1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 1 55 



are settled. But thinking you may possibly wish to have the Table 

 of Lessons before you at the same time, 1 herewith send it, together 

 with a proposed rubric for the Psalms. I wish you to attend particu- 

 larly to the note written lengthwise of the paper on the Table of Lessons 

 and containing a new arrangement which I have proposed in conse- 

 quence of an observation of Dr. Wharton's after examining the said 

 table here enclosed ; which he says he approves of after an attentive 

 consideration. 



I am, yours, etc., 



Wm. White. 

 Rev. Dr. Smith. 



P. S. — Since writing the above, it came into my head to draw up a 

 few hints towards a preface. If you think they will be not useful 

 towards that purpose, throw them into the fire. 



Hints Towards a Preface. 



This Church, following the example of the Church of England in 

 times past, as is set forth in the preface to the Book of Common Prayer, 

 hath upon weighty considerations made such alterations in the form of 

 divine worship, as seem at this time either necessary or expedient. 



The alterations, to which her attention was in the first place drawn, 

 were such as had become necessary in the prayers for our civil rulers. 

 These have been accommodated to the Revolution, which, in the course 

 of divine Providence, has taken place in the United States ; and the 

 principal care herein has been to make them conformable to the proper 

 end of all such addresses, " That we may lead quiet and peaceable lives 

 in all godliness and honesty." And whereas it has been the practice 

 of the Church of England to set apart certain days for the rendering 

 of thanks to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for signal mercies 

 vouchsafed to that Church and Kingdom, it has in like manner been 

 now thought to tend to godliness, that there should be two annual 

 solemn days of prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God for the dis- 

 tinguished blessings of the land in which we live ; in order that we may 

 be thus moved to gratitude for these mercies of his good Providence, 

 which might otherwise be the occasions of licentiousness. 



The alterations of the Morning and Evening Prayer are chiefly, 

 either for the avoiding of repetition, or for the disuse of such words as 

 have varied from their former meaning, or for the arranging of the 

 prayers in a method more easy for the worshipper. \\\ the Apostles' 

 Creed, one clause of uncertain meaning, which was introduced into the 

 Church by the Council of Aquileia about 400 years after Christ, is 

 omitted. 



As the Psalms are a considerable part of the Morning and Evening 

 Prayer, it may be proper to mention in this place the reason of their 

 being so considerably shortened. *'A11 Scripture is given for doctrine 



