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"with the Spirit, and I will fing with "the understanding alfo."

In order to remedy this great evil, I have prefixed the fubject of every pfalm in this collection, that the congregation might have a key to the true fenfe, and each might know, what particular grace was to be exercised in finging it. This will help fomewhat to keep up harmony in the understanding. But it will not be without fome difcord, until the subject treated of in the book of psalms be made very plain, and their application to Jefus Chrift be well fettled. For this end I have finished fome years ago a translation of the pfalms, with a treatise upon their use and defign: It was computed to make two large volumes in octavo, entitled, An effay towards a new tranflation of the bible-In which I have been engaged, as opportunity has offered, above thirty years; but I fhould have published nothing more of it in my life time, than this effay, in which the tranflation of the book of pfalms would have been given as a fpecimen of the work. It has laid by me fo long, that I am not very fanguine about the publication. Yet if this little tract fhould be favorably received, and God fhould be pleased to

make

make it useful: If some providence should afford me leifure to revife my papers, of which I have no profpect at prefent, and if they should then appear to me likely to promote the honor of God, and the good of his church, I fhould think it my duty to let my light fhine before men. Yet in this, and in every thing else, I do earnestly pray-Not my will, Lord, but thine be done.

Another very great abuse arifes from not treating pfalm finging as becometh a divine ordinance. There fhould be great respect paid to what God has appointed, and in the use of which he has promised to meet and to blefs his people. We commonly call thofe the means of grace, to which grace is promised, and by which grace is received, and through which it is increased in the heart. Singing of pfalms is undoubtedly one of those means, but it is amongst us very much neglected, and when used, it is done in fo irreverent a manner, that the end of its inftitution is not attained. God, as has been already proved, has enjoined, and enforced it by repeated commands. He has also affigned the reason of them, namely, that whenever we find ourselves happy in him, he would have our joy to flow out this way. And what more proper and fignificant?

Singing

Singing is only expreffing outwardly the melody of the heart: And God has required it of us, as a juft fervice of praise. He has furnished us both with matter and words. He has given us a divine collection of moft perfect hymns. And when we use them in humble faith, God will render them the means of exciting, of preferving, and of increasing our holy joy: For the promife is "The meek alfo "fhall increase their joy in the Lord, and "the poor among men fhall rejoice in the "holy one of Ifrael."

This promife has been made good in all ages. The bleffing has come in the ufe of means. The church of Chrift in praifing him has found fresh reason to praife him. While its happy members have been finging together, he has vouchfafed to them his gracious prefence, and has given them fweet communications of his heavenly love. They have fung till their hearts burnt within them, inflamed with a fenfe of his goodness. Then they' had delightful experience of the pfalmift's words" Praife ye the Lord; for it is a "good thing to give thanks unto the "Lord, and to fing praises unto thy name, "O most high: For it is pleafant and praife is comely." Reader,

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Reader, doft thou find it fo? Is it a pleasure to thee to fing pfalms? Doft thou fing them, as an ordinance? Doft thou in faith expect a blefling upon thy finging? And is it indeed to thee the means of grace? If it be, use them more, and thou wilt find an increasing bleffing: If it be not, confider well what has been faid-repent of thine abuse of this precious ordinanceand pray for grace to obferve it to the honor of God, to the edification of others, and to the profit of thine own foul: The Lord give thee, a right understanding in this matter.

The neglect of it as an ordinance has led many people entirely to neglect it. I have fcarce ever feen a congregation, in which every one joined in finging. This is a very great abufe: Because it is defeating the end of God's inftitution. He commanded pfalms to be fung for mutual edification. It was to be the fervice of the whole church. All were to join ; whereas among us it is performed by fome few, and they are fometimes fet by themfelves in a finging gallery, or in a corner of the church, where they fing to be admired for their fine voices, and others hear them for their entertainment. This is a vile prostitution of church music, and

contrary

contrary to the letter and spirit both of the old teftament and also of the new.

The first facred hymn upon record was fung by Mofes, and the children of Ifrael, in which Miriam, and all the women joined, and sang the chorus. The fecond hymn mentioned is faid to be fung by the people of Ifrael without any diftinction. When the ark was brought up to the city of David, he and all Ifrael played before God with all their might, and with finging: Most likely they fang the lxviiith pfalm accompanied with harps, and pfalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. David frequently fpeaks of finging pfalms, as an ordinance in which every one fhould bear his part, that God might be glorified, and all might be edified" Make a joyful noise unto "God, all ye lands; fing forth the honor "of his name, make his praife glorious. "All the earth fhall worship thee, and "fhall fing unto thee, they fhall fing unto "thy name. O let the nations be glad, and fing for joy, fing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth: O fing praifes "unto the Lord.” The sweet finger of Ifrael chooses this for his fubject" All "thy works fhall praife thee, O Lord, "and thy faints fhall bless thee" and he pursues it through the cxlviiith pfalm

6.6

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