PREFACE.

XV

from those of my brethren who have adopted the book into their Churches, as to the improvement already effected in their congregational singing, have been peculiarly gratifying.

I am glad to be able to say that though 64 pages have been added to the work in each edition, I find I am under no necessity of adding to the price: the best proof, I trust, I can give of my anxiety to serve the Church, without any view to personal emolument.

In conclusion, I may be permitted to say that, in selecting the Hymns I have sought to lay aside every party or personal predilection. Whenever I found a really good hymn- a hymn in harmony with the teaching of Scripture and of the Church, calculated to aid public or private devotion, to promote the honour and glory of Christ and the good of his peo­ple, whatever might be its source, ancient, mediæval, or modern, I thankfully adopted it. I would add that, however gratifying it might be to me personally to witness the extensive adoption of this work, on which I have spent so large an amount of time and labour, yet I hope and desire it only in the proportion it is likely to serve the great ends to which I have alluded.

WILLIAM MERCER.

Leavy Greave, Dec. 5, 1856.

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