The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-09

and the correct tastes of our people.
Amongst other defects in the Revision, l
would note the following: a. The pas
sages of Scripture quoted as furnishing
scriptural authority for appropriate re-
ligious services in connection with the
burial of the dead" are not well chosen
nor do they seem to be specially appro-
pirate for the purpose. Indeed, they
seem to be introduced rather in the way
of apology, and as though implying some
doubt as to whether there was scriptural
authority for such services; when every
careful reader knows that both the Old
and New Testament furnish many exam
pies. For instance, in Acts viii 2, we
read that "devout men carried Stephen
to his burial, and made great lamenta-
tion over him." Are we to suppose that
these "devout men" were doing nothing
more than acting as pall-bearers on this
occasion? Surely not and we may there
fore Justly conclude that Stephens burial
was attended with something of form and
ceremony of a solemn and affecting char
acter. The burial of the dead is one OF
those sacred duties that all nations He
brew, Christian, and Pagan, have been
agreed In the solemn observance Of (2)
The third order of the service would be
much improved by Indicating such por-
tlons of Scripture as would be most suit
able for such an occasion-such as l Cor.
XIV: beginning with the Goth verse Ps.
xc; Job xiv (3) The latter portion of
this third order OF the exercises, which
directs that in connection with the read
ing OF Scripture such brief remarks be
made as are suitable to the occasion, I"
seem to be intended to place some restric-
ton on ministers in the matter of funeral
| sermons; which, as is well known, often
impose a burdensome and disagreeable
duty upon the pastors of our city churches.
But this can hardly be said to be the case
in our country churches; and therefore
it is very properly added that these
funeral services, as to their details, must
be left largely to the discretion of the Of
floating minister, with the general in
structions (1) that he always remember
that the proper object of these services
Is the warning, instruction, or consola-
ton OF the living, and (2) that he be care
full to avoid abusing Gods word by asso-
ciating the hopes Of the gospel with the
close of an obviously Christless life"
This is all very well, except that the word
Chrlstless is not scriptural term, and
it would be much better to substitute the
good old scriptural term "ungodly" a.
The three exercises singing prayer, and
reading the Scriptures, make up the
whole of what is directed before the ben
ediction. But would it not be an i'm
provement if there was further direc-
ton that all this be done in the church,
or private house as the case might be,
after which, and before the benediction,
the body be taken to the grave and in
TERED with some suitable and solemn
form of words? So it seems to me, and
such is believed to be the most common
opinion amongst our best people. AS to
what form of words shall be used there
may be some difference of opinion; but
speaking for myself, and without wishing
to dogmatise or insist, would suggest
that with slight modification, that used
by the Protestant Episcopal Church
would be very satisfactory. 1t is GER
tainly very solemn-as solemn as human
language could well be. The modifica-
ton suggested is simply to omit the words
"our deceased brother Cor Sisteo.)" so as to
read " When they come to the Craze, and
a0ls5te the earth shall be cast upon the
body by some Standing 6y," the minister
shall say: Forasmuch as it hath pleased
Almighty God, in his wise providence, to
take out of this world the soul of the de-
ceased, we therefore commit his or her
body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes
to ashes, dust to dust, waiting for the
general resurrection in the last day and
the life of the world to come through our
Lord Jesus Christ; at whose coming in
glorious majesty to judge the world the
earth and the sea shall give up their
dead, and the corruptible bodies of those
who sleep in Him shall be changed and
made like unto his own glorious body,
according to the mighty working whereby
he is able to subdue all things unto him
self"
If any be disposed to object that this
has the appearance of being BORROWED, it
may be sufficient to say, that we will be
doing only what other Churches have
done in copying or borrowing from what
some good people look upon and call "the
old mother Church" from which we also
get the Apostles Creed" These SER
vices at the grave should include brief
prayer-none more suitable than the
Lord prayer-after which, the benedic-
ton. o. The same general criticism will
| apply to the "funeral service To he used