Reform'd devotions, in meditations, hymns, and petitions, for every day in the week, and every holiday in the year divided into parts.

THE PREFACE.

SOme Account of the Following Book I am bound to give, in point of Justice both to it and my self; and some∣thing may be said tending to promote the Ʋse∣fulness of it. Which things will be the mat∣ter of this Preface; and in such matter it will not be impertinent to detain the Reader for a little while.

It was a Book of Devotions dispos'd into the Form and Method of the Roman Bre∣viary; and, though the matter of it was not the same with that, yet therein were the Truths of Christian Religion frequently mix∣ed, as in the Belief of that Church, with those erroneous Doctrines which in latter Ages have been added to Christianity▪ What I thought to be such by the direction of Holy Scripture, and the Articles of our Church which are drawn from thence, according to the▪ usual Interpretation made of it by the

most pure and primitive Ages of Christiani∣ty, that I have taken away, and connected the Sence with what those Rules suggested to be truth. Therefore has this Book the Title of Reform'd Devotions. And I dare say, if Holy Scripture may be the Rule to judge by in these matters, (as it must be in all such matters) the Book is now more truly corrected and amended, than it was in any of the former Editions, though it pretends to have been four times printed, and twice with that Advantage. In the fourth and last Edition, which is dated, Roan. 1685. it is said to be corrected and augmented; and there is added to it in that a whole Office for the Virgin Mary; which being very different from the former Book, and much inferiour to it in all Respects, and more corrupted, I have wholly left it out; and having made use of that part of the former Book which provided for all the Saints Dayes, I should have wanted a good Reason for so regarding one particular Saint, if I had used that part of the Book distinct: And there being enough of the other to serve my Method, I did not trouble my self to pick out the best Sentences of that to mix with the rest. This I did out of one Office in the other Book; because in the present Method I had no occasion for it distinct, and because

the greatest part of that Office related to the Souls suppos'd to be in Purgatory.

I am justified in the reforming of this Book, and purging out those fore-mention'd Doctrines, by the Authority of our Nation, which did, for the sake of them, a few years ago condemn the Book to a publick burning. And because there was a great deal of it very good Sence, and that compos'd in a ve∣ry devout strain, and an ingenious style, and mixt with several curious Hymns; I thought it was worthy of a Reformation, and as well too good to be thrown away whole, as too bad to be used whole: Which I doubt not, all ingenious and devout Readers will acknowledge upon perusing what is here pre∣sented, when I shall have said, that the most of it is but what I found in that Book. Yet I subscribe to the Wisdom and Justice of that Condemnation which it underwent as it was; for the better it was in some respects, (since many offensive things were contained in it, and they often with great Artifice insi∣nuated in very disguising terms) the more it did deserve that fate. Some passages there were in it capable of two Interpretations, which joyn'd with false Doctrines, must be interpreted to an ill meaning; but joyn'd with Truths, must be understood to mean well: And some of those do still remain here, be∣cause

I was loth to throw out any thing needlesly; and especially if there was Wit and Elegancy in the Composure; that so this Book might be in some respects better, and in others, at least, no worse than the for∣mer. There were in it Lessons to every Office, which I have left out, because they consisted of but some Sentences of the truly Canonical Scripture, joyn'd without distincti∣on with other Sentences; and that Transla∣tion which those Scriptures were in, is diffe∣rent from that Authentick among us: Be∣sides, I did not alwaies think them exactly suited to the places they held; and I think the absence of them may be reckon'd well enough sup∣ply'd by the pertinent Sentences of holy Scripture which I have through the whole Book fre∣quently mixed with the matter of it; espe∣cially since those that will read Lessons in their private Devotions, have the Holy Scrip∣tures in their hands, translated into the vul∣gar Tongue. The Hymns that were in the former Book are all retain'd, and one is added to fill up the present Method: But they are many of them alter'd; some to be corrected, some to be supplyed with a few Syllables, or a Stanza here and there to fit them to the Tunes of our singing Psalms, as many of them were before, and now they all are. The Petitions here are gather'd

partly out of those parts of the former Book, which in that were called Psalms, in this Meditations; and partly from other places.

The Devotions for every Day in the Week, are not so appropriated to those Dayes of the Week they are design'd for, but that they may be used on any other day; as in∣deed I know no reason for such appropriati∣on: They are thus placed to dispose them in some Method, that they might not lye together like a confus'd disorderly heap. One∣ly those for the Lord's Day are most proper for that: Those set to Thursday, because all the Subject of them is the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, are very fit to be used on any Day when we receive that holy Sa∣crament. To this, that some of the Devo∣tions are said to be design'd for the Holy∣dayes, I say; Those that will be pleas'd but to look beyond the Title, will be as well satisfied with the matter of that, as of any other part of the Book. I did not contrive the Book so distinguisht, but found it so, and thought that Method might render it the more useful to those who shall be willing to use it in a Method. Some among us are willing to observe such Dayes according to the Ap∣pointment of our Church, and they may pro∣fitably on them make use of what is here allotted to those Dayes, for their sakes. Others

perhaps are not fully satisfied in their minds to do this, and they may with good Profit (if they please) read that part of the Book on any other Dayes: And why then should the latter sort be displeased, if the former are gratified; and I, according to the ex∣cellent Rule and Practice of St. Paul, do become all things to all men for their good. To my Charity, he that regards a Day re∣gards it to the Lord; and he that regards not a Day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. I suppose the different Practice may pro∣ceed in both from pious minds, (but such as are possess'd in this matter with some difference of Opinions) and I will not judge or set at nought any of my Brethren: And as I am not willing to put the worst Inter∣pretation that can be upon the Practices of any, so I desire all would deal thus with me, and where any thing in the Book may be interpreted to a good meaning, that they would do so. This Practice, I am sure, is contain'd under that general and indispensa∣ble Rule, of doing to others as we would they should do unto us. I have assisted the one sort the more willingly, because it will be no prejudice to the other; unless they please to reject what is not in it self the less use∣ful, meerly for bearing such a Title as this, and for being in such a method as may

render it the more useful to some of their Brethren. I desire of the World but this piece of Justice also (which I shall certain∣ly obtain from all that are not ill-natur'd in the case) that every one do commend what they may like in the book; for then I am sure it will be universally commended; and then it will be the more generally and the more profitably used, which is the end I aim'd at in seeking to approve it to many.

In Reforming a book from such principles as are purg'd out of this, it is well known I am not without several Presidents. And what has been done of this kind before ha∣ving found good acceptance, both formerly and more lately, I was thereby the more encourag'd in this undertaking: I will not disparage what others have done; but I think there may be observed some defects in their work; which I have avoided. The Book that I have chosen to correct, does equal, at least, if not exceed any other that has been thus used. Indeed I have not seen that writing of any Authour of the same Communion, which in my Judge∣ment, was comparable to this excellent piece: The matter of the book I presume is not at all less fit to assist, and excite true and wise Devotion than it was before: For there is no need of errors to promote any

exercise of true Religion: And there being so much of excellent and useful matter still left, what is separated may the better be spar'd. And the leaving out those princi∣ples renders the book more generally useful, since now it is become so to those of our Church, while they will meet with nothing in it, but what they can assent to: And it may still, if they please, be useful to those of the other Communion, since the peculiar principles, which they have receiv'd are one∣ly left out, and the remaining matter is what all sober Christians may agree in: Indeed I intended not to infect it with controversie, and not to gratifie but rather divert the contentious humour of the age. I would not engage the World more in controversie, which perhaps is already too much engag'd in it; but had rather possess mens minds with an affectionate powerful sense of those important Truths, which Christians do gene∣rally assent to; and which are of absolute necessity to be known, and lov'd, and obey'd; for which purpose this book is perhaps as well fitted now, as any that can be met with: Ʋnless any one will except that incompara∣ble book the Exposition of our Church Ca∣techism, lately composed for the use of the Diocess of Bath and Wells; I can rea∣dily assent to him that shall preferr that to

this: In this following book I am sure no im∣partial and judicious Reader, cannot think that the devout and serious expressions do want their Foundation in Reason, by being separated from the Principles that are purg'd out. Many such Expressions may be found in the writings of the devout and elegant Fathers, which could not be drawn from such Principles, because they are of a later inven∣tion: Besides, the Holy Scripture and the fundamental Truths drawn from thence, and contain'd in the four first Creeds, are Foun∣dation enough for such things. It were a mistake therefore to imagine, that we must needs be beholden to any peculiar or distinct principles, not held by the truly ancient and Apostolick Church, for such a production as this. I think it may appear by the follow∣ing book, that those principles are not neces∣sary as a Foundation, nor any wayes advan∣tageous to the superstructure.

For the sake of those who shall be willing to use this Book in a certain Order and Method in their private Devotions, (where a good Method constantly observ'd is of great ad∣vantage) I shall suggest a few things for Direction in the Use of it. I suppose the ordinary Course of most Persons in this pri∣vate Exercise, is onely to read, perhaps, the Holy Scripture, or some good Book, and to

Pray: But I think those that do only so, leave out one of the most profitable parts of the Exercise, which at least those Persons that have, or might have leisure, should never omit, that is Meditation: To revolve, and over and over consider, and reflect upon some divine Truths, that they may make impressi∣on on their minds, and raise in them suit∣able Affections: This tends to make the tem∣per of the mind, and the course of a Mans life conformable to those Truths, which is the end every man should aim at in his pri∣vate Devotions: None may account them∣selves the more religious and good for spend∣ing much time in them, unless they have this influence and effect upon their hearts and lives, unless they practise the more of Religion in their Conversations. Now in the performance of this part of private De∣votion, it were doubtless best, if every one could raise suitable and affecting thoughts to be Meditated upon from the Scriptures he has read; which is according to the Advice of a late very prudent Author, who has writ∣ten A Method and Order for private De∣votion. But I fear there are but few that can practise this way with any great advan∣tage to themselves, at least till they have long practised it, and taken a great deal of pains to accustome themselves to it, and

so can perform it with ease and pleasure; the difficulty therefore, and little advan∣tage at first, do I doubt, keep many from a resolute tryal of it. Instead therefore of that way of Meditating, and for such as cannot use it, I think these Meditations fit to be used. Then, after that a person has Read his Chapters in the order which he has proposed to himself, he may do well to read over the Meditations here provided for the day: But this he must do, so as that it may be properly a Meditating on these things, not a cursory reading of them: He should proceed very deliberately, often look∣ing back, and reviewing a Sentence that is past, to see, if it did not affect him before, whether it may not do this upon the review; and to try if he may not find somewhat more of importance in it, than he apprehended at the first reading. After Meditation is done, then he is to proceed to Prayer, wherein he may have assistance from the Petitions here added; they are not a compleat Prayer of themselves, nor were design'd to be so, but only to suggest some Requests fit to be put into our Prayers, suitable to the foregoing Meditations: Therefore there are not in them any such Petitions or Acknowledgments as are proper for the Morning or the Even∣ing, nor any Petitions for the King, the

Church, or our Friends, which should never be omitted in our Prayers. Now they that use a Form which has those other parts, may take in these where they think fit, ha∣ving consider'd and resolv'd it before they begin, or else they may say these by them∣selves: They that do not use a Form in pri∣vate, may add these to their Prayer by their Memory, or by having the Book before them: And if any person has been seriously affect∣ed by the Meditations, he will be mightily dispos'd to make such Requests as these that follow them. As for the Hymns, it will be fittest, if any person will sing them, either to begin his Exercise or end it with them, according as he finds himself inclin'd: To help those that may not readily find out the Tunes which these may be sung to, I think fit here to suggest this; those that will goe to the more common tunes, are Hymn 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 28, 31, 39. Those that will goe to the Tune of the Hundredth Psalm, are Hymn 7, 12, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 27, 33, 36, 38, 40. Those that will goe to the Tune of the Hundred thirteenth Psalm, are Hymn 10, 26, 29, 30, 35, 37. Those that will goe to the Tune of the twenty fifth Psalm, are Hymn 19, 22, 32, 34. If the time will allow a man, and devout affection inclines

him to it, he may use at once Both Parts of the Devotions for the Morning or Even∣ing of the day, but by no means should any man constrain himself to this, and therefore they were thus divided: For, according to the very prudent Advice that an excellent Guide in these matters gave to a Friend;

We should observe what we can do with ease and pleasantness of spirit, and when we find our selves to be free and forward, then we may be the longer and the more en∣larg'd in our Devotions; but when we are heavy and streightned, then it is not fit to tire our Spirits, and drag them along with us whither they have no strength to accompany us, nor disposition to comply with our desires.

And the whole Book being thus divided, some may find it of use to them, to use sometimes one part and some∣times another, as being most affected with such variety. I shall not need to direct par∣ticularly on what dayes those parts of the Book design'd for the Holy-dayes should be used, for that will be sufficiently suggested by the publick Liturgy of our Church, to those that are acquainted with it; where also they will be directed to very apposite, and fit portions of Scripture to be read up∣on such Occasions. And now I dare say, that the following Book is not onely better

in the matter of it than it was before, but it is also better fitted in its method to assist our private Devotion.

With hearty Prayers to Almighty God for its good success, I send it forth into the World: May it abundantly promote his Honour, may it cause many to have seri∣ous and affectionate thoughts of Religious matters, may it promote a true and ardent Love to God in the World, which will be proportionably attended with Love fo•• our Neighbour; may none through Envy, or dis∣like of a few small particulars, when they must needs approve the greatest part of it, be so guilty as to oppose and hinder its use∣fulness; so preferring the advancement of their private Opinions before the service of Religion in general, for promoting the Life and Power of which it is design'd and fit∣ted. Let all know, I constantly endeavour that it may be a small thing to me to be judg'd by mans judgment, which is oft mistaken both in approving and condemning: And there is one, even the great God, who will be the final Judge of us all, to whom I am chiefly concern'd to approve my self: To him be Glory from us all, for ever and ever.

Amen.