To which are added, The Form of Government of the Presbyterian

Church in the United States of America, The Directory for

Worship, and the Shorter Catechism.

WITH A NEW INDEX OF SUBJECTS.

PHILADELPHIA :

PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION.

No. 821 CHESTNUT STREET.

Date of copyright of book, 1843.

Date of copyright of Ed with New Inder of Subjects.

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1860, by

JAMES DUNLAP, TREAS.,

in the office of the Clerk of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

BY
450

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE want of some improvement in the existing Psalmody, and particularly of an enlarged and arranged collection of Hymns, suitable for public and private worship in the Presbyterian Church, has for a considerable time been felt and acknowledged. In the year 1838, a Coinmittee was appointed by the General Assembly, to which was entrusted the preparation of such a collection as would supply the exigency, and, at the same time, such a modification or improvement in the present version of the Psalms, as might be found to be practicable. After reporting, from time to time, the progress they had made, the result of their labours is submitted in the present volume. The Psalms have been left without alteration, the Committee believing that it would be extremely difficult to furnish a more acceptable version than that of Watts. The Hymns, as may be seen, have undergone great and essential modifications.

Agreeably to an act of the General Assembly in 1842, the Committee was directed, after having respectfully considered any emendations which might in a limited time be suggested to it by individuals or Presbyteries, to publish the book, and submit it to the churches; and at the same time authority was given to use it in the

7 His eye beholds the path they tread,
His heart approves it well;
But crooked ways of sinners lead
Down to the gates of hell.

SECOND PART.

HE man is ever blest,

TH

Who shuns the sinners' ways,
Among their councils never stands,
Nor takes the scorner's place:

2 But makes the law of God
His study and delight,
'Amidst the labours of the day,
And watches of the night.

3 He like a tree shall thrive,

With waters near the root;
Fresh as the leaf his name shall live,
His works are heavenly fruit.

4 Not so th' ungodly race;

They no such blessings find;

Their hopes shall flee like empty chaff

Before the driving wind.

5 How will they bear to stand Before that judgment seat,

S. M.

Where all the saints at Christ's right hand In full assembly meet?

6 He knows, and he approves

The way the righteous go:

But sinners and their works shall meet
A dreadful overthrow.

HAPPY the man whose cautious feet Shun the broad way where sinners go, Who hates the place where atheists meet, And fears to talk as scoffers do.

2 He loves t' employ his morning light, Among the statutes of the Lord;

And spends the wakeful hours of night,
With pleasure pondering o'er the word.
8 He, like a plant by gentle streams,
Shall flourish in immortal green;

And Heaven will shine with kindest beams,
On every work his hands begin.

4 But sinners find their counsels crossed;
As chaff before the tempest flies,
So shall their hopes be blown and lost,
When the last trumpet shakes the skies.
5 In vain the rebel seeks to stand
In judgment with the pious race;
The dreadful Judge, with stern command,
Divides him to a different place.

6 "Straight is the way my saints have trod,
I blessed the path, and drew it plain;
But you would choose the crooked road;
And down it leads to endless pain."

MAKER and sovereign Lord

Of heaven, and earth, and seas,
Thy providence confirms thy word,
And answers thy decrees.

2 The things so long foretold
By David, are fulfilled;
When Jews and Gentiles join to slay
Jesus, thine Holy Child.

3 Why did the Gentiles rage,

And Jews with one accord,

Bend all their counsels to destroy

Th' Anointed of the Lord?

4 Rulers and kings agree

To form a vain design;

Against the Lord their powers unite,
Against his Christ they join

S. M.