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OF

SEVEN HUNDRED

Evangelical Hymns,

FOR PRIVATE, FAMILY, AND PUBLIC WORSHIP

(Many Original)

FROM MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED OF THE BEST AU
THORS IN

ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, AND
AMERICA,

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MORRISTOWN....N.J.:

PUBLISHED BY PETER A. JOHNSON,

Jacob Manu, Printer.

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PREFACE.

WHILE so many volumes of hymns, both original

and selected, are constantly issuing from the press, it seems almost presumption to expect that this will be noticed. Every man, however, has his peculiar taste; this selection of hymns, together with their arrangemeut, will be suited to this taste; and consequently there is room to hope, that others may find in these a suitableness to their views. dispositions, and experience, which they have sought in vain from other selections, which, too, have their appropriate excellencies. Under this impression, I have ventured to solicit public attention.

It is almost universally admitted that Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns possess an excellency and variety which place him far beyond any single author; and, in my humble opinion, they are of such sterling worth, that no selection, however excellent, should supercede the use of them. It is, however, as generally admitted, that there are many subjects for which Doctor Watts has provided no hymns. To see this deficiency supplied amongst poedo-baptist churches, has been the desire of many ministers and private christians; and to effect this is the principal, though not the only end of this small volume.

The hymns here presented to the public, I have collected from more than two hundred authors; many of them are taken from manuscripts, which I deemed too valuable to be suffered to remain in obscurity

and some have been supplied by friends. As this work has been the labor of years, and the choice of many thousand hymns, it will, I trust, give satisfaction to the church of God. Though I have, of course, the sentiments peculiar to that denomination of christians with which providence has placed me; yet I am not without hopes that a selection from the best authors in these United Kingdonis and America, will meet with general approbation.

This work, like Doctor Watts's FOURTH book, is arranged in an alphabetical order. Each new subject begins with, L. M., C. M., S. M., &c. The first alphabetical order contains the Perfections of God; the second, the Characters and Titles of Christ; the third, the General Subjects.

I have endeavored to ascertain the author of every hymn. In some cases my inquiries have been fruitless, and I have consequently said, Anon. (anonymous.) Those verses which may, for the sake of brevity, be omitted, without destroying the unity and connection of the hymn, are included in crotchets. [] The lines or verses marked with single inverted commas, are those which I have deemed necessary to add, for the sake of giving a fulness or expression to the whole. The occasional alterations which will be observed in some hymns, are not, of course, intended to lessen their excellency, but to suit them to a particular subject for which they were rot originally designed; or to give a greater smoothness to the versification, Af. ter all, I am ready to acknowledge that many of the verses are rather rhyme than poetry; and, while they deprecate the severity of criticism, must rest their claims to regard on their sentiment and spirit. They will, as far as I can judge, be found full of the doctrines of grace, and the experience of those to whom

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