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

280 Forms of Prayer ill' Public fVorship.
Of forlfl" of prayer, which offend not egregiou6iy,
against truth and decency, that hac; the the most merit,
which is best calculated to keep alive the devotion.
of the as~embly.
It were to be wished, therefore,
that every part of a liturgy were personally applica~
hIe to every indiVidual in the congregation; and
that nothing were introduced to interrupt the pas.
sion, or damp a flame which it is not easy to rekindle.
Upon this principle, the state pra)'ers in our liturgy:
should be fewer and shorter. Whatever may be pr~ ..
tended, the congregation do not feel that concern in
the subject of these prayers, which must be felt, or
ever prayer be made to God with earnestness. The
state stile like\vise ~eems unseasonably introduced int~
these prayers, as ill according with that annihilation
of human greatness, of \vhich eve'ry act that carries
the mind to God presents the idea.
IV. That it contain as few controverted propositions
as possible.
We allow to each church the truth of its peculiar
tenets, and all the importance \vhicb zeal can ascribe to
them.
We dispute not here the right or the expediency
of framing creeds or of impo~ing subscriptions.
But why should every po~ition which a church maintains
be woven ,vith so much industry into her forms
of public \\lorship? SOlne arc offended, and sonle are
excluded: this is all evil in iff-elf, at least to thenz :
and wllat a.dvantage or satisfactioll call be derived to
the rest, from the separation ()f thtir brethren, it is
difficult to imag:ine; unless it ,'~ere a duty, to publish
our sysrem of polemic divinity, under the name
of malti:lg confession of our f'iith every time we
worship God; or a sin, to agree in religious exercises
with those, from whom we differ in sOlne religious
opinions. Indeed, \vherc one nlan thinks it his
duty constantly to worship a being, whom another
cannot \\'ith the as,ent of his conscience, permit hilnself
to worship at all, there ~erms to be no place for
comprehension, or any expedient left, but a quiet
alccession. All other differences may be compromised