OF THE Church and the Clergy. THE CONDUCT, ORDER, AND RITUAL OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. MORNING PRAYER. [VOL. e.] BY THE REV. W. H. PINNOCK, LL.D. CANTAB. Author of the Analyses of 'Scripture History,'' The Reformation,' 'Ecclesiastical History,' &c. CAMBRIDGE: PUBLISHED BY J. HALL AND SON; SOLD ALSO BY WHITTAKER AND CO., AVE MARIA LANE, LONDON; AND J. H. PARKER, OXFORD. M.DCCC.LVIII. PREFACE. THE absence of uniformity among the Clergy of the Church of England in conducting the Divine Services; arising, partly from the different interpretations given to the Rubrics of the Liturgy, and partly from the dominancy in some localities, and not in others, of certain ancient customs :-the want also of conformity in the members of the Congregations assembling in our Churches to the rules prescribed for them in the Book of Common Prayer-have been the reasons which have induced the Author to attempt an elucidation of the Laws and Usages affecting the Order and Ritual of Public Worship; in the hope that an impartial discussion of the Rubrical directions on the one hand, and a fair investigation of prevailing customs on the other, will not only check any ill-judged innovation on the part of the Clergy, but will remove likewise much unnecessary alarm from the minds of the People. SOMERSHAM RECTORY, Huntingdonshire. 1858. Che Order and Ritual OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 1. HAVING discussed the various Ritual matters involved in the preliminary portion of the Liturgy, we now arrive at "THE ORDER FOR MORNING PRAYER;" and in treating upon the Rubrics directing how the Services of our Church are to be conducted on the part of Minister and People, we trust we may not expose ourselves to the charge of detracting from the solemnity of Divine Worship, and the more essential elements of Public Prayer, by calling attention to such minutiæ, as the dress, deportment, posture, regulation of the voice, and other external accompaniments of the Church formularies. We feel that nothing connected with the worship of Almighty God is too trifling, or too insignificant, to engage our consideration ; more especially since we find that according to the propriety of manner, and seriousness of expression, displayed by the Officiating Minister in conducting Divine Service, so will the Congregation not only estimate the value which he sets upon the Services of the Church, but imbibe also a like sense of their excellence and importance. It should be the endeavour of the Minister of God to bring the minds of his people fully to appreciate the solemnity of Divine Worship, and to lead their feelings into thorough harmony with the prayers, praises, and thanksgivings, which they and he, together, are offering up to the Throne of Grace. No apology, therefore, |