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an Abomination to the LORD. Whatsoever ye do in Word or Deed, do all in the Name of the LORD JESUS, giving Thanks to GOD and the Father by Him. Col. iii. 17.

Firft then, I have endeavoured to felect fuch Hymns as may be moft Ufeful for Edification, in respect of Plainnefs and Simplicity of Expreffion. Not but too many will think I have not fucceeded in this Point, and that there are Expreffions, here and there, as abftrufe as if they were written in Arabic. But let thefe Readers turn to 1 Cor. ii. 14. and there they will find the true Reafon why they don't understand them, namely, because they are the very Words, or have a very near Relation to the very Words of that divine Book which was given by the Inspiration of the Spirit of GOD. In order to guide fuch, I have put Marginal References where I thought needful, to keep them, if haply they may be kept, from defpifing the Words of GOD himself, and ignorantly fall into the grievous Sin of ridiculing the Scriptures. But thefe may be alfo useful for others, and if rightly attended to, will point out many very edifying Faraphrafes, in various Parts of this Book, upon the facred Text.

2dly, I have endeavoured to avoid inferting any thing that could tend to doubtful Difputations, therefore have contrived as far as poffible in cl'ecting this Little Volume, to lay afide all thofe Notions about Non-eflentials, concerning which, the best Feople have and do differ, that with one Heart, as well as one Voice, all Chriftians may join in the Praifes of cur Common LORDI fay all Chriftians, for Fundamentals there are which we must infist upon, and which if any Man doth not maintain and believe, we cannot allow him to be a Christian.

Therefore the Deift, must not be furprized to find, the Dignity of fallen Man, together with the moral

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Rectitude of His Nature, the Sufficiency of Reafon, and of the Light of Nature, and every other Article and Circumftance of the Infidel Creed, utterly expunged.

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The Arian will be much difappointed, if he expects to find any thing herein, that in the leaft countenances the Nonfenfe as well as the Blafphemy of a created or derivative God, or one Sentiment that tends to eclipfe the glorious Beams of the SELF EXISTENT SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The Socinian and Mahometan must renounce their Koran, before they will be able to look upon the Great Prophet, JESUS of NAZARETH, as IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US, a Truth that lies at the Root of Christianity, confequently is taught throughout this Book.

As for Papifts, either profeffed of doctrinal, they will find nothing about the Merit of Works, either before or after Juftification, but the Whole of the Salva-. tion of Sinners is afcribed to the Atonement and Merit of the Blood and Righteoufnefs of JEHOVAH in our Nature, imputed thro' Grace, and applied by Faith, to the Sinner's Heart and Confcience, justifying h's Perfon, and renewing and fanctifying his Nature, thro' the Operation of the HOLY SPIRIT, of which he is thereby made a Partaker.

Hence the Antinomian must expect but little Con tentment in perusing the following Hymns, for they maintain, that without Holiness, (perfonal Holiness) wrought in the Soul of a Believer, by the SPIRIT OF GOD, delivering him from the + Dominion, and from Koran, from the Arabic Karaa to read, fignifies a Book. The Koran is that Book which the Followers of Mahomet look upon as their Bible; which corre fponds with the Socinian Writers in allowing JESUS to be a Prophet, and no more.

† Rom. vi. 14.

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the Love of all Sin, (whether inward or outward) no Man fhall tee the Lord.

Nor will the mere Formalift, whatever outward Profeffion he makes, whether Churchman or Diffenter, have much Taste for these Songs of Sion; for they maintain

No outward Forms can make us clean,

The Leprofy lies deep within.

3dly. As due Care is taken to make the Matter of thefe Hymns as Scriptural as poffible, fo thou wilt find, gentle Reader, (and myft thou find its Power and Sweetnefs in thy Soul) that JESUS the Great High Priest and bleffed Apoftle of our Profeffion, is the grand Subj & (either mediately or immediately) of every Song, as He doubtless is of the whole Revelation of GOD-the Teftimony of Jefus is the Spirit of Prophecy, Rev. xix. 10. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; none can come to the Father, but by Him, John xiv. 6. CHRIST is all and in all, Col. iii. 11. He is the ALPHA and OMEGA, the FIRST and LAST; the BEGINNING and END, Rev. i. 8. xxi. 6. He therefore, in the Unity of the Eternal GODHEAD, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, three divine Perfons in one Self-exiftent JEHOVAH, is the GOD of the Chriftians. To this glorious LORD GOD of Heaven and Earth, may webe enabled to fing Praifes with Understanding! and to the Harmony of our Voices, add that of our Hearts and Lives! May thefe maintain a happy Concord with the Word and Will of Chrift Jefus ! untill we meet before the Throne of GOD and the LAME, and with an innumerable Company of bleffed Angels and the Spirits of juft Men made perfect, fhout forth the never ending Praifes of Him that was dead, and is alive again, and nath Redeemed us unto GOD by his Blood. So be it LORD JESUS! Amin, and Amen.

Rom. vii. 22.

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