the Presbyterian party had been weighed, our present Rubrics were duly sanctioned by the authority of the Church. Nor was there any material deviation from the letter, until after the Revolution. The attempt to introduce alterations in 1689 failed, so that the Government did not even venture to submit the proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Commission to Convocation: but the spirit, which prompted that attempt, produced, in subsequent years, indifference in principle and laxity in practice.
About the middle of the last century, the fruits of the Latitudinarian leaven were evidenced in an attempt by certain Clergymen, to procure such a revision of the Liturgy as would have opened the door to persons of almost all creeds. Happily the effort was unsuccessful, and the Liturgy and the Articles were preserved unimpaired. Yet these parties remained in the Church, though only a partial compliance with the Rubrics was observed.
For several years matters have been greatly improving, A large majority of the Clergy are anxious to comply with their solemn pledges. Some indeed there are who violate their promises without scruple: but happily the number is daily decreasing.
In considering the question therefore of the Rubrics, I shall first allude to those obvious irregularities which no honest man can justify; and secondly, to those Rubrical observances, which have been for a long time, not universally, as some would insinuate, but extensively neglected.
It cannot be concealed, that many of the objectors to the practices, which I shall consider under the second division, are notoriously irregular in other matters, which cannot be classed among disused or neglected Rubrics, matters which are observed by all consistent
