164 LIFE AND CORRESrOXDENCE OF THE [1785 



this preface and the notes annexed, it will appear that most of the 

 amendments or alterations, which had the sanction of the great divines 

 of 16S9, have been adopted, with such others as are thought reasonable 

 and expedient. 



The service is arranged so as to stand as nearly as possible in the 

 order in which it is to be read. A selection is made both of the reading 

 and singing psalms, commonly so called. Wherever the Bible-transla- 

 tion of the former appeared preferable to the old translation, it hath 

 been adopted ; and in consequence of the new selection, a new division 

 and considerable abridgment of the daily portions to be read became 

 necessary; and as the " Glory be to the Father," etc., is one said 

 or sung before the reading of the psalms in Morning and Evening 

 prayer, it was conceived that, in order to avoid repetition, the solemnity 

 would be increased by allowing the minister to conclude the portion of 

 the psalms which is at any time read, with that excellent doxology 

 somewhat shortened, " Glory to God on high," etc., especially when it 

 can be properly sung. With respect to the psalmody or singing psalms, 

 for the greater ease of choosing such as are suited to particular subjects 

 a id occasions, they are disposed under the several metres and the few 

 general heads to which they can be referred; and a collection of hymns 

 are added, upon those evangelical subjects and other heads of Christian 

 worship, to which the Psalms of David are less adapted, or do not 

 generally extend. 



It seems unnecessary to enumerate particularly all the different alter- 

 ations and amendments which are proposed. They will readily appear, 

 and it is hoped the reason of them also, upon a comparison of this with 

 the former book. The calendar and rubrics have been altered where it 

 appeared necessary, and the sam.e reasons, which occasioned a table of 

 first lessons for Sundays and other holy-days, seemed to reciuire the 

 making of a table of second lessons also, which is accordingly don«. 

 Those for the morning are intended to suit the several seasons, without 

 any material repetition of the epistles and gospels for the same seasons; 

 and those for the evening are selected in the order of the sacred Books. 

 Besides this, the table of first lessons has been reviewed ; and some new 

 chapters are introduced on the supposition of their being more edifying; 

 and some transpositions of lessons have been made, the better to suit 

 the seasons. 



And whereas it hath been the practice of the Church of England to 

 set apart certain days of thanksgiving to Almighty God for signal mer- 

 cies vouchsafed to that Church and nation, it hath here also been con- 

 sideni as conducive to godliness that there should be two annual 

 solem.i davs of prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God set apart, 

 viz.: -^^ f lurth day of July, commemorative of the blessings of civil 

 and -iMis liberty in the land wherein wc live; and the first Thurs- 



