It was his opinion that the creeds in public worship ought to be
used as triumphant hymns of thanksgiving, and, in accordance with
this view, although unfortunately he possessed no natural gift
for music, he regularly joined in the chanting of the Nicene
Creed with a visible animation and a peculiar fervour, which it
was impossible to forget. The Communion service he regarded as a
direct and special counterpoise to that false communion and false
companionship, which, as he often observed, was a great source of
mischief in the school; and he bent himself down with glistening
eyes, and trembling voice, and looks of paternal solicitude, in
the administration of the elements. Nor was it only the different
sections of the liturgy, but the very divisions of the
ecclesiastical year that reflected themselves in his demeanour;
the most careless observer, we are told, 'could not fail to be
struck by the triumphant exultation of his whole manner on Easter
Sunday'; though it needed a more familiar eye to discern the
subtleties in his bearing which were produced by the approach or
Advent, and the solemn thoughts which it awakened of the advance
of human life, the progress of the human race, and the condition
of the Church of England.
At the end of the evening service, the culminating moment of the
week had come: the Doctor delivered his sermon.
Pages:
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269