March 2

Sing unto the Lord a new song, and praise him in the congregation of saints. —Psalms 149:1.

LET us praise the Lord both in voice, and in understanding, and in good works; and, as this Psalm exhorteth, let us sing unto him a new song. For thus it beginneth: Sing ye to the Lord a new song. The old man hath an old song, the new man a new song. The Old Testament is an old song, the New Testament a new song. In the Old Testament are temporal and earthly promises. Whoso loveth earthly things singeth an old song: let him that desireth to sing a new song, love the things of eternity. Love itself is new and eternal; therefore is it ever new, because it never groweth old. For if thou consider well this is old. How then is it new? Christ himself is everlasting life, and as touching his Godhead, he is not lately born; for, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God: the same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was nothing made. If the things which were made by him are old, what is he by whom they were made? What, but everlasting, and eternal with the Father. But we have sunk into sin; we have reached old age. For those are our words in the Psalm, I have grown old among all mine enemies. Man grew old by sin; he is renewed by grace. All then who are renewed in Christ, that they may begin to appertain unto everlasting life, sing a new song.

And this song is of peace, this song is of charity. Whoso severeth himself from the union of the saints, singeth not a new song; for he hath followed old strife, not new charity. In new charity what is there? Peace, the bond of an holy society, a spiritual union, a building of living stones. Where is this? Not in one place, but throughout the whole world. This is said in another psalm, Sing unto the Lord a new song, sing unto the Lord all the earth. From this is understood, that he who singeth not with the whole earth, singeth an old song, whatever words proceedeth out of his mouth. For why should I care to hear what he saith, when I know what he thinketh? Sayest thou, canst thou see what he thinketh? Yes, his deeds declare it. For the eye penetrateth not into the conscience. I observe what he doeth, and therein I understand what he thinketh. For neither if any one, for instance, taketh another in any wicked act, doth he see his thoughts in his heart, but in his deeds. There are some things which lie hid within; but there are many also which come forth into works, and are manifest even to men. Although then they who severed themselves from the bond of the love of Christ, and the society of the congregation of saints, were inwardly in themselves evil, yet none knew it, save God: The time came: He severed them, and so made manifest to men what God alone had known before. For the fruit is not shown, save in deeds. Wherefore it is said, by their fruits ye shall know them. For the Lord said it to some who clothe themselves in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves: lest human frailty should perhaps be unable to distinguish the wolf under the sheep's skin, he saith, By their fruits ye shall know them. We seek the fruits of love, we find the thorns of dissension. By their fruits ye shall know them. Their song then is an old one, let us sing a new song. We have already said, brethren, that all the earth singeth a new song. He who singeth not with the whole earth a new song, let him sing what he will, let his tongue sound forth Hallelujah, let him utter it all day and all night, my ears are not so much bent to hear the voice of the singer, but I seek the deeds of the actor. For I ask, and say, "What is it that thou singest?" He answereth, "Hallelujah." What is "Hallelujah?" "Praise ye the Lord." Come, let us praise the Lord together. If thou praise the Lord, and I praise the Lord, why are we at variance? Charity praiseth the Lord, discord-blasphemeth the Lord.