III. Of the proper Anthem and Lesson. Q. Whence did the custom of following the corpse to the grave with psalms and hymns originate? A. This custom originated, as St. Jerome tells us, from primitive tradition, and has since spread over the universal church. The present Greek church uses part of the 119th psalm, and the Latin church appoints the 117th, 115th, and several others, to be sung in this office; in compliance with which ancient and universal custom this anthem is here prescribed. Q. Whence is this anthem taken? A. Partly from the 39th psalm, and partly from the 40th; the first of which was David's funeral elegy upon Absolom's death, after Joab had so bitterly reproached him for his public grief; and is very suitable to those who are apt to be too much depressed with sorrow upon the loss of a friend. The other was composed by Moses in the wilderness, upon the death of that vast multitude, who, for their murmuring and infidelity, wasted away by little and little before they came into Canaan; and is a very proper and suitable subject for us, when we have a funeral before our eyes. The verses selected from the former of these psalms seem to be chosen by the church as particularly applicable to the relations and near friends of the deceased; whereas the verses selected from the latter, are proper for all who attend on those solemnities. Q. What follows next? A. After the anthem out of the Old Testament, follows the proper lesson out of the New; being the fullest account of the resurrection that the whole scripture_affords; for which reason it was always accounted very suitable, and part of it was always used in funeral offices. That part of the chapter which our church uses is an exact and methodical discourse, proving the certainty of the resurrection, resolving the queries relating to it, and making a suitable application of the whole. IV. Of the Devotion and Solemnity used at the Grave. Q. What follows next? A. The body, having been brought into the church to show that it died in communion thereof, is now carried to its repository the grave. And while the corpse is prepared to be put into it, our church has drawn up a most proper and pious meditation, for the sanctifying of our own souls, and the helping us to apply this example to our spiritual advantage. Q. Why is this meditation directed to be used here? A. Because, when the corpse is to be put into the ground, it is most likely to make the deepest impression on us, and to give us a lively sense of our mortality: which happy opportunity the church is unwilling to lose; and, therefore, while we are thus affected, presents us with a suitable form of devotion; it being first, a meditation on the shortness, misery, and uncertainty of human life ;* secondly, an acknowledgment of our dependance upon God, and of our disobedience to him; thirdly, a prayer for deliverance from eternal death, and for support under that which is temporal. Q. What follows next? A. The solemn interring of the body; immedi ately before which, the Gentiles took their leave of the deceased friend by a certain form of words, bidding him "Farewell for ever." And the ancient Christians used to give a parting kiss of charity to The just reflections of Job on human weakness and mor tality, agree perfectly with the melancholy object before our eyes; and the vehement aspirations for deliverance out of this assemblage of sins and miseries, which could only be finished by the dissolution of the body, are highly awakening. The same may be affirmed of the prayers which follow, and which are all expressed in a style the most pious and affecting that possibly can be. the body, just as it was about to be put into the ground, to declare their affection, and to evidence that he died in the unity and peace of the church; a custom still observed in the Greek church, and in the northern part of England. 2. What is the position of the corpse in the grave? A. It has always been a custom among Christians, to lay corpses with their feet eastward, and their faces upward. Q. How has the casting earth upon the body been esteemed? A. As an act of piety by very heathens, insomuch that to leave a body unburied was deemed a great crime. The Christians had a peculiar order of men to do this office, called, in the east, Copiole; and in the west, Fossarii; though the priest always put in the first earth himself, as the Greek office still requires. Q. What is to be observed concerning the form of words here used? A. That it is very pertinent and significant: the phrase of committing his body to the ground, implies the delivering up a deposit for safe custody into such hands as will honestly render it up, and restore it again; and so reminds us that the bodies of Christians are not cast away as things of no value, but laid up safe in the earth, which is to restore all its dead back again at the resurrection. Rev. xx. 13. 2. What follows next? A. A consolatory sentence (Rev. xiv. 13), used by most churches in their office, being a special revelation from heaven made to St. John, and ordered to be by him recorded, for the consolation of the faithful in relation to the state of the dead. For since Jesus has now conquered death, " from henceforth blessed are the dead that die in the Lord;" they are not to be lamented, but rejoiced over; for God's Spirit assures us that they rest from their labours; their work is done; their warfare accom plished; and now they enjoy the crown of their victory, and the reward of all their pains. 2. Why is the Lord's prayer used next to this sen tence? A. Because, though the deceased rest from their labours, we are in the midst of ours, and, therefore, we now proceed to pray for our own salvation, and the consummation of our own happiness; beginning, as in all other offices, with the Lord's prayer. Q. What follows? A. Next to the Lord's prayer follow two other prayers the former of which seems to respect the whole company, as containing a profession of our faith concerning the happy state of holy men departed; a thanksgiving for the good examples of the servants of God, who, having finished their course in faith, do now rest from their labours ; and, lastly, a petition for the perfect consummation of ourselves, and all our pious friends who are gone before. The latter is peculiarly designed for the comfort of the relations and friends of the party deceased; in which there is such a mixture of acts of hope concerning our departed friends, and such a prospect of means to make us happy with them, as, being duly considered, will effectually pacify that unnecessary grief which is pernicious to us, but does the deceased no good; and will also excite us to a due care of our souls, in order to our meeting again our deceased friends with infinitely more joy than we now part with sorrow. Q. How does this service end? A. The whole office is concluded with a blessing, as we conclude all other offices of the church; which being indited by the Holy Spirit, will undoubtedly convey the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost; if we receive it as from the ambassador of heaven, and embrace it with a hearty Amen. N. B. There are some persons who absent them selves from church for several Sundays, and sometimes for several months, upon the death of a near friend or relation; as if they meant to resent their loss, and openly affront the Almighty, in whose hands are the issues of life and death: whereas they ought then more especially to go to the house of God, and humbly acknowledge his hand in their affliction, and be thankful. CHAPTER XVI. Of the Thanksgiving of Women after Child-Birth, commonly called the Churching of Women. 1 SAMUEL ii. 6. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. PSALM CXVI. 18. Therefore I will pay my vows unto the Lord, now in the presence of all his people. Q. 1. Of the Office in general. WHEREIN appear, the reasonableness and propriety of this office? A. The birth of man is so truly wonderful, that it is a standing demonstration of the omnipotence of our Creator: and, therefore, that the frequency of it may not diminish our sense of gratitude, the church orders a solemn acknowledgment to be made on every such occasion by the party most concerned, that is, the woman, who still feels the effects of the curse laid upon our mother Eve (Gen. iii. 16), and endures sorrow for that first sin which gave beginning to our miseries; so that now she cannot give life to others without the extremest |