OF SEVEN HUNDRED Evangelical Hymns, FOR PRIVATE, FAMILY, ANd public wORSHIP (Many Original) FROM MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED OF THE BEST AUS ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, AND ARRANGED In an alphaBETICAL ORDER; INTENDED AS A SUPPLEMENT ΤΟ DR. WATTS'S PSALMS & HYMNS, BY JOHN DOBELL. NONE BUT CHRIST. MORRISTOWN....N.J.: PUBLISHED BY PETER A. JOHNSON Jacob Mann, Printer. from a Christian form PREFACE. WHILE so many volumes of hymus, both original and selected, are constantly issuing from the press, it seems almost presumption to expect that this will be noticed. Every man, however, has his peculiar taste; this selection of hymns, together with their arrangement, will be suited to this taste; and consequently there is room to hope, that others may find in these a suitableness to their views, dispositions, and experience, which they have sought in vain from other selections, which, too, have their appropriate excellencies. Under this impression, I have ventured to solicit public attention. It is almost universally admitted that Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns possess an excellency and variety which place him far beyond any single author; and, in my humble opinion, they are of such sterling worth, that no selection, however excellent, should supercede the use of them. It is, however, as generally admitted, that there are many subjects for which Doctor Watts has provided no bymns. To see this deficiency supplied amongst podo baptist churches, has been the desire of many ministers and private christians; and to effect this is the principal, though not the only end of this small volume. The hymns here presented to the public. I have collected from more than two hundred authors: many of them are taken from manuscripts, which I deemed too valuable to be suffered to remain in obscurity and some have been supplied by friends. As this work has been the labor of years, and the choice of many thousand hymns, it will, I trust, give satisfaction to the church of God. Though I have, of course, the sentiments peculiar to that denomination of christians with which providence has placed me; yet I am not without hopes that a selection from the best authors in these United Kingdoms and America, will meet with general approbation. This work, like Doctor Watts's Fourth book, is arranged in an alphabetical order. Each new subject begins with, L. M., C. M., S. M., &c. The first alphabetical order contains the Perfections of God; the second, the Characters and Titles of Christ; the third, the General Subjects. I have endeavored to ascertain the author of every hymn. In some cases my inquiries have been fruitless, and I have consequently said, Anon. (anonymous.) Those verses which may, for the sake of brevity, be omitted, without destroying the unity and connection of the hymn, are included in crotchets. [] The lines or verses marked with single inverted commas, are those which I have deemed necessary to add, for the sake of giving a fulness or expression to the whole. The occasional alterations which will be observed in some hymns, are not, of course, intended to lessen their excellency, but to suit them to a particular subject for which they were not originally designed; or to give a greater smoothness to the versification, Af. ter all, I am ready to acknowledge that many of the verses are rather rhyme than poetry; and, while they deprecate the severity of criticism, must rest their claims to regard on their sentiment and spirit. They will, as far as I can judge, be found full of the doc trines of grace, and the experience of those to whom Christ, in all bis Characters, Offices, and Relations, is precious. In these superior excellencies, this cdition is, I hope, equal to any that has yet appeared; and will, with Doctor Watts's Psalms and Hymns, in four books, be sufficient for any church of Christ, in any circumstances, aud on all subjects. The subjects in this volume, which are various, are adapted to console the saint and awaken the sinner→ are suited equally for the public worship of God, the closet, and the family. And, as singing in families is an uncommon, though necessary part of worship, I embrace this opportunity of presenting to the reader the words of an old writer: As the increase or decay of christian piety is generally accompanied with the use or neglect of family worship. so the duty is more or less defective as singing in families is more or less used. If christians would but consider the great necessity and usefulness of this duty, and the decay of religion and piety that attends the neglect of it and if they had a due regard to their own souls, the good of mankind. and the glory of God, surely they could not make so light of it. I wish that all who make a profession of religion would more scriously consider the happiness that results from it. The closet is a sweet employment, but we should not, by any means, cause family worship and singing to be neglected thereby. Why should we be ashamed to let our neighbours know that we owned and praised God in our families as well as in our churches? The fear of being thought singular appears to be one great cause of this neglect. If those persons would consider how great a Benefactor Almighty God is to them, they would find no reasonable plea for the neglect of it. Let every one consider that the most ready and effectual means to make it universal is, for every |