A New Manual OF DEVOTIONS. IN THREE PARTS. PART I. Containing Prayers for Families and Private Perfons. PART II. Containing Offices. I. Of Humiliation. II. For the Sick. Women with Child. PART III. III. For Confifting of an Office for the Holy Communion: To which are added fome Occafional Prayers. The TWENTY-FOURTH EDITION, Corrected. PRINTED LONDON: FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON; WILKIE AND ROBINSON; LONGMAN AND CO.; R. BALDWIN; SCATCHERD AND LETTERMAN; W. GINGER; R. S. KIRBY ; AND C. LAW. 1810. PREFACE. THE Glory of God, and the Good of Souls, have been the only inducements for publishing the following Devotions: It is hoped they will, in fome Meafure, anfwer thofe Ends, and affift the good Chriftian in the Discharge of the great and important Duty of Prayer. In the Devotions for private Perfons, there are Morning and Evening Prayers for every Day of the Week, to which are added Prayers for any intermediate Time of the Day. This was done without any intention of prefcribing to any one; and was chiefly defigned as a Means to furnish the devout Chriftian with Variety of proper Petitions and Expreffions, wherein to lay open his Wants before God; and that by making Ufe of the Prayers in Juch a Method, as the Whole may be gone over in fome Short Space of Time, he might be inftructed in, and reminded of feveral important Duties of a Christian Life. But after all, every one is left to his own Difcretion, to choose, add, A 2 omit, omit, or alter, as he shall fee fit: Because, as the Judgments and Opinions of Mankind are very different; fo it can never be expected that the fame Method, or Form of Prayer fhould fuit all Perfons; or even the fame Perfon at all Times. In the prefent Compofure, no fmall Pains have been taken, to make the whole as generally useful as can be well expected in a Work of this Nature; but as the best Performances have Imperfections, fo this (to be fure) is not without them. However, it is hoped, there are none fo great, but what a Chriftian may overlook for the Sake of that Good, which is intended by it. It is not pretended, that the following Prayers are all entirely new. There will be found among them feveral Collections from other Books; but those being fuch only as have been thought excellent in their Kind, it was believed the whole would not be less acceptable for that Reafon. And here particular Acknowledgements ought to be made to the Wife and pious Author of The great Duty of frequenting the Chriftian Sacrifice; from whence, with his Leave, fome Prayers in the Office of Humiliation, and for the Communion, have been collected. May May God of his great Mercy, make these Devotions ferviceable to the ends for which they are defigned: And may his good Spirit accompany the Use of them, and enkindle in all our Hearts, fuch a pure and holy Flame, as may never be extinguished by any Lufts or Paffions; but being continually cherished and kept alive by ardent and devout Prayers here, it may hereafter break forth in Praifes and Hallelujahs to God, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen. |