CHRISTIAN MELODIST: NEW COLLECTION OF HYMNS FOR SOCIAL RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. By JOSEPH BANVARD, PASTOR OF THE HARVARD STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, BOSTON. BOSTON: GOULD AND LINCOLN, 69 WASHINGTON STREET. 1852. 1 The publishers have received from clergymen and others in every direction, the most gratifying testimonials to its merits. They have room only for the following. [From Rev. DANIEL SHARP, D. D., Boston.] "I take pleasure in saying, that I consider the 'Christian Melodist' a valuable work. It contains original hymns which are beautiful, and well known hymns that to Christians will never be uninteresting. The collection is a very great improvement on hymn books of the class to which it belongs. I consider the tunes which are added, as highly increasing the excellence of the publication." Similar testimonials have also been received from other Pasters, viz.: Rev. Messrs. R H. NEALE, P. CHURCH, N. COLVER, G. W. BOSWORTH, WM. HOWE, P. Srow, and M. SANFORD. [From Rev. R. TURNBULL, Hartford, Ct.] "Generally the hymns are at once poetical and devout, and well fitted to express the emotions of a Christian heart. The addition of tunes at the end of the volume is a great improvement. Indeed, it is the best hymn book for the vestry which I have ever seen." [From Rev. DANIEL C. EDDY, Lowell.] "It better accords with my idea of what a vestry hymn book ought to be, than any one which I have ever seen, and will, I have no doubt, be used extensively, with pleasure and profit, by the members of our congregations." [From Rev. S. H. CONE, D. D., New York.] "It affords me pleasure to commend it as one of the most copious and judiciously arranged hymn books I have met with. The introduction of appropriate tunes is a valuable addition, and will have a tendency, I trust, to restore to our churches the primitive practice of speaking in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, in which the whole congregation may make melody to the Lord." Like recommendations have also been received from the following clergymen in New York city, viz. : — Rev. Messrs. C. G. SOMERS, E. LATHROP, W. H. WYCKOFF, W. W. EVERTS, S. REMINGTON, HENRY DAVIS, J. T. SEELY, D. DUNBAR, C. MORTON, and J. L. HODGE, Brooklyn. [From Rev. GEO. B. IDE, D. D., Philadelphia.] "An excellent collection of hymns. It has the advantage of being adapted to the sanctuary, and to the wants of social worship. While all will find it a profitable help in the prayer meeting and in seasons of revivals, it will be particularly desirable to those churches who do not wish a more expensive book for the Lord's day, or prefer one suited to both public and social worship." The work is handsomely printed on large type, and strongly bound in sheep. Price 37 cents, $4.00 per dozen. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts, FROM THE ESTATE OF REV, CHARLES HUTCHINS MAY 24, 1939 6531 40-277 ୦୯ 459 •B2-5 1852 PREFACE. THE want of a hymn book adapted to all the purposes of social religious meetings, has for a long time been felt. Many of the books in use are so limited in their contents as to furnish but few appropriate hymns for the various purposes of these social gatherings; while others, which contain a greater variety, are printed in such small type as to render their use quite inconvenient, especially, as is too often the case, when the place of meeting is dimly lighted. The present volume avoids both of these objections. It contains a copious variety of hymns, adapted to all the regular and the occasional meetings which are held, and is printed in large, open type, so as to be easily read. Brevity, spirituality and earnestness are the general characteristics of the hymns. It has been a prominent object of the editor to prepare a book, which, besides being appropriate to the ordinary state of the church, should also be adapted to seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; he has, therefore, introduced a considerable number of hymns through which the returning backslider, the weeping penitent, the trembling believer, |