Introduction 1
I. A True Hymn 6
II. Hymns of the Bible and the Early Church 29
III. Early Modern Hymns 62
I.—Sixteenth Century 62
II.—Seventeenth Century 80
IV. Eighteenth-century Hymns 122
I.—The School of Watts 122
II.—Hymns of the Methodist Revival 155
III.—The Olney Hymns 224
IV.—Addison, Toplady, and Others 243
V. Nineteenth-century Hymns 254
I.—Anglican Hymns 254
II.—Free Church Hymns 285
III.—Roman Catholic Hymns 315
Conclusion 323
Appendix 333
General Index 339
Index of Hymns and Verses 343