Cornelius a Lapide
To Jesus Christ, King of the Ages, Dictator of the Apocalypse, Α and Ω
A Hymn Drawn from Its Synopsis
Editorial Note
This is Lapide's closing hymn of praise composed from selected verses of the Apocalypse — one section per chapter, marked by Roman numerals I through XXII — interspersed with Psalm verses sung as antiphonal responses. It concludes Lapide's commentary on the Book of Revelation, and stands as the closing of his commentary on Sacred Scripture as a whole. The verses below are rendered in the Douay-Rheims English translation of the Latin Vulgate which Lapide quotes.
Give praise to the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.
Let them say so that have been redeemed by the Lord: for His mercy endureth for ever.
Let Israel now say that His mercy endureth for ever.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord: and I will exult in God my Jesus.
I.
The Apocalypse of Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you and peace from Him who is, and who is to come.
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth: who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.
And hath made us a kingdom, and priests to God and His Father: to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, He cometh with the clouds: and every eye shall see Him, and they also that pierced Him.
And all the tribes of the earth shall bewail themselves because of Him: even so. Amen.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
I John, your brother, and partaker in tribulation, and in the kingdom, and in patience in Christ Jesus, was in the island which is called Patmos: for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
I saw seven golden candlesticks, and in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks One like to the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the breasts with a golden girdle.
And He had in His right hand seven stars, and from His mouth came forth a sharp two-edged sword: and His face was as the sun shineth in His strength.
And when I had seen Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying: Fear not, I am the First and the Last.
And I was dead, and behold I am living forever and ever: and I have the keys of death and of hell.
Write therefore the things which thou hast seen, and which are, and which must be done hereafter.
II.
To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus write: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience.
But I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first charity.
Be mindful therefore from whence thou art fallen: and do penance, and do the first works.
To him that overcometh, I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of My God.
And to the Angel of Smyrna write: I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich.
Thou shalt have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.
And to the Angel of Pergamus write: I know where thou dwellest, where the seat of Satan is, and thou holdest fast My name: but I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaites.
In like manner do penance: if not, I will come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith… I will give him a white counter, and on the counter a new name written, which no man knoweth, but he that receiveth it.
And to the Angel of Thyatira write: I know thy last works, more numerous than the former.
But I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest the woman Jezabel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants, to commit fornication, and to eat of things sacrificed unto idols.
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and they that commit adultery with her shall be in very great tribulation: but to you I say: That which you have, hold fast till I come.
And he that shall overcome, and shall keep My works unto the end, I will give him power over the nations.
As I also have received from My Father: and I will give him the morning star.
III.
And to the Angel of Sardis write: Thou hast the name of being alive, and thou art dead.
Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I find not thy works full before My God.
Otherwise I will come to thee as a thief: and thou shalt not know at what hour I will come to thee.
He that shall overcome, shall thus be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life: and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.
And to the Angel of Philadelphia write: These things saith the Holy One and the True One, who hath the key of David: I know that thou hast a little strength.
Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon the whole world to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
He that shall overcome, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God: and he shall go out no more, and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
And to the Angel of Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen: I would that thou wert cold or hot! but because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of My mouth.
Because thou sayest: I am rich, and made wealthy, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried by fire.
Such as I love, I rebuke and chastise: be zealous therefore, and do penance.
To him that shall overcome, I will give to sit with Me in My throne: as I also have overcome, and have sat with My Father in His throne.
Let them give praise to the Lord for His mercies: and for His wonderful works to the children of men.
IV.
Behold, a throne was set in heaven; and One was sitting upon the throne. And He that sat was, in appearance, like to a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like the vision of an emerald.
And round about the throne, four and twenty ancients clothed in white garments and golden crowns.
And before the throne, as it were a sea of glass: and four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.
The first living creature like a lion, the second like a calf, the third having the face as it were of a man, the fourth like an eagle flying: each had six wings, and they rested not day and night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.
And the four and twenty ancients fell down, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, because Thou hast created all things.
V.
And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals.
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor to look thereon.
And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not; behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
And behold, a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: and He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat on the throne.
VI.
And when He had opened the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty ancients sang a new canticle, saying:
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: because Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God, in Thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.
And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the living creatures, and the ancients: and the number of them was thousands of thousands,
Saying with a loud voice: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and benediction.
And when the Lamb had opened the first seal, behold, a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given him, and he went forth conquering that he might conquer.
When He opened the second, there went out another horse that was red, and to him that sat thereon, it was given that he should take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another, and a great sword was given him.
When He opened the third, behold, a black horse, and he that sat on him had a balance in his hand.
When He opened the fourth, behold, a pale horse, and he that sat upon him, his name was Death, and hell followed him.
When He opened the fifth, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, crying: How long, O Lord, dost Thou not avenge our blood.
And white robes were given to every one of them, and it was said to them that they should rest yet a little time, till their fellow servants and their brethren, who are to be slain even as they, should be filled up.
When He opened the sixth, behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood.
And the stars from heaven fell, and the heaven receded as a book rolled up: and the kings, and the princes, and the rich men, and the mighty men, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains, saying:
Fall upon us, and hide us from the wrath of the Lamb; for who shall be able to stand?
I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: in the council of the just, and in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all His wills.
His work is praise and magnificence: and His justice continueth for ever and ever.
VII.
And I saw an angel ascending from the rising of the sun, crying: Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we sign the servants of our God in their foreheads.
And I heard the number of them that were sealed: a hundred and forty-four thousand were sealed, of every tribe of the children of Israel.
After this I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.
And the angel said to me: These are they who are come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell over them.
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall rule them, and shall lead them to the fountains of the waters of life: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
VIII.
And when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven, as it were for half an hour.
And I saw seven angels standing in the presence of God; and there were given to them seven trumpets.
And there were thunderings and voices, and lightnings, and a great earthquake.
And the first angel sounded the trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and it was cast on the earth, and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
And the second angel sounded the trumpet, and as it were a great mountain was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood, and the third part of the creatures and of the ships perished;
And the third angel sounded the trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, burning as it were a torch, whose name was Wormwood, upon the third part of the rivers, and turned them into wormwood, and many men died of the waters.
And the fourth angel sounded the trumpet, and the third part of the sun, and of the moon, and of the stars was struck.
O Lord our Lord, how admirable is Thy name in all the earth!
Great is the Lord and exceedingly to be praised, who ruleth over the earth, the sea, and all the depths: for Thy magnificence is elevated above the heavens.
And I heard the voice of an eagle flying through the midst of heaven: Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth!
IX.
And the fifth angel sounded the trumpet, and a falling star opened the bottomless pit, and there came out locusts to torment them who have not the sign of God on their foreheads.
In those days men shall seek death, and shall not find it.
The locusts were like horses prepared unto battle, they had faces of men, and crowns of gold on their heads, hair as the hair of women, teeth as of lions, breastplates of iron, tails as of scorpions; and over them a king, the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name was Abaddon.
And the sixth angel sounded the trumpet, and the four angels were loosed who were bound in the river Euphrates, to kill the third part of men.
And the number of the army of horsemen was twenty thousand times ten thousand.
And I saw the horses, and the riders had breastplates of fire, of jacinth, and of brimstone. And the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and from their mouths proceeded fire, and smoke, and brimstone.
Mercy and judgment I will sing to Thee, O Lord: for the Lord is high, a great King and terrible above all the earth.
Who did great things in Egypt, wonderful things in the land of Cham, terrible things in the Red Sea.
X.
And I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was on his head: and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.
And he swore by Him that liveth for ever and ever, that time shall be no longer.
And he said to me: Take the book and devour it; and I took it, and devoured it, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey, but my belly was made bitter.
XI.
It was said to me: Measure the temple, but not the court which is without: for it is given to the Gentiles, and they shall tread the holy city under foot two and forty months.
And I will give to My two witnesses: and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks; standing before the Lord of the earth.
And if any man will hurt them, fire shall come out of their mouths, and shall devour their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, in this manner must he be slain.
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast shall kill them: and after three days the spirit of life entered into them, and they rose again.
And they heard a great voice from heaven, saying to them: Come up hither; and they ascended into heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
And there was made a great earthquake: and the tenth part of the city fell, and there were slain in the earthquake seven thousand men.
And the seventh angel sounded the trumpet; and there were great voices in heaven, saying: The kingdom of this world is become our Lord's and His Christ's: and He shall reign for ever and ever. Amen.
And the temple of God was opened in heaven: and the ark of His testament was seen in His temple: and there were lightnings, and voices, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just: and glory, all ye right of heart.
Who shall declare the powers of the Lord? Who shall set forth all His praises?
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do justice at all times.
XII.
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
And behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and his tail drew the third part of the stars, and he stood ready to devour the son which the woman was about to bring forth: and she brought forth, and her son was caught up to God.
And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels, and they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth and to the sea! because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.
And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness.
And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman, water as it were a river: that he might cause her to be carried away by the river.
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the river, which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
XIII.
And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: and upon his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.
And I saw one of his heads as it were slain to death: and his deadly wound was healed. And all the earth was in admiration after the beast.
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. And power was given him over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation.
And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.
And he did great signs, so that he made even fire to come down from heaven unto the earth in the sight of men.
And he shall make that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six.
XIV.
And I beheld, and lo, a Lamb stood upon Mount Sion: and with Him a hundred forty-four thousand, having His name, and the name of His Father written in their foreheads.
And they sang as it were a new canticle before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the ancients: and no man could say the canticle, but those hundred forty-four thousand, who were purchased from the earth.
These are they who were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were purchased from among men, the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
And in their mouth there was found no lie: for they are without spot before the throne of God.
And I saw another angel crying: Fear the Lord, and give Him honour, because the hour of His judgment is come.
Adore Him that made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, and the fountains of waters.
If any man shall adore the beast, he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the sight of the holy angels: and the smoke of their torments shall ascend up for ever and ever.
And I heard a voice from heaven, saying to me: Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. From henceforth now, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours: for their works follow them.
And the angel thrust in his sharp sickle into the earth, and gathered the vineyard of the earth, and cast it into the great press of the wrath of God.
And the press was trodden without the city: and blood came out of the press, up to the horses' bridles, for a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered: and let them that hate Him flee from before His face.
XV.
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire, and them that had overcome the beast and his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
And singing the canticle of Moses, the servant of God, and the canticle of the Lamb, saying: Great and wonderful are Thy works, O Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, O King of the ages.
Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and magnify Thy name? for Thou alone art holy.
For all nations shall come, and shall adore in Thy sight; because Thy judgments are manifest.
XVI.
And I heard a great voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels: Go, and pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth: and there fell a sore and grievous wound upon the men who had the character of the beast, and upon them that adored the image thereof.
And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea, and there came blood as it were of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea.
And the third poured out his vial upon the rivers and the fountains of waters; and there was made blood.
And I heard the angel of the waters saying: Thou art just, O Lord, who art, and who wast: the Holy One, because Thou hast judged these things.
And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun, and it was given to him to afflict men with heat and fire.
And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom became dark, and they gnawed their tongues for pain.
And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon that great river Euphrates; and dried up the water thereof, that a way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun.
And the seventh angel poured out his vial upon the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple from the throne, saying: It is done.
And great hail, like a talent, came down from heaven upon men; and they blasphemed God.
Shout with joy to God, all the earth, sing ye a psalm to His name; give glory to His praise.
Say unto God: How terrible are Thy works, O Lord! Let all the earth adore Thee.
Come and see the works of God; who is terrible in His counsels over the sons of men.
XVII.
And he took me away in spirit into the desert, and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
And on her forehead a name was written, mystery; Babylon the great, the mother of the fornications and the abominations of the earth.
And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus; and I wondered, when I had seen her, with great admiration.
The Lord is the God of vengeance: the God of vengeance hath acted freely.
Lift up Thyself, Thou that judgest the earth: render a reward to the proud.
And here is the understanding that hath wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains, upon which the woman sitteth, and they are seven kings. Five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come: and when he is come, he must remain a short time.
And the ten horns which thou sawest, are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom; but shall receive power as kings one hour after the beast.
These shall fight with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, because He is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they that are with Him are called, and elect, and faithful.
XVIII.
And I saw another angel crying: Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every unclean spirit, and the hold of every unclean and hateful bird.
Because her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
As much as she hath glorified herself, and lived in delicacies, so much torment and sorrow give ye to her: because she saith in her heart: I sit a queen, and am no widow, and sorrow I shall not see.
Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine, and she shall be burned with the fire; because God is strong who shall judge her.
Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her.
XIX.
And I heard the voice of a great multitude, saying: Alleluia, let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath prepared herself.
And it was granted to her that she should clothe herself with fine linen, glittering and white; for the fine linen are the justifications of saints.
And he said to me: Write: Blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith to me: These words of God are true.
And I fell down before his feet, to adore him. And he saith to me: See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren who have the testimony of Jesus: Adore God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and with justice doth He judge and fight.
His eyes were as a flame of fire; He was clothed with a garment sprinkled with blood.
And the armies that are in heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in fine linen: and out of His mouth proceedeth a sharp two-edged sword. And He shall rule the nations with a rod of iron.
And He hath on His garment, and on His thigh written: King of kings, and Lord of lords.
And I saw an angel crying to the birds: Come, gather yourselves together to the great supper, that you may eat the flesh of kings, of freemen and of bondmen.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet; these two were cast alive into the pool of fire, burning with brimstone. And the rest were slain by the sword.
And I saw an angel, who bound Satan for a thousand years.
XX.
And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and they reigned with Christ a thousand years: This is the first resurrection.
And when the thousand years shall be finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go forth, and seduce the nations, which are over the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog.
And shall gather them together to battle, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
And there came down fire from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
And I saw a great white throne, and One sitting upon it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and there was no place found for them.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence of the throne, and the books were opened.
And another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the pool of fire.
This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein.
XXI.
And I, John, saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice from the throne, saying: Behold the tabernacle of God with men, and He will dwell with them.
And they shall be His people; and God Himself with them shall be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away.
He that shall overcome shall possess these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
And the city had a great wall and high, having twelve gates, and on the gates names written: which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
On the east three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations; and in them, the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The city lieth in a foursquare; and the length, and the breadth, and the height thereof are equal.
And the building of the wall thereof was of jasper stone: but the city itself pure gold, like to clear glass.
And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty is the temple thereof, and the Lamb.
And the city hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it. For the glory of God hath enlightened it.
And the nations shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour into it.
There shall not enter into it any thing defiled, or that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they that are written in the book of life of the Lamb.
Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, O Lord; they shall praise Thee for ever and ever.
XXII.
And He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the midst of the street thereof, and on both sides of the river, was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruits every month: and the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations.
And there shall be no curse any more: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
And they shall see His face: and His name shall be on their foreheads. And they shall reign for ever and ever.
He that hurteth, let him hurt still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is just, let him be justified still: and he that is holy, let him be sanctified still.
Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to his works.
I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
I, Jesus, have sent My angel, to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and stock of David, the bright and morning star.
And the Spirit and the bride say: Come. And he that heareth, let him say: Come. And he that thirsteth, let him come: and he that will, let him take the water of life, freely.
He that giveth testimony of these things, saith: Surely, I come quickly. Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus, come and lead us forth from the whirlwinds of the world, from this stormy sea, in which so many and so great suffer shipwreck, into the harbour of salvation. Come, Lord Jesus, transfer us from this wicked age into Thy heavenly kingdom; transfer us from this mortal life — nay rather, from this living death, in which we sons of Adam continually die, groan, and sigh with unutterable groanings — into Thy paradise, in which and unto which Thou didst first create us. Come, Lord; come, Jesus, carry us across from this exile into our fatherland, from earth into heaven, from death into life, from time into eternity, from mortality into blessed immortality, that my glory may sing unto Thee: «Thou hast cut my sackcloth, and hast compassed me with gladness.» Come, my Jesus; come, our salvation and our redemption; come, our Love, our Joy, the Spirit of our mouth, the Light of our eyes. Draw us after Thee, we shall run in the odour of Thy ointments, that in the heavenly Jerusalem we may be enrolled as fellow citizens of the saints, members of the household of God, Thy sons and heirs. For unto this Thou didst predestine us from eternity before all worldly times; unto this Thou didst create, redeem, call, and justify us in the time appointed by Thee, that after this present time, in Thy kingdom, in Thy holy city, throughout all ages, Thou mightest magnify and glorify us. Come, then, come, show us Thy face: that we may follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest, and enjoy Thee perpetually — we who now neither can nor will enjoy Thee — because Thou art the portion of our inheritance and of our cup. Ah, O Lord, may Thy day dawn and the shadows decline. For what have I in heaven, and besides Thee what have I desired upon earth? O God of my heart, and God my portion forever! Come, desire of the everlasting hills; come, exultation and jubilee of our heart. O true Charity, beloved Holiness, holy Happiness, happy Eternity that is ours! Amen.