O PRAISE the LORD from the heavens: * praise him in the heights.
 
Praise him, all ye angels of his: * praise him, all his host.
 
Praise him, sun and moon: * praise him, all ye stars and light.
 
Praise him, all ye heavens, * and ye waters that are above the heavens.
 
Let them praise the Name of the LORD: * for he spake the word, and they were made; he commanded, and they were created.
 
He hath made them fast for ever and ever: * he hath given them a law which shall not be broken.
 
Praise the LORD from the earth, * ye dragons and all deeps;
 
Fire and hail, snow and vapours, * wind and storm, fulfilling his word;
 
Mountains and all hills; * fruitful trees and all cedars;
 
Beasts and all cattle; * creeping things and flying fowls;
 
Kings of the earth, and all peoples; * princes, and all judges of the world;
 
Young men and maidens, old men and children, praise the Name of the LORD: * for his Name only is excellent, and his praise above heaven and earth.
 
He shall exalt the horn of his people: all his saints shall praise him; * even the children of Israel, even the people that serveth him.

O PRAISE God in his sanctuary: * praise him in the firmament of his power.
 
Praise him in his noble acts: * praise him according to his excellent greatness.
 
Praise him in the sound of the trumpet: * praise him upon the lute and harp.
 
Praise him in the timbrels and dances: * praise him upon the strings and pipe.
 
Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals: * praise him upon the loud cymbals.
 
Let every thing that hath breath * praise the LORD.

Surely vain are all men by nature, who are ignorant of God, and could not out of the good things that are seen know him that is: neither by considering the works did they acknowledge the workmaster; But deemed either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the violent water, or the lights of heaven, to be the gods which govern the world. With whose beauty if they being delighted took them to be gods; let them know how much better the Lord of them is: for the first author of beauty hath created them. But if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let them understand by them, how much mightier he is that made them. For by the greatness and beauty of the creatures proportionably the maker of them is seen. But yet for this they are the less to be blamed: for they peradventure err, seeking God, and desirous to find him. For being conversant in his works they search him diligently, and believe their sight: because the things are beautiful that are seen. Howbeit neither are they to be pardoned. For if they were able to know so much, that they could aim at the world; how did they not sooner find out the Lord thereof?

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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