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.;
Sl'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 ap7 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 may 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- of
cifically, impartiality must, I think, incline still to prefer pv
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 great 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 hi wi
tof " set Forms of Prayer" the churches of this country, 1 purpose,the
in my next paper.
ss, might start some ohjec- to enter upon a cursory review of the Lectures on the Litiir- it 111 'No
in ii..Af excellnt, which ~r,y, which were lately de!ivered !iv fr. Avtliv!! ct, 1! •':. mit