FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY v^j^—^ **»■ ' '■" £> «Jl* # (o £X olJt^ Sho^+JZ^, &&^>, ^JU^ Ltd 7 J" ek^±s<*vvJr- ^K*uCr-os- ou^ -Lc^c^ L<5 O^ J't^^fJZc^- p^rtcJZ^. Z^M-tLeM^. J&l. cX^-a^GDr *£ Sc'v-CXfccv-x. -v-v^*^-^vt-«jB--» C-^r^w^^Ci^U^ c*_ 6&Jr A- *U* /&ju G-o-U^j c^J J>LJ~fa^La^ ouu^M J-*. a.eLM*"~ o~L /wo c^Lu^t out*-*- ^r^^zJ trw. At^i^ *-&,., Q$J^ l^f ptrttual §&mtg8/' for public, £>nm\ t anti jr^niilp iBor$)ip anU ^rtfcate ©efcottous at C|)e ^anttartttm, CUfton brings, $♦ |^ /_ e. U/ l' :- PRINTED FOR HENRY FOSTER, By H. O. Houghton & Company, Cambridge, Mass. preface* The preparation of this volume has its warrant in the law which leads Christian families, congregations, and denominations often to change the old or prepare new works to help them in their worship. Peculiar views or conditions must be provided for by each in its own chosen way. The Clifton Springs Sanitarium was established, and has always been conducted, on the principle that by proper spiritual conditions, bodily health can best be preserved, or restored when it becomes impaired. To every one coming for help, it is daily said : " Aiming in our treatment of disease to use in a liberal spirit all known remedial agents ; and recognizing, as we do, the power of the mind over the body, and the salutary effects of a consistent, religious faith upon the sick, we hold it to be the first duty of the Institution to seek to bring its patients under the power and influence of the Word and Worship of God as a means of restoring mind and body to health." There is a continual presentation of the thought that God, the Giver of life, the Pre- server of health, is the only Restorer when health has failed. That, all other things being equal, He will more surely give His special blessings to His loving, believing followers and friends than to those who are not such. That He is more likely to be- stow His best gift on the child who asks, than upon the one who does not ask. And that nowhere does He more delight to bless, than where His people " assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits received at His hands ; to set forth His most worthy praise ; to hear His most holy Word ; and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary not only for the body but the soul." With fullest confidence in these principles, there has been unsparing effort made to supply and maintain all agencies which promised to bring in and promote true godliness. Among these is the Chapel, with its frequently returning hours of worship ; always offered, often prescribed, and often proven to be the very help needed on the way to that health of body which mental peace and soul comfort always promote. In these gatherings it is found that the Scriptures cannot be too constantly in mind and before the eye ; and that for reasons sanitary as well as spiritual, Christian song should have, as it does, a more than usually prominent place. During a series of years, the long use of many excellent works only made more manifest a want which first found public expression in 1875, in a Circular to which were attached the names of men known in all the land, and honored by the whole Church, as well as by their own denominations ; and who as friends and guests of the House knew well its needs and how to meet them. Their opinion and wish were thus stated : — " A New Hymnal, adapted to the worship of the Sanitarium at Clifton Springs, has long been desired, and now is an imperative need. The services are so various, — embracing Family prayers each morning, Social meetings on four evenings of each week, and Public worship twice on each Sabbath ; and so peculiar, — the congregation being composed of people of all denominations, and they being, for the most part, in- valids — that no existing collection is adapted to our use." To secure the help of many others, who were known to be in sympathy with the plan, the following request was also sent out : " As in Public, Social, and Family worship you have known our Chapel services, we believe that you have an interest in, as well as an acquaintance with, our wants. Feeling assured of this, Dr. Foster wishes to ask that you will join in the work of choosing what you think proper material preface. for a Clifton Chapel Hymnal, by naming the first lines of favorite hymns, and the col- lection in which may be found the version you prefer. We do not ask for sacred poetry, however sweet, unless it is in actual use among the ' Songs of the Church.' Of these we do not seek any such as can only be properly rendered by a choir. Our request is simply for the ' psalms and hymns and spiritual songs ' which you hear sung by congregations with spirit and profit. Of such will you direct us to those you would wish to find in any and every collection you may have occasion to use." A hearty and loving interest was at once shown, by responses from all parts of the land and all branches of the Church ; and with selections of many hundreds of the brightest gems of Christian Hymnology came also generous subscriptions paid in advance, to be returned in copies of the book when done. The peculiar features of the book are in accord with the views and wishes of the one by whom it was planned and provided for its place and use in the Christian In- stitution whose planting has been his life work. The unusually large number of Hymns seemed necessary for healthful variety, where there are regularly six hundred public services each year, and where members of all Christian bodies may justly expect to find much that is familiar and comforting by its associations with home worship. To secure this in as wide a range of authorship, thought, and language as possible, and yet not make a volume too large for even an invalid's use, and also to avoid the cost of printing hundreds of verses only to be omitted at last ; such carefully studied con- tractions were made of most of the longer hymns, as should in each retain one or the best of its thoughts, and yet usually leave only so much as could be sung without the hurried and imperfect abbreviations so often made by those who are called to lead in religious services. Thus, with no further remark, it may be taken for granted that nearly every hymn is only a part of the original poem. As to alterations in language, it has been thought best that so much of the authors' work as was set over their names should be in their own words when they could be ascertained. But though much care and labor have been expended here ; with the multitude of changes and the conflict of authorities, it is safe to conclude that but few hymns remain as originally written. Again, in head-lines to mark the topic of each page ; in texts to point out some leading thought of each hymn ; and in Scripture readings suggested with every one ; there is an effort to make more prominent the fact that the Word of God is the fount- ain of Christian song, as well as the leader of Christian thought. While in this part of the work no pains have been spared to secure the greatest possible variety and appropriateness of Scripture for every hymn and page, in selections which embody over Six Thousand quotations and references, certainly not all, and possibly not the best passages have been selected; yet it is believed that the path is pointed out, which willing minds and loving hearts may follow with the best results to themselves, the greatest pleasure to the Master, and the highest glory to God. Thus designed by the founder of this Institution to meet its peculiar wants ; com- mended, selected, and arranged by loving friends, to whom the House has proved a place of refreshing to body, soul, and spirit ; this volume is offered with no claim that it surpasses or rivals any other. To none will it seem perfect ; and few, if any, will see its imperfections more clearly than those who have labored longest to make it accept- able and useful. But it is their hope that, filling first the place for which it was spe- cially designed, it may also find its way to every spot where in heart or home, in church or community, it may help to advance that Kingdom which is " righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." ^ ' fc Clifton Springs Sanitarium, 1881. ^