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District Clerk's office.

L. S. BE it remembered, that on the fourteenth day of April, A.D.1821, in the Forty-fifth year of the Independence of the United States of America, Munroe & Francis, of the said District, have deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof they claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit:

"The Universalists' Hymn-Book: a new collection of Psalms and Hymns, for the use of the Universalist Societies. By Hosea Ballou and Edward Turner. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.'-St. Paul'

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned:" and also to an Act entitled, "An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of Designing, Engraving, and Etching Historical, and other Prints."

JOHN W. DAVIS, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.

450

,83

cop. 2

PREFACE.

THE Compilers of the following Hymns consider it pro per to introduce this result of their labours, to their brethren and the public generally, with a few brief observations, explanatory of their objects and of the motives that induced them to undertake the present work. To "sing and make melody with the heart" and with the voice "to the Lord," is acknowledged to be a "reasonable service," as it certainly is a most pleasurable Christian exercise. In this exercise the heart and the voice should be in unison. The spirit of devotion should be attended with a clear apprehension of the consistency and truth of the matter of the song; otherwise the worshipper cannot "sing with the spirit and with the understanding also." It is likewise highly proper and important, that the songs that are sung in a Christian assembly, should correspond with the doctrine preached for their edification; or, if this cannot be accomplished in all cases to minute exactness, it is still highly improper to present a direct opposition, between the hymns which are sung, and the discourse, delivered in the same service.

The Hymn-Books hitherto used in many of our Societies possess many excellences, and contain considera- . ble matter, of a character truly evangelical. Such in particular, is the Boston Collection. Yet this work, with some others, which have been in use, appears to the compilers to be exceptionable, and that in cases of highly doc

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