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CONSISTING OF

PSALMS AND HYMNS,

ADAPTED TO

CHRISTIAN DEVOTION,

IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

a the beft Authors, with Variations
and Additions.

By JEREMY BELKNAP, D. D.

THIRD EDITION, WITH IMPROVEMENTS.

Dubile according to A of Congre{s,

PRINTED AT BOSTON,

For THOMAS & ANDREWS and D. WEST,

[PROPRIETORS of the Work.]

Sold by them at their respective Bookstores, and by the
feveral BOOKSELLERS in Town and Country,

NOV. 1801.

i

BV! 459

.337P RE FACE

1801

DR. Johnson hath obferved concerning de votional poetry, that "the fanctity of the matter rejects the ornaments of figurative diction." Inferior fubjects may be heightened by the charms of rhetoric, but this is too fublime to receive any decora tion from human eloquence; and we often debafe it by making the attempt.

Dr. WATTS, in one of his hymns, hath faid,
"Join all the names of love and power
That ever men or angels bore;

All are too mean to speak his worth,
Or fet EMANUEL's glory forth.".

Yet, fuch was the imperfection of one of the best of men, that we frequently find in his divine poems, epithets and allufions taken from "mortal brauties, and applied to the Saviour, with a license difgufling to the fpirit of devotion. It has been my din avoid thefe familiarities; and either to change or omit fuch epithets and allufions.

The names of the authors from whom this felec tion is made, are fubjoined to each pfalm or hymn: excepting when they are unknown, or have roquefid concealment. Most of thefe names are famihar to the readers of poetry; but there is one, to whom I om largely indebted for fome of the myt elegant of thefe productions, who is but little known in this country, and of whom I conceive the following ac count will be acceptable to every reader.

"ANNE STEELE was the eldest daughter of a diffenting minifier at Broughton, in Hampshire; a man of piety, integrity, benevolence, and the most amiable fimplicity of manners. She difcovered in early life, her love of the mufes, and often entertained her friends, with the truly poetical and pious productions of her pen. But, it was her infelicity, as it has been of many of her kindred Spirits, to have a capacious foaring mind inclofed in a very weak and languid body. She lived, for the most part, a life of retirement in the fame peaceful village where fhe bean and ended her days. The duties of friendship and religion occupied her time, and the pleasures of both conflituted her delight. Her heart was apt to feel, often to a degree too painful for her own felicity: but always with the most tender and generous fympathy for her friends. Yet, fhe poffeffed a native cheerfulness of which, even the agonizing pains fhe endured, in the latter part of her life, could not deprive her. In every short interval of abated fuffering, fhe would in a variety of ways, as well as by her en livening converfation, give pleasure to all around her. Her life was a life of unaffected humility, warm benevdence, fincere friendship, and genuine devotion. She waited with chriflian dignity for the hour of ber departure: When it came, he welcomed its approach; and having taken an affectionate leave of her friends, clofed her eyes, with these animating words on her lips, "I know that my Redeemer liveth."*

*This account is taken from the preface to the third volume of her "mifcellaneous pieces in profe and verfe," published under the name of THEODOSIA, by the Rev. Culeb Evans, of Bristol, 1780, after her decease.

It is humbly apprehended, that a grateful and affectionate address to the exalted Saviour of mankind, or a hymn in honour of the Eternal Spirit, cannot be difagreeable to the mind of GOD. To figmatize fuch an act of devotion with the name of idolatry, is (to fay the least) an abufe of language. It cannot be justly charged with derogating from the glory due to the ONE God and Father of all, because he is the ultimate object of the honour which is given to his Son and to his Spirit.

In this felection, thofe Chriflians who do not feruple to fing praifes to their Redeemer and Sanctifier, will find materials for fuch a fublime enjoyment; whilst others, whofe tenderness of confcience may oblige them to confine their addreffes to the Father only, will find no deficiency of matter fuited to their idea of the chafte and awful fpirit of devotion."

BOSTON, May 10, 1795

N. B. The characters denoting the sharp or flat key, are prefixed to each pfalm or hymn, at my requeft, by the Rev. Dr. MORSE, of Charlyftown.

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