First hymn.  “Thee, Joseph, let the companies of heaven celebrate; thee let all the choirs of Christian people resound; who, bright in merits, wast joined in chaste covenant with the renowned Virgin.  Others their pious death consecrates after death; and glory awaits those who deserve the palm.  Thou alive, equal to those above, enjoyest God, more blessed by wondrous lot.  O Trinity, most High, spare us who pray; grant us to reach heaven [to scale the stars] BY THE MERITS OF JOSEPH, that at length we may perpetually offer to thee a grateful song.” [Te Joseph celebrent agmina coelitum.  V. 485.]

Second hymn.  “O, Joseph, the glory of those in heaven, and the sure hope of our life, and the safeguard {254} of the world, benignly ACCEPT THE PRAISES WHICH WE joyfully sing TO THEE....  Perpetual praise to the most High Trinity, who granting to thee honours on high, give to us, BY THY MERITS, the joys of a blessed life.” [Coelitum, Joseph, Decus.  V. 486.]

Third hymn.  “He whom we, the faithful, worship with joy, whose exalted triumphs we celebrate, Joseph, on this day obtained by merit the joys of eternal life.  O too happy!  O too blessed! at whose last hour Christ and the Virgin together, with serene countenance, stood watching.  Hence, conqueror of hell, freed from the bands of the flesh, he removes in placid sleep to the everlasting seats, and binds his temples with bright chaplets.  Him, therefore, reigning, let us all importune, that he would be present with us, and that he obtaining pardon for our transgressions, would assign to us the rewards of peace on high.  Be praises to thee, be honours to thee, O Trine God, who reignest, and assignest golden crowns to thy faithful servant for ever.  Amen.” [Iste, quem laeti colimus fideles.  V. 490.]

It is painful to remark, that in these last clauses the very same word is employed when the Church of Rome applies to Joseph to assign to the faithful the rewards of peace, and when she ascribes glory to God for assigning to his faithful servants crowns of gold.  Indeed these hymns contain many expressions which ought to be addressed to the Saviour alone, whose “glory is in the heavens,” who is “the hope of us on earth,” and “the safeguard of the world.”

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Under this fourth head I will add only one more specimen.  Would it were not to be found in the Roman {255} Liturgies since the Council of Trent:  God grant it may ere long be wiped out of the book of Christian worship!  It is a collect in which the Church of Rome offers this prayer to God the Son:—­

“O God, whose right hand raised the blessed Peter when walking on the waves, that he sank not; and rescued his fellow-apostle Paul, for the third time suffering shipwreck, from the depth of the sea; mercifully hear us, and grant that by the merits of both we may obtain the glory of eternity.” [H. 149.]