140 .... TWENTY-FOURTH, From Romans 8, Revelation 7.. TWENTY-FIFTH, TWENTY-SIXTH, From 1 John 3, 2 Corinthians 4, Revela- TWENTY-SEVENTH, Revelation 22... Children's Service.. PREFACE. THE SELECT PSALMS constitute what may be called the Shortened Psalter in Mr. Wesley's SUNDAY SERVICE, published in 1784. It is a skillful abbreviation of the Psalms of David, as used for congregational reading by the Church of England. No Psalm is robbed of its identity; and yet whole Psalms and parts of others are freely omitted to secure a more perfect aid to Christian Worship. The present edition is in response to a demand for the work, which has become quite decided since the merits of Mr. Wesley's arrangement have been more clearly recalled. In preparing it, the substitution of King James's Version for that of the English Prayer-Book was considered imperative. Notwithstanding this change of version, the marks of Mr. Wesley's rare judgment are effectually preserved. The Psalms are divided into Morning and Evening Lessons for every day in the Month; those for the thirtieth day being also appointed for use when service falls on the thirty-first. The Minister has, therefore, only to remember the Day of the Month, and suitable Lessons for this part of the service are always at hand. Following the PSALMS for Morning and Evening, will be found thirty additional SELECTIONS OF PSALMS AND OTHER SCRIPTURES, including certain valued parts of the Psalter omitted by Mr. Wesley; from which, at times, the Minister will prefer to read instead of the Psalms for the Day. These are for the most part integral portions of Scripture, and adapted to a wide diversity of occasions. Mr. Wesley's urgency to have the GREAT FESTIVALS of the Christian Year observed in the Church has not been forgotten. His tables of Proper Psalms on Certain Days, and Proper Lessons for Particular Days, will greatly facilitate this object. Attention is also invited to the Catechism, now published for the first time in its true relation to the Ritual and Economy of the Church. Some valuable extracts, mainly from the SUNDAY SERVICE, complete the volume; and altogether the Editor hopes the Compilation will prove a useful Hand-book of Methodist Worship. He counts it a great honor to have the cordial approbation of Bishop Edward G. Andrews, D.D., LL.D.; and he also returns thanks to a number of brethren who are aware of the aid their judgment has afforded him. CHARLES S. HARROWER. EPISCOPAL NOTE. THOUGH marked throughout by excellent judgment and taste, the SUNDAY SERVICE prepared by Mr. Wesley in 1784 for American Methodists never gained general acceptance among them, and soon fell entirely out of use. The simple order of worship to which they were accustomed better suited the conditions of the rising Church, and for nearly a century was almost uniformly observed among us. Recently a natural desire to dignify and enrich public worship has arisen in many quarters. It has led not only to a bewildering diversity in the services of our Church, but often also to the substitution of unseemly and even grotesque individual conceits for a harmonious, reasonable, and historic order. Caprice, unrestrained by knowledge or experience, seems often to fix the succession of hymn, doxology, lesson, and prayer. The General Conference of 1888, taking note of the desire above spoken of, and also of these evils, after due deliberation established and enjoined a uniform order of public worship. This order adopts some of the better usages recently risen among us. It does not forbid particular churches to interweave with its own unchangeable frame-work of worship additional matter, as the Creed, the Gloria Patri, and the Anthem. And it expressly permits the use of responsive reading. Fortunately, at this point the Church can avail itself of the wisdom of its venerated founder, Mr. Wesley. In this volume are set forth his admirable selections of psalms for every day of the month, together with other selections for special occasions. With these are associated other valuable matter, drawn in part from the SUNDAY SERVICE, and in part from the authorized standards of the Church. The editorial work has been done wisely and with a just valuation of the characteristics both of our particular church life and of that larger church life of which we are part. The volume may therefore be warmly commended to all who prize order, dignity, and a not too inflexible uniformity in the service of the sanctuary. EDWARD G. ANDREWS. |