Who Stole the Doxologies – Part Three

Having looked at some of the historical evidence we can conclude that the worship of the Reformed church in Scotland from the time of Knox included the use of the Conclusion or Doxology at the end of most Psalms.

Two issues are worth pursuing.  Firstly, why is it that the wing of the Scottish church that has most actively pursued the re-introduction of the liturgical practice of the early Reformation has most widely departed from the doctrine of the Scottish Reformation.  They want the worship of the Church at the Reformation; they most definitely do not want the doctrine of the Scottish Reformation.  I have no answer to this question. These “high” Presbyterians express outrage at Knox’s theology and firmly reject the teaching of the Scots Confession and the Westminster Confession of Faith.

It is perhaps for this reason that evangelical Presbyterians in Scotland, resisting the liberalism of modernism, also reject some of their liturgical practices that are genuinely Reformed and based on Scriptural principles.  That is not necessarily the case in Presbyterian circles in the USA where you can be both “high” Presbyterian and thoroughly Reformed in doctrine.

The second issue is, “How can we change things?”

Perhaps the best way is to re-introduce the practice gradually.  Maybe we can use a Conclusion / Doxology with the opening Psalm of praise in worship.  This would establish a Trinitarian emphasis at the very beginning of worship.

One problem which some might see is that the new and excellent Sing Psalms contains a wide variety of metres, unlike the limited range in the original Scottish Metrical Psalter. To accommodate this we need a wide range of doxologies in various metres.  I here append a list borrowed from the Anglican Diocese of Bristol who are experimenting with metrical Psalmody – indeed who have produced an online metrical Psalter borrowed mainly from Presbyterian sources.  (How is that for convergence !) :

CM

All Glory to the Father, Son,

And Spirit, One and Three:

As was, and is, and shall be so

Through all eternity.

C.M.  Milton’s Version

To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,

Immortal glory be;

As was, is now, and shall be still

To all eternity.

LM

To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,

The God whom earth and heav'n adore,

Be glory as it was of old, is now,

And so shall be for evermore.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise him all creatures here below.

Praise him above, you heavenly host,

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

SM

To God, the Father, Son

 And Spirit, glory be

As was, and is and shall be so,

To all eternity.

10,10,10,10

To God, our Father, and to God the Son

And God the Spirit let all glory be.

We worship ever three and ever one

As was, and is till all eternity.

All glory to the Father and the Son,

And to the Spirit, ever three in one:

As was and is, and ever more shall be

World without end for all eternity

10,10,11,11 

By angels in heav’n of ev’ry degree,

And saints upon earth, all praise be addressed:

To God in three persons, one God ever blest

As it has been, now is and always shall be.

8,7,8,7

And glory to the Father raise,

To Son and Holy Spirit,

Alpha and Omega we praise,

 May we His life inherit

888 888

To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,

 The God whom heav’n’s triumphant host

And suffering saints on earth adore;

Be glory as in ages past,

As now it is, and so shall last,

When time itself shall be no more.

868888

Great glories to the Father pay

Which to the Son are due,

And Holy Spirit too.

As was from first creation’s day,

Is and so shall for ever be,

Without end through eternity.

668668

To God, the Father, Son

And Spirit three in one

All glory give now and again:

As was from utmost yore

Be now and evermore

World without end, Amen, Amen.

888866

Glory to Father and to Son

And Holy Spirit three in one.

As was when ages first begun

Continues as time yet may run

Such as today might be

Until eternity.

6666 4444

To God, the Father, Son

And Spirit, ever blest,

Eternal three in one

All worship be addressed.

As heretofore

It was, is now,

And shall be so

For ever-more.

7676D

All glory to the Father

All glory to the Son,

All glory to the Spirit,

For ever three and one.

As once it was and is now

And shall for ever more,

To endless ages stands firm,

The God whom we adore.

7,7,7,7 7,7

Bless the Father and the Son

And the Spirit, three in One.

Bless him now and as of yore

And shall be for ever more.

Bless the Lord and sing his praise.

Exalt him, ever, always.

10.10.10.10.10 

Glory to God the Father, God the Son,

And unto God the Spirit, Three in One.

From age to age let saints his name adore,

His power and love proclaim from shore to shore,

And spread his fame, till time shall be no more.

The language in some cases needs updating.  Perhaps there is a poet out there?