PREFACE. THE following Letters are parts of a very serious and earnest effort to bring about, by God's blessing, a happier employment, and, in some respects, a reformation of our Liturgical music. Nine of the twelve have appeared already—at least in part-some in one, some in others, of our religious journals. This preliminary sowing "beside all waters" will not have rendered their collective publication the less necessary, nor, as I venture to hope, the less acceptable. In gathering into something of an organic form what had existed before but in elementary fragments, I have retained the epistolary title, as most consonant with the freedom of speech I had allowed myself, and, perhaps, on other accounts more desirable than the colder formalities of a methodical treatise. I humbly hope that, as the constituent parts of this very solemn and interesting, but sadly neglected, subject are presented -so far as my poor ability, and the avoidance of technicalities would permit—in their proper order and relative bearings, some things which, on their first assertion, may have shocked convictions, or but startled prejudices, will be found to commend themselves, on mature reflection, to the intelligence of my Christian brethren. For the rest, as I stand, from first to last, on Scripture ground, I am, I trust, not altogether unprepared for consequences. Preparation, however, is not indifference. I cannot but feel that I have not only gone through all existing practice to first principles, but have been compelled, by the nature of the case, to clothe my sentiments here and there in language some may think exaggerated, some presumptuous, and some uncharitable. I will make no parade of humility. I think it has, at all events, kept me from going beyond my depth. If I have dared sometimes to place myself in seeming antagonism with those whom it is my desire to respect and love, it is only where I could not shut my eye to the fact, that, whilst they were following a traditional custom, my own views were derived, either by direct citation or inevitable sequence, from the one only infallible standard,-the Word of God. For occasional references to my own "Morning Service" I shall make no apology. That were indeed a churlish criticism that should forbid an author all employment of his own works. I need not announce that they are to words, and not to notes, and that they are for a purely demonstrative purpose. But I have no secondary object. My own desire is neither personal criticism, nor the propounding of curious questions; but that we may all be assisted in singing certain very special portions of our public worship “with the heart, and with the understanding also.” THE AUTHOR. CLIFTON PARK, May 1861. |