1-Why I Use the 1662 Book of Common Prayer: Morning Prayer

Some reasons why I use Morning Prayer and won't compromise on it.

Observations, Correlation, Interpretation, Applications on Morning Prayer. Scroll down for the observations, correlations, interpretation and application. The immediate section below is how "Morning Prayer" begins, consisting of biblical quotes. (Paragraphs not working in the blogspot venue, frequently and unfortunately.)

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The Order for Morning Prayer,

Daily Throughout the Year.

At the beginning of Morning Prayer the Minister shall read with a loud voice some one or more of these Sentences of the Scriptures that follow. And then he shall say that which is written after the said Sentences.

WHEN the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Ezek. xviii. 27.

I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Psalm li. 3.

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Psalm li. 9.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm li. 17.

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 forgivenesses, 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. Daniel ix. 9, 10.

O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Jer. x. 24.

Repent ye; for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. St. Matt. iii. 2.

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. St. Luke xv. 18, 19.

Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Psalm cxliii. 2.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 St. John i. 8, 9.
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Observations on the above start for Morning Prayer:

1. This is the 1662 Book of Common Prayer for the Church of England, used by Venn, Toplady, Newton,Simeon, Bickersteth, Goode, Wilberforce and J.C. Ryle.

2. For non-Anglican Reformed friends who wonder why I use such a pattern of worship. Am going to give you some reason. Most, if not all Continental and Scots Reformed types, know little of it—in practice or piety. That's a simple observation, albeit anecdotal, yet widely anecdotal too. The Reformed in America have no disciplined practices in this kind of piety. They know nothing of it, although the "Confessional" men will have higher appreciation for us, compared to "Reformed evangelicals." Never mind the Anabaptists, hand-wavers or others. Westminster Seminary chapel services or instruction was empty and devoid of such.

3. Notice, the title, “Daily Order,” for use in daily prayers. It's not just a weekly or a monthly matter, but a "daily order" throughout the year. Observe, historic Anglicanism has been a "church on its knees," not like Americans sitting on their bottoms.

4. Notice, that Law and Gospel works throughout. This will become clearer in subsequent posts.

5. Notice, that one schooled and discipined in this pattern of piety does not and never could understand revivalism, whoopi-di-dooh charismatics, enthusiasts, or anti-Lutheran comments made by some Reformed commentators about "Law and Gospel."

6. Observe the biblical references throughout...as the service starts. This is Marine-theology and is not for modern whimps. It faces "sin" squarely, as Isaiah had to do in Isaiah 6: "Woe is me, for I a man of unclean lips dwelling amongst a people of unclean lips."

7. Notice the “high” and biblical view of sin.

8. Observe how this is "evangelical" and "evangelistic." That is, an unconverted man, woman or child has the wickedness of sin and transgression put on his or her plate at the outset. If he or she is shown this, it is evident. "Do not approach His Sovereign Majesty without the righteousness of Christ alone!" Of course, the justified saint, the believer, believes this. And children are taught this as well. There is no soft-pedaling of sin there, whatsoever.

9. Observe that the justified saint by imputed righteousness of Christ alone received through faith alone—held once by the English Reformed Church—puts sin upfront and calls justified saints to “get on with” fighting their own flesh, the world and the devil." The unconverted are called to "repent." It doesn't get more evangelistic than this. In terms of the justified saint, simul peccator et iustus, there's not the slightest whiff of any antinominianism. Quite the opposite...it is a Psalm 119 Christian.

10. Observe that no charismatic, revivalist, Anabaptist, or mega church hothouses of worship “would dare” start a service with this sort of “negativity.” Why after all, it would drive the numbers and "notches" on the conversion belt off.

11. Observe that Emergent Churches or “seeker sensitive” mega-churches would never approach worship this way.

12. This piety does not comport with those disciplined by this serious approach to God...in particular, "Contemporary Christian Music." Observe that Rev. John Frame, Reformed Seminary, Orlando, FL, is not disciplined in this worship practice.

Correlations:

1. Lutheran liturgies with its parallels.

2. Reformed liturgies and parallels.

3. Anabaptist and charismatic hot houses….they have none, but are worth correlating here. Sorry to be so tough, but personal integrity demands it.

4. The revisions of the 1928 and 1979 Books of Common Prayer that dilutes the old book at this point.

5. 1549, 1552, 1559 BCPs in England.

6. 1785, 1789, 1892 Books in the US, as well as the 1873 REC BCP.

7. Studies in “reverence” and “respect” during worship.

8. Contemporary Christian music. Most "evangelical houses of worship" have no "confession of sin" at all in their services. They have "altar calls."

9. Owen’s unhelpful comments on liturgy.

10. Needed revisions to the 1662 BCP…and they exist.

11. Literature on the seeker-sensitive models of church worship.

12. Comparison to the enthusiasts like Hinn, Meyers, etc.

13. Comparison to worship patterns used in Reformed seminary chapels, e.g. Westminster Seminaries, Reformed Seminaries, inter alia. Uggg for my days at Westminster on this score!!

Interpretation:

At the outset, for child, woman, man, unconverted or converted, the view of “sin” is as “high” as the need for the solution, a “sure and Sovereign Saviour.” It is useful for the wicked and unjustified person. It is useful for the justifed sinner and keeps him in the war with sin (his or her own), the world and the devil.

Application:

1. Avoid American worship insofar as possible. They are "sick" with therapeutic deism with a dab of Christology. Sane voices on this are very few.

2. Be involved with Reformed views of worship, theology, confessions, practice and piety where consistent.

3. Use daily until death. It beats modernity. As the evangelical Anglican, Charles Simeon, stated (in essence), “I never was or felt closer to heaven than when praying and reading the prayer book.”

4. Keep reading the Bible. This BCP closer to the Bible than anything on the modern streets.

5, Though we respect the Continental and Scots Reformed, and share most of their Confessional committments, e.g. Helvetic Confession, we ain't givin' up our BCP for anyone. I don't care if you have 10 Ph.D.'s in theology. Our souls and bodies require this gravity, seriousness, and belief--as warranted by Sacred Writ. Just re-read Isaiah this week and "het gets it about sin and redemption."

6. Until something local can be organized, continue present church attendance as previously noted.

7. Avoid like the plague the "double-minded" capitulators, compromisers, and sell-outs in the REC.