1785] REV. WILLIAM SMiril, D. D. 1 5/ 



The alterations made in the Catechism and the Service for Confirma- 

 tion are such as became necessary to make those offices correspond with 

 the Forms for Baptism; except the change of a few words of the service 

 which was thought to be not sufficiently clear, in that part of the Cate- 

 chism which relates to the Holy Communion. 



It was thought that the Office for Matrimony could bear considerable 

 shortening; Avhich is accordingly done. 



The Visitation of the Sick is nearly as in the old service. But a few 

 verses in the Psalm have been omitted, as not appearing altogether 

 applicable to the occasion ; and the absolution has given way to what 

 was conceived to be the more scriptural form used in the Communion 

 Service. 



In the Burial Service it was thought proper to omit some inapplicable 

 verses in the Psalms ; such expressions as seem to pronounce too posi- 

 tively concerning the state of the deceased ; and the thanking of God 

 for an event in which resignation only is required. 



None of the Form for "the Churching of Women" is retained, 

 except the Thanksgiving Prayer, which is placed among the other occa- 

 sional Thanksgivings : it being supposed that many parts of the daily 

 service are equally applicable to that occasion with what is omitted. 



Such parts of the Commination Service, as were thought calculated to 

 produce Christian penitence, are inserted after the Collect for Ash- 

 Wednesday; except the Psalm, which is appointed to be read for the 

 day. 



The Forms to be used at Sea have undergone very little change, other 

 than what arose from adapting it to the Revolution. 



The case of such unhappy persons as have forfeited their lives to the 

 laws of their country claimed the consideration of this Church : which 

 has therefore adopted into her Liturgy the Form for Visitation of Prison- 

 ers under Sentence of Death — passed by the Convocation and Parlia- 

 ment of Ireland. 



The Articles of Religion have been reduced in number. Yet it is 

 humbly conceived, that the doctrines of the Church of England are 

 preserved in their full extent ; as being thought agreeable to the Gospel. 

 It is therefore foreign to the intention of this Church to alter anything 

 which appeared to be essential to the true sense and meaning of the 

 Thirty-nine Articles; nevertheless, some variation has been made in the 

 expression ; and such parts omitted as were evidently adapted either to 

 the time when the Articles were composed, or to the j^olitical constitu- 

 tion of England. 



From the Psalms translated in metre by N. Brady amd N. Tate, there 

 have been selected only such a number as were thought to make a 

 sufficient variety for divine worship, and the parts selected are arranged 

 under heads, agreeing with the subjects of them respectively: which it 



