图书图片
PDF
ePub

the Venerable Compilers of our excellent Liturgy have declared by the accurateness of their Composure,that they valued them as highly, and thought them as ufeful, as thofe that went before. They are all but various manners of Address to the fame God, and therefore the fame care and exactnefs was to appear in every Part of this Even and elaborate Rule of our Devotion, fo that these last are proportionable to the firft, and equally worthy of our moft ferious Confideration. And though the Occafions of using these last Offices be more particular and Extraordinary; yet their Illuftration is as neceffary, and I hope will prove as advantagious as any of the former: in regard they do occur fo frequently and concern fo many, that few perfons can be found, who are not engaged upon fome, or all of thefe accounts, either for themselves or their Friends, in divers periods of their Lives. Some enter into Matrimony, many are Sick, and all must Die; Some are daily coming into the World, and all that live in it, do ftand in need enough of the exercise of public and folemn Repentance: In all which Cafes, here are fuch fuitable Provisions made, that they who are willing to do their Duty well, in any of thefe Circumftances, can neither want a Monitor nor a Guide. But, alas! there are not many in this remifs Age, who are follicitous to be informed

in these matters, and scarce any Books extant on some of these Subjects which may answer the expectations, and fatisfie the doubts of confcientious and pious Enquirers: which may perhaps be one reason why thefe Sacred Adminiftrations (though the Matter of them be fo weighty, the Order fo exquifite, and the End fo holy) are neither fo well performed by many, nor fo beneficial to thofe that use them, as the Church intended. The flight regard to the Matrimonial Covenant and frequent breaches of it; The ignorance and indifpofition fo often found in Death-bed Penitents, with the small effect that daily fpectacles of Mortality have upon us, are Inftances not to be denied, and but too fad Proofs of the neceffity of making thefe Offices better understood, and more regarded by fuch kind of Discourses as these. And how far my prefent endeavours may contribute thereto, your Grace is, of all others, the most fit and best able to judge; to whofe favourable cenfure when I have fubmitted thefe Pages, it onely remains that I give this fhort account of the Method by which they proceed, the End to which they are directed, and the Reason why I have prefumed upon this Dedication.

The manner of my proceeding is firft to declare the Institution, the Nature and Ufe of each Office, with the Duties of all Perfons in re• A 3

lation

lation thereunto; and then to demonftrate the agreeableness of the feveral Forms to their proper Occafions; as alfo to felect all along fome of those many Meditations that naturally arife from them. The End proposed to my felf in all this hath been, to vindicate the Church of England, and restore these her Offces to their due efteem; as alfo to direct the Confciences, to refolve the Scruples, and affift the Devotion of all fuch as may be concerned in the ufe of any of them.

And the great affurances I have that your Grace is apt to entertain and cherish whatever tends to these blessed Ends, invites me to hope the defects of my Managery may take Sanctua ry in your Eminent Candor and Charity, and embolden me to beg, that these Papers may ob tain the honour and Advantage of your Graces moft Aufpicious Patronage; not doubting but the fuccefs of this Undertaking will be hugely advanced, when fo obliging an Infcription fhall make it appear, that your Grace hath both proved and encouraged the Defign. And indeed Juftice as well as Gratitude obliges me to embrace this opportunity to acknowledge, that your Graces fair opinion gave the first of these Parts the confidence to become Public, and invited the reft to follow; and I believe they all owe much of that kind entertainment they have generally found in the World, to your Graces recommendation,

ap

To

To whom therefore can I with more reafon and equity tender thefe Difcourfes,fince not only they,but their Author alfo,hath fo many and great obligations to your Grace. Requital I know is neither poffible nor expected; yet 'tis my Duty to own that Debt which I am unable to difcharge, and by no means to omit the paying the constant interest of my most hearty Prayers for your Graces Prefervation and Prosperity. Wherefore I shall esteem my felf engaged by all the Ties that grateful apprehenfions can lay upon me, daily and affectionately to beg of Almighty God to blefs all your pious and generous endeavours for the good of this Church, to the fupreme Patriarchate whereof your Grace is happily advanced, to the general fatisfaction of all good men, who in so just and so useful a Petition,will all readily join with him whom your fignal favours have more particularly made,

[blocks in formation]
« 上一页继续 »