The PREFACE. TH 'HE following Pieces are not recommended to the patronage of the Public, on account of any excellency in themselves, but merely for the importance of their fubjects: for, however defective the fuperftructure may be, its foundation is unqueftionably good. All the doctrines here advanced, deducing their authority from the Sacred Scriptures, and their faithful epitome, the Homilies, and Articles of the established Church. That the dignity of truths fo momentous, might be impaired as little as poffible by the manner of expreffing them, they are often introduced in the very words of the infpired Writers, and our venerable Reformers; as every reader, who is intimate with the invaluable Books juft mentioned, cannot fail of obferving. Since all the effentials of religion are comprised in these two, found faith, and a fuitable courfe of obedience, every thing that may give offence to Chrif tians diffenting from each other in points merely indifferent, is ftudiously avoided, and no particular tenets any where ftruck at, except one or two, which apparently tend to invalidate the authority of Revelation, and, by confequence, to fubvert the whole fyftem of Chriftianity. The Author wishes it was in his power to do justice to the fublime doctrines here treated of; but, until death is fwallowed up in victory, the glorious privileges and ineffable benefits redounding to believers from the manifeftation of God in the flesh, cannot be perfectly conceived, much less properly expreffed. Left a continued famenefs fhould pall, and want of method confufe the reader, the metre is occa fionally varied, and the whole presents itself to his view, digested as follows: I. Petitionary Hymns. III. Paraphrases on fome Select Portions of IV. A few Pieces occafioned by the Death of Laftly, feveral Pieces, not properly referable to any of the preceding Heads, thrown together by way of Appendix. PETITIONARY PETITIONARY HYMNS. Te Mente purâ & fimplici Flendo & canendo difcimus. PRUDENTIUS. "Oratio eft Oris Ratio, per quam intimæ Cordis I POEM I. REFINING Fuller, make me clean, On me thy coftly pearl bestow: Thou art thyfelf the pearl I prize, 2 Disperse the clouds that damp my foul, 3 Look on the wounds of Christ for me, POEM II. At entering into the Church. I FATHER of love, to thee I bend As odours to the fkies. 2 Thy pard'ning voice I come to hear, To know thee as thou art : X 3 Thy Thy minifters can reach the ear, May bring forth fruit an hundred fold POEM II. When Service is ended. 2 Water the feed in weaknefs fown, POEM IV. For the Morning. 1 JESUS, by whofe grace I live, Scatter'd the nocturnal cloud, Swift it's fleeting moments hafte: Doom'd, perhaps, to be my last. 4 Crucify'd to all below, Earth fhall never be my care; POEM V, For the Evening. 1 GOD of love, whofe truth and grace Reach unbounded as the fkies, Hear thy creature's feeble praise, Let my ev'ning facrifice Mount as incenfe to thy throne, On the merits of thy Son. 2 Me thy Providence has led 3 Through another bufy day: Hides the cheering face of heav'n, 5 1 Sweetly take my reft in thee, I fhall foon from earth afcend, To my dear, incarnate God; |