THE RITUAL OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. AN ESSAY ON THE PRINCIPLES AND ORIGIN OF CATHOLIC RITUAL IN LONDON: BURNS AND OATES, LIMITED. NEW YORK: CATHOLIC PUBLICATION SOCIETY CO. 1887. NOTICE TO SECOND EDITION. THE first edition of this Essay was entitled 'In Spirit and in Truth an Essay on the Ritual of the New Testament.' In the present edition the first part of this title has been omitted. This requires a word of explanation. Though the book has been recast and almost rewritten, with the addition of more than a hundred pages of new matter, yet I have not altered the title in order to give my Essay the appearance of a new book. I have done so because, since its publication, a translation into English has been made of the ascetic treatise of Father Nieremberg, called 'Of Adoration in Spirit and in Truth.' The similarity of titles between two books, in the very limited literature of Catholic England, had given rise to several mistakes, even though the books were issued by different publishers; and now that they are in the hands of the same publisher, the precaution was necessary to avoid confusion. I have therefore thought it better to yield to the prior claims of Father Nieremberg. T. E. BRIDGETT, C.SS.R. NOTICE TO THIRD EDITION. MANY verbal corrections have been made, and about twenty pages of somewhat irrelevant matter omitted. APPROBATIONS OF THE FIRST EDITION. From the Most Rev. Henry Edward Manning, Archbishop of Westminster. 'Your book is sound, solid, and most useful. I hear approval of it from every one.' From the Most Rev. Patrick Leahy, Archbishop of Cashel. 'Having looked through your Essay, and read some portions of it attentively, I have no manner of doubt but it will do much good with every class of readers.' From the Most Rev. Peter Richard Kenrick, Archbishop of St. Louis. 'I do not remember to have met with any work for a long time which gave me greater satisfaction. I have suggested its republication here.' From the Most Rev. Martin Spalding, Archbishop of Baltimore. 'Having carefully examined the work entitled "In Spirit and in Truth,” we are pleased to be able to bear testimony to its numerous merits, both as to matter and manner, and to commend it to the faithful of the archdiocese, as a mine of useful sacred learning, and a creditable specimen of terse, moderate, and conclusive reasoning on a most interesting subject.' From the Most Rev. William Vaughan, Bishop of Plymouth. 'I am reading your book with much satisfaction. I like it exceedingly, and think it may prove a help to many souls searching after rest and peace.' ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS. Scope of the Essay-For whom intended-Remarks on the Tone of certain Writers on Ritual-The Method adopted is an Appeal to the Two preliminary Objections: 1. There is no Code of Ritual in the New Testament as in the Old-Catholic Reply-Difference between the two Dispensations-No Code of Morals, yet much Morality; 2. There is little said about Ritual-Reply-Further Reply: The Objec- tion proves too much, and would overthrow the Sabbath or Sunday Meaning of the words Spirit and Truth-Are they opposed to Ritual?— Catholic View stated-Our Lord's Maxims-Quakers' Views-Logical Splendour not essential to Ritual, yet eminently Christian-This is proved from a Review of the supernatural Phenomena which accompanied the Birth, Baptism, Transfiguration, Death, Resurrection, and Ascen- sion of Jesus Christ, and the Descent of the Holy Ghost-This was God's own Ritual, and the Model on which Catholic Ritual has been Apostolic Worship not splendid-Protestant Argument from this-Catho- |