written, and so justly reverenced
and admired. But it must be acknowledged still, that there are a
thousand lines in it which were not made for a church in our days
to assume as its own. There are also many deficiencies of light
and glory which our Lord Jesus and his apostles have supplied in
the writings of the New Testament: and with this advantage I have
composed these Spiritual Songs, which are now presented to the
World. Nor is the attempt vainglorious or presuming; for in respect
of clear evangelical knowledge, 'The least in the kingdom of heaven
is greater than all the Jewish Prophets.' Matt. xi. 11.

"Now let me give a short account of the following composures.

"The greatest part of them are suited to the general state of the
gospel, and the most common affairs of Christians: I hope there
will be very few found but what may properly be used in a religious
assembly, and not one of them but may well be adapted to some
seasons either of private or public worship. The most frequent
tempers and changes of our spirit, and conditions of our life,
are here copied, and the breathings of our piety expressed according
to the variety of our passions, our love, our fear, our hope, our
desire, our sorrow, our wonder and our joy, as they are refined
into devotion, and act under the influence and conduct of the
blessed Spirit; all conversing with God the Father 'by the new
and living Way' of access to the throne, even the person and the
mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ. To him also, even 'to the Lamb
that was slain and now lives,' I have addressed many a song; for
thus doth the holy Scripture instruct and teach us to worship in
the various patterns of Christian psalmody described in the
Revelation.

"I have aimed at ease of numbers, and smoothness of sound, and
endeavoured to make the sense plain and obvious. If the verse
appears so gentle and flowing as to incur the censure of feebleness,
I may honestly affirm, that sometimes it cost me labour to make
it so.

"In the first part I have borrowed the sense and much of the form
of the song from some particular portions of scripture, and have
paraphrased most of the doxologies in the New Testament, that
contain any thing in them peculiarly evangelical: and many parts
of the Old Testament also, that have a reference to the times of
the Messiah.

"The second part consists of hymns whose form is mere human
composure; but I hope the sense and materials will always appear
di