Q. What is the meaning assigned by 'judicious divines' to the term catechetical instruction?

A. Bishop White says,*. "By this term, they mean the repeating over and over of the same primary truths of religion, until they are made familiar to the minds of the instructed: a work much more useful to them than what is understood under the name of preaching: although not opening a like field for the ingenuity or for the eloquence of the teacher.'

SECTION XIX

Of Forms of Prayer.

"And He said unto them, When ye pray, say, "Our Father which art in Heaven."-St. Luke, xi. 2.

"It (a form of Prayer) prevents that pride of feeling

* Lectures, p. 3.

from contaminating our devotion, which often arises from individual effort; it animates the humble suppliant in his addresses to the Almighty; it helps him in his approaches to a throne of grace. The mind of a worshipping assembly, instead of hanging upon the lips of a public teacher, waiting for his expressions, and sitting in judgment upon the doctrines those expressions contain; instead of admiring the ornaments of the vessels, through which the waters of healing flow, bend down their heads in humility to drink of the life-giving stream;' instead of depending upon the production of the moment, they have the collective wisdom and piety of ages, to assist them. Thus blessed, their attention is fixed upon God alone, and a system of devotion secured, dignified and solemn in its expression, Scriptural, and agreeable to the truth."-Bishop Moore, of Virginia, Con. Ser., p. 5, 6.

Q. Does our Church think herself warranted in prescribing a form of prayer?

A. Bishop White says, "She thinks it warranted by the practice of the Church in the earliest ages, as far back as any remains of that practice are to be traced; and not by that only, but by the attendance of our Lord, on the prescribed

* Charge 1807, p. 28.

devotions of the temple and of the synagogue; the evidences that they were established forms being equally authentic with those of the four books, containing the history of his blessed life." Q. Are forms of prayer useful?

A. Bishop White says, "There can hardly be a more effectual way of holding up to the minds of a congregation the truths of Christianity, than through the medium of their being comprehended in rational and evangelical services of devotion."

Q. What is our defence against attacks on our forms?

A. Bishop White says,† "But, when it is alleged, that we advocate forms of devotion in preference to the spirit of it, we recollect, that without prescribed words, not less than with them, there

* Commment., p. 176.

† Ch. Con. Ser. 1825, p. 11.

may be the form without the spirit of prayer, and that to either or to both of them there may be applied the passage of Scripture, which speaks of having a form of Godliness and denying the power thereof;' the form, that is the show, or the appearance; for such is strictly the meaning of the original; and not forms of prayer, on which the passage has no bearing."

Q. Are forms of prayer a safeguard?

A. Bishop White says, "Of the many advantages of an authoritative form (of prayer) this is not the least, that it preaches the Gospel to the people, when they would look for it in vain from the officiating Minister."

Q. Is the charge of formality justly made against us?

A. Bishop White says, "We ought

* Commentaries, p. 176, 177.

† Gen. Theo. Sem. Address, 1828, p. 9.

not to be charged with formality, when we have for our sanction divine institution under the law; and the attendance of our Saviour and of his Apostles, as well on the worship of the synagogue as on that of the temple."

SECTION XX.

Of the Prayer Book,

"Next to the Bible, it is the book of my understanding and of my heart."-Dr. Adam Clarke.

"The Liturgy forms a system of devotion, which commands the approbation of those who differ from us in other things. It is the Scriptures condensed into a smaller volume; its classic elegance gives it a claim to the attention of the scholar, and the fervent breathings of its piety warm the heart and inspire the mind with sensations the most animating and consoling. It forms an effectual barrier against errors in doctrine; no heretical principles can pollute the sanctuary, while we are surrounded by such a bulwark, and defended by such a shield.”—Bishop Moore, of Virginia, Con. Ser. p. 5.

Q. What was the English Reform