Quorum praecepto subditur Praecepta quorum protinus Salus et languor omnium, Languor salusque sentiunt, Sanate aegros moribus, Sanate mentes languidas, Nos reddentes virtutibus.  Augete nos virtutibus.  Ut cum judex advenerit Ut cum redibit arbiter Christus in fine saeculi, In fine Christus saeculi, Nos sempiterni gaudii Nos sempiterni gaudii Faciat esse compotes.  Concedat esse compotes.  Deo Patri sit gloria, Jesu, tibi sit gloria Ejusque soli Filio, Qui natus es de virgine, Cum Spiritu paracleto, Cum Patre et Almo Spiritu, Et nunc et in perpetuum.  In sempiterna saecula.

Amen.  Amen. 
(H. 243.)
]

[Footnote 100:  Or as in the present Roman Breviary:—­

Let the world exult with joy,
Let the heaven resound with praise;
The earth and stars sing together
The glory of the Apostles. 
Ye judges of the ages
And true lights of the world,
With the prayers of our hearts we implore,
Hear the voices of your suppliants. 
Ye who shut the temples of heaven,
And loose its bars by a word,
Command ye us, who are guilty,
To be released from our sins; we pray. 
Ye whose commands forthwith
Sickness and health feel,
Heal our languid minds,
Increase us in virtues,
That when Christ, the Judge, shall return,
In the end of the world,
He may grant us to be partakers
Of eternal joy. 
Jesus, to thee be glory,
Who wast born of a virgin,
With the Father and the Benign Spirit,
Through eternal ages.  Amen. {264}
]

Many a pious and humble Catholic of the Roman Communion, I have no doubt, would regard these prayers as little more than an application to Peter and the rest of the Apostles for absolution, and would interpret its several clauses as an acknowledgment only of that power, which Christ himself delegated to them of binding and loosing sins on earth.  But the gulf fixed between these prayers, and the lawful use of the power given to Christ’s ordained ministers on earth, is great indeed.  To satisfy the mind of this, it is not necessary to enter upon even the confines of the wide field of controversy, as to what was really conveyed by Christ to his Apostles.  I would ask only two questions.  Could any of us address these same words to one of Christ’s ministers on earth?  And could we address our blessed Saviour himself in stronger or more appropriate language, as the Lord of our destinies—­the God who heareth prayer—­the Physician of our souls?

Suppose for example we were celebrating the anniversary of Christ’s Nativity, of his Resurrection, or his Ascension, what word in this hymn, expressive of {265} power, and honour, and justice, and mercy, would not be appropriate?  What word would not apply to Him, in most perfect accordance with Scripture language?  And can we without offence, without doing wrong to his great Name, address the same to our fellow-servants, even though we may believe them to be with Him in glory?