Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by

A. W. MITCHELL, M. D., in the office of the Clerk of the District
Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

EV

430

A3 18439

ADVERTISEMENT

THE want of some improvement in the existing Psalmody, and particularly of an enlarged and arranged collection of Hymns, suitable for public and private worship in the Presbyterian Church, has for a considerable time been felt and acknowledged. In the year 1838, a Committee was appointed by the General Assembly, to which was entrusted the preparation of such a collection as would supply the exigency, and, at the same time, such a modification or improvement in the present version of Psalms, as might be found to be practicable. After reporting, from time to time, the progress they had made, the result of their labours is submitted in the present volume. The Psalms have been left without alteration, the Committee believing that it would be extremely difficult to furnish a more acceptable version than that of Watts. The Hymns, as may be seen, have undergone great and essential modifications.

Agreeably to an act of the General Assembly in 1842, the Committee was directed, after having respectfully considered any emendations which might in a limited time be suggested to it by individuals or Presbyteries, to publish the book, and submit it to the churches; and at the same time authority was given to use it in the worship of God. The Hymns are arranged under a simple and obvious classification, a little acquaintance with which, will enable any person to find, with facility, hymns suited to particular occasions, or adapted to particular subjects. The collection itself comprehends what were supposed to be the best hymns in the one now in use, with a large addition from other sources, and in sufficient variety, it is presumed, to meet all the wants of worshippers.

METRES.

L. M.-Long Metre.
C. M.-Common Metre.
S. M.-Short Metre.

H. M.-Hallelujah Metre.
L. M. D.-Long Metre Double.
C. L. M.-Common Long Metre.

The other metres are distinguished by the. number of syllables, as 11s, 7s, 8s, &c.

PSALMS.

B

PSALM 1. FIRST PART. C. M.

LEST is the man who shuns the place
Where sinners love to meet;

Who fears to tread their wicked ways,
And hates the scoffer's seat:

2 But in the statutes of the Lord
Has placed his chief delight;
By day he reads or hears the word,
And meditates by night.

3 He, like a plant of generous kind
By living waters set,

Safe from the storms and blasting wind,
Enjoys a peaceful state.

4 Green as the leaf, and ever fair
Shall his profession shine;
While fruits of holiness appear
Like clusters on the vine.

5 Not so the impious and unjust;
What vain designs they form!
Their hopes are blown away like dust,
Or chaff before the storm.

6 Sinners in judgment shall not stand
Among the sons of grace,

When Christ the Judge, at his right hand, Appoints his saints a place.

7 His eye beholds the path they tread,
His heart approves it well;

But crooked ways of sinners lead
Down to the gates of hell.

PSALM 1. SECOND PART. S. M.
HE man is ever blest,

TH

Who shuns the sinner's ways,
Among their councils never stands,
Nor takes the scorner's place:
2 But makes the law of God
His study and delight,
Amidst the labours of the day,
And watches of the night.

3 He like a tree shall thrive,

With waters near the root;
Fresh as the leaf his name shall live;
His works are heavenly fruit.

4 Not so th' ungodly race;

They no such blessings find;
Their hopes shall flee like empty chaff
Before the driving wind.

5 How will they bear to stand
Before that judgment seat,

Where all the saints at Christ's right hand
In full assembly meet?

6 He knows, and he approves

The way the righteous go:

But sinners and their works shall meet
A dreadful overthrow.

H

PSALM 1. THIRD PART. L. M.

APPY the man whose cautious feet Shun the broad way where sinners go, Who hates the place where atheists meet, And fears to talk as scoffers do.

2 He loves t' employ his morning light,
Among the statutes of the Lord;

And spends the wakeful hours of night,
With pleasure pondering o'er the word.