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able to match his Senfe and Expreffion, or finish it as it ought. It hath had Five Editions more, as it was reform'd by the Reverend and Worthy Mr. Dorrington, and a great part of it hath had divers other Editions in ftollen Books of Devotions, whofe Mercenary Authors have wifely conceal'd their Names, left their plagiary Practices should be prov'd upon them. It now prefents it felf the Third time, in a new Reform, unto the World, in which I do not doubt, but it will yet have many more Editions, and, perhaps, as many as any Book of Devotion, in what Language foever, except the Pfalter, ever had. For though Mr. Dorrington's Reform of it hath very well deferved the good Reception it hath found, yet it was not altogether fo acceptable to fome difcerning, as well as devout Perfons, who were skilful in Divine Offices, and curious in the Theory, as well as conftant in the Practice of Devotions. Among these I have known not a few, who chose to mark with their Pencils whatever was amifs in the unreform'd Devotions, that they might use them for their own private Benefit in the Author's own Method, rather than in that of Mr. Dorrington, which, in their Fudgment, was not fo inflaming, nor fitted for

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the great, and delightful Benefit of Social Devotions, for which the Divine Author (fo I cannot but call him feemed principally to contrive his Book, tho' it is no lefs fit for Solitary Devotions, than that of Mr. Dorrington is.

Befides, they objected,that Mr. Dorrington had contracted the Four daily Offices into Two, that he had omitted the Leffons; as many of which as areCanonical Scripture,the devout Author of this Reform hath continued in the Verfion of the Church of England; that he had not reformed the Office for the Dead; that in the Other he had left out many Things, which they think as useful as any he had taken in, together with the Verficles, Refponfories, and Antiphons, as Such; which, with the Pfalms make up that alternate way of Devotion,which,as being the moft edifying, and excellent way of Worship, was used in the best and pureft Ages of Chrianity, and truly refembles the Worship and Devotions of the great Choir of Saints, and Angels in the Church Triumphant, that moft glorious Jerufalem, which is above.

Wherefore to oblige thofe devout Perfons, who defired another Reformation of thofe Devotions, another is here prefented to them in the Author's own Way, from the Pen of a most Pious, as well as Ingenious, and A 3. Ready

Ready Writer, who hath not left out, or altered any thing, but fome few Sentences, and Expreffions, which hinder'd thofe Offices from being introduc'd into the Clofets, and Oratories, of the more devout Sons, and Daughters of the Church of England, eSpecially of thefe who delight in the more Heaven-like Way of Worship; I mean in alternate, or Choral-like Devotion,which it is in the Power of every devout Master, or Miftrefs of a Family, or any Two or more Religious Perfons, who happen to live in the fame Houfe, or Neighbourhood, or to travel together in the fame Journey, to exercife themselves in at vacant Times, to the Honour of God, whom they delight to Worbip; the Comfort, and Satisfaction of their own Confciences, when they find their Souls fo quickned and delighted in bearing their Parts in fuch harmonious Devotions; nay,to the unspeakable inward foy,and Exultation of the immortal Spirits within them, which have ravishing Foretastes of Heaven in thofe Heaven-like Exercises, which make this Life much more than Solitary Devotions, refemble that, which is

to come.

But of all others, none have it in their Power to practife this most delightful way of Worship in the Heaven-like Fellowship

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of alternate Devotion, to fo much Advan tage as the Religious Societies, of whose Rife and Progrefs, the World hath lately had an Account,by the Reverend Dr.Woodward, Minifter of Poplar. It is to the Votaries of these, and fuch like Societies, in Colleges, Cities, or Families, that I particularly recommend this Book of Devotions, which, in other Forms, hath already more than once been recommended to the Chriftian World. J. S. who, I fuppofe, is Mr, John Serjeant, in the Epistle Dedica tory of the Second Edition tells us, That it is the most fubftantial Part of Divinity, rendred usefully Practical,the best Matter delivered in the best Manner, and that it neither needs, nor courts any Man's Patronage to fet it off, as being above all the Ends, at which Dedications commonly aim, nay above the World it felf, as confining upon its neareft Neighbour Heaven. The Reverend and moft Worthy Mr. Dorrington, to whom the World is fo much oblig'd for the firft Reform of it, tells us, in the Epistle Dedicatory, That it is a Book very excellent in its kind, and worthy, as fuch, to be recommended to the World; that it is fitted to poffefs Mens Minds with that pure, and peaceable Wisdom, which is from

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from above, to excite Devotion in the coldeft, and most careless Hearts, nay, to poffefs with a Love of Devotion our too nice and witty Age, as being Rational, Solid, and Injenuous in its highest Flights. He thinks no Book of Devotion of any Author of the fame Communion comparable to it, and, reformed from the Errors with which it was first compofed, he thinks it as fit to poffefs Mens Minds with an affectionate and powerful Sense of the Truths of Christianity, as any Book that can be met with, unless an one will except the Expofition of our Church-Catechifm, compofed for the Ufe of the Diocefs of Bath and Wells.

But before I proceed further in the Charaiter of this Divine Book, I think fit to give fome Account of its Offices, with fome Directions about the Ufe of them, which thofe, who are not well vers'd in Divine Of fices, will not otherwife easily find out.

Know then, it confifts of Twelve Offices; One for every Day in the Week, One for our Saviour's Feafts, One for the Holy Ghost, One for Saints, and One for the Dead, which the Author of this Reform hath entituled, A Preparatory Office for Death, and One Proper of Festivals.

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