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The National Music of America. 37
The dwelling upon the doom of the sinner (as in the last specimen) was always a choice morsel to the litterateur of those days.1 The influence of the " Bay Psalm-book " was enormous. It went through some thirty editions in America, twenty-two in Scotland, and about twenty in England, abundantly proving the final statement of the preceding chapter.
Whatever faults one may find with the poetry of the " Bay Psalm-book," it must be admitted that it was a close and literal translation of the Psalms, in rhyme; it came as near to the old Hebrew version as the English Scriptural version itself. Some of its selections were of great length, the longest being 130 lines. Whatever the length might
1 The damnation of babes who had not been baptised was always a rigid point with both Separatists and Puritans. Here is a verse on the subject by Nathaniel Ward, the pastor of Ipswich. (The Divine Judge speaks):
" A crime it is! Therefore in Bliss You may not hope to dwell; But unto you I shall allow The easiest room in Hell I" |
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