In order to captivate our hearts, to elevate our affections, and to infpire our fongs with facred fire, the Scriptures prefent us with a variety of fubjects, which, for their importance, dfgnity, beauty and worth, as much surpass every human compofition, as thunder is louder than a whisper, or the heavens higher than the earth.

There is one fubject throughout the inspired writings, which hath in all things the pre-eminence, and claims our highest praises; because indeed it is the centre of all evangelical truth, and the glory of Revelation itself: and that is, the FINISHED REDEMPTION of the SON of GOD. A subject, big with the most illustrious display of the divine attributes, and replete with inexpreffible confolation to loft finners.

To celebrate this moft grand, most delightful, and most glorious fubject, is principally the defign of GoD in his word, and the chief bufinefs of the infpired Writers. The Prophets under the old, and the Apofles under the New Teftament difpenfation, join in bearing their teftimony to the "unfearchable riches of CHRIST." Yea, to praise REDEEMING LOVE, is the ambition of Angels. The glorious topic animates their fongs, gives mufic to their golden harps, fpreads a facred emulation among Cherubim and Seraphim, and conftitutes the grand harmony of heaven itfelf: whilft the Church militant and Church triumphant form one general

chorus

chorus, and fing "Worthy is the LAMB that was flain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and bleffing." Rev. v. 12.

To recommend, celebrate, and enforce the fame bleffed theme, is the chief defign of the following Collection; wherein, the various authors, from whence they are felected, concur in extolling the grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the effential Divinity of his perfon, the glory of his redeeming work, the infinite merit of his great atonement, the perfection of his righteousness, the virtue of his blood, and the power of his fpirit. Topics thefe, of fuch importance, that without them, our most elaborate prayers or praises are flat, jejune, and infipid; while, with them, both afcend up before GOD, an acceptable facrifice, a fweet perfume.

I fall detain the pious reader no longer than to inform him that my heart's defire and prayer to GOD, is, that, while his voice is employed in finging thefe bleffed hymns, their important fubjects may deeply affect his heart, and influence his life and converfation, A tuneful voice is not effential to falvation; but a mufical heart, is. I mean, a heart rendered melodious by the grace of GOD; as faith the Apostle, "Singing and making melody with grace in your hearts to the LORD." Eph. v. 19. Col. iii. 16. And as the crowning grace in

every

every act of prayer or praife, is faith, its influence is therefore of the utmoft confequence. It is faith, that enables us to offer up all our facrifices through CHRIST, the golden altar that fanctifies the gift. It is the fame powerful grace, that quickens our prayers, and enlivens our fongs; that apprehends the Redeemer in every part of his mediatorial undertaking, and makes him unspeakably precious in the offices he bears, and the indearing characters he affumes; that realizes things invifible, and gives a foretaste of heaven itself. If faith increase; so will our love to CHRIST, in proportion. As love expands itself, we fhall naturally delight in praife. As praise flows, fo must confequently our happiness. Thus by believing in, loving, praising, glorifying, and exalting CHRIST, we may in a degree anticipate the fong of Mofes and the LAMB, and live a little heaven upon earth. That this may be the happy privilege of all, who love the LORD JESUS in fincerity, is the fervent defire of their affectionate fervant in the gofpel,

Richard De Courcy.

Shrewsbury, December 6, 1775.

Α

COLLECTION

O F

PSALMS and HYMNS.

HYMN I.

Extracted from the Ordination-Office.
OME HOLY GHOST, our Souls inspire,
And lighten with celeftial fire,

C

Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who doft thy feu'nfold gifts impart.
Thy bleffed Unction from above,
Is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
The dulnefs of our blinded fight.
Anoint and cheer our foiled face,
With the abundance of thy grace.

Keep far our foes, give peace at home!
Where thou art guide, no ill can come.
Teach us to know the FATHER, SON,
And Thee, of both to be but one;
That through the ages all along,

This, this may be our endless fong,

Praise GOD, from whom all bleffings flow,
Praife Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host,
Praife FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST,

HYMN

HYMN

II.

The Happiness of God's Ifrael. Deut.

xxxiii. 29.

I.

Ifrael, bleft beyond compare!
Unrival'd all thy glories are:
JEHOVAH deigns to fill thy throne,
And calls thine int'reft all his own.
II.

He is thy Saviour; he thy Lord;
His fhield is thine; and thine his fword;
Review in extacy of thought

The grand redemption he has wrought,
III.

From Satan's yoke he fets thee free,
Opens thy paffage thro' the fea;
He thro' the defart is thy guide,
And Heav'n for Canaan will provide.

IV.

Not Jacob's fons of old could boast
Such favors to their chofen host ;
Their glories, which thro' ages fhine,
Are but dim fhades, and types of thine,

V.

Celestial Spirit, teach our tongue
Sublimer ftrains than Mofes fung,
Proportion'd to the fweeter name
Of GOD the Saviour, and the Lamb.

HYMN