LEEDS TRACTS. A COMPANION FOR MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. THE PORTRAIT OF A CHURCHMAN. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have THE BIBLE. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable THE PRAYER BOOK. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the Traditions LEEDS: T. HARRISON, 153, BRIGGATE; SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., AND EDWARDS AND HUGHES, LONDON; AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. PRICE ONE SHILLING AND FOURPENCE. A COMPANION FOR MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. THUS SAITH THE LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.....Jer. ch. vi. ver. 16. In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.....Isaiah, ch. XXX. ver. 15. A PRAYER FOR UNITY. O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly Union and Concord: that, as there is but one Body, and one Spirit, and one Hope of our Calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may henceforth be all of one heart, and of one soul, united in one holy bond of Truth and Peace, of Faith and Charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN....Book of Common Prayer. 2 Thess. chap. ii. ver. 15. The Liturgy of the Church of England hath advantages so many and so considerable, as not only to raise itself above the devotions of other churches, but to endear the affections of good people to be in love with liturgies in general. Great part of it consists of the very words of scripture, as the Psalms, Lessons, Hymns, Epistles and Gospels, and the rest is in every particular made agreeable to it, and drawn from the liturgies of the ancient church. The Rubricks of it were written in the blood of some of the compilers, men famous in their generations ; whose reputation and glory of martyrdom hath made it immodest for the best of men now to compare themselves with them. There is no part of religion but is in the offices of the Church of England. For if the soul desires to be humbled, she hath forms provided of confession to God before his church-if she will rejoice and give God thanks for particular blessings, there are forms for all the solemn occasions, which could be foreseen, and for which provision could by public order be made if she will commend the public and private necessities of the church and single persons, the whole body of collects and devotions supplies them abundantly. When we are called upon to perform our duty of special meditation on, and thankfulness to God for the glorious benefit of Christ's incarnation, nativity, passion, resurrection and ascension, &c. then we have the offices of Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and Ascension. The life and death of the saints, which are very precious in the eyes of God, are so remembered that by giving thanks and praise, God may be honoured, the church instructed by the proposition of their examples; and we give testimony of the honour and love we pay to religion by our pious veneration and esteem of those holy and beatified persons. There is not any spiritual advantage which the most religious can either need or fancy, but what the English Liturgy, in its entire constitution, will furnish us withal. -Bishop Jeremy Taylor. |