THE

Augustine Byun Book.

A Hymnal for all Churches.

COMPILED BY

DAVID THOMAS, D.D.,

EDITOR OF "THE HOMILIST," "HOMILITICAL COMMENTARY," "BIBLICAL LITURGY,"

ETC., ETC.

"A hymn must be praise-praise to God-and this in the form of song."

Augustine.

"That hymns should be addressed to God one would not expect to find doubt-
ed; yet practically this rule has been set aside."

Quarterly Review, 1862.

THEC

London:

F. PITMAN, 20, PATERNOSTER ROW.

747. g. 72.

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PREFACE.

AT the announcement of this work, some reader will probably exclaim, "Another Hymnal! are not all congregations well supplied, and in some

th hymn books all but perfect?" This is not the place to criticise otherwise it would be easy to point out, even in our most modern ilar productions, such defects in poetry, rhyme, taste, and syntax, certainly justify some further attempts at hymnological improveHeartily do we agree with a learned authority, who says that "a uld have simplicity, freshness, reality of feeling, and rhyme armonious, but not jingling or trivial." The most exemplary > of doctrine cannot atone for doggerel, or redeem from failure or didactic style. This hymn book, however, is not brought ence merely to present congregations with compositions of ius and culture, but in order to embody a distinct, and as the ks, a fundamental principle in true hymnology. The principle every hymn like every prayer should be a direct address to >bject of worship. Men in acts of worship should sing to God, ʊt about Him, still less about themselves, as they do in the great bulk of compositions called hymns. This principle, which certainly appears true to common sense, is everywhere recognised in the Bible as the true idea of a hymn, hence we are commanded to “sing unto Him;" "sing psalms unto Him." Again, "Come, let us sing unto the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation." And again, "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms." The New Testament idea of a hymn agrees exactly with that of the Old. It is said that Paul and Silas, when in the prison at midnight, "sang praises unto God." And St. Paul calls upon the Colossians and Ephesians "to teach and admonish one another with psalms and