from several parts of the Holy Scripture.  Where the Psalmist describes religion by the fear of God, I have often joined faith and love to it.  Where he speaks of the pardon of sin, through the mercies of God, I have added the merits of a Saviour.  Where he talks of sacrificing goats or bullocks, I rather chuse to mention the sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God.  When he attends the ark with shouting into Zion, I sing the ascension of my Saviour into heaven, or his presence in his church on earth.  Where he promises abundance of wealth, honour, and long life, I have changed some of these typical blessings for grace, glory, and life eternal, which are brought to light by the gospel, and promised in the New Testament.  And I am fully satisfied, that more honor is done to our blessed Saviour, by speaking his name, his graces, and actions, in his own language, according to the brighter discoveries he hath now made, than by going back again to the Jewish forms of worship, and the language of types and figures.”

Of chusing or finding the Psalm.

By consulting the Index at the end, any one may find hymns very proper for many occasions of the Christian life and worship; though no copy of David’s Psalter can provide for all, as I have shewn in the Preface to the large edition.

Or, if he remembers the first line of any Psalm, the Table of the first lines will direct where to find it.

[Note:  the Index and the Table of First Lines are omitted from this Project Gutenberg electronic version.]

Of singing in course.

If any shall think it best to sing the Psalms in order in churches or families, it may be done with profit, provided those Psalms be omitted that refer to special occurrences of nations, churches, or single Christians.

Of dividing the Psalms.

If the Psalm be too long for the time or custom of singing, there are pauses in many of them at which you may properly rest; or you may leave out those verses which are inclued with crotchets [ ], without disturbing the sense:  or, in some places you may begin to sing at the pause.

The Psalms of David,
In Metre.

Psalm 1:1.  Common Metre,
The way and end of the righteous and the wicked.

1 Blest is the man who shuns the place
Where sinners love to meet;
Who fears to tread their wicked ways,
And hates the scoffer’s seat: 

2 But in the statutes of the Lord
Has plac’d his chief delight;
By day he reads or hears the word,
And meditates by night.

3 [He like a plant of generous kind,
By living waters set,
Safe from the storms and blasting wind,
Enjoys a peaceful state.]

4 Green as the leaf and ever fair
Shall his profession shine,
While fruits of holiness appear
Like clusters on the vine.

5 Not so the impious and unjust;
What vain designs they form! 
Their hopes are blown away like dust,
Or chaff before the storm.