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passions, quiet their tumults, compose all jarring discords, all discontents, anxieties, envies and jealousies, and smooth the soul into peace, gratitude, hope and joy. One end of social worship, and particularly of singing, is to improve a friendly and benevolent temper. Be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus, that ye may with one mind, and one mouth glorify God." Can we join our voices in singing the same spiritual songs to the same universal parent, and at the same time forget our mutual relation, and our obligation to mutual love? In the music itself there is something adapted to promote a kind and social disposition. The harmonious coincidence, the sweet symphony of different voices teaches our hearts to mingle in Christian duties, hushes tumultuous passions, and expels the evil spirit of pride, envy, malice and discord. When David touched his harp, Saul's evil spirit fled. The man who can hear holy anthems sung to the universal parent, with voices sweetly mingling and harmonizing together, and not feel himself softened into benevolence and love, and moulded into condescension and peace, must have a soul rugged as the rocks, and stubborn as an oak.

REFLECTIONS.

1. If singing is an instituted part of divine worship, all should take a share in it. Some through want of natural capacity, early education, or favorable opportunity, may be unable to join their voices in this exercise. But these, no less than others, should be concerned to make melody in their hearts.

2. From our subject we learn, that every one according to his ability, is bound to promote the psalmody of the church. As many as are capable should encourage it by acquiring the necessary skill, and taking an active part in it. They who cannot do this, should be more solicitous to promote the object in other ways→→→ VOL. III.

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by furnishing those under their care with the means of instruction-by giving countenance to a revival of sacred music, when it declines, and by cheerfully imparting their money in the cause, as occasion requires. From principles of common equity, as well as from examples recorded in scripture, it is manifest, that the expense of maintaining the psalmody of the church should be assumed by the community, and not left wholly on them who perform the service.

3. Let this thought be deeply impressed on every heart, that psalmody is a branch of divine worship. Let it be regarded, not as a theatrical exhibition, but as a religious solemnity.

When we see an assembly united in the praises of God, hear them sing divine songs with all the charms of music; and, at the same time, behold in their appearance that gravity, sedateness and reverence, which indicate their souls to be impressed with divine things; we are raptured and transported; we are carried into the throngs of God's ancient temple; we almost imagine ourselves in the midst of the heavenly assembly. But if, on the contrary, we observe a behavior, which bespeaks pride, passion, irreverence and levity, we lose the charms of music-we are shocked and confounded. As you regard the honor of God's worship, and your own and the common edification, conduct your psalmody with that gravity, peace and love, which become God's house for ever; and apply this and every part of worship to your preparation for the higher solemnities of God's temple in heaven.

Imagine you saw heaven opened, and the choirs of angels standing before the throne of God; imagine you heard them tuning their harps and voices in anthems of praise to the great Creator of the universe, and the gracious Redeemer of fallen men: Will not the thought elevate you above the dull delights of earth, and prompt a wish to rise and mingle with the celestial worshippers Imagine you beheld the Lamb

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standing on mount Zion, and with him the happy thousands who have his Father's name written in their foreheads; and from thence heard a voice, as the sound of many waters and as the noise of mighty thunder, the music of harpers playing on their harps, and the voice of singers singing their new song, which none but the redeemed can learn; would you not wish to join the joyful assembly and mingle your voice with theirs?-Imagine you heard them crying with a loud voice, "Salvation to our God and to the Lamb," and saw them falling before the throne and worshipping God in strains like this, "Amen; blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and strength, be unto God forever and ever, Amen ;” would not your souls at such a view, kindle into devotion and love, and burst into songs of praise ?-This view of the worshipping assembly above is held forth to us, that we may learn and imitate their piety. Endeavor then so to worship God by singing and all other appointed forms, that you may be admitted to join your voice with theirs in singing the glories of God and the Redeemer through eternal ages.

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SERMON XLII.

Thanksgiving.

EPHESIANS v. 20.

GIVING thanks always, for all things to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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THE Heathens, in their Bacchanalia, held drunkenness to be commendable, as an expression of gratitude to the god who gave them. wine. This Pagan custom the Apostle has in view, when he says to his Ephesian converts, verse 18. "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms."-Instead of those abominable excesses, by which you once expressed your joy, seek now those sober and rational pleasures, which are communicated by the Holy Spirit; and instead of those drunken songs by which you formerly celebrated the feasts of the god of wine, speak ye now to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, making melody in your hearts to the Lord-giving thanks always for all things to God the Father through Jesus Christ."

I. The duty here enjoined is to give thanks.

Thankfulness is such a sense of favors received from, and of obligations due to a benefactor, as disposes us to make suitable acknowledgments and returns.

Gratitude to God is attended, not with wild and frantic mirth, but a sober and collected mind. They who understand the loving kindness of the Lord, have wisely considered his doings. God complains of unthankful Israel, "I have nourished and brought up children, The ox knoweth but they have rebelled against me. his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.”

There are some unusual interpositions of Providence which arrest the attention, while common favors, though in their nature more important, are overlooked, or little regarded. At a comet we gaze with astonishment; but scarcely lift our eyes to the superior wonders which the fair evening presents to our view, The rising and the setting sun, the descent of the enriching showers, the vicissitudes of summer and winter, the continuance of life, the enjoyment of health, supplies of food and raiment, success in our daily employments, the means of knowledge and virtue, and the hopes of glory and immortality, are by multitudes little noticed, and rarely thought of. But where is the man who would not thank God for a short suspension of his torture in a fit of the gout, or for a providential discovery and extinction of a flame which threatened his dwelling? If we regard not the daily operations and blessings of God, we live in habitual unthankfulness. These though most easily overlooked, are most worthy of our notice.

A grateful heart retains the impressions of past mercies." It remembers God's wonders of old, meditates on all his works and forgets not any of his benefits.

Gratitude sees a real value in God's blessings. This is its language; "O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them who fear thee, and hast wrought for them who trust in thee! O love the Lord, all ye his saints." O Lord, how great are thy works! Thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not, neither doth a fool understand this. How excellent is thy loving kindness! Therefore the

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