England's Prayer-Book; A Short Expositionof the Services

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872. Excerpt: ... word Rubrica, which means red. These directions being formerly, and now frequently printed in red characters; they are distinguished from the text by appearing in a smaller type. Of the Rubrics before the Sentences, and the Sentences themselves. This Rubric commands the officiating Minister to read with a loud voice the sentences which follow. This is a very necessary direction, for previous to the Reformation the Priest and people used to repeat the Lord's Prayer and the Creed in secret. The first English Book of Common Prayer, ordained that the Priest being in the Choir shall begin with a loud voice the Lord's Prayer. But seeing that Prayer requires so much attention and preparation of mind, our Reformers wisely judged that the Service of the Church should commence with certain appropriate passages selected from Holy Scripture. Before thou prayest prepare thyself, and be not as one that tempteth the Lord, says the Book of Ecelesiasticus (xviii. 23). And the wise man also said Let not thy heart be hasty to utter any word before God (Ecclesiastes v. 2). As the Jews were instructed to meditate in silence before commencing their devotions in the Synagogue, and as in the early Church the leader of the congregation prepared their minds for Prayer by an introductory address, so now the Church begins her ministrations as the Saviour began His mission upon earth, by urging men to repent and believe the Gospel. The first sentence is addressed to those who are of the humble spirit of the Publican; the last, to self-righteous Pharisees, who fancy that they are without sin; the general tendency of the sentences is to call to repentance. For sin unrepented of disqualifies men for Prayer, and prevents their petitions being accepted at the Throne of Grace. Th...