The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-22
SERVICES OF THE SABBATH.
Rector E. A. Bradley's Opening Lee
ture on "The Forms of Prayer"
''The Eternal Temple" Discussed by A. A.
Il. Taylor at the Second Church-Father
Lambert on ''Faith"-Other Services.
THE FORMS OF PRAYER.
Beginning of Rev. E. a. Bradley's Series of
Lectures the Prayer Book.

Beginning of Rev. E. y. Bradley's Series OF
Lectures the Prayer Book.
Rev. E. A. Bradley, pastor of Christ Church,
last night, delivered the first of a series of lee
lures on "The forms of prayer" There will
probably be SIX or eight lectures in the series,
W hich will give history of the forms of prayer
from the earliest day. giving particularly an
account of the forms in use in the
ritual of the church IN the apostolic days,
in early English days and the changes
in the prayer-book made at the time of the
Reformation, giving finally the changes made IN
the English prayer-boOk. adapting it to use in
America. The object of the lectures is to pre-
pare the people for an appreciation of the sug-
gested amendments and additions made by the
present general convention in Philadelphia.
The lecture last evening was in the nature of
an Introductory to the series. The text chosen
was Ecclesiastlcs, V; 1, 2.
Forms of prayer, Mr. Bradley said, are being
considered by religious thinkers generally
Forms may he of the body or of the words. The
holy men of the Bible are all represented as
worshiping with the body as well with the
spirit. They spread forth the hands, PROSTATE
themselves, and kneel upon their knees. Illus
tratiGps were given from the Oldest book of the
Bible, JOB, and from each generation from THAI
time until the close OF the New Testament This
fact rests upon the truth that the body as well
as the soul is to be saved and therefore should
share in the worship of the Savior. The analogy
reaches further. It is through the
body and through forms that every intellect
ual and spiritual action ls manifested. So even
has Goa revealed Himself to man through the
form of Jesus Christ's body, and He has COM
pleted the revelation through the forms of Bible
Worus' Always the same, ana the unchahgeapIe
sacraments. Mr.. Bradley spoke further, partic-
ularly of the bodily forms in notwithstanding
in prayer, kneeling in communion service-and
stated in this connection that the first sect to sit
in the holy communion We're the Arian heretics,
who denied the divinity of Christ, and also that
the Pope of Rome to-day sits to re-
I
also defended bowling in the creed at
the sacred name of Jesus and the white linen
garments of the minister and choir.
AS to forms OF words in worship, Mr. Brad
ley argued that man should approach God ac-
cording TO the analogy of Gods approach to
man; therefore, through FORMS that there is
NOT = SYLLABLE of justification for extempOr ane
Gus prayer in the public worship of God IN the
worship is modern invention To begin at the
| beginning, in the garden of Eden, after sin en-
tered, and prayer, as we now understand
sacrifices as the means of mans
approach to Him. The forms of sacrifice were
traced from Eden, through Noah, Job and the
Jewish system to the Christian forms of the sac
raments, which took the place of the bloody
rites. Coming closer to details the first public
act OF devotion recorded in the Bible is the an
them in Exodus XIV, II will sing unto the Lord, F"
etc, which has been used from that day to this
form of praise in the public worship OF God.
1t a precOmposeu form then, for Moses
and the men sang it first, and Mi
riam and the women responded, antiphonally.
service is givenin Numbers, sixth chapter: "The
Lord bless thee and keep thee" etc, used from
that day to this a blessing Mr. Bradley
asked if anybody had ever heard a minister ex-
tempOrize a blessing. In David's time the 100
psalms, that are both prayer and praise were
written, rehearsed, learned and used responsive
ly as forms OF service in Gods temple, by His
direction. From that day to this they have
formed the storehouse of Christian song. In the
second temple the whole worship of God wat
ordered with ritual dignity and prescribed
forms According to the prophets direction,
"take with you Ords ana say spare thy people,
o LOrd"-words which to-day, and the
church has used from that day to this in her
hold extemporaneous services. He provided
forms for the sacraments of His church. and
gave us a form of prayer and told whenever
we prayed to repeat it. He went to the temple
services. This service began with form of in
vocation: 40 God. let Thy name be magnified
and sanctified in the world. Let thy kingdom
have dominion therein. Let Messiah come
speedily" Then followed the eighteen
prayers" as they were called which anyone may
read in "Horan's Introduction" The selections
from the prophets and the Psalms were then
read. The eXhOrtat1on was given and the serv-
ice closed with the benedcton. Christ criti-
ei sed and condemned the Jews for many things,
but He never intimated that this was not the
best way to worship God. When He was alone
He poured out his heart extemporaneo but
when He wOrshiped God in public with others
He used prescribed forms of the di VIM y ordered
service. This has been the method Of the his
toric church from that day TO this, Onr dan ger
being of making this mere form; aud into our
forms our whole heart and soul must go to make
them acceptable to God