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Cowper, Stennett, Newton, Doddridge, Mrs. Steele, and many other familiar authors, will be found in this collection, as in every other that aspires to usefulness.

With whatever partiality to Dr. Watts we may have begun this compilation, a comparison of his hymns and psalms with the best effusions of the best hymn-writers has only served to increase our admiration, and our conviction that he stands incomparably above all other English writers. Nor do we believe any other man, in any department, has contributed so great a share of enjoyment, edification, and inspiration to struggling Christians as Dr. Watts. We have retained the greatest number of his versions of the Psalms, though under the title of Hymns. A table is prefixed by which the version of any particular psalm may be found.

HENRY WARD BEECHER.

BROOKLYN, N. Y., August 10, 1855.

PLYMOUTH COLLECTION.

1.

L. M.

1. SWEET is the work, my God, my King,
To praise Thy name, give thanks, and sing;
To show Thy love by morning light,
And talk of all Thy truth at night.

2. Sweet is the day of sacred rest,
No mortal care shall seize my breast;
0 may my heart in tune be found,
Like David's harp of solemn sound!
3. My heart shall triumph in my Lord,

And bless His works, and bless His word;
Thy works of grace, how bright they shine;
How deep Thy counsels, how divine!

4. Fools never raise their thoughts so high;
Like brutes they live, like brutes they die;
Like grass they flourish, till Thy breath
Blasts them in everlasting death.

5. But I shall share a glorious part,
When grace hath well refined my
And fresh supplies of joy are shed,
Like holy oil, to cheer my head.

heart,

6. Then shall I see, and hear, and know, All I desired or wished below;

And every power finds sweet employ

In that eternal world of joy.

WATTS.

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1.

L. M.

How pleasant, how divinely fair,
O Lord of hosts, Thy dwellings are!
With long desire my spirit faints
To meet th' assemblies of Thy saints.
2. My flesh would rest in Thine abode,
My panting heart cries out for God;
My God, my King, why should I be
So far from all my joys and Thee!
3. Blessed are the souls that find a place
Within the temple of Thy grace;
There they behold Thy gentler rays,
And seek Thy face, and learn Thy praise.

4. Blessed are the men whose hearts are set
To find the way to Zion's gate:

God is their strength; and through the road
They lean upon their helper, God.

5. Cheerful they walk with growing strength,
Till all shall meet in heaven at length;
Till all before Thy face appear,
And join in nobler worship there.

WATTS.

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1. My opening eyes with rapture see
The dawn of Thy returning day;
My thoughts, O God, ascend to Thee,
While thus my early vows I pay.

2. Oh bid this trifling world retire,
And drive each carnal thought away;
Nor let me feel one vain desire-
One sinful thought through all the day.

3. Then, to Thy courts when I repair,
My soul shall rise on joyful wing,
The wonders of Thy love declare,
And join the strains which angels sing.

4.

5.

L. M.

1. THINE earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love,
But there's a nobler rest above;
To that our longing souls aspire,
With cheerful hope, and strong desire.
2. No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin, nor death shall reach the place;
No groans shall mingle with the songs
Which warble from immortal tongues;
3. No rude alarms of raging foes,
No cares to break the long repose,
No midnight shade- -no clouded sun-
But sacred, high, eternal noon.

4. Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love,
But there's a nobler rest above;
To that our longing souls aspire,
With cheerful hope, and strong desire.

L. M.

1. GOD in His temple let us meet;

DODDRIDGE.

Low on our knees before Him bend;
Here hath He fixed His mercy-seat;

Here on His Sabbaths we attend.

2. Arise into Thy resting place,

A

Thou, and Thine ark of strength, O Lord! · Shine through the vail, we seek Thy face; Speak, for we hearken to Thy word.

3. With righteousness Thy saints array;
Joyful Thy chosen people be;

Let those who teach and those who pray-
Let all be holiness to Thee.

MONTGOMERY.

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1. O SACRED day of peace and joy,
Thy hours are ever dear to me;
Ne'er may a sinful thought destroy
The holy calm I find in Thee.

7.

8.

2. Dear are Thy peaceful hours to me,
For God has given them in his love,
To tell how calm, how blest shall be
The endless day of heaven above.

L. M.

1. JESUS, where'er Thy people meet,
There they behold Thy mercy-seat;
Where'er they seek Thee, Thou are found,
And every place is hallowed ground.

2. For Thou, within no walls confined,
Inhabitest the humble mind;

Such ever bring Thee where they come,
And going, take Thee to their home.
3. Great Shepherd of Thy chosen few!
Thy former mercies here renew;
Here to our waiting hearts proclaim
The sweetness of Thy saving name.

L. M.

1. LORD of the Sabbath and its light, I hail Thy hallowed day of rest; It is my weary soul's delight,

COWPER.

The solace of my care-worn breast.
2. Its dewy morn, its glowing noon,
Its tranquil eve, its solemn night,
Pass sweetly; but they pass too soon,
And leave me saddened at their flight.

3. Yet sweetly as they glide along,

And hallowed tho' the calm they yield,
Transporting though their rapturous song,
And heavenly visions seem revealed ;—

4. My soul is desolate and drear,

My silent harp untuned remains,
Unless, my Saviour, Thou art near,

To heal my wounds and soothe my pains.

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