FOR many years I have been impor tuned to publish such a HYMN-BOOK, as might be generally used in all our Congregations throughout Great-Britain and Ireland. I have hitherto withstood the importunity, as I believed such a publication was needless, considering the various Hymn-Books which my brother and I have published within these forty years last past; so that it may be doubted whether any religious community in the world has a greater variety of them. But it has been answered, Such a publication is highly needful upon this very account; for the greater part of the people being poor, are not able to purchase so many books. And those that have purchased them are, as it were, bewildered in the immense variety. A proper Collection of Hymns for general use, carefully made out of all these books, is therefore still wanting; and one comprised in, so moderate a compass, as to be neither cumbersome nor expensive." It has been replied, "You have such a Collection already, (entitled HYMNS and SPIRITUAL SONGS,) which 1 extracted several years ago, from a variety of Hymn-Books." But it is objected, "This is in the other extreme: It is far too small. It does not it cannot, in so narrow a compass, contain Variety enough. not so much as we want, among whe singing makes so considerable a part of the public service. What we want is, a Collection not too large, that it may be cheap and portable, nor too small, that it may contain a sufficient variety for all ordinary occasions." Such a Hymn-Book you have now be fore you. It is not so large as to be ei ther cumbersome or expensive and it is large enough to contain such a vari ety of Hymns, as will not soon be worn threadbare. It is large enough to contain all the important truths of our most holy Religion, whether speculative or practical; yea, to illustrate them all, and to prove them both by Scripture and Reason. And this is done in a regular order. The Hymns are not carelessly jumbled together, but carefully ranged under proper heads, according to the experience of real Christians. So that this book is, in effect, a little body of experimental and practical divinity. As but a small part of these Hymns is of my own composing,* I do not think it inconsistent with modesty to declare, that I am persuaded no such Hymn-book as this has yet been published in the English language. In what other pub. lication of the kind have you so distinct and full an account of Scriptural Christianity? Such a declaration of the heights and depths of Religion, speculative and practical? So strong cautions against the most plausible errors; particularly those that are now most prevalent? And The greater part was composed by the harles Wesley. so clear directions for making your calling and election sure; for perfecting holiness in the fear of God? May I be permitted to add a few words with regard to the Poetry? Then I will speak to those who are judges thereof with all freedom and unreserve. TO these I may say, without offence, 1. In these Hymns there is no doggerel; no botches; nothing put in to patch up the rhyme; no feeble expletives. 2. Here is nothing turgid or bombast, on the one hand; or low and creeping, on the other. 3. Here are no cant expressions; no words without meaning. Those who impute this to us, know not what they say. We talk common sense, both in prose and verse, and use no word but in a fixed and determinate sense. 4. Here are, (allow me to say) both the purity, the strength, and the elegance of the English language: and, at the same time, the utmost simplicity and plainness, saited to every capacity. Lastly, I desire men of taste to judge, (these are the only competent judges,) whether there be not in some of the following Hymns, the true Spirit of Poetry; such as cannot be acquired by art and labour, but must be the gift of Nature. By la bour a man may become a tolerable imitator of Spenser, Shakespeare, or Milton, and may heap together pretty compound epithets, as pale-ey'd, meek-ey'd, and the like; but unless he be born a Poet, he will never attain the genuine Spirit of Poetry. But to return. That which is of infinitely more moment than the Spirit Poetry, is the Spirit of Piety. And, I trust, all persons of real judgment will find this breathing through the whole Collection. It is in this view chiefly, that I would recommend it to every truly pious reader, as a mean of raising or quickening the spirit of devotion; of confirming his faith; of enlivening his hope; and of kindling and increasing his love to God and man. When Poetry thus keeps its place, as the handmaid of Piety it shall attain, not a poor perishable wreath, but a Crown that fadeth not away. JOHN WESLEY LONDON, OCTOBER 20, 1779. 1 FOR a thousand tongues to sing 2 My gracious Master, and my God,' To spread thro' all the earth abroad, 3 JESUS! the Name that charms our That bids our sorrows cease: 4 He breaks the power of cancell'd sin His blood can make the foulest clean'} 5 He speaks, and listening to his voice, 6 Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, Ye blind, behold your Saviour come, |