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that which, in former times, was charged upon Puritans and Methodists. But just as the latter could also boast great singers like Dr. Watts and Charles Wesley, with whose hymns no book of church-song can now dispense; so modern Romanists and Anglicans have contributed very beautiful and very precious additions to the worship of the church :-first, by fine translations of old Church Hymns; and next, by original compositions of great fervour and excellence. Many of these have so rapidly and so deservedly become popular, that it is very generally felt to be desirable that they should be available for use in churches. It is, indeed, as impossible as it is undesirable, that the canon of church-song should be closed, so long as God bestows gifts of song upon His servants. From the unhappy polemics that now array churches in hostile parties, and that are specially associated with rival Hymnals, the Free Churches of Great Britain are happily exempt; no suspicion of sinister proclivities attaches to them, because they use hymns derived from Romish or Anglican sources. They are able, therefore, to introduce into their worship whatever, either in words or in music, may contribute to their devoutness and joy. I have, consequently, felt at liberty to use whatever appeared to me intrinsically good, irrespective of the source whence it was derived; and thus have gladly furnished another illustra

tion of the essential oneness, especially in acts of devotion, of all truly religious men.

More especially I have endeavoured to supply those classes of Hymns in which our ordinary Hymn Books seem to me most deficient and meagre. Hymns of Divine worship, such as are largely found in all our books, must ever be the staple of public praise; but Hymns of Christian life and sentiment are also essential to the nurture of religious feeling; and have their abundant justification in the Book of Psalms, especially in those Psalms which are most precious to devout hearts. The Sacramentarian developments of late years have supplied a great number of tender and devout Hymns for the Lord's. Table, where, if anywhere, sanctified affection demands free expression. Of these I have freely availed myself; avoiding, I hope, every taint of the fatal heresy for which, chiefly, at the Reformation, English Christians forsook the Church of Rome.

Most of the Hymns in this collection are by modern writers, and are copyright. Permission to use them has in every practicable instance been asked; and the Authors, whose names are prefixed to their compositions, will, perhaps, permit me, in a general reference, to acknowledge the great and generous readiness with which it has been conceded.

Acknowledgments are also made to Mr. J. T.

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HAYES, for permission to use Dr. Neale's Hymns of the Eastern Church;" to the Rev. Sir H. W. BAKER, Bart., for permission to use Hymns from "Hymns Ancient and Modern; to Messrs. HoULSTON and WRIGHT, for permission to use Hymns from "Hymns on the Holy Communion."

Permission to use Hymns from "The Chorale Book for England" has been purchased from Messrs. LONGMANS.

To secure the use of appropriate music, I have prefixed to each Hymn the name and number of a Tune in "The Congregational Psalmist." The more inseparably we can connect Hymn and Tune, the more effective both will be. I pray that these Hymns may inspire the holy hearts, and enrich the devout feelings of all who, whether in the Church or in the home, use them for the worship of Him to whose glory they are dedicated.

Canonbury, January 20, 1868.

HENRY ALLON.

NOTE TO THE ENLARGED EDITION. To the original edition of this book two additions have been made at different times. This will account for some defects in arrangement, for which, however, the Index of Subjects will compensate. Canonbury, May 1, 1875

The Divine Being and His Worship.

"Bless the Lord, O my Soul."-Ps. ciii. 22.

Triumph, 29.]

87.87.47.

[H. F. LYTE

I PRAISE, my soul, the King of Heaven,
To His feet thy tribute bring:
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like thee His praise should sing P
Praise Him, praise Him,

Praise the everlasting King.

2 Praise Him for His grace and favour
To our fathers in distress;
Praise Him, still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise Him, praise Him,

Glorious in His faithfulness.

. 3 Father-like, He tends and spares us,
Well our feeble frames He knows;
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise Him, praise Him,

Widely as His mercy flows.

4 Angels, help us to adore Him;
Ye behold Him face to face;
All His works bow down before Him,
Through the boundless realms of space,
Praise Him, praise Him,

Praise with us the God of grace.

B

"All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord; and Thy
saints shall bless Thee."-Ps. cxlv. 10.

Göttingen, 337.]

2

77.77.77.

[G. W. CONDER.

LL things praise Thee-Lord most high,

A1 Heaven and earth and sea and sky,

All were for Thy glory made,
That Thy greatness thus displayed
Should all worship bring to Thee;

All things praise Thee:-Lord, may we.
2 All things praise Thee-night to night
Sings in silent hymns of light;
All things praise Thee-day to day
Chants Thy power in burning ray;
Time and space are praising Thee,
All things praise Thee:-Lord, may we.
3 All things praise Thee-round her zones
Earth, in fragrant, brilliant tones,
Rolls a ceaseless choral strain,
Roaring wind, and deep-voiced main,
Rustling leaf, and humming bee,
All things praise Thee:-Lord, may we.
4 All things praise Thee-high and low,
Rain, and dew, and seven-hued bow,
Crimson sunset, fleecy cloud,
Rippling stream, and tempest loud;
Summer, winter, all to Thee

Glory render:-Lord, may we.

5 All things praise Thee-Heaven's high
shrine

Rings with melody divine;
Lowly bending at Thy feet,
Seraph and archangel meet;
This their highest bliss to be
Ever praising:-Lord, may we.

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