THE GOSPEL PSALMIST; A COLLECTION OF HYMNS AND TUNES, FOR PUBLIC, SOCIAL AND PRIVATE DEVOTION. ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE UNIVERSALIST DENOMINATION. 'let the peoPLE PRAISE THee, o god, leT ALL THE PEOPLE PRAISE THEE."-Psalms. BY J. G. ADAMS AND S. B. BALL. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY J. M. USHER. 1861. BV 450 A28 CONGREGATIONAL SINGING. The subjoined directions are intended for the benefit of those who may use this book in Congregational Singing: 1. The congregation should stand when they sing, in the usual attitude of worship, facing the pulpit. 2. They should rise promptly when the organist is playing the last line of the tune. 3. A choir of singers disposed to lead the congregation, may be of great service to it. But if the congregation are not led by a choir, they should have a leader in front of them, near the pulpit, and on a level with the pews. 4. Children should be instructed in singing at home, and in the schools, and should be encouraged to sing with the congregations. 5. Hymns and Tunes intended to be used should be made familiar by frequent rehearsals, both in public and in families. 6. The singing should be in steady, uniform time, from the beginning to the end of the hymn, with no forced pauses for the observance of punctuation, nor any needless delay at the end of the lines. INTRODUCTION. THE HYMNS. A work like the one here given to the Christian public seemed justifiable on the part of the publisher. As Congregational Singing had been coming into practice in other Christian churches, there was a call for it in our own. And as none of our Hymn-Books now in use could be made to answer to this call, except through a complete re-construction of them, it was deemed advisable to prepare this collection. The compiler has sought in this work to select such hymns as were expressive of thanksgiv ing and praise to God, and of the spiritual wants of his children, and thus suited to the devotional offerings of the Christian sanctuary. The book contains hymns old and new to most of our congregations. Some of the old could not well be spared from any Christian collection. The hymns of Watts, the Wesleys, Doddridge, Cowper, Mrs. Steele, Montgomery, Bowring, and others, are among the most acceptable of these; and without them we should hardly deem a book of Christian psalmody complete. Some of the best hymns of these popular authors are in this collection. Here are, also, hymns of a much earlier date than any of those by the authors just mentioned,-handed down to us from Catholic and Protestant churches of olden time, and breathing a devotional spirit as pure and fervent as any with which the churches have ever been blest. Hymns from German authors, which have never yet been generally used in our American congregations, and which are among the grandest in any language, are embodied in this work. Hymns applicable to the special reformatory manifestations of Christianity at the present time, have also been specially regarded. In the selection of these hymns due attention has been given to their agreement with the great truths of the Paternity of God in the government of mankind, and the restoration of all souls to holiness and happiness through Jesus Christ his Son. Although our book contains many hymns which can be sung in heart-unison by all Christian sects, yet throughout the collection it is intended that this grand and essential truth of the gospel shall be conspicuous-a truth toward which, we believe, the whole Christian church is gradually but surely tending-that "God wss in Christ RECONCILING THE WORLD unto himself." It has been our intention, moreover, in this work, to represent our denominational authorship as we have been able to avail ourselves of it within the compass of our diligent inquiries. In reference to the hymns for Funeral occasions in this book, we would say, that we have sought to avoid the expression of that idea now most generally discarded in the churches, that this material body of man shall be raised again and immortalized. We have ventured to change forms of expression in some of these hymns, which may not seem warrantable to all who see them. But we have had the approval of a good conscience, in the alterations, and have followed some very notable examples in presuming to make them. That this compilation will give satisfaction to all who may examine it, is not among the expectations of the compiler. Some little experience in hymnology has revealed to him the fact that tastes respecting hymns may widely differ. A valuable collection recently published in England, numbering between eleven and twelve hundred hymns, was submitted to fifteen |