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faith, they do rejoice the heart. The holy Spirit bleffes the singing, and causes mutual joy to abound, which is

Sixthly, Another reason for preferring divine pfalms to man's poems. The pfalms were for church fervice. When the members met, we read of their finging toge ther both in the old teftament and in the new. It was their joint offering of praise. The pfalms were appointed to be fung in the congregation, that one might admonish another, which we do, by joining with them, by making the word of Chrift dwell more richly in them, and by exercifing their graces with ours. Thus we fhew our fellowship in the gofpel. When we all fing the fame pfalm, it is as if the church had but one mouth to glorify God. And we never enjoy more of the presence of God, than while we are thus praising him together with thankful hearts." The Lord, who inftituted the ordinance, promised this bleffing to it: But when his pfalms are thruft out, and human compofitions fung in their room, what reason have the fingers to expect, that he will give his good Spirit to quicken their hearts, and to inflame their devotion? He did not promife mutual edification, but to the ufe of his own means. He would have believers to teach and to exhort one another, but it

was

was in finging his own pfalms: And when they do, he has met them and bleffed them, and always will: But he has given no promise to be present, whenever the church meet together in public to fing their own compofitions, or to make them full of joy with the light of his countenance, when they have been doing despite to his Spirit, and putting dishonor upon his word.

Perhaps these fentiments may arife from my great attachment to the word of God, with which others may not be affected as I am For I am perfuaded it is not poffible for me to fet too high a value upon the holy fcriptures-as the revelation of the will of God, I want words to exprefs my refpect for them-as the revelation of his good will in Jefus, I reverence them next to himself. What more precious! What more delightful! They are indeed more precious than gold, yea than much fine gold: And the pfalms are sweeter than honey, yea than the honey dropping from the comb. I find them fo. They are my daily ftudy and daily delight. I do not boast, but praife. The more I read, the more I admire them. The defcription of Jefus in them is fweet: The meditation of him is sweeter than all other fweets. It often tafts fo much of heaven, that it seems to me I cannot poffibly be

ftow

ftow so much admiration upon the pfalms, as they deserve. This is my fettled judgment, confirmed by experience. I cannot help taking particular notice of this, because it fully confirms the arguments which have been before used.

Experience demonftrates, that God does blefs the finging of pfalms in the church, and does not bless the finging of mens hymns. It is a melancholy matter of fact, that in many congregations there is no reading of God's word, no finging of God's word. It is almoft laid afide, even the great ordinance of God for all faving purposes. And what has followed? Truly, what might be expected; yea what could not but follow. The holy Spirit has been grieved, and has withdrawn his powerful prefence. For want of which a deadness that may be felt is in fuch places. Of this good men have complained to one another, and are humbled for it before. God. They find public worship without power. Prayer is lifeless. Preaching is voice and nothing more. It may be the truth, but the hearers are apt to fall asleep over it, and the preacher is no more animated, than if he was telling an old story. The channel of divine communication is quite ftopt up: Hence Ichabod may be feen and felt too upon fuch congrega

tions.

be true.

tions. Reader, if thou art alive to God in thine own heart, thou knoweft this to And how does it affect thee? Certainly thou wilt join with me in begging of God to revive his work among us, and to put glory upon his ordinances. O that the Lord would return with his gracious prefence to his worfhipping people. May the holy Spirit lead them to fee their error in neglecting his established means of grace, especially his word read and fung. And whenever he does this, and wherever they put honor upon his word, there will he certainly put life and power into the ordinances, and the congregations fhall again experience, that God is among them of a truth.

And as God does not blefs the finging of human compofitions in his church, fo it is a certain matter of fact, that he does blefs the finging of his own pfalms. If the eyes of your understanding be opened, look around; where is the power of God moft to be found? Among whom is het chiefly carrying on his work? And where are the livelieft congregations? If you know the prefent ftate of religion in this land, you can easily find them. God has made them very confpicuous. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. The builder of it did not intend it fhould.

His gifts and graces are therefore conferred, that the giver may have all the glory. And who are moft enriched with. his gifts and graces? Are they not fuch as he has brought to use the means most ? Who honor his word, never failing to make the reading of it part of public worship, and who never meet, but they fing out of the word the praises of their God. Among these the Lord the Spirit does work with power, and they do find in finging his pfalms what they never find in finging mens poems. He makes all their chucrh ordinances lively and edifying. He enables them to draw near to God in prayer, and they have happy communion with him: He hears, and anfwers. The word preached is mighty through God. Sinners are awakened. Mourners are comforted. Believers are ftrengthened. The word fung is also accompanied with the fame power: The pfalms are made an ordinance indeed. The holy Spirit works in and by them to keep up holy joy in believing hearts. He promised this, and the promise is fulfilled at this very hour-" The Lord fhall com"fort Sion, he will comfort all her waste

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places, and he will make her wilder"nefs like Eden, and her defert like the garden of the Lord, joy and gladness

fhall

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