PREFACE, TH HE great change in religious faith which has taken place in this island, fince the period in which the different collections of Pfalms or Hymns of moft general acceptation were first introduced, has rendered it highly improper, if not abfolutely criminal, to continue any longer in the use of what the mind at prefent revolts from. Whatever be the faith of any fociety, no worfhip ought to be prefented to God, which contradicts that faith. It had indeed been well, if the peculiarities of religious faith had never intruded into a part of worship, whose characteristic features are gratitude, and a virtuous conformity to the will of God. our predeceffors however unhappily thought otherwise, it is the principal object of this collection to remove the offence, which their doctrinal zeal has occafioned to their fucceffors. As It was alfo in the view of the editor to improve the ftile, to reject all mean and low compofitions, and, if poffible, all mean and low lines. But neither of thefe views could be accomplished, without taking great liberty with the compofitions of various authors. He hopes that none will be offended therewith, as no injury is done to any one. The existence of the originals is not affected by the alterations which are introduced into a fingle copy, and whoever prefer the originals, ftill may use them. It has been objected indeed, that Watt's facred poetry has obtained fo high a repute, that it will be deemed almost a facrilege to attempt to correct it. Few refpect the memory of Dr. Watts more than the editor; but he has reafon to believe, that Dr. Watts meditated the correction of himself both as a divine and a poet. To adapt the facred poems of Dr. Watts to the principal object of the editor, it was abfolutely neceffary that every objection in respect of doctrine fhould be removed. And it will be allowed by the warmest friends of this refpected author, that whatever poetic spirit he may discover in many inftances, yet his best compofitions are blemished by very low and groveling lines. Poetry is rather a novel attempt of the editor, and whether he has or has not by nature the fmallest talent therein, must be left to the judgment of others. Fame was not inhis view, and and therefore a very temperate approbation will fully fatisfy him. The alterations are very confiderable, bearing no fmall proportion to the whole work, and in many of the pfalms and hymns the retaining the name of the original author must be confidered as a mere acknowledgment of the fource from which the compofition was derived. But in authors of a very high reputation, if he has varied in the leaft from the original, it has almost always been from other motives than the idea of bettering the expreffion. Thus two lines are inferted in the beautiful paftoral hymn of Addifon in order to reduce the of fix lines to one of four. Again in his hymn on recovery from a bed of fick nefs, the three laft ftanzas are fubftituted inftead of the author's, because the fentiments of the original could not be reconciled with the defign of the editor. original stanza Some of the devotional poems may be thought to be of too private and individual a character for public worship. These are not many, and there is no impropriety in having paid fome regard to domestic and even individual worship. There will be found a choice of pfalms or hymns on many of the principal topics, as it was the defign of the editor to furnish as large a fcope for variety as poffible. Too frequent repetition renders the best compofition infipid, and almost difguftful; and independent of this confideration, variety provides a field for the indulgence of various tastes. As far as was in the editor's power, he has annexed the names of the original authors, and where no intelligence of the author could be procured, he has fignified his acknowledgment by the word UNKNOWN. For all those pfalms or hymns, which have no mark annexed of known or unknown author, the editor himself must answer. Vanity did not tempt him to infert them, nor has a falfe modefty induced him to withhold them. The editor takes this opportunity of making his acknowledgment to Mr. CAPPE, from whofe collection he has taken the liberty to borrow fome few lines and expreffions, particularly in No. 353, the 9th, 10th, 13th, and 14th lines with a little variation. NOTTINGHAM, MARCH 8, 1788. GEORGE WALKER. If any congregation wish to adopt this collection, they may be fupplied by writing to the Rev. GEORGE WALKER, Nottingham. 4 |