The Book of Common Prayer OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ADAPTED FOR GENERAL USE IN OTHER PROTESTANT CHURCHES "As the Church of Jerufalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred; fo alfo the Church of Rome hath erred not only in their living and manner of ceremonies, but also in matters of faith." Article XIX. "At all times traditions and ceremonies may be changed according to the diverfities of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's word." Article XXXIV. PERFECT form of devotional fervice can never be made by man; nor could any one be framed, which would fatisfy the taftes of all, or not offend the fcruples of fome. But every human being, feeling the neceffity of the aid of fuch a fervice, must earnestly defire to have one, which fhall help him to unburden the forrows of his foul, and to cherish his holy joys; which fhall encourage his truft in infinite goodness, affift his penitence in the consciousness of guilt and unworthiness, and fill him with love and gratitude to God and his Christ, for all the bleffings of nature, of providence and of grace. In the elements and ftructure of the liturgical fervice of the Church of England, there is a happy adaptation to carry forward all these high and spiritual objects. The esteem and reverence in which it has been almost universally held, not merely by persons, whose profeffional duty it is to be familiar with it, but by all the thoughtful and ferious amongst the laity, young and old, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, is a decifive proof of its intrinfic excellence. Making every allowance for the effect of early impreffions and affociations, it would not have had this hold on the affections, if its internal merit had not endeared it to those who habitually used it. b |