private devotions in the Church of England. Others are from the works of men whose names are held in reverence amongst us-specially Bishop Andrewes.* The remainder have been framed, as far as possible, upon ancient models.

The First Part consists of offices taken from the Book of Common Prayer, which are most often required, viz. :—

"The Visitation of the Sick."

"The Communion of the Sick."

"The Order of Private Baptism."

The Second Part consists of a series of offices for the Sick and Suffering, formed on the following plan

1st. A sentence from Holy Scripture, giving the subject of the following

office.

2nd. The Psalm.

3rd. The Lesson.

4th. The Suffrages.

5th. The Prayers specially adapted for the office, and Collects from the Book of Common Prayer.

After these forms of offices the selections from the Psalms are given, and the Lessons from Holy Scripture to which references are made in the preceding pages.

Then follow the Collects, &c., from the Book of Common Prayer, printed in full.

Some well-known Hymns are also inserted.

Under most of the offices several distinct forms of service are given, founded upon the same or similar subjects. The opening sentences, which are numbered 1, 2, 3, &c., will, it is hoped, enable the Priest to select at a glance the one best suited to his purpose. In every case the Sentence, Psalm, Lesson, &c., given under the same number, form together a distinct service.

The method recommended for use is as follows:-First read the Sentence which appears to be most suitable; then, if it is thought well, turn to the Psalm referred to under the same number as that of the Sentence; then to the corresponding Lesson; then say the Suffrages and Prayers.

But if the Sick Person is weak, as is generally the case in serious illness, it will be necessary to omit either the Psalm or the Lesson. In some cases it will be best to make the Sentence a text on which to found some short lesson, and then to proceed immediately to the Prayers.

* "The Manual for the Sick;" edited by Rev. Canon Liddon, published by Messrs. Rivington.

The Suffrages are printed in the way of versicle and response, for the sake of clearness; but in practice it will generally be necessary for the Priest to repeat both. These short ejaculations are of great use, giving life and heartiness to the service.

The offices are arranged in the following order :

I. Three offices under the head of REPENTANCE.

The first of these is intended to arouse in the sick person the sense that sickness (as Bishop Andrewes says) does not come by chance, but is a sign of God's presence with the Christian, and is sent for a good purpose. The second office is intended to help in the examination of the sick person's conscience; and, in cases where it is needed, to encourage him to make a special confession. The third office is meant for those only who have sinned deeply, and have a bitter sense of their sins weighing upon them.

II. Nine offices under the head of FAITH, which are intended to help the Priest, especially in cases of long illness, to give systematic instruction in the Articles of the Christian Faith, or to recall them to the sick person's memory, and thus lead to the preparation for the Holy Communion.

III. Offices for the DYING; chiefly for use in cases of sudden dangerous sickness; and offices for MOURNERS.

IV. Twelve offices for use under various SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
V. Offices of THANKSGIVING.

Many of the offices will, it is hoped, be found useful for Cottage Lectures, and for short services in Hospital and Workhouse wards. Being all drawn up on the same plan, their order will soon become familiar both to Priest and people.

The Author desires to express his acknowledgments to all who have helped him in the work. His thanks are especially due to the Rev. J. J. Jacob, for advice in the arrangement of the offices; and to the Rev. T. B. Buchanan and the Rev. Prebendary Philipps, for valuable suggestions in respect to the Prayers. He desires also to thank all who have kindly allowed their Hymns to appear; especially, the Rev. R. R. Chope, for permission to select from his Hymnal, and the Editor of the new Appendix, published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; also the Rev. S. J. Stone, for Hymn No. 6; Messrs. Parker, for permission to use the Hymn No. 9, taken from the "Child's Christian Year;" the Rev. Dr. Littledale, for Hymn No. 11; the Rev. Dr. Irons, for Hymn No. 15; the Rev. G. Moultrie, for Hymn No. 18, taken from "Hymns and Lyrics for the Seasons of the Church;" the Rev. Dr. Newman, for Hymn No. 20; Messrs. Sampson Low and Co., for permission to use the Hymn No. 21, taken from "Lyra Sacra Americana;" the Rev. J. Ellerton, for

Hymn No. 22; and the Rev. Dr. Monsell, for Hymn No. 26. His thanks are also due to the translator and publisher of the "Nourishment of the Christian Soul," for the extracts which are given in the Appendix, and to all whose names have been before mentioned, from whose works Prayers have been selected. If in any case the author's name has been omitted, it is hoped that the error will be pardoned.

This book is now published with the humble hope that it may be accepted by Him in Whose honour it has been compiled, and be permitted to do some work, however slight, for the good of His Church.

E. B.

August, 1871.

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