a Rubric shall be made, setting forth, or declaring, the curses denounced therein not to be restrained to every particular article, but intended against those that deny the substance of the Christian religion in general. "That whether the translation of the reading Psalms, made by the Bishop of St. Asaph and Dr. Kidder, or that in the Bible, shall be inserted in the Prayer Book, be wholly left to the Convocation to consider of and determine." Dr. Calamy gives the following account of the different opinions which were entertained respecting this celebrated Ecclesiastical Commission. "It was objected,—that altering any thing in a well constituted Church, was like plucking a beam out of a well-built house, which cannot be done without endangering the fabric. It was answered,-if all had been of this mind, we could never have reformed from Popery, because this argument would have been as strong against all alterations then as now. "It was objected,—if alterations were begun, there was no knowing where to stop. It was answered,-when any thing was proposed not fit to be done. It was "It was objected,-they that want alterations, will still be craving more. answered, that denying them what was just and fitting to be granted, was giving them a great advantage. "It was objected,-changing was reproachful. It was answered,-it was much more reproachful, obstinately to resist a change, when there is no good reason for it. "It was objected,—there was no reason to endeavour to gratify the dissenters, who were guilty of great obstinacy and perverseness. It was answered,-it therefore became them to act like physicians, who do not presently cast off a peevish patient, but study to suit his palate and humour.” 125 POSTSCRIPT. As the illustration of a rule is frequently more interesting and intelligible than the rule itself, the writer has ventured to give the following specimen of a Revision of our Liturgy, executed agreeably to the suggestions he has made in the preceding pages. Whilst thus engaged, he has endeavoured, by a harmless temporary fiction, to consider himself as invested with the office of an authorized revisor of the Liturgy, freely proposing a plan for an improved edition of our Prayer Book, subject to the correction of his fellow-revisors, to his own subsequent improvements, and the final inspection and approval of the Episcopal Bench. This circumstance, he trusts, will be borne in mind by the candid reader; as it would be unjust to himself and injurious to the public mind, to confound a preparatory sketch with a finished painting-the primary suggestions of an insulated individual with the matured plan, revised, corrected, and completed by the united deliberation, counsel and wisdom, of a whole committee. 126 SPECIMEN OF A REVISED LITURGY. MORNING PRAYER FOR SUNDAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. The following Prayers shall be read every Sunday morning throughout the year, except when the Festivals occur, or the Lord's Supper is administered, when the forms appointed for those occasions shall be read instead of the usual Service for Sundays. The Minister shall begin the Morning Prayer by reading one or more of the following sentences of Scripture. THE HE Lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before him. Habakkuk, ii. 20. From the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. Malachi, i. 11. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm xix. 14. When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Ezekiel, xviii. 27. I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Psalm li. 3. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Psalm li. 9. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm li. 17. Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repent eth him of the evil. Joel, ii. 13. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenessses, though we have rebelled against him: neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, O come, let us worship and fall down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm XCV. 6. This exhortation shall occasionally be used by the Minister, according to his discretion. to walk in his laws which DEARLY beloved bre he set before us. Daniel, ix. 9, 10. O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Psalm vi. 1. Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. St. Matthew, iii. 2. 1 will arise, and go to father, and will my say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. St. Luke, xv. 18, 19. un Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Psalm cxliii. 2. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive : our selves, and the truth is not in us but if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1St. John, i. 8, 9. thren, the Scripture exhorteth us in numerous places, not to dissemble nor cloak our manifold sins and wickedness, before the face of Almighty God, our heavenly Father; but to confess them with a humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we most chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure |