from perceiving those which remain; and sometimes, in removing one fault, another will be created. Blemishes are also very liable to be overlooked when the general character and style accords with the taste of the editor. Besides, in a book designed for all classes, it is desirable, and indeed imperative, that all tastes should be consulted. A revising committee, however, would be worse than useless. They would bring discussion and off-hand suggestions, where patient study is required; the soundest judgment would not always coincide with the majority which determines; and the impossibility of duly considering each of the multitude of suggestions offered would create mutual dissatisfaction, as every person would feel that due attention was not given to his own. To secure the advantages of various criticism, yet avoid the confusion and embarrassment created by a committee, the valuable co-operation of twelve gentlemen was obtained. The list includes individuals distinguished for correct taste and extensive knowledge in poetry, literature, and theology,—and names, which would be received as a guarantee by all parties. Three had themselves published or prepared similar volumes; others were members of the two learned lay professions; and all were more or less connected with literary pursuits. As soon as a sheet was printed, a proof was sent to each of these gentlemen, who returned it with his suggestions. These suggestions were all well considered, full power being reserved to admit or demur to them. A proof, corrected with all the assistance thus afforded, was then printed, and submitted to one whose exalted station is the smallest of his claims to public confidence; and, having undergone this last ordeal, the sheet was worked off.

This explanation of the principles upon which the work has been undertaken, and the manner in which it has been prepared, may be illustrated by a complete Sunday, which will, at the same time, serve as a specimen of the 8vo. edition. The general subject for the fourth Sunday in Lent is, "God's free and unmerited grace." This is illustrated in the morning and evening lessons, by Joseph's kindness in receiving his brethren, notwithstanding their unworthy conduct towards him: the Epistle reminds Christians that they are delivered from the bondage of the Law, and made partakers of the freedom and blessings of the Gospel: the Gospel displays the abounding goodness of Christ in feeding the multitude miraculously and in the Collect, we confess our unworthiness, and pray for the blessings of God's grace. Accordingly, in the first of the hymns appointed for the day, like Joseph's brethren, we lament our guilt, and adore the mercy that spares and blesses us; in the second, we praise him for the blessings which we implore in the Collect; the third, founded on the Epistle, adores the Saviour who delivered us from the curse of the Law: and the fourth, on the Gospel, acknowledges the blessings of God's providence, and prays that we may be continually fed with the bread of life. To each hymn is prefixed a suitable refe

rence to a passage of Scripture, or to the Collect in the Services for the day, a heading descriptive of its subject, and the name of a tune suitable to its character and accent.*

The reader may be interested in comparing the hymns, as they now stand, with their originals.

[LORD, we confess our numerous faults,

How great our guilt has been!
Foolish and vain were all our thoughts,

And all our lives were sin.

But, O my soul, for ever praise,

For ever love his name,

Who turns thy feet from dangerous ways
Of folly, sin, and shame.]

"Tis from the mercy of our God
That all our hopes begin:

'Tis by the water and the blood

Our souls are wash'd from sin.

Rais'd from the dead we live anew;

And justified by grace

We shall appear in glory too,

And see our Father's face.-WATTS, Book I. Hymn CXI.

O FOR a thousand tongues to sing

My great Redeemer's praise!

The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master, and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,

To spread through all the earth abroad
The honours of thy name.

He breaks the power of cancell'd sin,
He sets the prisoner free;

His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood avail'd for me.

He speaks and list'ning to his voice

New life the dead receive;

The mournful broken hearts rejoice;

The humble poor believe.-WESLEY, Hymn I.

OH! not to Sinai's flaming height,

We lift the fearful eye,

Where clouds and shades of fiercest night

Proclaim Jehovah nigh.

The lightning's shaft in vengeance aim'd,

The tempest's awful hour,

Whose heart-felt notes so loud proclaim'd

The law's condemning pow'r ;

All, all are filed; in Levi's line
Th' anointed elders fail;

An holier voice, an arm divine,
Hath rent the mystic veil.

Then, Christian, dry the falling tear,
All anxious doubt remove;

Redeem'd at last from guilt and fear,

Oh! wake thy heart to love.

Thy Saviour's blood hath bought thy peace;

Thy Saviour's God adore;

He bids the throb of anguish cease

The pains of guilt he bore.-WILLCOX, Hymn CXCVI.

The fourth hymn is Heber's, from which some couplets, not congregational, have

been excluded.

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT.

HYMN 85.

Confession of Guilt, and Gratitude for Mercy. (Gen. xlv. 3.)

ALAS, in wand'ring from the Lord,
How great our guilt hath been!
How have we scorn'd his holy word,
And sought the paths of sin!
But, O my soul, for ever praise,
For ever love his name,
Who turns thy feet from evil ways
Of folly, sin, and shame.

'Tis from thy mercy, gracious God,
That all our hopes begin;
'Tis by the water and the blood,
Our souls are wash'd from sin.

Kept by the grace so freely given,
We walk in holy fear;

And hope to join the saints in heaven,
And sing thy goodness there.

He breaks the power of death and sin,
And sets the captive free:

His blood, which makes the sinner clean,
Is all the sinner's plea.

He speaks, and at his pow'rful voice,
New life the dead receive;
The broken hearts again rejoice;
The humble poor believe.

Lord of our life! all gracious God!
Thy goodness we'll proclaim;
Declare thy wond'rous acts abroad,
And bless our Saviour's name.

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT.

HYMN 87.

Deliverance from the Bondage of the Law. (Gal. iv. 31.)

LONDON NEW. C. M.

NOT to Mount Sinai's flaming height
We lift the fearful eye,

Where trumpet-blast, and clouds of night,
Proclaim Jehovah nigh:

The voice from Calvary we hear,
Which bids the curse remove :
By this redeem'd from guilt and fear,
Oh let us wake to love.

O Thou, whose blood hath bought our peace,
Whose love our sorrows bore,

Whose conquest makes our bondage cease,
Thee, Saviour, we adore!

HYMN 88.

The Bounties of Providence and Grace. (John vi. 11-14.)

SURREY. P. M.

O LORD of earth, of air, and sea!
The hungry ravens cry to thee;
On thee thy various creatures call,
The common Father, kind to all:
Then grant thy servants, Lord, we pray,
Our daily bread from day to day.
The lions may with hunger pine;
But, Lord, thou carest still for thine;
Thy bounteous hand with food can bless
The lone and barren wilderness :
And thou hast taught our hearts to pray
For daily bread from day to day.
And while we travel faint and slow,
Thy pilgrims, through a vale of wo,
Do thou thy gracious comfort give,
By which alone our souls can live;
And grant thy servants, Lord, we pray,
The bread of life from day to day.

The edition of which a specimen has been given, is printed on beautiful paper; and the hymns for every Sunday are thus displayed on two pages. The same uniformity prevails through all the Psalms, two portions being printed on every page. This edition being designed chiefly for the use of the Clergy, contains four indexes: one of the first lines; one containing an arrangement and application of the Psalms for every Sunday in the year; one of the texts of Scripture illustrated; and a fourth, of the general subjects of the Psalms and Hymns A second edition is printed in 18mo, from the same type as the Svo, containing one Psalm or Hymn in every page; and a third, in 24mo, in a small type, corresponding in arrangement with the 8vo, having two on every page. That the price may be reduced as much as possible, the two smaller editions have only an index of first lines.

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With a view to promote uniformity in singing; to spare the Clergy the trouble of appointing tunes, which, from deficiency of musical ear, or the heavy duties of an extensive parish, may be irksome to many; and to strengthen their hands where they have to deal with incompetent and refractory choirs; a tune has been appointed to each psalm or hymn, according with it as far as possible in character and accent. Many tunes have an emphatic pause in the middle of the line, and are particularly harsh and dragging where this pause breaks the sense, or, as may often happen, divides the syllables of a word. Thus "Truro " has a very marked rest at the fourth syllable of the first and third lines, Islington," at the fourth syllable of the fourth line, &c. Such tunes are as effective when properly used, as they are harsh when misapplied. It is not perhaps possible always to adjust the accent so strictly throughout a hymn; but at least the exceptions should be very few, and not such as to offend the ear. It is to be observed, that this appointment of tunes is designed merely to assist the Clergy, and by no means to interfere with the exercise of their own taste. At the same time it will be remembered that a very important advantage is obtained from uniformity in this respect; for words are always most effective when they immediately and naturally suggest their own tune: they will then read like music.

A volume of music has been prepared to accord with the Psalmody: it contains, with the old church tunes, a selection from the best compositions of modern masters. We have been favoured with permission to publish some original melodies by Sir George Smart, Mr. Attwood, and others. In arranging the music for three voices, we have been governed by a wish to reduce the cost of the volume as much as possible; and in the great majority of our churches, which have no organ, nor any regular choir, an effective counter tenor cannot be obtained. No assurance will be required that the arrangement of the tunes accords with the truest principles of taste and judgment, beyond the fact that they