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a Wilson, a Jeremy Taylor, or a Thomas à Kempis, who pours forth his pious breathings to the Father, in the name of his beloved Son, he would gladly unite with fervent spirit in the prayer and praise, and add his humble and sincere Amen.

In the true Catholic Church-that great community, which, though bound together by no outward and visible bond, exists, nevertheless, as One Church, in the sight of the Universal Father, including all "who worship God in spirit and in truth, and love the Lord Jesus in sincerity," he who sends forth this little work hopes and believes that many good men, of every Christian sect, will at length be found.

And should any one of the number, by what name soever called, find in these pages the means of awakening, or confirming, any devout sentiment or virtuous resolution, he will think that he has abundant reason to rejoice in his labour.

To the Divine blessing he desires to commend what he has written, and all who shall read with a meek, humble, and holy spirit.

PREFACE

TO THE THIRD EDITION,

BY THE EDITOR.

HAVING been requested by my revered father to superintend the printing of a Third Edition of his excellent Manual of Family Prayers, and having been kindly authorized by him to make any alterations in the work, or any additions to it, that I might deem advisable, I gladly avail myself of the opportunity, not only of doing what I deem good service to the Christian world, by keeping before it a work which seems to me admirably adapted to the object which it has in view, but also of thus associating my own name with that of one to whom I am bound by the tenderest ties of gratitude, respect, and love. I have pleasure in the thought, that when according to the course of nature, at no very distant period, both father and son shall rest their heads upon the lap of earth, a memorial may continue to exist, for some few years longer, before the eyes of surviving relatives and friends, of that cordial union in sentiment and feeling, on the most important of all subjects, which prevailed between

them while they lived; and of that deep conviction which they felt in common, that practical religion is the one thing needful, and that, in one important sense at least, there is truth in the often perverted maxim, that "charity begins at home." In that sacred citadel let the virtues ever concentrate their forces; so shall "the Lord keep the city," and "the watchman not wake in vain."

The alterations in the present edition are few and unimportant; their principal object, where they are more than merely verbal, having been to exclude, even more scrupulously, if possible, than in the preceding editions, such sentiments as might be deemed, by any of that class of Christians for whose use the work is chiefly designed, matters of doubtful disputation. In social prayer, it is my father's opinion*, in which I entirely concur, that all controversial topics should be carefully avoided, and that, both in substance and in form, the sentiments should always, if possible, be so conceived and expressed as to command the intelligent assent of every hearer, and to draw, from his heart to his lips, the sincere and fervent "Amen."

On grounds somewhat similar to these, knowing that many professing Christians, of whom I am myself one, wholly deny, or seriously doubt, the lawfulness of the profession of arms, I have ventured to substitute for the "Prayer for a Soldier," one, partly altered from it, for "a Citizen in the

* See Preface to the First Edition.

Time of War," to the sentiments contained in which it is hoped that no Christian will object. To those prayers, in the former editions, designated as "for any morning," and "for any evening," I have added a sufficient number of my own to complete a third week's prayers. Those for Sunday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in that week, accordingly, I am accountable for. I have also added an occasional prayer for "Absent Friends," which may be introduced, when it is thought desirable, into the daily devotions.

With the exception of these few additions, and the trifling alterations to which I have adverted, the work is now republished exactly as my father first gave it to the world. May his intention in composing and compiling it be fully accomplished; and may it long be useful in awakening, in the breasts of others, those feelings which have not yet ceased to glow in his bosom; and which now, doubtless, in the peaceful evening, as in the cheerful morning and active meridian, of his day, dictate the heartfelt prayer, in which his son would humbly join,-that the blessing of God may rest upon all the children of men, and that His kingdom may be established in their homes, and "Christ be formed," in their hearts!

5, HAMILTON PLACE, KING'S CROSS, JULY 7, 1841.

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