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| Of the Kiss of Peace. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chapter
XVIII.—Of the Kiss of Peace.
Another custom has now become prevalent. Such as
are fasting withhold the kiss of peace, which is the seal of prayer,
after prayer made with brethren. But when is peace more to be concluded
with brethren than when, at the time of some religious
observance,8863 our prayer ascends
with more acceptability; that they may themselves participate in our
observance, and thereby be mollified for transacting with their brother
touching their own peace? What prayer is complete if divorced from the
“holy kiss?”8864
8864 See Bible:1Pet.5.14">Rom. xvi. 16; 1 Cor. xvi. 20; 2 Cor. xiii.
12; 1 Thess. v. 26; 1 Pet. v. 14. [The sexes apart.] | Whom does peace
impede when rendering service to his Lord? What kind of sacrifice is
that from which men depart without peace? Whatever our prayer be,
it will not be better than the observance of the precept by which we
are bidden to conceal our fasts;8865 for
now, by abstinence from the kiss, we are known to be fasting.
But even if there be some reason for this practice, still, lest
you offend against this precept, you may perhaps defer your
“peace” at home, where it is not possible for your
fast to be entirely
kept secret. But wherever else you can conceal your observance, you
ought to remember the precept: thus you may satisfy the
requirements of Discipline abroad and of custom at home. So, too, on
the day of the passover,8866
8866 i.e. “Good
Friday,” as it is now generally called. | when the religious
observance of a fast is general, and as it were public, we justly
forego the kiss, caring nothing to conceal anything which we do in
common with all.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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