The Hymns are arranged according to the Prayer book services; and comprise subjects suited, but not necessarily restricted, to the Church's course of the Christian Seasons. One or more will be found specially adapted to each Collect.

A parish hymn-book, especially in rural districts, is usually much valued by the poor and those who have few books and little leisure, as a solace and instructor,-as a household volume taking its place beside the Bible and Prayer-book. Its hymns, therefore, should aspire to that Catholic spirit which adapts itself, as in the Collects of the Church, to all stages of the Christian life, and alike to public and private use. Many beautiful hymns are unsuitable for public worship for they have no universality: others equally beautiful are scarcely adapted to private use, for they have little specially in them for the individual worshipper. It seems to belong to the nature of a hymn, whether public or private, that it shall consist, either of Praise, of prayerful Communings with God, or of that mutual Encouragement among the soldiers of Christ, which is the voice of the host as it "goeth forth to the fight" and "shouteth for the battle." The Editor is fully conscious how little he has succeeded in his attempts to reach his own standard in any of these points.

GRETTON, September, 1865.

CONTENTS.

SELECTIONS FROM THE PSALMS

THE PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTS OF WORSHIP

THE SAVIOUR'S ADVENT AND SECOND COMING

HIS TAKING OUR NATURE UPON HIM

79-91

91-101

HEAVEN AND OUR LORD'S ASCENSION

ROGATION DAYS-GOOD GIFTS FOR THE PRESENT LIFE 150-153

PAGE.

1-47

49-79

THE PRESENTATION-THE ANNUNCIATION

212

How blest is he who ne'er consents
By ill advice to walk;

Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits
Where men profanely talk.

But makes the perfect law of God
His business and delight;
Devoutly reads therein by day,
And meditates by night.

C.M.

Like some fair tree, which fed by streams,
With timely fruit does bend,
He still shall flourish, and success
All his designs attend.

Ungodly men and their designs
No lasting root shall find;
Untimely blasted and dispersed,
Like chaff before the wind.

For GOD approves the just man's ways,
To happiness they tend;

But sinners, and the paths they tread,
Shall both in ruin end.

B

Amen.

Second Version.

1.

L.M.

BLESSED is he who does not go

The way ungodly counsels show;

Who standeth not where sinners meet,
Nor sitteth in the scorners' seat.

But ever places his delight,

Yea, meditateth day and night,

On that blest Word which came from heaven,
The Law which GOD the LORD has given.

He shall be like a tree that grows,
Close planted where the river flows;

Whose leaf ne'er fades, whose fruit ne'er fails,
So prospers he and still prevails.

Ungodly men shall waste away,
As chaff upon the stormy day;
Nor shall they, in the Judgment, stand
Among the blest at GOD's right hand.

The path of him that doeth right,
The LORD both knows and fills with light:
Th' ungodly He will never own;

Their way, their hope, shall be o'erthrown.

THOU art a shield about me, LORD,

On Thee my hopes rely;

Thou art my glory, and shalt yet
Lift up my head on high.

Whene'er in danger or distress,
To GOD I made my prayer,
He heard me from His holy hill;
Why should I now despair?

Amen.

C.M.