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LITURGY AND HYMNS

FOR THE

USE OF THE PROTESTANT CHURCH

OF

THE UNITED BRETHREN

OR

Unitas Fratrum.

A NEW AND REVISED EDITION.

Come before his presence with singing.-PSALM C. 2.

I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy.-PSALM lix. 16.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.-CoL. iii. 16.

I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.-
1 COR. xiv. 15.

London:

MORAVIAN PUBLICATION OFFICE,
32, FETTER LANE, E.C.

ALSO AT THE BRETHREN'S CONGREGATIONS AND CHAPELS IN
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

1886.

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VQ Mo 1789 1886

PREFACE.

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BETWEEN the appearance of the present edition of the Moravian Church Hymn-book and the last, a period of thirty-seven years 18 4 has elapsed. During this time a great number of fine Hymns have been composed, and have become popular; and a marked change has taken place in the congregational singing of many churches in our land.

The need of a revision of our Hymnal had long been felt. First, an authorized Supplement, of about eighty new hymns was issued; it was, however, very little used. Then, the Synod of 1878 committed the charge of revision to four brethren, who accordingly went twice through the entire book, adding new hymns to each section as it seemed requisite. All proposed alterations were published in The Messenger; and the new hymns, with a list of proposed omissions, were printed previous to the Synod of 1883. By these means the opinion of our congregations as to the contemplated alterations was in some measure elicited.

That Synod chose seven brethren finally to revise and complete the work. After much renewed labour this was accomplished, and the result is now, with earnest supplication for the Lord's blessing, laid before our congregations.

The Committee would remark

1. That they have been careful to preserve the leading features of the former book, more particularly its admirable arrangement of subjects; and have retained what might be called Moravian hymns, endeared, by long use and familiarity, to so many of our members. To these have been added a few tions from the German.

new transla

2. They have inserted a number of choice hymns of James Montgomery, Ch. Wesley, and other comparatively older writers; and

3. They have selected a considerable number of excellent hymns written more recently, which have already found their way into most of the hymnals of other churches.

The appending of the authors' names, with dates, and, in the larger edition, the insertion of the first line of an original, will, it is believed, enhance the value of this collection. The Asterisk is still used in the smaller edition to mark translated hymns.

A few changes are made in the numbers of the Tunes, which will be found to correspond with the new Tune-book, also being brought out by order of the Synod.

As to the authorship of hymns,_valuable_information was derived from the labours of our late Br. J. A. Eberle.

We would herewith gratefully acknowledge our indebtedness to the following Authors or Proprietors for kind permission to insert Copyright Hymns

:

The Right Rev. Bishops of Bedford and Exeter, and the late Bishop of Lincoln, Mrs. Alexander, Rev. W. A. Bathurst, Rev. R. H. Baynes, Mrs. Bode, Rev. H. Bonar, Miss Borthwick, Sir Edw. Denny, Rev. Fr. Gurney, Miss Maria V. G. Havergal, Messrs. Longman & Co., Rev. R. Lovett (for Religious Tract Society), Mrs. Luke, Mrs. Monsell, Mr. Geo. Morrish, Mr. J. Mote, Mr. C. E. Mudie, Messrs. Nisbet & Co., Dean Plumptre, Rev. T. B. Pollock, Rev. W. Pulling (for Hymns Ancient and Modern), G. Rawson, Esq., Messrs. Rivington & Co., Rev. S. J. Stone, Rev. L. R. Tuttiett, Rev. H. Twells, Miss A. L. Waring, Rev. Fred. Whitfield, Rev. W. M. Whittemore, and others.

If any infringement of Copyright should possibly have taken place, we trust the explanation will be accepted, that it was quite unintentional; and such mistakes, we hope, will be kindly overlooked.

In completing their work, the Hymn-book Committee would add that their constant and prayerful aim has been the edification of the Church, and the glory of our Lord and Saviour. May this book be ever accompanied with the Divine blessing, and be for the instruction and comfort of numbers in the future, as former collections have been in the past. May it help us to be filled with the Spirit, to speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. May we anticipate while here below, though in a humble and imperfect strain, the song of the blessed above, who, being redeemed out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation, and having washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, stand before the throne, and sing in perfect harmony with the myriads of angels that surround it :'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing, for ever and ever.-Amen."

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Christmas, 1885.

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