The hymns also, selected from different sources, will be found a useful, as well as pleasant part of daily devotion. They might have been greatly multiplied, but that it was thought that hymn books are sufficiently accessible. The hymns which the Editor has used are for the most part

uncommon.

Scriptures have been selected exclusively from the historical parts of the New Testament, and from the Psalms, for daily reading in family worship; not, of course, to discountenance the family reading of other parts of God's word, but chiefly to indicate what the Editor regards as the most useful Scripture reading for families generally. Some read the New Testament entirely through. Others add the Old Testament, sometimes taking one for morning reading, the other for evening. Each method has its advantages. The Editor would have arranged the Old Testament histories and prophecies, so as to assist in the more intelligent domestic perusal of them, but that his volume has grown to the limit of its intended dimensions. He the less regrets not having done so, for that Christian families must be supposed to be so well acquainted with every part of the book of God as easily to do this for themselves if it be thought desirable. Townsend's chronological arrangement of the Bible will be found of great value in this particular, avoiding, of course, all discussions of mere chronology in the family. Notes with Scripture reading, such as Doddridge's, Scott's, Brown's, and a host of others, though excellent in their place, do not seem to be appropriate to family devotion, in which it were better simply that God should speak to us, and we to him, reverently and humbly, as our circumstances may dictate.

The Editor has only to add, that as prayer is pre-eminently Christian, not denominational, he has carefully avoided every thing about which godly men may think differently. Those who are accustomed to the "Book of Common Prayer" will find whole "collects," or fragments of collects, wrought into these forms of domestic prayer as appeared convenient. Language more full, devout, and evangelical than they contain can scarcely be found. May God's mercy so rest upon this effort to promote a pleasant performance of Domestic Worship, as that it may benefit individuals and families, and bring glory to the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Stoke Newington,

June 15th, 1850.