hazard of her own; after which eminent deliver ance, she is enjoined to come into the house of God, and offer up her praises in this short and excellent office.

2. What is the original of it?

A. That law of Moses (Levit. xii.) which commands all women, after they have born a child, to come to the house of God within a certain number of days, with a sacrifice to praise God for this great mercy. And though nothing but sin makes any person unclean under the gospel, and so the ceremonial reason hath ceased; vet the obligation to make a public acknowledgment of so eminent a favour is a moral duty, and still obligatory. And, therefore, the blessed Virgin, who was not defiled by Christ's birth, observed this rite; and Christian mothers ever since have followed her example.

Q. At what time is it to be performed

A. In the eastern church they bring their child in their arms, in imitation of the Virgin Mary, to present it to God; and they do this forty days after the birth, in allusion perhaps to the Jewish law, which accounted a woman unclean forty days, at least, if she bore a man child, and the number was double, if she bore a female. But with us there is no time prescribed by the church, only the mother is to come as soon as she shall be able, and the accustomed time is one month after delivery. Modesty, and generally necessity oblige them to stay so long; and if they be not recovered then, they must forbear longer, since they cannot praise God for a mercy before they have received it.

Q. Where should this office be performed?

A. In the church; and thence it is called the churching of women. The reasons of doing it so publicly are, because God's marvellous works in the formation of the child and preservation of the woman ought to be publicly owned, to teach others to put their trust in him; that thereby the whole congregation also may have a fit opportunity of praising

God, for the too much forgotten mercy of their several births; and that the woman to be churched may likewise, in the proper place, own the great mercy of being restored to the privilege of worshiping God in his own house, and with his own people. And, therefore, to do this in a private house, whether out of pride and state, or perverseness, is absurd, and contrary to the design of this office."

II. Of the Devotions.

Q. How does this office begin?

A. With a short and suitable preface, directed to the woman, whereby she is excited to a thankful acknowledgment of the mercy vouchsafed her; and then follows the hymn, taken out of the 116th psalm, composed by David upon his being restored from some great sickness; and is very applicable to the case of a woman who comes to give thanks for so great a deliverance.

Q. What is next?

A. The Lord's prayer, and some sentences which are designed as intercessions for the woman's safety and defence. "But the Lord's prayer may be omitted, if this office be used with the morning or evening prayer." See the rubric.

Q. How is this service concluded?

A. With a very suitable prayer, being an humble acknowledgment of the divine mercy and goodness in preserving the woman in the great pains and perils of child-birth; with a hearty desire of the continuance of God's help, that she may live and walk according to his will in this life, and in the life to come be partaker of his everlasting glory.

2. What direction has the church given concerning the use of this office?

A. That this service, or the concluding prayer alone, as it stands among the occasional prayers and thanksgivings, may be used at the discretion of the - minister.

CHAPTER XVII.

Of the Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea.

PSALM CVii. 23, 24.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

2. WHAT is proper to be observed concerning the forms of prayer to be used at sea?

A. That they are not designed for a complete office, nor comprised in any particular method; but are all of them, except the first two, occasional forms, to be used as the circumstances of affairs may require; and are so adapted to their several occasions, that any one who observes them will readily see their suitableness and excellence, without any particular elucidation.t

* It seems by the rubric, that these two prayers are con. stantly to be used with the service, and that the other prayers, thanksgivings, &c. are to be introduced at the discretion of the chaplain, as occasion serves.

19

"The short prayers for single persons who cannot meet to join in prayer with others by reason of the fight or storm,' is a very wise order; as the duty of working the ship, or attending to a man's station in the time of action, is of more consequence than joining in the public prayers.

E é

CHAPTER XVIII.

Of the Form of Prayer for the Visitation of

Prisoners.

JEREMIAH X. 24.

O Lord, correct me, but with judgment: not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

Q. WHAT is to be observed concerning the form of prayer for the visitation of prisoners?

A. That the suitableness and propriety of the prayers and exhortations contained in it are so apparent of themselves, that they need no particular illustration.

CHAPTER XIX.

Of the Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the Fruits of the Earth, and all the other Blessings of his Merciful Providence.

PROVERBS iii. 9, 10.

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

I. Of this Form in general.

f. WHEN is this form of prayer and thanksgiving to be used?

A." Yearly, on the first Thursday in November, or on such other day as shall be appointed by the civil authority."

Q. Why has our church appointed a particular day for the performance of this duty?

A. Because, in prosperity, we are apt not only to forget our great Benefactor, but our duty also to praise him for his goodness. And it is much to be lamented, that prosperity, though it affords an opportunity of the greatest thankfulness, yet frequently diverts us from it, and so becomes an occasion, as well of ingratitude, as of many other sins. "Then is God most of all," says Lactantius, "forgotten of men, when they enjoy the greatest number of his blessings, and so are obliged most of all to praise him for his beneficence; so that from plenty ariseth luxury, and from luxury proceed other vices, as well as ingratitude." But God forbid it should be so with us: I hope we are more sensible of his favours and our own obligations, than thus to requite the Lord with evil for good.

II. Of the Sentences.

Q. What is proper to be observed concerning the

sentences?

A. That they are taken out of Deuteronomy and Proverbs, and are so admirably well chosen, that nothing farther is necessary to be added.

IIL Of the Hymn.

Q. What is proper to be observed concerning the hymn!

A. That the hymn which is appointed instead of the Venite Exultemus, is so happily selected, that it seems, as it stands in this place, to be an entire psalm composed on purpose for this duty.

IV. Of the Psalms.

Q. What does the rubric direct concerning the use of the psalms?

A. That they shall be left to the discretion of the minister.