A COLLECTION OF HYMNS, FROM VARIOUS AUTHORS. INTENDED AS A SUPPLEMENT то DR. WATTS's HYMNS, AND IMITATION OF THE PSALMS. By GEORGE BURDER. The RANSOMED of the LORD Jhall return, and come to Zion with Songs. ISAIAH. And they fang as it were a New SONG before the Throne and no Man could learn that Song, but the REDE MED.. Printed THE EIGHTH EDITION. COVENTRY: JOHN, Sold by Luckman & Suffield, Broadgate. Sold alfo by J. MATHEWS, in the Strand, London ; and by all other Bookfellers. [PRICE ONE SHILLING.] 147.9 416. PREFACE. THE Collection of Spiritual Songs, which is now prefented to the Public, is not intended to fuperfede Dr. Watts's Pfalms and Hymns, in any congregation, but to fervè as a Supplement to them: The praise of those incomparable works, has long been great in the British Churches, and will probably continue fo to be, while any relish for evangelical truth, or experimental religion, remains. Indeed, a confiderable part of them must have become ufelefs, not to say obnoxious, in thofe congregations where the new fcheme has been adopted, or Arian and Socinian Herefies imbibed. For the doctrines of MAN'S APOSTASY FROM GOD-THE ATONEMENT AND RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST-THE PROPER DIVINITY OF OUR SAVIOUR, and A 2 and THE WORK OF JEHOVAH THE SPIRIT, are uniformly maintained in them; though difdained and exploded by a fet of men in this day, who arrogantly affume the title of rational Diffenters. But the perfons for whofe ufe this Collection is formed, are content with the old religion--the religion of the Reformation-the religion of the Bible. They look upon the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel, not as matters of speculation merely, but as effential to faith, comfort, and holiness. They confider the praife of Chrift, their atoning facrifice, and their redeeming God, as a grand and delightful part of religious worship, in their prefent militant ftate; and what they hope will be their eternal employment in the heavenly world. Since the death of Dr. Watts, feveral eminent and pious authors, animated by his example and fuccefs, have contributed to enlarge and enrich our fund of facred poetry: Among these are the refpectable names of Doddridge, Newton. Hart, Hart, Wefleys, Cowper, Toplady, and Cennick. From their publications, chiefly, the following Hymns are felected. Some are taken from anonymous writers, and a few were never printed before. The initial letter of the author's name (when known), is affixed to each Hymn, except where the Editor has taken the liberty of making fuch alterations as affected the fenfe. To enjoy the labours of fuch excellent writers to introduce a larger variety of mufical measures and tunes-to do this at a small expence-and without laying afide Dr. Watts, were motives for compiling this volume, and publishing it as a Supplement. May He, who infpires, hears, and accepts the praises of Zion, fmile on the attempt, and make it useful to ferious Christians of all denominations. Coventry, G. B. |