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    vereA in every part of the sacred writings ; fully persuaded that it is «* the faith which overcometh the

    world , " and the faith which , when universally adopted , will be the blessed means of turning it from all iniquity , I look with a jealous eye and a disturbed mind on whatever is likely

    to obstruct its progress ; on every point of conduct in which its professors shew that they are unmindful of its value , and uninfluenced by those

    pious feelings which it is so peculiarly calculated to inspire . One of these points has been of late most prominently presented to my view , and has caused me more pain than will readily be conceived by those whose

    inconsiderate levity gives occasion to it . From the particular circumstances of my situation , it has not , till within the last few months , been in my power regularly to attend a public Unitarian service ; but having at length attained the long-wished-for privilege of

    joining with a congregation in the worship of the One Gody as a disciple and follower of his beloved Son , the pastors who conduct the services being of the first description , both with respect to talent , character and zeal , I not only anticipated much religious

    improvement , but unmingled gratification in my attendance on their ministry ; and such , Mr . Editor , it would be , but for the strange and most reprehensible levity of , I believe I may say , a fifth part of the congregation , who come in after the service is begun .

    The prayers , in the place of worship to which I particularly allude , are always admirable , though still varied , and delivered by both ministers with a devotional solemnity which could hardly fail to make some good impressions even upon the most careless

    hearers : but the heavy grievance of which I complain , is a continual bar against , and interruption of these good impressions . During the first prayer very little can commonly be heard by those who are distant from the speaker , and this part of the

    congregation is supposed to stand most in need of serious examples and pious instruction , having fewer opportunities of gaining either from books , &cc . at home- and when the attention of the most devout can hardly fail to be in some degree distracted by the figures which are moving around them ,

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    how certainly nrmst they prevent any good effects which might have been produced on the minds of the young and inattentive > These are very serious considerations , aqd should awaken ihe

    consciences of those , who , to prevent the possibility of having a quarter or hatf an hour ' s , time for meditation , before they address the almighty Maker of heaven and earth , are thus the means of depriving- many of precious moments of instruction , to some of whom the season may not again return . v

    1 can conceive nothing more unconsonant , more distressing to pious feelings , than to hear a solemn address to the Deity drowned by the noise and bustle which is unavoidable

    when many persons enter . During those moments when the heart , forgetting the world around it , would ascend in pure devotion to its Maker , how dare we disturb its sacred and

    delightful aspirations , and under a pretence of doing our own duty , cruelly interrupt the performance of it in others ? Can we more forcibly declare how negligently , not to say how contemptuously , we hold the prayers and praises which are offered up to God in his holy place ?

    1 have always esteemed this practice as a disgrace to all Christian assemblies , and am ready to ask , " Can those who are the only acceptable worshipers * they who * worship in spirit and in truth , ' have any share in it ? " O that I could

    persuade all who hold our pure faith in sincerity of hearty cautiously to guard against single instances , or what they call accidental departures from what must be their general rule ; for . every

    such instance is an encouragement and an example to those who make , it a frequent practice . Unitarians are accused of wanting seriousness as well as zeal in their Christian profession . and I know no method which woula

    more probably contribute to remove from them the first part of this reproach , than their taking the lead in this most desirable reform ; and if we are indeed zealously affected towards the noble cause of Christian truth , this marked manifestation of our

    devout regard to the worship of God in his sanctuary , for which I plead > would greatfy tend to excite attention to our doctrines , and of course to

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    Irregularities in Public Worship . 5 S&

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1819, page 539, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1776/page/15/