PREFACE. THE following pages do not altogether fulfil the original design of the writer. It was his intention to have added to the "Guide and Daily Devotions," a compilation of readings and meditations, suitable for the Lenten season, gathered from the writings of the Fathers, and English Catholic Divines of the best age. Yet, the short interval from Christmas-tide would not suffice for the creditable execution of such a design, much interrupted, as it must needs have been, by the pressing calls of heavy pastoral responsibilities. He hopes, however, if it shall please God to spare him to another year, to put out a companion volume to the present; which shall supply in a distinct and, therefore, perhaps, more convenient form, that course of meditation and reading which many so earnestly desire. Meantime, he may be forgiven, if he recommends persons who have been accustomed to study the deep things contained in Dr. Pusey's translation of Avrillon, Surin, and Scupoli, to add daily reading from such works as Bishop Andrews' Lenten Discourses;" Bishop Taylor's "Life of Christ," Antony Horneck's "Consideration" and "Meditations," and Dr. Lucas's "Perfection ;" books, which, probably, are within the reach of most. It will not, perhaps, escape censure, that no mention is made, at the several parts of the following Devotions, of the sources from which they are taken. But the order and words of the originals not being followed, in every case, it has been thought better to omit the author's name as a heading, and to say, in this place (though most of them will speak for themselves), that the Prayers are chiefly the devout breathings of such holy souls as Andrews, Cosin, Ken, Taylor, Wilson, Richard Sherlock, and Bishop Hickes. Several are extracted from ancient sources, and from the Paradise of the Christian Soul; and one or two are private, compiled for the writer's own use, or furnished by the kindness of a friend. The Scripture Lections, mostly taken from the Breviary, will perhaps supply a need which our own Church, for some reason unknown,-if not from oversight-has left unprovided. It remains only to add, that the writer is deeply conscious of the imperfections which attend his own share in this little work. He would, however, beg the kind patience of all those who may be inclined to criticise them, and a place in their prayers for himself, and the work in which he is engaged. He earnestly believes that many will be led, by the Holy Spirit of God, above all faults of manner, to a loving improvement of the matter, which his little Manual contains. May God give us all more love! Love is the most eminent of all the gifts of GOD. Love conquers all. It is not enough that we have so many holy prayers which are as the strings of the Harp of GOD; unless we learn to use them well. We may find our punishment, even in the sacrifice of propitiation. May God keep us from sacrificing (as saith S. Gregory) "the calf without flower," that is, prayers of the lips, without the application of a loving heart. May we learn, too, that all the devotion of a true soul tends to practice, as the line to its centre. Our wisdom, says St. Cyprian, is a prudence of works not of words," Philosophi factis, non verbis sumus: nec magna loquimur, sed vivimus." S. BARNABAS' COLLEGE, INTRODUCTION. THE Christian Church has been accustomed, from the beginning, to keep the Lent fast. But those who assert for it a Divine institution, as coming either directly from our Lord Himself, or mediately from the Apostles by His command, claim that which is incapable of proof. No man who lived in the age of the Apostles has affirmed this, nor can any say to which of them (if to any) it owes its origin; nor in what manner, nor with what instructions, they either ordained or observed it. That an Apostle must have instituted it, therefore, because no other author can be found, is a conjecture which cannot be maintained. That the Apostles were frequent in fastings, is a part of God's revealed word; and that they should have especially fasted, when the anniversary of their blessed Master's sufferings, and the celebration of His resurrection, came round, is highly probable. Yet out of this could hardly be gathered, for a certainty, that the Apostles instituted a Lent fast of forty days, such as the whole Church of Christ observes at this day. Had it been so, the early differ B |