COLLECTION OF HYMNS, BY JOHN BRADFORD, A.B. LATE OF WADHAM COLLEGE, OXFORD, AND MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN BIRMINGHAM, LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR Sold by MATHEWS, Strand; TERRY, Paternofter.row; and By LUCAS, High-ftrect; PIERCY, near the Welth Crofs; and at PREFACE. THAT finging pfalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, 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 himself, 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 disciples. St. Paul too, writing to the Coloffians, says, 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, whilst the tongue is employed in founding the praises of the Lord, the heart may be feelingly engaged in an exercise truly spiritual and heavenly. |