BV

431 F7 1886

PREFACE.

In this manual, which, after nearly four years' labour, the Hymnal Committee appointed by the Assembly of 1878 are now enabled to publish, the hymns are, chiefly out of regard to musical considerations, arranged metrically. To compensate for any loss of facility in the use of the book which might be better secured by a different arrangement,-for example, the more common topical one,-a copious subject index has been furnished, by means of which it is hoped ministers and others will be able easily to find what they want. Certain of the hymns, consisting for the most part of single stanzas, are of the nature of doxologies: these are dispersed throughout the book instead of being classed by themselves; but they will be found indicated as a distinct class in the subject index. The collection includes about twenty paraphrases, or parts of paraphrases, which being found in most hymnals it was deemed advisable to introduce into this work also.

In the large-type edition will be found a body of notes on the hymns, giving useful information about their authorship and literary history, as also concerning any changes in the text which, for various reasons, it has been deemed expedient to make. Such alterations are as a general rule undesirable, but the Committee believe that they will be found fewer than in most books, and trust that on the whole those made may appear reasonable. They have pleasure in stating that for these 'Notes' they are indebted to the Rev. James Bonar of Greenock, a member of the Committee, who has devoted much time and pains to the work connected with the preparation of the Hymn

Book, and brought to it an amount of knowledge possessed by no other member. His labour has been altogether exceptional in amount and value, the drawing up of the subject index, the selection of hymns for the young, and the general editing of the Hymn Book having been very much left in his hands. It is believed that the confidence reposed in him will be justified by the intrinsic value and the accuracy of the work for which he is more especially responsible.

The Committee have only to add that it has been their earnest desire to do the very utmost towards making this Hymn Book worthy of its great purpose, the advancement of God's glory in the praise of the sanctuary; and if that end be in any measure served they will consider their work abundantly rewarded.

If any copyright has been unwittingly infringed, the Committee sincerely apologize for the unintentional transgression. They heartily thank the authors or proprietors of copyright who have kindly granted permission to use their hymns, of which permission a detailed acknowledgment is made in the large-type edition.

In name of the Committee, {

A. B. BRUCE.
H. MACMILLAN.

THE

FREE CHURCH HYMN BOOK.

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m 1 BEFORE Jehovah's awful throne,
Ye nations, bow with sacred joy;
Know that the Lord is God alone;
He can create, and he destroy.

mp

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2 His sovereign power, without our aid,
Made us of clay, and formed us men;
And, when like wandering sheep we strayed
He brought us to his fold again.

m 3 We are his people, we his care,

Our souls and all our mortal frame:
What lasting honours shall we rear,
Almighty Maker, to thy name?

f 4 We'll crowd thy gates with thankful songs,
High as the heavens our voices raise;
And earth, with her ten thousand tongues,
Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise.
5 Wide as the world is thy command,
Vast as eternity thy love;

Firm as a rock thy truth must stand,
When rolling years shall cease to move.

mf 1 JESUS, thou Joy of loving hearts!

Thou Fount of life! thou Light of men!
From the best bliss that earth imparts
We turn unfilled to thee again.