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 disagreeable to the mind of God. To stigmatize such an act of devotion with the name of idolatry, is (to say the least) an abuse 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 Selection, those Christians who do not scruple to sing praises to their Redeemer and Sanctifier, will find materials for such a sublime enjoyment; whilst others, whose tenderness of conscience may oblige them to confine their addresses to the Father only, will find no deficiency of matter suited to their idea of "the chaste and awful spirit of devotion."

BOSTON, MAY 10, 1795.

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

THE Hymns from the 300th to the end, are added to this edition, and have been selected by a successor of the Rev. Author. It is hoped that they will increase the value of the Collection, and will serve to cherish that spirit of genuine devotion which the whole work is eminently adapted to pro

mote.

PSALMS.

PSALM I. Common Metre.

The Happiness of the Righteous and the Misery of the Wicked.

1 BLEST is the man who shuns the place
Where sinners love to meet;
Who fears to tread their wicked ways,
And hates the scoffer's seat:
2 But in the statutes of the Lord
Has plac'd his chief delight;
By day he reads or hears the word,
And meditates by night.

3 He, like a tree of gen'rous kind,
By living waters set,
Safe from the storm and blasting wind,
Enjoys a peaceful state.

4 Green as the leaf, and ever fair
Shall his profession shine;
Whilst fruits of holiness appear
Like clusters on the vine.

5 Not so th' impious and unjust;
What vain designs they form!
Their hopes are blown away like dust,
Or chaff before the storm.

6 Sinners in judgment shall not stand Among the sons of grace,

When Christ, the Judge, at his right hand Appoints his saints a place.

7 His eye beholds the path they tread,
His heart approves it well;
But crooked ways of sinners lead
Down to the gates of hell.

WATTS.

PSALM II. Common Metre.

The Exaltation of Christ.

1 ATTEND, O earth, when God declares His uncontroll'd decree;

Thou art my Son, this day, my Heir, "Have I begotten thee.

2 "Upon my holy Zion's hill My King I thee ordain ;

66

"And though thy foes dispute my will, Thou shalt for ever reign.

66

3 "Ask and receive thy full demands,
"Thine shall the heathen be;

66 The utmost limits of the lands
"Shall be possess'd by thee.

4 "Thy righteous sceptre thou shalt sway,
"And all thy foes command;
"Just as the potter breaks the clay,
"And moulds it with his hand."

5 Be wise, ye princes, then; give ear,
Ye judges of the earth;
Worship the Lord with holy fear,
Rejoice with awful mirth.

6 Approach the Son with due respect,
To him your homage pay ;
Lest ye persist in your neglect,
And perish in your way.

7 If but in part his anger rise,

Who can endure the flame ?
Then blest are they whose hope relies
On his most holy Name.

TATE, varied.

PSALM II. Short Metre.

The Death, Resurrection and Glory of Christ.
1 MAKER, and sov'reign Lord
Of heav'n, and earth, and seas,
Thy providence confirms thy word,
And answers thy decrees.

2 The things so long foretold
By David, are fulfill'd ;
When Jews and Gentiles join'd to slay
Jesus, thy holy Child.

3 Why did the Gentiles rage,
And Jews with one accord
Unite their counsels to destroy
Th' Anointed of the Lord?

4 Rulers and kings agree
To form a vain design;
Against the Lord they join their pow'rs,
Against his Christ combine.

5 The Lord derides their rage,
And will support his throne;
He who hath rais'd him from the dead,
Hath own'd him for his Son.

6 He asks, and God bestows A vast inheritance;

Far as the earth's remotest ends
His kingdom shall advance.

WATTS.