PSALMS AND HYMNS ADAPTED TO THE SUNDAYS AND HOLYDAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR: TO WHICH ARE ADDED, Some Occasional Hymns. SELECTED AND ARRANGED BY HENRY ALFORD, M.A. VICAR OF WYMESWOLD, LEICESTERSHIRE, AND LATE FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. LONDON: FRANCIS & JOHN RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, & WATERLOO PLACE. PREFACE. IT has long been regretted by churchmen, that most of the collections of Psalms and Hymns used in our parishes contain many sentiments at variance with the recognition of the baptismal state of a Christian revealed in Scripture, which Christ's Holy Catholic Church places ever foremost in her acts of prayer and praise; and besides this first and most important fault, the restless and morbid tone of feeling prevalent among sectarian bodies has been found to accord but ill with the "quietness and confidence" which will ever be the inheritance of the faithful. It is to obviate these objections that the present collection has been arranged, and partly composed. The Editor is aware, by his own dissatisfaction with his work, how imperfectly his end has been attained; and most thankful will he be, if some other person should take up the work, and serve Christ's Church better. The Editor has endeavoured to adhere, as much as possible, to the compositions of church men; but he has not considered himself bound altogether to reject those of dissenters, provided they are found to be in accordance with the spirit of the Church. The command given in Numbers xvi. 38, will surely justify us in using for sacred purposes that which has been offered to the Lord, even though in error or sin. At the same time, he has adopted but few; and even these may be omitted if thought desirable, being distinguished by reference to the table of con tents. The agreeable task remains of expressing his thanks to those kind friends who have assisted him in his undertaking, which he would rather do in this general way, than (which he is sure no humble churchman would wish) make a parade of names in a book destined for the service of God. The table of contents will testify how much and how kindly he has been helped. Wymeswold, April 18, 1844. *This Collection is uniform, and may be bound with "Prose Hymns, chiefly from Scripture," pointed for chanting. Those Hymns marked in the Table of Contents, are published in this Collection for the first time. |