or live but a little distance of a few miles from us; but when we have once laid them in the grave, when they are absent from the body, though present with the Lord, as if there were no more love or respect due to them, we let them too soon slip out of our minds, as if we had never known them, or had any acquaintance with them, or delight in them, or received any benefit by them; and this we do often to a just degree of censure, though they leave such pledges of their love to us behind them, as, one would think, we could not look or think upon without remembering them, and the endearing conversations we had with them. I could enlarge much more upon this subject, but I consider I am only writing a Preface; and if any dislike the way of expressing our piety to our dead friends and relations, notwithstanding the reasons I have given for it, they may let it alone, and leave others to their freedom who approve the use of it. For my own part, I think the use of these more private commemorations decent and laudable in all respects, and profitable to devout persons; but if any is so weak as to think it superstitious, or otherwise blame me for recommending the practice of them, I am content to take all the blame upon myself, and answer for it to God and the Church.

In this edition there is added the greatest part of the Compline for the Office of the Holy Ghost, and the Compline for the Preparatory Office for Death; also the Morning Service for a Family, by which that office is now made complete, that in all the

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former editions, both unreformed and reformed, was but half done, together with the Commemorations and Occasionals upon most sort of emergencies of life, public and private.

In the Psalms also there are made some considerable alterations and additions, and their number is increased from CXXXVII. in the first number of the Reformed Offices, to CL. according to the first number of the Unreformed Offices. Several new Hymns are likewise added in this edition; and even whole stanzas are supplied in some of the others, which were before omitted. Moreover, the Prayers and Collects, apparently added by some other unequal hand, and wherein these offices were generally thought to be most defective, have been carefully revised and adjusted, and several new ones added where they did appear to be wanting.

In the Proper Offices, or Commemorations, for the Feasts and Fasts of the Church, very considerable alterations and additions have been made, particularly a Commemoration is here added for the Feast of S. Barnabas, which was wholly wanting in all the editions both reformed and unreformed; that for S. John Baptist is in a manner new; those for the Conversion of S. Paul, for S. Peter, for the Purification and the Annunciation, are much changed from what they were, and more accommodated both to the method of such offices, and to the principles and practice both of the Catholic and this particular Church; and that for any Sunday or Holy Day when the Holy Eucharist is received, is

also added for the use of devout communicants. In those that are proper for the Fasts and Vigils of the Church (which are now distingnished from the former under the title of Penitentials), the alterations and additions are no less considerable. Both of which in the General and Particular Offices, for that great duty of humiliation and mortification, are at first sight discernible. To these is also added a prayer to be said upon a fast before a battle (or even generally in time of war) taken from a manual of Devotions, printed at Lyons; with a short service to be used in any imminent peril of death, from what cause soever; which last may serve as a supplement to the Preparatory Office; and may be joined with any part of it, as occasion shall be. But here it may be expected that I should give some further directions for the use of the additional devotions in this addition.

Know then, that in the Compline to the Office of the Holy Ghost, which is now completed after the model of the rest, all the Versicles, Responsories, Antiphons, Psalms, and Hymns, are directed to be said alternately, in the same method as at Sunday Compline. Then, after a short pause for silent meditation, the better to attend to the Word of God, and the devout motions of His Holy Spirit, A. reads the Lesson, after which B. recites the Antiphon for Nunc Dimittis, and they both sing or say that Canticle, and so proceed as in the other parts of the same office. And the like order is also to be observed in the Compline, which is prepara

tory for death, inserting in its proper place any Commemoration that shall be esteemed convenient or seasonable.

The Office for a Family is intended for the benefit of families, to be used (as has been said) at discretion, but more especially at the seasons of Advent and Lent, and upon days of particular commemoration, for obtaining a blessing upon the family, as upon the anniversary day of marriage, or upon the first settlement of the married couple in any habitation, or upon the birth of every child in it, and the like. This office is not altogether in the method of the former, and is of a more general extent with respect both to time and persons, and it consists of no more than two parts, or Morning and Evening Prayer, whereas all the rest have four, each of which also may be abridged by the head of the family, observing but the rules laid down in the office itself.

A Commemoration is made by reciting the Antiphon, Versicle, Responsory, and Prayer, in them that are proper for Festivals and Penitentials, for the Feast or Fast commemorated; and it is to be made immediately after the Prayer of the day, whose office is actually said both at Lauds and Vespers; or in case these be omitted (as may sometimes happen), then at Matins and Compline. Commemorations may also be performed in any one of the offices, and especially when two holy days come together, whether they be both Festivals, or a Festival and a Fast, then it will be enough to com

memorate only the lesser, with the complete office for the greater. The same rule is also to be observed for the Occasionals. Now the reader will here meet with, besides those proper of Festivals, which were continued in the three former reformed editions, more common Commemorations for the Church and State, for all Conditions of Men, for Enemies in particular, as well as Friends and Natural Relations; for Saints, and all the Faithful Departed; with a General Commemoration and Supplication by way of Litany.

The Commemorations, or Particular Supplications, are to be used daily, except when the General Supplication or Litany (either that which is added to the Commemorations, or that which is in the Office for a Family) is said.

The Occasional Offices in time of Mortality, Dearth, War, or Persecution; in Melancholy or Trouble of Mind; and upon the Sickness, Recovery, or Decease of any Member in the Family, are to be used with the Daily Commemorations.

The Festivals are devotions appropriated to all the Particular Feasts of the Church, as well such as respect the mysterious economy of our salvation, or honour the grace of God communicated by Christ to His Apostles and other Saints; and are to be used before or after the Commemorations.

The Penitentials are particularly appointed to assist the devotions of all humble penitents, at the times set apart by the Church, and upon all other occasions whatsoever, when we are either publicly