of finding a purer worship elsewhere. With what justice such arguments are urged, will best appear by a comparison between the prayers that are offered elsewhere, and those that are offered in the Established Church. There are about 11,000 places of worship in the Established Church, and about as many out of it. Now take the prayers that are offered on any sabbath in all places out of the Establishment; have them. all written down, and every expression sifted and scrutinized as our Liturgy has been: then compare them with the prayers that have been offered in all the Churches of the kingdom; and see what comparison the extemporaneous effusions will bear with our pre-composed forms. Having done this for one sabbath, proceed to do it for a year; and then, after a similar examination, compare them again: were this done, (and done it ought to be in order to form a correct judgment on the case,) methinks there is scarcely a man in the kingdom that would not fall down on his knees and bless God for the Liturgy of the Established Church.. All that is wanting is, an heart suited to the Liturgy, and cast as it were into that mould. It may with truth be said of us, "They have well said all that they have spoken: 0 that there were in them such an heart!" Let us only suppose that on any particular occasion there were in all of us such a state of mind as the Liturgy is suited to express; what glorious worship would ours be! and how certainly would God delight to hear and bless us! We will not say that he would come down and fill the house with his visible glory, as he did in the days of Moses and of Solomon; but we will say, that he would come down and fill our souls with such a sense of his presence and love, as would transform us into his blessed image, and constitute a very hea ven upon earth. Let each of us then adopt the wish in our text, and say, "O that there may be in me such an heart!" Let us cultivate the moderation and candour which are there exhibited; divesting ourselves of all prejudice against religion, and receiving with impartial readiness the whole counsel of our God. More particularly, whenever we come up to the house of God, let us seek those very dispositions in the use of the Liturgy, which our reformers exercised in the framing of it. Let us bring with us into the presence of our God that spirituality of mind that shall fit us for communion with him, and that purity of heart which is the commencement of the Divine image on the soul. Let us study whenever we join in the different parts of this Liturgy, to get our hearts suitably impressed with the work in which we are engaged; that our confessions may be humble, our petitions fervent, our thanksgivings devout, and our whole souls obedient to the word we hear. In a word, let us not be satisfied with any attainments, but labour to be holy as God himself is holy, and perfect even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect. If now a doubt remain on the mind of any individual respecting the transcendent excellence of the Liturgy, let him only take the Litany, and go through every petition of it attentively, and at the close of every petition ask himself, What sort of a person should I be, if this petition were so answered to me, that I lived henceforth according to it? and what kind of a world would this be, if all the people that were in it experienced the same answer, and walked according to the same model? If, for instance, we were all from this hour delivered from all blindness of heart, from pride, vain-glory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness; if we were delivered also "from all other deadly sin, and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil; what happiness should we not possess? How happy would the church be, if it should "please God to illuminate all bishops, priests, and deacons with true knowledge and understanding of his word, so that both by their preaching and living, they did set it forth and shew it, accordingly!" How blessed also would. the whole nation be, if it pleased God to "endue the Lords of the Council, and all the nobility, with grace, wisdom, and understanding; and to bless and keep the magis. trates, giving them grace to execute justice and to maintain truth; and further to bless all his people throughout the land!"* Yea, what a world would this be, if from this moment God should "give to all nations unity, peace, and concord!" Were these prayers once answered, we should hear no more complaints of our Liturgy, nor ever wish for any thing in public, that which is provided for us. better than May God hasten forward that happy day, when all the assemblies of his people throughout the land shall enter fully into the spirit of these prayers, and be answered in the desire of their hearts; receiving from him an "increase of grace, to hear meekly his word, to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit!" And to us in particular may he give, even to every individual amongst us, "true repent * The prayers for civil rulers are adapted in the American Book of Common Prayer, to the government of the United States. Am. Ed. |