VESTRY HARMONIES: A COLLECTION OF HYMNS AND TUNES FOR ALL OCCASIONS OF SOCIAL WORSHIP. BY JOHN G. ADAMS. "Let us come before his presence with singing."-PSALMS. BOSTON: UNIVERSALIST PUBLISHING HOUSE. 1 8 7 0. BV 450 A3 1510 PREFACE. This work has been issued to meet a demand. Its title indicates its character. It is the result of much careful selection, and of the examination of competent judges as to its adaptedness to the uses for which it is intended. In the Vestry-room meeting-now one of the essential religious helps with most of the Christian sects; in the devotional services of the family; and in all seasons of social Christian worship, this collection, we hope, may be found to be an aid and inspiration. The compiler has sought to present in this little volume, as great a variety of Hymns as the size of the book would allow. Although many of them are fully expressive of the distinctive theology of a Christian sect, it is believed that nearly if not all of them can be sung in the spirit by all true lovers of Christ and Christianity. The tunes, it will be seen, are both old and new; some of them being among the few enduring, if not "immortal," ones, "that were not born to die." The compiler gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to the authors and publishers who have so readily and kindly granted him the use of their tunes and hymns for this work. While their generous" permission" has added richness to his book, it will be the means of extending still more widely their claims on the Christian public as contributors to its spiritual enjoyment and improvement. A few introductory exercises are added to the book, for use in meetings conducted by laymen, or in which a brief liturgical service would be agrecable. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1868, by the UNIVERSALIST PUBLISHING HOUSE, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. EDWARD L. BALCH, Music Typographer, No. 14 Kilby St., Boston. OPENING EXERCISES FOR A MEETING OF CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE, PRAYER AND PRAISE. FIRST SERVICE. HYMN. SCRIPTURE LESSON. SERVE the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves: We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations. How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will be still praising thee. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. RESPONSES. Minister. How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! Congregation. Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. OPENING EXERCISES. M.-They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house. C. And thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. M.-For with thee is the fountain of life; C. In thy light shall we see light. M.-The people which sat in darkness saw great light. C. And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. M.—For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, C.-Hath shined in our hearts; M.-To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God C.-In the face of Jesus Christ. M.-Jesus said, I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness; C.-But shall have the light of life. PRAYER. FATHER who art in heaven! Every day would we seek thee; morning and evening would we remember thee, and bless and praise thy name. At all times and seasons, as duty and opportunity call, would we unitedly ask of thee new supplies of that grace made known to us in Jesus Christ thy Son. We assemble now that we may thus seek thee. Turning from the pursuits and cares of the world without, we come to realize thy nearness to us, and to have communion with thee in the greater world within. Our hearts, O Lord, seek thee; our souls ask thy presence, thy light, thy truth, thy peace. Assist our spirits, and fix our thoughts on thee! Forgive our sins; quicken our perceptions of truth and duty; deepen our hatred of sin and our love of holiness. We praise thee for the gift of thy Son Jesus Christ, and for that Gospel of thy loving-kindness revealed through him. We praise thee for this opportunity of meeting in his name. Shed abroad in our hearts his love. Verify to us the truth of thy Word, that where any of thy children are gathered together in thy name, thou wilt be with them, and that where thy Holy Spirit is, there is liberty. OPENING EXERCISES. 5 Bless with us all thy churches, and promote the interests of thy heavenly kingdom everywhere throughout our land and world. We ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Redeemer. Amen. (Continuation of Service.) SECOND SERVICE. HYMN. SCRIPTURE LESSON. I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which it good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; paticnt in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you; bless and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. RESPONSES. Minister. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord. Congregation. To show forth his loving kindness in the morning, and his faithfulness every night. |