Let chanting be introduced into the Sabbath school, (and what style of singing can be better for a Sabbath school than this?) let it make a part of the devotional exercises of every Sabbath, and it will not be long before it may be successfully introduced into the congregation. It is the design of this work to furnish a book of chants which can be used by the whole congregation in connection with the common hymn book, so that a part of the singing every Sabbath, or whenever the minister shall think it best, may consist of these beautiful, scriptural and highly devotional pieces. The number of selections might have been increased had it been thought advisable to enlarge the size of the book; but as it is, it will be found to contain a large portion of those passages of the Word of God, suitable for the purposes of public worship, with all the variety that can be required.

In selecting and composing the music, it has been the aim of the editor to insert only such chants as are simple and easy of performance. What others can be suitable for the service of the church? The first point has been to have the musical sounds quite within the compass of the voice, so that each part may be sung with but little effort by the class of voices for which it is designed. The next, which is equally important, has been to introduce no progressions either in melody or harmony that are not of the most easy and natural kind. There has been no attempt at difficult chords; indeed, in conformity with the excellent rule of Dr. Crotch, and the example of the veteran in church music, Kocher, very few dissonant chords have been introduced, except the soft one of five-four in the cadence; and in but few instances has any other than a common chord in its natural position been used for the reciting part of the chant. The idea of chanting a long line to a dissonant chord, and thus keeping the ear in constant suspense and expectation of a resolution, is quite absurd. The mind must be at perfect ease to enable one to enter fully into the sentiment; but this cannot be, while it is employed in calculating a dissonance, or waiting in anxious expectation of its resolution. In several instances, the same chant has been set to different selections; and the same successions of chords will often be found in the cadences of different chants. Utility and not novelty has been constantly kept in view in the preparation of this work.

It is hardly necessary to give any particular directions in relation to the application of the words to the music, as the manner of doing this is sufficiently indicated by the bars inserted in the poetry, conforming to those in the music. The necessity for a division or union of notes in the cadences will be easily perceived, by the number of syllables, or by a dash.

In conclusion, it only remains to commend this book to the blessing of Him whose praises it is intended to set forth, and to express the desire that He would give it success just so far as it may be made instrumental in promoting His glory, and the edification of those who worship him in spirit and in truth.

See "Remarks on Chanting" at the end of this volume.

Amen.

1

SELECTION 1.

O LORD our Lord,

How excellent is thy name in all the earth!

2 Who hast set thy glo..ry a-| bove the | heavens.

3

{

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings

[Ps. 8.]

Hast thou ordained strength, be- cause of..thine enemies; 4 That thou mightest still the | ene..my | and..the a- venger.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers; 5{The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained:

6

7

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? {And the son of man, that thou | visi-test | him.

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,
And hast crowned him with | glory..and | honor.

Thou madest him to have dominion over the work of thy 8 hands;

Thou hast put all things | under..his | feet.

All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 9 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea,

10

And whatsoever passeth through the paths..of the sea.
O LORD our Lord,

{ excellent is thy | name in | all the earth.

2

Consider my medi- tation.

Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God;
For unto thee will | I | pray.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD;

3 In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and I will look up.

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wicked4 ness,

5

Neither shall evil | dwell with | thee.

(The foolish shall not stand in thy sight; {Thou hatest all | workers..of in- iquity.

Thou shalt destroy them that speak falsehood;

6 The LORD will abhor the | bloody...and de- ceitful |

man.

But as for me, I will come into thy house 7 In the multitude of thy mercy;

And in thy fear will I worship toward thy | holy | temple. Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness, because of mine 8 enemies;

9

Make thy way | straight before my face.

{Let the those shop for

because

Let them ever shout for joy, because thou de-|fendest them. 10 Let them also that love thy | name be | joyful..in | thee.

[1

12

For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; {With favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield. S Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous;

With favor wilt thou | compass..him | as..with a | shield.

Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot

1 save;

2

3

Neither his ear heavy, that it | cannot | hear:

But your iniquities have separated between you and your
God,

And your sins have hid his face from you,
That he will not | hear.

ch. Iv. 7.

S Let the wicked forsake his way,

And the unrighteous | man his | thoughts:
And let him return unto the LORD,

4 And he will have mercy upon him;

And to our God, for | he..will a- bundant-ly | pardon.

Ez. xxxiii. 11.

As I live, saith the LORD GOD,

5 I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked;
But that the wicked turn from his | way and | live:
Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways;

6

{

For why will ye | die, O | house of | Israel.

SELECTION 4.

[Is. lv. 1.]

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, And he that hath no money; come ye, | buy and | eat; Yea, come, buy wine and milk

Without money..and | with-out | price.

{Wherefore

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, And your labor for that which | satis-fieth | not?

Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, And let your soul de- light it- self in fatness.

5

Incline your ear, and come unto me:

Hear, and your soul shall | live:

6

And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
Even the sure | mercies..the | mercies..of | David.

1

SELECTION 5.

(Why do the heathen rage,

And the people imagine a | vain- | thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,

A... men.

[Ps. 2.]

2 And the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, And a-gainst..his An- ointed | saying:

3

5

6

'Let us break their bands asunder, And cast away their | cords from us.' He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; {The Lord shall have them in de- rision.

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath,
And vex them in his | sore dis- pleasure.
'Yet have I set my King

Upon my holy | hill of Zion.'

I will declare the decree:

7 The Lord hath said unto me 'Thou art my Son; This day have I be- gotten thee.

Ask of me, and I will give thee

8 The heathen for thine inheritance,

9

10

11

12

And the uttermost parts of the | earth for | thy pos- session

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;

Thou shalt dash them in pieces | like a.. potter's | vessel.'
Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings;

Be in- structed,..ye | judges..of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear,

And re-joice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry,

And ye perish from the way,

When his wrath is kindled but a little.

Blessed are all they that put their trust, their trust in him