THE ORIGINAL PREFACE. NOTWITHSTANDING the number of complaints that were made, many years ago, against the slovenly and irreverent manner in which the Common Prayer was read by the generality of Divines, still I find this dissatisfaction prevails at present as universally as ever, and that there has been but little diminution in the cause of its continuance. The late Mr Sheridan, wishing to rectify what appeared to him, as to every other person, of so much importance, devoted a considerable part of his Lectures on Reading to the particular matter before us but his object seemed to be that of rendering the Clergy more correct than fervent in this part of their duty; and although he has in that succeeded, still he has not endeavoured to teach them the manner in which the Service might be read with that glow of animated devotional piety, befitting its sacred importance, and from which the people would receive the highest advantages, through the medium of sympathy and example. To amend this defect, or rather to perform what appeared before to be unattempted, is the principal object of this publication; and I am enabled to undertake it by the aid of some Manuscripts, lately put into my hands, containing a number of Notes and Observations made by a Clerical friend, now no more. These Notes were originally committed to paper for the purpose of leading the Writer afterwards to ascertain the precise manner in which he had heard the Service read in private by the late Mr Garrick, by whose exertions he was convinced that the most part of it was capable, if properly delivered, of engaging the strict attention of every one present, and inclining the most hardened heart to sincere and fervent devotion. By close observance and frequent practical exercise, he at last brought himself to a degree of excellence nearly approaching to that of his great Preceptor, and which his provincial flock will long remember with pleasure and regret. Possessing a 、 full conviction that, if not an equal, a considerable benefit will arise to the members of our established Church, from the perusal of a performance composed principally from Notes made for the above purpose, I do not hesitate to recominend to their consideration the following sheets, by which they will be enabled to compare the method which Mr Garrick advised in reading the Common Prayer, and that which is laid down by Mr Sheridan. In the one, a suitable fervour of exterior devotion on the part of the Clergyman, as well as on that of the people, appears to be the chief thing endeavoured to be inculcated; in the other, the grand objects seem to be those of finding out the word upon which the emphasis should be placed, of entering into minute observations on intricate passages, while the pious energy and spiritual animation, so essentially necessary to the proper delivery of the whole, in order to make those who are present sensibly feel the awful and sacred business in which they are engaged, and thereby render them more devout, are left almost entirely unrecommended. The one speaks more to the heart, the other to the understanding; and this being the difference between the two, they may conjointly be of great advantage to the Divine. 5 |