 | Devotions in the ancient way of offices |  |
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Saturday Vespers.
Hymn XXVII.
[Lord, what a pleasant life were this]
Lord, what a pleasant life were this,
If all did well their parts:
If all did one another love
Sincerely with their harts!
If all did well their parts:
If all did one another love
Sincerely with their harts!
No Suits of law, no noise of war
our quiet minds would fright:
No fear to lose, no care to keep
What justly is our right.
our quiet minds would fright:
No fear to lose, no care to keep
What justly is our right.
No envious thought, no sland'ring tongue
Would e're disturb our peace:
We should help them, and they help us,
And all unkindnes cease.
Would e're disturb our peace:
We should help them, and they help us,
And all unkindnes cease.
But the All-wise chose other laws,
And thought it better so:
He made the world, and sure he knows
What's best with it to do.
And thought it better so:
He made the world, and sure he knows
What's best with it to do.
'Tis for our good, that all this ill
Is suffer'd here below:
Tis to correct those dangerous sweets,
That else would poyson grow.
Is suffer'd here below:
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That else would poyson grow.
So storms are rais'd to clear the ayr.
And chase the clouds away:
So weeds grow up to cure our wounds,
And all our pains allay.
And chase the clouds away:
So weeds grow up to cure our wounds,
And all our pains allay.
How often, Lord, do we mistake,
When we our plots design!
Rule Thou herafter thine own world,
Only Thy self be mine.
When we our plots design!
Rule Thou herafter thine own world,
Only Thy self be mine.
Or rather, Lord, let me be thine;
Else I am not mine own:
Give me Thy self, or take Thou me,
Undone if left alone.
Else I am not mine own:
Give me Thy self, or take Thou me,
Undone if left alone.
To Thee great God of heav'n and earth!
Each knee for ever bow:
May all thy Blessed sing above,
And we adore below.
Each knee for ever bow:
May all thy Blessed sing above,
And we adore below.
| Devotions in the ancient way of offices | |