EH(^ 4 — — PR A YEES AND OFFICES OF DEVOTION, FOB FAMILIES PARTICULAR PERSONS UPON MOST OCCASIONS. BY BENJAMIN JENKS, LATB RECTOR OF HAELEY, IN SHROPSHIRE, AND CHAPLAIN TO THJS RIGHT HONORABLE THE EAKL OF BRADFORD. Men ought always to pray and not to faint. Luke xviii. 1. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Ool. iv.2 ALTERED AND IMPROVED BY THE REV. CHARLES SIMEON, FELLOW OF king's COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. THE ELEVENTH THOUSAND. STANFORD AND SWORDS, 137, BROADWAY. 1850. : THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 409602 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN POUNDAT«ON8. 1908 Ekteeed according to Act of Congress, in the year 1832, by SWORDS, STANFORD & CO. in the Clerk's Office of the District Court, for the Southern District of New-York. Hohart Press JOHN K. M'GOWN, PniNTEH, CVI, FULTON-STREET. TO THE READER. The subscribers have thought, that it would gi'eatly tend to the promotion and interest of true piety, to have a republication, in this country, of the improved edition of the Prayers and Offices of Devotion of the late pious and reverend Benjamin Jenks. Under this impression, they have caused a set of stereotype plates of that work to be cast; but, in doing this, they have found it necessary to alter several phrases that were antiquated and obsolete, and to expunge two or three of the prayers, and in others, some sentences that were altogether local, and not adapted for our country. The copy they have made use of was the thirty-third, and last London edition, published under the superintendence of the learned and reverend Charles Simeon, M. A. senior Fellow of King's Col- lege, Cambridge. In the hope that, on a comparison with the original work, the reader will consider the alterations in the American copy as emendations, We are, The public's obedient servants, SWORDS, STANFORD, & Co. New-York, October 1, 1S32. EDITOR'S PREFACE. Having undertaken to publish this vokime in a cor- rected state, it seems proper that the Editor should assign his reasons for it to the public. He has for very many years considered this book as an exceed- ingly rich treasure to the Church of God. Its dis- tinguishing excellency is, that far the greater part ot the prayers appear to have been prayed and not writ- ten. There is a spirit of humiliation in them, which is admirably suited to expre-ss the sentiments and feelings of a contrite heart. There is also a fervour of devotion in them, which can scarcely fail of kin- dling a corresponding flamie in the breasts of those who use them. But it is needless to pronounce an eulogy on a book, the value of which has been already stamped by the sale of 7na7iy myriads. There are, however, faults in it, which exceedingly need correc tion. The sentences are too long; the sense is often perplexed ; and the antitheses are so numerous as to be very ill-suited to modern taste. These things the Editor has endeavoured to correct; yet not in such a manner as to give a new style and character to the book. It seems right, that the Author should appear in his native dress, except where the edification of the public rendered a change necessary. To some, it is probable, the Editor will appear to have altered too much ; and to others too little ; but, on whatever side he may have erred, it has not been for want of care and endeavour to do right. In the new arrangement of the Prayers, the facility of finding any particular subject will, it is presumed, be greatly increased. 1^ VI EDITOR S PREFACE. To have made the Paraphrase on the Creed at all congenial with his wishes, the Editor must have altered almost the whole of it. He has therefore contented himself with making- only such alterations as were absolutely necessary; and he would have omitted it altogether, had he not been afraid, that some few might have regretted the loss of it. As to the sentiments contained in this book, no alteration whatever was wanted; nor has any been made, except in one single word, which, if particularly noticed by a Caviller, might possibly have adminis- tered to strife. To the best of his power, the Editor has consulted the benefit of the Church of Christ; and, if this Volume be found in future better adapted to their use in the family and the closet, he shall consider his labour as very richly compensated. PREFACE. To my Neighbours and Acquaintance, particularly those in the Parishes committed to my Care. MY DEAR FRIENDS, It is especially for your sakes, and primarily for yoiw spf- vice, that I publish this Manual of Prayers, fitted to the capacities of your minds, to the necessities of your souls, and to the several conditions and occar^ions of your lives. Not- withstandinj^ all the books of devotion already extant (many of which are very useful and excellent in their kinds, and such as I should recommend to you without offering any other, did those with which I am best satisfied, reach as far as I have designed here to go ; and did not I think the strain of some too high for many of you, and the words and expressions of others that I have seen in your hands, too low andjlaf, or too obsolete and improper, and which will rather offend, than edify such as have tlieir senses better exercised 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 cen- sure 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 tlieir own sense, and profit, and comfort, in choosing and taking v/hat 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 particu- lars : Indeed I shall as soon expect to see a shoe made to fit every foot, as a particular /orm of prayer exactly to suit all the cir- cumstances of every soul. V cannot undertake that the following prayers should answer all the occasions which any one may ever find for prayer : but they that have the sph-it of supplication can tell how to fill up what is wanting; and such as I help in most cases, may help themselves in the rest. I am rather apt to tliink, that so many as are here set down will be censured for more than needful ; but (it being easy to pare otF) the censors may let alone wliat they count superfluous, leaving it to those that will not disdain its assistance : and I laad rather be under an im- putation from some of my neiglibours, for busying myself more than I have need, in a work that might have been spared, than Lear the recoilings of my own mind, for neglecting to impart any thing that I thought miglit 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 ojf before me; whereby this piece of friendship which I had for them, would have been lost to them : and now that I do undertake tlie thing which is liable to many reflec- tions (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 princi- ples and sentiments, and the Tpdviicnlar genius and humour of each, it is not possible liere to please every one : but, however, I shall not fiiil 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 tliat 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 tliat is but conversant in tliese matters, has room humbly to propose his own experience, as long as he assumes not magis- terially to impose it upon his readers ; which in this present undertaking, tlie Judge of all thoughts knows to be far from mine. I name no morning and evening prayers for particular per- sons ; because here are so many occasional prayers, whereof every one may take his clioice from time to time, for private use, according to particular exigencies : and besides, those families may as fitly serve for tlie closet, changing but the plural number, into the singular.