TO THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE Methodist Episcopal Church. THE Hymn-Book heretofore in use among us, has been thought by many to be defective, partly on account of the mutilated state of many of the hymns, and partly because of its being divided into two books. To remedy these inconveniences, measures have been adopted to prepare a revised edition of our Hymn-Book, such a one as should exclude the defects and retain the excellencies of the one heretofore published. This revised edition we now present to you. The greater part of the hymns contained in the former selection are retained in this, and several from Wesley's and Coke's collections, not before published in this country, are added. The principal alterations which have been made, consist in restoring those which had been altered, as was believed for the worse, to their original state, as they came from the poetical pen of the Wesleys; for the following hymns were, except a few which have been taken from other authors, composed by the Rev. John and Charles Wesley; names that will ever be held dear and in high estimation by every lover of sacred poetry. The following hymns, arranged under their ap propriate heads, were submitted to the last General Conference, approved by them, and ordered for publication. In presenting this revised Hymn-Book to you for your use, we humbly trust that we are putting into your hands one of the choicest selections of evangelical hymns, suitable for private devotion, as well as for family, social, and public worship, by which you will be much aided in the (v) performance of these important parts of divine service. We are the more delighted with this design, as no personal advantage is concerned, but the public good alone. For after the necessary expenses of publication are discharged, we shall make it a noble charity, by applying the profits arising therefrom to religious and charitable purposes. No motive of a sinister nature has therefore influenced us in any degree to publish this excellent compilation. As the profits of the former editions have been scrupulously applied as above, so the same appropriation of the profits of the present shall be conscientiously observed. We must therefore earnestly entreat you, if you have any respect for the authority of the Conference, or of us, or any regard for the prosperity of the Church of which you are members and friends, to purchase no Hymn-Books but what are signed with the names of your bishops. And as we intend to keep a constant supply, the complaint of our congre gations, "that they cannot procure our HymnBooks," will be stopped. We exhort you to sing with the spirit and with the understanding also: and thus may the high praises of GOD be set up from East to West, from North to South: and we shall be happily instrumental in leading the devotion of thousands, ard shall rejoice to join you in time and eternity. We are, Dear Brethren, Your faithful Pastors in Christ, WILLIAM M'KENDREE. ENOCH GEORGE, ROBERT R. ROBERTS. A COLLECTION OF HYMNS. AWAKENING AND INVITING 1 Melody.] HYMN 1. C. M. FIRST PART. FOR a thousand tongues to sing The glories of my God and King, 2 My gracious Master, and my God, To spread through all the earth abroad 3 Jesus!-the Name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease; 'Tis music in the sinner's ears, 4 He breaks the power of cancell'd sin, His blood can make the foulest clean: 5 He speaks-and list'ning to his voice, The mournful, broken hearts rejoice: |