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NOTE.—I have been much urged by a valuable friend, to recommend some book
of preparation for this holy rite. But where there are so many good
books, it is difficult to fix upon any one, to the exclusion of others.
My objection to most of these works is, that they are too long, and many
people of weak consciences imagine, that unless they have gone through
the whole course of devotion, therein prescribed, they are not fit to
approach the holy altar. This is, in my opinion, an unhappy mistake, and
cannot be too soon eradicated. But were I to give a preference to any
books, my own choice would be fixed upon Bishop Wilson’s work, and _The
Companion to the Altar_ (and of these two prefer the latter), which used,
and ought always, to be bound up with the Book of Common Prayer. _The
Companion to the Altar_ is excellent, founded upon the Church Catechism,
and the prayers are complete, without being tedious or enthusiastic. And
if any one wishes to lengthen his devotions, there is, at the end of each
preparatory prayer, a reference to appropriate Psalms—and _they_, to use
the words of the late pious Mr. Jones, of Nayland, as applied by him to
Bishop Horne’s beautiful Commentary on these sacred Songs, will never
cease to be the companion of the devout, till the devotion of earth shall
end in the hallelujahs of Heaven.
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