with us to say that our system is cold and lifeless. But the fault is in ourselves.

Time will allow me to say very little either on the nature or excellencies of our Liturgy. The subject will be brought more prominently before your notice in the following pages. This I am sure of, that we shall see and appreciate the excellencies of our services only in proportion as we rise to the character of the "true worshippers, who worship the Father in spirit and in truth."

The Liturgy is like our Articles and Homilies, the production of our Reformers. In the earlier stages of its preparation much error and false doctrine was retained; but as fresh light burst upon the Church, the work of Reformation proceeded, until it was brought into the state in which we now have it, A.D. 1661. It was composed and compiled under the sanction of royal authority, by the apostolical governors and ministers of the Church; and it was accepted by the lay members of the Church in Parliament assembled. In doctrine, it is evangelical, spiritual, and scriptural. You may bring it to the touchstone of Scripture, and its doctrinal soundness will be seen. And in this respect its value is infinite; it bears a constant witness against the corruptions and idolatries of the Papacy, and presents a barrier in the way of those dishonest persons still professedly in the Protestant camp, who are so busily plotting against the doctrinal integrity and scriptural simplicity of our own Church. They may be dissatisfied with much of our Prayer Book: they may try to stultify its effects and alter its spiritual character by muttering or intoning the prayers, by lighted tapers, and

erossings, and bowings, and turning their backs on the people, and many other devices. But its scriptural and spiritual character testifies against them all the while, contradicting their formality, and exposing their dishonesty. And if we feel the value of it now as a Protester against the Romanizers in our Church, and as a pillar and ground of the truth; of how much greater value must it have been in bygone days, when through the ignorance and neglect of the clergy, the pure doctrines of the Reformation were well-nigh hidden, and were known and preached by so very few. In the dark ages of the Church, when the truth as it is in Jesus was scarcely heard in our pulpits, when the only Bible in the parish was chained to the reading desk, and a copy of the Scriptures could not be procured under 201. or 30%., our Liturgical Services were a preserver of spiritual doctrines, and of those foundation-truths on which the Church of Christ is built. And even now, though nothing can justify or palliate the awful guilt and wickedness of those ministers who preach not the Gospel, yet it is no small comfort to know that the pure word of God is heard from the reading desk, and the true doctrines of the Gospel embodied in our Form of Prayer.

True, our Liturgy is not perfect—it is a human production. There are a few expressions which, partly from being imperfectly understood, and partly from the lapse of time, give ground to objections, and prove stumbling-blocks to some, and might well be modified or changed. Still, when such difficulties arise in any of our minds-and it is the young and ardent enquirer after Christ who

is most exposed to doubts on the subject-I would advise such to wait, to reflect how many of God's dear people, far wiser and holier than themselves, see no such great difficulty in the expressions, and continue to use and enjoy our services with contented, and spiritual, and peaceful minds. I believe that most of these difficulties will vanish as we become, through grace, more humble, more scriptural, more holy.

Let us never forget that it is a service for the true believer from beginning to end. It would be worse than absurd to have a form of public prayer for the ungodly and unconverted to use; "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord." If such will take our service on their lips, whilst in heart and life they are yet strangers to Christ and to spiritual religion-the fault is their own, the responsibility lies with themselves. Let not our Liturgy be charged with their sin.

Sure I am, that, if any person comes to the service of our Church with a truly spiritual mind, he will find in our Liturgy that which is suited to his wants, and that which will call forth the devoutest exercises of his mind.

And now, to conclude.

I. Let us not so think about our spiritual privileges as to forget our own souls. Are we ourselves accepted in the use of these beautiful prayers? Outward reverence alone will not suffice: the heart must be engaged as well as the lips. "Ye hypocrites!" said our Lord to the formal Jews, "In vain do ye worship me." If you would be among the true worshippers, you must be true

Christians. There must be such a view of Christ by faith, and such an appreciation of Him in all that he has done for you, as to call forth the best affections of your hearts, as well as the adorations of your lips. Strive then to get such a sense of your own necessities, and of God's mercies, that your minds and thoughts may be fixed when you come to church and join in "O God, my prayer. heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise with the best member that I have." Pray for the Holy Spirit to help your infirmities, and to teach you how to pray.

II. Lastly, desiring to have everything concerning the celebration of public worship suitable and in order, and desiring to have one branch of our service the singing of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs-placed on a more satisfactory arrangement, I have complied with the almost unanimous wish of the congregation, and have provided that beautiful and melodious organ. If any have been prevented before, for any reason, from joining in this beautiful and cheering part of our service, I believe the fault will now be entirely their own, if they remain any longer silent. O! may we all have grace to sing praises to the Lord with understanding! May God grant that its erection may tend to his sole glory! May God the Holy Ghost, quicken, teach, and comfort us! May He so endow us with faith, and love, and holiness, that we may now be in the number of "true worshippers, who worship the Father in spirit and in truth." Then, when mortality is swallowed up of life, we shall join the heavenly chorus in ascribing "glory, honour, praise, and power to God and the Lamb for ever and ever."

SERMON II.

THE CONGREGATION'S PART IN THE SERVICE IN

PRAYER AND PRAISE.

1 CORINTHIANS XIV. 15.

"What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."

In the earliest days of Christianity, it pleased the Lord to endow his Church with the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost. The gifts of prophecy, of healing, and of speaking with divers tongues or in different languages were common in the Church. These have long since ceased, the great end for which they were permitted having been gained. But even whilst they lasted, they were abused by some who enjoyed them, and were made to minister to their own pride and self-exaltation. seemed to forget that their gifts were bestowed on them for the glory of God, and the edification and comfort of the Church. In this chapter St. Paul is instructed by the Holy Ghost to correct the errors which prevailed in the Corinthian Church in

They