The elements of such worship — prayer and praise and instruction — combined to make what Duchesne in a happy phrase calls * a Liturgy of the Holy (Jhost after the Liturgy of Christ, a true liturgy with a Keal Presence and communion,' ** In one form or another they passed into the later offices, beginning with vigil services, then morning services, which combined to make wliat was known in later days as the Divine Ofhce. These had their roots in the Synagogue services, but were distinguished by the new fervour which the gift of the Holy Spirit stamped upon them, so that while the keynote of the Synagogue service was instruction the new keynote was praise.
We may trace the same trend of thought in the Kpistle to the Ephesians, regarded as a circular letter eminently calculated to raise the whole tone of worship. It is written from a point of view at which the Apostle feels free to pass away from the earnings needed by local churches and to rise into a higher region of emotion and thanksgiving. tt
2. The Eucharist.— In 1 Co W'^-^ the Eucharist seems to have followed the Agape. St. Paul writes of it as a well-known service (1 Co 10^^). Putting together the scattered hints in the Epistles along with the references in Clement of Rome and Justin Martyr, we may suppose that it followed a
• Op. ciL, p. 16.
t St. Paxil does not mention the reading of Scripture in his order of worship ; but it must have been there. He takes for granted that the OT Scriptures are known and used, in 1 Co 6*6 'JB13 1421^ 2 Co 618. 18 815 99.
t 1 Co 1431. § 1 Co 1430. Ij 1 Co 1427. 28.
^ The Church and the Ministry in the Early Centuries^ p. 44 fF. ** Christian Worship, p. 48. tt Eph 115-23 314-21.
service such as that described above and that it always included the following elements: a j)ravcr of tlianksgiving (Lk 22'«, 1 Co IP^ 14'«, 1 Ti *J>) ; the blessing of the bread and wine, with the recital of tiie words of Institution (1 Co 10'«, Mt 2G='^-'-^, Mk W--'-^, Lk 22i"--«, 1 Co 11-^) ;• prayers, remem- bering Ciirist's death (Lk 22'8, 1 Co li'^a. 26.--;e) ; the people eat jind drink the consecrated bread and wine (Mt 2G--- 2^, Mk 14;- =3, 1 Co 1 1 -«■-'«). The evidence of the Didache is still in di.spute. Some suppose that it contains prayers for the Agape rather than the Eucharist. In either case they are of interest and may be quoted here.
* Every Sunday of the Lord, having assembled together, break bread and give tlianks, having confessed your sins, that your sacrifice be pure' (xiv. 1).
*Concernmg the Thanksgiving, give thanks thus. First, for the cup : We give thanks to thee, our Father, for the holy vine of thy servant David, which thou hast shown us through thy servant Jesus. Glory to thee for ever. But for the broken (bread): We give thanks to thee, our Kather, for tlie life and Icnowledge which thou hast shown us through thy servant Jesus. Glory to thee for ever. As this broken bread was scattered over the mountains, and has been gathered together and made one, so may thy Church be gathered from the ends of the earth into thy'kingdom ; for thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever. But none is to eat or drink of your Thanksgiving except those who are baptized into the name of the Lord ; for because of this the Lord said : Do not give the holy thing to dogs' (ix.).
' After ye are filled give thanks thus : We give thanks to thee, holy Father, for thy holy name which thou hast made to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which thou hast shown us through thy servant Jesus. Glory to thee for ever. Thou, Almighty Lord, hast created all things for th.v name's sake and thou hast given food and drink to men for enjoyment that they might give thanks to thee. Above all we thank thee because thou art mighty. . . . Glory to thee for ever. Remember, O Lord, thy Church to free her from all evil and make her perfect in thy love ; gather her from the four winds and make her holy in thy kingdom which thou hast prepared for her; for thine is the power and the glory for ever. Let grace come and let this world perish. Hosanna to the God of David. If any one be holy let him draw nigh ; if any one be not, let him repent. Maran atha. Amen. But let the prophets give thanks as much as they will' (x.).
If the early date is allowed, we find here anticipa- tion of the great thanksgiving of the later liturgies, mention of God's work in creation and in redemp- tion, a thanksgiving after Communion and prayer for the Church with the germ of the act of praise which grew into the Glo7'ia in excelsis.
The Ejnstle of Cleinent of Rome has references to the order observed for the worship of God, e.g. ch. 40:
' Now the offerings and ministrations He commanded to be performed with care, and not to be done rashly or in disorder, but at fixed times and seasons.*