C9921111 COLLEGE LIBRARY 1873, March 22. Walker Bequest. CAMBRIDGE: METCALF AND COMPANY, PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY. E PREFACE. THE object of this Service-Book is to make our public worship more interesting, more reverential, more various, more congregational, and more effectual in promoting the sacred purposes for which the worship is offered. It is believed that the designed manner of using it will be understood, on a little attention to the contents, without explanation. Though the circumstances have required a considerable deviation from the "Book of Common Prayer," that is recognized as the most complete body of liturgical exercises in our language. No entire service, for a day or season of devotion, is found arranged in order. That arrangement is left to the liberty and choice of the minister or the congregation. By way of suggestion, an "Order" is given on the page next after the table of Contents. The passages intended to be given as responses to the minister, by the congregation, or by the choir, or by both together, as may be found expedient in different cases, including always the Amen, - are printed in italics. In the lessons from the Holy Scriptures, the passages and sentences are not always presented entire, as they occur in the Bible. It has only been endeavored to offer services in Scriptural language, with no such alterations or omissions as would materially affect the original meaning. For convenience, the term "Prophecies" is used in an extended but not unauthorized sense, and is applied to any parts of Scripture which convey praise or religious instruction in an elevated form of expression." 66 CAMBRIDGE, October, 1858. |