While I also like the idea, I think Stuart Townend is very concerned to make sure that the hymn does indeed teach PSA.
I can live with it, personally. The PSA line in modern evangelical hymnody that _really_ annoys me is "the Father turns his face away" in "How Deep The Father's Love For Us", because that's either gibberish or Patripassianism and neither is a good quality in a hymn.
On the order of services, is there an assumption on Cranmer's part that "after Morning Prayer" means "Before Holy Communion"? Would the four - MP, Litany, Commination, Communion (or at least ante-communion) - have been run together as in the classic Sunday morning service?
Coming lately to this conversation (thanks to a link from Laudable Practice's blog http://laudablepractice.blogspot.com/2024/02/lent-with-jeremy-taylor-repentance.html ), to say that I do think this series of four services was intended because thereby you recite all seven of the traditional penitential psalms. It strains credulity to think that outcome is coincidental. It would mean, of course, that the Commination therefore is followed by a concrete sacramental Absolution in the Communion service.
I do like the idea to replace that line with "the love of God was magnified", but I understand why there was an angry copyright dispute there.
While I also like the idea, I think Stuart Townend is very concerned to make sure that the hymn does indeed teach PSA.
I can live with it, personally. The PSA line in modern evangelical hymnody that _really_ annoys me is "the Father turns his face away" in "How Deep The Father's Love For Us", because that's either gibberish or Patripassianism and neither is a good quality in a hymn.
On the order of services, is there an assumption on Cranmer's part that "after Morning Prayer" means "Before Holy Communion"? Would the four - MP, Litany, Commination, Communion (or at least ante-communion) - have been run together as in the classic Sunday morning service?
Hm, interesting. It's not clear from the rubrics, but that would make a lot of sense. I'm now wondering what the historical practice was.
Coming lately to this conversation (thanks to a link from Laudable Practice's blog http://laudablepractice.blogspot.com/2024/02/lent-with-jeremy-taylor-repentance.html ), to say that I do think this series of four services was intended because thereby you recite all seven of the traditional penitential psalms. It strains credulity to think that outcome is coincidental. It would mean, of course, that the Commination therefore is followed by a concrete sacramental Absolution in the Communion service.
That's an excellent point re the Penitential Psalms - I should have spotted that!