body, in estate; with sometimes no sign of life but this -they would lie in the Slough of Despond for ever, rather than climb out on any side but that which is towards the Celestial City. "For they desire a better country, even an heavenly." And herein again they are one-“as sorrowing, yet alway rejoicing," —as esteeming "the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." With one voice they sing, "Heavenward the waves I'll breast- Heavenward with Christ-after him. His headship over the Church is wonderfully set forth in their songs. They ever say with the old martyr-" None but Christ!" All eyes are looking unto Jesus, and waiting for him; and while one says of the loss of all things— "Pass away, earthly joy, Jesus is mine!" another answers that without him all things are worth "What have I in this barren land? "One Lord, one faith, one baptism"--the building of their faith may cover more or less ground, but its corner-stone is the same. I have read with great edification the prefaces of sundry collectors, who say, that wherever it seemed desirable to alter a hymn, the thing was done "without the slightest hesitation !" For me, I have tried to give the author's own words, and all of them. There is always a fresh beauty in the free growth of a fine thing (even though it be a little unruly) which no strange hand can trim into better shape. But the pruning knives have been so many, that I long ago gave up the hope of finding all the lopped branches. In three or four instances I have wittingly left out what seemed to me objectionable verses. Of well-known hymn writers, I could sometimes get an old edition and copy from that; but with the thousand nameless hymns, I could but compare and take which version I liked best. Often indeed (especially where the alterations had sprung from that great root of alteration -a lower tone of Christianity than that of the hymn) the original words asserted their own right without a question; and many times the hymn had to be collected from various books,—I have had twelve open before me at one time, for one hymn. I have admitted a few hymns, which I well knew would be called unlearned and even rough; yet there was something in their strong faith, or its strong expression, which I was not willing to leave out. It was fair, too, that all parts of the Church should be represented. And for any general favourites that are wanting, I can only say, look at my number of pages. As to names-whenever I found such as were well authenticated, I have put them in the index. Where the name was doubtful I preferred to leave a blank. ANNA WARNER. NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 1858. These Hymns are here brought together for the Help of the Christian's life --- the Joy and Com fort of the Sick Room --- the Hope of the Doubting, Under Sis and the Rest of the Weary in Heart. Blessing, who has Promised to His People that "in the Days of Famine They shall be Satisfied.” Thon shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to probe thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wonldest keep his commandments, or no. DEUT. viii. 2. HYMN S OF THE CHURCH MILITANT. The Kingdoms are but One. HAPPY the souls to Jesus joined, Thee in thy glorious realm they praise, And bow before thy throne; The kingdoms are but one. The holy to the holiest leads, And thence our spirits rise; |