FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 /Si /bS 
 
CHURCH PS 
 
 cached by I 
 of the Congregational Church, Me 
 
 . 
 
 Psalm, 149: 1. Praise ye the I~, 
 
 .:, and his praise in tl 
 ' saints, 
 
 One of the apostles classifies sacred prais 
 "Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs." Tt simply im- 
 | plies variety adapted to the different conditions of wor- 
 shipful feeling in which we approach God. This 
 apostle, as the church has always done, made much of 
 singing in worship. 
 
 Our religious nature is best expressed in prayer and 
 praise. For man to utter confession before God, 
 when convicted of his sins, or to plead for help I 
 in want, is no more natural than for him to sing be- 
 ing in joy, gratitude and hope. Therefore it is that 
 singing or chanting has been an essential part ofwor- 
 j ship in all ages. And hence it is not so much that 
 [Christianity introduces it, as that it "puts a new song 
 [into the mouth, even praise unto our God." 
 
 Christian piety delights to recount mercies received; 
 
 [t dwells largely upon them, and doing so, much cx- 
 
 f alts its graces. Trust, patience, love and hope, sp ring 
 
 ! naturally up from the contemplation of good received. 
 
 I The heart grows strong as well as comely, remei 
 
 ing mercies. So doing, how easy to sing, 
 
 "When all thy mercies, O my God, 
 
 My rising soul surveys, 
 Transported with the view, I'm lost 
 
 In wonder, love, and prais* ." 
 
 [ or to say with the sweet singer of Israel, "I will 
 j sing unto the Lord because he Ii<<Jh dealt bounti 
 \with m&" "Praise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing 
 . praises unto our God ; lor it is pleasant and praise is 
 comely. " 
 
 ♦Since singing constitutes a very essential portion of 
 
Sabbath worship, we should come to the church as 
 often to sing as to pray. In truth fervent piety comes 
 to twine a grateful wreath, a worshipful garland of 
 Bible instruction, prayer, meditation and sacred e 
 All these are taken up with an earnestness proportion- 
 ate to the piety of the worshiper. But especially is 
 «mr emotional nature uttered in praise. We 
 our griefs, our joys, our triumphs, and our hopes. 
 Ami now when the Binging of sacred praise consti- 
 ssential a portion of our worship, how ought 
 every one to enter upon this aet of devotion with the 
 whole heart ! This leads me to my first point. 
 
 WHO SHALL SING ? 
 
 and the answer is already anticipated, all should sing, 
 in whom there is the spirit of worship. "Let i 
 
 rejoice and sing." This is the only part of the 
 worship where all can actively join. But one replies, 
 "all cannot sing I" True, we Sadly reply, tor want 
 of that early culture which all should have gotten to 
 prepare each one for so important a form of worship 
 with which to enter not the Sanctuary only, but every 
 day and place of life. I cannot say but some could 
 never sing, but they are very few. These, however, 
 are not those who have had the faculty, but who hid 
 their talent calling it one, or who used it only enough 
 to prepare for a blundering work. Too many bring 
 this worship with such outward blemishes as unfits it 
 for public worship. Does the worshiper lament it? 
 God did so first, when he foresaw the evil provided 
 for in early neglect. Rut the most can sing to some 
 extent. Those who cannot must add the more to 
 other forms of worship. 
 
 And in respect to those who can sing, and in 
 whem there is a heart to so worship, it becomes no 
 longer a privilege only but a duty. God asks it. I 
 think Johnathan Edwards spoke a plain truth when he 
 -aid it was sin not to sing, having the ability. Praise 
 
ie for the whole assembly ; confining it to a few lias no 
 appointment from God ; thus it becomes formal, cold, 
 
 heartless, and infinitely more so when those who do sing 
 have noor very little interest in it as worship. I have ev- 
 er viewed it as a sin when so brought into Sabbath wor- 
 ship. Singing has this that is different from other forms 
 of worship, it is for the whole worshipping assembly. 
 
 HOW SHALL AVE SING? 
 
 This question, God has given the first answer to, 
 14 with the heart and the understanding also." Any 
 other singing is mockery. 
 
 Two evils in singing should be here mentioned : — 
 First, singing to one another. There are other times 
 and places for the exhibition of talent far more come- 
 ly. Besides if it is worship, it is the worship of one 
 another, rather than of God. The second sin is singing 
 to admire ourselves. This is very vain. I have 
 known of congregations where this sin might be 
 found. Perhaps some time ago some one did it here ! 
 To see it in its true light would, I think, lead us to 
 disown it if possible. Like Israel's prince of song 
 let us all say fervently, "I will sing unto tho L >rd 
 with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, 
 and in the congregation. " 
 
 Here I cannot but recall to your minds the blessed- 
 ness in the fact that every heart, high and low, rich 
 and poor, bond and free, with common riches, glory 
 and exaltation in Christ may unite with one spirit. 
 What unity is here! Sin allows of the only dif- 
 ferences. Christ hides all. Sin may lead one to 
 the sinner's lament, and triumphant grace give an- 
 other, an angel's song. But in worship, with Christ, 
 its author and finisher, there is a common brother- 
 hood. 
 
 But while we say all the worshipers should sing, 
 
 and that the value of Church Psalmody is in such 
 
 regational singing, we should say a word upon 
 
ring it. This will be introduced 
 under the 
 
 HARMONY. 
 
 Nothing should contradict that harmony of spirit 
 which God hears in a concert of worshiping b 
 
 are no discords in God's idea of wor- 
 ship. Harmony of souls should be expressed byhar- 
 I am not of that Chinese 
 that would wish to hoar only one part sung by 
 all ; yet I would in every way prefer this to a labored 
 ■■hint introduction of parts. Discord wrenches 
 the heart from worship and robs it of all its value. 
 God has arranged the human voice into four class- 
 I high and a low, for both male and female 
 Still all may singthe same in unison. The 
 singing of parts is only lor those who are cultivated 
 for it. Therefore to attempt to s i 1 1 it other than the 
 one part known, is to introduce an ambitious pride 
 which in no way improves the heart's worship. Tarts 
 in music well sustained greatly promo:, •- ex- 
 
 jion. But one word in a known tongue is better 
 than a thousand in an. unknown; and an unknown 
 part is a strange tongue. God forbade the Jew to bring 
 a blemished offering to the altar, it expressed a heart 
 unfit for worship. Let us present a perfect and not a 
 defective praise. If you are to prepare your heart for 
 worship, so no less is that preparation to rind a like 
 care in its expression. 
 
 To forbid any one to sing were to forbid God to 
 ask it, which he doe.-. But to ask everyone to 
 in harmony is certainly to accord with God's wish. 1 
 imes think we are ashamed to sing one part with 
 all, assuming it to be out of dignity, and so labor away 
 at what is unknown. O, dear bretheri.% how pride 
 tries to have a linger in all we do. Acd yet ( 
 touch of his is a Leprous spot upon our worship. 
 
 I can only hint at what has been done for some 
 
time in parts of England to promote ease and hare 
 in sustaining the parts in church music. Those sing- 
 lifferent parts are arranged respectively in differ- 
 ent parts of the house. So each part being together, 
 
 the strong sustain the weak, and one guides am 
 Sittings are taken in different parts of the hous< 
 cording as one or another part is sung. But if this 
 cannot be effected with us, 
 
 MORE SHOULD BE DONE IN LEARNING TO SING. 
 
 If one cannnot recite a lesson well, he is require! 
 to learn it. Shall we do less with one of the most 
 essential parts of our worship. Nothing human ad- 
 mits of more culture than the voice ; and nothing re- 
 veals culture more. It is the organ we can cultivate 
 especially for God's worship. We are called upon to 
 sing. Says a late writer, Rev'd. II. Mayo Gunn, 
 "Our Psalmody ought to be well performed. Praise 
 in gratitude, love, trust, joy, and adoration is better 
 than prayer. Our Psalmody should be done better 
 rather than wor ."' 
 
 Let us never forger who hears our praise. If you 
 were to sing the same sacred song before even your 
 neighbor, you would wish to have time to pr< 
 you would seek one to tell you your faults. And yet 
 how we often rush before our Sovereign. It is time 
 the church was more interested in preparing to 
 express what we feel bound to express at all. We 
 dare not refuse to worship ; then let us prepare a whole 
 offering in love and labor. On Sabbath our Kins in- 
 vites us to his royal feast; it commemorates his 
 liverance from the power of death, that he might be- 
 come our Life. Let our Garment of Praise be fitly 
 put on ; let us bring nothing which indicates indiffer- 
 ence. 
 
 Now let me turn your minds to one of the most 
 important respects in which we can view Church 
 Psalmody: — [ mean it as 
 
A Ml RELIGIOUS POWER. 
 
 First, in leading souls to Christ. Dr. Guthrie tells 
 as of a Bcoffer once in his congregation who carried 
 her infidel Bpiril oat to the disturbance 
 
 of others. Sh< I to, but to no effect. At 
 
 last the congregation began to sing the Hymn "Too 
 Late." Before the first verse was sung she was oblig- 
 ed to leave the house. She was brought to Christ, 
 and afterwards received to his church. Such, how- 
 ever, 1 think no very uncommon effect of Church 
 Psalmody. How many have seen Christ as a Savior 
 then as never before ! How many have then had 
 their hearts melt to obedience before God ! How 
 many a burden of sin has rolled away ! And how 
 many a stout heart has been convicted. It becomes 
 us then to sing bearing this in mind. So solemn in- 
 deed will become our praise and very acceptable be- 
 fore God. 
 
 Not less, in the second place, do the burdened hearts 
 of God's people find relief. How common is it. in- 
 deed, for grief stricken hearts, burning with 
 heat, allowing no tears but only agony, to be soothed 
 and melted to tears, which were as a shower upon 
 the parched earth. Let us sing with this in mind. 
 Let us bring out, therefore, a perfect expression in the 
 voice for the thought in the words, singing high or 
 low, loud or soft, quick or slow, as the verse or line 
 decides. This will be worship. This will be praise. 
 What a power may we make of it. Every Sabbath 
 with our praise may God feed the hungry, give cups 
 of cold water to the weary and thirsty, and all get the 
 blessing of those who worship in the beauty of holi- 
 ness. Using praise for this purpose, the children are 
 brought before us with inter 
 
 THE CHILDREN SHOULD SIN'.. 
 
 Let the children be taught our hymns. Let them 
 
l»e arranged in the church with a view to their sing- 
 ing; not in the gallery, for thai should be for the or- 
 ,ii(l those who cannot sing. A chorus of chil- 
 dren's voices will be better than an organ and will 
 
 give our singing a fresh interest. And now to pre- 
 pare them and us for the Sabbath, and improve our 
 home worship, should we not iind a place for 
 
 rGING IX FAMILY DEVOTION. 
 
 I find invariably those children taking delight in 
 church praise who are so brought out at home. And 
 to say nothing of the improvement of the home 
 worship, how pleased would God not be to find the 
 children of the covenant brought to so engage in Sab- 
 bath worship. 
 
 Finally, let us no more bring an indifferent offer- 
 ing ; let us perfect praise in fear and love. We sing 
 a wondrous love ; we offer praise for glorious deeds 
 wrought by our God. Let us fervently sing as he 
 turns our night to day, or takes away our sorrow and 
 bears our grief. 
 
 k *Siug unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in 
 the congregation of saints." 
 
 1 Awake and sing the song 
 Of Moses and the Lamb ! 
 
 Wake every heart, and every tongue, 
 
 To praise the Saviour's name ! 
 
 h l Sing of his dying love ; 
 Sing of his rising pow< 
 Sing how lie intercedes above, 
 Vnv those whose sins he bore. 
 
 g, till we feel our hearts 
 \ - sending with our tongues, 
 sing till the love of mii departs, 
 And grace inspires ar s rigs. 
 
8 
 
 Sing on, rejoicing every day 
 • Ihrist, Hi' exalted K Lng. 
 
 "Ye blessed children come !" 
 d will he call us hence away 
 our eternal home. 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 d tongue 
 use proclaim, 
 And sn\ eeter voices tune th< 
 Of W I the Lamb, 
 
 
 
 ; % 
 
 
 

 Photomount 
 
 Pamphlet 
 
 Binder 
 
 Gaylord Bros., Inc. 
 
 Makers 
 Syracuse, N. Y. 
 
 PAT. JAN 21, 1908