The Psalmist: a new collection of hymns for the use of Baptist churches

Front matter

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Book.

GOPY&tGHT DEPOSIT

Preface

TO THE SUPPLEMENT. ck

The Psalmist contains a copious supply of excellent hymns for the pulpit. We are acquainted with no collection of hymns combining, in an i [ual degree, poetic merit, evangelical sentiment, id a rich variety of subjects, with a happy adapion to pulpit services. There is, however, a nous obstacle to its general use, especially in the £puth. Many hymns have acquired a high local oularity. Having been long in use, they are zed, not merely for their intrinsic worth, but for :ir tender and delightful associations. Old songs, e old friends, are more valued than new ones, number of the hymns best known, most valued, and most frequently sung in the South, are not found in the Psalmist. Without them, no hymn book, whatever may be its excellences, is likely to become generally or permanently popular in that region. To supply this deficiency in the Psalmist, as far as may be, is the design of the following Supplement. These hymns have been mostly selected, not on account of their poetic beauty, but their established popularity. They will, we think, be found not seriously defective as metrical compositions; but their chief excellence consists in their adaptation

PREFACE.

to interest and affect the heart. They are, with few exceptions, inserted as they are known and sung among us, without abridgment, or any attempt at improvement. If we are not deceived, they will form an acceptable appendix to the Psalmist. Adapted chiefly to social worship, they will, we trust, contribute greatly to the interest and profit of our prayer and protracted meetings.

Though this selection has been made with special reference to the taste and wants of the South, we know no reason why it should not be acceptable to other portions of the country. Many of the hymns in the Supplement are of high reputation in all parts of our country, as appears from the fact that they are found in almost every collection enjoying a local popularity.

Supplying the place of the Chants in the Psalmist, which, in many portions of our country, are seldom used, the Supplement will add very little to the bulk, and nothing to the price of the book.

We now dedicate this small offering to the

churches, earnestly imploring the " Father of

Lights," that it may tend to increase the fervor

of their devotions, and the spirituality of their

minds.

RICHARD FULLER,

J. B. JETER.