Samuel L. Bray

So this was not at all what I was expecting; This appears to be a 17th century Anglican version of what I know of as Christian Prayer: Liturgy of the Hours combined with a catechism ... and it is about as confusing to figure out how to use (actually it was more confusing to me). It start with some admin text outlining how to read the Psalter and the rest of Holy Scripture with tables a rules to calculate where you are in the liturgical calendar. Then we get Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, The Creed of St Athanasius and the Litany. Where it actually gets interesting is the Prayers and Thanksgivings section ... you get prayers for rain, fair weather, famine, war, plague, thanksgiving, peace et. al. It is only a small part of the book though. Then we get the Collects (short liturgical prayers) and Readings for Seasons and Special Occasions (Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Last Rites, Funerals, Birth). After that we get the fire ... or commination (I had to look that up - it is basically threatening divine vengeance against sinners). Then we have the entire Psalter together before jumping back to prayers ... in this case prayers to be used at sea. Then the liturgy for ordaining clergy (Deacons, Priests, Bishops). The book finishes up with the Articles of Religion (a catechism) and appendices/end notes and instructions. The most interesting part of the whole book has to be the glossary ... I found terms no longer common in modern English along with etymologies that makes it more easily understood. When all is said and done, this is primarily of academic interest and not that practical for my daily devotions.

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
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