As the object of this work is chiefly devotional,
the hymns are arranged according to their
subjects, not in chronological order, and have
been selected for their warmth of feeling and
depth of Christian experience, rather than as
specimens of a particular master or school. Still
it is believed that these two series afford on the
whole fair examples of most of the principal
writers, not of course without omissions, since
only about two hundred and twenty hymns are
given from a literature containing several thousands. Of
Luther
none are given in this series,
(unless the hymn known as
"Queen Maria of Hungary's song"
were written by him for that
princess,) for those productions of his which no
collection of German hymns could omit, had
been already inserted in the previous volume,
and there seemed the less necessity for introducing
any of minor importance, as all his hymns
are accessible to the English reader in the excellent
translation of Mr. Massie.22Spiritual
Songs of Luther, translated by R. Massie,
Esq. Hatchard and Co.
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