Let the heaven exult with praises—­
  Let the earth resound with joy;
  The sacred solemnities sing
  The glory of the Lord. 
  O Thou just Judge of the age,
  And true light of the world,
  We pray Thee with the supplications of our hearts
  Hear the prayers of Thy suppliants,
  Thou who shuttest the heavens by a word,
  And loosest its bars. 
  Loose us by command, we beseech Thee,
  From all our sins. 
  Thou to whose word is subject
  The health and weakness of all,
  Cure us who are diseased in morals,
  Restoring us to virtue. 
  So that when Thou shalt come,
  The Judge at the end of the world,
  Thou mayest make us partakers
  Of eternal joy. 
  Glory to Thee, O Lord,
  Who wast born of a virgin,
  With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
  For ever and ever.  Amen.

Only for a moment let us see how peculiarly all these expressions are fitting in a hymn of prayer and praise {266} to our God and Saviour, recalling to our minds the words of inspiration; and then again let us put the question to our conscience, Is this language fit for us to use to a fellow-creature?

Let the heaven exult with praises, Let the heavens rejoice, and
Let the earth resound with joy:  let the earth be glad ... (exultet
                                      is the very word used in the Vulgate
                                      translation of the Psalm)—­before
                                      the Lord, for He cometh
                                      to judge the earth.—­Ps. xcvi
                                      (xcv). 11.

The holy solemnities sing Ye shall have a song, as in the
The glory of the Lord. night when a holy solemnity is
                                      kept ...  And the Lord shall cause
                                      His glorious voice to be heard. 
                                      Isa. xxx. 29.  Let the heaven
                                      and earth praise Him.  Ps. lxix
                                      (lxviii). 34.

Thou just Judge of mankind, All judgment is committed
And true light of the world, unto the Son.  John v. 22.  That
                                      was the true Light, which lighteth
                                      every man that cometh into
                                      the world.  John i. 9.

With the prayers of our hearts we With my whole heart have I
  pray Thee, sought Thee.  Ps. cxix (cxviii). 
Hear the prayers of Thy suppliants. 10.  Hear my prayer, O God. 
                                      Ps. lxi (lx). 1.  Whom have I in
                                      heaven but Thee?  Ps. lxxiii
                                      (lxxii). 25.  And this is the
                                      confidence that we have in Him,
                                      that if we ask any thing according to
                                      His will, He heareth us. 1 John
                                      v. 14.