The Enchiridion

William Hammond: Psalms, Hymns, &c.

William Hammond: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 1745

Title-page and (part of) Preface, transcribed from a copy in Dr Williams's Library, London.

[ Title-page ]

P S A L M S,

H Y M N S,

AND

S P I R I T U A L    S O N G S

A PREFACE, giving some Account

of a WEAK FAITH, and a FULL AS-

SURANCE OF FAITH; and briefly stating

the Doctrine of SANCTIFICATION; and

shewing a Christian's Compleatness, Per-

fection, and Happiness in CHRIST.

By WILLIAM HAMMOND, A.B.

Late of St John's-College, in CAMBRIDGE

Let every Thing that hath Breath praise the

Lord. PSAL. cl. 6

LONDON 

Printed by W.STRAHAN; and sold by J.OS-

WALD, at the Rose and Crown in the Poultry.

MDCCXLV. 

_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._

[ Some additional paragraph breaks have been inserted in this transcription, and Wm Hammond's numerous footnote references placed as near as possible to the corresponding text. ]

[ Preface ]

THE 

P R E F A C E 

NOTHING but the Importunity of Christian Friends, and a Desire to edify the Church of CHRIST, extorted these Hymns from me. For my Part, I am very backward of appearing in public, always remembering that what comes from the Press stands upon Record, and will continue till the last Day, and will therefore have a good or bad Influence upon succeeding Generations to the World's End. How careful then ought Persons to be of what they publish?

Indeed 'tis a sad thing when Men's Affections out-run their Judgment, and their Zeal exceeds their Charity. An hasty precipitate Spirit is not the Spirit of Christianity: The Prophet Isaiah saith, he that believeth shall not make haste: And we may generally observe, what Men do in Haste, they repent of at Leisure.

In the following pages are a Number of Hymns suited to the various States and Capacities of the Children of GOD: Some are fitted for those who are Babes in CHRIST*, others for Perfect Men+; some are adapted to the Condition of Souls who are weak in Faith¢ ; others are calculated for them that enjoy a full Assurance of Faith§ : For, as the Apostle saith, All Men have not Faith, 2 Thess.iii.2. so neither have All that have Faith, a full Assurance of Faith.

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*1 Cor.iii.1   +Heb.v.14.   ¢Rom.xiv.1.   §Heb.x.22

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What then? Shall we say, because they have not a full Assurance of Faith, they have no Faith at all? GOD forbid. This would indeed be condemning the Generation of GOD's Weak Children: And I wish those who embrace such an Opinion would consult the Scriptures; for if Men neglect or forsake those infallible Writings, 'tis no Wonder they run into Error and Extravagance. 

The Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, tells us, that to every one of us is given Grace, according to the Measure of the Gift of CHRIST*; and in his Epistle to the Romans he saith, GOD hath dealt to every Man the Measure of Faith+; which shows, that there are Measures or Degrees of Faith [Metron Pistôs]. Accordingly we find our Saviour making mention of those who have little Faith, Matt.vi.30 vii.26 xvi.8 and of great Faith, Matt.viii.10 xv.28 Luke vii.9. And the Apostle before-mentioned, speaks of a Soul weak in Faith, Rom.xiv.1 and ch iv. ver.19. speaking of Abraham, the Father of the Faithful, he saith, he was not weak in Faith; and then again, ver.20. he was strong in Faith; and ver.21 he was fully persuaded¢ ; which full Persuasion is equivalent to the full Assurance§ mentioned Heb.x.22.

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* Eph.iv.7   + Rom.xii.3   ¢Plêrophorêtheis   §Plêrophoria

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All this informs us, that some Believers have a little Faith, others have a great Faith; some have a weak Faith, others a strong Faith. And I see not how any can possibly deny this, without at the same Time denying the Holy Scriptures. And we may commonly take Notice, that those who deny this Doctrine, make either their own present Inward Sensations, or else the Principles which they have imbibed from others, the rule and Standard of their Judgment, instead of the Scriptures of God.

What I find deliver'd in the Word of God I must believe; and I am obliged to speak and write accordingly, whether it please or displease Men. I do not write to please a Party; if I did, I should not speak my mind so freely. I know some abuse the Doctrine I have been speaking of, and from hence take Occasion to nurture themselves in Sloth, Indolence, Lukewarmness, Worldly-Mindedness, Weak Faith, yea, perhaps ('tis to be fear'd) too often in no Faith at all; for if persons have true Faith, they will continually cry for Increase of Faith, Luke xvii.5. but [if] they habitually indulge themselves in Doubts, Unbelief, and Despondencies, and seek for no Increase of Faith, this is one probable Evidence they have no Faith at all.

But what is the Consequence? Shall Christians reject a Scriptural Trust, because Infidels abuse it? Or because carnal Professors run into one Extreme, shall we, to avoid that, run into another? Yea rather, let our Moderation be known unto all Men. Scriptural Wisdom is profitable to direct, Eccl.x.10.

[ etc., etc, for a further 20+ pages . . . ]

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