1785] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 163 



any just objection. But this great and good work miscarried at that 

 time, and the civil authority in Great Britain hath not since thougiit it 

 proper to revive it by any new commission. 



But when, in the course of divine providence, these American States 

 became independent with respect to civil government, their ecclesiastical 

 independence was necessarily included; and the different religious de- 

 nominations of Christians in these States were left at full and equal 

 liberty to model and organize their respective churches and forms of 

 worship and discipline, in such manner as they might judge most con- 

 venient for their future prosperity, consistently with the constitution 

 and laws of their country. 



The attention of this Church was, in the first place, drawn to those 

 alterations in the liturgy which became necessary in the prayers for our 

 civil rulers, in consequence of the revolution ; and the principal care 

 herein was to make them conformable to what ought to be the proper 

 end of all such prayers, namely, that "rulers may have grace, wisdom 

 and understanding to execute justice and to maintain truth; and that 

 the people may lead quiet and peaceable lives, in all godliness and 

 honesty." 



But while these alterations were in review before the late Convention, 

 they could not but, with gratitude to God, embrace the happy occasion 

 which was offered to them (uninfluenced and unrestrained by any 

 worldly authority whatsoever) to take a further review of the public ser- 

 vice, and to propose to the Church at large such other alterations and 

 amendments therein as might be deemed expedient ; whether consisting 

 of those which have been heretofore so long desired by many, or those 

 which the late change of our circumstances might require, in our re- 

 ligious as well as civil capacity. 



By comparing the following book, as now offered to the Church, with 



est judgment. Dr. Tillotson gave them the last hand, by the free and masterly touches 

 of his flowing eloquence. Dr. Kidder, who was well versed in the oriental languages, 

 made a new translation of the Psalms, more conformable to the original. Dr. Tenni- 

 son, having collected the words and expressions throughout the liturgy, which had 

 been excepted against, proposed others in their room, which were more clear and plain. 

 Other things were likewise proposed, as that the cross in baptism might be either used 

 or omitted at the choice of the parents; and it is further added from other certain ac- 

 counts, "that if any refused or scrupled to receive the Lord's Supper kneeling, it may 

 be administered to them in their pews; that a rubric be made, declaring the intention 

 of the Lent fasts to consist only in extraordinary acts of devotion, not in distinction of 

 meats; that the absolution may be read by a deacon; the word priest io be changed 

 into viinisler ; the Gloria Patri not to be repeated at the end of every psalm, but of all 

 appointed for morning and evening; that the words in the Te Deuni, Thine honorable, 

 Inte and only Son, be changed into Thine only begotten Son; that the Benedicite be 

 changed into the 128th Psalm, and other psalms appointed for the Benedietus and A"unc 

 Dimittis ; that if any desire to have godfathers and godmothers omitted, their children 

 may be presented in their own names," etc. 



