PRINTED BY J. AND W. RAWSON; AND SOLD BY

T. WILLIAMSON, BOOKSELLER, SCALE-LANE;
AND T. CLAY, HIGH-STREET, 1787.

g. 549.

147. g

THE

PREFACE.

THO

'HO' the reafons which induced the Editor to make this collection will be obvious to most of thofe for whofe accommodation it is intended,-yet in order to prevent any mistake or mifconftruction that might poffibly arife, it was thought proper to give a brief account of its intention and defign. What has given the firft occafion for its appearance is, the improvement in Pfalmody in the church of St. Mary, which feems no lefs acceptable to, than generally acknowledged by those who attend that church. In confequence of this attempt to improve the Pfalmody, the Singers found it neceffary to call to their aid various Pfalms and Hymns, of different metres and tunes from thofe which had ufually been fung before; with no defign to exclude the Common Verfion of Pfalms ufed in the Church of England,

but

(iv)

but only to enlarge their fphere, and enrich the Singing with greater variety. Whenever fuch deviation from the Common Verfion was made, the congregation of courfe have been at a lofs for the words, and thus "tho' the tune might be known before, or become familiar by ufe, they have been hindred from joining with, and enjoying fo fully as they might otherwife have done, that delightful part of divine worship. In order therefore to remove this inconvenience, and to comply with the wishes which many have expreffed, this Little Collection taken chiefly from the Lock-Hymn Tunes, and from the Pfalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts, is refpectfully jubmitted and recommended to the congregation ufually attending at St. Mary's, by the

HULL, Sept. 1, 1787.

EDITOR,