* Sing ye praises with understanding.”

PSALM xlvii. 1.
Speaking to yourselves in Psalms, and Hymns, and Spiritual
Songs ; singing and making Melody in your Hearts unto the
Lord.”

EPHES. v. 19.

TO THE

Church and Congregation

ASSEMBLING AT

RANELAGH CHAPEL.

AS very many of you have frequently expressed your bish that I would prepare a Hymn Book for your use, thich should include the majority of Psalms and Iymns of Dr. Watts, and also those which are in leneral use, from other Authors of eminence, I have at length complied ; and although I am conscious of imberfection in the present publication, yet I can assure you that it has cost me very considerable labour and inciety; but I never have, and I hope never shall, regret the employment of my best energies at the request, and for the welfare of those, to whom I am so cordially attached, and from whom I have received so many proofs of affection and esteem : and it affords me great pleasure to avail myself of this opportunity of leaving on record my fervent prayers for your present happimess, and eternal salvation.

I have inserted many original Hymns, for which am alone responsible. I intended to have disti guished these by a prefixed or added mark, to ha screened them among my Friends, by the exercise their affection for me, from the rigour of criticism. hope, however, in such company as WATTS, Doi DRIDGE, COWPER, NEWTON, TOPLADY, STEEL and other names of equal veneration and value, the may escape, by serving as a foil to exhibit, with sti greater lustre, the beauties of Poetry and the charn of Piety, to which, though they aspire, they have ni as yet attained.

That the present publication may, by the divin blessing, be made the means of instruction and conso lation to many, is the fervent prayer of

Your affectionate Friend,

For Christ's sake,

R. H. SHEPHERD

Palace Street, Pimlico,

May 16, 1818.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Hymı. PUBLIC WORSHIP

1 to 24 & 31 to 67 FAMILY WORSHIP

25 to 31 BAPTISM

67 to 78 LORD'S SUPPER

78 to 98 MORNING AND EVENING

98 to 113 PUBLIC CHARITIES

113 to 127 ORDINATIONS

127 to 132 FAST DAY

132 to 141 PRAISE

141 to 165 MISSIONARY

165 to 188 NEW YEAR

188 to 200 SPRING

200 to 207 HARVEST

207 to 209 AUTUMN

209 to 212 WINTER

212 to 216 IMPROVEMENT AND REVIEW OF LIFE 215 to 231 YOUTH

231 to 245 BIRTH DAY

246 to 248 OLD AGE

248 to 253 DEATH

253 to 278 FUNERAL

278 to 290 JUDGMENT

290 to 303 ETERNITY ...

303 to 305