THE right of Christians to judge for themselves in religious matters, and to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences, must be allowed by all enlightened Protestants. Some Societies among Protestant Dissenters, in the exercise of this invaluable right of private judgment, have deviated from their usual mode of worship, and introduced fome printed Devotional Services, in which they themselves may take a vocal part with the Minister. THIS has given rise to the publication of many judicious Liturgies for the use of fuch congregations. THE compilation contained in this Volume was occafioned by the wish of a respectable Society, to make a trial of this mode of public worship. THEIR principal reasons for it are briefly these. By the congregation taking a part in the devotional services, the attention of the worshippers is more eafily kept up, and proper devotional affections are more likely to be excited, by a whole congregation uniting their voices, in some parts of the various folemn addresses to the Divine Being... IN |