HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY FROM THE ESTATE OF Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by CHARLES C. BARKER, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. M 2131 42 GILES & GOULD, Music Stereotypers & Electrotypers PREFACE. AMONG the many natural endowments of mankind, none appear more conspicuous or delightful than the capacity for song. Vocal utterance was bestowed upon us by the "Giver of every good and perfect gift," without doubt, that we might praise and adore him, and that we might make each other glad. The correctness of this view is established in our thoughts at once, as we remember how, -when the Mosaic ritual and service was ordained, a certain portion of the children of Israel were set apart for this express purpose; and how, also, in this "dispensation of the fullness of times," the great Apostle exhorts the people of God to "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." The church of the living God has ever been inspired to sing; but never before has she had such inspiration to break forth in joyful lays of praise and thanksgiving as now. For now "The night is far spent; the day is at hand." They who have heeded the "light" which was ordained to "shine in a dark place until the DAY-DAWN," know that the dreary night-shadows - brought upon this earth by humanity's sin, and the chaos conjured by man's selfishness are soon to give place to the beauteous glory of a never-ending day, and the ceaseless harmonies of an immortal regeneration, quickened by God's Spirit of everlasting grace and perfect love. The "morning watch" is here-"Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments." We hail the dawning. Thus believing, I felt moved to prepare a Hymn Book suited to the use of the waiting Church, now standing on the verge of redemption. My plan was, first, to select all the old favorite Hymns, as far as known, which had become standards among us; and these will be found in our book, ―unset to music, however, inasmuch as the old tunes must be quite familiar to all; hence I considered it unnecessary to print them, as this would make the book far more costly. Second, I designed to embody with the choice old Hymns the new and fresh Advent Poetry which has for its inspiration the Prophetical fulfillments, light, and experience of these later years; and I feel much pleasure in presenting in these pages a large number of beautiful Hymns written by HORATIUS BONAR of Scotland, than which finer poetry has never been written. Quite a number will be found from the pen of our Brother D. T. Taylor (delightful poetry), as well as several from our be |