TO THE

READERS

On the following HEADS.

Of the different Editions of this Book.

TH

THE larger edition is prefaced with a difcourfe on the right way of fitting The Pfalms of David for Chriftian worship; wherein a plain account is given of the author's general condu& in this imitation of the pfalms, together with fome evident and convincing arguments to fupport it. There are also particular notes added at the end of a great number of the pfalms, which explain their evangelical sense, and fhew the reafon why they are either paraphrased or abridged in fuch a manner here.

At the request of many friends, the author has permitted this edition in a smaller form, to render it more portable and convenient for public worship; he therefore defires, and may reafonably demand this piece of justice of all his readers, that they

will not cenfure and condemn any part of this work without a diligent perufal of the larger edition, wherein the preface and notes, in the judgement of many learned and pious men, have given a fufficient vindication of the whole performance.

Of the ufe of this Pfalm-Book.

The chief defign of this work was to improve pfalmody or religious finging, and to encourage the frequent practice of it in public affemblies and private families with more honour and delight; yet the author hopes the reading of it may also entertain the parlour and the closet with devout pleafure and holy meditations. Therefore he would requeft his readers, at proper seasons to perufe it through; and among 340 facred hymns, they may find out feveral that fuit their own cafe and temper, or the circumftances of their families and friends: they may teach their children fuch as are proper for their age, and by treasuring them up in their memory, they may be furnished with pious retirement, or may entertain their friends with holy melody.

Of chufing or finding the Pfalm. The perufal of the whole book will acquaint every reader with the author's method, and by confulting the index or table

of contents at the end, he may find hymns very proper for many occafions of the Chriftian life and worship; though no copy of David's Pfalter can provide for all, as I have fhewn in the preface.

Or if he remembers the first line of any pfalm, the table of the first lines will direct where to find it.

Or if any shall think it beft to fing all the pfalms in order in churches or families, it may be done with profit; provided those pfalms be omitted that refer to fpecial occurrences of nations, churches, or fingle Chriftians.

Of naming the pfalms.

Let the number of the pfalm be named diftinctly, together with the particular metre, and particular part of it: As for inftance; let us fing the 33d pfalm, 2 part, common metre; or, let us fing the 91ft pfalm, ift part, beginning at the paufe or ending at the pause; or let us fing the 84th pfalm as the 148th pfalm, &c. And then read over the first stanza before you begin to fing, that the people may find it in their books, whether you fing with or without reading line by line.

Of dividing the pfalm.

If the pfalm be too long for the time or

cuftom of finging, there are paufes in many of them at which you may properly reft: Or you may leave out thefe verses which are included in crotchets [] without disturbing the fenfe: Or, in fome places, you may begin to fing at a pause.

Do not always confine yourselves to fix ftanzas, but fing feven or eight, rather than confound the fenfe, and abuse the pfalm in folemn worship.

Of the manner of finging.

It were to be wished that all congregations and private families would fing as they do in foreign Proteftant countries, without reading line by line. Though the author has done what he could to make the fenfe complete in every line or two, yet many inconveniencies will always attend this unhappy manner of finging: but where it cannot be altered, these two things may give fome relief.

First, Let as many as can do it, bring Pfalm-books with them, and look on the words while they fing, fo far as to make the fenfe complete.

Secondly, Let the clerk read the whole pfalm over aloud before he begins to parcel out the lines. that the people may have fome notion of what they fing; and not be forced to drag on heavily through eight tedious syl

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lables without any meaning, till the next line come to give the fenfe of them.

It were to be wished alfo that we might not dwell fo long upon every fingle note, and produce the fyllables to fuch a tirefome extent with a conftant uniformity of time; which difgraces the mufic, and puts the congregation quite out of breath in finging five or fix ftanzas: Whereas, if the method of finging were but reformed to a greater fpeed of pronunciation we might often enjoy the pleasure of a longer pfalm with lefs expence of time and breath; and our pfalmody would be more agreeable to that of the antient churches, more intelligible to others, and more delightful to ourselves.

December 1ft, 1718.

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