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convince thee thoroughly, that the Saviour in his feveral offices and works is the perfon treated of in the book of pfalms? The different names are only to defcribe him in different views as the giver of every bleffing in earth and heaven, hymns to celebrate his praises, fpiritual fongs to set forth the glory of his kingdom, and the happiness of his fubjects, pfalms and hymns and fpiritual fongs altogether intended to raise the affections of the foul to as high a pitch of love to Immanuel, as we are capable of, while in the body.

3. When thou art reading the old testament or the new, and obferving the paffages, in which the pfalms are mentioned, do they farther confirm thee in the belief of their being written concerning Chrift? And mixing faith with them do they warm thy heart with gratitude to Jefus, and ftir thee up to fing his praises with increasing delight? But above all, confider

4. How thou fingeft the pfalms. Examine. Art thou made a new creature in Chrift Jefus, and a partaker of his Spirit? Doft thou then fing with thine understanding, and with thy heart, finging pfalms as an ordinance of God to ex

ercife grace, and to increafe the grace, which he has given? And doft thou indeed find it profitable to thyfelf, and edi fying to others?

5. Doft thou keep up the harmony in thy life? Is thy walk in concord with thy pfalms? Art thou fhewing forth the praises of Jefus in thy converfation? What! is all confiftent and of a piece? Are thy heart and voice and life in tune to thank the Lord for his goodness, and to declare the wonders which he hath done for thy foul? O this is heavenly mufic. Happy man, to whom it is given thus to live the chriftian. May there be no difcord in thy tempers and walk, but may all within and without thee confpire in fweet concert to bless thy Lord and thy God.

6. If the Lord has thus enabled thee to fing, and to love his praifes, then art thou humble enough to ftudy to please others as well as thyfelf in finging, that they may be edified? If there has been any abuse in this ordinance, doft thou stand corrected, and art willing to reform? Is it thy defire in public finging to give no offence to outward people, but above all to give none to the church of God? This is the chriftian temper. Shew it. Let it appear that the mind is in thee,

which was alfo in Chrift Jefus. Aim in finging at the profit of others. Look not to thyself alone, that thou bearest thy part, with thine understanding, heart and voice, but endeavor alfo to edify the church. See thy neighbor be benefited according to the command-“ Teach "and admonish one another in pfalms," &c. Let this, and all other things in the congregation be done to edifying.

If upon careful enquiry thou doft understand thofe truths, doft thou experience the power and comfort of them? Art thou indeed a living chriftian, capable of finging them with melody in thy heart unto the Lord? If this be thy happy cafe, then accept this collection of pfalms, which I here prefent to thee, not in preference to any of thofe here omitted, or to exclude any of them, but only as a fufficient number for our regular fervice. Go, and make ufe of them, and the Lord be with thee. May he render them profitable to thine own soul, and edifying to his body the church. Pray for grace to glorify him more in this ordinance. It will foon be thy whole employment. "Yet a very little while, and thou wilt have nothing to do, but to enjoy and to praise Immanuel for evermore.

May

May thy heart now feel fomething of this heaven: And if it please him may thy happiness daily increase, in the enjoyment of, and thankfulness for, all covenant mercies, till thou art admitted to the general affembly and church of the firft-born, to join with them in afcribing all the glory of thy falvation to Father, Son and holy Spirit, three perfons in one Godhead, to whom be equal and everlafting praises. Amen.

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