The text of this anthem is the epistle for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Philippians 4: 4–7:[2] Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.Let your moderation be known unto all men.
The Lord is at hand.Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
"Rejoice in the Lord alway", like many of Purcell's anthems, begins with a symphony (here called a prelude), which has been acclaimed for its "luminous part-writing" and "wonderful sheen".
In a passage of a more sober quality the bass sings "Be careful for nothing", then there is a homophonic evocation of "the peace of God which passeth all understanding", developed by the strings.
[9] The Chapel Royal's abandonment of the use of strings in the 1690s, as also the adoption of this anthem by many English and Irish cathedrals, made necessary its arrangement in various non-instrumental versions.