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We learn by the testimony of a heathen of considerable credibility, I mean Pliny, that the fame practice was continued by the followers of Chrift in his days, that is, about the year of our Lord 100; nor was there ever a time, that I know of, from that to this, in which it was generally abandoned. Part of the fubjects, indeed, dwelt upon then in finging, have been thrown out with fovereign contempt by fome pretendedly very wife fince thofe days. The Chriftians in the time of Pliny, he fays exprefsly, "fung hymns to Chrift as though "he were, or, under the idea of his being GOD."* Eufehius, a Chriftian bishop, who lived in the time of the emperor Conftantine, and about the year of our Lord 300, tells us of "certain pfalms and odes, wrote by the faithful brethren "in the first age, which celebrate the divinity of the Chrift "the Word of God." + Some perfons think they fee better than that now, and therefore abhor fuch hymns as contain that eternal truth, or any other truths founded thereupon. They are objects of pity. May the eternal Spirit open their eyes to fee the glories of Jefus, and grant even unto them alfo falvation by his blood. Whatever they may fay or do, we will fing hymns to Christ as our God; nor need we fear being wrong in fo doing, while the ranfomed above fing the fame eternally.

I do not mean to fuggeft that the following hymns are the only ones in which this truth and its concomitants are to be found. There are doubtless thousands more in the world that breathe a kindred spirit with them, and it is my fincere wifh that there may be millions more of the fame kind.

*Plinii Epift. lib. 10. epift. 97.

Eufeb. Hift. Eccles. lib. 5. c. 28.

Plenty of good witneffes will not diminish the goodness or juftice of a caufe.

Many, in compofing fuch hymns, have done worthily in Ifrael; and their memories are bleffed. The praife, particularly of Dr. Watts is deservedly great in the churches. He fhines as a fun among the stars; and as long as a just taste for either poetry or evangelic truth remains in the world, he is likely to retain the preference; and it is matter of astonishment to me that fuch wretched performances as Sternhold and Hopkins, the Scotch verfion, and others, of the pfalms, fhould ever be fung where Watts' is known, as there admits of no comparison betwixt his and theirs.

With refpect both to his pfalms and hymns I profefs myself to be among the number of his admirers, and cannot think the works, of this kind, of any individual whatever equal to his; the confequence of which is, my conftant ufe of both the pfalms and hymns: but, at the same time, I cannot help thinking fome perfons too ftrongly prejudiced to them, who, to fhew their attachment to Watts and his compofitions, will fuffer none befides to be fung where they have any influence. They must either suppose him to have pfalms and hymns upon every subject in the word of God, and the experience of Chriftians in all states, and thefe reprefented in every proper point of view; or, that the reft of the hymns, compofed by others, are not worthy to be introduced into the worship of God. But neither of these ideas can be supported, because they are both equally unjuft. Have not many ministers, and others, who choose the hymns, often complained that they could meet with no hymn or

pfalm, in Watts' works, which fuited their fubject and views of it? and in the judgment of many judicious and worthy perfons, there are, at leaft, fome hymns, compofed by other hands, that may vie with any of his individual pfalms or hymns; fill admitting that he ought to have the preference upon the whole and I verily believe, if he was alive, he would blame the above mentioned conduct, as tending to rob the church of Chrift of the edification which might be derived from that diversity of gifts which the Lord himself hath given, in his own infinite wisdom, for a valuable end.

Hence there appears to me a propriety, and a probability of usefulness, in a well-chofen collection of hymns from other authors, especially when used as a fupplement to Watts', and coinciding with him in his views of the Gofpel of Chrift. A greater variety of metres likewife may be introduced, which, if properly ufed, may have a tendency to remedy that infupportable dulnefs in finging the praites of our covenant God, which too frequently, in many congregations, renders that delightful part of divine worship tedious and burdenfome; and alfo to bring about that defirable end of engaging whole congregations to join in finging, by enlivening it, inftead of the prepofterous method of leaving a fet of fingers to do that for them all, which God requires from every one himself who is capable of it.

This is only a part of the profeffed defign of this publication; what fuccefs befides may attend it remains with him alone who is able to make all means falutary; this however we know, that the topicks dwelt upon in these hymns are fuch as he has always bleffed; that, in the hand of the fpirit they

are calculated to awaken finners from their ftate of carnal fecurity; to lead the weary and heavy laden to reft in Jefus ; to raise the affections from earth to heaven; to rouse the flumbering to activity; to raise the fallen; to direct the heart and mind into the love and peace of God; to establish, strengthen and comfort believers; and to make our hearts burn within us by the way to our eternal home: and, as this has been the cafe in times of old, why may we not expect the fame glorious and happy effects? why may we not yet, in an attendance to the fame means, have a shower of grace, and times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power?

My heart's defire, and prayer to God for you is, that the precious opportunities you poffefs may be eagerly feized by you all, and improved for that eternity to which we are fast approaching; that you may each know Jefus as your Redeemer and eternal Friend; that you may tafte the joys of fin forgiven through his blood, and rejoice in his righteoufnefs imputed to you all the day long; and that, being changed into the image of Jefus here by the fpirit, you may at laft fit down with the Almighty Saviour on his throne. What are all the vain things which can be had here below, compared to that exceeding great and eternal weight of glory? If we have any just grounds to expect it, let us rife above the world; fet our affections on things above; gird up the loins of our mind; fight the good fight of faith; and be as men that wait for their Lord's return. Yet a very little while and all our toils, our difficulties, and our forrows will be over; and he that fhall come, will come, and will not tarry. He will

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take us to his home, his reft, his joy. There fhall we fing the fong of Mofes and the Lamb for ever. Then fhall we

join in the general chorus of all the ineffably happy tribes of the redeemed, and fing, Salvation, and bleffing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto him that fitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb in the midft of the throne for ever and ever. Amen. Even fo come, Lord Jefus-That this honour and joy may be yours, is the fincere with of

BOLTON, 13th September, 1792.

Your affectionate Paftor,

W. MAURICE.

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