PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.

THE HISTORY and purpose of the following Collection of Hymns and Tunes may be sufficiently set forth in a few words. It has been prepared by a PASTOR; for the use, primarily, of the Church to which it is his privilege to minister, in their public and private worship of Almighty God. The book is offered to the Christian public, in the thought that what has thus been compiled for one congregation may, perhaps, be found acceptable and made useful in others like it.

The PLAN here adopted has had for its purpose the settlement, in some measure, of that annoying difference of opinion, which holds place in many quarters, concernIng artistic and congregational singing. A compromise has been attempted on this point. About two-thirds of the Hymns are set to music, the remainder left free. It is proposed that in each service two Hymns shall be given out among those accompanied with Tunes, and one among the others. This one, not occurring in any fixed place, but given at will for opening, closing, or elsewhere, the Choir are expected to adapt to any music in this Collection or out of it, at their own pleasure, and sing without interference or help. The remaining Hymns they are expected to lead the Congregation in singing to the Music which is in sight. All the people are cordially invited to take unrestrained part in this portion of Divine Worship.

In most cases, a choice of Tunes is presented. A known or old piece has been printed near a fresher or new one. It does not, therefore, follow that a Hymn is always to be sung to the Tune under which it exactly stands. Mere mechanical reasons may have forced its location there, when, perhaps, the fitter music for its sentiment will be found across on the opposite page.

The compiler presents the humble result, of what has been to him very serious labor, to his own beloved people, and to the Church at large, with unaffected pleasure, in the simple hope that it may be used by our Divine Redeemer in building up His chosen in the most holy faith; and that it may be so accompanied by the grace of His Spirit-would that it might be even so honored!-as to be as the sound of silver bells calling those who know not our Lord to His most joyful feasts of love. So may it advance, in its own measure, the worship of our KING, till our eyes shall see Him in His beauty, and behold the land that is very far off!

BROOKLYN. N. Y., March 1st, 1865.

PREFACE TO NEW EDITION.

THUS much was written as an Introduction to this Hymn and Tune Book seven years ago.

During most of the intervening time, I have been away from my own country, in Christian work over the sea. Perhaps no surprise has been to me on my return more wonderful than to find that nearly two thousand Churches were already employing, in the offices of divine worship, the Collection I had so unostentatiously issued. The distribution of upwards of two hundred thousand copies all over the land has been without even my personal observation.

Such success is unmistakable; and for so extraordinary a welcome I am truly grateful to God and to his people.

It seemed to me that the least I could do was to put the pages at once into as fresh a form as possible. The electrotype plates were quite worn with nearly a quarter of a million impressions. These I have made new from beginning to end.

Two hymns only I have ventured to add, the last on the list. The names of all the known authors have been given. Forty or more pieces of excellent music have been inserted. These are all the changes I could make, without destroying the uniformity of the editions. In practical use, no difference will be perceived. Some pages are altered in numbers; but the Indexes follow not pages, but hymns.

A new edition has also been prepared for Chapel use; more portable, and more familiar in the selection of music. It contains six hundred hymns only. This I have been able to enrich with some of the favorite tunes, which employ choruses and refrains. The advantage of having a Manual for singing the same in general form for the Sanctuary and the Lecture-room, must be apparent to all.

Once more I commit the work of my hands to the kindness and charity of my brethren. Twenty years ago, I used to repeat to myself a little verse of Robert Burns:

"Ev'n then a wish-(I mind its power)

A wish, that to my latest hour

Will strongly heave my breast;

That I, for poor auld Scotland's sake,
Some usefu' plan or book could make,
Or sing a sang, at least!"

But I had no dream, when I threw together these hymns and tunes for dear old and new friends to sing, that God's good Providence was opening the way for the fulfilment of my early desire, in some measure, and would accept my work for his own people in his own worship.

"Peace be within thy walls, O Jerusalem, and prosperity within thy palaces! For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee!" CHAS. S. ROBINSON.

e - ter-nal rest, Day of all the week the best, Emblem of e- ternal rest.

Το that our long- ing souls as pire, With cheer-ful hope and strong de-sire.