Let me farther suggest this thought. Take away, from a common prayer book, every passage of Scripture; and how few pages would you leave! The opening sentences, most of the Hymns, the Psalms, the Epistles, and Gospels, the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer are from Scripture. What would you leave? except those heavenly compositions, some of which St. Basil, and St. Gregory, and St. Chrysostom, have indited; and some, the Apostles, themselves. What would you leave? except prayers, and supplications, and intercessions, and giving of thanks, which, from age to age, have enriched the church with piety; and form a spiritual link between the disciples of the Lord Jesus, for eighteen centuries.

II. Having thus given you a very imperfect account of the manner, and the time, in which our prayer book was compiled; and having endeavoured to impress your minds with the feeling, that it was not a book,

composed and written for the occasion, by our Reformers, but, most carefully selected from ancient liturgies, some of which the Apostles themselves had prepared; let me now address a few words to you, on the advantages of having a form of prayer.

1. Where could a sufficient number of men be found, possessing the gift of such extemporaneous prayer, as we deem due to the majesty of God, and the glory of his Son Jesus Christ? The clergy of this country are about 16,000 in number. Without detracting from a body of men, on whom (not in boasting, for we ascribe all to God) we may believe, that the Spirit of God hath been graciously poured out, I avow my conviction, that neither they, nor any others are equal to so awful a task.

2. One great advantage from a Liturgy arises, from knowing beforehand, what devotions we are going to use. Our amen is then sincere, when we are acquainted with the substance of our prayers: and our duty therein resolves itself, simply, into kindling

the devout affections, and stirring the conscience, without having to strain the mind in suddenly catching new ideas. Now if this be of consequence to all, much more so is it to those who sit at any great distance, or who may be afflicted with the distressing infirmity of deafness.

3. The very circumstance, of the same prayers being used, is most profitable; edification, not excitement, being intended. Hence, the deep impression of faith made by the constant and reverential use of the Common Prayer; the images of divine things being conveyed to the mind, in language which a child may often understand; and in words, in other places, which, according to Scripture, are uttered by the Heavenly Host above. comfort to us, that we

rule of Christ himself?

Must it not be a

are following the

Is not the Lord's

prayer a form of devotion? Is it not a Liturgy, in a few words?

4. Must it not promote the Communion of saints to remember, that we are, (though

locally separated) "with one mind, and one mouth, glorifying God'?" that we are using words, which are rising to Heaven, not in the churches of Great Britain and Ireland only; but from the banks of the Ganges, the St. Lawrence, the Ohio 2, in the Islands of the Pacific, and in the Western Ocean?

5. If detained at home, moreover, by sickness or affliction, the worshipper of our church can bend the knee in private; and with his book of prayer, in this case of necessity, can mingle in spirit, with the tens of thousands, who are in the sanctuary; and feel, that there is "one Lord, one Faith;" and that Christ is all in all, the head of his mystical body.

6. Another great blessing, derived from our Common Prayer, is this; that it gives a Rom. xvi. 6.

2 In addition to the Ecclesiastical establishment in qur several colonies, the interesting Church of the United States of America is derived through the Church of England, and is under the guidance of fifteen Bishops.

fixed character to our faith. The Bible is acknowledged as the standard of truth, by all Christians. Yet infinite, are the interpretations, given to the blessed volume. But, by placing before the mind, in the settled form of devotion, the leading truths of the Gospel, as received and handed down by the piety of the church, from age to age, we are kept stedfast in all vital doctrines. The Trinity, the atonement of the Son of God in our nature, the lifegiving grace of the Comforter, the power of faith, the fruits of repentance, peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost, become realities to the mind.

If then we have such a talent committed to our trust, have we been duly careful in the employment of it? O! that we could behold the delightful spectacle of every seat in our churches occupied before the service of the great God commences! Is it not considered disrespectful