the Commination Service was to prevent the possibility of that service being read at the place appointed for the rehearsal of the Decalogue; for, however denunciations might, under the Law, issue from the Altar, the Table appropriated for the commemoration of the sublime and completing act of redeeming love, (whereby our sins are blotted out, and our iniquities are forgiven, and peace and good-will are tendered to all mankind,) would be a very improper place for the denouncing of God's vengeance as declared under the Law. But whatever may have been the motive for so particularly naming them in that Rubric, it is, at this day, a providential circumstance that they were so-named, because it decides the character of the former, viz., the Reading Desk, which it designates the Reading PEw, that is, an enclosed seat, not an open desk, still less a moveable Lecturn.

12

THE RUBRICS.

THE orders and rules for directing and regulating how the different services in our Church are to be performed, are called Rubrics.

They were framed and inserted in the Book of Common Prayer, to guide the Clergy and the Congregation in the performance of the several services, and to prevent the necessity of constant reference to the canons and to the laws which were difficult of access, especially to the Laity.

The name Rubric is derived from the word Rubrica, the red colouring with which the directions or instructions were originally inscribed. They are now printed in Italic characters, and, by the Preface to the Book of Common Prayer, are to be considered an inseparable portion of the Liturgy.

NOTE. The number prefixed to each of the following Rubrics is put for the purpose of facilitating the reference to it during the perusal of the subsequent remarks.

The first Rubric to which it is necessary to refer is that placed before the Order for Morning Prayer.

1. The Order for Morning and Evening Prayer daily to be said and used throughout the year.

The first portion of this Order directs in what part of the church or chapel the said Prayer shall be used.

The second portion of it is as follows:

"And here is to be noted, that such ornaments of the church, and of the Ministers thereof, at all times of their ministration, shall be retained, and be in use, as were in this Church of England, by the authority of Parliament, in the second year of the reign of King Edward the Sixth."

It is not thought necessary to give in detail all the Rubrics as they appear in the Book of Common Prayer. The questions under consideration relate to those which have reference to the services appointed to be performed at the Communion Table. It may, therefore, be as well to turn at once to those there set forth.

2. So many as intend to be partakers of the holy Communion shall signify their names to the Curate, at least some time the day before.

3. And if any of those be an open and notorious evil liver, or have done any wrong to his neighbours by word or deed, so that the congregation be thereby offended, the Curate, having knowledge thereof, shall call him, and advertise him, that in any wise he pre

sume not to come to the Lord's Table until he hath openly declared himself to have truly repented and amended his former naughty life, that the congregation may thereby be satisfied, which before were offended; and that he hath recompensed the parties to whom he hath done wrong, or, at least, declare himself to be in full purpose so to do as soon as he conveniently may.

4. The same order shall the Curate use with those betwixt whom he perceiveth malice and hatred to reign; not suffering them to be partakers of the Lord's Table until he know them to be reconciled. And if one of the parties so at variance be content to forgive, from the bottom of his heart, all that the other hath trespassed against him, and to make amends for that he himself hath offended; and the other party will not be persuaded to a godly unity, but remain still in his frowardness and malice, the Minister, in that case, ought to admit the penitent person to the holy Communion, and not him that is obstinate. Provided that every Minister so repelling any, as is specified in this, or the next preceding paragraph of this Rubric, shall be obliged to give an account of the same to the Ordinary within fourteen days after, at the farthest. And the Ordinary shall proceed against the offending person according to the Canon.

5. The Table, at the Communion time, having a fair white linen cloth upon it, shall stand in the body

of the Church, or in the Chancel, where Morning and Evening Prayer are appointed to be said. And the Priest, standing at the North side of the Table, shall say the Lord's Prayer with the Collect following, the people kneeling.

6. Then shall the Priest, turning to the people, rehearse distinctly all the TEN COMMANDMENTS; and the people, still kneeling shall, after every Commandment, ask God mercy for their transgression thereof for the time past, and grace to keep the same for the time to come, as followeth.

7. Then shall follow one of these two Collects for the Queen, the Priest standing as before, and saying, "Let us pray."

8. Then shall be said the Collect of the Day. And immediately after the Collect the Priest shall read the Epistle saying, "The Epistle, (or The portion of Scripture appointed for the Epistle,)

is written in the

ginning at the

ended he shall say,

Chapter of

be

Verse." And the Epistle "Here endeth the Epistle."

Chapter of

Then shall be read the Gospel, (the people all standing up,) saying, "The holy Gospel is written in the beginning at the Verse." And the Gospel ended, shall be sung or said the Creed following, the people still standing, as before.

9. Then the Curate shall declare unto the people what Holy-days or Fasting-days are in the week fol