PREFACE. FROM a very early age, the writer of these pages has been familiar with the Wesleyan Hymn Book: and as soon as he was capable of discriminating between such poetical compositions as are truly excellent and worthy of admiration, and such as are of an inferior order and more fit to be consigned to oblivion, he began to entertain a high opinion of the work. He has now been employed as a minister of the church of Christ for upwards of thirty years; and during this period, while conducting the public services of the sanctuary, or the devotional exercises of smaller and more select companies, he has had abundant opportunities to avail himself of the admirable specimens of sacred poetry, published by the venerated founder of Methodism. In common with his honored DUP. EXCH. 23 JAN 1903 BRLW THEOL SEM LIB brethren in the ministry, and with the flocks among which they have been called to labour in the word and doctrine, he has often been instructed and admonished, reproved and stimulated, comforted and animated, while singing these songs of Zion. Many a time has he been impressed with the idea, that nothing on earth bears a greater resemblance to heaven, than a number of Christians uniting, with the spirit and with the understanding, to sing the praises of their God and Saviour. Often has it appeared to him, as well as to his fellow-worshippers, as though heaven were indeed opened upon earth, and glory begun below. While fully convinced however, of the superior value and excellence of the Wesleyan Hymns, the writer has long thought that something might yet be done to make them more useful, more conducive to general edification. There are interesting circumstances connected with the original composition of many of these hymns, which ought to be more extensively known than they have hitherto been. There are beauties of senti ment and beauties of diction, which have been overlooked, probably, by the great mass of readers; but which, if pointed out, will be relished and admired by all persons of correct judgment and good taste. There are in some passages references to historical records, which greatly need explanation. As one proof of this may be mentioned verse 2 of that beautiful and sublime composition, Hymn 552; which perhaps is not understood by one in a thousand of those who use it. There are many passages, which require to be qualified and guarded; many expressions, which, if not so qualified and guarded, may be grossly misunderstood, and may lead to Truth and highly pernicious sentiments. error sometimes lie in close contiguity; and if that which is substantially correct and true be expressed in the strong and glowing language of poetry-such poetry, especially, as that of Charles Wesley-it may bear a very great resemblance to that which is Moreover, many inaccurate and false. hymns and passages of hymns, which may be very advantageously read in the closet, or in seasons of retirement and solitude, are wholly unfit for public worship; and if introduced into large and promiscuous assemblies, will be likely to do more harm than good. Perhaps it would not be hazarding much to assert, that the better any collection of hymns is, both as to sentiment and as to language, the more need is there, that it should be accompanied by explanations, advices and cautions. For if that which is truly excellent once become an auxiliary to error, its very excellence will make it the more extensively and the more permanently injurious. It never was the author's intention to prepare a regular and complete comment on the whole hymn-book. This undoubtedly might be done; and it would possibly be less difficult to write critical and explanatory observations on every individual hymn, than to compress what is really necessary to be said, so as to include it all within a small volume. A large volume, containing remarks on every hymn, would necessarily involve much unprofitable repetition; since in many |