7. The name, Mary, may have prompted the word _exalted_.

9. In this verse we can trace Zacharias=_God hath remembered_;
John=_God's mercy_; and Elizabeth=_God's oath_.

The Song of Hannah in 1 Sam. ii. exhibits many points of similarity and
contrast, when compared with this Hymn.

Benedicite.

The Canticle _Benedicite omnia Opera_ is so called from Latin words
meaning _Bless ye, all Works_.

Our Services were translated from the Latin Services used in our Church
for centuries before 1549: for Latin was the common language of
civilised Europe.

_Benedicite_ shares with other Canticles and with many parts of the
Services the custom of being known by its first words in the Latin
books.

We said that _Te Deum laudamus_ not only had its name from the Latin
Service Books, but is of Latin origin whether composed by Hilary of
Arles, Hilary of Poictiers, or Ambrose and Augustine. But
_Benedicite_, {79} though it has now a Latin name, is of Greek origin.
It is a translation of part of the Greek additions to the Book of
Daniel. In Daniel iii. the 23rd verse records how the Three Children
of Israel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (i. 6), having come to great
office in Babylon (ii. 49), and refused to fall down and worship the
golden image of Nebuchadnezzar (iii. 18), were cast into the midst of
the burning fiery furnace. The 24th verse proceeds thus:

"Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste," and
told his counsellors that he saw four men walking in the fire without
hurt.

At this point, between verses 23 and 24, there is a sort of pause in
the action. It might be filled up by a mark indicating that some short
time elapses. The Greek Version inserts 68 verses: consisting of a
prayer of Azariah (Abed-nego), a few verses of narrative, and 40 verses
of praise including the 32 verses which have been sung in the Church
Services of many countries and many centuries.

The Hymn calls upon all God's creatures to worship Him--collectively in
the first verse, afterwards in groups.

First group. Heavenly powers.

Second group. Earthly powers.

Third group. Earth and its component parts.

Fourth group. Men.

Notice first the leading verse of each group: 2. Angels--9. Winds
(_spiritus_)--18. Earth--26. Children of men. The classification in
the groups is evidently influenced by the 1st chapter of Genesis. In
_v._ 4 the Waters above the firmament (Gen. i. 7) are {80} divided from
the