thing we should be careful; and that is, in our first presentation of an author not to tamper with his verse, but to leave it as he wrote it. Such tampering is oftener done by sectarian prejudice than by ignorance. Thus, the beautiful Litany Hymn of the Episcopal Church, with the well-known refrain, "Hear our solemn litany," was barbarously rendered, in one collection, "Hear thy people when they cry." The meaning of this is evident; but who can appreciate the ignorance of the collector who rendered Cowper's beautiful lines,—

"Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never-failing skill,"

so as to make it read, "with never-failing skill," thus losing the finest point of the imagery? It unfortunately happens, however, that the alterations improperly made at first remain fixed, and become so familiar in the ears of the people that a return to the original is impossible. Such is the case in the hymn beginning, "Rock of ages," the accepted version of which is greatly altered from the original poem. I may seem to violate my own precept with reference to this very hymn, as I have reproduced it from the Episcopal Prayer-Book; but, if I have erred in so doing, it will be easy for my readers, thus informed, to compare it with the original.

As indicative of the prevailing spirit of the times, many Christian bodies are engaged in preparing new collections of psalms and hymns for public worship. The General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1862 appointed a committee on "Hymnody and Metrical Psalmody," to revise and alter the psalms and hymns at the end of the Prayer-Book. The committee consists of six bishops, five clergymen, and two laymen, and will make its report in 1865. They have before them an important work; for the need of revision is great. The

INTRODUCTION.

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psalms in metre are paraphrases, by no means so good as the prose version of the psalter, which might be appropriately chanted in their stead; and the collection of hymns is faulty, in my judgment, because many of them do not come up to the standard which I have presumed to lay down, and many others are far more valuable for their devout spirit than for poetical excellence. And yet it is true of both these classes that they have so identified themselves with the affections and devotions of Christian people in public worship, in private sorrows, and in holy joys, that to remove them would seem like cutting off a dear old friend on account of some personal deformity. It would be a thankless and disagreeable office to illustrate by special examples: any one that we might take would have many admirers among our readers, who would be pained by such an analysis.

But to return to this volume. A few beautiful pieces, old and new, have been brought together without any attempt at chronological arrangement, and yet, it is hoped, without a discordant note. It is but a reproduction of the old "Trisagion" melody, sung by many voices, ancient and modern, bursting loudly from the great heart of the Church to-day, and with chimings of mellower tones and still fainter utterance as we reach back to the apostolic times. Here are voices from all the centuries and from all branches of the Church. The "Kyrie and Christe Eleison" of the Greek Church chimes with the "Confiteor" and the "Agnus Dei" of the Latin Church of the Middle Ages; and both form a harmonious chord with the never-ending songs of the Anglican Church, and of those of millions of Christians of all denominations, who sound the praises or implore the atoning mercy of Him who is God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, the Lord Christ.

Most of the poems in this volume are hymns; but I have not

scrupled to introduce other religious poetry, to give a pleasant variety. The Greek hymns of Neale are most of them marked by their Greek captions: many of the Latin hymns will be recognized in a similar manner.

I desire to express my grateful acknowledgments to my friend the Rev. Dr. Washburn, late Rector of St. Mark's Church, Philadelphia, and now of Calvary, New York, for his admirable and scholarly translations of several beautiful Latin hymns; and I venture to express the hope that he will give to the world in book-form his researches and translations in that field. From other friends of taste I have received suggestions and assistance, and could have extended the volume greatly without exhausting the treasures at my disposal.

I cannot withhold my congratulations and thanks from the publishers for the magnificence of the art illustrations, for the beauty of the typography, and the splendid general appearance of this volume. The first impression is due to the publishers' merits; but I feel secure of that second and, I hope, more lasting one, which will be made upon all people of taste and piety by the perusal of many of these beautiful poems. If I am not mistaken, their devotion will be rekindled, and their taste gratified. They will experience a new pleasure in finding themselves brought into a new communion, bound by golden links to the saintly and loving hearts of those "holy men of old," of whom it may be said, with no irreverence, that, like the prophets, they spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

HENRY COPPÉE.

Oh, happy, if ye labor

As Jesus did for men! Oh, happy, if ye hunger As Jesus hungered then!

The Cross that Jesus carried
He carried as your due:
The Crown that Jesus weareth
He weareth it for you.

The Faith by which ye see Him, The Hope in which ye yearn, The Love that through all troubles To Him alone will turn,

What are they, but vaunt-couriers To lead you to His Sight? What are they, save the effluence Of Uncreated Light?

The trials that beset you,

The sorrows ye endure,

The manifold temptations

That Death alone can cure,

What are they, but His jewels.
Of right celestial worth?
What are they, but the ladder

Set up to heaven on earth?