Page images
PDF
EPUB

the whole book in Hebrew. Church history relates many particulars upon this fubject. But the divine record is decifive. It contains directions how to fing in the congregation: They were to fpeak, not inwardly, but to themselves, one to another, that they might be heard, and the pfalms which they fung might tend to each others benefit. In another place the apostle commands believers to teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns, recommending fuch finging as would edify the congregation.

Confider thofe authorities, ye that have flighted this ordinance. Has it been the uniform practice of the church of God in all ages to join in finging his praises? Was it by his exprefs command? Has he given us a collection of hymns, the very words which we are to fing? Has he promised to accept our thanks and praises, and while believers have been offering them with grateful hearts, has he constantly made them the means of increafing their joy in the Lord? Was it for the benefit of others, that the church might receive edifying, and that each might bear his part by stirring up and exciting thankfulness in one another? O do not then. neglect fuch a bleffed ordinance: But rather pray the Lord to enable you to re

joice with them that rejoice, to fing with them that fing. Have you not mercies to afk? Why then will you not join the church in asking? Have you not mercies out of number to thank God for? Why then will you not take your part in praifing him for his goodness? Why will you rob yourself of the pleasure of doing it? Why will you not profit your neighbor? And why will you not give God the glory due unto his holy name? Be affured it becometh you well to be thankful at all times and in all places, especially in the great congregation. May you have your Thare in the fervice, and your fhare in the bleffing promised to it.

If you are convinced it is part of the public worship of God, in which you are required to join, as much as in the prayers or in hearing the word, then take heed you join properly. You may fing, and yet greatly abuse this holy ordinance. There are many fingers in the church, who take no pains either to keep the time, or to follow the tune, and who thereby fhew they think it of no confequence, how the praises of the most high God are fung. Solomon differed much from them. He thought it a great perfection in praifing God, that among the many thousands of voices and inftruments, E 2

which

which were founding forth his praife at one time, there was not a fingle difcord to be heard. The fcripture has taken notice of it-" They all gave one found." Why should not we do the fame? Nay, is it not the practice of the people of the world? Will they fuffer difcords in any of their concerts? A public performer would only rife in repute with them, as he plays or fings well. Chriftian, confider this. Shall they for their mere amusement study to have their mufic free from every thing offenfive to the ear? And fhall not we be equally careful? More especially as we fing to the honor of God and to the edifying of the brethren. We have a most noble fubject-divine matter -divine words: We fing of one Lord with one faith-O for harmony in fome measure fuitable! It is much to be wifhed. I hope it will be attained. Let me

earnestly recommend it to every one to fing, and to all who do fing, to learn to fing well; and till you do, endeavor to avoid another matter of offence.

There are many in our congregations, who seem to think they fing beft, when they fing loudeft. You may fee them often strain themselves with fhouting, till their faces are as red as fcarlet. The worst fingers commonly offend this way.

A bad

A bad coarse voice quite out of tune is to be heard above all, and will take the lead in the congregation: And whenever a number of fuch meet together in their fhouting humor, they put all into confufion. They diforder thofe, who would fing with feeling and affection. They drown the mufical voices of good fingers. They offend the outward people. And they do no good to themfelves: So they entirely defeat the end of finging. If thefe lines fhould fall into the hands of any, who are fenfible they have offended in this way, I would beg of them to reform this abufe. Examine your motive -Why would you be uppermoft in the congregation? Is your voice the best? Do you think fo? Afk one, who is a judge? Perhaps he may perfuade you, I wish I could prevail with you, to fing lower. Indeed if you once come to feel what you fing, you will reform yourself. A great part of your finging will then be between God and your own foul; you will try to keep up melody in your heart, and that will mend both your voice and judgment. However it will certainly put you upon trying to please both God and man in finging.

There is another very great and common abuse, which confifts in the choice

of improper portions. The perfon, to whofe judgment this is left, is not always one of the wifeft in the congregation. He may not understand the pfalms. He may misapply and prophane them. It is not a rare thing for him to make them perfonal, and to apply the glorious things fpoken of Chrift to trifling parish business. I have heard the quarrels among neighbors fung over on fundays. The clerk has chofen fome paffage, applicable entirely to the enemies of the Lord and his Christ, and has moft grofly perverted it. The congregation had nothing to do with the difpute, and yet it was brought before thein, and they were called upon in an ordinance to intereft themselves in it. No doubt, this and fuch like abuses are a very great infult upon God's word and ordinance, and ought to be reformed.. The people should understand the psalm, which they are going to fing, and should be well acquainted with its relation to Jefus Chrift. They are all required to join; and therefore fuitable portions fhould be chofen, in which all or the greatest part of them are interefted. They should fing with one mind, and one heart, as well as in one tune: For which end the knowlege of the pfalm, and of whom and of what it treats are abfolutely neceffary.

How

« PreviousContinue »