PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

Farms 0/ Prayer in Public liVorship. 27!J
subordinate, who are the majority, and therefore:
ought not to be carried a tittle beyond what the
greater good, the peaceable government of the com·
• •
mUnl!Y, requIres.
The public worsbip of Chrhtians is a duty of divine
appointment. "'\There two or three," says
Christ, "are gatbered together in my name, there
am I in the midst of them."· This invitation will
want nothing of the force ofa command with those, who
respect the person and authority from ,\rhich it proceeds.
Again, in the Epistle tv the Hebrews, " not
forsaking the assembling of our3elves together, as the
manner of some is ;"t which reproof seems as applicable
to the desertion of our public worship at this
day,. as to the forsaking the religious a~semblies of
Christians in the age of the Apostle. Independently
of these passages of scripture, a disciple of Christianity
wili hardly think himself at liberty to dispute a practice
set on foot by the inspired preachers of his religion,
coeval with its institution, and retained by everv
• *'
sect into which it has been since divided.
CHAPTER v.
FORl\iS OF PRAYER IN PUBLIC \\TORSHIP.
LITURGIES, or pre~oncerted forms of public
devotion, being neither enjoined in scripture, nor ftlrbidden,
there can be no good reason either for receiving
or rejecting them, but that of expediency; which
expediEncy is to be gathered from a comparison of
the advantages and disadvantages attending upon this
mode of worship, with those which usually aCCODlpany
extenlporary prayer.
The advantages of a liturgy are the:,e :
1. That it prevents absurd, extravagant, or impious
addresses to God, which, in an order of men so
numerous as the sacerdotal, the folly and enthusiasnl
l)f m~ny mu~t always be in danger of producing.
t J-feh. %. 25.