PREFACE. THE Editor of the Pocket Prayer Book has reason to acknowledge with much thankfulness, the general approbation with which the first Editions of this little volume have been received; another Edition being called for, it is now re-printed with additional Prayers for the Family, interspersed with Meditations on Texts of Scripture, selected from Henry, and other devotional writers. It is the Editor's wish that a short Family Service may be formed, by reading one of the Meditations, followed by a suitable Psalm, or Hymn, (to be read or sung) and concluded by a prayer. It will be found that this little Service may be performed in about twenty miutes, and it is hoped will not be thought to encroach too much upon domestic duties. It is not wished that this short meditation should take place of the reading of the Scriptures. Some portion of Scripure, accompanied by a select part of a evotional and practical exposition, such Doddridge and Henry, Brown or Scott, should be daily read in the Family; thi might form the morning exercise; and: devotional meditation the evening service Such a variety might be found highly in teresting to the servants and younge branches of the family, and lead them t continue, from inclination, as well as duty a practice from which they had receive both pleasure and profit. As the few Meditations interspersed ma not afford sufficient variety, the Editor beg leave to recommend for this purpose small volume of devotional meditation selected from Dr. Watts and Mr. Howe That this little volume may be attended with the Divine blessing, and be the happ means of promoting a spirit of devotion in the Family and the Closet, is the sincer prayer of The EDITOR. The Edito Editor of the Pocket Prayer Book has been long permitted to watch in retirement, the progress of her little circulating volumes; unknown by name, or place of bode. Their increasing circulation, seems urge the necessity of giving some efficient place of residence, should any future communication be requested from abroad. The Editor being the only responsible person, hopes that the friends of evangelical religion will accept of this apology for the following short statement. It was a sentiment formed in early years, that every member of society should have in view some leading object of pursuit, so far as may be consistent with the first duties of relative and domestic life: free from many of its most important cares, the Editor found herself at liberty to follow the chosen abject of her pursuit →→→the abridgment of books. As us Regmitives ofratrod to ang lumoitoush edT The devotional writings of Baxter, Howe Flavel, Allein, Watts, and Doddridge, made a strong impression upon her own mind; and in the ardour of youthful feeling she ima gined, that the same impression must follow wherever their works were known. 009 Her plan was to form from the most devo tional and practical parts of their works few pocket volumes for easy circulation mere extracts were not her taste. It was he wish to form her little abridgments, as muc as possible, into a whole; whether a Volume a Chapter, or a Meditation: endeavouring to preserve the thoughts and feelings of the respective Authors, and to give all in thei own highly spiritual and scriptural language As a sample of what she wished to effect she begs leave to refer to her little volume o Meditations from Watts and Howe. Happ would she be, should her endeavours encou rage some of her pious readers to try th pleasant work. Her feeble pen, employed from youth to age, has done little to sexhaus these treasures.i en barn trojí mort yoram |