or pauses, or what is still worse, of imposing an oppressive burden upon the choir.

In relation to the Psalms, it may be said, in the language of another, “That the harp of David yet hangs upon the willow, disdaining the touch of any hand less skilful than his own." The older versions of David's Psalms are generally destitute of all poetic merit. Now and then a ray of the genius and the inspiration of the Hebrew bard, breaks through the dullness of their prosaic rhymes, but these are like angel-visits, few and far between." If it be alleged, as it often is, that these versifiers entirely adhere to the originalit may be replied, that it is in letter, not in spirit. For the most part, their productions are nothing more nor less than the English translation of David, converted into common rhymes, while the spirit of the original has fled. It is one of the wonders of literature, that the productions of Sternhold and Hopkins, of Tate and Brady, to say nothing of earlier, and still poorer versifiers, should furnish the principal songs of enlightened and cultivated christian congregations, in the nineteenth century. It shows us how far the human mind may advance in some things, and remain stationary in others; -how far taste may be refined, and the entire powers of immortal man be enkindled and entranced by the productions of genius, and yet, under the influence of certain associations, be delighted with ancient dullness and barbarism.

The practical influence of all this upon the tone and vigor of piety-upon the higher feelings of devotion-upon those purer and holier emotions of the christian's heart, by which he often comes near to heaven and enters into intimate converse with his God and Saviour, is a problem of deep import which every minister at the altar may well propose to himself, and endeavor, as far as practicable, to solve.

Dr. Watts struck out a path for himself, and has been imitated by all the versifiers of David, and the composers of hymns, since his day. He is not without his faults, but his best productions are now sung, in every land, and among almost all denominations of christians, where the English language is spoken, and probably will continue to be through the millenium, and to the end of the world. His Psalms, taken as a whole, are superior to his Hymns; and in relation to the former it may be said, that Dr. Watts has drawn sweeter tones from the harp of David, than it has ever given

to the church of God, since the hand of the old Hebrew bard swept across its strings, and enkindled the devotions of the faithful: With regard to some of his Hymns, and a large number too, they are not inferior to his best versifications of the Psalms.

The Hymns, contained in this collection, have been selected from the productions of the best writers of this species of poetry, in our language; and such alterations have been made as bring them into a proper form to be used in the worship of the Sanctuary." In preparing this work, we have used the most approved editions of Hymns, and no changes have been made unless imperatively called for by the rules already stated and defended. The names of authors, as far as could be ascertained, are given in the Index, and it is not necessary to refer to them here. We cannot, however, forbear recording a sense of our deep indebtedness both to the living and to the dead, for those excellent labors which have furnished us with the materials for the formation of this volume, which we now present to the christian public, in the confident hope that it may increase the Knowledge and Piety of the Church, and promote, among the friends of Zion, the love of holy song.

New York, 1843.

PSALMS.

1.

1.

FIRST PART, L. M.

The Righteous and the Wicked.

1 HAPPY the man, whose cautious feet
Shun the broad way that 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.
3 He, like a plant by gentle streams,
Shall flourish in immortal green;
And heaven will shine, with kindest beams,
On every work his hands begin.

4 But sinners find their counsels crossed;
As chaff before the tempest flies,

So shall their hopes be blown and lost,
When the last trumpet shakes the skies.

SECOND PART, L. M.

The Prospects of the Saint and the Sinner.
1 THRICE happy he, who shuns the way
That leads ungodly men astray;

Who fears to stand where sinners meet,
Nor with the scorner takes his seat.

2 The law of God is his delight;
That cloud by day, that fire by night,
Shall be his comfort in distress,

And guide him through life's wilderness.
3 His works shall prosper; he shall be
A fruitful, fair, unwithering tree,
That, planted where the river flows,
Nor drought, nor frost, nor mildew knows.

15

4

2.

8 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?

FIRST PART, C. M.

Christ exalted and his Enemies warned.

1 WHY did the nations join to slay
The Lord's anointed Son?

Why did they cast his laws away,
And tread his gospel down?

2 The Lord, who sits above the skies,
Derides their rage below;

He speaks with vengeance in his eyes,
And strikes their spirits through:-

3 "I call him my beloved Son,

2.

And raise him from the dead;
I make my holy hill his throne,
And wide his kingdom spread."
4 Be wise, ye rulers of the earth!
Obey th' anointed Lord;

Adore the King of heavenly birth,
And tremble at his word.

5 With humble love address his throne,
For if he frown, ye die;

Those are secure, and those alone,
Who on his grace rely.

SECOND PART, C. M.

Prayer for the Kingdom of Christ.

1 FATHER! is not thy promise pledged

To thine exalted Son,

That, through the nations of the earth,
Thy word of life shall run ?—