The Enchiridion

H.F.Lyte: Poetical Works

H.F.Lyte : Poetical Works ed. J.Appleyard, 1907: transcription from a copy in the Elias Library, Westminster College Cambridge.

Title Page and Contents, 1907 edition

H.F.Lyte's Preface to The Spirit of the Psalms, 1834 (slightly edited, as in the 1907 Appleyard edition)

[Title page & Contents]

THE POETICAL WORKS

of the

REV. H.F.LYTE, M.A.

[ pp.185-7 ]

THE SPIRIT OF THE PSALMS

In the Preface Mr Lyte said that `poetry and music are never better employed than when they unite in the celebration of the praises of God.' `Psalms and hymns and `spiritual songs' have accordingly constituted a prominent part of the public worship of the Church in all ages. The Israelites, when delivered from their Egyptian pursuers, expressed in this way their gratitude and joy. The daily services of the Temple at Jerusalem were replete with vocal and instrumental music. Our Lord closed the celebration of His last supper with a hymn. The Apostles frequently inculcated this devotional exercise on their converts; and it was while Paul and Silas were practising it in prison that God came down to cheer and deliver them. The early Christians, as we are informed by a pagan writer, were accustomed to sing in their assemblies `a hymn to Christ as to God', and at the great Protestant revival of Christianity the Psalms of David, says Bishop Burnet, translated into metre, `were much sung by all who loved the Reformation; and it was a sign by which men's affections to that work were measured, whether they used to sing these or not.'

The inspired compositions of the `sweet singer of Israel' have, indeed, been the great fount from which suitable matter for this part of Divine worship has always been drawn. His lyre is one of many strings, tuned to the expression of every variety of devotional feeling. He speaks of the glories of God in strains which mere human powers could never have reached, and tracks religious experience through its various moods in tones which find a response in every Christian heart. These exquisite productions have accordingly formed the grand staple of the devotions of God's servants; and their universal applicability shows how truly the Church is one in spirit in all ages, and how harmoniously its members may be expected to mingle hearts and voices around the throne above.

To transfer these songs of Zion into other tongues and to adapt them to public worship has been a favourite object with Christian poets, and some of the greatest names in the literature of our own country stand connected with efforts of this kind. The spirit, however, of these beautiful compositions has, it is allowed, but too generally evaporated in the process of transfusion; and notwithstanding some happy occasional specimens, a good metrical translation of the Psalms is still a desideratum in our language.

The author of this little volume has not had the temerity to hope that he could supply this deficiency. The failure of so many with talents far superior to his own would sufficiently deter him from such an enterprise. Instead, therefore, of attempting a new version of the Psalms he has contented himself with endeavouring to condense the leading sentiments of each into a few verses for congregational singing. The modern practice of using only three or four verses at a time would render the great majority of the Psalms, if literally translated, unfit, on the score of length, for public worship; and a few ill-connected verses detached from the rest can scarcely give a more just view of the harmonious whole than a few bricks can of the building of which they may have formed a part. The author has, therefore, simply endeavoured to give the spirit of each Psalm in such a compass as the public taste would tolerate, and to furnish, sometimes, when the length of the original would admit of it, an almost literal translation, sometimes a kind of paraphrase, and at others even a brief commentary on the whole Psalm. He feels, in truth, that, in order to render the Psalms fully applicable to a Christian audience, considerable liberties must be allowed in the way of adaptation. They ought, he thinks, to be made to express all that David himself would have expressed, had he lived under the superior light which we enjoy, and beheld, not the mere twilight of the yet unrisen Sun of Righteousness, but, like ourselves, the splendour of HIS meridian day. What, therefore, he darkly intimates respecting Christ and His Gospel (and the Psalms are full of such intimations), the author has, in many instances, endeavoured to unfold and expand; and, adapting the whole in some degree to present times, usages, and circumstances, he has sought to preserve the spirit of the originals, while he has somewhat altered the letter.

To these compositions of his own he has added the best and most popular passages of the ordinary New Version used by the Church of England. Many of these possess in themselves considerable beauty and fitness; and, sanctioned as they are by authority, and familiarized by custom, he doubts not that they will prove an acceptable accompaniment. He has freely altered the words where he thought he could improve them, In many cases the language is so much changed that the original may be hardly discernible.

How far his little work may serve its purpose and satisfy its readers, time must determine. The author must candidly own that it by no means satisfies himself. There is a poverty, a flatness, in his translations, which are not to be found in the Divine originals.

Be the reception, however, of this volume what it may, the pains he has employed on it have not, he feels, been altogether thrown away. The composition of it has brought benefits to himself, for which he is bound to record his acknowledgments to God. The hours that he has spent over his task have been among the most pleasing and profitable of his life. It has sweetly filled up the intervals of laborious ministerial duty and solaced many of the trials to which human life is ever subject. The author cannot lose the savour of those precious moments which he has spent in composition. And to Him who has made this task so pleasant and so profitable he would humbly consecrate the work, entreating Him to prosper it, if likely to contribute to His glory and the good of souls; and, if not, to make the author still thankful for past mercies, and to pardon this presumption of his in aiming at things beyond his reach.

End of File. Return to Top . . .

<< Back to the Enchiridion Notes on H.F.Lyte's Poetical Works

<< Back to the Alphabetic Index of Source Books

(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 7/8/02)