THE BIBLICAL LITURGY. TO WHICH IS APPENDED THE LITURGY OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND (ABRIDGED), For the use of Churches, Schools, Homes, and Hospitals, COMPILED BY DAVID THOMAS, D.D. Compiler of "Augustine Hymn Book," Editor of the "Homilist," &c. Seventh Thousand. MUSICALLY ARRANGED BY REV. S. MARCH, M.A., CHRIST CHURCH, SYDENHAM, PROLOGUE. [In this Edition the Compiler has availed himself of the suggestions of various critics, including those of the late REV. THOMAS BINNEY, who it is well known was favourable to the use of a Liturgical Service.] The "he "BIBLICAL LITURGY" is not prepared for any particular Church either Conformist or Nonconformist. Excellent as the Anglican Liturgy is, there is a strong and increasing desire amongst many of its admirers for such a modification as will relieve its irksome repetition, and furnish variety. The compiler ventures to think that a little blending occasionally of parts of the "Biblical Liturgy" would greatly heighten the interest, and increase the attraction, and usefulness of the Episcopal form of worship. Clergymen, it is believed, will also find it of special service in the conduct of week day worship in Mission Halls and School Rooms. Being entirely Scriptural, there could be, it is thought, no theological or ecclesiastical objection to its use anywhere by them. But in Nonconformist Churches, such a help is perhaps more urgently needed. Complaints against the formality, dulness, and in some cases irreverence, in what are called "free prayers" in Dissenting congregations, are becoming more general and emphatic every day. Not that the "Biblical Liturgy" supersedes free prayer, on the contrary, it provides space for it, and supplies the highest considerations to stimulate and direct it. Its object is to stir up the whole assembly to plead, personally and importunately, the Great Father of Spirits. Nor is the " BIBLICAL LITURGY" suited for Churches only, it is adapted for Hospitals, Homes, and Schools, Sunday and day, public and private Schools. The compiler can scarcely imagine a more effective way of instructing children in the leading doctrines of the Bible, interesting them in the great subjects of religion, and inspiring their young hearts with devotion, than the responsary reading and chanting of these Services. Teachers and parents will undoubtedly find it a valuable auxiliary in their endeavours to promote the spiritual culture of their young charge. The service for the Visitation of the Sick will, it is hoped, make this volume a welcome visitor in every hospital and sick chamber. The passages were collected by the compiler when a great sorrow urged him to search the Holy Book for such Divine utterances as were suited to administer light and comfort, in dying hours, to one who had been the loving and faithful sharer of his sorrows and joys for upwards of thirty years. The "BIBLICAL LITURGY" as a help to worship, whilst it avoids the superseding extemporaneous prayer, all injustice to the sense of Scripture, and all tendency to formality of worship, secures the following special advantages:-(1). It draws at the outset of each service the mind of the congregation to the One Great Object of worship, thus it gives unity and depth of impression concerning God. One idea of the Eternal runs through each service. (2). It promotes in the congregation a Scriptural knowledge of the cardinals of our faith. It makes Scripture the interpreter of Scripture, and each service is a scriptural exposition of some one theological subject. (3). It presents those elements of Biblical truth which have a special relation to the Spiritual sensibilities of the soul. The Bible contains two distinct classes of truth, the didactic and the devotional. In these services the latter is brought into promi nence as well as the former, The grandest and most soul stirring passages of the Bible are brought into use. (4). It chants only those scriptural expressions that are of universal and permanent applica tion. In many of the Psalms as well as in other poetic parts of the Holy Book, there is much that is only local and temporary in meaning, and some utterances that are questionable in spirit and morality. In most of the chant books, even of Nonconformist Churches, these objectionable utterances are used. In one of the most popular, for example we have such utterances as these "That they have been consumed by the blow of God's hand:" that "They are a wonder unto many:" that "Their horn is exalted like the horn of a unicorn :" that "They are anointed with fresh oil:" that "Their bones are burned as a hearth:" that "They forget to eat their bread:" that "They are like pelicans in the wilderness, and owls in the desert:" that "They are like sparrows on the house tops; and besides much more like this, they are made to pour forth horrid imprecations upon their enemies: "Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul:" "Let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt." Where in common sense or Scripture is the authority for chanting in Christian Churches such expressions as these? "HOLLY BUSH," Loughboro' Park, London. " A WORD ON CHANTING, BY THE MUSICAL EDITOR. CHANTING suitable words of Scripture is at once the most delightful, instructive, and ennobling act of Divine worship. It is, moreover, the most impressive and the easiest form of public praise in which large congregations can readily unite. The object of a congregation in chanting the Psalms of the Bible, should ever be the distinct utterance in appropriate musical tone of the sentiment of the words of the Psalm. It will facilitate the attainment of this object to remember thatCHANT ING IS ONLY MUSICAL READING. Two opposite extremes should be carefully avoided, irreverent haste, and formal sluggish dragging. In training a class or congregation to chant, much time will be saved by teaching the music correctly before attempting the words. This may be done by any congregation in two minutes, under a wise teacher, singing each note to the word "all." Then let it be observed that the words and the music are divided by bars (1) which indicate the note to which each syllable is to be sung. Having the first tone distinctly in mind, let the words be read off in that tone, CALMLY, DISTINCTLY, SIMULTANEOUSLY, observing the same accent and emphasis as in correct reading. If the recitative (that is the part of the line before the first bar) be long, observe the stops carefully, but without exaggeration, and pass easily to the cadence (that is the part after the first bar), still observing the same time as in correct reading. The careful observance of these suggestions will enable a congregation to chant the Psalms as EASILY and as QUICKLY as they could be read, and with an impressiveness and power which the mere reading, either by minister alone or by minister and congregation alternately, can never secure. "O sing unto the Lord, sing Psalms." "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." S. M. Considerable reduction will be made to those who purchase by the hundred, by application to the compiler. |