MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

OF THE

METHODIST

EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

DEAR BRETHREN,

YOU are presented with a choice and complete Pocket Hymn-Book,revised,conlaining a collection (from the Rev. John and Charles Wesley, and other authors,} of excellent and evangelical Fymns, suitable for private devotion (when you would wish to speak to yourselves in Hymns and Spiritual Songs) as well as for family, social and public worship: and we trust you will be much assisted by the present publication, in the performance of these important parts of divine service.

The Hymn-Books which have been already published among us, are truly excellent....The Select Hymns, the double collection of Hymns, and Psalms, and the Redemption-Hymns, display great spirituality, as well as purity of diction

The large Congregational HymnBook is admirable indeed, but is too ex*pensive for the poor, who have little time and less money....The Pocket Hymn

[iv]

Book, lately sent abroad in these States, is a most valuable performance for those who are deeply. spiritual, but is better suited to the European Methodists, among whom all the before-mentioned books have been thoroughly circulated for many years. But all the excellen cies of the former publications, are in a great measure, concentred in the present, which contains the choicest and most precious of the Hymns that are to be found in the former editions; and at the same time is so portable, that you may always carry it with you without the least inconvenience.

We are the more delighted with this design, as no personal advantage is concerned, but the public good alone....For after the necessary expences of publication are discharged, we shall make it a noble charity, by applying the profits, arising therefrom, to religious and charitable purposes.

No motive of a sinister nature has therefore influenced us in any degree to publish this excellent compilation. It bis received the approbation of the Conences, and contains many valuable

.

Hymns which some of the former editions did not. As the profits of the former editions have been scrupulously applied as above, so the same appropriation of the profits of the present shall be conscientiously observed. We must • therefore earnestly entreat you, if you have any respect for the authority of the Conferences, or of us, or any regard for the prosperity of the Connection, to furchase no Hymn-Books, but what are signed with the names of your Pishops. And as we intend to keep a constant eupply, the complaint of our congregations, "that they cannot procure our HymnBooks," will be stopped.

We exhort you to Sing with the Spirit and with the understanding also: and thus may the high praises of GOD be set up from East to West, from North to South; and we shall be happily instrumental in leading the devotion of thousands, and shall rejoice to join you in time and eternity.

We are,

Dear Brethren,

Your faithful Pastors in Christ,
THOMAS COKE,

FRANCIS ASBURY,
RICHARD WHATCOAT

ADVERTISEMENT.

Agreeably to the concurrent resolution of the Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New-York Conferences, our Hymn-Book has been revised, and the copy-right fecured. Nearly all the Hymns, which were in the former Book, are retained in this; but in confequence of the revifion, they are differently arranged, in order to put them under their proper heads, and, of courfe, the pages do not correfpond with the old book-But, when a Hymn is read, by a reference to the first line in the Index, the page in general may be readily found. A few additional Hymns are introduced; and the poetical numbers and measurement of fome of the old Hymns improved; that, according to the 1ules of mufic, they may agree better with the tunes to which they are fung. Alfo in the place of certain words and fentiments, others are introduced, which appear more proper and harmonious-The revifion has received the approbation of the laft General Conference; and paffed an examination by Doctor Coke, and the Book Committee, who have made a few alterations, as in the prefent Edition.

Although the copy-right is fecured and held by Ezekiel Cooper, yet it is intended, by him, to be wholly for the benefit of the Methodist Connection.

Those who want our Hymn-Book, in future, fhould apply for "The Methodist Pocket HymnBook, revifed and improved;" published by Ezekiel Cooper, and John Wilfon, with the Bishops' names to the preface

THE

METHODIST

.POCKET

HYMN-BOOK.

AWAKENING AND INVITING.

HYMN I. C. M.

FOR a thousand tongues to sing

The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace.

2 My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,

To spread through all the earth abroad,
The honours of thy name.

3 Jesus, the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease:
'Tis music in the sinners ears;
Tis life and health and peace.

4 He breaks the power of cancell'd sin,
He sets the pris'ner free;

His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood avail'd for me,

5 Look unto him, ye nations, own
Your God, ye fallen race;

Look, and be sav'd through faith alone,
Be justify'd by grace!