To Martha strange May 7/1790

A

COLLECTION

OF

HYMNS,

BY

JOHN BRADFORD, A.B.

LATE OF WADHAM COLLEGE, OXFORD,

AND

MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN BIRMINGHAM,

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHORI

Sold by MATHEWS, Strand; TERRY, Paternofter, row; and
JORDAN, Fleet-street; London.

By LUCAS, High-ftrect; PIERCY, near the Welsh Crofs; and at
the Vestry of Bartholomew-ftreet Chapel; Birmingham:
And at the Veftry of the Mecting House at West Bromwich

581

1792.

147. g.

Entered at Stationers' Hall,

PREFACE.

THAT finging pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual fongs, was practifed by the primitive Chrif tians in their affemblies cannot, I think, be well denied: but that which gives this ordinance a higher fanction than can poffibly be derived from custom or human authority, is the practice of our Lord himfelf, who, the fame night on which he was betrayed, after fupper, before he went out to the mount of Olives, fang a hymn with his difciples. St. Paul too, writing to the Coloffians, fays, "Let the word of Chrift dwell in you richly, "in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing

one another in pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual fongs; finging with grace in your "hearts to the Lord." From hence it is plain that finging in the church of Chrift is intended for edification and improvement; that, whilft the tongue is employed in founding the praises of the Lord, the heart may be feelingly engaged in an exercise truly spiritual and heavenly.

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