136 LIFE AXD C0RRESP02:DENCE OF THE [1785 



Tillotson, Saunderson, Stillingflcct, Burnet, Beveridge, Wake, Tennison, 

 Hales, and innumerable other;; of venerable name among the Clergy; 

 and among the Laity a multitude more, at the head of whom may 

 be placed the great Lord Bacon, the father of almost all reformation 

 and improvement in modern philosophy and science. 



Eight different times, from the days of Edward the sixth, when our 

 Liturgy was first framed, to the year 1661, has it been revised and 

 altered by public authority. And, says Archbishop Tennison, some 

 who have well considered all the alterations and amendments which 

 were then made (viz. in 1661), and which amount to the number of 

 six hundred, are sufficiently convinced that if there was reason for those 

 changes at that time, there is equal, if not greater reason, for some fur- 

 ther improvements now. 



Our Church, in the preface to our common prayer, allows the ex- 

 pediency and necessity of such alterations from time to time. Even 

 our language itself is fluctuating, and receiving frequent improvements ; 

 and in what concerns Religion, and its various forms, rites and cere- 

 monies, no Church on earth can claim perfection. This belongs only 

 to the Church of the first born in Heaven \ 



But the greatest and most important alterations and amendments were 

 proposed at the Revolution, that great sera of liberty, when in 16S9,* 

 commissioners were appointed, among whom were many of the great 

 divines already mentioned ; of v/hom, and of those who were nomi- 

 nated for the like great work before the revolution. Archbishop Wake 

 says — "They were a set of men, than whom this church was never, at 



*The preamble to the commission in 16S9, was as follows, strongly setting forth the 

 need of alterations from time to time, viz.: 



" Whereas the particular forms of divine worship, and the rites and ceremonies ap- 

 pointed to be used therein, are things in their own nature indifferent and alterable and 

 so acknowledged; it is but reasonable that, upon weighty and important considerations, 

 according to the various exigencies of times and occasions, such changes and altera- 

 tions should be made therein as to those that are in place and authority should from 

 time to time seem either necessary or expedient." 



Arclibishop Wake, lamenting the miscarriage of the great and good design of this 

 commission, declares it to have been as follows, and makes some other strong remarks 

 upon tlie whole proceedings, with which I shall close these notes. 



"The design," says he, "was in short to improve, and, if possilile, to enforce our 

 discipline, to review and enlarge our liturgy, by correcting of some things, by adding 

 of others, by leaving some few ceremonies, confessed to be indifferent in their nature, 

 as indifferent in their usage. No alterations were intended, but in things declared 

 alterable by the church itself. And if things alterable, be altered upon the grounds 

 of prudence and charity; and things defective be supplied; and things abused be re- 

 stored to their proper use ; and things of a more ordinary composition be revised and 

 improved, while the doctrine, government and worship of the church, remain entire in 

 all the substantial parts of them; we have all reason to believe that this will be so far 

 from injuring the church, that on the contrary, it shall receive a very great benefit 

 ihereljy." — Speech o.n Sacheverell's Trial. 



