have I attempted to remove. I should have ventured farther, had I not been originally cautioned to make no alterations except those, which appear to be either absolutely necessary, or plainly important. In these alterations I have aimed to vary as little as might be from my original.

As the editions of Doctor Watts's psalms have been very numerous, both in Great Britain and America, many typographical errors have crept into the modern copies of that work Those I have.

carefully endeavoured to correct.

In versifying the psalms, omitted by Doctor Watts, I have followed the free example which he has set. When the reader is informed, that Doctor Watts was discouraged from attempting these, I am persuaded, that he will not think the latitude which I have taken, unwarrantable.

In adding to the number of psalms, versified in several kinds of proper metres, I have generally selected those, which were of frequent use. As the design was to prevent the necessity of singing the existing psalms of this description, too often, such a selection became indispensable. I have not versified any in the metre of the old 50th, because of the incumbrance of the chorus; nor any in that of the 113th, because I thought the number already sufficient.

The hymns I have selected from various writers, with a design of extending and completing a system of Psalmody. I do not flatter myself, that a divine song will be found here, adapted to every religious subject; yet I hope, there will be no important deficiency. Had I followed my own judgment only, the collection would have been somewhat larger; but I found several judicious divines of opinion, that it would be expedient to make it still less.

To the

hymns selected I am persuaded, there will be no objection.

It cannot without weakness, be supposed, 'that what I have done will meet the universal approbation of those, for whose use this Psalm-Book is intended. The introduction of a Psalm-Book into the use of churches, has ever been attended with difficulties. I have not satisfied myself; it ought, therefore, not to be expected, that I should satisfy others whose judgment must doubtless be more impartial, and less biassed in my favour, than my own. I can only say, that I have intended well.

No doctrine will, I believe, be found in the book, which is not accordant with the general protestant orthodoxy. In this part of the performance I presume, therefore, I shall not be extensively censured. With respect to the rest, I leave it in the hands of the public, with my sincere wish, and earnest prayer to God, that it may please him to make it a mean of assisting the praise, and promoting the edification and comfort of my fellow Christians.

TIMOTHY DWIGHT.

NEW-Haven, Aug. 13, 1800.

THE

PSALMS OF DAVID,

IMITATED

IN THE LANGUAGE

OF

THE NEW TESTAMENT.

1

PSALM 1. Common Metre.

The way and end of the righteous and the wicked.

B

LEST 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.

6 Sinners in judgment shall not stand
Among the sons of grace,

When Christ the judge at his right hand Appoints his saints a place.

7 His

eye beholds the path they tread,
His heart approves it well;

But crooked ways of sinners lead
Down to the gates of hell.

1

PSALM 1. Short Metre.

The saint happy, the sinner miserable.

HE man is ever blest

TH

Who shuns the sinners' ways,
Among their councils never stands,
Nor takes the scorner's place.

2 But makes the law of God
His study and delight,
Amid the labours of the day,
And watches of the night.

3 He like a tree shall thrive,
With waters near the root:

Fresh as the leaf his name shall live;
His works are heavenly fruit.

4 Not so th' ungodly race,
They no such blessings find:
Their hopes shall flee like empty chaff
Before the driving wind.

5 How will they bear to stand
Before that judgment-seat,

Where all the saints at Christ's right hand
In full assembly meet?

6 He knows, and he approves

The way the righteous go:

But sinners and their works shall meet
A dreadful overthrow.

1

PSALM 1. Long Metre.

The difference between the righteous and the wicked. APPY the man whose cautious feet

H

Shun the broad way that sinners go, Who hates the place where Atheists meet. And fears to talk as scoffers do.

2 He loves t' employ his morning light Among the statutes of the Lord;

And spends the wakeful hours of night,
With pleasure pondering o'er his word.
3 He, like a plant by gentle streams,
Shall flourish in immortal green ;

And heaven will shine with kindest beams
On every work his hands begin.

4 But sinners find their counsels crost;
As chaff before the tempest flies,
So shall their hopes be blown and lost,
When the last trumpet shakes the skies.

5 In vain the rebel seeks to stand

In judgment with the pious race;
The dreadful Judge with stern command,
Divides him to a different place.

6" Straight is the way my saints have trod,
I blest the path and drew it plain;
"But you would choose the crooked road;
"And down it leads to endless pain.".