Page:LittleBookOfPrayersFromOldEnglish.djvu/11

 These selections from the devotions of days long gone by are here printed, not as archaeological specimens of the religious thought and practice of our English forefathers, but in the hope and belief that they may be found of practical use to some souls at the present day. The absolute simplicity of these prayers which stimulated the devotion of the Saxon people may, perhaps, prove an aid to the piety of such as do not feel altogether attracted to, or moved by the more elaborate phrases and ornate diction of many of our modern prayer books. It must, however, beremembered that this little volume contains merely specimens of the devotional exercises of those who lived before the Norman Conquest in England, and does not pretend to furnish a complete manual of prayer for general use on all occasions. The prominence given in early and more simple times to devotions to the mysteries of religion — to the Most Holy Trinity; the Holy Cross; the Passion of Christ, etc. — will be found reproduced in this little manual, and may serve to remind us of the need of keeping the memory of these great truths constantly before our minds and of meditating deeply upon them.

F. A. G.