ence between them and the bishops was in the opposite direction from that desired by the former. The chief changes were the substitution of the word "church" for "congregation," of "priest" for "minister" in the rubric before the absolution; of "bishops, priests, and deacons" for "bishops, pastors, and ministers of the Church" in the Litany; the addition of the clause concerning departed saints to the Prayer for the Church militant; the placing the prayer for the king, and those which follow it, in the Order for Morning and Evening Service; the addition of the "Collect or Prayer for all conditions of men," the general thanksgiving, the Prayers for ember weeks, the Prayer for the Parliament, and some others; the printing of the Epistles and Gospels in the words of the last translation; the omission of the rubric, "And (to the end the people may the better hear) in such places where they do sing there shall the lessons be sung in a plain tune after the manner of distinct reading; and likewise the Gospel and Epistle;" the alteration of the rubric before the Prayer for the Church Militant, so as to order the presentation of the alms and the placing of the bread and wine upon the Lord's Table; the addition of the rubric before the Prayer of Consecration, directing the priest to stand before the Table and so order the bread and wine, that he may with more readiness and decency break the bread before the people, and the restoration of the rubrics respecting his manual action. A service also was provided for the baptism of those of riper years, and a form of prayer to be used at sea. This last review was the completion of the Prayer Book, which from that time (1662) to this has remained unaltered. Its history is the best witness to its worth. Formed upon the models of ancient liturgies, it was yet adapted to the use of later times. Translated from the service books long used in the Church, it was yet reduced to the agreement with "the most sincere and pure Christian religion taught by the Scripture, and with the usages in the primitive Church" (Act of Uniformity, 2 and 3 Edw. VI. c. 1). The liberty, which bishops had originally exercised, of putting forth different liturgies and afterwards different uses in their respective dioceses, was yielded up by them all, when they agreed to one uniform order of Common Prayer and administration of Sacraments. The nation ratified the same by repeated Acts of Uniformity, whereby both clergy and laity accepted the Prayer Book as the standard of public worship for this Church and realm. It is not too much to say of it, that it has been from the first until this day the loved and valued treasury of pious thought, of public and of private devotion to the most godly men in England, and that, whereever known, it has been respected and honoured, even by those of other nations and other communions. It may well be believed to have been drawn up "by the aid of the Holy Ghost" (Act, 2 and 3 Edw. VI. c. 1). May the good Providence of God strengthen, perfect, preserve, and bless it to our use and to His glory, through Jesus Christ. Amen. PALACE, ELY, Jan. 6, 1866. E. H. ELY. CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK. 2. Concerning the Service of the Church. 3. Concerning Ceremonies, why some be abolished, and some retained. 4. The Order how the Psalter is appointed to be read. 5. The Order how the rest of the holy Scripture is appointed to be read. 13. Prayers and Thanksgivings upon several occasions. 14. The Collects, Epistles, and Gospels, to be used at the Ministration of the Holy Communion, throughout the Year. 15. The Order of the Ministration of the Holy Communion, 19. The Order of Confirmation. 20. The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony. 21. The Order for the Visitation of the Sick, and the Communion of the Sick. 22. The Order for the Burial of the Dead. 23. The Thanksgiving of Women after Child-birth. 24. A Commination, or denouncing of God's anger and judgements against Sinners. The Preamble and first section of the Act of Parliament enforcing Edward's First Prayer-book are as follows: 2 and 3 EDWARD VI. CAP. I. An Act for the Uniformity of Service and Administration of the Sacraments throughout the Realm. WHE 'at this Time, by the aid of the Holy Ghost, with one uniform Agreement is 'of them concluded, set forth and deliver'ed to his Highness, to his great Comfort 'and Quietness of Mind, in a Book in'tituled The Book of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, 'and other Rites and Ceremonies of the 'Church, after the Use of the Church of England. Wherefore the Lords Spi'ritual and Temporal, and the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, 'considering as well the most godly "Travel of the King's Highness, of the 'Lord Protector, and of other his Highness Council, in gathering and collecting 'the said Archbishop, Bishops and learned Men together, as the godly Prayers, 'Orders, Rites and Ceremonies in the 'said Book mentioned, and the Considerations of altering those Things which 'be altered, and retaining those Things 'which be retained in the said Book, 'but also the Honour of God and great Quietness, which by the Grace of God 'shall ensue upon the one and uniform Rite and Order in such Common Prayer 'and Rites and external Ceremonies to 'be used throughout England and in 'Wales, at Calice and the Marches of 'the same, do give to his Highness most 'hearty and lowly thanks for the same: And humbly prayen, that it may be ordained and enacted by his Majesty, with the Assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That all and singular Person and Persons that have offended concerning the Premisses, other than such Person and Persons as now be and remain in Ward in the Tower of London, or in the Fleet, may be pardoned thereof; and that all and singular Ministers in any Cathedral or Parish Church or other Place within this Realm of England, Wales, Calice, and the Marches of the same, or other the King's Dominions, shall from and after the Feast of Pentecost next coming, be bounden to say and use the Mattens, Evensong, Celebration of the Lord's Supper, commonly called the Mass, and Administration of each of the Sacraments, and all their common and open Prayer, in such Order and Form as is mentioned in the same Book, and none other or otherwise. And albeit that the same be so godly and good, that they give Occasion to every honest and conformable Man most willingly to embrace them, yet lest any obstinate Person who willingly would disturb so godly Order and Quiet in this HERE of long Time there hath been had in this Realm of England 'and in Wales divers Forms of Common 'Prayer, commonly called the Service of 'the Church; that is to say, The Use of Sarum, of York, of Bangor, and of Lin'coln; and besides the same now of late 'much more divers and sundry Forms and 'Fashions have been used in the Cathedral 'and Parish Churches of England and 'Wales, as well concerning the Mattens 'or Morning Prayer and the Evensong, 'as also concerning the Holy Communion, 'commonly called the Mass, with divers 'and sundry Rites and Ceremonies con'cerning the same, and in the Administra'tion of other Sacraments of the Church: 'And as the Doers and Executors of the 'said Rites and Ceremonies, in other 'Form than of late Years they have been 'used, were pleased therewith: So other 'not using the same Rites and Ceremonies 'were thereby greatly offended: And albeit the King's Majesty, with the 'Advice of his most entirely beloved 'Uncle the Lord Protector, and other 'of his Highness Council, hath heretofore 'divers Times assayed to stay Innovations 'or new Rites concerning the Premisses; 'yet the same hath not had such good 'Success as his Highness required in 'that Behalf; whereupon his Highness, 'by the most prudent Advice aforesaid, 'being pleased to bear with the Frailty 'and Weakness of his Subjects in that 'Behalf, of his great Clemency hath not 'been only content to abstain from Punish'ment of those that have offended in 'that Behalf, for that his Highness taketh 'that they did it of a good Zeal; but also 'to the Intent a uniform, quiet, and godly 'Order should be had concerning the Premisses, hath appointed the Arch'bishop of Canterbury, and certain of 'the most learned and discreet Bishops, and other learned Men of this Realm, 'to consider and ponder the Premisses; and thereupon having as well Eye and Respect to the most sincere and pure 'Christian Religion taught by the Scripture, as to the Usages in the Primitive Church, should draw and make one convenient and meet Order, Rite and Fashion of common and open Prayer and 'Administration of the Sacraments, to 'be had and used in his Majesty's Realm 'of England and in Wales; the which |