The National Register. — London, England, 1809-04-09 00:00:00

ebe pulpit. The Pulpit. therefore, and I name it ljlled With snleinn awe, that bids me weil beware With what intent I touch that holy thing LECTURES ON THE LITURGY, By G. ANDREWES, DID. op Sr. .1.11 IIES's CHURCII, lY ritELININARY REFLECTIONS. MAE the commencement of my clerical Criticisms, have repeatedly considered the title by which they were first designated ; and, anxious to remove every objection, 1 am now induced to alter It. The words Popular Preachers, though perfectly significant of my original aim, I wish to exchange for those of The Pulpit, a$ admitting of extended and ,extending applicability, and as obviating the impro priety which seems to attach, owing to common usage, to the word popular. Holy things demand holy words ; and therefore words, no less than men, should, whenso ever this is. practicable, be set apart for the use of the sanc tuary, and consecrated to its service. 1 proceed to the subject before us. Prayer, presenting the sole medium of intercourse be tween the Creature and his Creator, between humanity and divinity, forms one of the most important offices in which the race of man can possibly engage. Numerous are the formularies of devotional intercession, national as well as individual, written by divers pious persons, which have accordingly appeared in aid of religious prayer. Christianity has been eminently productive of such coin positions. Many of our most distinguished characters among the laity, as clergy, in state as in church, have bequeathed to us inestimable examples of pious prayers. As to this part of national devotion, common 'prayer, it is difficult to conceive, at the present distance of time, the veneration in which it was held by our venerable ancestors. 44 It is not without a mystery," said the noble Bacon, when he was Chancellor of England, in one of his Charges to the King's Verge, 4i that Christ's coat had no seam; ricir no more should the Church, if it were possible. Therefore if any Minister re fuse to use the Book of Common-Prayer, or wilfully swerveth, in Diviue Ser.% ice, from that book ; or if any person whatsoever doth scandalise that book, and speak openly and maliciously in derogation of that book ; such men do but make a rent in the gari;cat, and such are by you to be enquired of." One of Queen Elizabeth's emir tiers, according to the same authority, besought her, with mitclu voice, on the morning of her coronation, before numberi of her courtiers, that in this good time, it being cuatoinary to release prisoners thus, there might be four jjeo principal prisoners more released ; which were the Put Evangelists and the apostle St. Paul, who had been Nag shut up in an unknown tongue, as if they were in prison. We live in other times. Centuries of delusion, the ages of priestcra ft, are paw(' away : and our national Commoe-Prayer, as well as the Evangelists and Saint Paul, emancipated from their imprisonment, cordially address us iu our mother-tongee ! This is our boast, religiously and politically, that we know the grounds upon which we are to act. • " Among other reasons for set Forms of Prayer," ob serves Adlisou, '' I have often thought it a very good one, that by this mca:is the folly and extravagance of men's de sires mar be kept within due bounds; and not break out in absurd and ridiculous petitions, on so great and solemn an occaiion." - Here then, as far as reason looks, is one of the principal argeineuts in support of " set Forms of Prayer" altogether. Piety. nevertheless, might start some ()like tops to any ste in. however in iff,elf excellent, which I, if aving now thrown out some few unostentatious obser vations tin the eligibility of adepting et forms of prayer for the regulation of national religion, an 4 expressed my ge neral estimation for the Book of Common Prayer used in the churches of this country, 1 purpose, in my next paw. to enter upon a cursory review of the Lectures on the Litnr.; S l' yf which were lately de!iveced liv vtlro" ct, zt ':. 1141 :ly productive of such coin walk, that tormed the secret of the greatness of their fa. ost distinguished characters thers, It is to the neglect of such training, politically no in state as in church, have less than piously, that our present evils, together with our examples of pious prayers. prospective calamities, Will be found imputable, b devotion, common 'prayer, Notwithstanding my leaning towards national rituals, a he present distance of time, and (with certain exceptions yet to be pointed out) my I . was held by our venerable special value for the Book of Cernerinn Prayer ap 7 o iout a mystery," said the pointed to be used among . us, 1 can perceive the advan- b Chancellor of England, in takes of extemporary praying, as practiced by numerous -) a King's Verge, " that Christ's religious societies at this day. If every gospel minister : more should the Church, possessed the gift of prayer, if such pious prayer were the . til A .efore if any Minister re- combined operation of soul'and mind, of judgment as well CI Pnamon-Prayer, or wilfully as feeling, then might " set forms of prayer" no longer si 'min that book ;or if any appear necessary or eligible, Much is it to be apprehended, ..1 lalisf, that book, and speak however, that such *di not be soon the. case, -It is the SI 4gatiOn of that book ; such peculiar province of extemporary prayers to apply to im- p a gari;ent, and such are by mediate events, and embrace particular persons ; but it is o' of - Queen Elizabeth's cour. the benefit of printed prayers, on the other hand, that they C 4 tbority, besought her, with I extend to all cireunistatices of time, and affect all condi. Ell of her coronation, before tions of men. Still it is on the ground of incapacity, and i tdt in this good time, it being the consequent danger of impropriety if not impiety, that si the .n, there might be four set Forms of Prayer are mostly desirable. lie who takes e released ; which were the with him printed prayers, knows what he is to pray far; cc pstle St. Paul, who had been while those who go to hear extemporary prayers, though w tongue, as if they were in iii spirit and truth. often know not to what they m a y w les. Centuries of delusion, listen, in what words they are expected to join, or by what fit iit!d away i and our national nonsense their ears may be offended and their minds in- (..'4 Evangelists and Saint Paul, # suited. Whether by head or by rote, there will he found, Ai i - t!iient, cordially address us in each method of praying. something to censure as well al so is our boast, religiously and to commend, Considering fairly the advantages and dig- grounds upon which we are advantages of both modes, comprehensively as well as spe- o f cifically, impartiality must, I think, incline still to prefer p v In set Forms of Prayer," ob- " set Forms of Prayer". in the perfOrmance of public wore is thought it a very good one, ship. 31.1 d extravagance of men's de- Having now thrown out some few unostentatious ohser. 'Il V I minds ; and not break out in vations on the eligibility of adeptiag set forms of prayer for of ,on so g reat and solemn an the regulation of national religion, and expressed my ge- ba is reason looks, is one of the ueral estimation for the Book of Common Prayer used h i wi tof " set Forms of Prayer" the churches of this country, 1 purpose, th e in my next paper. ss, might start some ohjec- to enter upon a cursory review of the Lectures on the Litiir- i t 1 11 ' No in ii..Af excellnt, which ~r,y, which were lately de!ivered !iv fr. Avtliv!! ct, 1! •':. mit THE NATIONAL REGISTER, Co w).Eit, APRIL D. tends to restrict the unstudied ebullitions of the heart, when aspiring, either in praise or prayer, imploration or thanks giving, to the Divine Author of all its mercies, and the rock of its refuge! He who alone can " hear the soul's re turning sigh," who is not only the giver of all good things but the author of all good thoughts, will doubtless prefer, imperfectly as it may he offered, the natural expression of our wants and our thanks, of our dependence or our grati tude. If, indeed, we are to 4 4 pray without ceasing," and there are few pious persons who do not so pray, mentally rather than verbally, it is impossible for any spiritual for mulary to direct, at all times, the exercise of our internal devotion, We have an explicit .caution, from the highest source, on this head,—" IV hen ye pray," said Jesus Christ, " use not vain repetitions, as the heathens do ; for they " think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. " lie not ye, therefore, like unto them : fur your father 44 knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask." Properly to investigate the nature of Public Prayer, or congregational intercession, would far exceed the limits to which the present papers are necessarily restricted. Thereasons assigned for praying by printed prayers are much the same as those which sometimes defend the preaching of written sermons, Propriety, perhaps even expediency, suggests the necessity of especially attending to the decency of Divine Service in the former particular. If, during the time we arc in the temple of religion, the 46 heart is not to be hasty to utter any thing," much less are we to be 4 4 rash with the mouth ;" feeling, as we do, that it is seldom possible fur us to pray as we ought. Va rious churches, have, therefore, since the extended propa gation of Christianity took place, ordained the use of na tional rituals; a practice to which, under the divine fa vour, the Church of England owes her stability. It was thistraining up the children in the way in which they should walk, that formed the secret of the greatness of their fa thers, It is to the neglect of such training, politically no less than piously, that our present evils, together with our prospective calamities, will he found imputable. Notwithstanding my leaning towards national rituals, and (with certain exceptions yet to be pointed out) my special value for the Book of Common Prayer ap pointed to be used among us, 1 can perceive the advan tages of extemporary praying, as practiced by aumerous religious societies at this day. If every gospel minister possessed the gift of prayer, if such pious prayer were the combined operation of soul 'and mind, of judgment as weli as feelieg, then might " set forms of prayer" no longer appear necessary or eligible, Much is it to be apprehended, however, that such *MI not be soon the. case, It is the peculiar province of extemporary prayers to apply to im mediate events, and embrace particular persons ; but it is the benefit of printed prayers, on the other hand; that they extend to all circunistaiices of time, and affect all condi tions of men. Still it is on the ground of incapacity, and the consequent danger of impropriety if not impiety, that set Forms of Prayer are mostly desirable. He who takes with him printed prayers, knows what he is to pray far; while those who go to hear extemporary prayers, though in spirit and truth. often know not to what they may listen, in what words they are expected to join, or by what nonsense their ears may be offended and their minds in sulted. Whether by head or by rote, there will he found, in each method of praying. something to censure as well al to commend, Considering fairly the advantages and dis advantages of both modes, comprehensively as well as spe cifically, impartiality must, I think, incline still to prefer " set Forms of Prayer". in the performance of public wore ship.