TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND RIGHT REVEREND WILLIAM HOWLEY, D.D. LORD BISHOP OF LONDON, THIS HUMBLE ATTEMPT TO. PROMOTE A JUDICIOUS AND IMPRESSIVE MANNER OF READING THE LITURGY, IS, WITH HIS CONDESCENDING PERMISSION, MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY HIS OBLIGED AND DUTIFUL SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. critical ibid 2.-that piety alone is requisite 3.-by fearing to be thought affected or hypo 4.-by the real difficulty, arising from the Good reading an important clerical qualification, 3.-from its depriving adversaries of one ground of attack xiii 4.-from the increased attention paid to the study of elocution xiv 5.-from its affording a better chance of ob taining professional employment XV The degree of encouragement it has received in the Universities xvi It is becoming a new requisite in the episcopal examination for Orders xvii Object and plan of this work Objections obviated xix xxii A slavish adherence to rules not required The utility of the Work, independent of the system of Inflections xli xlii PREFACE. THE members of the Church of England justly boast of their Liturgy, and affirm with truth that no Service has a greater tendency to answer the purposes of public worship. It is however certain, that this tendency is very much strengthened by means of a good delivery. But that our admirable Ritual is not thus enforced so frequently as it ought, is a complaint which is heard even among the sincere and zealous friends of the Established Church; and it is heard so often, that the justice of it cannot be doubted. It may therefore be useful to suggest to the candidates for the Sacred Office, as well as to those who have been recently admitted into it, some of the causes to which the imputed defect may be reasonably ascribed. Thus cautioned, they may be induced to pay more particular attention to the manner of officiating; so that they may individually vindicate the profession from reproach, and, through the divine blessing upon their ministry, may powerfully promote the interests of true religion. |