The Commissioners had several meetings at the Savoy, but to very little purpose; and the conference broke up after much angry and personal altercation. Some alterations were proposed by the episcopal Divines, which, in the following May, were considered and approved by the whole Clergy in convocation. These alterations were chiefly, that, some lessons in the Calendar were changed for others more appropriate; the "Prayers for particular occasions" were disjoined from the Litany; two Prayers to be used in Ember Week, the Prayer "for the Parliament," and "for all conditions of men," and "the General Thanksgiving" were added. Some of the "Collects" were altered. The "Epistles" and "Gospels were taken out of the last Translation of the Bible. The office for "Baptism of those of riper years," and the "Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea" were added. The Liturgy was now brought to that state in which we use it; and was unanimously subscribed by both houses of convocation, of both Provinces, on Friday the twentieth of December, 1661. In the following March, ' an Act of Parliament was passed for its establishment. In the next year an Act was passed declaratory of the former.

i

i 13 and 14 Charles II. c. 4.

Another attempt was made, but which proved abortive, to alter the Liturgy, at the commencement of the reign of William and Mary.

In October 1689, a Commission was appointed by the King, to prepare such alterations in the Liturgy as might be thought expedient; and on November 17, 1689, they met. The moderate part of the Clergy were for a speedy reformation of several matters which it was thought might be made in the Liturgy, in order to conciliate and invite the Dissenters; others more rigid were for no condescension.

The Members of the Commission were :

Lamplugh, Archbishop of York.
Compton, Bishop of London.

Mew, Bishop of Winchester.
William Lloyd, Bishop of St. Asaph.
Sprat, Bishop of Rochester.
Smith, Bishop of Carlisle.
Trelawney, Bishop of Exeter.
Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury.
Humphreys, Bishop of Bangor.
Stratford, Bishop of Chester.

Dr. Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Paul's, afterwards
Bishop of Worcester.

Dr. Patrick, Dean of Peterborough, afterwards Bishop of Chichester.

Dr. Tillotson, Dean of Canterbury, afterwards of St. Paul's, and Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dr. Meggot, Dean of Winchester.

Dr. Sharp, Dean of Norwich.

Dr. Kidder, afterwards Dean of Peterborough. Dr. Aldrich, Dean of Christ Church.

Dr. William Jane, Regius Professor of Divinity, Oxford.

Dr. Montague, Master of Trinity College, Cam

bridge.

Dr. Beaumont, Regius Professor of Divinity, Cambridge.

Dr. Hall, Margaret Professor of Divinity, Oxford.
Dr. Goodman, Archdeacon of Middlesex.

Dr. Beveridge, Archdeacon of Colchester.
Dr. Batteley, Archdeacon of Canterbury.
Dr. Scott, Prebendary of St. Paul's.
Dr. Fowler, Prebendary of Gloucester.
Dr. Grove, Prebendary of St. Paul's.
Dr. Williams, Prebendary of St. Paul's.

Four of the Commissioners, the Bishops of Winchester and Rochester, Dr. Aldrich and Dr. Jane withdrew dissatisfied. The rest proceeded with the greatest unanimity; and, amongst other matters, determined upon the following alterations:

That the "Chanting of Divine Service" in Cathedral Churches shall be laid aside, that the whole may be rendered intelligible to the common people:

That, besides the " Psalms "being read in their course, as before, some proper and devout Psalms be selected for Sundyas:

That the "Apocryphal Lessons," and those of the Old Testament, which are too natural, be thrown out, and others appointed in their stead. All the "Legendary" Saints-days to be omitted in the Calendar :

That a rubric be made, setting forth the usefulness of the "Cross in Baptism," not as an essential part of that Sacrament, but only as a fit and decent ceremony. However, if any do in conscience scruple it, it may be omitted by the Priest:

That if any refuse to receive the "Sacrament of 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, and not in distinction of meats:

That the Absolution" in Morning and Evening Prayer may be read by a Deacon, the

word "Priest" in the rubric being changed into "Minister," and the words "and remission" be put out, as not very intelligible :

That, the "Gloria Patri" shall not be repeated at the end of every Psalm, but of all appointed for Morning and Evening Prayer:

That, the words of the "Te Deum," "thine honourable, true, and only Son," be thus turned, "thine only begotten Son;"" honourable" being only a civil term, and no where used in Sacris:

The "Benedicite" shall be changed into the 128th Psalm; and other Psalms likewise appointed for the "Benedictus" and "Nunc Dimittis :”

The "Versicles" after the Lord's Prayer, and in other parts, shall be read "kneeling;” to avoid the trouble and inconvenience of so often varying postures in the worship. And, after the words, "Give peace in our time, O Lord," shall follow an answer promissory of somewhat on the people's part, of keeping God's Law, or the like; the old response being grounded on the predestinating doctrine, taken in too strict an acceptation:

All high titles of Appellations" of the King, Queen, &c. shall be left out of the Prayers; such as "most illustrious," "religious," "mighty," gracious," &c., and only the word "Sovereign" retained for the King and Queen: