tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3811228767705174709.post6864224010574001805..comments2023-06-19T03:55:20.088-04:00Comments on Boston Unitarian: A Boston Unitarian (in Philadelphia) Sabbath Prayerslthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780928540224945711noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3811228767705174709.post-12496082035860233302008-11-10T20:54:00.000-04:002008-11-10T20:54:00.000-04:00Hello Peacebang, Thanks for your comment. I thi...Hello Peacebang,<BR/> Thanks for your comment. I think that just about everything the Boston Unitarians wrote and preached has some vestige of Calvinism, which, after all, was a large and sometimes magnificent intellectual and spiritual edifice. Even Emerson had to admit the power of the New England Calvinists.<BR/> I think, though, that Furness parts from Mr. Calvin in his belief that we form Christ within us and do not need to have been chosen first. It is our obedience and the wonderful list of virtues that he prays for later that then prepare us to stand before God.<BR/> I, too, love the somewhat "back and forth" nature of these prayers. They were written for domestic or family prayer and they have a spontaneous feel that is wonderful.slthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15780928540224945711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3811228767705174709.post-13754289233759594792008-11-09T20:28:00.000-04:002008-11-09T20:28:00.000-04:00This is a humdinger of a prayer. But tell me this...This is a humdinger of a prayer. But tell me this, BU, when Furness writes, <BR/>"And then, when Christ is thus formed within us, enthroned among our affections, then shall we be found meet for thy sanctuary ; for who, O Lord, shall stand before Thee but they that have clean hands and pure hearts,"<BR/>is this a vestige of Calvinism, or would you just consider it an expression of the Christian discipline, humility, reverence and obedience he exhorts us to observe elsewhere in the prayer?<BR/><BR/>The forms of prayers like this fascinate me, as they go back and forth from praise, admission of sin, exhortation to live the godly life, praise and thanksgiving, confession, etc. without following the traditional order of such elements. <BR/><BR/>My favorite aspect of this particular prayer that seems original is the emphasis that THIS day - this *particular* Sabbath day -- is holy and wholly memorable and sacred. That's very touching.PeaceBanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431551457505981195noreply@blogger.com