An Arrangement of the Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts

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BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the sixteenth day L. S. of November, A. D. 1818, and in the forty-third year of

the Independence of the United States of America, ********

JAMES M. WINCHELL, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of & Book, the right wherevf he claimus as Proprietur, in the words following, to wit:

" An Arrangement of the Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. To which are added, ludexes, very much enlarged and iuproved, to facilitate the use of the whole in finding Psa iny or Hymns suited to partieular subjects or occasions. By JAMES M. WINCHEIL, A. M. Pastor of the First Baptist Church ia Beeton."

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled,

An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies ut Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned:” and also to an Act, entitled, " An et supplementary to an Act, entitled, An Act for the Encouragement sf Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copics, during the times therein inenjioned ; and extending the Benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving and Elcung Historical, and other Prints."

INO. W. DAVIS,

Clerk of the District
of Massachusette,

TO THOSE WHO USE THIS ARRA.VGEMENT.

1920

'The first number, is the number of the Arrangement, opposite to which is

the number of the Psalm or Hymn in the cominon edition of Watts. Thus,

169 of the Arrangement, is the 189 page ; and the 94th Hymn 2d Book

C. M.in Watts. St. Ands, and Abridge, the names of tunes in which it may
be sung. The sharp * is added to denote the key, and to assist in the
xelection of other appropriate tunes.

A Psalm or Hymn suited to a particular subject

may be found

1. By the table of the first lines, if the first line be recollected, the num.

ber opposite to each Psalm and Hymn referring to the number of the

Arrangement.

2. By the tables of Psalms and Hymns following the Preface, if the number:

of the Psalm or Hymn in the common editions be recollected. Thus,

The 84 Psalm 1st Part L. M. is 402 of the Arrangement.

The 63 Hymn 1st Book is 158 of the Arrangement.

3. By referring to the Index of Sunjects, or the Syllabus of the Arrange-

ment, when neither the number nor the first line is recollected.

The numbers in the Index of Scriptures, refer to the Psalms and Hymns

in the Arrangement, founded upon the passages to which they are opposite.

Tbus, Genesis, 1st......58, that is page 58 of the Arrangement contains the

Hymn founded on that passage of scripture.

The Psalms and Hymns on the “ Perfections of God," on the “Doctrines

of the Gospel," and on the “ Graces of the Holy Spirit,” follow the alpha-

betical order of the subjects on which they are written.

Particular Directions to Ministers and others who take

the lead in public or family Worship.

1. In giving out a Psalın or Hymn where the Arrangenent is used exclu-

șively, it will be necessary to mention the number of the Arrangement only.

2. Where the common edition of Watts is principally used, the number of

the Arrangement may be onnitted.

3. Where the Arrangement and the common editions are used promiscu-

ously, it will be necessary to mention the numbers of both in the following

order.

139th Psalm 1st Part. L. M. being the 40th of the Arrangement.

35th Hymo 2d Books C. M. 213ih of the Arrangement.

By a carefui observance of the above directions, all confusion or inconvent
ience in the use of thiş Arrangement will be avoided,

THE Psalms and Hymns of the Rev. Dr. Watts are so generally esteemed and so exten-

sively circulated, that any apology is deemed unnecessary for this attempt to faciłitate
the use of them. Owing to their proiniseuous position in the common editions, and also to
the extreme deficiency of the Indexes, the use of them has long been attended with many
inconveniences, especially to those leading in pubiic worship. These inconveniences have sug:
gested to many persons, the propriety of an arrangement of the whole, into distinet sections
or chapters, according to the different subjects of which they treat, interspersing the Psalms
and Hymns in one book. Such an arrangement was successfully attempted, some years since,
by the Rev. Dr. Rippon, of London ; which met with so great encouragement, as to require
four editions in the short space of four years. From his labours, it is just to acknowledge,
much assistance has been derived in preparing this American edition.

Dr. Watts, himself, seems to have justified the principle of an arrangement, by following
it in several instances. He has judiciously placed together in one book, the Hymns on the
Lord's Supper; the advantage of which, is repeatedly experienced at the administration of that
ordinance. He has also placed together the Hymns, on Solomon's Songs; the songs to the
Bissed Trinity; ard the Hosannas to Christ. But, if there be any advantage in having these
Hymns arranged under their respective heads, stiil greater advantage, it is thought, must be
derived from having the whole thus arranged

It is even conjectured, by many, that Dr. Watts would have followed this plan througho
out, had it early enough occured to him, and had be published the several parts of his book
at the same time. “For,” as Dr. Rippon has justly observed, “ to have been consistent with
himself, he should have distributed the whole work into sections, or none of it; but by setting
the example in several chapters, it is presumed he has sanctioned the analysis of every part
of the work."

With regard to the interspersion of the Psalms among the Hymns, it is only necessary to
observe, that this has been done already, to a considerabie extent, by Dr. Watts himseif. It
will be perceived by any one, who will consult the titles of the first and second books of Hymns,
that there are, among them, more pieces composed from the Book of Psalms, than there are-
either from the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, or from the important epistle to the
Hebrews. The interspersion, therefore, of the whole, cannot be considered a just cause of
complaint; especially, when the use of the whole is thereby made easy: for, by a glance of
the eye, all the Psalins or Hymns on a particular subject may be immediately perceived.

It may not be improper to observe here, that great care has been taken to preserve the
Psa mas and Hymns of Dr. Watts entire; at the same time, by a careful comparison of the best
editions boih European and American, not a few of the typographical errors, and other altera-
tions, which have been accumulating for years, have been corrected.

It onght also to be distinctly noticed, that the number of each Psalm and Hymn in the com-
mon editions, is preserved in a conspicuous piace, in this; so that, by referring to the directions,
and the Tables of Numbers which follow this Preface, no inconvenience will be occasioned by
the promiscuous use of this with the old editions of Watts.

The tunes named over each Psalm and Hymn, are such as have received the approbation of
some of the best judgrs of musiek. For the selection of them, the subscriber acknowledges him-
self chietly indebted to Mr. Jonathan Huntington, a teacher of musick, who cheerfully under-
took the task, at the request of the Standing Committee of the Håndel and Haydn Society in
this town.

The advantages which Ministers and private Christians may derive from this Arrangement;
and especially from the enlarged Indexes both of subjects and scriptures, which are attached to
it, will, it is thought, best recommend it. It is not presumed to be perfect, though it is hoped...
no errors of maguitude have crept into it. Such as it is, it is humbly commended to the candour
of an enlightened Christian publick; and especially to the blessing of Him, who is "fearful in
praises,” with a fervent desire that it may be instrumental in promoting the interests of piety, -
and the cause of sacred devotion.

JAMES M. WINCHELL.

Boston, November, 1818,

NOTE.

1. The Hymns and Psalms may be found as usual, by the Index of ürst lines-

2. This Table gives the numerical order of the former Editions, and the
corresponding numbers in the Arrangement.

Thus, 1st Psalm, C. M. is 380, that is,

380 of the Arrangement;
2d Psalm, s. M. is 146 of the Arrangement,

C. M. 380 18 IptC. M. 58435 1ptC. M. 467151 1pc. M. 180

S. M. 378 2 C. M. 585 2 C. M. 303 2 C.M. 308

L. M.

377 19 1 S. M. 41436 L.M.

17553 C. M. 469