And now we may confidently ask our readers whether the selection and position of these sentences is not admirable? Is it not clear that the more closely we look into the Liturgy, the more we shall discover a mine of study, of thought, of prayer, of theology, underlying the whole of it? Alas! that ordinarily preachers give it so little exposition, and worshippers so little thought! "It is the part of Art," says the proverb, "to conceal Art;" and the plain, nervous, chaste language of the English Prayer Book has this defect, that it does conceal from all but those who will be at the pains to look below the surface an amount of art, of care, of erudition, which probably is to be found in no other uninspired Book. While it must be freely conceded (lest we trench on the prerogative of Holy Scripture) that the Liturgy, like all uninspired compositions, has its defects, yet if, when the mind is brought to bear upon it, all the blemishes discovered in it at least admit of justification, and some of them are positively seen to be beauties, Revision surely would be a dangerous task, which might issue in rooting up much good and wholesome wheat, for the sake of ridding the field of a few so-called tares. Let divines, whose minds are deeply imbued with Scripture, and Primitive Antiquity, and still more with a spirit of devotion,-after making themselves acquainted with Liturgical literature generally, and with the history of our own Liturgy in particular,have full liberty to undertake the task of Revision, if with such qualifications they should think it expedient. But we are persuaded that men so qualified would recoil from it. The more they possessed of the erudition and the piety requisite for the task, the less they would think that they could achieve it satisfac torily. The passages they had at first crossed for examination and correction would seem to them more and more Scriptural and primitive, as the light of Scripture and Primitive Antiquity was more and more let in upon them. For us who are not divines, let us be thankful for this glorious heritage of our forefathers, "The Book of Common Prayer." And let us show our thankfulness by pondering the meaning of those words, which Sunday after Sunday slip so glibly over our tongues in worship, that they leave little or no impression upon our hearts. It was the petition of the disciples, that Christ would teach them to pray (would give them, that is, an authorized Form of Prayer), "as John also taught his disciples." It is a petition which for ourselves is already answered. The Providence and Goodness of God has given us a Liturgy, which is a faithful echo and expansion of Our Lord's own model Prayer. But as it is with the model itself, so it is with this faithful echo of it. The sound of both is in the ear, while the sense of neither is in the mind. Pray we then, "Lord, as Thou hast graciously taught us to pray, teach us to understand our prayers; so that, when we recite them, we may pray with the spirit, and with the understanding also!" LECTURE I OF THE PREFACE OR THANKSGIVING, AND OF ITS By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name."-HEBREWS Xiii. 15 THE HE section of the Communion Service on which we now enter is perhaps of greater antiquity than any other. It can be traced back upwards of fifteen hundred years, and may possibly date from the Apostolic age itself. And accordingly it has a peculiar interest for the devout mind. There is something very solemn in the associations of an old Parish Church, in which generation after generation has worshipped God. It links us in thought to our forefathers in the faith of Christ, who in their days were the subjects of the same struggles, the same temptations as ourselves, and who found their refuge and .strength in the mercy and faithfulness of the same Saviour. And a similar interest, only intensified in degree, attaches to a venerable form of Prayer, which has been consecrated by the use of many centuries. These simple and sublime words are the wings, on which many devout souls have been borne up in their flight heavenward,-thousands and millions of the |