kneel before Thy throne, And our confessions pour,' there is something so very displeasing to my taste in the idea of 'pouring confessions,' that, if I were not free to change the expression, I must omit the hymn. In Campbell's beautiful lines on the Nativity (98), the angel choirs are called 'the glorious hosts of Zion,' a term which cannot be theologically justified: and a song is put into their mouths very different from the words of Holy Writ. Here, again, alteration or omission was the question at issue: and, even at the risk of deteriorating the poetry, I have endeavoured to improve the scriptural character of the piece. In translating Krummacher's striking lines (42), 'Allgemach aus Dämmerung und Nacht,' I have substituted for his two last lines (wie die sanften Lispel den Propheten einst auf Horeb's Felsenspitz umwehten) a totally different thought, thereby, I think, maintaining, what he had strangely violated, the parallelism of all the parts of his little poem. . In Toplady's wellknown hymn, Rock of ages,' who would wish to keep such rhymes as cure- power, dress-grace? In another composition of the same author (614), what reader of taste has not always been displeased with the opening line, Object of my first desire?' Reasons of equal weight may be assigned for every other departure from the original words. Abbreviation has also been necessary in some instances: for it must be carefully borne in mind that every psalm and hymn in the volume has been chosen as proper to be sung, if not in the congregation, then in the family; if not in the family, then by the individual Christian. Partly on account of these alterations, and partly because I have been unable to ascertain the authorship of many compositions, which have come to me either in manuscript or through other collections, I have thought it right to publish the volume without appending the names of writers to their works. This, however, I confess to be a defect, which ought hereafter, as far as possible, to be supplied. It is my pleasing duty to acknowledge, with deep gratitude, the liberal spirit in which numerous living authors have allowed me to use their compositions. It is almost invidious to select a few names: yet I cannot refrain from particularly thanking Miss Winkworth, the Authoresses of 'Hymns from the Land of Luther,' the Ven. Archdeacons Churton and Mant, Mr. Keble, Mr. Isaac Williams, the Earl Nelson, Dr. Bonar, and the Rev. A. T. Russell. My thanks are also due to the great Publishing Houses, which have kindly waived their claims in my favour. I owe much to the kind assistance of the Rev. E. J. Edwards, Vicar of Trentham, and of my old pupil and friend, the Rev. W. Walsham How, Rector of Whittington. Many other names are preserved by me in grateful recollection. I cannot but recognise the probability, that, in so large a collection, some hymns may have been included without due license. In regard to any such cases, I confidently appeal to the generous feeling of those whose rights I may have transgressed. My hope is, that, in composing and editing Christian Hymns, we have one common object, and that we can, therefore, cheerfully afford to lend each other a helping-hand: 'hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim.' At the same time I must distinctly add, that it would not be consonant with my feelings to derive any pecuniary advantage from a work of this kind, undertaken purely for the good of the Church. I have therefore made over any profits which may accrue to the Editor, to be equally divided between the two Societies for relieving the families of deceased clergymen ; namely, 'The Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy,' and 'The Friend of the Clergy Corporation' my Trustees for this purpose being the Rev. W. W. How, Rector of Whittington, and the Rev. T. B. Lloyd, Incumbent of St. Mary's, Shrewsbury. If this book shall, in any measure, by God's blessing, help to promote Christian faith and love in the land, its end will have been fully answered. 'Ita Deus faxit!' SHREWSBURY: December 31, 1862. INDEX OF SUBJECTS. [H. stands for Hymns: Ps. for Psalms.] ADVENT OF CHRIST (First). Ps. 81, 82, (Uses of). H. 294, 307, 484, 488, 489, (Comfort in). Ps. 7, 384, 386. 387; H. 405, 513, 535-538, 792, 793; 801, ANGELS. H. 1313-1316, 1318-1320. ARMOUR (of God; of Light). H. 23, 1042, 519, 520, 523, 531, 576-581, 585, BAPTIST (John). H. 45-49, 1413. Ps. 6. 125, CALL (of God, Christ). Ps. 451; H. 401, 405, 406, 413, 414, 415, 422, CHRIST (Divinity of). Ps. 931, 932; H. 85-88, 97, 99, 101, 107, 110, 111. 108-113, 116, 119, 123, 379, 629, (Nativity). H. 96-123, 1412, 1414, H. 183, 184, 185, CRUCIFIXION (Power of). H. 620, 622, DEATH (Approaching). Ps. 9: H. 160, (Peace and Comfort in). H. 633, 722, 747, 748, 762, 765, 773, 776, 778, (Overcome by Christ). H. 303, 635, (of Christian Friends). H. 750-783, DESIRE (of God, Christ, Heaven). Ps. 7, 392; H. 14, 15, 21, 22, 73, 168, DUTIES. H. 283, 350, 351. EVENING. Ps. 832, 833, 834; H. 835- (Saturday). 337, 863, 864, 865, 1452, 1453. EXAMPLES (Various). H. 191, 434, 435, 436, 440, 540, 541, 721, 727, 1350. FESTIVALS. H. 708, 914, 1412. FORGIVENESS (of Wrongs). H. 301, 1166, GOD (Almighty). Ps. 8, 9, 137, 261, 327, (Avenger). Ps. 1, 2, 4; H. 100. 330, 939; H. 152, 295, 336, 940, (Father). H. 339, 725, 1206, 1211, 1224, 1226, 1227, 1239, 1282, 1311, 1368, 1462, 1463. (Good, Gracious, Merciful, &c.) Ps. 93, 94, 136, 312, 330, 386, 451, 476, Ps. 54-57, 926, 930, 937, (King). Ps. 330, 740, 933, 938-942, |