From the Preface of the Hymnal
Christian hymns and songs are the expression of the holy and spiritual sentiments of the saints formed by their experiences in Christ, their knowledge of God and His truth, and their appreciation, praise and thanksgiving to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They are necessary both for Christian meetings and for Christian private life in order to fulfill the following purposes:
- To worship God the Father
- To praise the Lord Jesus Christ
- To edify the saints
- To build up the Church
- To fight the spiritual warfare
- To preach the Gospel
The Church has been on the earth for nearly twenty centuries. In such an extended period of time, throughout all the centuries, many good hymns and songs have been produced by many saints who have posessed a certain amount of spiritual experiences and knowledge. We follow in their train and are blessed to enjoy all their writings as a rich heritage.