The pearl of days

“The denomination for whose use this volume is prepared, is one of the most numerous in the land; and one which therefore may claim, as justly as any other, to have a volume of hymns for use in its Sabbath Schools, all of which shall be such as may be employed without doing violence to its denominational peculiarities, or covertly undermining its foundations; and if there is such a collection in existence, the compiler has not been so fortunate as to meet with it.

“Sabbath Schools have, of late years (and long may it continue to be so), been favored with the special grace of the Spirit of God; and great numbers, from their classes, have been led to profess publicly their attachment to the Redeemer. It need not be said that a volume of Hymns, compiled on the principle of merging all denominational peculiarities, could not admit into its pages hymns on the subject of baptism. But need Baptist schools be thus restricted? Surely not: and though our books of hymns used in public worship contain those adapted to this ordinance, they are yet generally both quite limited in their number and quite deficient in allusion to the early age of those candidates who are from the Sabbath School, and who often constitute a majority of the whole number. This volume contains several hymns on this subject, not found in books in common use in this vicinity, in New England, or, it is believed, in the South or West generally.”