such as have been sent to me in letters, and which were never before in print. Some of them indeed have undergone such alterations, as that little more than their general ideas remain. I do myself make no pretensions to poetic talent; nevertheless, at different times, since I profess to have known the Lord, I have been led to compose hymns. Of these a few will appear in this book; and, that no other person may be charged with their blemishes, they are distinguished by the letter P, as the others are by the names of their respective authors when known-when the author is unknown, the book is mentioned from which the hymn or song is taken. This book consists of two parts: the first containing what are called the Hymns, the second what are called the Spiritual Songs. In this general division, I have been governed partly by the metre and partly by the tunes usually sung to those of the second part; but principally by the denomination under which they commonly pass among us. The first part contains 420 hymns, and is specially designed for the use of congregations, in the same manner in which Dr. Rippon's book is used; that is, as an Appendix to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns. The second part contains 150 Spiritual Songs; some of which may be used in common with those of the former part, but which are chiefly designed for the use of Society meetings and other circles of religious friends. To this kind of singing I am aware that many serious persons object; however it is hoped that they will bear with those to whom it has often been made a means of great refreshment, and the rather so, because it appears to have been owned, in many instances, as the means of bringing careless sinners to think seriously of eternal things. As in Dr. Rippon's book, so in this, both the hymns and songs are arranged under particular heads, and the number of each is made to agree with the number of the page on which it stands; which must greatly facilitate the finding either of any particular one sought for, or of one suited to any particular subject or occasion. Should the sales of this work produce any surplus of money, after defraying the expense of printing, distribution, &c. it shall be scrupulously applied to the interests of Zion. And should the book be rendered at all useful, either to the dear people I statedly serve, and for whose use it is primarily designed, or to any other church or individual, my Lord and Master shall have all the praise. New-York, 1817. W. P |