be feared:* and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry?

Thou didst cause thy judgment to be heard from heaven; * the earth trembled and was still,

When God arose to judgment, * and to help all the meek upon earth.

The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise: ✶ and the fierceness of them shalt thou refrain.

Promise unto the Lord your God, and keep it, all ye that are round about him; bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

He shall refrain the spirit of princes and is wonderful among the kings of the earth.

Antiphon. At Salem is his tabernacle, and his dwelling in Sion.

Antiphon. I have been + even as a man that hath no strength ; * free among the dead.