IN PREFACE. N this compilation, an endeavour has been made to combine simplicity and conciseness with a conformity to the general spirit of our Prayer Book. It retains those features which are to be found in the morning and evening offices, and, to a certain extent, in the occasional services; namely, psalms, lessons, versicles with their responses, collects, and the triple invocation called the Lesser Litany, which generally precedes the Lord's Prayer. The reasons which sanction such a plan may be thus stated. In the first place, every Christian family forms an essential portion of the great household of God, and may be considered, though in a limited and subordinate sense, as a Church: and therefore the forms of private or domestic devotion may fitly bear some resemblance, in their spirit and construction, to those which are employed in the more public and fully constituted assemblies of the faithful. Secondly, the prayers of our Church are so comprehensive and profound, and of such universal application, as to justify a far more frequent employment of them than during their stated seasons. Thirdly, it is felt by many persons, that long prayers, embracing many topics, are less fitted for arresting attention, and sustaining devotion, than those varied methods of supplication which have pervaded from the most ancient times every ritual in the world. It will be observed that these domestic forms are not intended to supply the place of the public services. In no well regulated household will the attendance on the one be considered as a substitute for the other. They have therefore been so constructed as to avoid repetitions of the Order of Morning and Evening Prayer: except in the instances of the introductory versicles, and of the Lord's Prayer, which is at all times retained, according to the Church's universal rule; and of the Collect of the day, which is omitted on Sundays only; because it then so often occurs in the public services, that its private use seems less expedient. The Hymn for Sunday morning, substituted for a Psalm, is the only particular which may be considered as an innovation. But it is wholly taken from passages of Holy Scripture, and is thrown into the versicular form of our Psalms and Canticles. The selection of Lessons is by no means intended to preclude or discourage a greater variety of choice, or longer extracts from Scripture. But it is believed that there are many persons to whom this method may be acceptable. Those who habitually attend daily public worship, for example, or those whose business will allow but a limited time for family devotions, may be satisfied with short passages, which remind them weekly of certain salutary truths. As the Collects are altogether taken from the Prayer Book (slightly modified in one or two instances), there has been no insertion of any prayers fitted to the peculiar relations of domestic life. So much do individual feelings and circumstances vary, that it would be difficult to prescribe any general forms. Any additions of this kind, or others, suited to peculiar occasions, could be easily inserted by heads of families according to their discretion. In order to prevent the inconvenience of referring backwards and forwards, those parts of the services which recur frequently or daily are repeated at length on each several occasion. J. JEBB. Peterstow, Ross, August 15, 1860. SUNDAY MORNING. All standing up, the Reader shall say, GOD, make speed to save us. Answ. O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; Answ. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Praise ye the Lord. Answ. The Lord's Name be praised. Then shall follow this Hymn. : HRIST is risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death: by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die : even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Cor. xv. 20-23.) O death, where is thy sting: O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin: and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory: through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. xv. 55-58.) In whom we have redemption, through his blood: even the forgiveness of our sins; Who is the image of the invisible God: the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created: that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible; |