or writes out its catechism. If the hymn book is daily sung in the family, and in the social meetings of the brethren, it must imbue their souls with its sentiments more than all the other labors of the pulpit or of the press. For these reasons, no book ought to be got up with more religious care and consideration than the volume of psalmody. No task requires a more cultivated spiritual taste---a more enlarged and comprehensive mind---a more intimate acquaintance with the spirit of the Bible and the hallowed breathings of its saints, than the psalmody of a Christian church. These considerations have influenced us to repudiate altogether some hymns and songs (though very popular) and to reform others. If we have not every psalm, hymn, and spiritual song which might be sung with acceptance and with propriety, it ought not to be thought a defect in our selection, any more than the not having every flower and shrub in the garden (provided every species be there) should be an objection against the good taste or judgment of the keeper in making his selections. We think we have culled the most useful and beautiful flowers from all the books in use; and if we have not every individual song, we have some of every species of poetry, and on every subject which rightfully claims a place in the sacred psalmody of the Christian society. A. CAMPBELL. TABLE OF FIRST LINES. A FRIEND there is,-your voices join, Am I a soldier of the cross, And did the holy and the just, And now another day is gone, Angels, roll the rock away, Another day is past, And is the gospel peace and love, And now, my soul, another year, Arm of the Lord, awake! awake! Awake, my soul, in joyful lays, Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve, 164 202 339 344 350 87 453 478 443 287 51 271 403 465 70 360 330 455 263 53 267 441 422 Awake, you saints, and raise your eyes, 282 BAPTIZ'D into our Saviour's death, 214 176 378 53 68 Before Jehovah's awful throne, 112 197 191 46 38 268 222 Beneath our feet and o'er our head, 365 Bless'd be thy name forever, 357 Bless'd is the man who shuns the place, Broad is the road that leads to death, 315 409 CHILDREN of old, hosannas sung, Christians, keep your armor bright, Christ the Lord is risen to-day! 406 88 63 Come, all you sons of God, and view, 209 Come, children of Zion, and help us to sing, 100 Come, christian brethren, ere we part, 185 |