June 27

of the great courted! If the Lord Jesus was now on earth, should I not, if I had an opportunity, repair to him; and deem it a privilege to see him, hear him, and hold converse with him? But I know where he now is, waiting to be gracious, and exalted to have mercy; and I have full and easy access to him. Let me then suffer nothing to keep me from the assembly of his saints. Let not the creature prevent my serving and enjoying God. If I had an engagement with the king, should I not deem it even an honour to be able to allege such a reason for my refusing a person who called at the appointed hour? If I am indifferent to the Lord's gracious presence on earth, what right have I to expect his glorious presence in heaven? But if I now love the habitation of his house, and the place where his honour dwelleth, at death I shall only remove to his temple above, where I shall worship him, not with a few, but with the general assembly; not with infirmities which make me groan, being burdened, but with powers equal to the service; not with long intervals between, and the returns of worldly care and vexations, but to be still praising him—

JUNE 27.—“Singing.”—Ephesians 5:19.

ALL believe that hearing is a duty, and that prayer is a duty; but some question whether this is the case with singing. Now there is something in our very structure that seems equal to a proof of the obligation. We cannot imagine a faculty was given us which was never intended to be used; especially a faculty from which so much pleasure and advantage can be derived and communicated. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and this power of vocal music far surpasses all mechanical performance: no instrument, however surprising or perfect, can express words: but in singing, man can speak; and inform, while he delights. How shameful is it that such an unrivalled endowment should be perverted, or degraded to evil purposes! But we are not to argue against the use of a thing from the abuse of it. Let us remember that God is to be glorified in our body, as well as in our spirit. Let us say, with David, “Awake up, my glory: I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”

Singing is not a ritual duty. It preceded the ceremonial law; and when our Saviour had abolished the passover, and his own supper had succeeded to it—“after supper he sang a hymn.” He thereby showed that such a service belonged to the new state which he had introduced, and was to be a part of Christian worship. Accordingly the sanction of his example, which had the authority of a command, was not disregarded by his disciples, either in practice or precept. Thus the Apostles at Philippi not only prayed, but sang praises in the prison, so that the prisoners heard them. And Paul says to the Ephesians: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” And James adds, “Is any merry? let him sing psalms.”

How should singing be performed? Sometimes when we are alone. David had his “songs in the night:” the solitary effusions

of pious excitement. In the life of Joseph Alleine, we find that he always sung in his closet devotion, and which in the morning was never later than five o'clock.

It should prevail where it can be established in family worship. He does well, says Henry, who, with his house, prays night and morning; he does better who prays and reads the Scriptures; but he does best who prays, and reads, and sings too. I fear this holy custom of our forefathers has been for a long time on the decline. The observance of it would tend much to exclude dulness and formality; and be far more interesting to servants and children than long reading and lengthened prayer. This should be done at least on the Sabbath. An old author tells us, he remembered the time when in numberless houses, at certain hours on the Lord's day, singing might be heard as you passed, from one end of London to the other. The ninety-second Psalm is called "a Song for the Sabbath day;" and, says David, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning; and thy faithfulness every night;" he here means, peculiarly, every Sabbath-day morning and night.

But when we enter the courts of the Lord, and engage in public worship, the command lays hold of us, "Serve the Lord with gladness; and come before his presence with singing." Here the singing should be congregational. For this purpose few things should be introduced which the people cannot soon join in. Hence also, persons should learn to sing, at least decently, that when they join they may aid and not injure—The singing in family-worship would be a preparative for public devotion. What can be said for those who are well able to help, and yet seldom or never lift up their voice in this divine exercise, from sloth, fastidiousness, or pride? Who introduced the mode of sitting we know not; but surely it does not appear the most desirable one; and though the posture is not essential to the spirituality of our worship, we should be governed even in the outward acts, by what is most preferable, by being most suitable, and becoming, and useful, and scriptural. How often do we read of the people standing up to praise the Lord. What should we think to see the choir sitting while they perform? And what can the choir think, when they see us sitting during the psalmody—but that we have nothing to do with it—unless as an entertainment from them.

But what is to be said in recommendation of this duty? It is a very instructive ordinance. How many important truths are we mutually informed or reminded of by it, and which are also rendered peculiarly impressive, by the pleasing manner in which they are again and again repeated—Hence, says the Apostle, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

It is also a very enlivening exercise. Nothing is so adapted to excite holy affections. Let any one, in order to prove this, read only, and then sing the very same words; and what a difference will he feel in the effects of the two? Nothing tends so much to animate to

VOL. I.