3091.0.26 UNDER THE SANCTION OF THE RIGHT REV. METRICAL PSALMS AND HYMNS, FOR SINGING IN CHURCHES. Fourth Edition. WORCESTER: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DEIGHTON AND CO., AND SOLD BY THE BOOKSELLERS. MDCCCLII. PREFACE. FEW things are more desirable for the Parochial Service of our Church than an authorized Hymn Book. The compilation of such a book will require, what seems to have been little regarded, the united attention of the divine, the poet, and the musician. Till such a desideratum is supplied, dioceses, districts, or congregations, must exercise their best discretion. In the city of Worcester, and in many parishes of the county, a Selection of Psalms and Hymns, made for local use, has long been extant. But, from its numerous faults and serious imperfections, it has fallen into disrepute. The present attempt to supply a better manual has been conducted on the following principles : I. That the whole be thoroughly Scriptural, and that the grand truths of the Gospel, and the ordinary emotions of a spiritual mind, find a constant place in it. II. That provision be made for all such festivals, days, seasons, and other occasions, as are recognized by the Church, or observed by most congregations. III. To have respect chiefly to public worship; to consult good taste; to regulate the musical scanning of the lines; to observe lyrical character to avoid unusual and too many kinds of metre, (unless two or three of the same kind are eligible;) and, especially, to be as comprehensive as practicable, considering the many grades of intellect, education, and spiritual attainment, existing in our congregations. That the Editor has satisfied himself in carrying out all these last-named purposes, is more than he can affirm. He has not unfrequently yielded to the pressure of long-standing associations, the wishes of individuals, and the reluctance both to refuse much good because of blemishes, or to alter the diction of venerated or well-known authors. The Metrical Psalms are selected, as far as the rule of edification allowed, from the Old and New Versions. Where neither version presented verses likely to be sung, some more suitable version has been adopted. In a few instances, a second version has been added. Some recognition of every Psalm in the Bible will be found in the present metrical selection. In accordance with a somewhat general desire, several Hymns of George Wither, especially for particular days, are inserted. His Hymns, though quaint and plain, are often very apt and pointed, and always most Scriptural. Their Saxon phraseology will recommend them to our poorer people. The high and unprecedented authority which was granted by James I. to Wither's "Hymns and Songs of the Church," commends them to the attention of every churchman. The Editor, who is writing not a devotional but an explanatory Preface, like those in the Prayer |