Nave ed VILLAGE HYMNS 1/7/ And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy STEREOTYPE EDITION. NEW-YORK: Isaiah. PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY E. SANDS, AND SOLD BY THE BOOKSELLERS GENERALLY. .... 1827. DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT, SS. L. S. BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the fifteenth day of March, in the fortyeighth year of the Independence of the United States of America, CALVIN CHAPIN, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following-to wit: "Village Hymns for social worship, selected and "original: designed as a supplement to the "Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts. By Asahel "Nettleton. "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, "and come to Zion with songs and everlasting "joy upon their heads." . Isaiah. In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An Act for the encou"ragement of learning, by securing the copies of "Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and "Proprietors of such copies, during the times "therein mentioned." CHARLES A. INGERSOLL, Clerk of the District of Connecticut. A true copy of Record, examined and sealed by me, CHARLES A. INGERSOLL, Clerk of the District of Connecticut. Stereotyped at the Boston Type and Stereotype L With great satisfaction and pleasure have I often heard the friends of the Redeemer express their unqualified attachment to the sacred poetry of Dr. Watts. Most cordially do I unite with them in the hope, that no Selection of Hymns which has ever yet appeared may be suffered to take the place of his inimitable productions. suc Deficiencies, however, he unquestionably has. Numerous have been the attempts to supply them; but, hitherto, the judicious have been constrained to regret, that these attempts have ceeded only in part. Whether the book here published will add something to that supply, is submitted to the decision of the religious community. The compiler does not overlook the valuable labors of those who have preceded him in this department; while he concurs in the opinion, very generally adopted by his brethren in the ministry, that the various benevolent operations, and especially the prevalence of revivals, which are so characteristic of the present day, demand a New Selection of Hymns. In the year 1820, the General Association of Connecticut appointed a committee to devise measures for the prosperity of religion within their limits. I well remember, that at a meeting of this committee, the first item proposed was New Selection of Hymns. Four years have nearly elapsed, and nothing has been done pursuant to their appointment. When, in the providence of God, I had the hapmess of spending a short season, as a laborer for Christ, within the limits of the Albany Presbyte the call for such a work in that region, and, as I learned from the most respectable sources, Very extensively in the West and South, was not less imperious and pressing, than in districts 2 where I had been more particularly conversant. In personal experience, and discoveries of this description, originated the resolution to undertake the work. The compilation here presented is the result. The task has occupied my attention much of the time for nearly two years. Especially has it cheered and comforted me, during the long continued retirement to which a severe sickness subjected me. The book, whatever may be its defects, is now most affectionately presented "To Zion's friends and mine." I anticipated difficulties, but am fully persuaded, that whoever undertakes a work of this kind will have to encounter many unforeseen embarrassments in the execution. I had hoped to find, in the style of genuine poetry, a greater number of hymns adapted to the various exigencies of a revival. Laborious research has, however, led me to conclude, that not many such compositions are in existence. This volume contains a number of original hymns, which I esteem a valuable accession.-To their authors, whose signatures are prefixed, or at their own request omitted, I tender my sincere thanks. I have obtained permission to insert a few of the originals from the Hartford Selection. These, though already familiar to many, will yet be consulted with feelings of new interest, when associated with the names of Strong and Steward. The reader will find, inserted in this volume, a few of the psalms and hymns to which it is designed as a supplement. But he is desired to recollect, that Dwight's edition of Watts is in extensive circulation. In his edition, some of Watts's psalms and hymns were omitted; and those which I have inserted are principally of this character. |