Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/8



The following  series  of  Meditations  has  been  long  in high  repute  in  England. They were  originally  collected, a long  time  ago,  from  the  best  ascetical  writers,  which were then  in  existence,  and  there  is  hardly  a  meditation book of  those  days  which  our  author  has  not  ransacked in order  to  form  his  work. Tradition says  that  this  little book  served  in  an  eminent  degree  to  keep  alive  the spirit of  their  religion  among  the  persecuted  Catholics of England,  for  when  it  was  first  printed  the  days  of intolerance  and  religious  proscription  had  not  passed away. Independently of  the  intrinsic  merit  of  the  book, these associations  give  it  some  degree  of  interest  which it would  not  otherwise  possess. This book  was  a  particular favorite  with  such  men  as  Bishops  Challoner  and Walmsly.

The devout  contemplative,  as  well  as  the  ordinary Christian, may  use  these  Meditations  with  advantage.

The edition  used  in  revising  this  work  was  printed  in the  year  1669. If the  language  had  only  been  a  little antiquated, it  would  have  been  better  to  have  reprinted it in  its  original  state;  for  we  have  more  than  one  instance of  good  old  books  being  revised  and  corrected, and spoiled. But the  style  was  too  far  removed  from the standard  of  modern  language  for  the  book  to  appear in it  before  the  public,  with  that  credit  to  which  it  is  entitled. The citations  from  Scripture,  besides,  were  taken