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THE THIRD EDITION.
By the Rio. Roedd decil.
Rich.

Sing pe Praises with Underßanding,

Pf. 47. 7.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE WELCH CHARITY:
SOLD BY J. MATHEWS, No. 18, STRAND;

J. DEIGHTON, OPPOSITE RED LION

STREET, HOLBORN.

M,DCC,LXXXVIII.

AND

Price bound in Sheep, 2s. In Calf, 2s. 6d. In Morocco, 4s. 63.

The profit which may arife from the fale of this Publication, being appropriated to the benefit of the Welch Charity-School in Gray's-Inn Road; it has been entered at Stationers Hall, to prevent any furreptitious edition.

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T may not be improper to acquaint the Reader into whofe hand this compilation may fall, that it was made for the ufe of a Congregation which hitherto had used the Verfion of Sternbold and Hopkins. A defire of difcontinuing the Old Verfion was almost general; different opinions, however, prevailed refpecting the most eligible of fucceeding ones. It was on comparing feveral of thefe together, that an idea was first suggested of felecting from each Verfion, fuch parts as had an evident fuperiority: but as Excellence, wherever obferved, was the profeffed object of fuch a felection, thofe fingle Pfalms which had been happily tranflated or paraphrafed by eminent Hands †, became (as far as they could be fung to familiar tunes) a valuable acquifition ]].

At the request of fome very refpectable Characters, and because a fuccinct view of every Pfalm in its most devotional and poetical form, feemed peculiarly adapted to the time and circumstances, it was here attempted.

The alterations which have been made in order to preferve the fenfe or connection of a

As thofe by Denham, Milbourne, Tate and Brady, Smart, Merrick, Watts, &c. to the distinguished excellence of which laft-mentioned Verfion this work ftands deeply indebted.

+Such as Milton, Addifon, Rowe, Steele, &c.

Some admirable Hymns compofed on fhort fentences in the Pfalms by Doddridge, Steele, and other writers of piety and genius, would gladly have been inferted, had they not appeared incompatible with a plan which profeffes to select Pfalms only, and which, by comprehending the whole number, is fufficiently extenfive.

few paffages, to correct an exceptionable glofs, or to improve the form of a metre, fcarcely deferve notice: it may, however, afford pleafure to the fcriptural Worshipper to observe, that while Revelation has been regarded in an unveiled exhibition of its diftinguishing doctrines, and acceptable words have been fought for both the Understanding and the Heart, care is taken throughout, to avoid thofe Peculiarities which diftinguifh any Sect.

By abridging fome Pfalms, and introducing different Metres of others more generally interefting, advantages are obtained which may excufe fo frequent an use of both expedients: by the former, the work is rendered more felect and devotional; by the latter, confiderable fcope is afforded, not only for varying the Melody in worship, but also for that variety of Illuftration by which many of thefe infpired fongs are exhibited in their comprehenfive, as well as literal fenfeWriters who have fuccefsfully imitated the POET, may here unite with others who (fhewing us a yet more excellent way" by the light and authority of the New Teftament) have unveiled the PROPHET, difplayed his evangelical Views, entered into his Spirit and Experience, and adapted both to the fervice of the Chriftian Church.

66

Should this Attempt prove, in the Divine Hand, a humble mean of affifting the Private Meditations of thofe for whofe ufe it was more immediately intended, or of improving that nobleft part of their Public Worship, PRAISE, its defign will be fully accomplished.

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