for their admirable Works, which we are to embrace,with all Refpect to their Perfons and Memories, and Thankfulness to God, who gave them fuch excellent Gifts. Thefe are Men, who groaning under the Tyranny and Bondage of the Court of Rome, which Jo corrupts their Church, wait for Deliverance from that Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God. They are no Disturbers of Christian Kingdoms, and States, no Flatterers of the Papal Chair, who write for Promotion: On the contrary, they write for Truth, and for the Church, against the Court of Rome; for the Church and its Rights against the Papal Ufurpa tions, and are none of thofe Sons of Pride and Bigotry, who fend us in the Lump to Hell, as Hereticks, tho' they think us not Reform'd in that free and happy manner, that in Love to the Church of God, and Compassion to us, fome of them feem heartily to wish. One of them writing of us not long fince, faid, We are rather to be called Non-Catho~ licks than Hereticks: And tho' thefe Men do not come over to us, but think it beft to abide in that Communion, from which we had great Reason to reform; yet, it would be not only great Weakness, but

Peevifb

Peevishness, and want of Chriftian Candor, for us to refuse to pay that Honour to their Perfons, or Memories, which is due unto them, upon the Account of their fingular Gifts, or not give their excellent Writings that Acceptance they deferve, efpecially when they are Reform'd.

Wherefore in commending the Author of the Devotions, and recommending this Reform of them to the World, I hope, I have done nothing contrary to my Character, and the Relation I bear to the Church of England, to which I would to God every one, that is of her Communion, wifh'd as well as I do. I am fure, fuch Books, as this, will do her no Harm, but very much Good, tho' it comes from a Member of a Church, that will never be Friends with us for reforming from her, till God shall give her Grace to reform her felf. I have commended it purely for its Worth, and Excellence, upon the Account whereof, I am not ashamed to declare, that I use it my felf, and make it one of my Companions wherefoever I go, as being, in my Judgment, a Book of Devotion, which contains very great Variety of fublime, and usefulThoughts in the most proper, pure, and plain Language, and joineth the highest Flights of Devotion, with Liturgical Gravity, in a feraphick,

but

but fober Style. Indeed, I think it a juft
Pattern for Chriftian Devotion in all its
Offices, being accommodated with great
Exactness of Compofure to devout Perfons
of all Tempers, and made, not only to ex-
cite, but to govern, and regulate Devotion.
It not only raises the dull, and quickens the
fluggish, and warms the frozen Spirits,
but tempers the Fervour of over-hot Vo-
taries, and fecures them, with great Art, a
gainst the Enthusiasm of their Tempers,
and from running into the Reveries, and
rapturous Exceffes of the Myftical De-
votion. Wherefore this Book being wifely
and curiously fuited to Religious Perfons of
all Difpofitions, and Tempers, I have, I
hope, without deferving any Cenfure, pre-
fum'd to recommend it to Mafters of Fa-
milies, and to Religious Fellowships, and
Societies; in the last of which there must
be Votaries of all forts. Among the former,
I commend it more especially to thofe, who
cannot have the Benefit of publick Inftru-
tion in the Churches, or who cannot have
it fo daily, and conftantly, as the Necef
fities of their Families require. Such are
they, who live at a great Distance from
Churches, to which Accefs is difficult inthe
Winter. Such also who have the Mif-
fortune to live in the Spiritual Deferts,

"

which Sacrilege hath made in many Places, where, for want of Maintenance, there is an infufficient Clergy, or, it may be, none at all. And, Laftly, Such who happen to live in Spiritual Deferts of another Nature, in Pagan, or Mahometan Countries, or in Chriftian Countries of another Communion, to whofe Affemblies they cannot go. The Ufe of this Book in fuch aeftitute Families, will not only teach the Children and Servants how to pray in the best manner, but also inftruct them in all the Doctrines and Duties of Chriftianity, and, in a great measure, fupply the want of going to Church. It is incumbent upon afters of Families, in these unhappy Circumftances, to be, as far as they can, Prufts in their own Houses, and those who think fit to afe this Book, by the Benefit of it, will, with great Eafe, make their Domefticks truly knowing Chriftians; and if to the daily Use thereof they pleafe to add, on the Lord's Day, the Reading of the ChurchCatechifm, as expounded by the Right Re. verend the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Mr. Kettlewell's Practical Believer, and The Chriftian Monitor,they will,in great measure, make up the Lofs of Parochial Inftruction, and thoroughly furnish their younger Dependants unto all Good Works.

Among

Among the latter, I have more particularly recommended it to thofe Religious Societies, of which the Reverend Dr. Woodward hath given us an Account. They cannot, in my Opinion, better fanctifie the Lord's Day in their Families, or Meetings, for which they worthily profefs fo great a Zeal, than by the Sunday-Office of this Book. They cannot better prepare themfelves for the worthy receiving of the Holy Communion, to the frequent Reception of which they devoutly oblige themfelves, than by reading the Thursday-Office thereof in their Meetings, or in their Clofets. The Friday, and Saturday Offices are also very proper and excellent Preparatories for receiving the Holy Sacrament. And as they often meet together to difcourfe on Spiritual Subjects, fo they will no where find more, or more noble Subjects of that Nature, than in this little Volume; which will alfo answer the Qrders they have made, to bind themselves to pray many times every Day, and to read pious Books for their Edification. In short, it is a Book fitted for their Religious Conferences, and Devotions; and if at any time they think fit to use its Offices, those who prefide in their Meetings, may do the Part of A. in the Directions above given, and the rest making