INTRODUCTION charm of numbers, as the evil spirit departed from Saul when the sweet singer of Israel tuned his harp before him. We are less backward in confessing our delinquencies then than at other times. The flow of penitential sorrow is never stronger or more sincere. Humility is never deeper ; self-abasement never more prostrate. We are more disposed to close with the offers of mercy. Our gratitude is more warm and lively. Our joy more glowing; and the whole train of sentiment in our bosoms more devout and fervent. That solemn appeals to the affections, are never more impressive, cannot, we think, be more convincingly shown than by presenting our readers with the following lines on the day of judgment, verses which we think it impossible for any one to read without emotion. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, trust is for ever gone by, in which immorality , oh We know not a more delightful or improving e Day of judgment, day of wonders ! Hark! the trumpet's awful sound, Shakes the vast creation round! Cloth'd in Majesty divine ! " This God is mine!" Gracious Saviour, own me in that day for thine ! At his call, the dead awaken, Rise to life from earth and sea; By his looks, prepare to flee : sidered Horrors past imagination Will surprise your trembling heart, When you hear your condemnation, “ Hence, accursed wretch, depart; Lest you timely warning take, Plunge you in the burning lake! Lov'd and serv'd the Lord below, See the kingdom I bestow : May this thought your courage raise ! Sighs shall then be chang'd to praise ; In presenting this little volume to the puhlic we feel encouraged by the hope of its being useful, The Hymns of the excellent and pious divines, Watts and Doddridge, are very generally taught throughout the island, and thousands are at this day experiencing the good which they are calculated to impart. The Olney Hymns, too, have been found highly beneficial in furnishing instruction to persons of matured understanding, as well as in cherishing pious and devout affections. We flatter uirselves that in general usefulness the present colction will not fall behind either of these now menoned, or any other selection of Sacred Poetry now Horrors past imagination Will surprise your trembling heart, “ Hence, accursed wretch, depart; Thou with Satan and his angels have thy part." in circulation, as from the number of choice pieces which it contains, we are certain that it is not in There ferior to any other in poetical excellence. is interspersed through the volume a very considerable number of small poems, the productions of our best and most recent authors. It will be found likewise to contain as great a variety of subjects and measures, as it is possible, perhaps, for any colJection to bave. And, in concluding, we judge it not improper to state what we think must be considered as no small recommendation of the work, that by far the greater proportion of the volume consists of entire poems, and several of these are now printed for the first time. Satan, who now tries to please you, Lest you timely warning take, When that word is past, wiil seize you, Plunge you in the burning lake! Think, poor singer, thy eternal all's at stake. But to those who have confessed, Lov'd and sery'd the Lord below, say, “ Come near, ye blessed, See the kingdom I bestow : You for ever shall my love and glory know;" Greenock. 1828. Under sorrows and reproaches, May this thought your courage raise ! Sighs shall then be chang'd to praise ; In presenting this little volume to the puhlic we feel encouraged by the hope of its being useful, The Hymns of the excellent and pious divines, Watts and Doddridge, are very generally taught throughout the island, and thousands are at this day experiencing the good which they are calculated to impart. The Olney Hymns, too, have been found highly beneficial in furnishing instruction to persons of matured understanding, as well as in cherishing pious and devout affections. We Hatter ourselves that in general usefulness the present collection will not fall behind either of these now men. tioned, or any other selection of Sacred Poetry now 1 26 Sacred Poetry-its superiority and influence, The morning preceding the final consummation Lines written on receiving his mother's picture, Cowper, 9 The omnipresence of the Deity, Lines on the death of Mr. Richards, The perfections and providence of God, Wilson, 18 Oh! had I wings like yonder bird, Jerus’lem! Jerus'lem, the spoiler bas trod, iveir, 35 Hymn, God the everlasting light of his people, P.Doddridge 40 Psalm, View of the heavenly bodies, The dying Christian to his soul, Seeing we are compassed about with so grcat a Sound the loud timbrel o'er Egypt's dark sea, |