A VISITATION MANUAL. BY THE REV. W. E. HEYGATE, M.A., RECTOR OF BRIGHTSTONE. BIBLIOTHECA MAY 1881 BODLEIANS London: WALTER SMITH, (LATE MOZLey and Smith,) PREFACE. THIS little volume may perhaps look retrograde. It has not anything like the number of offices, nor the quantity of matter to be found elsewhere. It contains little which is responsorial; because even that small quantity of this beautiful form of devotion which is contained in the Visitation Service is generally often impracticable, for the priest has to say the responses, or pass them by. Its aim is only to be portable, and legible in dark corners of sick rooms, and in almost windowless attics. If I could carry several books about with me, which I cannot well do; and if I could trust myself always to find at once the right psalm, scripture, prayers, and hymns, I should then take with me a Bible, Prayer-book, Hymn-book, and some other book of prayers, collects, and litanies, as my companions in visiting. But suppose that I take only my Prayer-book and this book, and borrow a Bible in the house, then I have diminished my difficulty. The advantage of borrowing a Bible will be not merely that of convenience, but the means of ascertaining whether the house contains a Bible, and perhaps of using one larger and more legible than a pocket volume. Besides, many poor people like to be read to out of their own Bibles, and are influenced by the thought that it is The old family Bible is becoming a thing of the past. The poor have small Bibles almost illegible, or large illustrated books too valuable and cumbrous to be used. Is it not worth our while to try and stem this growing evil, by supplying large Bibles, but not too large? |