the productions of a modern writer of history in their own language, let it be observed, that if they form their opinion of the genius and morals of the Roman historian from those of his English imitator, they will do great injustice to the former. J. M. I TO THE EDITORS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S GENTLEMEN, MAGAZINE. AGREE with (in your Mag. vol. v. page 293.) IOTA in reprobating all unnecessary alterations in our Liturgy, especially such as are sometimes made by young and conceited heads, either to shew their learning, or for the sake of being accounted singular. But, whilst I would suppress every useless innovation, I would by no means censure that minister, who, pouring forth the prayers of the church with the spirit and the understanding also, and labouring with unaffected piety to kindle the flame of devotion in the hearts of those who hear him, shall in one place drop a redundant particle*; or, in another, shall vary an expression; which may, and which indeed ought to be varied, if ministers would be consistent with the mode of aspersion now in use in infant baptism" grant that this child now to be baptized therein," should be read therewith: and, would not the insertion of the preposition after the verb " receive" improve the sense? The passage in the prayer so altered will run thus: "Grant that this child, now to be baptized therewith, may receive of the fulness of thy grace."-Surely these alterations are not needless or unnecesary! Where it is evident to the devout part of a congrega tion that the minister prays, not reads the prayers, that he is impressed with the spirit of piety, whatever alterations he may make, either more clearly to inform the understanding, or more forcibly to affect the hearts of his hearers, these alterations approve themselves to the under * This may be done with very great effect in reading several clauses of the Litany. See the Service of Baptism. standing standing and to the affections, they are felt and remem♦ bered. Thus it is that while the minister kindles in others that fervour of devotion with which he is himself animated, the great work of instruction in righteousness is successfully carried on. In respect to the making of occasional alterations in other parts of the Liturgy, I have noticed in the first lesson for the evening service of the third Sunday in Advent, several verses, the sense and spirit of which I apprehend would be improved by the omission of the words printed in Italics: for since these words are so printed in our translation of the Bible, to denote that they are not in the original, is not a minister justified in omitting them, wherever the sense is rendered more clear, or more strong by that omission? For example, Isaiah xxvi. 1. "We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." Omit the words in Italics, and the beauty of the passage is considerably heightened: "Salvation will appoint walls and bulwarks." See again at verse 14, They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise." How much is the sense improved by the warranted omission: "Dead, they shall not live; deceased, they shall not rise." I refer to the above passages merely because they are fresh in my mind; and I beg leave, through the medium of your useful magazine, to suggest these considerations to your correspondent Iota, in order to reconcile him to such occasional alterations in our Liturgy as are warranted by scripture reason and common sense; And remain, Gentlemen, with sincere TO THE EDITORS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S GENTLEMEN,` ΟΝ MAGAZINE. N the 18th of October St. Catherine Cree-church, in Leadenhall-street, was opened for divine service, having been shut up, for repairs, about seventeen months. It is a beautiful edifice; and the parish have spared no expense in cleaning and decorating it. They have avoided avoided gaudiness, and have consulted neatness in every thing. The pillars and the arches, the soffits of which are enriched with roses, are painted of a stone-colour; and so are the walls up to the ceiling. The interior of the roof is very curiously wrought with Ribs and Gothic Arches, and is adorned with the armorial bearings of the twelve great Companies of the City of London. It is white-washed. The church was built by INIGO JONES; and is of that particular species of architecture which is denominated King James's Gothic, being a mixed form of building, in which Grecian is blended with Gothic architecture. The columns separating the nave from the side aysles are of the Corinthian Order, exquisitely proportioned to the weight which they support, and to the arches which extend from pillar to pillar the whole length of the church. Those two columns which stand nearest the altar, are painted in imitation of marble, and their capitals are gilt with gold. The altar-piece is wholly new. It is constructed of oak wainscot, which is left in its natural colour. The Lord's Prayer, the Belief, and the Ten Commandments, are inscribed on pannels, divided by fluted pilasters of the same order with the columns of the church itself. There are no galleries but the organgallery. The windows are of a peculiar sort of modern Gothic, and are all alike, except the east window, which is very highly enriched with tracery. In allusion to the name of the patron saint, it has a very fine Catharinewheel, and is wholly filled with painted glass, set up in 1629, when the church was built, chiefly armorial. The effect of the window is very fine, on entering the church from the west door. If the pulpit and desk had been placed, where the architect himself fixed them, against one of the pillars on the north side of the middle aysle, there had been nothing to wish for in the coup-d'œil of the building. Unfortunately, some years ago, an attempt at improvement was made by moving the pulpit and desk to the spot where they now stand, blotting out the view of the altar from the eye of the spectator, and rendering the minister, who officiates at the communion-table, invisible to nearly half the congregation. I cannot endure that impertinent spirit of innovation which tampers with the works of our best English architects; which has moved Inigo Jones's pulpit at St. Catharine Cree-church, and has shifted that placed in St. Paul's Cathedral by the hand of Sir Christopher Wren. Y y Cree Vol. IX. Churchm. Mag. Nov. 1905. Cree-church, in the French idiom, means Christ-church; and it was consecrated by Bishop Laud, then Bishop of London, A. D. 1630, on Sunday, January 16th, as appears from his Diary now before me. That MARTYR to the Church of England, its able champion against Popery on one hand, and Calvinism on the other, gave great offence in those days of Puritanism in which it was his misfortune to live, by the ceremonies which he used in consecrating this church, and in solemnizing the Lord's Supper in it. It fell to my lot to administer the Sacrament in Cree-church on the first Sunday in this month, being the first Communion after the late repair. I thought of Archbishop Laud when I kneeled down; and in my private commendation of myself to GoD, I prayed that my faith might be as sound as his who administered the first Sacrament there after the church was built. The same plate which Bishop Laud used is still preserved. It is of silver, gilt; very plain, but massy; and bearing date 1630. There are two flaggons, three cups with covers, and two patins. In the vestry the ancient prayer-book still is preserved, which I remember twenty-five years ago was set out upon the altar. It is in black letter, covered with purple velvet, and has silver ornaments at the corners, with umbilical plates, marked with the date 1630; and I doubt not it is the identical book which the Bishop himself used at the altar. Many talk of Robin Hood, who never shot in his bow," says an old English proverb; and many a talking man, who never read a syllable of his inditing, has a gibe in store for Laud, think Laud's Defence a piece as replete with intellect as any book we have. The Eart of Strafford's speech at his trial is highly spoken of, and most deservedly. King Charles I.'s replies and self-possession when arraigned, have been much admired. The late Louis XVI's Answers and Will, rank likewise very high. But Laud's Defence leaves them all behind by many degrees. It abounds with pathos, and is filled with well-digested learning; it sparkles with wit, and affords many examples of just discrimination and logical distinction. May I be allowed to give you a specimen of his manner, taken from that part of his defence which relates to the consecration of St. Catharine Cree-church? Part of the 7th article of impeachment exhibited against the Archbishop, runs thus: "that he hath traitolously endeavoured to alter and subvert God's true religion religion by law established in this realm, and instead thereof to set up popish superstition and idolatry." On the 13th day of his trial, he was charged with having` consecrated two churches in London, St. Catharine Creechurch, and St. Giles's in the Fields. The witnesses were two." The first witness (adds the Archbishop) was one Mr. Willingham. And he says, that I came to these churches in a pompous manner. But all the pomp that he mentions is, that Sir Henry Martin, Dr. Duck, and some other of the arches attended me, as they usually do their diocesans in such solemnities. He says, he did curiously ohserve what was done, thinking that it would one day be called to an account, as it now is. So this man (himself being judge) looked upon that work with a malevolent eye, and God preserve him from being a malicious witness. He says, that at my approach to the church-door, was read, Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Psal. 24. And this was urged over and over as a jeer upon my person. But this place of scripture hath been anciently used in consecrations; and it relates not to the Bishop, but to GOD ALMIGHTY, the true King of Glory, who at the dedication enters by his servant to take possession of the house, then to be made his. He says, that I kneeled down at my coming in, and, after, used many bowings and cringings. For my kneeling down at my entrance, to begin with prayer, and after to proceed with reverence, I did but my duty in that, let him scoffingly call it cringing or ducking, or what he please. He says farther, that at the beginning I took up dust, and threw it in the air, and after used divers curses. And here Mr. Pryn put Mr. Nicolas in mind to add, that sparge cinerem is in the form of consecration used in the Pontifical. And Mr. Brown, in his summary account of my charge, laid the very consecration of these churches as a crime upon me; and insisted on this particular. But here my answer to all was the same:-that this witness had need look well to his oath; for there was no throwing up of dust, no curses used throughout the whole action: nor did I follow the Pontifical, but a copy of learned and reverend Bishop Andrews, by which he consecrated divers churches * * If I mistake not, for I have not the book by me, Bishop Andrews's form of consecration is that which is printed in Gibson's Codex, and is the form used by all Bishops to this day. |