THEIR AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 397
and he contributed to that collection twenty-seven new hymns, including some already in the "Leeds Hymn Book." His hymns, as they appear in the "Psalms and Hymns," contain his latest corrections.
The productions of this writer are of varied excellence. Some do not rise beyond the rhymed prose that almost any intelligent Christian could produce, but here and there we find a hymn by him that makes us ask whether we have found another Newton or Montgomery. The hymn
" Soul, thy week of toil is ended," No. 948,
will be recognized by all as of great excellence. It will be admitted to be the best Saturday Evening Hymn in the " New Congregational Hymn Book." It is admirable for its unity; for the ease of its manner, as if by a practised hand ; for the appro priateness of its sentiments and illustrations, and for its reach of thought. And there is one Psalm in the " Leeds Hymn Book" which we miss from the "New Congregational" with regret, No. 200, G. R. s rendering of Psalm 148
"Praise ye the Lord, immortal choir."
We are impatient that the author of that psalm should refuse his honours by persisting in continuing to be anonymous.
��GEORGE SMITH, D.D.
" Thou art, Christ, the Way." No. 333. " Come in, ye chosen of the Lord." No. 842.
THESE hymns are by the Rev. George Smith, D.D., best known as the indefatigable secretary of the Congregational Union, which office he has held since the year 1851, having as his colleague in office the Rev. Robert Ashton. Dr. Smith entered upon his ministry in 1827. It was while pastor of a Congre gational Church at Plymouth that he prepared for his congrega-
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