PREFACE.

THE first of these discourses was preached at the consecration of St. Bartholomew's Chapel at Sydenham: the remainder followed at some intervals, and not exactly in the order in which they are now prepared for a wider circulation. The author has not scrupled to retain some allusions to the circumstances under which they were composed, as being calculated to afford rather greater local interest, without offending the general reader.

This volume will be found to contain little of research, or of curious enquiry into the origin of our Church service. Such investigation is a very pleasing task, and well worthy of being exhibited in a popular form; but does not fall within the intention of the writer in the present publication. Enough for him, if

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he can excite in his readers a greater love of that liturgy, the use of which is one of the privileges enjoyed in our church; and thereby lead them to the exercise of a warm, elevated, but sober piety. One portion of his subject, that of Baptism, will be found to be discussed at rather a disproportionate length; to which be has been led by a persuasion that much of error may be traced to the want of a right understanding of the nature of that ordinance.

CONTENTS.

SERMON I.

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CHURCH, ESPECIALLY IN REGARD TO THE

LITURGY.

EPHES. i. 3. -"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly

places in Christ.”

Page 1

SERMON II.

LITURGY. PRAYER. CONFESSION OF SIN.

LAM. iii. 41..

Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God

in the heavens."

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SERMON III.

LITURGY. PRAYER. THE LITANY.

ZECH. xii. 10. - "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon

the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications:

and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and shall

mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son; and shall be in

bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.

SERMON IV.

LITURGY. PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING.

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Psalm xcii. 1, 2. — “ It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,

and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High :

"To show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithful-

ness every night.”

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SERMON V.

Same subject continued.

SERMON VI.

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LITURGY. THE SCRIPTURES.

JOHN, V. 39. —"Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have

eternal life; and they are they which testify of me."

SERMON VII.

LITURGY.-CONFESSION OF FAITH.

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Rом. x. 9, 10. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord

Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from

the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth

unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto

salvation."

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SERMON VIII.

Same subject continued.

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SERMON IX.

PREACHING..

1 COR. ix. 14. -" Wo is unto me if I preach not the Gospel." 136

SERMON X.

CATECHISING.

ISAIAH, Xxviii. 9, 10. -"Whom shall he teach knowledge? and

whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are

weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
For precept

must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line

upon line; here a little, and there a little."

SERMON XI.

BAPTISM.

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152

JOHN, iii. 5, 6. -"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter

into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is

flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

JOHN, iii. 5, 6.

SERMON XII.

OFFICE OF BAPTISM. (1.)

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"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter

into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is

flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

MATT. XXViii. 19.

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SERMON XIII.

OFFICE OF BAPTISM. (II.)

188

"Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising

them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."

SERMON XIV.

OFFICE OF BAPTISM. (III.)

204

JOHN, iii. 5, 6. -"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be

born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom

of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which

is born of the Spirit is spirit."

SERMON XV.

THE LORD'S SUPPER. (1.)

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i Cor. xi. 26. -"As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup,

ye do show the Lord's death till he come."

SERMON XVI.

THE LORD'S SUPPER. (II.)

239

1 Cor. xi. 28. -"Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of

that bread, and drink of that cup."