the commissioners brought their labours to a close, such of them as dissented from those who possessed most influence, withdrew, and allowed the rest to complete the task: for the new Liturgy, when finished, was asserted to have been produced “ by one uniform agreement." Supposing, however, that none remained to the end, excepting Cranmer, Goodrich, Holbeach, Ridley, May, Taylor, Heynes, and Cox; those who look for important names may well be satisfied. Eight men of greater ability, learning, industry, and integrity conjoined, could not easily have been brought together in England, or in any other country. Of the eminent persons, indeed, thought which he made with a view to that object brought him over to the opinion of those whom he had intended to confute. At last he preached from the University-pulpit against the corporal presence, and against the practice of carrying the consecrated wafer in procession. He died in 1551, prebendary of Westminster, and master of Trinity College, in Cambridge. If it be true, that Dr. Redmayn did not cordially approve the new Liturgy, that circumstance is to be regretted; for his age could boast of few men more erudite and honest. Robertson was among the best grammarians of his day, and attained a very high degree of reputation; probably, however, he was always to a considerable extent under the bondage of his early prejudices; for in Queen Mary's reign he was appointed to the deanery of Durham. This preferment he necessarily lost, under the next sovereign, because he superseded Horne, who had been ejected for his scriptural principles. That dignitary was, however, soon afterwards appointed to the see of Winchester, and then Dr. Robertson might have returned to Durham; but he had become firmly riveted in Romish errors, and therefore, he would not accept any thing by which they might be compromised. Ibid.

Burnet, Hist. Ref. II. 150.

to have been included in this commission, but not to have acted, at least not to the end, the aggregate of intellectual eminence was without question decidedly below that of the eight, who most probably assisted in compiling the whole of that which was produced. Tunstall and Heath, though excellent men, and able scholars, were not comparable as divines to Cranmer and Ridley. The other prelates named, have attained no professional celebrity. Redmayn was probably fully a match in theological knowledge to any one of the six doctors. But it is not likely, that if he disagreed at all from his brother-commissioners, his dissent related to matters of much importance. As for Robertson, though unquestionably highly learned and honourable, he seems to have been a man either of wavering judgment, or of moderate information in matters strictly professional. It appears, at least, not unreasonable to think thus of a leading divine, who was admitted to the confidence of King Edward's Reformers, and who afterwards obtained a valuable preferment from the bigoted administration of Queen Mary.

It seems to have been a leading principle laid down for their guidance by the illustrious compilers of our Liturgy, that they should make no unnecessary alteration whatever. This course was most likely to satisfy candid and moderate men of all parties. Such clergymen, probably, as had undertaken to frame public devotions according to their own taste, would have liked to

retain this liberty; but no thought of indulging them ever seems to have been entertained by our great Reformers. As, indeed, the wants of men continue always nearly the same, there is no solid reason why their more solemn supplications should be ever upon the change. Nor, in fact, are ministers, obliged to rack their inventions constantly to say the same things in different words, after all able to produce any considerable variety in their professional addresses to the throne of grace. There is, accordingly, a mannerism generally observable in extemporaneous prayers, which strikes every attentive ear accustomed to the ministrations of a particular individual. Such devotions also render congregations absolutely dependent upon their pastors for every part of the public service. This, from the intellectual inequalities of men, from eclipses which occasionally obscure even the brightest parts, from those domestic uneasinesses and constitutional defects, which at intervals unnerve the strongest minds, is an evil of considerable magnitude. As might, therefore, be expected, the use of prescribed forms in public worship is of the highest antiquity and authority. Aaron and his sons, were enjoined by God to bless the people in words revealed from heaven". Moses supplied his countrymen, exulting over the miraculous extinction of their Egyptian task-masters, with a hymn of praise. This splendid effusion

• Exod. xv. 1, et sequ.

Numb. vi. 22, et sequ.

of pious gratitude was regularly admitted in after times, among the public devotions of the ancient Israelitish Church', in conjunction with other pieces emanating progressively from the inspired lips of prophets. When Ezra remodelled that most venerable of religious communities, it is believed, not without reason that he prescribed for its use, liturgic forms. Eighteen prayers, unquestionably of remote antiquity, are usually referred to his dictation. That these, and other fixed devotional pieces were used in the synagogues dignified by our blessed Saviour's august presence, there is no reason to doubt. We read not, however, that in this, Jesus reproved his erring countrymen. But we know, that when his disciples requested him to "teach them how to pray," he at once supplied them with a form. Among the primitive Christians every Bishop was allowed to frame a liturgy for the use of his particular Church". It is however probable, that such parts of these ancient liturgies as did not appear in Scripture, were committed to memory only. For when the unhappy traditors, under Diocletian's persecution, betrayed to heathen rage their Bibles, and the utensils of their worship, there is no mention of ritual books thus surrendered *. At

* Nor of images: a sufficient reason for believing, that no such unlearned men's books were then used by Christians. Ibid.

man.

a subsequent period, diocesan prelates agreed to adopt the liturgy of their metropolitical Church, and this regulation was ultimately enforced by several decrees of councils. Liturgies having thus become of extensive importance, were necessarily committed to writing, and some very ancient ones have descended to our own age. There are, indeed, those which have been attributed to St. Peter, St. Matthew, and St. Mark, but their genuineness is now maintained by no The liturgy, however, passing under the name of St. James, the first Bishop of Jerusalem, is more fortunate in this respect; it being assigned to that venerable authority by the Greek Church. Another ancient liturgy still extant, is that of the Roman Clement, which Proclus asserted, was dictated to that father by the Apostles. All these pieces are evidently interpolated, and the day for giving implicit credence to what has been said of their antiquity is past. They are, however, evidences establishing the fact, that Christians have used prescribed forms of prayer from a very early period of their history. The liturgies adopted by the Greek Church are ancient, being those of St. Basil, and St. Chrysostom. The former serves for the Sundays in Lent, except that immediately before Easter, and some other particular times; the latter for the rest of the year. In the western Church, besides the Roman missal, Italy boasted of a service-book

y Ibid. 587.