Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Prieft, Deacon, Parish, Preacher, Idolatry, Sacrament, Communion, or any o ther Ecclefiaftical Words, or Phrafes, which we have derived from the Latin Church.

Some others, I hear, there are, who have no other Objection against this Book, but that it is Needlefs, and Superfluous, becaufe, as they think, there are too many Books of Devotion already in the World. But are there not much greater Number's of Books written in all Arts, and Sciences, fuited in various Styles, and Methods of Writing, to the feveral Pallats, and Capacities of the great Number of Readers? Some whereof are pleafed with this Book, and others like that, and another, perhaps, prefers a Third, or Fourth before them both. I once heard a friendly Difpute in a Company of Learned, and Ingenious Men, who differed much in their Opinions about the Books, which were written upon the Subject of Oratory, one of them was for Ariftotle's Rhetorick, another for Tully de Oratore, another preferred what Quintilian had written on that Subject, a Fourth liked D. Longinus gì 's better than all the rest. There was another Gentleman in the Company, who had read them all, and he being made Umpire in the Difpute, declared, that they were all the best, as every Man

iked.

I Say the fame for Books of Devotion, which is Oratory in another Senfe, they are all good, nay, all the best, all needful, and all ufeful for the Chriftian World, as they happen to be most agreeable to the feveral Genius's of devout Perfons, whereof fome like this fort, fome that, fome another, and fome a Fourth, and others, perhaps, a Fifth fort. Wherefore to condemn Books of Devotion upon the Account of their Number, is in Confequence to condemn all Books, or elfe to be feverer to Devotion, and Men, and Books of Devetion, than any other Subject, or any other fort of Men, and Books. What? Are Men of Devotion, who ferve the World fo much in Secret, of fo little Confequence, that they, of all others, must not be allowed Variety of Books? Are there not devout Perfons of all Ages, from the first Ufe of Reason, and of all Profeffions? And is there not by Confequence need of greater Numbers, and more different Sorts of Books of Devotion, than of any other kind, which are written but for Men of one fort? Devotion is the general Duty, and Profeffion of all Men, who pretend to Godliness, but Arts, and Sciences are the Bufinefs, and Profeffion but of very few, and yet there is not one Art, or Science thofe Gentlemen can name, wherein the Books that are written in them are not as numerous, and different, as our Books of Devotion, though thefe are written for the Ufe, Advantage, and Entertainment of the best of Mankind, I mean, for devout and faithful

Chriftians of all Ranks, and Callings, to whofe Prayers and Interceffions the World of Sinners, and particularly the Despifers of Devotion are holden, that they are not deftroy'd. I am glad, I have this Occafion given me of declaring my felf in Behalf of Devotion, and all Books of true Devotion, how many, and of how many forts foever they may be. If I had not, by God's Providence, been call'd to write Books of another Nature, I had e're this, encreafed the Number of them; and I here, with all Humility, give him publick Praife and Thanks, who, in the midst of other laborious Studies, hath once more enabled me to the Revife, and Publish this.

GEORGE HICKES.

Sunday

[1]

Sunday Mattins

The Introduction to be faid in the Beginning of every Mattins, or Morning Devotion.

P

Revent, we beseech Thee, O Lord, all our Doings with thy moft gracious Infpirations, and farther them with thy continual Help, that every Prayer and Work of ours, may begin always from Thee, and by Thee be happily ended, and more-efpecially the Service we are now entring upon, thro' Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Blessed be the Holy and Undivided Trinity, now and for evermore. Amen.

UR Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this Day our daily Bread. And forgive us our Trefpaffes, as we forgive them that trefpafs against us. And lead us not into Temptation: But deliver us from Evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

B

I

Believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth: And in Jefus Chrift, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, fuffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, he descended into Hell; the Third Day he rofe again from the Dead, he afcended into Heaven, and fitteth on the Right-Hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he fhall come to judge the Quick and the Dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghoft; The Holy Catholick Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of Sins; The Refurrection of the Body; and the Life everlafting. Amen.

V. O Lord, open thou our Lips:

R. And our Mouth shall shew forth thy
Praife.

V. O God, make speed to fave us.
R. O Lord, make hafte to help us.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the Beginning, is now, and
ever fhall be: World without End. Amen.

The Invitatory. Come let us Adore our glorified Fefus.

Come let us Adore our glorified fefus

PSALM

« AnteriorContinuar »