in these matters), I have come to the resolution of adding my contribution to the common stock; yet not taking upon me so to correct or censure them that have gone before me, as to discourage any from making use of those helps which they find agreeable to their case, and efficacious to quicken their devotion; but leaving every one to consult their own sense and profit and comfort, in choosing and taking what best likes their particular gust, and what most furthers their pious designs; and to make what alterations also they please, even in the ensuing offices, for their own service, if they shall think fit to use them at all.

Nor have I such a conceit of any thing that is my own, as to suppose it free from the weakness and defects which I can espy elsewhere; I doubt not but others may find as many faults here: nay, I cannot think any thing of this nature to be so complete, but that the author himself (in tract of time) may see reason to add or subtract, to alter or amend many particulars: Indeed I shall as soon expect to see a shoe made to fit every foot, as a particular form of prayer exactly to suit all the circumstances of every soul.

I cannot undertake that the following prayers should answer all the occasions which any one

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may ever find for prayer: but they that have the spirit of supplication can tell how to fill what is wanting; and such as I help in most cases, may help themselves in the rest. I am rather apt to think, that so many as are here set down will be censured for more than needful; but (it being easy to pare off) the censors may let alone what they count superfluous, leav ing it to those that will not disdain its assistance and I had rather be under an imputation from some of my neighbours, for busying myself more than I have need, in a work that might have been spared, than bear the recoilings of my own mind, for neglecting to impart any thing that I thought might be of use and service to the

rest.

If any judge that I might better have left this behind me, not to be seen till I should myself have been no more seen, I was once of the same mind; and had so continued, but that I could not be sure, that many for whom I designed it, might not be taken off before me; whereby this piece of friendship which I had for them, would have been lost to them: and now that I do undertake the thing which is liable to many reflections (whoever be the manager) every one thinking he has a title to judge of that, wherein every one is equally concerned and

that judgment passing according to the different principles and sentiments, and the particular genius and humour of each, it is not possible here to please every one: but, however, I shall not fail of my design, if I can be so happy as to profit some. And if so be I take any way peculiar to myself, I shall only allege that it is but the same liberty as most writers on this subject have taken. Though I pretend not to set myself on a level with the noted guides of others devotion, that with good success and general approbation have laboured herein; yet, when our Lord has only enjoined the thing to be done, without settling the manner of performance, even an ordinary man that is but conversant in these matters, has room humbly to propose his own experience, as long as he assumes not magisterially to impose it upon his readers; which in this present undertaking, the Judge of all thoughts knows to be far from mine.

I name no morning and evening prayers for particular persons; because here are so many occasional prayers, whereof every one may take his choice from time to time, for private use, according to particular exigencies: and besides, those families may as fitly serve for the closet, changing but the plural number, into the sin

gular. I have not directed to conclude the
evening devotions with the Lord's Prayer; not
because I count it improper at that time to be
used, but because I think we have still a liberty
of adding or omitting it; and, therefore, I have
pointed to it for one part of the day, and left it
out on the other; but they that are for it, as an
appendage to all the prayers used in their houses,
may make it so, if they please, notwithstanding
that I shut up some of the family prayers with-
out it. I make no distinction of ordinary days:
for I understand not why the prayer that serves
for Monday or Tuesday, should not be as good
and
proper for any other day of the week: yet I
have offered some variety, that you may take
sometimes one form, and sometimes another :
or some part of this form and some of that, as
you see occasion, and shall judge most pertinent.
But I make a great difference of the qualities of
persons, and states of the soul, and scenes of the
life, according to which I have distributed and
suited the offices here proposed. And though it
be not needful to adapt a prayer to every man's
particular employment in the world, yet no man
(whatever be his place and calling), but may find
many prayers here fitted to the condition of his
soul, and to the great emergencies of his life.
Only I would caution any who may need to be

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so advertised, that I do not intend the particular prayers entitled for such and such persons of particular ranks and stations, as their excuse to supersede all praying else, as if such persons needed to use no other prayers: but those over and above, they may sometimes add to the rest: and so prudently choosing agreeable offices, and taking this my whole performance with a little of Christian candor, and the allowance for common weakness, I am willing to hope it may not be unacceptable to those in my neighbourhood (for whom I am chiefly concerned) as coming from one of your own acquaintance (my brethren) and one not so utterly unacquainted with the practice and the benefit of such exercises of devotion, but that I am able to say somewhat from my own experience and (that of many years) in this way. However small (I must confess) is my proficiency, to what it might have been, yet the several stages my soul has gone through, the trials and temptations that I have had, the terrors and perplexities wherewith I have grappled, the conflicts and troubles of mind that I have lain under, the many sins that I have fallen into (grievous to myself, and heinous in the sight of God, though not so scandalous as some others, to the view of the world), and the escapes that I have made, the preservations and