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[ Title-page ]
BY
MRS C.F. ALEXANDER
AUTHOR OF "POEMS ON SUBJECTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT;"
"MORAL SONGS;" "NARRATIVE HYMNS," ETC.
"Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise." -- S.Matt. xxi. 16.
FIFTY-SIXTH EDITION.
LONDON:
JOSEPH MASTERS AND CO., 78, NEW BOND STREET.
MDCCCLXXVIII
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[ Dedication ]
MY LITTLE GODSONS,
I INSCRIBE THESE SIMPLE LINES,
HOPING THAT
THE LANGUAGE OF VERSE, WHICH CHILDREN LOVE,
MAY HELP TO IMPRESS ON THEIR MINDS
WHAT THEY ARE,
WHAT I HAVE PROMISED FOR THEM,
AND
WHAT THEY MUST SEEK TO BE.
C.F.A.
[ Foreword by John Keble ]
~~~~~~
The Title of this little book shows it to be of a kind which stands in as small a need as any of preface or explanation. Children, and those interested in children, will feel at once whether it suits them or not. These few lines, however, are prefixed, because the writer of the Hymns wished for some kind of clerical imprimatur, and the Clergyman to whom she applied, thinks and hopes that they will not only be found useful in the way which she earnestly desires, but will also win a high place for themselves in the estimation of all who know how to value true poetry and primitive devotion.
It seems right to add, that the profits of the publication, if any, will be applied to the support of a school for deaf and dumb children maintained by voluntary offerings, in a small town in the north of Ireland.
J.K.
HURSLEY, March 28, 1848.
[ Contents of the book (41 hymns) ]
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1 |
Morning Hymn |
(1 hymn) |
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2 |
Evening Hymn |
(1 hymn) |
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3 |
Hymn of the Holy Trinity |
(1 hymn) |
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4 |
Holy Baptism |
(1 hymn) |
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5-7 |
The First [ Baptismal ] Promise: To renounce the devil and all his works |
(3 hymns) |
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8-20 |
The Second Promise:To believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith |
14 hymns |
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Of the Creed. (13 numbers, of which one covers two hymns; each of the 13 is headed by a clause of the Apostles' Creed) |
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21-30 |
The Third Promise:To keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life: |
(10 hymns) |
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Of the Commandments. |
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31 |
Prayer: My good child, know this, that thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the commandments of God, and to serve Him, without His special grace; which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer. |
(1 hymn) |
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32-39 |
The Lord's Prayer |
(8 hymns, plus ... ) |
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40 |
"Therefore I say, Amen, so be it" |
(1 hymn) |
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Of the 41 hymns, three are in common use at the end of the 20th century:
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("Maker of heaven and earth") |
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9 |
All things bright and beautiful |
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("Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary") |
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11 |
Once in royal David's city |
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("Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried" |
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12 |
There is a green hill far away |
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Four hymns were in hymn-books still current in the 2nd half of the 20th century:
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("To renounce the devil and all his works") |
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5 |
Do no sinful action |
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(EH-589, AMS-569, AMR-433, RCH-663) |
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("And the life everlasting") |
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20 |
Every morning the red sun |
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(EH-590, CoH-745, AMS-570, RCH-591) |
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("To judge both the quick and the dead") |
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? |
Up in heaven, up in heaven |
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(AMS-565) |
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("The resurrection of the dead") |
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? |
Within the churchyard, side by side |
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(AMS-575) |
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Julian, in Part II of the Appendix to the first edition (2nd edn p.1550) lists a further 5 hymns said to be "in common use" at the time (c.1900).
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("God the Father") |
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How good is the almighty God |
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("Submission to the Will of God") |
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The angels stand around Thy throne |
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("Communion of Saints") |
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The saints of God are holy men |
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("Holy Trinity") |
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We are little Christian children |
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("Holy Baptism") |
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We were washed in holy water |
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None of these five has been traced in the hymn-books available.
[ An example of a hymn unlikely to be readily accepted by present-day children: No.16 "The Holy catholic Church" - ]
- Little children must be quiet,
- When to Holy Church they go,
- They must sit with serious faces,
- Must not play or whisper low.
- For the Church is GOD'S Own Temple,
- Where men go for praise and prayer,
- And the Great God will not love them
- Who forget His presence there.
- They were little Jewish children,
- Who within the temple cried,
- "Hosanna to the Son of David,"
- Standing at our SAVIOUR'S side.
END.
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