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had been unhappily defiled. The names of Cranmer, Ridley, &c. are known and beloved among us; and will be had in honor so long as protestantism remains the religion of Englishmen.

But tho' this excellent book has been so long in use, there is reason to fear that it has received, and still receives the approbation of thousands, who understand it not; or at least do not clearly perceive in what its real excellence properly consists. Should the following essays be the means of throwing any additional light on the subject in the minds of any persons, who shall favor them with a perusal should any, who have hitherto rested in the form, be brought to enter into the spirit of our service; should the ignorant find instruction; gainsayers be silenced ; or the flame of devotion in any sincere worshippers be raised to an higher pitch, the author will have his reward. The following essays, however, are not designed as polemical pieces. The author has no desire to enter the field of controversy. There are too many men of war already in the world, and he is determined not to increase the number. All that he requests from his reader is a candour of judgment, and a permission to express in public his own approbation of the services of that church, of which he is an unworthy

and points out a great variety of particulars, in which it differed from the form imposed by the Roman Bishops. See ibid. from p. 216, to p. 237.

member. While he feels himself cordially disposed to embrace in the widely extended arms of Christian charity, all those of whatever denomination, who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity; he may surely be allowed, without offence, to give a preference to that establishment, to the doctrines of which he has solemnly subscribed his hand.

The orthodoxy of our public services will be considered by every friend to truth one of its strongest recommendations, if it should appear (as the author devoutly wishes it may in the course of the following essays) that our forms of worship harmonize with the truth of God, as revealed in the bible. Our liturgy is not like a hose of wax, that may be adapted to every face. It is not contrived, like Mr. Pope's universal prayer, to suit the taste of infidels and heretics, But its languange on all the fundamental doctrines of Christianity is clear and decisive. This circumstance indeed will not recommend it to those, who have imbibed the spirit of the present day; in which indifference to all religious truth, misnamed charity and candour, has overflowed, like a deluge, almost every rank and order of men. Our reformers sought not to please men, but God. They sought not to gratify the pride of philosophy. They took care not to open a passage, whereby man's fallen reason might be exalted to

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the throne of judgment, while the oracles of God,' in a state of degradation, are placed at the footstool. Ease of conscience in those persons, who, while they pretend respect for Divine revelation, trample them under their feet, was no part of their concern. But the decisive language of our liturgy will endear it to those, who believe, that there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ.' Therein the doctrines of the fall, the Trinity, the atonement and saving merit of Christ, and the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit are asserted in pointed and energetic terms. On these topics it is needless to enlarge at present, as abundant opportunities will hereafter offer themselves of exhibiting the agreement of our church with the one unerring standard of all Divine truth. So clear and defined are the sentiments contained in the book of Common Prayer on these cardinal points; that every person in our assemblies, who verbally adopts and yet inwardly disbelieves them, is condemned out of his own mouth. And should such a monster of duplicity ever arise, as an Arian, Socinian, or Pelagian clergyman; continuing such, he would be restrained by his own subscriptions and confession from ever venting his heretical opinions, and thereby poisoning the minds of others, or would be obliged every time he appeared in the congregation of the faithful to proclaim his

own dishonesty. Let the enlarged minds of unbelievers condemn as much as they will, the narrowness of our creed, those, who are concerned for the honor of God and the welfare of mankind, will rejoice that we have such a barrier erected against the admission of those into the fold of Christ, whose business it is to steal, to kill and to destroy.' Blessed be God, for the Liturgy of our church!

The variety of forms which occur in our Liturgy and their judicious accommodation to all our spiritual necessities, constitute another characteristic of its excellence. The compilation proves that the authors of it were well read in the present state of human nature. They were well acquainted with the fallen, guilty, corrupt, and helpless state of man, and with the glorious provision which the gospel makes for our present and eternal comfort. Is the christian worshipper oppressed in spirit from a recollection of his sins? Here are confessions of sin, and deprecations of the anger of God, that will adequately express his feelings: here are promises of pardon, that will approve themselves to his heart, by their exact correspondence with his wishes. Is he joyful in spirit? Here he is furnished with hymns of praise, that will describe in lively terms the grateful emotions of his breast. We shall find it difficult to point out any situation of a public or private nature, relative either to our

souls or bodies; but it is comprehended in our admirable forms. But these things will more conspicuously appear as we proceed in the farther elucidation of our subject.

The spirituality of our liturgy is another of its excellences. Nothing is to be found therein to satisfy the conscience of the formalist and Pharisee; but, on the contrary, every thing that is calculated to awaken attention to the necessity of the worship of the heart, communion with God, and real delight in His service. Herein we are taught that God is a spirit, and that they who 'worship Him aright, must worship him in spirit

and in truth.' The absurdity of the language of mere compliment, when addressed to Him, who searcheth the heart, is plainly pointed out and the worship of our church is adapted exclusively to the use of those, who desire and expect to enjoy on earth, in the courts of the Lord's house, that which may afford them a foretaste of, and fit them for more refined and exalted pleasures at God's right-hand for evermore. Much more might be said to the same purpose, were it not an anticipation of what may be with greater pro priety introduced hereafter.

Therefore, leaving this general view of the subject, it will be time now to give our serious attention to the preparatory sentences at the commencement of our public worship; which

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