The alterations in this order have been as follows 1786. The prayer which now immediately precedes the Gospel was omitted.

There was now prefixed to the prayers this rubric: "Then shall the minister use as many of the following prayers as the time will permit." And immediately before the ceremony of baptizing was inserted this rubric, "The congregation may here sing a hymn suitable to the occasion." In the first prayer, the words, "didst sanctify the element of water to the mystical washing away of sin," are changed to "didst sanctify the element of water for this holy sacrament."

In the

creed, "that he went down into hell," omitted. In the prayer just before baptizing, the words, "sanctify this water to the mystical washing away of sin," are left

out.

The rubric of 1784, respecting the mode of baptizing, was, "shall dip him in the water, or pour water upon him." That of 1786 was, "shall dip him in the water, or pour water upon him, or sprinkle him therewith."

1792. The following rubric was prefixed to the service : The minister shall use the following, or some other exhortation, suitable to this holy office." The forms quoted above, in small type, were left out; and the prayer which now precedes the Gospel, and which was left out in 1786, was restored and placed in its present position. It originally followed the Gospel. The rubric respecting the mode of baptizing now read, "shall sprinkle or pour water upon him, (or if he shall desire it, shall immerse him in water.") The following rubric was added at the close: "Then let the minister conclude with extemporary prayer."

The only alteration in the order since 1792 was in 1836. A note was added to the creed, defining "holy catholic church" to be "the church of God in general."

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SECTION III.

The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony.

The form recommended by Mr. Wesley omits the following portions of that of the Church of England, namely, the rubric directing what is to be done in case an impediment be alleged; the ceremony of giving the woman to the man, and of putting on the ring, as also all allusion to it in other parts of the service; the psalms after the blessing; the address on the duties of husbands and wives, and the rubric at the close about the new married persons receiving the holy communion. The original form contains the following portions, which were subsequently omitted, namely, in the introductory address, after the word "unadvisedly," it reads,

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Lightly or wantonly to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding," &c.

And after the words, "fear of God." was the following passage:

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Duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained.

"First. It was ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy name.

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Secondly. It was ordained for a reme avoid fornication; that such persons as have tinency, might marry, and keep themselves of Christ's body.

gainst sin, and to

the gift of conundefiled members

"Thirdly. It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity."

The following was to be said before the Lord's prayer :

"Then shall the minister say, Lord, have mercy upon us. "Ans. Christ, have mercy upon us.

"Minister. Lord, have mercy upon us.

And the following after it :

"Minister. O Lord, save thy servant and thy handmaid. "Answer. And let them put their trust in thee.

"Minister. O Lord, send them help from thy holy place.

"Answer. And evermore defend them.

"Minister. Be unto them a tower of strength.
"Answer. From the face of their enemy.
"Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer.

“Answer. And let our cry come unto thee."

The following was included among the closing pray

ers:

“This Prayer next following shall be omitted, where the Woman is past child-bearing.

"O merciful Lord and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased; we beseech thee assist with thy blessing these two persons, that they may both be fruitful in the procreation of children, and also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children Christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honour, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

The only alterations in this form have been the following:

1786. The following qualifying clause was inserted in the rubric, requiring the publication of the banns :-" (unless a license be procured from the proper authority.)"

1792. The preceding clause was changed to the following:-" (unless they be otherwise qualified according to law.)"

In the introductory address the original had these words, "in the face of this congregation." They were now changed to, "in the presence of these witnesses." The passages in the original form, quoted above in small type, were now left out.

There have been no alterations since.

"The Communion of the Sick."

The next form in the Sunday service was, "The Communion of the Sick." It was the same with that of the Church of England, omitting only the first and the three last rubrics. It was as follows:

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"The Collect.

Almighty, ever-living God, maker of mankind, who dost correct those whom thou dost love, and chastise every one whom

thou dost receive; we beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant visited with thine hand; and to grant that he may take his sickness patiently, and recover his bodily health, if it be thy gracious will; and that whenever his soul shall depart from the body, it may be without spot presented unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"The Epistle. Heb. xii, 5, 6.

"My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

"The Gospel. John v, 24.

'Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

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After which, the elder shall proceed according to the form before prescribed for the holy communion, beginning at these words [Ye that do truly, &c.]

"At the time of the distribution of the holy sacrament, the elder shall first receive the communion himself, and after minister unto them that are appointed to communicate with the sick, and last of all to the sick person.'

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1792. This form was left out altogether.

SECTION IV.

The Order of the Burial of the Dead.

The order in the Sunday service omits the following portions found in that of the Church of England, namely, the first rubric, forbidding the office "to be used for any that die unbaptized, or excommunicate, or have laid violent hands on themselves;" one of the Psalms, (thirty-ninth ;) the words to be spoken while the earth is cast upon the body; and the prayer following the Lord's Prayer.

It contains the following parts, which were omitted in 1792, namely, the Psalm (nineteeth) and the Lesson, (1 Cor. xi, 20, to end.)

1792. This note was prefixed to the order: "N. B. The following or some other solemn service shall be used."

There have been no alterations since 1792.

CHAPTER IV.

THE FORM AND MANNER OF MAKING AND ORDAINING BISHOPS, ELDERS, AND DEACONS.

THE title in the form of the Church of England is, -"The Form and Manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons." In the Sunday service it was,-"The Form and Manner of making and ordaining of Superintendents, Elders, and Deacons ;" and throughout, "superintendents" was used for "bishops," and "elders" for "priests." In the ordering of deacons and priests, the English rubric directed the bishop to surcease ordaining, "if any great crime or impediment" was objected; the Sunday service, "if any crime or impediment."

SECTION I.

The Form and Manner of making of Deacons.

The form recommended by Mr. Wesley omitted the following portions of that of the Church of England, namely, the preface, the address of the bishop to the archdeacon, and the reply; the passage from Acts vi, 2-7; the oath of the king's supremacy; and the closing rubric, respecting the qualifications for the priesthood.

The English form directs the bishop to deliver to the ordained deacon "the New Testament;" the Sunday service," the Holy Bible."

1786. The rubric in this edition directs the superintendent, in saying the litany, to insert a petition for the candidates, when he prays for the ministers of the gospel; and to omit the last prayer and the blessing. This was to be done also in ordaining elders and superintendents.

1792. The rubric, with reference to saying the litany and the service for the communion, was omitted