Deut. v. 28, 29. They have well said all that they have spoken : 0 that there tvere such an heart in them!
IN our preceding Discourses on this text, we first entered distinctly and fully into its true import, and then applied it, in an accommodated sense, to the Liturgy of our Established Church. The utility of a Liturgy being doubted by many, we endeavoured to vindicate the use of it, as lawful in itself, expedient for us, and acceptable to God. But it is not a mere vindication only which such a composition merits at our hands : the labour bestowed upon it has been exceeding great : our first Reformers omitted nothing that could conduce to the improvement of it : they consulted the most pious and learned of foreign divines, and submitted it to them for their correc- tion : and, since their time, there have been frequent revisions of it, in order that every expression which could be made a subject of cavil, might be amended: by which means, it has been brought to such a state of perfection, as no human composition of equal size and variety can pretend to.
To display its excellence, is the task, which, agree- ably to the plan before proposed, is now assigned us ; and we enter upon it with pleasure ; in the hope, that those who have never yet studied the Liturgy, will learn to appreciate its value ; and that all of us may be led to a more thankful and profitable use of it in future.
To judge of the Liturgy aright, we should contem- plate, Its spirituality and purity — Its fulness and suit- ableness— Its moderation and candour.
I. Its spirituality and, purity.
It is well known that the services of the Church of Rome, from whose communion we separated, were full of superstition and error : they taught the people to rest in carnal ordinances, without either