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COLLECTION

ОР

PSALMS AND HYMNS,

FOR

SOCIAL AND PRIVATE WORSHIP.

Ellewry Devereux Sewairs

God is the King of all the earth: Sing ye praises with understanding.-Ps. xlvii. 7.

THIRD EDITION.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY GRAY AND BOWEN.

1832.

Southern District of New-York, ss.

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the fourteenth day of October, in the forty-fifth year of the Independence of the United States of America, W. H. Clayton, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words and figures following, to wit:

"A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship. God is the King of all the earth; Sing ye praises with understanding.'— Ps. xlvii. 7."

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, “An "act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, "and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times "therein mentioned;" and also, to an act, entitled, "An act supplementary to "an act, entitled, an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the "copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such "copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof "to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." GILBERT LIVINGSTON THOMPSON,

Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.

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THE following collection of Sacred Poetry will be found to aim at no sectarian distinctions. It has rather been the wish of the Compiler to exclude all reference to those opinions which are still controverted among christians, and to advance only those great and important practical doctrines in which all are professedly agreed. He has endeavoured to avoid every expression which could give offence to the serious christian of any denomination; and thus, as far as possible, to enable all to unite, cordially and sincerely, in this interesting part of social worship, the celebration of the praises of the Most High.

It has also been a principal object in this selection to combine taste with devotion. It is not meant that there is any natural repugnance between them; but perhaps there are few persons of cultivated minds, who have not had cause to lament their too fre quent disunion. In comprising, however, a proper diversity of subjects, adapted to the many occasions of social and private worship, or in any degree commensurate with the various wants, conditions and occurrences of human life, it has been difficult to avoid some sacrifices of good taste. On the other hand, a few hymns will be found here which are merely didactic, on subjects that do not admit of the pathos of devotional feeling. But these, it is hoped, will not be thought to be misplaced, if it is considered that the use of a work of this kind is not confined to the solemn services of the sanctuary. Its influence in the retired walks of devotion, as a manual of christian edification and instruction among all ages, was deemed too important to be wholly disregarded.

The works which have in any measure contributed to this Collection, have been consulted, as far as practicable, in the originals, and many passages have been restored from the readings

in common use. In deviating from the first copies, the Compiler has had principally in view the important objects which have been stated. In other alterations, it has been his design to adapt the sentiments to the different classes of character which make up every assembly of worshippers, and some of whom cannot, with propriety, be supposed to use expressions which are fitted only to those who have made the highest attainments. It would have been useless, if not impossible, to have noted all the changes which have been made or adopted. He has, therefore, marked as altered, only those hymns in which any change has been made by himself. Hymns which have never appeared before in any collection published in this country, are distinguished by an obelisk. [+] Those with an asterisk [*] affixed to them, are originals, for which the Compiler is principally indebted to his friends.

The arrangement in this Collection, it is hoped, will be found to possess some advantages, in admitting of an easy reference, when the first line is remembered, without the intervention of a table, while the subjects are kept sufficiently distinct for the general reader. The copious Index at the end will, probably, be a better guide to the different subjects, than any classification which could have been made.

The Compiler has met with too many difficulties in satisfying himself in this undertaking, to permit the expectation that he can have succeeded in satisfying others:

'But all is in His hands whose praise he seeks."

To His blessing he commends the work, with an humble hope it may prove no unacceptable offering to the best interests of that religious society with which he is connected, and to that cause of pure christianity which it would be his highest ambition to serve. NEW-YORK, OCT. 3, 1820.

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD EDITION

IN offering to the Public a Third Edition of what is popularly known as the New York Collection of Hymns, the Compiler has only in view to meet the demand for the work. He is not aware that very many valuable or permanent additions have been made to the store of devotional poetry since this Collection was undertaken; and although improvements might doubtless be made in it, yet he conceives these are not such as would at all compensate for a change that would materially affect its value in the hands of the numerous religious societies which have adopted it in the preceding editions. In this, therefore, the hymns and the arrangement remain the same. Such verbal errors as have been discovered are corrected, and an Index of scripture references having been thought desirable, it is now added.

The Compiler on this occasion cannot forbear to recur with heartfelt satisfaction to the many excellent Collections of which this has been the precursor. The principal objects which he proposed to himself in his selection, appear to have been equally valued and sought by most, if not all of those who have succeeded him. He hails their success as his own-he rejoices in it, as in the success of the cause in which his best wishes are engaged; and the result of their labours alone considered, he humbly trusts he may claim that his labour has not been in vain.

December 1831.

H. D. S.

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