(2) The congregation should stand throughout the service, the bride and bridegroom only kneeling for the prayers and the BLESSING.
_At the Communion of the Sick._--(1) Note the order of the service. See the latter part of the { 102} rubric at the beginning of the service, and the first and third rubrics following the GOSPEL (page 293).
(2) Note permission given in the last rubric following the GOSPEL.
_At Burials._--(1) Note that one or both of the SELECTIONS OF PSALMS may be used (page 294).
(2) Note the permission given for additions to the service (page 298).
(3) Observe that the response, "Christ, have mercy upon us," is to be said by the people in the _Kyrie_ preceding the LORD'S PRAYER (page 300).
(4) Note the permission given in the rubric following the ADDITIONAL PRAYERS at the close of the Office.
[1] The page references are to the Prayer-Book, to editions larger than the small duodecimo; which larger editions are all paged alike.
Some of the customs here referred to are matters of rubrical direction in the Prayer-Book; others stand merely upon the ground of usage and the devout practice of the Church from ancient times. The object here in view is not to discuss their obligation, but simply to tell what they are and why they are observed, whether that observance is in obedience to an express direction of the Church or is a voluntary act of reverence. Since, as a matter of fact, such customs are used by some Churchmen, every well-instructed person should know their meaning and the reason for their use. His personal observance of them, where they have been left by the Church as voluntary acts, must depend upon his own feeling and their { 104} helpfulness or otherwise to his own worship and right living.
_Kneeling._--The changes of posture in the course of a service have value in relieving weariness and in sustaining attention, but their chief significance is, of course, in the expression of different states of devotion. Thus kneeling is the fit posture in prayer for humble penitents--the only state in which we may presume to come before God. It is a mark of reverence, and testifies outwardly of our inward humility; and "a devout manner helps to create devout feelings."