APPENDIX 1. DIRECTIONS FOR A DEVOUT AND DECENT BEHAVIOUR IN THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF GOD; MORE PARTICULARLY IN THE USE OF THE COMMON PRAYER, APPOINTED BY THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they consider not that they do evil.-ECCLES. v. 1. I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also.-1 COR. xiv. 15. DIRECTIONS FOR A DEVOUT AND DECENT BEHAVIOUR IN THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF GOD. It is grievous to consider how many Christians there are (if such as they deserve the name of Christians) who come not to church at all, or very seldom, to pay that public duty and worship to God which our religion calls for, and which a regard for the welfare of civil society requires. And even of those who do come, we find too many behaving themselves in such a careless manner, as if the worship of God was either not their business there, or not worth minding. Some sit all the time of prayers; or put themselves into such other lazy and irreverent postures, as show sufficiently that they have no sense of what they should be doing, nor any awe or reverence of the glorious Being they came to address. Others lay themselves to sleep, or trifle away their time in thinking of their worldly affairs. Others gaze and stare about upon the congregation, or keep talking and whispering with their neighbours; and this is especially observable while the Lessons are reading; as if the Holy Scriptures, though given by inspiration of God, were not always to be heard, marked, learned, and inwardly digested, that so they may answer the ends for which they were written, and become profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; or in one word, good to the use of edifying. 2 Tim. iii. 16. With regard to such cold and careless worshippers, we may apply to the Church what Jacob said of Bethel; "Surely the Lord is in this place and they knew it not." They do not consider that they are in the immediate presence of God, and that by such a behaviour they affront him to his face, while they should be devoutly attending to his word, or praying to him. Others there are, who do indeed show some inclination to mind the prayers, and all the rest of the service; but they do it with so much ignorance, distraction, or confusion, as discover that they do not rightly understand the difference between one part of the service and another; or consider that some are prayers, some praises, and thanksgivings, some public professions of the Christian faith, and some no more than instructions, commands, or exhortations to the people. We often find them repeating after the minister what he alone should speak, and they should only hearken to. Many there are who neglect to join audibly in the responses, which are the part of the worship assigned expressly to the people, by which neglect, the beauty, the order, and the solemnity of the service are destroyed. Now, that such persons may be taught how to order their devotions better, and to worship God, not only with the spirit, but with the understanding, too, the following directions are earnestly recommended to their consideration and practice. First, then. Have a conscientious regard to this Advice of Solomon, (to whom God gave a wise and understanding heart,) Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; and so look to every step you take in your approach to it, that you come into his more immediate presence with such contemplations, meditations, and reflections in your mind, as will lift up your soul unto him, under an awful and just sense of his divine majesty and perfections; and with that humble and contrite spirit, which dependent creatures, and miserable sinners ought to have. Remember, that since God is a spirit, your worship of him must be spiritual and reasonable, sincere and pure. It must flow from a divine and heavenly frame of mind. But yet, as the whole man consists of body and soul together, you must glorify him in both (1 Cor. vi. 20); and considering their natural union and sympathy, you must take such heed to every gesture and posture of your body, as that they may be such as will best express your humility, reverence, and earnestness, and keep up suitable thoughts and affections in your soul. Particularly, you will, I believe, hence think, that a kneeling posture is most proper; being that which nature seems to dictate in solemn adorations and humble confessions, without this express call for it from the inspired Psalmist, (Psal. xcv. 6,) “ O come let us worship, and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker." But, Secondly. If you are thus prepared to worship God in spirit and in truth, you will then be sure to go so early to his house, as to be there at the very beginning of the service; since the same obligation lies upon you to attend every part of his public worship as to come to church at all. For if you miss the beginning of it, you lose the opportunity of confessing your sins, and the comfort of hearing your pardon declared and pronounced to you thereupon. Beside that, by coming late you disturb the congregation to make way for you. Take care also not to leave the church, without great necessity, till after the minister has given the blessing that concludes the whole |