printed, a pofthumous Effay of the late learned Dr. TAYLOR hath been read, (entitled, The Scripture Account of PRAYER, in Oppofition to all Liturgies or precompofed Forms of Prayer,) of which it may fuffice here to remark, that the Reafoning, in the first Part of it, doth not attend duly to the real State and Condition of Human Nature, i. e. of the Hearers or People, in worshipping Affemblies; nor diftinguish fufficiently between Social and Private Prayer, on which the fubftantial Arguments in the PREFACE to this Work are founded: And the latter Part of the Dr.'s Book is an imperfect Address to the Paffions and Prejudices, rather than to the Reafon and Judgement, of his Friends and Readers: The Whole therefore proves Nothing to invalidate the prefent Attempt, which should not have made it's Appearance, had the Author (whofe fole Aim herein is Improvement and Edification in Public Worship, thereby more frongly to imprefs the genuine diftinguishing Doctrines and Spirit of CHRISTIANITY on every Worshipper,) been convinced of the Inutility or Inexpediency of a LITURGY for all Chriftian Churches and Societies, by any Arguments hitherto offered against it; and He begs farther to be indulged his Declaration in the Words of the wife Emperor Antoninus, (which he can with the utmost Sincerity adopt,) “ If Any "One will convince me, or fhew me, that I am wrong in any Point of Sentiment or Practice, "I will very gladly alter it. For it is Truth I feek; and that can never hurt any Body. But "Men are often hurt by perfifting in Error or Ignorance." cr rr M. Anton. L. vi. § 21. |