Congregational Worship

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. THE CONGREGATIONAL AMEN. "And all the people said Amen." -- I Chron. xvi. 36, We have in these words a delightful glimpse of a worshipping congregation. Our modern religious assemblies have acquired the most fitting name of "audiences," since it has become their sole employment to hear. But whatever title may have been given to the early Jewish and Christian congregations, their character is clearly seen. They were not dumb-waiters, tarrying in silence to be filled with the provisions of God's house. They were worshippers, who spake as well as heard; who answered the Lord when he addressed them by the mouth of his servants, as well as listened reverently to his message. And though the Jewish service was far more exclusive and ministerial than ours in theory professes to be, being priestly 95 and not popular, yet we find all through it traces of congregational responses and participations. In the instance which is brought before us in the text, we have a striking illustration of this. A psalm of David had just been recited. It was a prayer of thanksgiving, set to music. It was a joyful, fervid rehearsal of the Lord's merciful dealings with his people. It began with a thanksgiving, and ended with a doxology. And when the closing strains fell upon the ear, -- "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever," -- the words dropped not into a stagnant silence, which gave back no ripple of response, no answering echo of accord, but into a spirit of worship which was as resonant as a mountain atmosphere, and out of which, "all the people said Amen, and praised the Lord." It is my purpose, in this discourse, to consider Jewish and Christian uses of the Amen. I. The meaning and uses of the word Amen, as employed in the Jewish...