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V.

PRAYERS OF THE EARLY CHURCH.

TE DEUM LAUDAMUS.

Ascribed to St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, born about 340. [See ST. AUGUSTINE.]

"Te Deum laudamus; te Dominum confitemur. "Te æternum Patrem omnis terra venera

tur.

"Tibi omnes angeli, tibi cœli et universæ potestates,

"Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim, incessabili voce proclamant,

"Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth,

"Pleni sunt cæli et terra majestatis gloriæ tuæ

"Te gloriosus apostolorum chorus;

"Te prophetarum laudabilis numerus! "Te martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus. "Te per orbem terrarum, sancta confitetur ecclesia,

"Patrem immensæ majestatis :

"Venerandum tuum verum, et unicum Filium : "Sanctum quoque Paracletum Spiritum. "Tu rex gloriæ Christe:

"Tu patris, sempiternus es Filius.

"Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti virginis uterum:

"Tu devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna cælorum.

"Tu ad dextram Dei sedes: in gloria Patris. "Judex crederis esse venturus :

"Te ergo, quæsumus, tuis famulis subveni, quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.

"Eterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.

"Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine: et benedic hæreditati tuæ.

"Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in æternum. "Per singulos dies benedicimus te.

"Et laudamus nomen tuum, in sæculum: et in sæculum sæculi.

"Dignare Domine, die isto: sine peccato nos

custodire.

"Miserere nostri Domine: miserere nostri. "Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadomdum, speravimus in te.

"In te Domine speravi: non confundar in æternum."

THE PRAYER OF POLYCARP ON BEING BROUGHT TO THE STAKE.

Polycarp, put to death in 166 A. D. had seen the Apostles, and been instructed by St. John the Evangelist. According to the church traditions, the beloved disciple consecrated him to the work of the ministry.

During the persecution of Marcus Aurelius, he was brought before the pro-consul at Smyrna, and commanded to curse Christ.

"Six and eighty years," said the faithful disciple, "have I served him, and he has done me nothing but good. How could I curse my Lord and Saviour!"

The populace gathered fuel with which to burn him; he refused to be fastened to the stake, but contemplated the preparations for his death

with a serene and happy spirit, and prayed triumphantly:

"Thou God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom I have received the knowledge of Thee! O God of the angels and powers, and of every living creature, and of all sorts of just men which live in Thy presence, I thank Thee that Thou hast graciously vouchsafed this day and this hour to allot me a portion among the number of martyrs, among the people of Christ, unto the resurrection of everlasting life; among whom I shall be received in Thy sight, this day, as a fruitful and acceptable sacrifice, wherefore, for all this, I praise Thee, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee through the everlasting High Priest, Jesus Christ, Thy well-beloved Son; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all glory, world without end. Amen."

THE OLDEST PRAYER IN METRE FOR CHIL

DREN.

In Book III., of Clement of Alexandria, is given the most ancient hymn of the primitive church. It is a prayer for children.

Clemens or Clement, of Alexandria, was born about the middle of the second century. He was appointed presbyter of the church of Alexandria about 190 A. D., and died about 217 A. D.

A recent writer says of this hymn: "Though all the images here are quaintly interwoven, like a stained window, of which the eye loses the design in the contemplation of colors, we may surely trace, in quaint, old letters on a scroll, winding through all the mosaic of tints CHRIST ALL IN ALL."

The prayer appears about 150 years after the apostles, but may be of even earlier origin.

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