CONTINUALLY PRAY TO GOD THE FATHER, BY THE MEDIATION OF OUR ONLY SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, FOR THE HEAVENLY ASSISTANCE OF THE HOLY GHOST, Off for Ord. of Priest.. BOSTON, PRINTED BY PETER EDES, IN STATE-STREET, MDCCLXXXV, Fac-simile of the title page of the Prayer Book issued by the Unitarians of King's Chapel, Boston. Printed by Peter Edes, in 1785. Size reduced. UNITARIAN PRAYER BOOKS. A CONGREGATION in communion with the Church of England existed in Boston as early as 1686, though the building known as King's Chapel was not erected until 1749. During the Revolutionary War and for several years after, the Church was weakened by loss of members. During these times of depression Mr. James Freeman was in charge as lay reader for a few months. He then sought ordination at the hands of the Episcopal authorities. But Mr. Freeman's doctrinal position, especially in regard to the Trinity, was not in harmony with the faith of the American Episcopal Church. Under these circumstances both Bishops Seabury and Provoost declined him ordination. The growing changes in the minds of some of the members of the congregation led, in 1785, to the revision of the Prayer Book. These changes were so radical that the parish ceased to be an Episcopal Church and became the first Unitarian Society of Boston. The Prayer Book of 1785 will always be of interest as showing how the doctrinal teachings of a volume can be transformed. The book is a large duodecimo. The title page is worded thus: "A LITURGY collected principally from the BOOK of COMMON PRAYER, for the use of the FIRST EPISCOPAL CHURCH in BOSTON: together with the PSALTER or PSALMS of DAVID. Continually pray to God the Father, by the Mediation of our only Saviour Jesus Christ, for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Ghost.-Off. for Ord. of Priests. Boston. Printed by Peter Edes, in State Street. MDCCLXXXV." The back of the title page is blank. Next in order is the Preface, covering three and a half pages. It is here reproduced: THE PREFACE. Many truly great and learned men, of the Church of England, as well divines as laymen, have earnestly wished to see their Liturgy reformed; but hitherto all attempts to reform it have proved ineffectual. The late happy revolution here hath forever separated all the Episcopal Societies, in the United States of America, from the Church of England, of which the King of that country is the supreme head, and to whom all Archbishops, Bishops, Priests and Deacons of that Church are obliged to take an oath of allegiance and supremacy, at the time of their consecration or ordination. Being torn from that King and Church, the Society for whose use this Liturgy is published, think themselves at liberty, and well justified even by the declarations of the Church of England, in making such alterations, as "the exigency of the times and occasions hath rendered expedient," and in expunging everything which gave, or might be expected to give, offence to tender consciences; guiding themselves ever by "the holy Scriptures, which," they heartily agree with the Church of England, "contain all things necessary to salvation," and that "whatsoever is not read therein, nor can be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation." In the 34th of the Articles of the Church of England, it is declared, That "it is not necessary that traditions and ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly alike; for at all times they have been diverse, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's word. And by the 20th of those Articles it is declared, That "the Church hath power to decree rites and ceremonies, and authority in controversies of faith." What is there meant by the word Church, will appear from the 19th of those Articles, which declares, "The visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithful men, in which the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments be duly ministered, according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same. As the Church of Hierusalem, Alexandria and Antioch have erred, so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in living, and manner of ceremonies, but also in matters of faith." At the Reformation, when the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England was compiled, the Committee appointed to execute that business were obliged to proceed very tenderly and with great delicacy, for fear of offending the whole body of the people, just torn from the idolatrous Church of Rome; and many things were then retained, which have, in later times, given great offence to many truly pious Christians. The Liturgy, contained in this volume, is such, as no Christian, it is supposed, can take offence at, or find his conscience wounded in repeating. The Trinitarian, the Unitarian, the Calvinist, the Arminian will read nothing in it which can give him reasonable umbrage. God is the sole object of worship |