bers are enjoined to be "of one heart and of one soul, and with one mind and one mouth to glorify God." (Rom. xv. 6.) Thus, being "knit together in love" (Col. ii. 2), and “not forsaking the assembling of themselves together" (Heb. x. 25), they maintain that fellowship, to which CHRIST has promised his peculiar blessings.

3. MEANS OF INSURING THIS EFFICACY. In order to insure this efficacy, it is essential or, at the least, extremely desirable, that COMMON PRAYER should be offered in a consecrated place, by an appointed minister, and in a language which is understood by the congregation. In a new country like this, however, circumstances may often for a time render it impossible to secure such a consecrated place.

4. REASONS IN SUPPORT OF A CONSECRATED PLACE OF WORSHIP. As we have "houses to eat and drink in," to which ST. PAUL opposes (1 Cor. xi. 22) "the CHURCH of GOD;" and since GOD expressly set apart the TEMPLE of the JEWS, as a "house of prayer" (Isaiah lvi. 7; Matt. xxi. 13), it follows that CHRISTIANS also are

called upon to worship, if possible, in a place consecrated to his service, and in which therefore his honor dwelleth."

5. DERIVATION of the WORD CHURCH. The word CHURCH is derived from the Greek word kuriake (zvolax) meaning "belonging to the Lord." The full expression is "kuriake oikia,” (zvqiazỳ aixía) "the Lord's House."

6. IMPORTANCE of a REGULAR ORDAINED MINISTRY. If the place of PUBLIC PRAYER is an important aid to devotion, much more so, observes HOOKER (Eccl. Pol. v. 25, 3), is an appointed minister, whose ordination" is a seal that God will effect the thing whereunto He ordained him, in blessing his people, and accepting the prayers which he offers for them." Richard Hooker was born 1553, and died 1600.

7. A DISTINCT ORDER FOR THE MINISTRY ALWAYS SET APART. Under the PATRIARCHAL DISPENSATION, the Head of each tribe or family was invested with sacerdotal functions (Gen. xiv. 18, xviii. 19, xx. 7, xxii. 3; Job i. 5; Psalm cv. 22; Heb. vii. 7). Among the JEWS, Aaron and his

descendants, the PRIESTS and LEVITES, were "ordained for men in things pertaining to GOD" (Heb. v. 1); and so also in the CHURCH of CHRIST there have ever been three orders of ministers, BISHOPS, PRIESTS, and DEACONS, who "having been tried, examined and known to have such qualities, as are requisite for their office, are also by public prayer and the imposition of hands," appointed to the administration of GoD's HOLY WORD AND SACRAMENTS. (Ordinal and Canons.)

8. THE PEOPLE'S PART IN THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF GOD. Although the Minister presents the prayers of the people to GOD, it is manifestly required that the hearts of the people should accompany him, and that they should pray both "with the spirit and the understanding" (1 Cor. xiv. 15); whence it is "plainly repugnant to the WORD OF GOD" as well as to the "custom of the PRIMITIVE CHURCH," to worship God in a tongue not “understanded of the people." (Art. xxiv.)

9. PROOF of the " REPUGNANCY above. "If the trumpet give an uncertain sound,

who shall prepare himself for the battle?" And in like manner ST. PAUL argues, "How shall he that is unlearned say Amen, if he understandeth not the meaning of the prayer which is offered up?" (1 Cor. xiv. 9, 16).

10. PROOF of its being contrary to the usage of the PRIMITIVE CHURCH. In accordance with this view of the matter, it is admitted even by AQUINAS and other writers of the Romish Communion, that for seven or eight hundred years, the service of the Church was performed in the respective languages of every country. THOMAS AQUINAS, called the Angelic Doctor, was born in 1227, and died 1274.

11. ANOTHER ESSENTIAL of COMMON PRAYER. Besides the essentials already mentioned, it is highly important that the COMMON PRAYERS of THE CHURCH should be offered up according to a prescribed form.

12. ADVANTAGES of such PRESCRIBED FORM. Among the advantages derived from the use of set forms of PUBLIC PRAYER, it is manifest that they tend to preserve that uniformity of worship, which is a principle of

CHRISTIANITY; that the congregation, not having their minds preoccupied with the expectation of what is to be the subject of their prayers, can join in them both with heart and voice, and pray themselves, instead of listening to the words of another; that the extravagances of fanaticism, the indecency of irreverent and familiar expressions, and the tiring monotony of endless repetitions are thereby excluded:that pride and ostentation on the part of the minister are less likely to be excited: and that the practice is founded on the SCRIPTURES, and sanctioned by the usage of the PRIMITIVE CHURCH.

13. SCRIPTURAL ARGUMENTS FOR SET FORMS. In the OLD TESTAMENT we find instances of precomposed songs of praise in the hymns of MOSES and MIRIAM, and of DEBORAH and BARAK (EX. XV., Judg. v.), not to mention that many of the PSALMS were especially designed for the service of the TEMPLE. The Service of the SYNAGOGUE was also conducted according to a prescribed form, which OUR LORD not only attended, but framed the prayer, which he recommended to the general use of his disciples, upon the