hard phrases of scripture, as tend rather to amuse and puzzle than to instruct common hearers; there is in it nothing that savours of singularity, hypocrisy, or enthusiasm. All is plain, simple, natural; and yet at the same time solemn, majestic, moving; significant and full, sound and wholesome equally calculated to inform the understandings and inflame the affections of the wisest and weakest Christians.

That our service is not one continued act of devotion, but consists of several distinct and entire forms of petition and praise, is a great advantage : for the little breaks and pauses that intervene, relieve the mind from too continued and too strict an attention.

;

The Collects, though short, are admirably framed to raise and enliven our devotion; generally beginning with the awful mention of some of God's attributes, and always ending by referring to the blood and intercession of Jesus Christ. What considerations in religion are there more operative, more awakening than these, which return so often upon our minds, during the whole course of our excellent service? The affecting variety with which it abounds, contributes also to render us watchful and devout. Here we confess our sins, and intercede with God for the pardon of them here we deprecate the divine judgments that may be inflicted, and pray for all the blessings (spiritual and temporal) that can be bestowed, on ourselves and others and here we put up our praises and thanksgivings to Almighty God, for all the instances of his mercy and goodness towards us. We hear the Holy Scriptures read; we profess our belief of the great articles of faith; and these different parts of divine worship are so happily intermixed, and succeed each other in such beautiful order, that the mind of the worshipper has always a new and pleasing employment. Every part and circumstance is so ordered, as to inspire us with a holy reverence and awe, and so far to keep the outward senses

awake as that their vigilance may be of use to give wings to our devotion, and vigour to our minds.

Since, therefore, we have so many signal helps and advantages towards worshipping God in his sanctuary, with a heavenly frame and temper of soul, let us repair often to the house of God, with reverential fear and love, and with upraised hands and hearts, approach him " in the beauty of holiness."

THE

CHURCH LITURGY,

EXPLAINED AND ILLUSTRATED.

PRAYER requires so much attention and serenity of mind, that it can never be well performed without some preceding preparation for which reason the reverend compilers of our Liturgy have selected various sentences proper to call our attention to the solumn duties we are about to perform, and which are prefixed to the morning and evening services.

These sentences, being gathered from the Scriptures, carry with them an authority we dare not disobey. It is judged unnecessary that all these sentences should be read; the minister is left to select one or more, as he judges best.

Having, from the authority of the Scriptures, declared the readiness of God to hear the supplications of his people, the minister proceeds to the

Exhortation;

In which he informs the people, that the Scriptures having in various places commanded us to acknowledge and confess our numberless sins and wickednesses; and not to dissemble or hope to conceal them from the knowledge of Almighty God our heavenly Father, but to confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart, in order that we

THE CHURCH LITURGY EXPAINED, &c. 5

may obtain forgiveness of our sins from his infinite goodness and mercy: he then proceeds to tell us, that although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God, yet that we ought to do so in a more especial manner, when we meet together, in the sanctuary or church, to render thanks for the great benefits that we have already received, to celebrate his praise, to hear his most holy word, and to ask for those things that are requisite, both for the soul and body. He then affectionately solicits his hearers to accompany him, with pure hearts and minds, to the throne of the heavenly grace, and to repeat after him the

Confession.

Here begins our social service; the priest, as the appointed minister or ambassador from God, instructs the people how to address Him in the following words: Almighty and most merciful God, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, &c. &c; the whole congregation repeating it after him in an audible and impressive manner. Nothing can be better adapted to the purpose than this form of confession, which, though general, is so particular as to contain all that can be expressed.

It begins with an acknowledgment of our original corruption, in the wicked devices and desires of our hearts; and then descends to actual guilt, dividing it into sins of omission and commission, so that every one who makes the confession with his lips, may mentally express his particular sins to God who searches the heart.

After this act of humiliation and contrition, the clergyman stands up, and, with the authority delegated to him, as the appointed minister of God to his people, declares, in the name of the most High, that He desireth not the death of a sinner, but, on the contrary, that he hath given power and commandment to his ministers, to declare and pronounce

to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. Having thus made known the gracious declaration of God, he entreats his congregation to unite with him fervently to beseech the Almighty to grant us true repentance, and the influence of his holy spirit, not only that what we are now doing may be acceptable in His sight, but that the remainder of our lives may be pure and holy, so that finally we may come to his eternal joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The priest is required to pronounce the absolution standing, because his declaring the will of God is an act of authority: but the people are to continue kneeling, in token of that humility and reverence with which they ought to receive the assurance of a pardon from God.*

At the conclusion of the absolution the people are enjoined to say Amen: in this place, and at the end of creeds and exhortations, it is addressed to the priest, and means that we entirely assent or agree to what has been said: at the end of prayers and collects, the word amen is addressed to God, and it then signifies, "Be it unto us, O Lord, according to our petition." In our common prayerbooks, the word amen is sometimes printed in italics. It is thus printed at the end of all prayers, which are to be pronounced by the clergyman alone, and the amen, or assent of the people, should be given collectively and audibly at the end. Having made our humble confession to Almighty God, and received the blessed assurance that he will pardon the penitent sinner, we join with the minister in the Lord's prayer; after which he addresses an ejacula

It is a great mistake to repeat the exhortation, the absolution, and the commandments, after the minister, which many persons are apt to do; but if they would attend to the meaning of the words, they would quickly see the impropriety of exhorting, absolving, and commanding themselves.