may be used, provided it be left to themselves to make them. And having stated and supported his argument in favour of authorised and set forms of Liturgy, with all the force that just reason and Scripture afford, he delivers this important opinion: "If all Chris"tian Churches had one common Liturgy, "there were not a greater symbol to testify,

nor a greater instrument to preserve the "Catholick Communion; and in former ages, " whenever a schism was commenced, and "that they called one another heretick, they "not only forsook to pray with one another,

but they also altered their forms, by in"terposition of new clauses, hymns, and col"lects, and new rites and ceremonies; only "those parts that combined kept the same

liturgy; and indeed the same forms of "prayer, were so much the instrument of "union, that it was the only ligament of their "society, (for their creeds, I reckon as part "of their liturgy, for so they ever were :) so "that this may teach us a little to guess, I "will not say into how many churches, "but into how many innumerable atoms, " and minutes of churches, those Christians "must needs be scattered, who alter their

See Apology for Liturgy, p. 69.

"forms according to the number of persons, " and the number of their meetings, every "company having a new form of prayer at

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every convention. And this consideration "will not be in vain, if we remember how "great a blessing unity in churches is, and "how hard to be kept, with all the arts in "the world; and how every thing is powerful

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enough for its dissolution. But that a pub"lic form of liturgy, was the great instrument ❝ofcommunion in the primitive church, appears "in this, that the naaigeris, or excommuni"cation, was an exclusion, a communicatione "orationis, et conventûs, et omnis sancti "commercii, from the participation of the "public meeting and prayers; and therefore "the more united the prayer is, still it is the greater instrument of union; the authority "and consent, the publick spirit, and com

mon acceptation, are so many degrees of a "more firm and indissoluble communion.”

To give a complete analysis of this powerful production might weary the reader: whilst by referring him to the original, a rich store of information is displayed to his understanding, in one of the ablest defences of liturgy that has ever appeared.

Taylor had given his assistance to the son

of his friend, Lord Hatton, in preparing an edition of the Psalms, according to the authorized version: this appeared in the year 1644, under the following title: "The Psalter " of David, with Titles and Collects according "to the matter of each Psalm, by the Right "Honourable Christopher Hatton." All that is new in this publication was the production of Taylor. The preface which bears his name, and the titles and collects adapted to each psalm, were the efforts of his mind. To these were added devotions for the help and assistance of all Christian people on all occasions and necessities; which were published in the "fifth edition with additionals," in the year 1657.

This work, though now supplanted by the incomparable writings of Bishop Horne, on the same subject, is still worthy of attention. Each collect imbibes the spirit of the psalm to which it is an appendage, and is expressed with the commanding simplicity and grace, which are so conspicuous in the writings of Taylor. Of the same description are the "Devotions," subjoined to the volume; some of which are not original.

f In 12mo, Oxon. See Wood's Athen. Oxon. vol. 1. c. 223. In the eighth edition enlarged, published by R. Roy

Taylor having retired into Wales, was soon joined, if not accompanied, by his family, which was probably living in Oxford previous to the declension of the royal interest, and appears to have been with him in November 1643, as he speaks (in his letter to Dr. Langsdale, already inserted) of his wife's mother, in terms which shew that he was in the same place of residence with her and his children. It is remarkable, that he makes no allusion to his wife in this letter; that she was then living, is apparent from the date of her marriage in 1639, and the number of children of which she was the mother. Biographers, indeed, agree in speaking of her retirement with her husband into Wales.

Here, being ejected from his preferment, and on the persecuted side, he was compelled to seek a subsistence by keeping school; in which he was assisted by Mr William Wyatt".

ston in 1672, the name of "the Right Honourable Chr. Hatton" is omitted, and that of "Jer. Taylor, D. D. chaplain to King Charles 1st of blessed memory," inserted in its place.

h William Wyatt, of St. John's College, Oxford, was created B.D. at Oxford Sept. L2th 1661. He was born at Todenham in Gloucestershire, and was prevented taking his degree in arts, by the breaking out of the civil war. Afterwards he was assistant to Dr. Jer. Taylor when he

The place of their residence seems to have been at Newton', whence Wyat dates his Epistle Dedicatory prefixed to "A New and "Easie Institution of Grammar, which ap

peared in 1647 in Duodecimo, and was the

joint production of himself and Taylor. In "this work there are Two Epistles Dedica

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tory; the first, in Latin, by Wyat, is ad"dressed Honoratissimo Literarum Mæcenati "ac Domino D. Christophero Hatton, Domino "Hatton de Kirby; Regiæ Majestati à "secretioribus consiliis, &c." and is dated "ex ædibus Collegii Newtoniensis, Cal. " Novem:"

taught school in Caermarthenshire, and wrote, as was usually said (which he himself also acknowledged) "A

new and Easie Institution of Grammar, &c." which was published under Dr. Taylor's name. Afterwards Wyatt taught at Evesham, in Worcestershire, and at length assisted Mr. William Fuller, while he taught a private school at Twickenham, in Middlesex. And when Fuller became Bishop of Lincoln, he made him not only his chaplain, but also prebendary, and afterwards chantor of his cathedral. Which dignities he resigned in 1681. He retired to NunEaton, in Warwickshire, where he died in the house of Sir Ric. Newdigate, about 1686. Wood's Fasti. vol. 2.

i A seat near Golden Grove.

k Wood. Fasti. Oxon. p. 820. is inclined to attribute this work wholly to Wyat; but the Epistles Dedicatory bear testimony to the contrary, and are followed by a copy