a humane and reflecting mind who will refuse to join in prayers for "the powers that be" and for the stability of the Government, whatever it may be, which he finds existing under Establishment by Law. "The powers that be are ordained of God,"* said the Apostle, while he who filled the throne was yet a heathen and a monster of iniquity. With Christian Kings and Christian Communities, the Church has more direct connection. While the Church is militant on earth, is it not a fit subject for the prayers of the Congregation, that by the endeavours of the legislature “all things may be settled on the best and surest foundation, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety may be established among us for all generations?" If the example of a Sovereign carries respect, if his office has authority, are we not rightly called on to pray that through the wise controul of the disposer of all hearts "he may in all his thoughts, words and works ever seek the honor and glory of God, and study to preserve the people committed to his charge, in wealth peace and godliness?" What is this really but to pray for ourselves and for our fellows-for the religion of our fathers-for the Church of Christ?

Arising from an humbled heart and composed in a pious Spirit, I have said that, as

*Romans xiii. 1.

far as human infirmity can effect it, our Liturgy is suited to the acceptance of that great and holy Deity to whom it is to be offered. Under the Law whatever had connection with the impurity of the flesh was driven at distance from the Temple: it was required of the sacrifice to be there offered that it should be clear of all blemish and all stain: the appropriating inscription stamped on every thing that was used in the service there-the frontlet of him who performed that service bore the words "Holiness to the Lord"* as its motto and its dedication. What part of our service is there, which may not bear the same image and superscription? The Compilers resorted to those fountains of living water which, issuing from Christ himself, ran in streams of divine knowledge through the pages of the Evangelists, through the penetrating discourses of the Apostles who spread the Gospel through Heathen nations, and through the Epistles in which they laid down for their faithful converts the doctrines of their inspiration. From these they selected portions to be read in the service: and in their Collects and their Petitions they caught their Spirit, and rarely kept away from the very phrases of the Scripture. The best of all Comments on the Bible is the Church of England Prayer book-most full and most fami

* Exodus xxviii. 36.

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liar, most sound and most impressive. gardless of what may gratify the philosophic infidel, it founds its morality on God's Commandments and the graces of his Holy Spirit. Not seeking to have the name of the Socinian enrolled among the number of its followers, its faith is, in passages innumerable, pronounced to be in the Saviour, and the Creed is in direct terms Trinitarian. Every prayer opens with an address to the God of revealed religion, and it concludes with a hope of success through the intercession of Christ and with an application of the merits of the Saviour. The opening of our service brings man forward a sinner and a penitent: the conclusion sends him home in peace, with the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

"God is a Spirit and they that worship him" says our Lord, "must worship him in Spirit and in truth.”* Never was there a re

ligious office composed in more strict and more complete accordance with our Lord's divine instruction than this. It separates wholly all that is of this world, all that is of the flesh : it opens out to the Congregation all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It rejoiceth in the truth it is fervent in Spirit. The Church calls its children from the world and

*John iv. 24.
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its vanities-from the body and its impurities, to hold communion with the father of Spirits and to acquaint themselves with God. There needs no image to excite in them an impression of him, whom nothing can be made to resemble. The book of holy worship enlightens their understanding, and by faith they see him in its sublime descriptions and in its affecting expostulations. Him, whom with their mortal eyes they have not seen, they are taught in the heart to love. They are furnished with words suited to their feelings and suited to his holiness: they have a reasonable service given for their uses, removed equally from the coldness of the formalist and from the extravagance of the enthusiast. Its moderation is known unto all men; and it has at every sentence the Lord at hand.

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In its formation," says a respected Prelate whom it has pleased the Lord just now to remove from the perils of our Church and the agitation of our Country, "it has been happily, and doubtless, providentially, guarded alike from excess and from deficiency. It possesses a peculiar temperament, equally remote from all extremes, and harmoniously blending all excellencies: it is not superstitious, it is not fanatical, it is not cold and "formal, it is not rapturous and violent; but "it unites, perhaps beyond any other human composition, sublime truth and pure spirit;

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"the calmest wisdom and the most energetic "devotion."*

Such, my brethren, is the deserved character of the Liturgy of our Church, and so admirably is it adjusted for your spiritual interests and your spiritual improvement. In proportion will be the condemnation of any who by their inattention and insensibility would degrade it to a service of the lips, or who by an intemperance of zeal, not according to knowledge, would set aside its sobriety for sentiments of doubtful orthodoxy, or expressions of more passionate extravagance. Yet deem it not a magical form of words that by recital of its incantations must bring down blessings from Heaven on the sinners of the earth. No. "God heareth not sinners: but if any man be worshipper of God and doeth his will, him he heareth." If you would worship him in spirit and in truth, if you would worship him in the service of your Church, you must endeavour to enter into the feelings of those who composed that service; and these were the feelings of the inspired penmen, from whose pages it was their highest praise that they compiled it. It is only of "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man," that St. James saith, it "availeth much." will therefore, saith St. Paul, that men pray

* Bishop Jebb-the late respected Bishop of Limerick. James v. 16.

↑ John ix. 31.

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