Puslapio vaizdai
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cancelling the whole which had been thus completed ;- -a measure which must have exposed me to an enormous, and, I think, an unnecessary expense.

Such, then, has been my plan. I fear the greater difficulty remains to me, to obviate those objections which suggest themselves to my own mind; and which, with others not apparent to me, will too probably operate with considerable force on those who feel less interest in this laborious work than myself.

1. The bulk of the volume is exceptionable. This has, indeed, been increased beyond my original intention. A second edition may obviate this objection, by the adoption of a thinner paper.

2. The elevation of some of the compositions may appear too great for common use. The answer to this objection is,-that amidst such variety, enough may be selected to anSix hundred hymns swer every purpose. may be found sufficiently simple for public worship, allowing that four court the graces of poetry, and avail themselves of the aid of imagination. Some of these are also intended for private use. I remembered that I was compiling a general volume.

3. The metres of some have not at present congregational tunes adapted to them. These are to be supplied, by promise, with suitable airs, by the first composers of this or of any

age. I am not at liberty to mention their names; but their compositions will sufficiently determine their ability. I may be allowed to observe, that such metres are comparatively few.

4. The use of Roman numerals in place of figures, is, I am convinced, a great defect in the work. I was not aware of this, till I had proceeded too far to alter my plan. In a future edition, figures shall be employed, and the page shall be made to correspond with

the hymn,

5. The alterations which will be manifest in this volume. For-these, I have nothing to plead, but that if I have not amended where I have altered, I must abide the consequences. In many cases, I have attempted to soften a harsh line. In some, especially with Mr. Charles Wesley's compositions, (by far the most devotional I have met with), I have sometimes omitted a verse, and sometimes altered a line, for the sake of sentiment. I must endure, here, the test of criticism.

6. The errors of all the editions are, I fear, very numerous. These shall be rectified in future editions. They arise partly from the difficulty of compiling and superintending such a volumé, in the first instance; and partly from the circumstances of this particular volume, mutilated, hastily supplied, and

delayed as it has been, in consequence of a fire at my printer's, which consumed three thousand copies of this work.

Adopting instrumental music myself, some of the hymns will be found to turn on this principle. I have no wish to press the subject on others. But there is one point which I cannot consent to overlook. Under the former dispensation, the Levites and the congregation stood up to praise the Lord. I cannot think that we owe less reverence to the great object of our thanksgivings under this "ministration of life," than they felt under "the ministration of death." Singing is an act of worship; but sitting is not a posture of worship. In heaven, prostration is used; surely on earth, less than rising cannot be deemed due reverence.

Blackheath Hill, Kent,
Aug. 4. 1812.

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A God! a God! the wide earth shouts

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A guilty soul by sin opprest

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Ah! give me, Lord, myself to see

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Ah! grant me, Lord, in death to find

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Almighty power! amazing are thy ways
Almighty to persuade thou art

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Am I a soldier of the cross

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