móveth-us' in sùndry pláces, to acknowledge

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13

and conféss' our manifold síns and wickedness; and that we should-not dissemble nor clo"kethem'-before-the-face-of- Almighty-God-ourheavenly-Father; but confess-them, with an hùmble, lòwly, pènitent, and OBEDIENT-heart; to the end' that we may obtain-forgiveness-of-themore closely connected with the remainder of the sentence. But if the falling inflection be used, followed by a considerable pause, the words would imply, 'dearly beloved brethren, give me your earnest atttention;'- —or something to that effect.

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This latter mode of commencing a solemn address, is generally adopted in our courts of judicature; and it may likewise be observed in those highly finished specimens of elegant and dignified reading which are heard from the throne.]

-before the face] At first sight, these words may appear to signify the more immediate presence of the Deity in public worship, and therefore to require strong emphasis. But this meaning cannot be intended, because the duty of a public acknowledgment of our sins, is reserved for notice in the following sentence: "Although we ought at all times to acknowledge our sins before God, yet ought we most chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together, &c." Therefore the expression, 'before the face of Almighty God,' signifies no more than before Almighty God: 'EvLOV Oɛov.]

―an humble, lowly, penitent and obedient-heart ;] The climax in these words requires a progressive increase of force to be used in pronouncing them. See page 32. For the pronunciation of the word 'humble,' see Appendix.

-obtain-forgiveness-of-the-same] The meaning requires that these words should be kept closely together.

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same, by his' 'NFINITE goodness and mercy. And although we ought,at all-times'-humbly-toacknowledge-our-sins' before-God,, yet oúghtwe' most CHIEFLY-so-to-do, when we assèmble and meet together to render thanks for the

(0)

-by his' INFINITE goodness and mèrcy] "These words," as Mr. Sheridan justly observes, "lose much of their force, by the usual manner of repeating them, viz. by his infinite goodness and mercy:' whereas, by introducing a pause after the word' his',' and accenting it strongly, we not only pay the proper reverence due to the Deity whenever He is mentioned, but there is superadded, by this means, a force to the word infinite,' coming after the pause, which alone can make us have an adequate conception of those attributes in Him, whose mercy endureth for ever."

And although] Be careful not to place the accent on the first syllable of this word, calling it 'álthough.'

-humbly to acknowledge-our-sins] A wrong division is often introduced here:- Humbly to acknowledge, our sins before God."]

-most chiefly-so-to-do] The word 'so' receives much stress from some readers, instead of the more important word ' chiefly.'

-when we assemble and meet together] Sheridan observes, that nothing is more frequent than to give the tone of a full stop at the end of the former part of the sentence, as thus- yet ought we most chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together.'-What! at any time? in assemblies of amusement and festivity? No; it is only when we assemble and meet together to render thanks, &c.'

—to render thanks] In this sentence a distinct enumer

F

great benefits that we have received at his

15

15

hands; to set forth' his most worthy praise; to

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hèar' his mōst holy word; and to ask thosethings which are rèquisite and nécessary' as well for the body' as the soul.

Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are hère présent,, to accómpany-me' with a púre heart and humble voice' unto the throne

[slow]

of the heavenly gráce, sáying àfter-me.

ation is made of the several parts, of which our Churchservice is composed :-1. To render thanks for the great benefits which we have received at his hands,' i. e. thanksgiving;-2. 'to set forth his most worthy praise' by psalms and hymns;-3. to hear his most holy word,' in the Lessons, Epistles, and Gospels ;-and 4. to ask those things. which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul,' by the prayers. The reader must be careful to render this enumeration perfectly distinct by the mode of delivery.

beseech you] The word you requires to be strongly accented. The sentence implies, "I pray and beseech all you, and each individual of you, here present, to accompany me," &c. Sheridan.

-Saying after-me] A comma or semicolon is generally inserted here, which connects the conclusion of the Exhortation with the beginning of the Confession; thus,—“ saying áfter-me, Almighty and most merciful Father," &c. The change of posture, on the part of the minister and congregation, which is here directed, necessarily causes some noise, and

renders it expedient for him to introduce a considerable pause before he begins the Confession. It is therefore advisable to consider the sentence at the end of the Exhortation to be completely finished, the word 'saying' to be used in a neuter sense, equivalent to speaking,' and to conclude the whole with the falling inflection on the word after.' This method appears preferable to that adopted by some readers, who make the long pause after the word 'grace;' and as soon as all are kneeling, then proceed :-" Saying after me, Almighty and most merciful Father," &c.]

A GENERAL CONFESSION

(Slow) Almighty' and most mèrciful Fáther, We

* The transition from the Exhortation to the Confession may be marked by commencing in a lower note, and with a slower delivery, and adopting in succession such a manner and such tones of voice as are suited to the humility of confession and the earnestness of supplication. A considerable pause is requisite after each clause, to allow sufficient time for the congregation to finish their repetitions. The observance of this suggestion will, in a great degree, prevent that confusion of indistinct sounds which usually takes place, and in which all articulation is lost.

Almighty and most merciful] Sheridan remarks that "here the greatest stress is usually laid on the word 'Father;' whereas it ought to be on the attribute merciful.'" In truth, both words require considerable force: we venture to address God for the pardon of our acknowledged sins, both as he is 'most merciful,' and also because he stands to us in the

have érred and stray'd from thy-ways' like lóst

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sheep. We have fóllow'd toò múch' the de

15

vices and desires of our own hearts. We have

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offended' against thy hóly laws. We have left

23

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úndone' thóse-things which we ought to have dòne; and we have done-those-things, which we ought nót-to-have-done; and there is no healthin-us.

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endearing relation of Father.-The voice must be suspended at the word 'Father,' to show that the sentence is incomplete.

-erred] We have erred and made lesser steps out of the path of our duty; and at other times, strayed and made wider deviations from it. The word 'strayed' conveys a stronger meaning than 'erred,' and therefore will require more force in the pronunciation. If'erred' is taken as a dissyllable, the first syllable is sounded as in 'error.' For 'strayed,' read' stray'd.' See Appendix.

lost sheep] The letter t in the word 'lost' must be distinctly sounded, to avoid the common error of saying 'loss sheep.'

-left úndone] The accent should be transferred to the first syllable of this word, for the purpose of making the contradistinction between undone and done more clearly perceptible. The word ought' requires to be accented, but not so as to leave the word 'done' unaccented, thus, which we oughtto-have-done.'

―nō health-in-us] Observe that the stress is upon the important words 'no health,' and not upon the insignificant 'in.' SHERIDAN.