A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship is a hymn book compiled by William Gadsby, a minister of the Gospel Standard Strict Baptists in England. First published in the 19th century, it is still in current use. History William Gadsby, a Strict and Particular Baptist minister, first published his selection of hymns in 1814 in Manchester, printed at the printing works owned by his son John Gadsby. William Gadsby published a later edition in 1838. After his death a further enlarged edition was published including a second supplement selected by J C Philpot, another Strict Baptist Minister. It was written to counteract what Gadsby believed to be Arminian and legalistic tendencies in some of Isaac Watts' Psalms and Hymns. Nevertheless Gadsby's Selection of Hymns does include many hymns by Isaac Watts. Contents This hymnal contains 1156 hymns (words only) by various authors. These are primarily, but not exclusively, from the Calvinistic stream of Protestant thought. Authors The edition currently available includes the following authors, here listed by number of hymns used. Joseph Hart (219); William Gadsby (173); Isaac Watts (145) John Berridge (72); John Newton (63) John Kent (51); Charles Wesley (41); Thomas Kelly (34); Samuel Medley (31); Anne Steele (27); Augustus M. Toplady (24); Richard Burnham (22); Henry Fowler (20); William Cowper (18); Joseph Swain (18); Daniel Herbert (12); Benjamin Beddome (10); John Fawcett (10); William Hammond (10); John Stevens (9); John Adams (9); Phillip Doddridge (8); John Cennick (6). There are other authors with fewer hymns in this book, as well as eight anonymous contributions. Examples of Gadsby's own writing Gadsby's own hymns are of a high standard. For example, number 667 is worthy of Watts and Charles Wesley, both highly regarded for their hymn writing abilities. 1 IMMORTAL honours rest on Jesus' head; My God, my Portion, and my Living Bread; In him I live, upon him cast my care; He saves from death, destruction, and despair. 2 He is my Refuge in each deep distress; The Lord my strength & glorious righteousness; Through floods and flames he leads me safely on, And daily makes his sovereign goodness known. 3 My every need he richly will supply; Nor will his mercy ever let me die; In him there dwells a treasure all divine, And matchless grace has made that treasure mine. 4 O that my soul could love and praise him more, His beauties trace, his majesty