Worship and Offices of the Church of Scotland; Or the Celebration of Public Worship Administration of the Sacramentsnd Other Divine Offices (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1882. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... regarded as symbolical of the Eesurrection of our Lord. It was believed to have been banded down from the Apostles, and so much importance was attached to it that it was even considered sinful to kneel. The 318 Bishops who assembled at the Council of Nice ordered that the standing posture on Sundays, and on the week-days betwixt Easter and Whitsuntide, should everywhere be continued; and throughout the Eastern Church this rule is still observed. The Scottish custom of standing at prayer was not adopted, however, out of deference to the ancient usage, nor, as is sometimes said, because the Eoman Catholics knelt. Kneeling was the usage for nearly a century after the Eeformation, and was enforced by injunctions of the Church Courts. This was the practice even during the prayers of the Communion Service, much as kneeling when receiving the elements was objected to. It was during the irreverent time of the Commonwealth that sitting became the fashion. After the restoration of Episcopacy in 1661 this was denounced as indecent, and those who conformed introduced standing. The subject is frequently referred to in the pamphlets of the Eevolution period, and from them it is quite clear that the Episcopalians then stood and the Presbyterians sat. Some of the former objected to conformity with the Eevolution Church on this, among other grounds--that they might have to give up their more reverent attitude of standing at prayer. It was owing to their denunciation of sitting, and to the fact that the great body of the Episcopalians accepted the Eevolution settlement and continued their custom of standing, that this posture in later times came to be considered a characteristic of Presbytery.1 3. Again, a Church should be fully furnished and equipped for all the sacred purposes ...