1786] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. I// 



hymns under the heads to which they apply, than in the method we 

 have taken to transfer them under the three proper heads of praise, etc., 

 as now to be pubHshed. Tiie few passages that relate to the Cruci- 

 fixion, to the Ascension, etc., can stand no where so well as among the 



hymns under those heads. They would psalms, or under any 



of the few heads which the taken by Tate and Brady in versi- 

 fying the psalms and the composition of some other parts of Scripture. 

 I pay great regard to the judgment of Mr. Hopkinson and my other 

 respected friends, the clergy of your city; but we have clergy of some 

 judgment Jiere whom I consult also, and in this arrangement and col- 

 lection of hymns, something of which kind has been long wished. I 

 have some dependence on my own judgment also, and should be happy 

 if you and the other gentlemen could agree to have the specimen of 

 hymns offered to the public with as few deviations as possible from the 

 plan which upon great deliberation I have submitted to you, and Dr. 

 Wharton, if he can be consulted. 



I cannot conceive for what reason you say the psalms applied as 

 hymns for the Ascension must be taken in strained sense to apply to that 

 occasion. Are they not the 24th and 47th, the very same which you 

 have applied instead of the Vcnite for that day? The two hymns in 

 the conclusion do not apply better to the Ascension than to Whitsun- 

 day, or some other days. Christ's commission was delivered to his 

 Apostles while on earth, and the gifts which he sent from on high to 

 enable them to go forth in his name were not on the Day of Ascension. 

 They seem to stand very well where they are either to be used on the 

 occasion as suggested, or any other to which they will apply. I think 

 less than two hymns for any one festival or occasion would not do. 

 You have forgot to enclose Mr. Hopkinson's psalm or hymn for July 

 4th. What you propose may, if you will, be added to July 4th, but 

 the few verses I have taken of Psalm 6Z, I think might stand. The 

 wor^?, proud oppressor you may alter, and the five lines which I hinted 

 at in my note and which are in the following part of the psalm, you 

 know I never intended to be made part of our stated service for the 

 present at least. 



Please to finish the calendar as you propose. You have taken so much 

 pains with it that unless I could find time to take equal pains in the 

 examination it would be wrong to interfere. I think your plan good, 

 only do not make any of the lessons unreasonably long, and contrive 

 the introductions and breaks suitably. 



Enclosed you have my essay of a preface; the post is just setting off. 

 The preface or address which was a matter particularly entrusted to the 

 committee I have ever considered as a matter of great importance, as 

 the first impressions on the introduction of the book may be of serious 

 concern. Of this the Church was sensible in Charles 2d's time, on the 

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