The Universalist Manual

THE

UNIVERSALIST MANUAL.

PUBLIC WORSHIP.

A recommended manner of conducting public worship in the denomination of Universalists, on occasions when no regular Minister of the order is present.

Let some suitable person among the brethren be chosen, or requested, to lead in the services; and let him commence by reading a chapter, or select portion of the holy Scriptures; giving notice where the chapter or portion may be found. This being finished, let him, according to usual custom, read a hymn, and let the same be sung by the choir, or other persons present, as may be convenient. Let the person leading then offer a prayer, either extempore, if he be competent and so disposed, or else in the use of one of the forms of prayer for public worship, set forth in this book; or in the use of one of the forms for public devotion prepared with Responses which follow these suggestions, as may be most agreeable. After this, another hymn may be sung. Then let a printed sermon, previously selected, be read, either by the person conducting the services, or by some other suitable person present. After the sermon, a hymn may again be sung, and the services be closed with a short prayer and benediction, or with the benediction only, as may be thought expedient.

A form of public services, with responses by the people, either for the morning or afternoon.

After the reading of a chapter from the Bible, followed by the first singing, as is customary, the minister, or person leading, may proceed with the services by pronouncing two or three of the following select sentences of Scripture; or such others as he may think appropriate.

"The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." Hab. ii. 20.

"From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of Hosts." Mal. i. 11.

"Who is like unto thee, O Lord, amongst the gods? who is like unto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? The Lord shall reign for ever and ever." Ex. xv. 11-18.

"Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear before thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee." Rev. xv. 3, 4.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint." Is. xl. 31.

"Rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." Joel ii. 13.

"To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God,

to walk in his laws, which he set before us." ix. 9, 10.

Dan.

"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." Luke xv. 18, 19.

"Seeing that we have a great high-priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. iv. 14—16.

"The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. John iv. 2, 24. "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Matt. iv. 10.

The minister may then address himself to the congregation in some such manner as the following:

Beloved brethren, ye see how urgently the Scriptures require it of us, both as a bounden duty, and a most desirable privilege to worship the Lord our God, to reverence and adore him on account of his greatness and the glory of his perfections, and especially for his goodness and mercy, which endure for ever, and are over all the works of his hands; and which have been so graciously and so wonderfully manifested to the children of men.

And as we are assembled together at this time, unitedly to offer our devotions unto him, the Father of our spirits, to confess our sins before him, to render thanks for the great benefits we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as

the soul; I therefore earnestly entreat you, as many as are here present, devoutly to accompany me, with sincere hearts and humble voices, unto the 'throne of the heavenly grace.

Let us pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name: thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven: Give us this day our daily The people may bread; and forgive us our trespasses, repeat this audibly as we forgive those who trespass against with the minister, or leader. us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Minister. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

People. Thou turnest thee unto the prayer of the destitute, and despisest not their desire.

M. If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord who shall stand?

P. But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

M. O Lord, our heavenly Father, whose tender mercies are over all thy works, have mercy upon us, miserable sinners.

P. Have mercy upon us.

M. Remember not against us, O Lord, our manifold transgressions; but spare and deliver us, that we may glorify thy name.

P. Spare and deliver us, O Lord our God.

M. From all blindness of mind; from all selfdependance, pride and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred and malice, and from all uncharitableness.

P. Good Lord deliver us.

M. From the corruptions of the world; from unreasonable and wicked men; from all error and

false doctrine: from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy holy word and commandment.

P. Good Lord deliver us.

M. We thy needy and sinful creatures do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord our God; and to grant us the protection of thy good providence, and in thy good time cause us to rejoice in the fulfilment of thy gracious promises; in our salvation from sin, in the entire destruction of all evil and misery, and in the universal and perpetual reign of righteousness and peace.