Discover a Rare Glimpse into 18th-Century American Religious Life
As specialists in historical religious texts, Haaswurth Books presents a remarkable find: a second edition (1797) of Jeremy Belknap's "Sacred Poetry," a collection of Psalms and Hymns adapted for Christian devotion. This volume offers a unique window into the theological discourse of the early American republic.
Imagine holding a piece of history in your hands. This full leather-bound volume, though showing its age with worn edges and character marks, contains the very words that shaped early American worship. Inside, you'll find selections from the best authors of the time, along with Belknap's own variations and additions, reflecting his efforts to bridge the gap between conservative and liberal wings of Congregationalism.
A significant example of Belknap's influence, this hymnal includes a preface where he defends the practice of hymn-singing against those who considered it idolatrous. Belknap, a Harvard graduate and ardent patriot, also made significant contributions as a historian and abolitionist. His "History of New Hampshire" remains a cornerstone of early American historical writing.
Condition details: The binding is full leather, exhibiting wear consistent with its age, including cut marks and some leather loss on the front board. The front joint is cracked but holding. Inside, "Martin Wilders Book" is inscribed on the front free endpaper. While pages 149-152 are absent, the remaining text is in good condition, with only minor imperfections such as a torn leaf (without loss) and tattered edges on the index's last leaf. Note that the rear free endpapers are missing. Dimensions: 14.5 x 9 cm (5 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches). [
Provenance: This volume includes a signed provenance card from the esteemed music collection of A. Merril Smoak, Jr., DWS, further attesting to its historical and cultural value. According to Henry Wilder Foot's "Dictionary of North American Hymnology", this collection was the first to introduce Americans to the hymns of Anne Steele.
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Own a piece of American religious history. Add this rare and significant hymnal to your collection today!
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Historical Significance: Offers a rare glimpse into 18th-century American religious practices and theological debates.
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Authoritative Collection: Features Psalms and Hymns selected by Jeremy Belknap, a prominent figure in American history and theology.
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Provenance: Includes a signed provenance card from the music collection of A. Merril Smoak, Jr., DWS, adding to its collectible value.
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Condition Details: Full leather binding with age-related wear; see description for specific imperfections.
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First Introduction of Anne Steele: This hymnal was the first to introduce Americans to the hymns of Anne Steele, a significant contribution to American hymnody.
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Secure Packaging: Ensures the safe arrival of this delicate and valuable historical artifact.
Full leather binding, worn with cut marks and some loss of leather to front board, spine with gilt lines, no title label, front joint cracked and weak. 14.5 x 9 cm (5 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches, front board slightly bowed. "Martin Wilders Book" in brown ink on ffep. Title page bordered. Psalms: (i)-(vi), (7)-231, erratum page, (8) pp. index. Then Hymns with new pagination: (1)-148, 153-262 pp., including Index. The two leaves (pp. 149-152) do not appear to have been bound in. One leaf of the Hymns section is torn without loss; the last leaf of index is tattered in the margins; lacks the rear free end papers. Good. Full leather.
The first edition of 1795 is BAL 936. [9802]
The Preface by Belknap in this second edition is reprinted from the first edition. In it he says that the authors, when known, are printed with the hymns and gives a brief biography of Anne Steele. He also admonishes Christians who entertain scruples against singing hymns - as opposed to exclusively Psalms - and rejects their assertion that hymn-singing is idolatry.
Jeremy Belknap (1744-1798), b. & d. at Boston, Massachusetts. He was a Harvard graduate (1762), a school teacher, and a conservative Congregational pastor who opposed the "Halfway Covenant." He was an ardent patriot for the Revolutionary cause; he wrote a pamphlet condemning the British occupation of Boston, and helped his parents to escape the city. He was asked to become chaplain to the American army outside of Boston, but declined due to ill health. Belknap is recognized as the first American modern historian, having written his History of New Hampshire in three volumes between 1784 and 1792. He also wrote several theological works, and, as an early opponent of the slave trade, he drew up a petition to the Massachusetts General Court in 1788 calling for its abolition. He was a member of several Societies that encouraged benefactory or educational improvements, and was an overseer of Harvard College.
"He wrote no hymns but made an important contribution to American hymnody in his collection Sacred Poetry: consisting of Psalms and Hymns, adapted to Christian Devotion, in Public and Private; Selected from the best Authors, with Variations and Additions (Boston, 1795), which ran into many editions. His intention was to provide a book acceptable to both the conservative and the liberal wings of Congregationalism, to bridge the widening gap which resulted in the formation of the Unitarian denomination a generation later. In this he failed, for only the liberal churches accepted it, though it was widely used by them for 40 years, being much of the best of the period. It includes 300 hymns from the best English sources, and was the first to introduce to Americans the hymns by Anne Steele. The only Amerian hymns in the collection are Jacob Kimball's metrical version of Psalm 65 and Mather Byles' 'When wild confustion rends the air.'" - Henry Wilder Foot, Dictionary of North American Hymnology.
