Psalm
lxxix. 12.

We base our claim upon our forlorn condition, and appeal to God's mercy.
Note the repetition _merciful--mercifully--graciously--goodness_. The
temper of the prayer is of kin to Psalm lxix. which--especially in verses
13 to 21, and in its final thankfulness, as sure of God's help--may have
inspired its words and thoughts.

_Psalm xliv_. _1st and last verses_. Doubtless an abbreviation of the
whole psalm, which stood at the beginning of the 3rd Rogation Litany.

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If it be thought that the Gloria Patri occurs as a surprise in the
midst of these entreaties, we may notice (1) that all entreaties are
more real when they recognise truly the Majesty of God; and (2) that S.
Augustine's processional Litany when he came to Canterbury (A.D. 596)
concluded with Alleluia. "We beseech thee, O Lord, in all Thy mercy,
that Thy wrath and Thine anger may be removed from this city and from
Thy holy house, for we have sinned. Alleluia." (Taken from the 2nd
Rogation Litany), (3) the _Gloria Patri_ is always said after a Psalm
in the Services, and sometimes after parts of a Psalm.

Section iii. Appeal for help.

The eight versicles which follow next are addressed to Christ, and in
most editions of the Prayer Book are separated by a small space from
the Verse and Respond,

_Priest_. O Lord, let thy mercy, &c.
_Answer_. As we do put, &c.

These eight versicles were, even in 1544, distinguished from those two,
although they were then all marked to be said responsorially. In 1549
the direction for responsorial use was omitted for the eight verses,
and retained for the couplet which anticipates the next collect. We
may infer from this that it is intended that the eight verses should be
said, or sung, antiphonally. In the Sarum Use (3rd Litany for S.
Mark's Day), they were all to be said, first by the Minister, and
repeated by the People.

The eight versicles form a section by themselves, and have a different
setting from the sections which {172} precede and follow them. It was,
no doubt, intended to make this 3rd Section a very solemn appeal to
Christ, for help in all those difficulties and anxieties which have
been recited in Section i.; and to make this appeal more earnest,
_because_ of the evil plight which is acknowledged in Section ii.

The phrases are freely translated from the Latin of the Sarum Use,
suggested by a thorough knowledge of the Psalms, but not, we believe,
to be regarde