Form, and in the moft fplendid Ornaments, they have as yet appeared in the English Language-To find them reprefented in a greater Variety of Metre and poetical Harmony; the Meaning of the Original more fully difplayed, and better adapted to the general Ufe of chriftian Worfhippers, than in any other fingle Volume; and to profit more by the united Labors of many, eminently distinguished, in Regard both to Piety and poetical Talents, than he could reasonably hope to have been done by the nobleft and most fuccessful Exertions of any fingle Genius.

The three principal Verfions are the Productions of Doctor Watts, Mr. Tate, and Doctor Brady, and the late very ingenious and learned Mr. Merrick. Each of thefe has very great and peculiar Merit, and comprehends the whole Book of Pfalms, fuch Parts only excepted, as could not be conveniently fuited to chriftian Worship.

Doctor Watts's Verfion is fo well known, and generally fo well received, that it needs no Encomiums the Editor is able to pafs upon it, nor much to be faid in Relation to it. Doctor Watts in the general Eftimation is [Mr. Addifon perhaps only excepted] the best divine Poet that ever wrote in the English Language. His

Verfion

Verfion is for the moft Part an Imitation, in which he prefeffedly aimed to teach the jewish Pfalmifts to speak the Language of the New Teftament. It poffeffes many unrivalled Excellencies, and is perhaps, upon the whole, better fitted for chriftian Worship than any other Compofition. And except where he may have departed unneceffarily, or too widely from the Senfe of the original Authors, or where, by endeavouring to teach them the Language of Christians, he has compelled them, though undefignedly, to adopt the diftinguishing Dialect of a particular System, his Verfion is fo excellent, that we might almoft pronounce it faultlefs,

The Doctor was a Person of exemplary Meeknefs and Humility, fo perfectly good natured, and of such unconfined Charity, that he wished to 'avoid every Word and Syllable, that was likely to give the smallest Offence to serious Christians of any Denomination. And when he found in the later Part of Life he had not been fo fuccessful in this Refpect, as he had aimed to be; he wished for nothing more ardently than fufficient Health and Time to revife both his Pfalms and Hymns, in order to render them wholly

wholly unexceptionable to every Christian Profeffor *.

Doctor Watts had fo largely imbibed the Spirit of our divine Mafter, and of genuine Christianity, that he wished in Nothing so much to please himself, as in all things to please others, for their Good to Edification.

As to the Verfion of Mr. Tate and Doctor Brady; it may perhaps in some Refpects juftly claim the Preference even to the former. It is, not only in many Places highly poetical, but moreover fo plain as to be level to the meaneft Capacities. And as it is a closer Tranflation of the Original Text, it naturally contains many useful and proper Subjects for Pfalmody, that could not obtain a Place in a profeffed Imitation.

With Respect to the Reverend Mr. Merrick's Version; The following most

jus

*This Account was received from Doctor Watts himself, a few Years before his Death, by the late Doctor Amory, and by him given to one of his Pupils, who communicated it to the Editor. The Editor has alfo good Authority to add that the Revifal, fo fervently wifhed for, was undertaken and finished, and would most certainly have been published, had not the Author's Death unhappily prevented.

just Account has been given by the worthy Author himself. "This Attempt on the Pfalms, though a Mixture of Tranflation and Paraphrafe, will, I hope, be found to contain little. more of the later Kind than what may be useful either in Opening the Sense, or in pointing out the Connexion of the Original." This Work is a Master-piece in its Kind. Such a Work had been long wifhed for, but to the Execution of it, none were found of equal Resolution and Abilities, till Mr. Merrick undertook it.

This Gentlemam was just such a Poet, as the excellent Doctor Watts had formed an Idea of, and fervently wished some Time or other to arife, though with very feeble Hopes that his Idea would ever be realized, it being scarcely to be fuppofed, that fo many effentially requifite Quali fications fhould at any Time be conbined in one Person. "I must confefs, fays the Doctor in the Preface to his Pfalms, I have never yet seen any Verfion, or Paraphrase of the Pfalms, in their own jewish Sense, so perfect, as to difcourage all further Attempts. But whoever undertakes the noble Work, let him bring with him a Soul devoted to Piety, an exalted Genius, and withal a ftudious Application. For David's Harp abhors a profane Finger, and

difdains

difdains to answer to an 'unfkilful, or careless Touch. A meaner Pen may imitate at a Diftance, but a compleat Tranflation, or a juft Paraphrafe demands [befide a thorough Knowledge of the Hebrew] a rich Treasury of Diction, an exalted Fancy, a quick Tafte of devout Paffion, together with a Judgment ftrict and fevere, to retrench every luxuriant Line, and maintain a religious Sovereignty over the whole Work. Thus the Pfalmifts of Ifrael might arifē in Great Britain in all their Hebrew Glory, and entertain the more knowing and polite Christians of our Age." In all that Glory Mr. Merrick has reprefented them, and what Transports of Joy and Pleasure would the sweetest Singer of his Time, in all the Regions of divine Poetry, have felt, had he lived to fee his Work; and with what Energy and Pathos would he have recommended it to the Attention and Regard of the whole English Church.

As to the feveral other Verfions, fuffice it to obferve, that they extend only to fome particular Pfalms or Parts of Pfalms; yet the Compiler prefumes, that they poffefs fome fuperior Excellencies peculiar to themselves, and will afford an agreeable Variety.

Having