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Of the Psalms and Hymns used by the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church.

It has ever been a principle of the Church that no Psalms nor Hymns may be publicly sung in the Reformed Protestant Dutch Churches, but such as are approved and recommended by the General Synod. Previously to the American Revolution, the psalmody of the Church embraced only the psalms in the Dutch language, usually bound up in the Bibles then in common use. The version approved by the Synod was that of Dathenus. In addition to this, the new version of psalms and hymns compiled and adopted in the Netherlands, in the year 1773, was subsequently approved. After the period of the American Revolution, when it was found necessary to introduce English singing, the Rev. Dr. Livingston compiled a book of Psalms and Hymns in the English language, which was published, with the express approbation and recommendation of the General Synod, in the year 1789. This book continued in use in the churches until the year 1812, when, at the instance of the Classis of New York, the Particular Synod of New York referred the subject relative to the revision of the Psalms and Hymns then in use, to the General Synod, The reference was favourably entertained by the Synod, and they requested the Rev. Pro fessor Livingston to make the selection of Psalms and Hymns, agreeably to the views then expressed, and appointed a committee to whom the same should be submitted for their examination and approval. At the session of the Synod, held in October, 1813, this committee reported in favour of the selection, and the Synod accordingly adopted it, entered upon their records a minute highly complimentary to the distinguished compiler, and made the necessary arrangements for its publication and introduction into the public worship of the churches.

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In the year 1830, the General Synod deemed it expedient that an additional number of hymns should be added to those contained in the book then in use, and accordingly a committee was appointed to make a selection, on a variety of subjects, with a view to constitute a second book of hymns. At the next session of the Synod, this committee reported a selection of 172 additional hymns, which were approved, ordered to be published as a second book of hymns, and authorised to be used in all the churches. At the instance of the General Synod's Sabbath-School Board, a committee was appointed at the meeting of the Synod, în June 1842, to compile a book for the use of the Sabbath-Schools of the church. The selection, as reported by the committee, embraced many hymns suitable for social as well as Sabbath-School worship. It was approved by the Synod, in the year 1843, and ordered to be published, under the title of the "Social and Sabbath-School Hymn Book." The Board of Sabbath-School Union being about to publish a second edition of this book, requested, in the year 1815, that the Synod would furnish an additional number of hymns for the purpose of filling up certain blank pages on the last sheet of the work. On considering this request, the Synod resolved, in view of the fact that the Hymns now authorized to be used by the churches were comprised in three separate books, and that still additional Hymns on certain subjects were needed, to refer the whole subject of the Hymn Book to a committee, to consider the importance of a new arrangement, and with instructions to report such new Hymns as would make the collection more complete. At the meeting of the General Synod in June, 1816, this committee presented their report recommending such new arrangement, and at the same time submitting a selection of hymns on a variety of subjects, to the number of three hundred and forty-two. The hymns thus submitted were approved by the Synod, and the committee were authorised to complete the work, and prepare the whole for publication as speedily as convenient. The Board of Direction were also empowered to carry out the necessary arrangements for printing the same. All this has been done, and the present work is the result of such action. The book thus completed will compare favourably with the various selections used by the several denominations of Christians in our land, and it is fervently hoped will prove a happy auxiliary in promoting the devotions, public, social, and private, of the members of our Church.

New York, June, 1847.

THOMAS M. STRONG, Stated Clerk of General Synod.

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INDEX

TO THE

SUBJECTS OF THE PSALMS.

ADAM, first and second, Psalm 8.

Afflicted, pity to them, 35, 41; supported, 55, 145, 146; their prayer, 102, 143; happy, 73, 94, 119, 14th part.

Afflictions, hope in them, 13, 42, 76; support,

119,14th part; instruction by them, 94, 119, 18th part; sanctified, 94, 119, 18th part; courage in them, 119, 17th part; removed by prayer, 34, 107; submission to them, 39, 123, 131; in mind and body, 143; trying our graces, 66, 119, 17th part; without rejection, 89; of saints and sinners different, 94; gentle, 103; moderated, 125; very great, 77, 102, 143. Aged saint's reflection, 71. All-seeing God, 139.

Angels, guardian, 34,91; all subject to Christ, 89; worship Christ, 97; praise the Lord, 103; present in churches, 138.

Appeal to God against persecutors, 7; con-
cerning our sincerity, 139; humility, 131;
Searcher of hearts, 119, 21st part.
Ascension of Christ, 24, 47, 68, 110.
Assistance from God, 138, 144.

Atheism of the heart, 54; practical, 12, 14, 36; punished, 10.

Attributes of God, 36, 111, 145, 147.
Authority from God, 75, 82.

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Charity to the poor, 37, 41, 112; and justice, 15, 112; mixed with imprecations, 35. Children praising God, 8; blessings, 127, 128; instructed, 34, 78.

Christ the second Adam, 8; his all-sufficiency, 16; his ascension, 24, 68, 110; the church's foundation, 118; the shepherd, 23; his coming, the signs of it, 12; covenant made with him, 89; first and second coming, 96, 97, 98; the true David, 35, 89; his death and resurrection, 16, 22, 69; the eternal Creator, 112; exalted to the kingdom, 2, 8, 21, 72, 110; our example, 109; faith in his blood, 41; God and man, 86; his Godhead, 102; our hope, 4, 51; his incarnation and sacrifice, 40; the king and the church his spouse, 45; his kingdom among Gentiles, 72, 87, 132; his love to enemies, 35, 109; his majesty, 97, 99; his mediatorial kingdom, 89, 110; his obedience and death, 69; his personal glories, 45; priest and king, 110; his resurrection on the Lord's day, 118; our strength and righteousness, 71; his sufferings and kingdom, 2, 22, 69; his sufferings, 69; his zeal and reproaches, 69.

Christians, qualifications, 15, 24; church made of Jews and Gentiles, 87. Church, its beauty, 45, 48, 112; the birth-place of saints, 87; built on Jesus Christ, 118; delight and safety in it, 27, 48, 84; destruction of enemies proceeds thence, 70; gathered and settled, 132; privileges, 132; of the Gentiles, 45, 47; God fights for her, 10, 20, 46; God's presence there, 84, 132; God's special delight, 87, 132; God's garden, 92; going to it, 122; the house and care of God, 135; of the Jews and Gentiles, 87; its increase, 67; prayer in distress, 80; restored by prayer, 85, 102, 107; its safety, 46; is the safety and honour of a nation, 48; the spouse of Christ, 45; its

worship and order, 48; wrath against ene-
mies proceeds thence, 76. 110,elsy
Comfort, holiness and pardon, 4, 32, 119, 11th
and 12th parts; and support in God, 16,94;
from ancient providence, 77, 143; of life
reblest, 127; and pardon, 130, bas tasabot
Company of saints, 16, 109.9 C4,80
Complaint of absence from public worship,
42; of sickness, 3; desertion, 13, 88; pride,
atheism, 10, 12; of temptations, 13, ge-
neral, 102; of quarrelsome neighbours, 120;
of afflictions in mind and body, 143.
Wond
Compassion of God, 113, 145, 147.
Communion of saints, 106, 133.

saints, 106, 133, bo to wal

four poverty, 16; of sin, repent-
bance, and pardon, 32, 38, 51, 130, 143.
Conscience, tender, 119, 13th

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Direction and pardon, 23; and defence prayed
for, 5 and hope, 42,18-7aad
Disease. See Sickness egbut adt: S
Distress of soul, 25; relieved, 51, 88, 130:1
Dominion over creatures, 8C nonos
Doubts suppressed, 3, 31, 143;2,800
Drunkard and glutton, 117, 79.08,99613
Duty to God and man, 15, 21oq aid,
Bid at Jasesq;8

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Gentiles given to Christ, 2, 22, 72 church,
45, 65, 72,87 bwning the true God, 47, 96,
Ea, valooged bne estroge
Glory of God in our salvation, 69; and grace
promised, 84, 89, 97, 01 havonger vitslob
God all in all, 1277 all-seeing, 139, all-sum-
ancient, 16, 33; his attributes and providence,
36, 65, 147; his care of saints, 7, 31; creation
and providence, 33, 101, &e.; his hand, 75;
our defence, 13, 33, 61, 115, eternal, and
sovereign, and holy, 93; eternal, and man

Despair and hope in death, 17, 49; deliver-mortal, 90, 102; faithfulness, 80, 105, 111;
ance from it, 18, 130.
Devotion, daily, 55, 134, 139, 141, obte sand mercy and truth, 145, 146; power and

201glorified, and sinners saved, 69; goodness

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Magistrates warned, 58, 82; qualifications,
101; raised and deposed, 75.
Majesty of God, 68. See God.,

Man, his vanity as mortal, 39, 89, 144; mor-
tal, and Christ
102; wonderful for-

81;mation, 13. eternal, 102; w

Marriage mystical, 45.
Master of a family, 101.
Meditation, 1, 63, 119, 5th and 6th parts.
Melancholy reproved, 42; and hope, 77; re-
moved, 126.

Mercies, 68, 103; innumerable, 139; everlast-
ing, 136; recorded, 107; and judgment, 9,
and truth of God, 36, 89, 103, 136, 145, 146
Merit disclaimed, 16.

Midnight thoughts, 63, 119, 5th and 6th parts,

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Holiness, pardon, 4 desired, 119, 2d part;
professed, 119, 3d part 139dziow Imo'l
Hope in darkness, 13, 17, 73;, of resurrection,
16, 71; in death, 17, 19; prayer, 27; for
fo victory, 21; and direction, 42; in afflic-
tions, 42, 143.
Hosanna of the children, 8; for the Lord's Miracles in the wilderness, 114.
11 al trigife
day, 118.
Morning psalm, 3, 114; of a sabbath, 5, 19, 63.
Humiliation day; 10; for disappointment, 60. Mortality of man, 39, 49, 90, and hope, 89;
Humility and submission, 131, 139.20
no God's eternity, 90, 102. 01
Hypocrites and hypocrisy, 11, 53.

In 3 movie mom ho to Idolatry reproved, 16, 115, 135. bezig Imprecations and charity, 35. le lle bo Incarnation, 96, 97,98; and sacrifice of Christ,

Infants, 139. See Childrens
Instruction, 25; from scripture, 119, 4th and
7th parts; in piety, 31s
Israel saved from the Assyrians, 76; saved
from Egypt, and brought to Canaan, 77, 105,

Nation's prosperity, 67, 144; blessed and pu-
nished, 107.

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National deliverance, 75, 76, 124, 126.
Nature and scripture, 19, 119, 7th part; of
Homan, 139.359.00 opformat

Obedience, sincere, 18, 32, 139; better than
sacrifice, 50.

Old age, death, 98; and resurrection, 71, 81.

107, 135, 136; rebellion and punishment, Pardon, 4; of backsliding, 78; and direction,

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