THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK.

I. THE Preface.

XVII. The Order of Baptism for those of
II. Concerning the Service of the

Riper Years.
Church.

XVIII. A Catechism, with the Order for
III. Concerning Ceremonies.

Confirmation of Children.
IV. The Order how the Psalter is ap-

XIX. Matrimony.
pointed to be read.

XX. Visitation of the Sick, and Com-
V. The Order how the rest of the Holy

munion of the Sick.
Scripture is appointed to be read. XXI. Burial.
VI. A Table of Proper Lessons and XXII. Thanksgiving for Women after
Psalms.

Child-bearing.
VII. The Calendar, with the Table of XXIII. A Commination, or denouncing of
Lessons.

God's anger and judgements
VIII. Tables and Rules for the Feasts and

against Sinners.
Fasts through the whole Year. XXIV. The Psalter.
IX. The Order for Morning Prayer. XXV. The Order of Prayers to be used
X. The Order for Evening Prayer.

at Sea.
XI. The Creed of St. Athanasius. XXVI. A Form and Manner of Ordain-
XII. The Litany,

ing Bishops, Priests, and Dea-
XIII. Prayers and Thanksgivings upon
several oocasions.

XXVII. A Form of Prayer for the Fifth
XIV. The Collects, Epistles, and Gos-

Day of November.
pels, to be used at the Ministra- | XXVIII. A Form of Prayer for the Thirtieth
tion of the Holy Communion,

Day of January.
throughout the Year.

XXIX. A Form of Prayer for the Twenty-
XV. The Order of the Ministration of

ninth Day of May.
the Holy Communion.

XXX. A Form of Prayer for the Twentieth
XVI. The Order of Baptism, both Pub-

Day of June.
lick and Private.

XXXI. Articles of Religion.

cons.

THE PREFACE.

Ir hath been the wisdom of the Church of England, ever since
the first compiling of her Publick Liturgy, to keep the mean between
the two extremes, of too much stiffness in refusing, and of too much
easiness in admitting any variation from it. For, as on the one side
common experience sheweth, that where a change hath been made
of things advisedly established (no evident necessity so requiring)
sundry. inconveniences have thereupon ensued; and those many times
more and greater than the evils, that were intended to be remedied
by such change: So on the other side, 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 exigency of times and oc-
casions, such changes and alterations should be made therein, as to
those that are in place of Authority should from time to time seem
either necessary or expedient. Accordingly we find, that in the
Reigns of several Princes of blessed memory since the Reformation,
the Church, upon just and weighty considerations her thereunto
moving, hath yielded to make such alterations in some particulars,

as in their respective times were thought convenient: Yet so, as that the main Body and Essentials of it (as well in the chiefest materials, as in the frame and order thereof) have still continued the same unto this day, and do yet stand firm and unshaken, notwithstanding all the vain attempts and impetuous assaults made against it, by such men as are given to change, and have always discovered a greater regard to their own private fancies and interests, than to that duty they owe to the publick.

By what undue means, and for what mischievous purposes the use of the Liturgy (though enjoined by the Laws of the Land, and those Laws never yet repealed) came, during the late unhappy confusions, to be discontinued, is too well known to the world, and we are not willing here to remember. But when, upon His Majesty's happy Restoration, it seemed probable, that, amongst other things, the use of the Liturgy would also return of course (the same having never been legally abolished) unless some timely means were used to prevent it; those men who under the late usurped powers had made it a great part of their business to render the people disaffected thereunto, saw themselves in point of Reputation and Interest concerned (unless they would freely acknowledge themselves to have erred, which such men are very hardly brought to do) with their utmost endeavours to hinder the restitution thereof. In order whereunto divers Pamphlets were published against the Book of Common Prayer, the old Objections mustered up, with the addition of some new ones, more than formerly had been made, to make the number swell

. In fine, great importunities were used to His Sacred Majesty, that the said Book might be revised, and such Alterations therein, and Additions thereunto made, as should be thought requisite for the ease of tender Consciences: whereunto His Majesty, out of his pious inclination to give satisfaction (so far as could be reasonably expected) to all his subjects of what persuasion soever, did graciously condescend.

In which review we have endeavoured to observe the like moderation, as we find to have been used in the like case in former times. And therefore of the sundry alterations proposed unto us, we have rejected all such as were either of dangerous consequence (as secretly striking at some established Doctrine, or laudable Practice of the Church of England, or indeed of the whole Catholick Church of Christ) or else of no consequence at all, but utterly frivolous and vain. But such alterations as were tendered to us (by what persons,

under what pretences, or to what purpose soever so tendered) as seemed to us in any degree requisite or expedient, we have willingly, and of our own accord assented unto: not enforced so to do by any strength of Argument, convincing us of the necessity of making the said Alterations: For we are fully persuaded in our judgements (and we here profess it to the world) that the Book, as it stood before established by Law, doth not contain in it any thing contrary to the Word of God, or to sound Doctrine, or which a godly man may not with a good Conscience use and submit unto, or which is not fairly defensible against any that shall oppose the same; if it shall be allowed such just and favourable construction as in common Equity ought to be allowed to all human Writings, especially such as are set forth