There are certain

by turns the causes of each other. instrumental sounds, which inspire with ardor and resolution; and others which melt and dissolve. Much greater effects may be produced by the living sound of human voices, harmoniously combined in singing those sacred songs, which are filled with sentiments of piety and devotion. The power of music to transport the soul we have all experienced; and its effect is strongly expressed by the prophet, when, describing the heav enly inhabitants as singing their changes in divine wor. ship and crying one to another, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty," he says, "The posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke."-I proceed;

II. To consider the matter or subject of our singing. This the apostle expresses by psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

3

By psalms is doubtless intended that collection of sacred poems, which passes under this name; and is one of the canonical books of scripture. By hymns may be designed other poetical compositions of scripture, as the songs of Moses, Hannah, Zechariah, Simcon and others. By spiritual songs may be meant those pious and devout songs, which in that age were composed by prophets and holy men in the church, under the immediate influence of the Spirit. That there was such a spiritual gift in the apostolic age is evident from several passages in the 14th chapter of First Epistle to the Corinthians-" I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."

"When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revela

tion.

Under the Mosaic dispensation, there were certain songs, or psalms, statedly used in the temple wor. ship. On special occasions new songs were composed by holy men under divine influence, and de

livered to the chief musician to be set to music, and sung in the congregation. In the early Christian church the practice was the same. Spiritual songs composed, occasionally, were admitted among the psalms and hymns of the Old Testament.

The matter which we sing should be accommodated to the occasion of the worship. In ordinary cases we 'may sing any psalm suited to the general purpose of devotion. In special cases we should select those which best correspond with the aspects of Providence.

In this gospel age, our psalmody ought not to be confined to that small portion of scripture, which is called "the book of psalms." We may take spiritual songs from the New Testament, as well as from the Old. The matter of our psalmody must be formed agreeably to the sacred oracles; but we need not be restricted to any one part of scripture. The Apostle's direction is, "Let the word of CHRIST dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in spiritual songs."

If in the days of David it was thought necessary, that on extraordinary occasions a new song should be sung, surely now we may sing some new songs on the glorious occasion of the gospel. If the temporal deliverances vouchsafed to the people of Israel, were the subject of their public praise; much more should the great salvation, purchased by the Son of God, be the subject of ours. And doubtless it is more proper to celebrate this in the plain language of the gospel, than in the obscure diction of prophecy. The church in heaven sing a new song-not only the song of Moses, but also that of the Lamb.

As new songs were sung in the Jewish church, so they were set to new tunes. They were first committed to the chief musician, that he might adapt to the subjects the music in which they were to be sung. There was a variety in the tunes, as well as psalms, to

enliven the devotion of the heart.

Such is our frame

that a sameness of sound flattens on the ear.

III. We are directed to sing, making melody-to sing with the understanding-to teach and admonish one another with spiritual songs-to do all things decently and in order.

The use of music, in social worship, is to assist and enliven the devotion of the heart. And when the music is performed with melody of sound, exactness of time and harmony of voices, it greatly contributes to this end. But a confused and grating discord of harsh and untutored voices, instead of kindling, chills the spirit of devotion and damps the ardor of the soul.

Singing cannot be performed to edification and comfort without skill. "Play skilfully," says the psalmist. The singers in the Jewish worship" made one sound.” They kept time as exactly as if their voices were all melted into one. For this purpose they were placed together in a collected body.-Upon that grand solem. nity, when Solomon brought up the ark from the city of David and set it in the holy place," the Levites, who were the singers, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them the priests sounding with trumpets; and the trumpeters and the singers were as one to make one sound.

Care was taken that the singers should be well instructed. The chief of the Levites, by David's order, "appointed some of their brethren to be singers."? They selected such as they found most capable of that service. And these were put under skilful instructors. "The sons of Heman were, under the hands of their father, for song in the house of the Lord." And they with their brethren "were instructed in the songs of the Lord, and were all cunning." And Chenaniah the chief of the Levites "instructed in song because he was skilful."

When the Levites sang in divine worship, they were led by a principal musician, "who was over the

song." It is said, "The master of the song," or carriage, "was with the singers." Some say, He car. ried or conducted the song, and gave all the singers the time by a motion of his hand. Hence their voices were as one to make one sound.'

We may form some conception of the solemnity with which the temple worship among the Jews was conducted, by those allusions to it, which we find in the book of the Revelation. St. John, describing the heavenly worship, says, "The four living creatures or cherubims, and the four and twenty elders, fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them golden harps, and they sung a new song." As soon as they struck the song, he says, "I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the four cherubims and the elders, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain." No sooner had the mul titude of angels joined their voices, than all nature was tuned to harmony, and creation was one universal concert, like the whole congregation of Israel joining with the priests and Levites in the songs of the temple.

Every creature in heaven, and earth, and under the earth, heard I saying, Blessing, and glory, and honor, and power be unto him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever."-" And the four cherubims said, AMEN.-They made a solemn pause in the music. Whereupon the four and twenty elders fell prostrate before the throne, in humble adoration. This alludes to a custom in the temple worship, of making pauses in singing. The Jewish writers say, that in each psalm were made three intermissions, during which the trumpets continued the sound; and then the people fell down and worshipped.

John represents this new song in the heavenly temple, as being several times repeated with little variety. Here is a manifest allusion to the manner of singing in the temple. When the chief singers began the song, the chosen choir, standing near them, round about the

altar, struck in with them. And certain emphatical parts of the song were repeated. In these repetitions the assembly joined their voices. That such repetitions were usual in the temple music, is evident from the manner in which sundry psalms are composed.

It appears, that this branch of worship in the Jewish church was conducted with great order and solemnity; and the frequent allusions to it in the New Testament, shew that it is still of equal importance, and ought to be conducted, not indeed with all the same ceremonies, but with equal seriousness and devotion. This leads me to observe,

IV. That in singing we must "make melody in our hearts to the Lord."

If singing is a part of religious worship, then this, as well as our prayers, must be directed to God.

We must sing in obedience to his command-with a sense of his presence with hearts disposed for his service--with affections corresponding to the matter of the psalm. If the subject be a petition, confession, thanksgiving, or adoration, our hearts must harmonize with it, and beat time to it. When we make a psalm our own, and offer it to God with suitable sentiments, then we" sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord.” The melody of the heart is the consent of all the pow. ers and affections of the soul in the service of God.

We must sing with a spirit of benevolence, peace and condescension to one another, and to all men. "When ye stand praying," says our Lord, "forgive,

if

ye have ought against any man." We must do the same when we stand singing. We must bring into the worship of God-into our songs, as well as prayers, a social, meek and quiet spirit." Speak to yourselves," or to one another, "in psalms, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts-teach and admonish one another in spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." We sing with grace and melody, when our devout affections charm down our earthly