BY THE REV. J. WENHAM, M.A., FORMERLY CHAPLAIN TO THE LORD BISHOP OF QUEBEC; OF LATE, LONDON: T. B. SHARPE, 15, SKINNER-STREET, SNOW HILL. MDCCCXLV. 3 PREFACE. THE Manual of Devotion here offered to the Public is chiefly the reprint of "A Collection of Private and Family Prayers, taken from the Liturgy of the Church of England," by the learned and exemplary Rector of Trinity Church, New York,* In a Preface to that work it is observed, "This Compilation was found more difficult and laborious than might be supposed from the manner in which it is executed; but although it does not fully equal the hopes and wishes of the Compiler, yet he thinks that it must be useful and acceptable to all who admire the elegant simplicity, the reverential fervour, the noble elevation of our venerable Ritual, and who have been warmed and animated by the evangelical spirit which pervades it." The truth of the first part of these remarks will readily be discovered by whoever should attempt a similar labour; and for any alterations and emendations of a work so admirably designed, a wish to carry farther into effect the intention of a highly esteemed friend must be the editor's chief apology. Of the materials derived from our Book of Common Prayer, it is needless to say more: all who are Church The Rev. William Berrian, D. D. men in anything but the name, will be ready to acknowledge that there is a concentration of pious desire and of chastised fervour in these formularies, closely allied to genuine inspiration. They are like "wine on the lees well refined;" and, however excellent and pious a variety of modern compositions, "no man having drank old wine straightway desireth new, for he saith the old is better." It is in this persuasion, strengthened by daily use of the original compilation for many years, that the same materials, somewhat differing in arrangement, were offered, in 1835, to the European inhabitants of Ceylon, and the first edition being expended, advantage is taken by the Editor of his return to England to put forth a second with very few alterations. A few Occasional Prayers are subjoined. In some of them the language of our Offices will easily be recognized: the others are chiefly adapted from Bishop Jeremy Taylor. LONDON, 1845. FAMILY AND PRIVATE PRAYERS. THE Master, having called his Household together, may begin Family Worship by reading such a portion of Holy Scripture, as shall be convenient. The Psalms, being ascriptions of praise, should be repeated standing; and it will be better if they are recited by the Master and his Family in alternate verses, as in the Public Service of our Church. The Gloria Patri, at the end of each Psalm, should by all means be so repeated; and the Lord's Prayer, as well as the Amen at the conclusion of each Collect, ought to be repeated audibly by all present. SUNDAY MORNING. This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it. PSALM 84. How amiable are thy dwellings: thou 2 My soul hath a desire and longing to |