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INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF GOD, ACCORDING TO THE FORM OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE TEACHER.

As it was found difficult to divide the following Explanation of the Common Prayer Book into Lectures of equal proportions, divisions are made throughout at proper resting places by ruled lines. The quantity of instruction to be given at one Lesson, from this part of the work, must be left to the judgment of the Teacher, who will observe that all which is intermixed with the Explanation, by way of Direction, is printed in the same manner as the other Directions for Teachers.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURE.

Instruction.---It is our duty not only to worship God in private, that is, by ourselves, or in our families, but also to attend the public worship of God. Public Worship differs from Private Worship in this particular, that in one, a number of people unite together as one body, and as it were with one heart and one voice, in celebrating the praises of Almighty God, and in supplicating for general mercies and blessings; in the other, individuals address the Almighty as their own God, offering him thanksgiving and praises for particular favours, and supplicating him for such particular mercies and blessings as they stand in present need of, for the comfort of themselves and families; to which should be added, intercession for others. In Public Worship, God is ho

noured as the universal Lord; in Private, God is addressed as the Parent of each of his adopted children. Those who stay away from Public Worship, affront the Divine Majesty, by neglecting to pay the homage which is justly due to God, and they also cut themselves off from the body of his Church, and forfeit the blessings belonging to it. Those who neglect to worship God in private, offend him as their heavenly Father, and forfeit the blessings he has promised to those who pray to him in secret, and with their households.

Questions---What is Public Worship? [ns. Worshipping God at Church.] What is Private Worship? [Ans. Worshipping God at home.] Do those who only worship God in private, testify openly to the world that they honour him as the Lord of all, as the Creator, Redeemer, and Sancti→ fier of all? [Ans. No.] Do those who worship God in public only, fulfil his divine command of entering into their closet, and praying in secret, and with their families? [Ans. No.] Do not you perceive then that Public Worship and Private Worship are so far different duties, that the performance of the one cannot make amends for the neglect of the other? Ans. Yes.] Is the excuse which many people make for not going to church, that they pray and read at home, a good one? Ans. No.]

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Instruction.---Public Worship must be offered in a public place; that is, in a place common to all who will go to it; and it is further necessary that it should be a place properly consecrated to God, as his House of Prayer. From the beginning of the world there have been consecrated places, in which God vouchsafed to be present in a particular manner with devout worshippers. The groves in which the Patriarchs built their altars, and offered their sacrifices, were consecrated to God, and the Tabernacle and Temple were built by the express command of the Lord, and consecrated to him.

Our Saviour himself went to the Temple at Jerusalem, as did his apostles, and as soon as Christianity had gained ground in the world, Churches were built for Christian worship. In this country there are Churches in abundance, and all who are within reach of any of them, certainly ought to attend on the Sabbath Day at least, and as much oftener as their leisure will permit; and when they go to Church, they should consider themselves as in the immediate presence of God, because by shewing forth his glory in the Tabernaele and the Temple, God has given a token or pledge that he will be present in his House, to hear the devout prayers of

his people; though he veils his glory from their eyes in pity

to their weakness.

Questions.---Where should public worship be offered ? [Ans. In a place consecrated for the purpose.] What is meant by being consecrated? [Ans. Solemnly set apart.] Should any common business be done in a consecrated place? [Ans. No.] Should public worship be performed in private houses, or in fields, since there are churches to go to? [Ans. No. In whose presence should we consider ourselves when we are in a place consecrated for public worship? [Ans. God's.] In what places of public worship did God manifest his presence? [Ans. In the Tabernacle and the Temple.] Why does not God shew forth his glory in all such places ? [Ans. Because the people could not bear to behold it.] Could the Israelites go into the Tabernacle when the glory of the Lord appeared? [Ans. No.] Cannot God be present though we do not see him? [Ans. Yes.] For what purpose is Cod present in his house? [Ans. To hear the devout prayers of his people.] If their prayers are devout, what will God bestow upon them? [Ans. Pardon and peace.] Suppose that people, when they are in God's house, forget the purpose they go for, and trifle away their time, can they expect God to bless them? [Ans. No.] Is it not the way to make God angry with them? [Ans. Yes.] How often at the least should we go to the House of God? [Ans. Every Sabbath day.] Should we not go at other times too, if we have leisure and opportunity? [Ans. Yes.] Should not we try to get to church before the service begins? [Ans. Yes.] Should we hurry out before it is fully ended? [Ans. No.]

Instruction.---In order to worship God in public, it is requisite to have a Common Form of Prayer, that is, a set of Prayers suited to the body of people assembled for the purposes of worshipping God with one heart and one voice; for there would be great confusion if every one of the congregation should pray in his own words; and if all the congregation should depend upon the minister to lead them in his words, they would not be prepared beforehand to join properly with him. For these reasons the Church of England' has a Common Prayer Book, which is used in every Church, belonging to the Establishment, by which means the members do in effect join, not only with that congregation of which they form a part, but with all other congregations who are using the same form at the same time; and as the

hour of prayer is the same at numbers of churches, thousands of people may unite in worshipping God with one heart and one voice, and in praying for blessings on the Universal Church, though not personally present with each other. As a Common Prayer Book is so useful and comfortable, every person who has one should take care of it, and consider it as a sacred book.

Questions.---Should not all the people of a congregation use the same words when they worship God together? [Ans. Yes.] What would there be if they all used different words? [Ans. Confusion.] Suppose they were to trust to their minister to lead them, could they tell beforehand what his words would be? [Ans. No.] Is it not a comfortable thing to have a Common Prayer Book? [Ans. Yes.] In what light should that Book be regarded which contains the Prayers of the Church? [Ans. As a sacred Book.] Should those who have Prayer Books throw them about as if they were of no more value than a foolish story or song book? [Ans. No.] Should they scribble on the leaves, and mix other things with the Prayers of the Church? [Ans. No.] Remember then to value your Common Prayer Book as you ought to do..

Instruction.---As there were offerings made in the Temple at Jerusalem, by the Lord's appointment, every morning and evening, till our Saviour abolished the Jewish law, the Christian Church, which took place of the Jewish Church, has a Morning and Evening Service, which in many Churches is performed every day.

The Service of the Church of England is ordered to be read part by the Minister and part by the people, and part by the Minister and people together. By the Minister is meant a Clergyman, one of the Priesthood; a person ordained or consecrated to the service of God, to administer the Holy Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church. No one is properly a Minister of God, who has not been ordained to his sacred office according to the institution of the Apostles, who were the first Christian Ministers, and who were ordained by Christ himself.

From the days of the Apostles, there have been three Orders in the Ministry, and there are three Orders in the Church of England, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. None but Bishops have authority to ordain Priests and Deacons, and no one who has not been ordained is allowed to admi

nister the Rites of the Church. All the Clergy are God's Ministers, and we should therefore reverence them for God's sake, for His Name is on them.

The business of the Minister in Christian Churches is to lead the congregation in their prayers and praises, and to read and explain to them the word of God.

Questions---As there is in the Christian Church an order of men regularly ordained to the Ministry, should we regard those as Ministers of the Church who have not been so ordained? [Ans. No] For whose sake should we reverence those who have been properly ordained to the Ministry? [Ans. For God's sake.] How many Orders does the Christian Priesthood consist of? [ns. Three.] What are they called? [Ans. Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.] Should we suffer ourselves to be drawn away from our proper Ministers, to follow strange preachers? [Ans. No.]

Instruction.---The Clerk, or Parish Clerk, as he is called, is not a Minister ordained by the Bishop, but one of the congregation, whose business it is to look out the lessons for the day, set the Psalms, and repeat the Responses, or those parts of the Church service which belong to the congregation, in an audible voice, that such as cannot read may know how to join with the rest.

Questions.---Is the Parish Clerk one of God's Ministers ? Ans. No.] What part of the service does he read? [Ans. That which belongs to the people] Is it not very useful to people who cannot read in the Common Prayer Book, to have a person to lead them as the Clerk does? [Ans. Yes.] But is it not still more comfortable to be able to read with the Clerk? [Ans. Yes.]

Instruction.---In some Churches, Prayers are read every morning and evening, but in the generality they are only read twice a day on Sundays, and once a day on what are usually called Prayer Days, namely Wednesdays and Fridays, and Saints' Days and other Holidays. Those who have leisure should take every opportunity of going to public worship, but people who have their bread to earn are not required to go on week days, except on extraordinary occasions. Children in Charity Schools commonly go with their Masters and Mistresses on Prayer Days, agreeably to the will of the Founders of the School, in order to make them well acquainted with the duty of public worship, and to teach them how to make the best use of the learning that is bestowed upon them.

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