1 GOD OD is the Gob of Truth, of Holiness, and of Elegance. Whoever, therefore, has the honor to compofe, or to compile, any thing that may conftitute a part of His worship, fhould keep thofe three particulars, conftantly, in view. As we cannot pray, without the exciting and enabling grace of the HoLY GHOST (Rom. viii. 26. Jude 20); fo neither can we fing, fpiritually, acceptably, and profitably, without the Prefence and Infpiration of the fame condefcending and moft adorable Perfon (1 Cor. xiv. 15. Eph. v. 18, 19). The reafon is evident. For, what is a Palm, or Hymn, ftrictly taken, but prayer, or praise in verfe? The original difference (if any specific difference there originally was) between Pfalms and Hymns, seems to have lain in this: that, antiently, a Pfalm was actually fat to Inftrumental Mufic, and ufually accompany'd by it an the time of finging (Pfal. lxxxi. 2). A fimilar, or even the felf-fame compofition, fimply fung, without the aid of mufical inftruments, was, perhaps, the primitive de finition of an Hymn (Matth. xvi. 30). By degrees, the word Pfalm became appropriated, for refpectfull diftinction's fake, to the infpired Songs of David, and others, recorded in Scripture: while fucceding pieces, formed on thofe elevated models, but written, from time to time, as opcafion ferved, by inferior believers, obtained the appellation of Hymns, St. PAUL in Eph. v. ro and Col. ii. 16.) mêntions a fpecies of Sacred Poetry, which he terms, wout THEDμalizar, i. &... Jpiritual. Odes." Thefe, likewife, I take to have been, what are ufually called, buman Compofitions as much fo, as the Hymns of PRUDENTIUS, BEZA, GROTIUS, WITSIUS, VIDA, DeWALT, Mifs: STEELE, or Mr. HART. Such devouf productions that le denominated Odes, or Songs at large, becaufe like many of the Pfalms themfelves) they admit of much latitude and variety: being not ftrictly limited to abfolute: Prayer and Praife, but occafionally fraught with Doctrin; Exhortation, and Intruction in righteoufnefs; tending, as the Apoftle expreffes it in the paffage laft cited, to "teach," to admonish," and to build build up one another on our moft holy faith. The "Odes," which St. Paul recommends, are termed 66 jpiritual" ones, because they relate to fpiritual things; are written by fpiritual Perfons, under the impreffions of fpiritual Influence; and, if the good SPIRIT of God fhine upon us at the time, are a moft fpiritual branch of divine worship: conducing to fpiritualize the heart, wing the affections to heaven, and give us a bleffed foretaste of the Employment and the Felicity of elect Angels, and of elect Souls delivered from the prison of the flesh.. Some worthy perfons have been of opinion, (and what abfurdity is there, for which fome well-meaning people have not contended?) that it is "Unlarofall to fing Human Compofitions in the Houfe of God." But, by the fame rule, it must be equally unlawfull, to preach, or publicly to pray, except in the very words of Scripture. Not to obferve, that many of the best and greatest Men, that ever lived, have, both in antient and modern times, been Hymn-Writers; and that there is the strongeft reason to believe, that the best Christians, in all ages, have been Hyma-Singers.. Moreover, the finging of hymns is an Ordinance, to which God has repeatedly fet the Seal of his own Prefence and Power; and which He deigns eminently to blefs, at this very day. It has proved a converting Ordinance, to fome of his people; a recovering Ordinance, to others; a com forting Ordinance, to them all; and one of the divineit Mediums of communion with God, which his gracious benignity has vouchfafed to his church below. With regard to the following Collection, I can only fay, that (excepting the very few hymns of my own, which I have been prevailed with to infert) it ought to be the beft that has yet appeared, confidering the great number of volumes (no fewer than between forty and fity), which have, more or lefs, contributed to this Compilation. But remember, Reader, that none can," truly and favingly, learn the Song of the LAMB," who are not redeemed from the earth" by his moft precious Blood: (Rev. xiv. 3.)-Pray, therefore, for the effectual ope # ration ration of the HOLY GHOST on thy heart, to apply and make known to thee thy perfonal Intereft in the FATHER'S election and in the Son's redemption. So wilt thou not only fing with understanding, but with the SPIRIT also, beaming upon thy foul; and be able, experimentally, to fay, As from the Lute foft mufic flows, Touch'd by the finger of thy love, And feel the blifs that makes them fing. The holy Unction of the facred SPIRIT's influence is, in the following pages, mot earnestly and frequently invoked. May it richly defcend upon, and be abundantly felt by, as many as read and make use of this book! Amen. London, July 26, 1776.. AUGUSTUS TOPLADY. The principal' ERRA T A Which have been perceived, the Reader is P. 220. L. 7. 66 of," calls forth;" read, calls for We'll pray. 3 In the Red Sea, by Mofes' hand, 4 When through the defart Ifrael went, 5 Mofes beheld the promis'd land, But CHRIST fhall bring his children home, 6 Then fhall our hearts with joy o'erflow, 1 JESU IV. Electing Grace. ESUS, we blefs thy Father's name; 2" Chrift be my first elect," he faid; 3 Thus did Eternal Love begin Our characters were then decreed, "Blamelefs in love, an holy feed." 4 Predeftinated to be fons, 5 Born by degrees, but chofe at once; To praife the glory of his grace. With CHRIST Our LORD we fhare our part Nor fhall our fouls be thence remoy'd, V. Unchangeable Love. OUR when he hides his face! UR GOD, how firm his promife ftands, He trufts, in our Redeemer's hands, 2 Then why, my foul, thefe fad complaints, Since CHRIST and we are one? Thy Gop is faithful to his faints, 3 Beneath his fmiles my, heart hath liv'd, I thank him for the grace receiv'd, 4 JESUS, my GoD, I know his name; He will not put my foul to fhame, |