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OF

SACRED POETRY,

FROM VARIOUS AUTHORS;

WITH SOME

Original Compositions.

SELECTED BY

THE REV. B. RICHINGS, M.A.

VICAR OF MANCETTER, WARWICKSHIRE.

"Not a tree,

A plant, a leaf, a blossom, but contains

A folio volume.-We may read, and read,
And read again, and still find something new;
Something to please, and something to instruct,
E'n in the humble weed."-HURDIS.

Lew Edition.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY WERTHEIM & MACINTOSH ;

AND J. & C. MOZLEY.

-

MDCCCLV.

47. d.

THE EDITOR

ΤΟ

THE READER.

SEVERAL years have passed since an unknown Colporteur, or travelling Bookseller, called on the Editor of this book, who was induced to purchase a small volume of Poetry, entitled "The Souvenir." It contained much to be admired, but was disfigured by some pieces which appeared as so many weeds in a beautiful garden. Confident that the popular character, and the low price of the book, would obtain for it an extensive circulation, and feeling the importance of making it more in unison with divine truth, the Editor offered to the Publisher to prepare another edition under the title of "Flowers of Poetry." The offer was accepted, and the new work has had a rapid and extensive circulation.

With no small pleasure the Editor has now arranged an edition which will, he hopes, be deemed superior to those by which it has been preceded. New flowers will here be found, some calculated to attract the reader by their beauty, and others to gratify him by their fragrant and scriptural sweet

ness,

The Editor has no pecuniary interest in the work. His labour will be amply recompensed if those who look upon these "Flowers of Poetry" experience as much delight in contemplating, as he enjoyed in collecting and arranging them. They are designed not merely to please the taste, but, with the divine blessing, to improve the heart. May they thus be found useful to all travellers to that Paradise of God, which the love of Him who agonized in the garden of Gethsemane has opened to every true believer in His name!

The gift of God, by God infused,
Should be for God, the donor, used;
God is of love and joy the source,
His gifts should have a godlike force,
And gifted poets should excite

Pure heavenly love and pure delight.
BISHOP KEN.

The Editor has been assisted in this little work by a friend, who has also co-operated with him in other efforts to promote the glory of God and the good of souls. Very harmoniously and pleasantly have they laboured together, and their initials are here united, with the hope and prayer, that when death shall end their labours on earth, they may, through the Redeemer's atonement, meet in the happy mansions above, where sorrow, sighing, and parting are sounds unknown.

B. R. J. L.

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