Preface

The First Book of Common Prayer (1549)

There was never any thing by the wit of man so well devised, or so sure 
established, which in continuance of time hath not been corrupted: as, 
among other things, it may plainly appear by the common prayers in the 
Church, commonly called Divine Service: the first original and ground 
whereof, if a man would search out by the ancient fathers, he shall 
find, that the same was not ordained, but of a good purpose, and for a 
great advancement of godliness: For they so ordered the matter, that all 
the whole Bible (or the greatest part thereof) should be read over once 
in the year, intending thereby, that the Clergy, and especially such as 
were Ministers of the congregation, should (by often reading, and 
meditation of God's word) be stirred up to godliness themselves, and be 
more able to exhort others by wholesome doctrine, and to confute them 
that were adversaries to the truth.  And further, that the people (by 
daily hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church) should continually 
profit more and more in the knowledge of God, and be the more inflamed 
with the love of his true religion.

But these many years passed, this godly and decent order of the ancient 
fathers hath been so altered, broken, and neglected, by planting in 
uncertain stories, Legends, Responds, Verses, vain repetitions, 
Commemorations, and Synodals, that commonly when any book of the Bible 
was begun, before three or four Chapters were read out, all the rest 
were unread.  And in this sort the book of Isaiah was begun in Advent, 
and the book of Genesis in Septuagesima; but they were only begun, and 
never read through.  After a like sort were other books of holy 
Scripture used.  And moreover, whereas St. Paul would have such language 
spoken to the people in the Church, as they might understand, and have 
profit by hearing the same, the Service in the Church of England (these 
many years) hath been read in Latin to the people, which they understood 
not; so that they have heard with their ears only; and their hearts, 
spirit, and mind, have not been edified thereby.  And furthermore, 
notwithstanding that the ancient fathers had divided the Psalms into 
seven portions, whereof every one was called a nocturn, now of late time 
a few of them have been daily said (and oft repeated), and the rest 
utterly omitted.  Moreover, the number and hardness of the Rules called 
the Pie, and the manifold changings of the service, was the cause, that 
to turn the Book only, was so hard and intricate a matter, that many 
times, there was more business to find out what should be read, than to 
read it when it was found out.

These inconveniences therefore considered, here is set forth such an 
order, whereby the same shall be redressed.  And for a readiness in this 
matter, here is drawn out a Kalendar for that purpose, which is plain 
and easy to be understood, wherein (so much as may be) the reading of 
holy Scripture is so set forth, that all things shall be done in order, 
without breaking one piece thereof from another.  For this cause be cut 
off Anthems, Responds, Invitatories, and such like things, as did break 
the continual course of the reading of the Scripture.

Yet because there is no remedy, but that of necessity there must be some 
rules: therefore certain rules are here set forth, which, as they be few 
in number; so they be plain and easy to be understood.  So that here you 
have an order for prayer (as touching the reading of the holy 
Scripture), much agreeable to the mind and purpose of the old fathers, 
and a great deal more profitable and commodious, than that which of late 
was used.  It is more profitable, because here are left out many things, 
whereof some be untrue, some uncertain, same vain