156 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S 



and instruction in righteousness." Yet it is supposed that all parts 

 thereof were not indited for Christian worship; and that the Church 

 hath a latitude to select such parts as she shall judge best suited thereto. 

 Therefore such portions only of the Psalms are retained as were thought 

 the most beautiful and affecting. In order to add to the propriety 

 and sublimity of the psalter, the translation in the Bible has been pre- 

 ferred, where it was thought to have a stronger tendency than the other 

 to raise devotion. A new division became necessary in consequence of 

 the preceding changes ; and it was supposed that the excellence of this 

 part of the service would be still more increased, by the permission to 

 combine it with that ancient doxology somewhat shortened — the Gloria 

 in Excelsis. 



In regard to the reading of the Holy Scripture at Morning and 

 Evening Prayer, the same reasons which occasioned a select Table of 

 First Lessons for Sundays and other holy-da3's seemed to extend in favor 

 of the making a table of Second Lessons also ; which is accordingly done. 

 Those for the morning are intended to suit the several seasons ; and 

 yet without a repetition of the portions of the Gospel included in the 

 Communion Service; and those for the evening are selected in the 

 order of the sacred Books. Besides this, the Table of First Lessons has 

 been reviewed ; a few new chapters are introduced from the supposition 

 of their being more edifying than the old ; and transpositions have 

 been made where they seemed to suit the lessons more to the season of 

 the year. It has been thought that a calendar is unnecessary ; and that 

 the managing the lessons for the ordinary days agreeably to the civil 

 year is not so expedient as the making them correspond, like the others, 

 with the ecclesiastical year. Accordingly the minister is left to his dis- 

 cretion in the choice of lessons for the intermediate days, with the 

 expectation that such will be taken as the most nearly suit those selected 

 for the Sundays and other holy-days. 



The Offices for Baptism have undergone some change. The requiring 

 other godfathers and godmothers than the parents is dispensed with, if 

 the same be desired ; and thus regard is still maintained for an ancient 

 and useful institution ; and yet the complaint avoided, that in some 

 cases, especially among the poor, it is difficult to provide sponsors, 

 unless such as will most probably neglect the duties of that relation, to 

 the great hazard of their own souls. The sponsors, instead of answer- 

 ing in the name and person of the infant, now answer for their own 

 discharge of the obligation they have come under. The sign of the 

 cross is retained, from a conviction of its having been used in the 

 earliest ages of the Church as expressive of the being devoted to the 

 service of Christ, who for our sake, " endured the cross, despising the 

 shame." Nevertheless in tenderness to those who may entertain con- 

 scientious scruples concerning the use of this venerable rite, the minister 

 is to dispense with it, when desired, by the sponsors. 



