laudable Practice

I have much more respect for those poor readers [i.e. non-preaching clergy], whom he mentioneth every where with contempt. I hope they may do, and many of them do, God good and acceptable service in His Church, and co-operate to the salvation of many Christian souls, by reading the Holy Scriptures, and the Liturgy and Homilies of the Church, and administering the Holy Sacraments. And I have heard wise men acknowledge, that if it had not been for these very readers, in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, when preaching was very rare, England had hardly been preserved, as it was, both from Popery and from atheism. Their very reading is a kind of preaching; Acts xv. 21- "Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day." And their reading of Homilies doth yet approach nearer to formal preaching. Or if it come short of preaching in point of efficacy, it hath the advantage of preaching in point of security. The pri...

Then shall follow the Sermon, or one of the Homilies already set forth, or hereafter to be set forth, by authority. In considering the rubric following the Creed in the Communion Office, John Shepherd - in his A Critical and Practical Elucidation of the Book of Common Prayer, Volume II (1801) - begins by referring to patristic practice, noting how preaching was a significant aspect of the life of patristic churches: From the second century at least sermons were delivered on Sundays, and occasionally on other Holidays. At certain solemn seasons, sermons were preached every day, and in some Churches, two or more sermons were delivered before the same Assembly. A Presbyter or Priest first spoke the word of exhortation: he was followed by another, and the President or Bishop concluded; the last place being always reserved for the most honourable person. In some places likewise they had sermons twice a day, that is, at two different times of the day; but this is to be understood only of th...

Reading and hearing the word of God are but the several circumstances of the same duty: instrumental especially to faith, but consequently to all other graces of the spirit ... The Scriptures read are the same thing to us which the same doctrine was when it was preached by the disciples of our blessed Lord, and we are to learn of either with the same dispositions ... The Holy Ghost is certainly the best preacher in the world, and the words of Scripture the best sermons. All the doctrine of salvation is plainly set down there, that the most unlearned person, by hearing it read, may understand all his duty ... The wit of man cannot more plainly tell us our duty, or more fully, than the Holy Ghost hath done already. Good sermons and good books are of excellent use; but yet they can serve no other end but that we practice the plain doctrines of Scripture ... Set apart some portion of thy time, according to the opportunities of thy calling and necessary employment, for the reading of Holy S...

Not out of envie or maliciousnesse So I forbear to crave your speciall aid:                                           I would addresse My vows to thee most gladly, Blessed Maid, And Mother of my God, in my distresse. Thou art the holy mine, whence came the gold, The great restorative for all decay                                           In young and old; Thou art the cabinet where the jewell lay: Chiefly to thee would I my soul unfold: But now, alas, I dare not; for our King, Whom we do all joyntly adore and praise,                                           Bids no such thing: And where his pleasure no injunction layes, (’Tis your own case) ye never move a wing. George Herber...