Devotional and religious poems

Preface

While arranging music from the productions of foreign composers for the churches of this country, the author was led to feel the great want of variety in the structure of our sacred lyrics. Many a beautiful piece of music had to be laid aside, because there was not a single stanza of English poetry to which it could be adapted. Here was a temptation to endeavor in some measure to supply the deficiency. The encouragement which his earliest efforts met with, confirmed the author in his habits of versification ; and this little volume is the result. Several of the hymns published anonymously, have gained a wide circulation among the American churches, and found their way across the Atlantic. These, carefully revised, are here presented in connection with a larger number which have never before appeared. The habit referred to, it will be seen, has not been wholly confined to the limits of hymnology : but the little volume is submitted to the public without farther apology.