PREFACE. T is a most invaluable part of that blessed liberty wherewith Christ ia hath made us free, that in his worship, different forms and usages may without offence be allowed, provided the substance of the faith be kept entire ; and that, in every Church, what cannot be clearly determined to belong to Doctrine must be referred to Dis. cipline; and therefore, by common consent and authority, may be altered, abridged, enlarged, amended, or otherwise disposed of, as may seem most convenient for the edification of the people, "according to the various exigencies of times and occasions." The Church of England, to which the Protestant Episcopal Church in these States is indebted, under GOD, for her first foundation and a long continuance of nursing care and protection, hath, in the Preface of her Book of Common Prayer, laid it down as a Rule, that " The Particular Forms of Divine Worship, and the Rites and Ceremonies appointed to be used therein, being things in their own nature indifferent and alterable, and so acknowledged, it is but reasonable that, upon weighty and important considerations, according to the various exigencies of times and occasions, such changes and alterations should be made there. in, as to those who are in places of authority should, from time to time, seem either necessary or expedient." The same Church hath not only in her Preface, but likewise in her Articles and Homilies, declared the necessity and expediency of occasional alterations and amendments in her Forms of Public Worship; and we find accordingly, that, seeking to “ keep the happy mean between too much stiffness in refusing, and too much casiness in admitting variations in things once advisedly established, she hath, in the reign of several Princes, since the first compiling of her Liturgy in the time of Edward the Sixth, upon just and weighty considerations her thereunto moving, yielded to make such alterations in some particulars, as in their respective times were thought convenient'; yet so as that the main body and essential parts of the same (as well in the chiefest materials, as in the frame and orderthereof) have still been continued firm and unshaken." Her general aim in these different Reviews and Alterations hath been, as she further declares in her said Preface, “ to do that which, according to her best understanding, might most tend to the preservation of peace and unity in the Church ; the procuring of reverence, and the exciting of piety and devotion in the worship of God; and, finally, the cutting off occasion, from them that seek occasion, of cavil or quarrel against her Liturgy.". And although, according to her judgment, there be not“ any thing in it contrary to the Word of God, or to sound doctrine, or which godly man may not with a good conscience use and submit unto, or which is not fairly defensible, if allowed such just and favourable construction, as, in common equity, ought to be allowed to all human writings ; yet upon the principles already laid down, it cannot but be supposed, that further alteration would in time be found expedient. Accordingly, a commission for a review was issued in the year 1689 : But this great and good work miscarried at that time ; and the Civil Authority has not since thouglit proper to revive it by any new Commission. But when in the course of Divine Providence, these American States became independent with respect to Civil Government, their Ecclesiastical Independence was necessarily included; and the different religious denominations of Christians in these States were left at full and equal liberty to model and organize their re. spective Churches, and forms of worship, and discipline, in such manner as they might judge most convenient for their future prosperity ; consistently with the Constitution and Laws of their Country: The attention of this Church was, in the first place, drawn to those alterations in the Liturgy whiich became necessary in the Prayers for our Civil Rulers, in consequence of the Revolution. And the principal care herein was to make them conformable to what ought to be the proper end of all such prayers, namely, that Rulers may have grace, wisdom, and understanding to execute justice, and to maintain truth ;” and that the People quiet and peaceable lives, in all godliness and honesty." But while these alterations were in review before the Conven. tion, they could not but, with gratitude to God, embrace the hap. py occasion which was offered to them (uninfluenced and unre. strained by any worldly authority whatsoever) to take a further review of the Public Service, and to establish such other altera tions and amendments therein as might be deemed expedient. It seems unnecessary to enumerate all the different alterations and amendments. They will appear, and it is to be hoped, the reasons of them also, upon a comparison of this with the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. In which it will also appear, that this Church is far from intending to depart from the Church of England in any essential point of doctrine, discipline, or worship; or further than local circumstances require. And now, this important work being brought to a conclusion, it is hoped the whole will be received and examined by every true Member of our Church, and every sincere Christian, with a meek, candid, and charitable frame of mind ; without prejudice or prepossessions ; seriously considering what Christianity is, and what the truths of the Gospel are ; and earnestly beseeching Almighty God to accompany with his blessing every endeavour for promulgating them to mankind in the clearest, plainest, most affecting and majestic manner, for the sake of Jesus Christ, oar blessed Lord and Saviour. 66 may lead HOW THE PSALTER IS APPOINTED TO BE READ. 'HE Psalter shall be read through once every month, as it is there appointed, both for Morning and Evening Prayer. But in February it shall be read only to the twenty-eighth or twentyninth Day of the Month. And whereas January, March, May, July, August, October, and December, have one-and-thirty Days a-piece ; it is ordered, that the same Psalms shall be read the last Day of the said Months, which were read the Day before ; so that the Psalter may begin again the first Day of the next Month ensuing. And whereas the CXIXth Psalm is divided into twenty-two Portions and is overlong to be read at one time; it is so ordered, that at one time shall not be read above four or five of the said Portions. The Minister, instead of reading from the Psalter as divided for Daily Morning and Evening Prayer, may read one of the Selec. Lions set out by this Church. And, on days of Fasting and Thanksgiving, appointed either by the Civil or by the Ecclesiastical Authority, the Minister may appoint such Psalms as he shall think fit in his discretion, unless any shall have been appointed by the Ecclesiastical Authority, in a Service set out for the Occasion; which, in that case, shall be used, and no other. PROPER PSALMS ON CERTAIN DAYS. Morning Evening. CHRISTMAS-Day, Psalms 19 Psalms 89 45 110 85 132 Asu-WEDYESDAY, 6 102 32 130 38 143 GOOD FRIDAY, 22 64 40 88 54 EASTER-DAY, 2 113 57 114 111 118 Ascension-Day, 8 24 15 47 21 103 WHITSUNDAY, 48 104 68 145 The Minister may use one of the Selections, instead of any one of the above Portions. HOW THE REST OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES IS APPOINTED TO BE READ. TH HE Old Testament is appointed for the First Lessons at Morn. ing and Evening Prayer; so that the most part thereof will be read every year once, as in the Calendar is appointed. The New Testament is appointed for the Second Lessons at Morning and Evening Prayer. And to know what lessons shall be read erery Day, look for the Day of the Month in the Calendar following, and there ye shall find the Chapters that shall be read for the lessons, both at Morning and Evening Prayer; except only the Moveable Feasts, which are not in the Calendar ; and the Immoveable, where there is a Blank left in the column of Lessons; the proper Lessons for all which Days are to be found in the Table of proper Lessons. And, on Days of Fasting and Thanksgiving, the same Rule is to obtain, as in reading the Psalms. And the same discretion of choice is allowed, on occasions of Ecclesiastical Conventions, and those of Charitable Collections. And Note, that whensoever Proper Psalms or Lessons are appoint. ed, then the Psalms and Lessons of ordinary course appointed in the Psalter and Calendar, if they be different, shall be omit. ted for that Time. Note also, That the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, appointed for the Sunday, shall serve all the Week after, where it is not in this Book otherwise ordered. I THz Ratification of the Book an Instruction to be learned by every Person before he be . appointed to be read. 18 The Order of Confirmation, 4 The Order how the Rest of or Laying on of Hands upon the Holy Scriptures is appoint- those that are baptised, and 5 Tables of Lessons of Holy 19 The Form of Solemnization Scripture, to be read at Morn. of Matrimony. ing and Evening Prayer, 120 The Order for the Visitation 7 Tables and Rules for the 22 The Order for the Burial of 3 Tables for finding the Holy. 24 Forms of Prayer to be used at 9 The Order for Daily Morn. Sea. ing Prayer. 25 A Form of Prayer for the Vi. 10 The Order for Daily Even- sitation of Prisoners. 126 AForm of Prayer and Thanks. 11 Prayers Thanksgiv- giving to Almighty God, for the ings upon several Occasions, Fruits of the Earth, and all the to be used before the two final other Blessings of his merci. Prayers of Morning and Even- ful Providence. 12 The Collects, Epistles, and in Families. Gospels, to be used throughout 28 Selections of Psalms, to be used instead of the Psalms for 13 The Order for the Adminis. the Day, at the Discretion of tration of the Lord's Supper, the Minister. or Holy Communion. 29 Articles of Religion, as esta- 14 The Ministration of Public blished by the Bishops, the 15 The Ministration of Private the United States of America, Baptism of Children in Houses. in Convention, on the 12th 16 The Ministration of Baptism Day of September, in the Year to such as are of Riper Years, of our Lord 1801. |