Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-10-24
WHOLE NO. 1850.

should we quote more from the book of
Psalms, when we know that they were
al OF them composed for the purpose of
being sung; either in private, accompan-
ie' with the harp or in the temple ser
vice, with many voices and instruments
OF music. The Hebrew name, by which
The book OF Psalms is called, meags a col
lection of Hymns. These were the
"songs of Zion" which the cap,ives in
Babylon were in mockery commanded
TO sing, when they had hung their harps
on the willows David, the man after
Gods own heart was the author of
many of them; it was his desire to thank
and praise the Lord with the voice, as
well as with the soul to make melody
unto God with hymns, and glorify Him
with music" " In all his work. says
the Son of Sirach, he gave thanks
To the Holy and Most High he sang
songs with all his heart, in words of
praise and he loved his Maker. He set
singers before the altar, and from their
music sweet melody resounded. He
gave splendor to the feasts, and adorned
the solemn times unto perfection, in that
they praised His holy Name and the
sanctuary pealed with music from carly
morn"
There is no reason 10 suppose that
music and singing arc less pleasing to
God under the Christian covenant than
under the law. Christ and His Apos-
ties attended the worship at the temple,
so long as they could do so and when
the daily sacrifice was taken from the
Jews, and their holy and beautiful sane
tuary laid even with the ground, then,
songs ofpraise continued to ascend to
heaven from every Christian congrega-
ton. The same psalms that had been
used by David, and the saints of old,
were chanted with new interest and u
larger Interpretation. From tina, coliec-
ton was taken the hymn that was sung
by the lips of the Lord Jesus and His
eleven disciples, in the upper chamber,
on the night i'll which He WAS betrayed
When the Apostles had been threatened.
by the rulers and elders and forbidden,
10 preach in the name of Jesus, they as-
sembIed the believers, and lifted up their.
voice to God with one accord and part
Of their worship Was in the words of Da-
vid. as any merry, let him sing psalms
was the direction of st. James. To the
Ephesans st. Paul wrote, " Speaking
to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and
spiritual songs, singing and making mel
ody in your heart TO the Lord" To the
Colossians, teaching and admonishing
one another in psalRs and. hymns, and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in
your hearts 10 the Lord"
| Nor are the praises of God, with sing
ing and music: confined. to this world
They form one part of the employments
and enjoyments of the saints in light,
the spirits of the just and the holy an
gels. When the Son Of God was horn
into the worlsL u multitude Of the heav-
enly host sung together in joyfL chorus,
Glory be to God on high, and OH earth
peace, good will towards men" They
testified their gladness and homage, in
the same way, at the creation of the.
world. In the Revelation Of ST. John,
he says, 8 heard Il voice from heaven,
as the voice of many waters, and as the
voice ofa great thunder and heard
the voice OF harpers, harping with their
harps and they sung us ii were new
song before the throne" "And they
sing the song of Moses, the servant of
God, and the song of the Lamb"
II what has thus far been said is true
and agreeable 20 the Word Of God, our
next remark must likewise be admitted
which is, that il is the right and the duty
\ OF every person, in a Christian congrc-
CATION, to take part in the songs of
praise If the act of praising God is an
essential part Of ais worship, and if sing
ing is the highest and most devout form
OF praise, then all who come to the House
Of God, to worship Him, ought to join in
the psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
that are here sung to Him. Let the
people praise thee, o God yea, let all
the people praise thee" Is He not the
/ Maker and Father of us all 2 Did lie
not send His Son 10 die for us ah O.
Was not the Holy Ghost given, TO be
the Sanciiier and Comforter Of all =
Have we not all been blessed with the
knowledge of the Gospel ? With the
means OF grace, and the hope of glory .
DO we not a ! have minds, with which 10
learn something Of our God, and Of what
great things lie hath done for us 2 Do
we not Ill have hearts, wherewih we
can love Him, and be gratefulto Him 2
Have we not all tongues, wherewith to
speak aloud of His goodness, wherewith
to sing His praises Why, then, should
we not all engage in this exercise, when
we come to appear before Him in His
courts z U, lasmuch as we are all