Twelve Discourses in Explanation of the Liturgy of the Church of England

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1834. Excerpt: ... SERMON II. ON THE LITURGY GENERALLY. PSALM XCVI. 9. 0 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. In the discourse last delivered from this place, I shewed you the important objects which Public Worship had in view, and the benefits which might be looked for by each individual from a devout and a diligent attendance on it. I concluded by urging arguments, which I thought of considerable strength, to establish, that these objects are more effectually promoted, and these benefits more likely to be obtained by the use of a pre-composed and printed formulary, than by the extempore effusions of persons appointed in succession to the offices of Ministerial duty. To you, my brethren of the Church of England, the argument is considerably strengthened by your having open for inspection the form of sound words composed for your use, according to which the public service is administered in your Church; a form of Prayer which will stand, as it has stood, the test of the most minute examination, and which, in proportion as it is diligently studied, will be the more ardently admired. In this discourse, I purpose to give a brief historical view of its composition, and to point out to you, generally, those distinguished excellencies which have gained for it the praise of every Protestant Community, and made it a suitable companion for, as well as a valuable Comment on, that Sacred Volume, the words of which it has often so happily adopted, and the Spirit of which it has with such fidelity embodied in its devotions. Nearly three hundred years have passed since the Book of Common Prayer was introduced into our Church by the ecclesiastical authorities of the realm under the sanction of an Act of Parliament passed in the Second year of King Edward the Sixth. Some ten years b...