PREFACE.

vii

hymns on other subjects have been superseded, there are none after the lapse of a century to be even compared with Most of the his on the" Sanctification of believers."

hymns ascribed to C. or J. Wesley are doubtless the com­positions of the Rev. Charles Wesley, but the opinion of the compilers of the collection of hymns now in use in Wesleyan- Methodist congregations has been accepted, viz., that it cannot be determined to which of the two brothers, John or Charles Wesley, hymns which first appeared in collections for which they were jointly responsible should be ascribed.

The instances are very few in which the Compilers have either adopted changes made by others, or introduced themselves changes from the original text. Occasionally, a correct taste or the exigency of metre has rendered it necessary. But usually when extensive alterations appeared to be necessary the hymn has been discarded, and the omission of other hymns has been determined by the fact that altered conditions and circumstances have impaired their usefulness or acceptability.

It is hoped that the arrangement of the book will prove to be easy and satisfactory. The subjects follow each other consecutively, and the[ hymns in each section have been arranged alphabetically. The Table of Contents has been supplemented by another Table and an Index for Various Seasons and Occasions.

The" Bristol Tune Book" may be conveniently used with this Hymn Book. Without in any way limiting choirs and congregations to the exclusive use of that book, or even in the choice of tunes when that book is used, the number of a suitable tune is printed inside parenthetical marks in connection with the number of the hymn except in a very few cases- an arrangement which it is believed will be found generally very useful, and of immense advan­tage in many instances.

It only remains to acknowledge, which is done with the utmost heartiness, the great kindness of Authors of copy­right hymns, or their representatives, in readily consenting to the use of the said hymns, in most instances without any pecuniary consideration whatever. To some of them the Compilers are under the deepest obligations. The names of the Authors are appended to their hymns, and it is therefore unnecessary to repeat them here. Thanks are also due to the following publishers: Messrs. Burns& Oates, for hymns by the Rev. F. W. Faber; Messrs. Chatto & Windus, for Dr. G. Macdonald's hymn, No. 831; Mr.