of alternate Devotion, to fo much Advan tage as the Religious Societies, of whofe Rife and Progress, the World hath lately had an Account,by the Reverend Dr.Woodward, Minifter of Poplar. It is to the Votaries of thefe, 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 Epiftle Dedica tory of the Second Edition tells us, That it is the most fubftantial Part of Divinity, rendred usefully Practical,the beft 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 Epiftle 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 possess Mens Minds with that pure, and peaceable Wisdom, which is B 4 from

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 firft compofed, he thinks it as fit to poffefs Mens Minds with an affectionate and powerful Senfe of the Truths of Chriftianity, 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 Use of them, which thofe, who are not well vers'd in Divine Offices, 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.

The

The Offices for every Day of the Week, though indeed they may be used on any other Day, are appropriated to their respective Days, not only for the fake of Order, or Method, but for particular Reasons, upon which the great Author had his Eye in their refpective Appropriations. This appears from the Offices themselves; as in that of Thursday, which is all upon the Subject of of the Holy Eucharift, and its Inftitution, becaufe on that Day our Lord before his Paf fion appointed that Holy Sacrament, and commemorative Sacrifice, to be a perpetual Memorial, or Commemoration before God,as well as among Men,of the great Propitiatory Sacrifice he made upon the Cross. The Subject of Friday's Devotions, is our Saviour's Sufferings, and our Redemption by them.

Saturday's Office is upon the fame Subect of our Lord's meritorious Sufferings, with a particular Respect to the Victory, he thereby obtained over Sin and Death, and the Powers of Darkness.

Sunday's Devotions are chiefly upon the Subject of our Lord's glorious Refurrecti on, with fome Pfalms in it, which become? the Chriftian Sabbath, upon God's finishing the Creation, and refting from all the Works which he had made.

The

The Office of Monday, which was the Second Day of the Creation, is all compos'd in the Praife of God for the Works of Creation, and in celebrating his infinite Power Wisdom,and Goodness as of the great Architect of the World, who made it with infinite Skill and Art,in Number, Weight, and Measure.

Tuefday's Office is made in the Praife. of God, as Preferver and Sustainer of all that he hath Created, and particularly, as the Preferver, and Guardian of Men.

Wednesday's Office is appointed to adore God, as the great Governour, and Sovereign of the Creation, who appoints every Creature its proper Office, and guides all the Motions of the Universe according to his own infinite Wisdom, and Counfels, fo as to bring about his own glorious Designs.

The Office of our Saviour is all contrived to fet forth his Nature,as Mediator,and Redeemer and the Praifes of his infinite love towards Men in undertaking, and accomplishing thegreat Work of our Redemption.

The Office of the Holy Ghost is all in the Praise and Adoration of the Holy Spirit of God, the Third Perfon of the bleffed and undivided Trinity, as he is our Sanctifier, where, after afferting bis eternal Proceffion from the Father and the Son, and bis Equa

lity with them in Glory, the Author celebrates his Praifes in moft Divine Pfalms, and Hymns, as the Author of our fecond Birth, and glorifies him for all his Gifts, and Graces, and Comforts to the Sons of Men. More particularly for illuminating our Understandings, and fanctifying our Wills, for helping us in our Prayers, and affifting us against Evil Spirits; Finally, for being our Director, Guide, and Counfellor, for making our Bodies his Temples, and for finishing the Mystery of our Redemption, withal, pratfing our Lord for fending him in his miraculous Effufions upon the Apostles punctually, according to his Promife, and fhewing how every Perfon of the bleffed Trinity, as one Co-infinite Goodness, contributed to our Redempti on, and graciously agreed to compleat our Felicity.

In the Office for the Dead, everything is faid, that the Subject of Death, or our Preparation for it can require. 1 here is fet forth, in most affecting manner, The Mifery and Vanity of Man, as Mortal; The Excellency of his better, and immortal Part; The Happiness of departed Spirits; The Moderation with which we ought to temper, and limit our Sorrow for our dead Friends; bow nearly it concerns as to fecure our

Peace