that thus bestowed their pains, defcended to fuch particulars, as I thought fit for the use of those whom I defire to ferve.

But now that I am engaged, my Lord, your favor fhewed to the well-meant performance here, has given me the boldness of this Dedication. And the advancement of fuch perfons to high dignity in our church, as are fo well known to deserve it, encourages me alfo to hope, that gracious God hath yet a greater bleffing for us than our own demerits give us reason to expect.

I beg your fatherly benediction upon me, and my poor endeavors,

who am,

MY LORD,

Your obliged Kinfman,

in all humble obfervance,

Ben. Jenks.

To my Neighbours and Acquaintance, particularly thofe in the Parishes committed to my Care.

IT

My dear Friends,

T is especially for your fakes, and primarily for your service, that I publish this Manual of Prayers, fitted to the capacities of your minds, to the neceffities of your fouls, and to the feveral conditions and occafions of your lives. Notwithstanding all the books of devotion already extant (many of which are very ufeful and excellent in their kinds, and fuch as I fhould recommend to you, without offering any other, did thofe with which I am best fatisfied, reach as far as I have defigned here to go, and did not I think the ftrain of fome too high for many of you, and the words and expreffions of others that I have seen in your hands, too low and flat, or too obfolete and improper, and which will rather offend than edify fuch as have their fenfes better exercifed in these matters :) I have come to the refolution of adding my contribution to the common ftock yet, not taking upon me so to correct or cenfure them that have gone before me, as to difcourage any from making ufe of thofe helps which they find agreeable to their cafe, and efficacious to quicken their devotion:

But leaving every one to confult their own fenfe, and profit and comfort in choofing and taking what beft likes their particular guft, and what moft furthers their pious defigns; and to make what alterations also they pleafe, even in the enfuing offices, for their own fervice, if they fhall think fit to use them at all.

;

I

Nor have I fuch a conceit of any thing that is my own, as to suppose it free from the weaknefs and defects which I can efpy elsewhere doubt not but others may find as many faults here: Nay, I cannot think any thing of this nature to be fo complete, but that the Author himfelf (in tract of time) may see reason to add or fubtract, to alter or amend many particulars Indeed, I fhall as foon expect to fee a fhoe made to fit every foot, as a particular Form of Prayer exactly to fuit all the circumftances of every foul.

I cannot undertake that the following Prayers should answer all the occafions which any one may ever find for prayer: But they that have the spirit of fupplication, can tell how to fill up what is wanting: And fuch as I help in moft cafes, may help themselves in the rest. I am rather apt to think, that fo many as are here fet down, will be cenfured for more than needful; but (it being easy to pare off) the cenfors may let alone what they count fuperfluous; leaving it to those that will not difdain its affiftance; and I had rather be under an imputation from fome of my neighbors, for bufying myself more than I have need, in a

work

work that might have been fpared, 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 reft.

If any judge that I might better have left this behind me, not to be feen till I should myself have been no more feen: I was once of the same mind, and had so continued ; but that I could not be fure, that many for whom defigned it, might not be taken off before me; whereby this piece of friendship which I had for them, would have been loft 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 paffing according to the different principles and fentiments, and the particular genius and humour of each, 'tis not poffible here to please every one: But however, I fhall not fail of my defign, if I can be fo happy as to profit fome. And if fo be I take any way peculiar to myfelf, I fhall only alledge, that it is but the fame liberty as moit writers of this fubject have taken. Though I pretend not to fet myself on a level with the noted guides of others devotion, that with good fuccefs, and general approbation, have laboured herein, yet when our Lord has only enjoined the thing to be done, without fettling the manner of performance; even an ordinary man, that is but converfant in these matters, has room humbly to propose his own experience,

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experience, as long as he affumes not magifterially to impofe it upon his leaders; which in this prefent undertaking, the Judge of all thoughts knows to be far from mine.

I name no morning and evening prayers for particular perfons, becaufe here are fo many occafional prayers, whereof every one may take their choice from time to time, for private ufe, according to particular exigencies; and befides, thofe for families may as fitly ferve for the clofet, changing but the plural number into the fingular. I have not directed to conclude the evening devotions with the Lord's Prayer; not becaufe I count it improper at that time to be used, but because I think we have ftill a liberty of adding or omitting it; and therefore I have pointed to it for one part of the day, and left it out in the other; but they that are for it, as an appendage to all the prayers used in their houses, may make it fo if they please, notwithstanding that I shut up fome of the family prayers without it. I make no diftinction neither of ordinary days; for I understand not why the prayer that serves for Monday or Tuefday, fhould not be as good and proper for any other day of the week; yet I have offered fome variety, that you may take fometimes one form, and fometimes ano. ther; or fome part of this form and fome of that, as you fee occafion, and fhall judge moft pertinent.

But I make a great difference of the qualities of perfons, and ftates of the foul, and fcenes

of