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R. Johnson hath obferved concerning de votional poetry, that "the fanctity of the matter rejects the ornaments of figurative diction." Inferior fubjects may be heightened by the charms of rhetoric, but this is too fublime to receive any decoration from human eloquence; and we often debafe it by making the attempt.

Dr. WATTS, in one of his hymns, hath said,
"Join all the names of love and power
That ever men or angels bore;

All are too mean to speak his worth,
Or fet EMANUEL's glory forth."

Yet, fuch was the imperfection of one of the best of men, that we frequently find in his divine poems, epithets and allufions taken from "mortal beauties," and applied to the Saviour, with a licenfe difgufting to the Spirit of devotion. It has been my aim to avoid thefe familiarities; and either to change or omit fuch epithets and allufions.

The names of the authors from whom this felestion is made, are fubjoined to each palm or hyman excepting when they are unknown, or have requested concealment. Most of thefe names are familiar to the readers of poetry; but there is one, to whom I am largely indebted for fome of the most elegant of thefe productions, who is but little known in this country, and of whom I conceive the following account will be acceptable to every reader.

"ANNE STEELE was the eldest daughter of a diffenting minifter at Broughton, in Hampshire; a man of piety, integrity, benevolence, and the most amiable fimplicity of manners. She difcovered in early life, her love of the mufes, and often entertained her friends, with the truly poetical and pious productions of her pen. But, it was her infelicity, as it has been of many of her kindred spirits, to have a capacious foaring mind inclofed in a very weak and languid body. She lived, for the most part, a life of retirement in the fame peaceful village where he began and ended her days. The duties of friendship and religion occupied her time, and the pleafures of both conftituted her delight. Her heart was apt to feel, often to a degree too painful for her own felicity; but always with the most tender and generous fympathy for her friends. Yet, fhe poffeffed a native cheerfulness of which, even the agonizing pains fhe endured, in the latter part of her life, could not deprive her. In every fhort interval of abated fuffering, fhe would in a variety of ways, as well as by her enlivening converfation, give pleasure to all around her. Her life was a life of unaffected humility, warm benevolence, fincere friendship, and genuine devotion. She waited with chriftian dignity for the hour of her departure: When it came, he welcomed its approach, and having taken an affectionate leave of ber friends, closed her eyes, with thefe animating words on her lips,know that my Redeemer liveth

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This account is taken from the preface to the third volume of her mifcellaneous pieces in profe and verfe,” published under the name of THEODOSIA, by the Rev. Celeb Evans, of Bristol, 1780, after her deceafe.

It is humbly apprehended, that a grateful and affectionate address to the exalted Saviour of mankind, or a hymn in honour of the Eternal Spirit, cannot be difagreeable to the mind of GOD. To ftigmatize fuch an act of devotion with the name of idolatry, is (to fay the least) an abuse of language. It cannot be justly charged with derogating from the glory due to the ONE God and Father of all, because he is the ultimate object of the honour which is given to his Son and to his Spirit.

In this felection, thofe Chriftians who do not feruple to fing praises to their Redeemer and Sanctifier, will find materials for fuch a fublime enjoyment; whilft others, whofe tenderness of confcience may oblige them to confine their addreffes to the Father only, will find no deficiency of matter fuited to their idea of the chafe and awful spirit of devotion."

BOSTON, May 10, 1795.

N. B. The characters denoting the sharp or flat key, are prefixed to each pfalm or hymn, at my requeft, by the Rev. Dr. MORSE, of Charlestown.

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