Psalms and hymns from holy Scripture: selected and arranged for chanting [by ...

WARD & CO., 27, PATERNOSTER ROW;
C. H. PURDAY, 24, MADDOX STREET, REGENT STREET;
J. UNWIN, 31, BUCKLERSBURY.

1854.

138. c. 415.

TWO EDITIONS of this work are printed :

1. WORDS AND MUSIC, cloth boards, 1s., or, to Congregations applying direct to the Publisher, £4 per 100, Cash with order.

2. WORDS ONLY, without Music, so as to be used with any selection of Chants, stiff cloth, 8d., or, to Congregations, £2. 12s. per 100, Cash with order.

The Compilers are prepared to print an edition in larger type, should any such general wish be expressed as to justify the expense. Communications on this point may be addressed to Mr. UNWIN, 31, Bucklersbury.

An Instrumental Edition of the Chants is preparing.

For notice of the Weigh-House Church Music Books, see last page.

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

In a few prefatory words to the first edition of this book, I stated my belief, that the solitary chant previously in use at the Weigh-House Chapel had been felt by the Congregation, with scarcely an exception, to be impressive, elevating and devotional. I also said that I believed the discontinuance of this part of the service would be generally deprecated. After four years' further experience of the effect and influence of chanting among us, I feel that I can without hesitation repeat these statements.

Some years ago, Congregational chanting was little more than a problem and an experiment. It may now, perhaps, be regarded as an ascertained and settled point, that, by a moderate degree of care and culture, a Congregation may bring itself to unite simply, easily and devoutly in this form of public praise. I rejoice in believing that we have had some small share in promoting among Dissenters the revival of this ancient and scriptural form of "the service of song in the House of the Lord."

The Church of Rome seeks to secure uniformity of worship by using in her services the same language throughout all the world, a language nowhere now a living speech! A much more real union and uniformity would result from the general adoption of the chant. By this means the Church universal, of every nation and every clime-“ every man," indeed, "in his own tongue," but all uttering the same thought -might unite in singing, in the same tones, the same songs;— songs which echoed in the ancient Church, which were sung by David, Asaph and Hezekiah, by Isaiah and the prophets, by Peter and John, and Paul and Silas, and even probably by our Lord himself,—and which, as the fruit of inspiration, are God's own gift to us, and are free from all suspicion of human error or infirmity.

Although some mixture of this error and infirmity must always disfigure the productions of even the best of men, we should be sorry to see the chant supersede or displace our metrical Psalms and Hymns;-it is only in addition to these that we advocate it. We do this, however, with a very sincere and deep conviction that it may be made greatly to promote the high and hallowed ends of all worship. I earnestly hope that this new and enlarged edition of our little work, containing so many of the "Songs of Zion," in a form the nearest to that in which they were originally given, will tend to promote their more general use, both among ourselves and in other congregations. The selection has been carefully prepared, and is the result of much and conscientious labour.

T. B.

Index of Passages.

In this Index the passages marked (*) are those to which double Chants can be used with least inconvenience.